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Post by Kapitan on Jul 31, 2023 14:36:32 GMT
Using the same method as I used for the past few batches of songs--an initial, quick scanning of what "must be" in my Top 10 without respect to how many or few songs I've selected, followed by subsequent additions or winnowing down as necessary--has me starting from a nearly completed point.
That initial list was eight songs long, five of which were from TWGMTR, two of which were the unreleased tunes that ended up on MiC, and one from the pop-country abomination. A second pass had me add one more from TWGMTR.
So I'm at nine songs. I am going to have to listen to those early '90s songs again (insert profanity here) to make sure I'm not unfairly omitting something from my eventual list. I'm not thrilled about that. But for me, there is really a very distinct difference between 2012, the mid 90s stuff, and the early 90s stuff (in that order of declining quality/likability).
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Post by Kapitan on Jul 31, 2023 15:35:16 GMT
In the end, I had seven selections from TWGMTR. I did give some serious consideration to a few early 90s songs for that final spot, but it went to the title track of the aforementioned album instead--largely because of production. As I've said many a time, I just struggle to get over those awful, gated synth drums and other pecadilloes of the era. If I have to imagine a song sounding different in order to enjoy it, that means I'm not enjoying it.
Here are the songs I voted for, first broken into my tiers, then roughly arranged within those tiers in my order of preference.
(Initial, immediate selections) 1. From There to Back Again 2. Pacific Coast Highway 3. Isn't It Time 4. Shelter 5. Summer's Gone 6. Soul Searchin' 7. The Warmth of the Sun 8. You're Still a Mystery
(Added on a second pass) 9. Strange World
(Final selection after listening to a number of contenders) 10. That's Why God Made the Radio
Some of the songs that were in the running for that 10th spot include "Problem Child," "Still Surfin," and "Lahaina Aloha." I also gave a brief bit of consideration to the perfectly listenable, but not really Beach Boys, recordings of "I Can Hear Music" and "Caroline, No." But being relegated to background singers of country versions of your own songs ... it's just so maddening a concept for me. Even if those songs might land in a Top 10 of the songs here, they aren't among the Top 10 Beach Boys recordings of Beach Boys songs.
Edit - "Problem Child" is the one that really breaks my heart. I actually think that's a really catchy song, obviously kind of stupid, but it's for a kids' movie, so you're not going to get something too deep. If that had been done with either late 60s/early 70s production, or 2012 production, I'm pretty sure it would have been somewhere in the middle of my list. But as it is, and with all due respect to the late Gilbert Gottfried...nope.
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Post by kds on Jul 31, 2023 15:56:05 GMT
I agree, Problem Child is pretty decent, and has a really good Carl lead. It's still a mystery (see what I did there) that the song has never found a landing spot on any BB comp, and it's essentially a bit of a "lost" track.
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Post by jk on Jul 31, 2023 21:07:09 GMT
I voted for the four songs on TWGMTT that hadn't had one yet Is that because you happened to like those otherwise ignored four the best (and didn't like any of the ones that had votes), or just because you felt bad for them going without any votes? The second reason. I like the album, period, and feel those four are equally deserving of a place in the sun. I only voted for three other tracks: "409" is basically a great showcase for the instrumental prowess of Junior Brown. The other songs on S&S don't interest me. As for "Forever", and I've certainly said this before, I prefer John's version, largely but not entirely, because of the inane weazlings all over Dennis's original, which get tiresome after a while. And the much-maligned "Remember" strikes me as being a highly original rereading of the Shangs' first hit. I can't resist quoting AGD's review of it in his Complete Guide: "One of the worst cover versions of anything, by anybody, anywhere, at any time. There is absolutely nothing about this track to commend it, not even Carl's lead."
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Aug 1, 2023 11:27:14 GMT
Is that because you happened to like those otherwise ignored four the best (and didn't like any of the ones that had votes), or just because you felt bad for them going without any votes? The second reason. I like the album, period, and feel those four are equally deserving of a place in the sun. "409" is basically a great showcase for the instrumental prowess of Junior Brown. I almost voted for Junior Brown's "409". I really like his version. I said it a couple of times on this thread and I probably said it several times over the years, but I think Stars & Stripes rocks! It is a very guitar-oriented album, maybe more than any other Beach Boys-related album. Joe Thomas did a tremendous job producing Stars & Stripes. First and foremost, he made the Beach Boys' harmonies sound great. Joe just had a way of making the group - and especially Brian - sound as good as they could at that time. Also, the Stars & Stripes tracks are alive! They move and just have that head boppin' and feet shufflin' feeling.
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Post by kds on Aug 1, 2023 12:14:17 GMT
Is that because you happened to like those otherwise ignored four the best (and didn't like any of the ones that had votes), or just because you felt bad for them going without any votes? The second reason. I like the album, period, and feel those four are equally deserving of a place in the sun. I only voted for three other tracks: "409" is basically a great showcase for the instrumental prowess of Junior Brown. The other songs on S&S don't interest me. As for "Forever", and I've certainly said this before, I prefer John's version, largely but not entirely, because of the inane weazlings all over Dennis's original, which get tiresome after a while. And the much-maligned "Remember" strikes me as being a highly original rereading of the Shangs' first hit. I can't resist quoting AGD's review of it in his Complete Guide: "One of the worst cover versions of anything, by anybody, anywhere, at any time. There is absolutely nothing about this track to commend it, not even Carl's lead." I don't always agree with Andrew, but when I do, it's about Remember (Walking in the Sand).
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Post by Kapitan on Aug 1, 2023 12:46:29 GMT
It's early in the week, but with 7 voters representing about 70-77% of the typical voter count on these polls, I think we're far along to make the observation:
I'm surprised to see "From There To Back Again" currently tied for fourth in votes, not overall (it's tied for fifth overall), but for songs from TWGMTR. For a good while, it seemed people thought of that as the best song on that album.
Now it's tied with "Soul Searchin" and "Strange World," and it trails "Lahaina Aloha"!
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Post by kds on Aug 1, 2023 14:48:08 GMT
It's early in the week, but with 7 voters representing about 70-77% of the typical voter count on these polls, I think we're far along to make the observation: I'm surprised to see "From There To Back Again" currently tied for fourth in votes, not overall (it's tied for fifth overall), but for songs from TWGMTR. For a good while, it seemed people thought of that as the best song on that album. Now it's tied with "Soul Searchin" and "Strange World," and it trails "Lahaina Aloha"! I find that very surprising too. I'd always thought that was the favorite of the closing trilogy.
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Emdeeh
Pacific Coast Highway
Posts: 520
Likes: 532
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Post by Emdeeh on Aug 1, 2023 20:06:42 GMT
I'm not that vested in the closing trilogy, hence no votes for it from me. My votes, in order of appearance in the poll:
Crocodile Rock Hot Fun in the Summertime Lahaina Aloha 409 w/ Jr. Brown The Warmth of the Sun w/ Willie Nelson Soul Searchin' Think About the Days That's Why God Made the Radio Isn't It Time Strange World
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Post by B.E. on Aug 2, 2023 0:45:24 GMT
I could've very easily just picked ten of the 12 tracks from TWGMTR. I haven't really thought out my picks yet, but this is along the lines of my first thoughts. My list will almost certainly be very heavy on TWGMTR. I listened to TWGMTR last night and enjoyed it more than I expected to, front to back. I'm also a big fan of both "Soul Searchin'" and "You're Still A Mystery". So, it's very unlikely that I'll include anything from SIP and S&S in my top 10. I just gave "Lahaina Aloha" a fresh listen, and while I do like it (a bit), I maintain that it's quite overrated by virtue of being the consensus best track on an awful album. Frankly, I'm not sure I prefer it to a single track on TWGMTR (although, it's in the mix with the bottom 4 or so, I suppose). The vastly inferior production is a major factor. I just can't ignore that. I believe you mentioned "Caroline, No" from S&S in a later post, and I feel similarly. Rating-wise, in a vacuum, it would be in the running for sure, but we don't experience music in a vacuum. It's just less valuable. And not being as big of a Willie fan means I'm not as high on "The Warmth of the Sun" as others are. I'm not even that big of a fan of TWGMTR but I solidly like the album quite a bit. There's really not much of a comparison with SIP and S&S. Even cherry-picking the best/worst track or two.
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Post by lonelysummer on Aug 2, 2023 1:38:10 GMT
I used to think Summer in Paradise was the worst Beach Boys album, but I think Stars and Stripes is even worse. A few worthy performances - Warmth of the Sun, I Can Hear Music, Caroline, No - can't save this turkey. At least SIP has some excellent Carl vocals and some original songs. Thank God TWGMTR turned out to be their finale.
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Post by Kapitan on Aug 2, 2023 11:14:27 GMT
I used to think Summer in Paradise was the worst Beach Boys album, but I think Stars and Stripes is even worse. A few worthy performances - Warmth of the Sun, I Can Hear Music, Caroline, No - can't save this turkey. At least SIP has some excellent Carl vocals and some original songs. Thank God TWGMTR turned out to be their finale. I think, as B.E. was saying/hinting, that Stars & Stripes might be better--very well produced, well recorded with actual musicians, a far better overall sound--but it's not a better Beach Boys album because it's not really a Beach Boys album. It's a country tribute to the Beach Boys feat. the Beach Boys on harmonies. The fact that it sounds pretty good is, for me, that much more maddening! What a waste of time and energy. We easily could have (and should have) had another original album from the band right around 1996. Instead we get a novelty album with country musicians and a lot of bad mullets.
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Post by kds on Aug 2, 2023 12:18:30 GMT
I used to think Summer in Paradise was the worst Beach Boys album, but I think Stars and Stripes is even worse. A few worthy performances - Warmth of the Sun, I Can Hear Music, Caroline, No - can't save this turkey. At least SIP has some excellent Carl vocals and some original songs. Thank God TWGMTR turned out to be their finale. I think, as B.E. was saying/hinting, that Stars & Stripes might be better--very well produced, well recorded with actual musicians, a far better overall sound--but it's not a better Beach Boys album because it's not really a Beach Boys album. It's a country tribute to the Beach Boys feat. the Beach Boys on harmonies. The fact that it sounds pretty good is, for me, that much more maddening! What a waste of time and energy. We easily could have (and should have) had another original album from the band right around 1996. Instead we get a novelty album with country musicians and a lot of bad mullets. I think even a country Beach Boys tribute album could have been a LOT better that the resulting album.
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Post by lonelysummer on Aug 2, 2023 18:42:52 GMT
I think, as B.E. was saying/hinting, that Stars & Stripes might be better--very well produced, well recorded with actual musicians, a far better overall sound--but it's not a better Beach Boys album because it's not really a Beach Boys album. It's a country tribute to the Beach Boys feat. the Beach Boys on harmonies. The fact that it sounds pretty good is, for me, that much more maddening! What a waste of time and energy. We easily could have (and should have) had another original album from the band right around 1996. Instead we get a novelty album with country musicians and a lot of bad mullets. I think even a country Beach Boys tribute album could have been a LOT better that the resulting album. Certainly. Where was Merle? Where was Tammy? Where was their old buddy Glen Campbell?
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Aug 2, 2023 18:51:04 GMT
I think even a country Beach Boys tribute album could have been a LOT better that the resulting album. Certainly. Where was Merle? Where was Tammy? Where was their old buddy Glen Campbell? Rehab.
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