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Post by B.E. on Jun 15, 2024 19:03:30 GMT
The discussion about what constitutes a deep cut in the 'Stuff We Love Podcast - Beach Boys Deep Cuts' thread led me to do this. Here's an initial analysis of the tracks included in 10 major compilations. Feel free to take this discussion in any direction!
The compilations I selected:
Best of the Beach Boys
Released in 1966. 12 tracks.
Peaked at #8. 2x Platinum.
Best of the Beach Boys Vol. 2
Released in 1967. 12 tracks.
Peaked #50. 2x Platinum.
Endless Summer
Released in 1974. 20 tracks.
Peaked at #1. 3x Platinum.
Spirit of America
Released in 1975. 23 tracks.
Peaked at #8. Gold.
Good Vibrations - Best of the Beach Boys
Released in 1975. 12 tracks.
Peaked at #25.
Made in U.S.A.
Released in 1986. 25 tracks.
Peaked at #96. 2x Platinum.
20 Good Vibrations - The Greatest Hits
Released in 1995. 20 tracks.
Peaked at #95. 2x Platinum.
Sounds of Summer - The Very Best of the Beach Boys
Released in 2003. 30 tracks.
Peaked at #16. 3x Platinum.
The Warmth of the Sun
Released in 2007. 28 tracks.
Peaked at #40
50 Big Ones - Greatest Hits
Released in 2012. 50 tracks.
Peaked at #95
And now the tracks by appearances:
Surfin' Safari (6)
Surfin' USA (6)
Surfer Girl (6)
Fun Fun Fun (6)
I Get Around (6)
Help Me Rhonda (6)
California Girls (6)
Barbara Ann (6)
409 (5)
Catch a Wave (5)
Little Deuce Coupe (5)
Don't Worry Baby (5)
When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) (5)
Dance Dance Dance (5)
Wouldn't It Be Nice (5)
Sloop John B (5)
God Only Knows (5)
Good Vibrations (5)
Shut Down (4)
In My Room (4)
The Warmth of the Sun (4)
Be True To Your School (4)
Wendy (4)
Little Honda (4)
Do You Wanna Dance (4)
Please Let Me Wonder (4)
You're So Good To Me (4)
Heroes and Villains (4)
Do It Again (4)
All Summer Long (3)
Kiss Me Baby (3)
Let Him Run Wild (3)
The Little Girl I Once Knew (3)
Darlin' (3)
Friends (3)
Surf's Up (3)
Sail On Sailor (3)
Rock and Roll Music (3)
Getcha Back (3)
Kokomo (3)
Hawaii (2)
Why Do Fools Fall In Love (2)
Caroline, No (2)
Wild Honey (2)
I Can Hear Music (2)
Break Away (2)
Add Some Music To Your Day (2)
Forever (2)
All This Is That (2)
California Saga: California (2)
It's OK (2)
Come Go With Me (2)
Good Timin' (2)
California Dreamin' (2)
Spirit of America (1)
A Young Man Is Gone (1)
Custom Machine (1)
This Car of Mine (1)
Louie Louie (1)
Hushabye (1)
Do You Remember (1)
Girls on the Beach (1)
Drive-In (1)
Don't Back Down (1)
Long Tall Texan (1)
Graduation Day (1)
Little Saint Nick (1)
Good To My Baby (1)
Girl Don't Tell Me (1)
Salt Lake City (1)
Then I Kissed Her (1)
Tell Me Why (1)
I Just Wasn't Made For These Times (1)
Cotton Fields (The Cotton Song) (1)
This Whole World (1)
Cool Cool Water (1)
Don't Go Near The Water (1)
Disney Girls (1957) (1)
Feel Flows (1)
Til I Die (1)
Rock 'n' Roll To The Rescue (1)
That's Why God Made The Radio (1)
Isn't It Time (1)
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Post by Kapitan on Jun 15, 2024 23:55:14 GMT
My first thought was, "thinks like 'Surfin Safari' and 'Barbara Ann' were included on more comps than 'Good Vibrations!?'"
But then I realized, of course, that first one was released in summer 1966, before "Good Vibrations." It makes me wonder now, what are the percentages of songs' inclusion on comps that were released once they were available?
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Post by B.E. on Jun 16, 2024 0:02:51 GMT
Yeah, you definitely need to factor in the release dates! There’s also the fact that three of those compilations were sequels that didn’t include tracks from its predecessor. And you had the Capitol vs Brother issue. So, really, 6 appearances is the most possible of these 10 compilations (and only for those pre-Pet Sounds tracks).
”Kokomo”, for example, was on all three non-sequel compilations after its release.
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Post by B.E. on Jun 16, 2024 0:13:05 GMT
Also, if I were to exclude The Warmth of the Sun and 50 Big Ones, the vast majority of those tracks with 1 or 2 appearances disappear. Those compilations allowed for the inclusion of more “deep cuts”. Part of the reason I did this was to figure out which tracks to consider in that other thread. I’m thinking I’ll only exclude from consideration tracks that had 3 or more appearances in those 10 compilations above (which includes one of my favorites, “Please Let Me Wonder”).
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Post by B.E. on Jun 16, 2024 17:11:22 GMT
One thing that surprised me a little was that "Marcella" wasn't included on The Warmth of the Sun or 50 Big Ones. There's even an argument to be made that it should have been included on Good Vibrations. It was featured during C50, so 50 Big Ones makes a lot of sense. Meanwhile "All This Is That" was included on both The Warmth of the Sun and 50 Big Ones (the only CATP track on these compilations).
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Post by Kapitan on Jun 16, 2024 17:21:25 GMT
One thing that surprised me a little was that "Marcella" wasn't included on The Warmth of the Sun or 50 Big Ones. There's even an argument to be made that it should have been included on Good Vibrations. It was featured during C50, so 50 Big Ones makes a lot of sense. Meanwhile "All This Is That" was included on both The Warmth of the Sun and 50 Big Ones (the only CATP track on these compilations). One thing I'd note is not necessarily relevant ... but maybe? In one of the articles about C50--I think one of Jason Fine's for Rolling Stone--the band is captured discussing "Marcella." If I'm not mistaken, the tour is already underway, though maybe it's just rehearsals. (I wouldn't swear to which is the case without rereading it.) The scene has them dining in a restaurant, Brian and Mike at the same table. They haven't been playing "Marcella," but Brian suggests they add it to the setlist. Mike says no, "his guys" don't know it. Brian says "his guys" do know it, and it could be added. If I remember correctly, it's presented as an example of Brian suggesting it multiple times, never really fighting for it, but returning to the subject. Where it might be relevant is, maybe Mike just doesn't like the song, and doesn't think it fits the hits comps and such. "All This Is That" probably fits his ethos a bit more, with the spirituality angle.
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Post by B.E. on Jun 16, 2024 17:58:37 GMT
If so, I don’t know where Mike’s coming from as a catchy, upbeat, vocal-laden rocker is a perfect fit. The only issue is it wasn’t a hit. But neither was “All This Is That”. At least is was an A-side. You might be on to something, though. Maybe the tracklist for the compilation was set before “Marcella” was resurrected. It might be worth noting that Brian included it on Classics Selected by Brian Wilson in 2002.
Another notable omission from The Warmth of the Sun and 50 Big Ones is “Long Promised Road”. Obviously, they had to make tough decisions, but I’m not sure “Don’t Go Near the Water” is more deserving.
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Post by Kapitan on Jun 16, 2024 18:04:35 GMT
If so, I don’t know where Mike’s coming from as a catchy, upbeat, vocal-laden rocker is a perfect fit. The only issue is it wasn’t a hit. But neither was “All This Is That”. At least is was an A-side. You might be on to something, though. Maybe the tracklist for the compilation was set before “Marcella” was resurrected. It might be worth noting that Brian included it on Classics Selected by Brian Wilson in 2002. Another notable omission from The Warmth of the Sun and 50 Big Ones is “Long Promised Road”. Obviously, they had to make tough decisions, but I’m not sure “Don’t Go Near the Water” is more deserving. The obvious response is that Love co-wrote ATIT and DGNTW, and didn't have a role in Marcella or LPR.
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Post by B.E. on Jun 16, 2024 18:07:59 GMT
There is that. Al, too.  |
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Post by lonelysummer on Jun 16, 2024 18:59:02 GMT
We can always find puzzling omissions on these comps. I'm sure some people wondered back in 1974 why songs like "409", "Dance Dance Dance" and "The Little Girl I Once Knew" were left off Endless Summer. It's a good thing they were - it gave Capitol a few legit hits to base Spirit of America around.
I thought "I Can Hear Music" should have been on Good Vibrations - Best of the Beach Boys. It was a top 40 hit - "Add Some Music" was not.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jun 18, 2024 12:01:14 GMT
For as popular - and important - Endless Summer was to the Beach Boys' career, it is glaringly skimpy. Just five short songs per side (Side 2 clocks in at 10:01) and just twenty short songs spread out over four sides of vinyl. While Capitol Records was undoubtedly giving themselves high fives, I wonder why they couldn't add maybe one additional song per side. Cheapskates.
How 'bout adding these four:
- 409 - Little Honda - Your Summer Dream - Keep An Eye On Summer
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jun 19, 2024 16:17:35 GMT
In my above post, I was critical of Capitol Records going with a skimpy five songs per side format on Endless Summer. Well, apparently somebody back then (1974-75) agreed with me as Capitol Records next compilation, Spirit Of America, increased the songs per side to six - with one major exception. For some reason, and I'd love to know that reason, Side 3 has only five songs. Why? But the insanity doesn't end there. Check the songs and the times for three of the songs on Side 3:
"Do You Remember" - 1:37 "This Car Of Mine" - 1:35 "Custom Machine" - 1:38
If you're gonna go with only five songs on Side 3 instead of six, why would you choose/group the three shortest songs on the album together? Side 3 clocks in at 9:33. 
A few other things bother me about Spirit Of America. The first one will probably get me in trouble. All of the songs on Endless Summer and Spirit Of America are taken from the 1962-1965 time period except one - "Break Away" on Spirit Of America. Now, I love that song, but why include it on that comp? Just curious. Did Capitol have something against "Lonely Sea", "Your Summer Dream", "Keep An Eye On Summer", "Kiss Me Baby", and "She Knows Me Too Well".
Side 3 opens with "Do You Remember". It is followed by "This Car Of Mine". Why? This is a rhetorical question, but did they ever consider following "Do You Remember" with "Why Do Fools Fall In Love"?
I think Spirit If America is a perfectly fine album title. Maybe I'm reading too much into it but consider this. They did include " Salt Lake City" on the tracklist, but I wonder if they ever considered "The Girl From New York City", " Hawaii", "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena", "Long Tall Texan", or "Amusement Parks U.S.A."? 
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Post by B.E. on Jun 19, 2024 16:37:36 GMT
I think Spirit Of America is a perfectly fine album title. Maybe I'm reading too much into it but consider this. They did include " Salt Lake City" on the tracklist, but I wonder if they ever considered "The Girl From New York City", " Hawaii", "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena", "Long Tall Texan", or "Amusement Parks U.S.A."? They also included “Hawaii” but that’s a cool idea. They could have added one of those to get to 6 tracks per side, then maybe substituted another. They could have had one of those titles per side.
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Post by lonelysummer on Jun 19, 2024 18:36:24 GMT
In my above post, I was critical of Capitol Records going with a skimpy five songs per side format on Endless Summer. Well, apparently somebody back then (1974-75) agreed with me as Capitol Records next compilation, Spirit Of America, increased the songs per side to six - with one major exception. For some reason, and I'd love to know that reason, Side 3 has only five songs. Why? But the insanity doesn't end there. Check the songs and the times for three of the songs on Side 3:
"Do You Remember" - 1:37 "This Car Of Mine" - 1:35 "Custom Machine" - 1:38
If you're gonna go with only five songs on Side 3 instead of six, why would you choose/group the three shortest songs on the album together? Side 3 clocks in at 9:33.
A few other things bother me about Spirit Of America. The first one will probably get me in trouble. All of the songs on Endless Summer and Spirit Of America are taken from the 1962-1965 time period except one - "Break Away" on Spirit Of America. Now, I love that song, but why include it on that comp? Just curious. Did Capitol have something against "Lonely Sea", "Your Summer Dream", "Keep An Eye On Summer", "Kiss Me Baby", and "She Knows Me Too Well".
Side 3 opens with "Do You Remember". It is followed by "This Car Of Mine". Why? This is a rhetorical question, but did they ever consider following "Do You Remember" with "Why Do Fools Fall In Love"?
I think Spirit If America is a perfectly fine album title. Maybe I'm reading too much into it but consider this. They did include " Salt Lake City" on the tracklist, but I wonder if they ever considered "The Girl From New York City", " Hawaii", "The Little Old Lady From Pasadena", "Long Tall Texan", or "Amusement Parks U.S.A."? OT: I never understood why The Beatles/1962-1966 had only 6 songs on sides 2 and 3. Sides 1 and 4 had 7; and all sides of The Beatles/1967-1970 feature 7 songs - even the side that has "Hey Jude".
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