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Post by B.E. on Sept 23, 2021 0:17:15 GMT
I was leaning toward "Boys of Summer" right off the bat (a song that I've heard, and enjoyed, hundreds of times on classic rock radio), but I thought I ought to wait 'til I got home and had a chance to listen to them back-to-back...well, I only made it about 20 seconds before I called it for "Boys of Summer". It's just such a classic!
It's funny, there's been a few mentions of Henley recently. I've been listened to a lot more of the Eagles this year than I typically do, and have been planning on delving into Henley's solo career for months now. I'll get around to it! (When it comes to the Eagles, I'm more of a Henley guy.)
By the way, I'm not sure I was aware of Mike Campbell's involvement. Listening to it with that knowledge, the guitar part just screams classic Heartbreakers.
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Post by kds on Sept 23, 2021 12:13:55 GMT
I was leaning toward "Boys of Summer" right off the bat (a song that I've heard, and enjoyed, hundreds of times on classic rock radio), but I thought I ought to wait 'til I got home and had a chance to listen to them back-to-back...well, I only made it about 20 seconds before I called it for "Boys of Summer". It's just such a classic! It's funny, there's been a few mentions of Henley recently. I've been listened to a lot more of the Eagles this year than I typically do, and have been planning on delving into Henley's solo career for months now. I'll get around to it! (When it comes to the Eagles, I'm more of a Henley guy.) By the way, I'm not sure I was aware of Mike Campbell's involvement. Listening to it with that knowledge, the guitar part just screams classic Heartbreakers. I knew he played on the track, but didn't realize that Campbell had actually written it with Petty in mind until I saw this article last year ultimateclassicrock.com/don-henley-boys-of-summer-tom-petty/
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Sept 23, 2021 16:47:47 GMT
I love everything about "Summer's Gone". Everything. I think it's one of the two best songs on the album. I never expected Brian to turn in such an emotive vocal again. I wish they would've taken a chance and released it as a single, maybe in some kind of special edited single mix form.
That being said, I'm voting for "Boys Of Summer". It's too iconic. It's too special. I don't think Henley ever topped it, though I'm not a fan. I never knew Mike Campbell wrote it. I always wondered if The Beach Boys were an influence in the writing of the song.
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Post by kds on Sept 23, 2021 16:57:43 GMT
I love everything about "Summer's Gone". Everything. I think it's one of the two best songs on the album. I never expected Brian to turn in such an emotive vocal again. I wish they would've taken a chance and released it as a single, maybe in some kind of special edited single mix form.
That being said, I'm voting for "Boys Of Summer". It's too iconic. It's too special. I don't think Henley ever topped it, though I'm not a fan. I never knew Mike Campbell wrote it. I always wondered if The Beach Boys were an influence in the writing of the song.
I think Summer's Gone would've made sense for a late summer single, even if it's a bit down beat. Maybe pair it with Strange World or Shelter. But, it seems like by then, another promotion of TWGMTR was limited to Mike pitching the bundle packs at shows. I don't really detect a whole lot of BB influence in Boys of Summer, but you never know.
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Post by Kapitan on Sept 24, 2021 15:05:39 GMT
Here is a song the Beach Boys covered in 1967--just a few months after the original was released. It's Stevie Wonder's "I Was Made to Love Her," off his album of the same name. The single was released in June of that year, followed by the album in August.
The Beach Boys recorded the song that fall for their December 1967 album Wild Honey, with Carl on lead vocals.
Which do you prefer?
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Post by kds on Sept 24, 2021 16:27:10 GMT
I really like The Beach Boys cover, but I'm going with Stevie here. I prefer to hear Stevie than Carl do a Stevie impression (which he did again on I Do Love You).
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Emdeeh
Pacific Coast Highway
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Post by Emdeeh on Sept 24, 2021 17:37:07 GMT
I love both versions equally, so a tie.
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sockit
The Surfer Moon
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Post by sockit on Oct 7, 2021 22:57:41 GMT
I love both versions equally, so a tie. My thoughts exactly. There are high points to both versions. Stevie's has the bridge; the Beach Boys recorded one, but didn't use it. I'll never understand why. It breaks up an otherwise repetitious song. I even made my own edit, putting the bridge in the correct place (before the last verse, not at the end), and it mostly works. Where's that confounded bridge indeed! I really like the instrumentation of the Beach Boys version, and it sounds even better in stereo. The keyboard, the bass, heavy tambourine action...it all sounds great. Stevie is obviously the better vocalist, although Carl puts in a pretty good (although straining) effort. The Beach Boys version has...well, the Beach Boys doing some great backing vocals. So, pretty even Steven, if you ask me!
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Post by Kapitan on Oct 7, 2021 23:22:26 GMT
Stevie is obviously the better vocalist, although Carl puts in a pretty good (although straining) effort. Glad you said that, because as GREAT a singer as Carl obviously was, and while someone might prefer this or that one doing that or this material, Stevie ... Stevie is unbelievably good.
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sockit
The Surfer Moon
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Post by sockit on Oct 8, 2021 23:13:30 GMT
Ok, I've got one: California Dreamin'
Mamas and the Papas (1966)? or Beach Boys (1986)? or any other particular cover of it?
I will say right off that it's another stalemate for me, because once again there are things I like and dislike about each one. I'll swing by later and go into more detail. Meanwhile, have at it!
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Oct 8, 2021 23:53:25 GMT
Ok, I've got one: California Dreamin' Mamas and the Papas (1966)? or Beach Boys (1986)? or any other particular cover of it? I will say right off that it's another stalemate for me, because once again there are things I like and dislike about each one. I'll swing by later and go into more detail. Meanwhile, have at it! I like 'em both, but I'll give the slight edge to The Mamas & The Papas' version. Not that there's anything wrong with The Beach Boys' arrangement and vocals - there isn't - but I think I like the dreamy, more acoustic, folksy approach of John, Denny, Michelle, and Cass a little more.
Since you brought up these two particular versions, there's something about each of them that always bothered me. First, with The Mamas & The Papas version, it's hard to find a nice, clear version of the song. I don't what tape Lou Adler used, but there's a lot of distortion, muffled instruments, and lack of clarity on the track, especially with the vocals. With The Beach Boys version, I always wondered why they repeated the line, "I'd be safe and warm, if I was in L.A." instead of, the second time around, "If I didn't tell her, I could leave today". I've never heard/read it addressed.
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Post by kds on Oct 9, 2021 0:50:00 GMT
While I think the Mamas and Papas version is the better one, I find myself listening to the BB cover more the last several years.
This goes back to the summer of 2009, at 28 going on 29. I'd gotten myself to a better restarting point in my life. I finished my second degree, and I was living in my first home.
That September, I was set to take my first week long vacation in eight years. It was a summer of great expectation.
On Friday nights, after work, I'd meet my family for dinner. By the time I got home, my roommate would typically be at the bar. So, I'd put on comfy clothes, grab a bunch of CDs, and have some beers and cocktails.
I listened to a mix of lighter stuff. I was still a casual BB fan, so I only owned Sounds of Summer and Warmth of the Sun. I would play the songs I was familiar with on each, and that included California Dreaming. So, that song, as well as a few others earned association with that summer of '09, which due to the anticipation of vacation is the only summer of my adult life that didn't go as fast as a listen to the Wild Honey album.
So, for sentimental reasons, I'm picking the Boys. Plus, those leads by Al and Carl are just amazing. I even dig the 80s sax.
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Post by Kapitan on Oct 9, 2021 1:09:00 GMT
I've gotta go with the original. The Beach Boys version definitely has its merits, but some of the production...just not for me.
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sockit
The Surfer Moon
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Post by sockit on Oct 9, 2021 3:11:51 GMT
Ok, I've got one: California Dreamin' Mamas and the Papas (1966)? or Beach Boys (1986)? or any other particular cover of it? I will say right off that it's another stalemate for me, because once again there are things I like and dislike about each one. I'll swing by later and go into more detail. Meanwhile, have at it! I like 'em both, but I'll give the slight edge to The Mamas & The Papas' version. Me too.
Not that there's anything wrong with The Beach Boys' arrangement and vocals - there isn't - but I think I like the dreamy, more acoustic, folksy approach of John, Denny, Michelle, and Cass a little more. There's something very bluesy in the lead vocal of the M&Ps version, especially in the "Stopped into a church..." part. Carl does something a little different there, not inferior but different. There's also something to be said about the mix of male and female vocals.
Since you brought up these two particular versions, there's something about each of them that always bothered me. First, with The Mamas & The Papas version, it's hard to find a nice, clear version of the song. I've noticed that too. I think there is some story behind that, in that there may not be a first generation master for that track. BTW, are you aware of the ghost vocal in one of the channels of the stereo mix? You can hear it faintly in headphones. That was the original lead vocal by Barry McGuire. There's a whole story behind that.
With The Beach Boys version, I always wondered why they repeated the line, "I'd be safe and warm, if I was in L.A." instead of, the second time around, "If I didn't tell her, I could leave today". I've never heard/read it addressed. Hmmm, never noticed that. Good question.
So, I've pretty much stated what gives the M&Ps version the slight edge, in spite of some technical issues. Here's what makes the Beach Boys version special to me: Right off, Roger McGuinn's 12-string guitar elevates this version into the stratosphere. I love that sound throughout, right down to the final fade where it dissolves into a wash of reverb. Gorgeous! I like that signature Beach Boys vocal "ooh-ooh-ooh" just before that last chorus repeat and fade. I prefer the sax solo over the flute solo, even though it has a bit of that 1980s gimmicky sound to it. It's very Beach Boys-y. The slight deal killer on the Beach Boys version are the typical 80s gated drums and the over-verbed vocals giving you that arena sound as opposed to the more intimate sounding M&Ps version. For this reason, I ever so slightly prefer the M&Ps version. BTW, the group America released a cover of California Dreamin', but I haven't heard it in quite awhile and I don't recall anything notable about it (although America is one of my favorites). You don't hear much about that version.
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Post by jk on Oct 9, 2021 9:00:17 GMT
I missed out on "I Was Made To l Love Her", My vote goes to Carl and the Boys. I don't miss the bridge -- it sounds impressive, what I've heard of it, but I think leaving it out was the right thing to do. One facet that seriously tips the scales in favour of the Boys' version is that tambourine! I'm an absolute sucker for tambourines (even electronically produced tambourines) rattling out those semiquavers. As for "California Dreamin'", my vote goes to the original (although the BB version definitely has its charms). For me, one of the most mysterious moments in all pop is when Bud Shank plays the first note of the flute solo. That first note has always sounded to me for all the world like a French horn, as in the horn solo from the finale of Brahms's Symphony No. 1 (here at 3:31), with all the associations that brings:
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