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Post by Kapitan on Jul 31, 2020 22:03:00 GMT
I’ll need to listen to Blondie’s and David’s debuts. Blondie’s is on Spotify, but I can’t find David’s. I‘ll report back in a day or two with a mighty accurate ranking. 😎 I've got to admit, I hadn't heard of this album from David before doing a little fact-checking while writing that post. So I certainly haven't heard it, either. (I debated whether it would be more accurate to use material from the Marksmen...does that count as "solo" if it's a band named for him?
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jul 31, 2020 22:13:46 GMT
I think I'd use Going Public as Bruce's solo album.
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Post by B.E. on Jul 31, 2020 22:48:29 GMT
I’ll need to listen to Blondie’s and David’s debuts. Blondie’s is on Spotify, but I can’t find David’s. I‘ll report back in a day or two with a mighty accurate ranking. 😎 I've got to admit, I hadn't heard of this album from David before doing a little fact-checking while writing that post. So I certainly haven't heard it, either. (I debated whether it would be more accurate to use material from the Marksmen...does that count as "solo" if it's a band named for him? I'm not sure which is more accurate, but I'll probably opt for consistency (and availability?). So, Surfin' Round The World and the Marksman comp (which is on Spotify) or Going Public and Work Tapes.
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Post by Kapitan on Jul 31, 2020 22:55:28 GMT
I'm open to changes, but I can say the reason I went with Surfin' Round the World is that it is credited to Bruce Johnston. So that sounds pretty "solo" to me.
Marks, I feel, is a little harder to say so clearly. The first release credited to "David Marks" is Work Tapes from what I can see, unless we say The Marksmen are really David Marks.
Maybe just to simplify life for everyone, everyone can just interpret as s/he wishes? Let's be honest the world will keep on turnin'...
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Post by kds on Aug 1, 2020 0:41:09 GMT
I say this not having listened to Blondie and Bruce's albums. But, I'm going with Dennis here. Even though I do think its slightly overrated, the quality is consistent, and its a clear winner. BW88 gets a lot of love, but I think its pretty patchy. Mike and Carl's are just kind of there. Al's is pleasant enough, but nothing special.
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Post by jk on Aug 1, 2020 10:05:14 GMT
1. POB2. BW883. Postcard4. CW
5. LBWL I'm no longer fanatical enough to want to check out the others.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Aug 1, 2020 12:31:43 GMT
1. Dennis Wilson - Pacific Ocean Blue ... this one was easy, it's not even close
2. Brian Wilson - Brian Wilson ... only because the rest are weak; a disappointing debut
3. Al Jardine - A Postcard From California ... it's not necessarily better than the remaining but it's more entertaining
4. Carl Wilson - Carl Wilson ... so boring which is sad because Carl was singing so great
5. Mike Love - Looking Back With Love ... I actually kind of liked this one when it came out; Mike was still singing well and this album was fun; I recently revisited it and the production and songs aren't as strong as I used to think
6. Bruce Johnston - Going Public ... Bruce is such an enigma; he's obviously talented but it only surfaces occasionally both in quality and quantity; after 1971 he was so disappointing as is this album which coulda/shoulda/woulda showcased that talent, especially his songwriting
- I've only heard a song or two from Blondie's debut and I think one song from David's. I have heard a few Marksmen tracks...meh.
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Post by Kapitan on Aug 1, 2020 12:50:01 GMT
I think I'd rank them in tiers more than strict rankings:
Top tier: POB - probably is the best of the bunch, though I don't think it's a great album
88 - uneven content and off-putting production, but some of the songs are really good
Second tier: Postcard - if this swapped out self-covers for new material of similar quality to what's there, it might just be my favorite of the bunch. Not genius by a long shot, but not a production disaster, well performed, etc.
Blondie Chaplin - I listened to this again yesterday, and it's actually a really solid rock album. What's missing are truly great songs; what's present are great arrangements and performances. Certainly the most rocking of the guys' debuts!
Third tier: Carl Wilson - sadly, wholly unremarkable. Sad debut considering the brilliant talent of the artist.
Surfin Round the World - actually not badly done, but I don't particularly like this sort of music (including when the Beach Boys did it), and this sounds a bit like a K-Tel sort of off-brand knock-off of that. (Which I think is what it was, right?)
Fourth tier: Looking Back With Love - I just hate this.
Incomplete: I have not yet listened to either the Marksmen (that I can recall) or Work Tapes. Based on the limited Marks material I've heard, I'd guess I'd put it low second tier at best, low third tier at worst.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Aug 1, 2020 13:09:25 GMT
A shout out to David Marks! First, a Marksmen track:
...I was expecting maybe one track on That's Why God Made The Radio that resembled something like this - featuring David Marks on guitar. This snippet is an old Marksmen song, "The Sheriff Of Noddingham". I do NOT think it would've sounded out of place following "Beaches In Mind". The album needed it!
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Post by B.E. on Aug 1, 2020 13:27:23 GMT
I just finished listening to the David Marks & the Marksmen compilation and was about to highlight both of those songs! I'm not sure if a roaring surf rock instrumental like "Sheriff Of Noddingham" would have fit on TWGMTR, but it tops a lot of the early Beach Boys instrumentals. If anyone hasn't listened to that comp, I'd recommend listening to the following tracks:
- Sheriff Of Noddingham - Kustom Kar Show - Don't Cry For Me - In My Lonely World
Additionally, "Let's Dance" and the instrumental "Travelin'" aren't bad either.
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Post by kds on Aug 3, 2020 13:15:30 GMT
Time for another song battle for The Beach Boys. I've decided to send Jimmy Buffett back into the shredder to see who had the preferred song about food.
Vegetables vs. Jimmy Buffett- Cheeseburger in Paradise (1978)
Why is Jimmy Buffett's feel good music not quite as revered as some of his peers? Well, the answer is that one of his most beloved songs is about a cheeseburger. Yep, and that's one of the reasons I couldn't get into Buffett so much when I was in my early 20s. Even when I first starting listening to his music around 25, Cheeseburger was a slow burn. But, once you surrender to Buffett's world, it makes sense. I mean "I like mine with lettice and tomato, Heinz 57, and french fried potatoes. Big Kosher pickle, and a cold draft beer." That sounds pretty damn good to me, minus the tomato, but to each their own.
One of the things I also like about Cheeseburger is the music is fun, upbeat, and downright infectious.
I really can't say the same for Vegetables, in either incarnation. I've been pretty vocal about not really liking VDP's lyrics on Smile. But, on the best material on the album, Brian's music overcomes any lyrical quibbles. Not so much here. Vegetables might be the first example of "quirky" Brian. A lot of fans like quirky Brian. I don't get it. I feel this song sits awkwardly among it's Smile brothers. But, people love it.
I should also say that my preference for Cheeseburger over vegetables has nothing to do with my preference for food. But, if I had to use that as a tiebreaker, I would. After all, a cheeseburger, fries, and cold beer sound a hell of a lot better than a bag of vegetables.
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Post by B.E. on Aug 3, 2020 17:17:00 GMT
[Allow me to catch up before moving on to the new song battle.]
It appear we all pretty much agree on the solo debut showdown: Dennis, followed by Brian, followed by Al, Carl, and Mike (and Blondie and Bruce). I'm right there with ya.
1. Pacific Ocean Blue - Too many highlights to choose from. 2. Brian Wilson - "Melt Away" and "Love and Mercy"
3. Carl Wilson - "Heaven" and "Hurry Love" 4. A Postcard From California - "Don't Fight The Sea" and "California Dreamin'" 5. Blondie Chaplin - "Woman Don't Cry" and "Bye Bye Baby"
6. Ultimate Collector's Ed. 1963-65 - "Sheriff of Noddingham" and "Don't Cry For Me" 7. Surfin' 'Round The World - "Virginia Beach" and "Down Under" 8. Looking Back With Love - "Runnin' Around The World" and "Over and Over"
I haven't listened to Work Tapes, but if I included Going Public it would have been 3rd tier, 9th place.
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Post by B.E. on Aug 3, 2020 17:17:11 GMT
5. Mike Love - Looking Back With Love ... I actually kind of liked this one when it came out; Mike was still singing well and this album was fun; I recently revisited it and the production and songs aren't as strong as I used to think I'm having a similar experience. It exceeded my expectations initially (not hard), but it hasn't faired too well over time. The production could certainly have been worse, but that doesn't make it good. It seriously lacks energy and the backing vocal arrangements try way too hard to sound like the Beach Boys (and no one's got Brian's '60s falsetto, no one!). Vocally, though, Mike still does sound good in spots (e.g. "One Good Reason"). Far better than he did on some Beach Boys tracks both before and after this album. So, from a Beach Boys fan perspective, that's frustrating, but a positive in regard to this album. The only songs I really enjoy without much reservation are the ones I highlighted above.
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Post by B.E. on Aug 3, 2020 17:19:19 GMT
Second tier:
Blondie Chaplin - I listened to this again yesterday, and it's actually a really solid rock album. What's missing are truly great songs; what's present are great arrangements and performances. Certainly the most rocking of the guys' debuts! I'm glad to see I'm not the only one. Despite not being a big Blondie fan, I was pleasantly surprised by this album. Perhaps I like him more as a solo artist than a Beach Boy? Hmm. Anyway, I completely agree with your assessment, and I'd also add that Blondie's singing exceeded my expectations and the production overall, not just the arrangements, were quite strong. It's got a good mid '70s rock vibe. Actually, I liken it to Dylan's Planet Waves in that regard. I was also getting some mid '70s Paul McCartney and Neil Young vibes here and there. I could see this album coming off a bit bland to some, especially with repeated listens, but I don't know, I think I'll put it to the test and add this to my collection. It might surpass Al and Carl's debuts in time. Also, it might be missing truly great songs, but "Can You Hear Me" has the making of a classic rock staple, I think. Doesn't it share a melody/groove with an established hit? It's driving me crazy that I can't place it! I've probably heard its counterpart 1,000 times.
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Post by B.E. on Aug 5, 2020 13:20:35 GMT
Time for another song battle for The Beach Boys. I've decided to send Jimmy Buffett back into the shredder to see who had the preferred song about food. Vegetables vs. Jimmy Buffett- Cheeseburger in Paradise (1978) Sorry, KDS (and suspecting this might be a trap ), but I'm 100% team "Vega-Tables". I chose the Smile Sessions version, because it's just such a great production. The lead and backing vocals are worth the price of admission alone. Conversely, the female backing vocals in "Cheeseburger in Paradise" are kinda lame. One of the things I also like about Cheeseburger is the music is fun, upbeat, and downright infectious ... I really can't say the same for Vegetables, in either incarnation. I disagree on one count: "Vega-Tables" is fun. I should also say that my preference for Cheeseburger over vegetables has nothing to do with my preference for food. But, if I had to use that as a tiebreaker, I would. After all, a cheeseburger, fries, and cold beer sound a hell of a lot better than a bag of vegetables. And....I'm back!
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