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Post by The Cincinnati Kid on Jun 12, 2020 18:10:51 GMT
Along the same vein as the Beach Boys vs Everybody thread, I figured we can do the same here, but versus other Beach Boys songs/albums, etc. Matchups could be completely random or related to each other. First up, we'll be debating two of the Mike Love leads on Pet Sounds, That's Not Me and Here Today. I have to go with Here Today. Mike's vocal is a little better on it, plus I enjoy the backing track much more. I think I remember reading that Good Vibrations was loosely born out of it as well.
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Post by kds on Jun 12, 2020 18:15:30 GMT
Here Today has a better overall arrangement, but I'm going with That's Not Me by a hair. I really like the droning organ and the guitar licks (which are similar to Let Him Run Wild). I also really enjoy the interplay between Mike's vocals and Brian's higher vocals.
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bellbottoms
Pacific Coast Highway
Posts: 727
Likes: 201
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Post by bellbottoms on Jun 12, 2020 18:56:00 GMT
Wow tough one. I love both songs equally, they're both a 10. But if I have to choose, and the match factor is Mike's Pet Sounds vocals, I'm going with Here Today. And that's because while Mike sings wonderfully on both songs, Here Today just sounds more like Mike's world, whereas That's Not Me is so Briany, in terms of the theme.
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Post by Kapitan on Jun 12, 2020 23:20:32 GMT
(Thanks, TCK, for another idea to spark ongoing engagement.)
REALLY tough one, because both songs are great in so very, very different ways.
"That's Not Me" is, relatively speaking, simple and sparse. That puts real pressure on the underlying song and the performance: each of the fewer instruments, the lyrics, and the execution really matter. The band nailed it. I love this song. The theme is perfect for the album, and even for the state of the band at the time, explicitly and implicitly being about outgrowing their younger pursuits. The rhythms of auxiliary percussion against the 12-string guitar, organ, and vocal are an exercise in tension. The harmonies are fabulous. The insertion of Brian's voice instead of Mike' on the higher register lines is seamless. This is a great album track.
"Here Today" is one of those songs nobody knows if they haven't bought and listened to the album itself. It is a triumph, a showcase for the majesty of Brian D. Wilson at arguably the height of his powers in terms of composition, arrangement, and production. No offense to Mike's vocal, which is great. But the star here is the track, the arrangement. It is really epic, cinematic, in scope. That instrumental break!
I pick ... I'm not sure. I'll get back to you. Apples and oranges, both delicious.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jun 13, 2020 14:18:46 GMT
I voted for "That's Not Me". Obviously they are both great songs, but I like the feel or the vibe of "That's Not Me" better. They are very different songs, though. "That's Not Me" is introspective and "Here Today" is an in-your-face almost rant. "That's Not me" was recorded by the four Beach Boys, but Brian used The Wrecking Crew for "Here Today". The lyrics to "That's Not Me" could've come from Brian, and the lyrics to "Here Today" sound like something Mike would write, but I guess Tony Asher wrote the lyrics to both as Mike is not credited. It's close but "That's Not Me" in a close decision.
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Post by The Cincinnati Kid on Jun 16, 2020 14:33:19 GMT
Well, looks like this one is ending in a tie 2-2. Not too surprising considering both are great songs.
Up next we have two sort of throwback songs, Do It Again and It's Ok. Both are great beginning of summer songs with their lyrical themes and both had moderate chart success. For a while I would have easily chose Do It Again, but I've really grown fond of It's Ok the past couple years. I'll have to think about this one.
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Post by Kapitan on Jun 16, 2020 14:47:37 GMT
Well, looks like this one is ending in a tie 2-2. Not too surprising considering both are great songs. I hadn't voted because my brain was in a tie. However, if I must be the tiebreaker: Here Today gets my vote. Barely.
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Post by kds on Jun 16, 2020 14:58:34 GMT
It's OK has also really grown on me over the years, and I think it's far and away the best song on the 15 Big Ones album. Do It Again is great, and I was tempted to vote against it because it's been remade three times in the last eight years (granted that's not the original song's fault). But, I'm going with Do It Again, because I think it's got more of that classic BB feel they're going for, particularly with the background vocals and guitar during the "Hey Now Hey Now" part. Also, it feels a little more complete.
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Post by Kapitan on Jun 16, 2020 15:08:48 GMT
I'm going with It's OK. While the songs are in my opinion of a similar quality, I think it's the better arrangement and production. I don't find the original "Do It Again" to have the punch one would want from a rock and roll song like it.
That said, obviously I prefer the vocals on DIA, where everyone was at or near his prime; on It's OK, they're much sketchier.
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zinczag
The Surfer Moon
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Likes: 90
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Post by zinczag on Jun 16, 2020 15:13:47 GMT
"It's OK" >
>
>
>
"Do It Again"
"It's OK" #FTW #best
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bellbottoms
Pacific Coast Highway
Posts: 727
Likes: 201
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Post by bellbottoms on Jun 16, 2020 19:44:25 GMT
Another strong match up! I'm going with Do It Again, by a nose, for the following reasons:
1. The drum intro - one of the coolest sounds in any Beach Boys song ever. 2. "With a girl the lonely sea looks good..." While self-referencing is typically something that makes me cringe in the Beach Boys universe, this reference is magical. 3. "Been so long, hey now" section - the energy there is so friggin' good. 4. The "Come and do it" harmony background vocals at 1:55 do something crazy to my insides. 5. Brian's "ba ba ba"s - self explanatory.
Not to say that It's OK doesn't do some really nice things as well, they are worth mentioning:
1. Mike's "Yeeeeahhhh's 2. When that fun drum beat kicks in at the "lookin' good down the hood" line 3. "Find a ride" - can relate
Seriously, I put It's OK in my summer playlist but not Do It Again? What's wrong with me. Needs to be rectified immediately.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jun 16, 2020 21:24:04 GMT
Seriously, I put It's OK in my summer playlist but not Do It Again? What's wrong with me. Needs to be rectified immediately. I think "It's OK" is a better summer song.
Anyway, this is another tough one. I think "Do It Again" is a slightly better song, but I don't necessarily enjoy it or prefer it over "It's OK" if that makes sense. "Do It Again" has that great intro, a nice melody, a really cool sounding bridge, and Brian's still-young voice present. The bridge lyrics are kind of funny, though. "Do It Again" starts off and ends as a reuniting/reminiscing-type song, but the bridge goes into a thing about girls, the lonely sea, and night time which have nothing to do with the rest of the song - unless they are reminiscing about those things. The bridge lyrics always sounded out of place to me. And, speaking of Mike, his lead vocal is a bit underwhelming. "Do It Again" really could've rocked more which is evidenced on Live In London and Knebworth. That early "Rendezvous" version rocks a little, too. Brian was really starting to chill out in 1968 and I think it's reflected in his production of "Do It Again". All of that being said, "Do It Again" is an all-timer. It could've successfully opened any concert since 1968. It's one of best post-hit years' songs. It belongs on most "best of" comps. I think Brian likes it, too.
Simply, "It's OK" is one of my favorite Beach Boys' songs. Of any period. Somehow in his later and damaged state, Brian was still able to get that "good feelin" sound in his music. "It's OK" just makes you feel good. That "Got to go through it, gonna go through it, got to get with it" chorus is so great. Love Marilyn's voice in the mix. Mike's a little wordy, and I wish Brian would've used Carl instead of Dennis on the tag. Not that Dennis didn't do the part well, but I would rather hear a more familiar BB voice like Carl's, especially on the radio. There aren't many distinguishable instruments in the mix, and I'll be damned if I can hear Roy Wood on the sax. One of the great "what ifs" in Beach Boys' history is what if "It's OK" was released as the lead single in 1976 instead of "Rock And Roll Music". Mike has kept "It's OK" alive over the years; I think HE likes it.
It's almost impossible to choose between these two songs. Like I mentioned above, I think "Do It Again" is the better song, but I might like "It's OK" more. I'll go with "Do It Again" by a hair.
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Post by Kapitan on Jun 17, 2020 0:42:06 GMT
Just listening to these again. I really think the MiC mix of It's OK was useful: it very wisely seems to have brought up the drums and claps in volume and their high end. Maybe that's my imagination, but my thoughts on the original were that the vocals were too high and the percussion was both quiet and dull. MiC really did a good job both fixing some levels and just clarifying it all.
(I also like the MiC [2012] mix of Do It Again, for that matter.)
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jun 17, 2020 12:24:15 GMT
I think "Do It Again" and "It's OK" have something else in common, and that is how they relate to Brian's songwriting career or legend.
Is it fair to say that after Pet Sounds, Smiley Smile, parts of Wild Honey, and Friends, that most Beach Boys' fans thought they heard the last of good old B. Wilson/M. Love fun-in-the-sun Beach Boys' music. And then along came "Do It Again". I wonder how many people were thinking and saying that Brian Wilson could sit down at any time and crank out a classic BB song - if he wanted to.
In the early 1970's, Brian was dealing with increasing mental illness and what came out were songs like "Til I Die", "A Day In The Life Of A Tree", "You Need A Mess Of Help To Stand Alone", and "Funky Pretty". Had we heard the last of the "old" Brian Wilson? And B. Wilson/ M. Love compositions? Nope. Fun is in, it's no sin, it's that time again to shed your load, hit the road...Yep, he still had it. He could STILL write those good-feelin' BB classics.
Now, fast forward 36 years and Mike wants to write again with Cousin Brian. Whenever I read or hear about Mike wanting to write again with Brian and re-create the old magic, "Do It Again" and especially "It's OK" are the two songs that come to mind. Could Brian and Mike do it again? Could Brian sit down at the piano and crank out yet another classic Beach Boyish, good-timin' song? If he wanted to?
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Post by The Cincinnati Kid on Jun 21, 2020 16:19:42 GMT
Looks like Do It Again wins in a 4-2 vote.
Today we're going to shift to a battle between two great albums, Today and Summer Days (and Summer Nights). I'm going to go with Today. While SD/SN arguably has higher highs, there is not much that can beat the run of songs on side two of Today. Side one is pretty great as well, which makes for a great full album listening experience.
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