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Post by kds on Oct 15, 2020 19:13:49 GMT
No brainer here for me. I'm going with the Brothers Righteous. I think the BB version benefits by its inclusion of a fairly weak album.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Oct 15, 2020 20:52:30 GMT
A lot of Beach Boys' '60s attempts at covering other artists seem to go in favor of the Boys. From there on, the results aren't always as definitive. One of the better songs on 15 Big Ones in my opinion is "Just Once in My Life," originally released in 1965 by the Righteous Brothers (written by Carole King, Gerry Goffin, and Phil Spector).
Preference? This one is harder than I thought it would be. I actually started thinking about this comparison a few days ago when I heard The Righteous Brothers' version on an oldies station. If it wouldn't be for Brian's too-strained and off-key vocal, I would go with The Beach Boys' version. I love Brian's backing track and Carl sings his heart out. However, even though Bobby Hatfield surprisingly isn't very prevalent, Bill Medley does a heck of a job. He's a great singer. He carries the song. I like the "old sound" of Spector's echo chamber, too. The Righteous Brothers by a hair.
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Post by jk on Oct 15, 2020 21:35:36 GMT
A lot of Beach Boys' '60s attempts at covering other artists seem to go in favor of the Boys. From there on, the results aren't always as definitive. One of the better songs on 15 Big Ones in my opinion is "Just Once in My Life," originally released in 1965 by the Righteous Brothers (written by Carole King, Gerry Goffin, and Phil Spector).
Preference? This one is harder than I thought it would be. I actually started thinking about this comparison a few days ago when I heard The Righteous Brothers' version on an oldies station. If it wouldn't be for Brian's too-strained and off-key vocal, I would go with The Beach Boys' version. I love Brian's backing track and Carl sings his heart out. However, even though Bobby Hatfield surprisingly isn't very prevalent, Bill Medley does a heck of a job. He's a great singer. He carries the song. I like the "old sound" of Spector's echo chamber, too. The Righteous Brothers by a hair. This just about sums it up for me too.
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Post by B.E. on Oct 16, 2020 3:14:45 GMT
Oh boy, how to say this? As big of a fan as I am of 15 Big Ones, I'll never mistake it for Pet Sounds.
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Post by kds on Dec 18, 2020 18:47:37 GMT
Here's a BB v Everyone match up as we're now seven days from Christmas
The Beach Boys - Christmas Album (1964) v Phil Spector - A Christmas Gift for You (1963)
Brian Wilson himself called called Spector's Christmas album his favorite album of all time. And for good reason.
Both albums include one original song that went on to become an iconic Christmas classic - Little Saint Nick (although the single version is probably more iconic than the album version) and Christmas (Baby Please Come Home). The covers on Spector's album seem to have stood the test of time slightly better than the Dick Reynolds Beach Boys arrangements.
To his credit, Brian penned five originals for the BB album. However, the five BB band songs coupled with the six covers arranged by Reynolds do give the album a bit of a disjointed feel. Even though Spector's album featured The Crystals, the Ronettes, Darlene Love, and Bob B. Soxx, the backing tracks by The Wrecking Crew give the album more of a cohesive feel than the Boys' album.
Each album features somewhat awkward spoken greetings at the end, by Phil over Silent Night, and Dennis over Auld Lang Syne.
I probably have more of an attachment to The Beach Boys Christmas album as the album is a part of my childhood, and I get all the Christmas feels from the moment I put it on. While I was aware of many of the Spector songs, I never listened to the album in full until I was maybe 35 (I can't recall exactly, but definitely in my mid 30s). But, song for song, Spector delivers a better full Christmas album listening experience.
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Post by B.E. on Dec 18, 2020 19:37:12 GMT
The Beach Boys. Simply my favorite Christmas album. Easy to nitpick, but my favorite nonetheless. It feels more and more like Christmas with each passing year!
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Post by kds on Dec 18, 2020 19:50:42 GMT
Had you asked me a few years ago, I'd go Beach Boys all the way (and I still almost did), but the Spector album has grown to be one of my favorites over the last five years.
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Post by jk on Dec 18, 2020 20:02:00 GMT
Had you asked me a few years ago, I'd go Beach Boys all the way (and I still almost did), but the Spector album has grown to be one of my favorites over the last five years. Yes, it's very difficult for me too these days. I've had a dreadful copy of the Spector album on CD for years. It sounds so much better on YouTube! Neither album played a part in my formative years, maybe Uncle Phil's slightly more than the Boys'. But their album is more intimate -- by definition, I suppose. So I'll go for that.
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Post by kds on Dec 18, 2020 20:07:23 GMT
Had you asked me a few years ago, I'd go Beach Boys all the way (and I still almost did), but the Spector album has grown to be one of my favorites over the last five years. Yes, it's very difficult for me too these days. I've had a dreadful copy of the Spector album on CD for years. It sounds so much better on YouTube! Neither album played a part in my formative years, maybe Uncle Phil's slightly more than the Boys'. But their album is more intimate -- by definition, I suppose. So I'll go for that. I bought a very good sounding remastered CD of the Spector Christmas album a few years ago. I actually listened to both albums today. And, to be honest, thinking about the music and the memories of those Beach Boys voices while trimming the tree as a kid, I'm starting to reconsider my vote for Phil.
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Post by B.E. on Dec 18, 2020 20:36:11 GMT
I actually listened to both albums today. And, to be honest, thinking about the music and the memories of those Beach Boys voices while trimming the tree as a kid, I'm starting to reconsider my vote for Phil. It really is all about those voices. Well, not all about those voices, but that's what makes the album extra special to me. Brian, in particular, with his pristine high voice. His singing on Side 2 overcomes any (slight) reservations I might have with Reynolds' contributions. I recently read about/watched a video on the album and was reminded that "Blue Christmas" was Brian's idea to include, and for him to sing, and incorporated (at 2:01) Brian's favorite part of "Rhapsody In Blue". Anyway, I'm rambling now, but I also wanted to add that I, too, discovered Spector's album later in life, and it's grown on me as well.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 18, 2020 22:15:48 GMT
Spector by a knockout.
The Beach Boys' Christmas Album is enjoyable but ultimately disappointing. It contains too many slow songs and not enough, well...fun. For fast popular Christmas songs you have "Frosty The Snowman" and "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" and that's about it. And, other than "Little Saint Nick", which was written/recorded a year BEFORE the Christmas album, Brian's new compositions are less than the standards he set earlier in 1964. I do like the slow Christmas songs; there's just too many of 'em.
Spector's Christmas album is a classic. One great song after another. Many have become Christmas standards. I'll bet I hear a half dozen songs from A Christmas Gift For You consistently each year on the radio, and it appears to be getting stronger as the years go by. Look at all the artists who have covered those songs/arrangements. Tremendous vocals, arrangements, musicianship, and energy. Yes, a Christmas album can have energy.
I'll bet Brian himself (as kds alluded to) would easily pick A Christmas Gift For You over The Beach Boys' Christmas Album.
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 19, 2020 14:02:43 GMT
Admission: I almost never listen to the Beach Boys' Christmas album. Like, not even once a year. Of course I'll hear that song several times a year--you know the one, the one that plays every Christmas in stores, in commercials, that has been covered many times (including by a few Beach Boys). (Yes, I mean "Little St. Nick.")
Conversely I do listen to the Spector Christmas album, not necessarily at Christmas, but occasionally. As a rule, I prefer Wilson/Beach Boys to Spector, but for the Christmas albums?
Spector. (And I might put Motown in second place.)
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Post by kds on Dec 19, 2020 15:00:10 GMT
Spector by a knockout.
The Beach Boys' Christmas Album is enjoyable but ultimately disappointing. It contains too many slow songs and not enough, well...fun. For fast popular Christmas songs you have "Frosty The Snowman" and "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" and that's about it. And, other than "Little Saint Nick", which was written/recorded a year BEFORE the Christmas album, Brian's new compositions are less than the standards he set earlier in 1964. I do like the slow Christmas songs; there's just too many of 'em.
Spector's Christmas album is a classic. One great song after another. Many have become Christmas standards. I'll bet I hear a half dozen songs from A Christmas Gift For You consistently each year on the radio, and it appears to be getting stronger as the years go by. Look at all the artists who have covered those songs/arrangements. Tremendous vocals, arrangements, musicianship, and energy. Yes, a Christmas album can have energy.
I'll bet Brian himself (as kds alluded to) would easily pick A Christmas Gift For You over The Beach Boys' Christmas Album.
For me, the slow songs are the best of the covers, especially We Three Kings. I actually used to have the album on cassette, and We Three Kings followed Christmas Day instead of Frosty. Switching those two songs actually made for a better sequence IMO.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 19, 2020 15:11:41 GMT
Spector by a knockout.
The Beach Boys' Christmas Album is enjoyable but ultimately disappointing. It contains too many slow songs and not enough, well...fun. For fast popular Christmas songs you have "Frosty The Snowman" and "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" and that's about it. And, other than "Little Saint Nick", which was written/recorded a year BEFORE the Christmas album, Brian's new compositions are less than the standards he set earlier in 1964. I do like the slow Christmas songs; there's just too many of 'em.
Spector's Christmas album is a classic. One great song after another. Many have become Christmas standards. I'll bet I hear a half dozen songs from A Christmas Gift For You consistently each year on the radio, and it appears to be getting stronger as the years go by. Look at all the artists who have covered those songs/arrangements. Tremendous vocals, arrangements, musicianship, and energy. Yes, a Christmas album can have energy.
I'll bet Brian himself (as kds alluded to) would easily pick A Christmas Gift For You over The Beach Boys' Christmas Album.
For me, the slow songs are the best of the covers, especially We Three Kings. I actually used to have the album on cassette, and We Three Kings followed Christmas Day instead of Frosty. Switching those two songs actually made for a better sequence IMO. I love "We Three Kings". After "Little Saint Nick", it's probably my favorite song on the album. I actually came across more than one person who didn't particularly care for the Beach Boys' version of "We Three Kings". They thought it was too slow.
Again, to be clear, I like the slow Christmas songs on the album. I just think there's too many - or - there's not enough fast ones. Maybe with the addition of another one or two fast songs, the sequencing could've/would've been drastically different and the pacing wouldn't be a problem. That is, unless they/Brian were still adamant about that fast/slow side philosophy.
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Post by kds on Dec 19, 2020 15:16:17 GMT
I don't think its really the number of slow songs, for me its more about the sequencing. Especially on the back end. I think an upbeat staple between I'll Be Home and ALS would've benefitted the album.
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