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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Sept 10, 2021 22:16:02 GMT
I'm also glad to see it. We know that moving product is the primary way to convince the powers that be to release more in the future (other than purely digital, since obviously we know there will be copyright releases of some sort or other regardless). Speaking of Feel Flows, how are people treating it now? Still listening much? Or was it just that first week's excitement, now died down?
I've been listening to the album I made quite a bit, but have mostly stopped listening to the rest of the set. I've been going back to my "current favorites" playlist more and more, although I did add about half of my album to it haha. I'm with The Cincinnati Kid on this one. As you could probably predict, I'm very interested in the comps we made. I've been working on a double-album Sunflower. I'm struggling more than I expected in compiling a Dennis Wilson solo album from that time frame, but I'll figure it out. I enjoyed some of the backing tracks and a cappella tracks, but, as I expected, I'm not sure how many times I'll revisit them. I do like some of the fresh, new mixes of some of the songs that were previously bootlegs only. I have some issues with the mastering or sound quality of the Sunflower album; eventually I'll get into them.
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Post by B.E. on Sept 11, 2021 0:29:33 GMT
It's the previously unreleased tracks, some of the new mixes, and ESPECIALLY the 'vocals only' tracks that I'll be revisiting down the road. No surprise there, really. Meanwhile, I've put a pause on my listening, simply because my mood took me elsewhere. I still haven't listened to about a third of it yet! I'll return to it sooner rather than later. But, I won't be listening to any of it obsessively.
Edit: To be clear, I won't be putting those 'vocals only' tracks "on a shelf" and forgetting about them, is what I'm saying. I'll listen to them, along with the others that have been released on previous compilations, for years to come. Though, admittedly, only on a semi-regular basis (as the regular/full versions are, of course, still my go-to).
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sockit
The Surfer Moon
Posts: 234
Likes: 181
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Post by sockit on Sept 12, 2021 20:12:29 GMT
As I mentioned here a month or two ago...at least I think it was here...isolated tracks are of interest to me once or twice through. After that, I don't have much use for 'em. My SMiLE box is collecting dust on a shelf in my closet. For that reason I have decided to pass on the Feel Flows box, at least for now (my current financial situation is also a factor).
I did manage to scrape up enough scratch to get the 2 disc set, as it includes a fair amount of the unreleased "complete" tracks.
I have mixed feelings about it so far, but I believe the positives outweigh the downers.
I'm not going to be able to cover all this in one post, so I'll start with my overall first impressions. First, the packaging of the 2 disc PISSES ME OFF! Why couldn't they go with the jewel box like they did with Sunshine Tomorrow??? There's nothing to protect these free-floating discs. I've already had both discs roll out (at the same time) and hit the floor. Fortunately it was in my carpeted bedroom. Had it been in the living room on my hardwood floor...game over! I'm sure these discs will scratch before long anyway just sliding them in and out of the flimsy cardboard cover. The one positive: I do like the booklet. Great job, all those who contributed.
As others have stated, the remastering of the albums sound a bit harsh. Someone surmised that there was some "smiley face" eq applied. That's what it sounds like to me. I'll stick with my SACDs of both albums.
The remixed bonus tracks sound much better, with a few nitpicky exceptions. I see a lot of the issues have been discussed, so I might contribute my detailed thoughts later.
But hey, how about some highlights?! It's great to finally hear a "finished" version of Soulful Old Man Sunshine! Wow, I would like to know the background on this mix. For so many years I thought what we had was all there ever was. The EH mix goes into fake stereo at least five times, right? This mix is not perfect--it sounds like Carl(?) is a little out of synch on the tags. And what happened to the harpsichord? Is it buried (like the xylophone) or gone completely? Anyway, this song has always been a favorite of mine and I like this mix.
It's a New Day is a totally new song to me. It's quickly become a favorite. It sounds very indicative of the era and I can imagine it being on a single. Big Sur is beautiful. Another favorite. (Wouldn't it be Nice) to live again is amazing. I like how they reeled the guitar in a bit on the break and filled that part in with backing vocals and other things. The earlier mix always sounded unfinished there.
Well that's a start. I'll comment more later.
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Post by Kapitan on Sept 15, 2021 12:56:40 GMT
It's great to finally hear a "finished" version of Soulful Old Man Sunshine! Wow, I would like to know the background on this mix. For so many years I thought what we had was all there ever was. The EH mix goes into fake stereo at least five times, right? This mix is not perfect--it sounds like Carl(?) is a little out of synch on the tags. And what happened to the harpsichord? Is it buried (like the xylophone) or gone completely? Anyway, this song has always been a favorite of mine and I like this mix. I would gladly pay to watch a documentary about this song's journey from composition to this version's release. The material those sessions obviously produced was remarkable in how different the two released mixes are! And getting rid of that sound in the EH mix that I've always felt was a weird tinniness--and from what you say here, might be fake stereo causing what I hear?--is a godsend.
I'm assuming the slightly out of sync vocal (not to mention lack of shunshine) means they found another take, maybe a rehearsal take done before harmonies were laid down, so there was nothing to sync to yet. (And then the "final" was done over the harmonies.) Total guesswork, but it would explain it.
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sockit
The Surfer Moon
Posts: 234
Likes: 181
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Post by sockit on Sept 15, 2021 23:54:22 GMT
It's great to finally hear a "finished" version of Soulful Old Man Sunshine! Wow, I would like to know the background on this mix. For so many years I thought what we had was all there ever was. The EH mix goes into fake stereo at least five times, right? This mix is not perfect--it sounds like Carl(?) is a little out of synch on the tags. And what happened to the harpsichord? Is it buried (like the xylophone) or gone completely? Anyway, this song has always been a favorite of mine and I like this mix. I would gladly pay to watch a documentary about this song's journey from composition to this version's release. The material those sessions obviously produced was remarkable in how different the two released mixes are! And getting rid of that sound in the EH mix that I've always felt was a weird tinniness--and from what you say here, might be fake stereo causing what I hear?--is a godsend.
I'm assuming the slightly out of sync vocal (not to mention lack of shunshine) means they found another take, maybe a rehearsal take done before harmonies were laid down, so there was nothing to sync to yet. (And then the "final" was done over the harmonies.) Total guesswork, but it would explain it.
Yeah, there has been relatively little behind the scenes info on this one. As for the tinny-ness, obviously some sections were locked into mono mixes, and it sounds like a crude attempt was made to try to match it to the true stereo sections. Listening in headphones is a bit maddening. Ooops, sounds like we're in a tunnel...............and we're out now................annnnd back in the tunnel we go.... I wonder why it wasn't all just mixed in mono back in '98. That wouldn't have been out of touch for 1969-70 tracks, especially if it had been originally intended for a possible single. I certainly wouldn't have complained. The out of synch vocal is certainly not jarring in any way; it's actually subtle enough to where I'm ok with it. If this mix is the be-all-end-all for this song, I'm a happy camper. It's such a great song, isn't it? I can actually imagine hearing it on the radio, circa 1970, among tunes by the Jackson 5, Blood Sweat and Tears, etc, etc....
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Post by The Cincinnati Kid on Sept 16, 2021 0:58:29 GMT
Looks like Feel Flows has dropped out of the charts.
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Post by kds on Sept 16, 2021 19:19:58 GMT
I got the 2CD version as a birthday gift.
I have to say that the packing is pretty cheap. They could've at least done a jewel case.
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Post by Kapitan on Sept 16, 2021 19:24:33 GMT
Looks like Feel Flows has dropped out of the charts. So it was one for what, two weeks? Three?
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Post by kds on Sept 16, 2021 19:32:45 GMT
Just one week
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Post by Kapitan on Sept 16, 2021 20:02:52 GMT
Ah I must have been thinking of the Amazon rankings we'd had mentioned in this thread, that confused me.
I'm easily confused...
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sockit
The Surfer Moon
Posts: 234
Likes: 181
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Post by sockit on Sept 18, 2021 17:15:38 GMT
Well as promised earlier here are some more of my thoughts on the 2CD set. It's a rainy Saturday morning so I've had plenty of time to do some critical listening. Initially I was turned off by When Girls Get Together, but it's beginning to grow on me. I'd heard the backing track a few times before, and I think a rough mix with vocals at least once. The instrumentation is fantastic, quite a production (is that a Celeste I hear in there? I really like that!), but the lyrics are a bit goofy, and the phrasing strikes me as really awkward. "When girls...get....to....gether...." It's kind of an odd duck for a Beach Boys song. But ya know what? It sounds to me like something the Kinks might have done. Does anyone else hear that? For that reason (I'm a big Kinks fan), I'm starting to relate to the song more and more. This latest mix of Cotton Fields is a bit of a disappointment for me. Let's face it, the intro is a train wreck. Matt's count-in is charming, but that whole thing of trying to make the first vocal line sound like the 20/20 version just doesn't work. And it totally distracts from that great steel guitar intro. The overall mix of the song doesn't seem an improvement over past mixes. In fact it seems a bit narrower on the stereo spread than the 2001 Hawthorne mix (which is my preferred mix; is the MiC track a different mix at all?). As a result the '01 mix sounds more distinct and a bit less cluttered, although oddly it's a little louder. San Miguel is an opposite scenario to me. The original mix could barely pass for stereo and the mastering was a little muddy. The new mix really opens things up and I can hear some "new" details. The vocal reverb took a little time for me to get used to, but it's starting to sound more natural to me. Overall I think this one was well done. I've been persistently listening to Won't You Tell Me on YouTube and wishing it was on the 2CD set! What an amazingly great song. Yes, Brian's vocal is not perfect, but it certainly doesn't make me like this track any less. I also listened to the Sunray's version, and I find both versions pretty comparable (although I prefer Brian's version, as rough as it is). As I've said about a few of the other songs from the Feel Flows set, this one is sooooo 1970! I may just have to get the box somehow!
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Post by carllove on Oct 16, 2021 3:07:08 GMT
Dennis Wilson’s “Before”. I have listened to the 5 CD set since the release date and this one stand’s out to me. Where has that been? Blew me away.
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Post by jk on Oct 16, 2021 21:43:19 GMT
Dennis Wilson’s “Before”. I have listened to the 5 CD set since the release date and this one stand’s out to me. Where has that been? Blew me away. Yes. That's one of the three I really like, the others being "It's A New Day" and "Big Sur" -- wow!
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Post by Kapitan on Oct 17, 2021 16:50:38 GMT
Dennis Wilson’s “Before”. I have listened to the 5 CD set since the release date and this one stand’s out to me. Where has that been? Blew me away. I am so curious as to whether he had a fully realized vision of it in his mind, and if so, what it was. It's really got the bones of an amazing song.
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Post by carllove on Oct 17, 2021 17:37:33 GMT
Dennis Wilson’s “Before”. I have listened to the 5 CD set since the release date and this one stand’s out to me. Where has that been? Blew me away. I am so curious as to whether he had a fully realized vision of it in his mind, and if so, what it was. It's really got the bones of an amazing song. That would be interesting to know. Such an awesome start - why could he not complete it? I like it as it is though. I’d really like to hear it on vinyl, but neither “Before” nor “Sound of Free” are on any of the vinyl versions of Feel Flows. Love hearing Dennis’ music on vinyl.
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