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Post by Kapitan on Apr 26, 2019 13:27:50 GMT
On a few occasions, we know the Beach Boys and their assorted personnel have re-recorded songs. (OK, they've found more than a few occasions to do it again. And yes, Sugar Ray and I see what I did just there.)
In that spirit, but with the benefits of time machines, what is one Beach Boys recording you wish had been done again--but with that "again" going in either direction. In other words, you could say "Kokomo," but recorded in 1966 just as easily as you could say "Girl Don't Tell Me" in 1973. I trust you get the picture.
If you'd be so good as to say what you didn't like about the version you're having redone, and both when and how you'd like to have it redone (e.g., different lead singer, different vibe), that would be great.
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 26, 2019 14:09:02 GMT
Great idea, Luther! Thanks for suggesting!
OK, here's one of mine (which was actually used as an example above): "Girl Don't Tell Me" with the Blondie-Ricky era band. I think Carl's voice had improved as a lead instrument, and I can imagine a backing track with a little more ... sex, frankly. A little more soulful, a little grittier, without fully overhauling it by any means.
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Post by B.E. on Apr 26, 2019 16:04:04 GMT
"Girl Don't Tell Me" with the Blondie-Ricky era band. I think Carl's voice had improved as a lead instrument, and I can imagine a backing track with a little more ... sex, frankly. A little more soulful, a little grittier, without fully overhauling it by any means.
I'd love to hear this! It'd be nice to get some backing vocals. They'd be simpler, looser than what Brian would have come up with in 1965, but they'd serve the song just as well. The great thing about remakes is that you aren't replacing the original. You can enjoy each version as you see fit. For my first swing at this topic, I'd like to use the time machine and remake three mid-1970s Beach Boys recordings. First, let's convince Brian to cover "A Casual Look" in early 1964. This would be around the time he was recording Shut Down Vol. 2 and tracks like "I Do". I have no specific recommendations here, other than Brian giving it his best effort. Second, let's give "In The Still Of The Night" the magical side 2 of Today! treatment. It's not hard to imagine a cross between "I'm So Young" and "In The Back Of My Mind". This version of the song may have rivaled the iconic original recording. And not just in the minds of Beach Boys fans, but the general public. Third, I'd love to hear Brian and the group put their best effort into "Let's Put Our Hearts Together" circa '68-70. Frankly, I can hear both a Friends and a Sunflower version, and both sound fantastic. I think "Let's Put Our Hearts Together" would be held in much higher regard in either of these settings.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Apr 26, 2019 17:36:31 GMT
Interesting topic. There is one song that every time I listen to it, three thoughts come to mind. The song is "Sail On Sailor" and here are my three reasons why I wish the group would've taken another shot at re-recording it. First, Blondie would've been my FOURTH choice for the lead vocalist behind, in order, Carl, Dennis, Brian, and Al. Second, some of the lyrics are too dark and too non-relatable. They could be tweaked. And third, there is just something missing in the execution of the background harmonies, like it is missing one key vocal part, a higher expressive part. It doesn't thrill or resonate like it should, the "sail on, sail on, sailor" part. Now, when could've they re-recorded it. Maybe for the Still Cruisin' album, it might've fit in along side "Somewhere Near Japan" or "Island Girl". Also, I don't know if the song is positive or "summer-y" enough, but I would've liked a re-recorded version on Summer In Paradise. Carl was singing great at that time and would've nailed it; I don't know about the rest of the production, though. But, would you sacrifice the re-recording of "Surfin'" for "Sail On Sailor"? I would've. I mean, they even threw "Forever" on there. Maybe Carl would've opposed it because he was probably the producer of the original "Sail On Sailor" and he would've had to bump his friend, Blondie, from the lead vocal.
As far as newer songs being recorded years earlier, there's too many to list post-1975, due mainly to the decrease in the quality of the lead vocals. One song that I never thought reached its potential that Brian would've nailed in 1965-66 would be "Still I Dream Of It". His 1977 vocal is borderline embarrassing, I never liked Dick Reynold's cheesy brass/arrangement, and maybe one of Brian's earlier collaborators could've tweaked the lyrics slightly. Actually "Still I Dream Of It" would be an example of a song that would work BOTH WAYS in this thread. You give me Brian's lead vocals like he sang on Disney, TWGMTR, and NPP, let Joe Thomas do his thing in making everything sound...presentable and current, and have one of Brian's collaborator friends tweak the lyrics, and I'll bet you'd have a quite good and superior version of "Still I Dream Of It".
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Post by kds on Apr 26, 2019 17:40:50 GMT
In 2005, Brian Wilson did O Holy Night for his Xmas album. I'd love to hear a circa 1964 version with all the Boys.
Speaking of going backwards, how about if Getcha Back were recorded in the Today / SDSN era, with a less self parody / nasal lead from Mike.
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 26, 2019 17:48:58 GMT
For an odd one (considering it was a hit), I've never been very happy with "Do It Again." The backing track in particular is just so ... thin. Emasculated. Castrated. It's a rock 'n' roll song! It opens with strong (if oddly effected) drums. Then the track sounds like it was recorded with a couple room mics ten feet away from the instruments.
The 2012 remix sounds a little better, but it's not just about the mix: it's the parts, and it's the engineering. It deserves an instrumental track that's part of the song, not just the backdrop to it.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Apr 26, 2019 17:50:20 GMT
In 2005, Brian Wilson did O Holy Night for his Xmas album. I'd love to hear a circa 1964 version with all the Boys. Why stop at "O Holy Night"? How about the entire WIRWFC album? I know it's one of your favorites, but for me, it ranks up high as one of my most disappointing albums. Nothing wrong with the tracklist (except "Little saint Nick"), but I feel very little...spirituality...from Brian, and that's what I like most with Christmas carols.
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 26, 2019 17:53:51 GMT
I actually liked that "O Holy Night."
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Post by kds on Apr 26, 2019 18:22:00 GMT
In 2005, Brian Wilson did O Holy Night for his Xmas album. I'd love to hear a circa 1964 version with all the Boys. Why stop at "O Holy Night"? How about the entire WIRWFC album? I know it's one of your favorites, but for me, it ranks up high as one of my most disappointing albums. Nothing wrong with the tracklist (except "Little saint Nick"), but I feel very little...spirituality...from Brian, and that's what I like most with Christmas carols. I don't know about "spirituality," but I enjoy the arrangements and singing. Although it could be that I'm not a very spiritual person myself. And, Kap, I do enjoy that version of O Holy Night, but I just think a 1964 Brian singing it would be out of this world.
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Post by kds on Apr 26, 2019 18:22:48 GMT
For an odd one (considering it was a hit), I've never been very happy with "Do It Again." The backing track in particular is just so ... thin. Emasculated. Castrated. It's a rock 'n' roll song! It opens with strong (if oddly effected) drums. Then the track sounds like it was recorded with a couple room mics ten feet away from the instruments.
The 2012 remix sounds a little better, but it's not just about the mix: it's the parts, and it's the engineering. It deserves an instrumental track that's part of the song, not just the backdrop to it.
Not to worry, Mike might try it a few more times.
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 26, 2019 18:27:48 GMT
I figure if the first thirty-seven or so renditions didn't do it for me, I might just have to let it go.
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Post by B.E. on Apr 26, 2019 19:15:04 GMT
Interesting topic. There is one song that every time I listen to it, three thoughts come to mind. The song is "Sail On Sailor" and here are my three reasons why I wish the group would've taken another shot at re-recording it. First, Blondie would've been my FOURTH choice for the lead vocalist behind, in order, Carl, Dennis, Brian, and Al. Second, some of the lyrics are too dark and too non-relatable. They could be tweaked. And third, there is just something missing in the execution of the background harmonies, like it is missing one key vocal part, a higher expressive part. It doesn't thrill or resonate like it should, the "sail on, sail on, sailor" part. Now, when could've they re-recorded it. Maybe for the Still Cruisin' album, it might've fit in along side "Somewhere Near Japan" or "Island Girl". Also, I don't know if the song is positive or "summer-y" enough, but I would've liked a re-recorded version on Summer In Paradise. Carl was singing great at that time and would've nailed it; I don't know about the rest of the production, though. But, would you sacrifice the re-recording of "Surfin'" for "Sail On Sailor"? I would've. I mean, they even threw "Forever" on there. Maybe Carl would've opposed it because he was probably the producer of the original "Sail On Sailor" and he would've had to bump his friend, Blondie, from the lead vocal.
Personally, I'd have very little use for a SC/SiP version of "Sail On Sailor". The production would kill it for me. As far as newer songs being recorded years earlier, there's too many to list post-1975, due mainly to the decrease in the quality of the lead vocals. One song that I never thought reached its potential that Brian would've nailed in 1965-66 would be "Still I Dream Of It". His 1977 vocal is borderline embarrassing, I never liked Dick Reynold's cheesy brass/arrangement, and maybe one of Brian's earlier collaborators could've tweaked the lyrics slightly. Actually "Still I Dream Of It" would be an example of a song that would work BOTH WAYS in this thread. You give me Brian's lead vocals like he sang on Disney, TWGMTR, and NPP, let Joe Thomas do his thing in making everything sound...presentable and current, and have one of Brian's collaborator friends tweak the lyrics, and I'll bet you'd have a quite good and superior version of "Still I Dream Of It". I'm with you on this. "Still I Dream Of It" and "It's Over Now" were the first songs to come to mind. I just couldn't quite figure out when or how I wanted them remade. I agree, you could probably go in either direction and have good results.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2019 4:27:12 GMT
Not exactly a remake, but The SMiLE Version of Wonderful with Love You era vocals/synths overdubbed, a la Sherry She Needs Me, would've been fantastic in its own way.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 27, 2019 4:28:37 GMT
Why stop at "O Holy Night"? How about the entire WIRWFC album? I know it's one of your favorites, but for me, it ranks up high as one of my most disappointing albums. Nothing wrong with the tracklist (except "Little saint Nick"), but I feel very little...spirituality...from Brian, and that's what I like most with Christmas carols. I don't know about "spirituality," but I enjoy the arrangements and singing. Although it could be that I'm not a very spiritual person myself. And, Kap, I do enjoy that version of O Holy Night, but I just think a 1964 Brian singing it would be out of this world. Brian's Christmas album, to me, is up there with TLOS & Gershwin as Brian's best post-88 production works. I know I'm in the minority, but I prefer Brian's Christmas album (and Mike's!) to The Beach Boys' overall.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Apr 27, 2019 13:18:40 GMT
When I used to DJ, I used to try to work in Beach Boys' songs wherever I could. The only problem was, The Beach Boys' fast songs and ballads didn't really have good dance beats. You could get away with "Surfer Girl" and maybe "Surfin' U.S.A." at oldies dances, but that was about it. Now, car shows were a different animal.
I wish The Beach Boys would've recorded a great ballad that would've employed a nice slow dance beat. There are two songs that I thought/think would've been great AM radio hits AND great slow dance songs with the RIGHT BEAT - "Cuddle Up" and "Only With You". Now, first of all, I love both of those songs; they are both personal favorites. But, they would make great slow dance songs or wedding songs or AM radio songs with a different beat...IMO. Those two songs are obscure enough that they could've gotten away with re-recordings, but, again, the songs as is are great. Why mess with them...And, yes, I know Dennis re-recorded "Only With You".
How about a new, slow dance remix of "Only With You" and "Cuddle Up"?
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