|
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Mar 9, 2021 21:47:12 GMT
I love--LOVE--"She Knows Me Too Well." In fact, I think it's one of Brian's best vocals.
But I also want to call out Brian's ballads generally in these golden years, let's say 1963-66. (Skipping live, xmas, and party albums.)
"Lonely Sea" 1963 "Surfer Girl" 1963 "The Surfer Moon" 1963 "In My Room" 1963 "Ballad of Ol Betsy" 1963 "Don't Worry Baby" 1964 "The Warmth of the Sun" 1964 "Keep An Eye on Summer" 1964 "Hushabye" 1964 (cover) "We'll Run Away" 1964 "Girls on the Beach" 1964 "Please Let Me Wonder" 1965 "I'm So Young" 1965 (cover) "Kiss Me, Baby" 1965 "She Knows Me Too Well" 1965 "In the Back of My Mind" 1965 "You Still Believe In Me" 1966 "Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)" 1966 "God Only Knows" 1966 "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times" 1966
"Caroline No" 1966 Unparalleled in the history of pop/rock music, both in songwriting and performance.
|
|
|
Post by Kapitan on Mar 10, 2021 13:16:59 GMT
It really is. If you just asked me about those ballads individually, I'd probably say I put 6-7 of them among the top 10 ballads of pop music history. Now, obviously if I were to start really going through every other artist's contributions, that couldn't hold true. But it sure feels that way. So many remarkably good classics in such a short time.
I would say this confidently: Brian Wilson is the best balladeer in pop-rock history.
|
|
|
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Mar 10, 2021 14:01:02 GMT
I'm a little surprised that "When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)" went Top 10. I thought the lyrical and musical deviation would turn off more fans, which it (Brian's "different" music) eventually did three years later. As has been mentioned, "When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)" was probably Brian's first deviation with his "sound" and lyrics, though both were not really that...out there. Do you ever get the feeling that a large part of Brian's 1962-1966 audience, mostly teenagers, were maybe not fickle, but at the same time knew what they wanted from The Beach Boys - and what they DIDN'T want.
I think "When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)" is slightly underrated. It didn't make the cut on Endless Summer, probably for reasons I stated above, but it showed up on Spirit Of America. I don't think about the song much, and it usually is "on the bubble" when I'm making Beach Boys' Greatest Hits comps. However, whenever I play the song...I like it a lot! And I'm glad the group dug it out to play for the C50 tour. It worked.
"She Knows Me Too Well" is a great song and a tour de force vocal performance from Brian. He didn't do many better. He used that "crying effect" that only he could do. "She Knows Me Too Well" wasn't ground-breaking or "different" like it's A-side. I think of "She Knows Me Too Well" as a kind of "Don't Worry Baby - Part 2". And that's not a criticism. I love it, and it was no-brainer to close either Side A or the album of The Beach Boys Today! Somehow I think "She Knows Me Too Well" should've received more credit and recognition through the years. It was never performed live, and it has consistently taken a back to seat to other ballads like its counterparts on Today! - "Please Let Me Wonder" and "Kiss Me Baby".
I give both songs a 9, though "She Knows Me Too Well" is closer to a 10. My vote will be a 9.
|
|
|
Post by Kapitan on Mar 10, 2021 14:07:37 GMT
I think "She Knows Me Too Well" should've received more credit and recognition through the years. It was never performed live, and it has consistently taken a back to seat to other ballads like its counterparts on Today! - "Please Let Me Wonder" and "Kiss Me Baby". I agree with this, and it's why the revelation to me about the disparity of ballads between Today! and SDSN really hit me hard yesterday. By loading up the former with ballads, they seem to have let the well run dry for the latter. Both albums were great, so it isn't like it was some disaster, but I think it led to some songs being overlooked. "She Knows Me Too Well" is Exhibit A.
|
|
|
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Mar 10, 2021 14:27:21 GMT
I think "She Knows Me Too Well" should've received more credit and recognition through the years. It was never performed live, and it has consistently taken a back to seat to other ballads like its counterparts on Today! - "Please Let Me Wonder" and "Kiss Me Baby". I agree with this, and it's why the revelation to me about the disparity of ballads between Today! and SDSN really hit me hard yesterday. By loading up the former with ballads, they seem to have let the well run dry for the latter. Both albums were great, so it isn't like it was some disaster, but I think it led to some songs being overlooked. "She Knows Me Too Well" is Exhibit A. Brian could've included two other "ballads" on Summer Days (And Summer Nights). The group recorded a studio version of "Graduation Day" around that time. Yes, the song was included on the Beach Boys Concert about a year earlier, but it wouldn't have been totally out of the question to include a polished studio version (and I probably would've criticized the move ) two albums down the line.
Also, "Guess I'm Dumb" was recently recorded/finished. That would've fit on Summer Days (And Summer Nights). They could've wiped Glen Campbell's vocal and substituted Brian's - or new member Bruce's. Let's be honest, not too many people heard Glen's version.
Those aren't perfect solutions to the ballad-lacking Summer Days (And Summer Nights), but I would've preferred it. "Sherry She Needs Me" was floating around, too. That would've been a good one.
|
|
|
Post by Kapitan on Mar 10, 2021 17:52:15 GMT
Something that bears note with "She Knows Me Too Well," considering its vibe and even positioning as a ballad on Today! (where common consensus talks about Brian Wilson's advancement, evolution, of musicianship).
The the instrumental track could hardly be more basic, and it was basically played entirely by the Beach Boys themselves. It's drums by Dennis, electric bass by Al, guitars by Carl, and piano by Brian. Other than "microphone boom with screwdriver" by Russ Titelman, that's it. The track is drenched in reverb and often supplemented with group harmony vocals that flesh out the sound.
But really, this track is an unobtrusive complement to Brian's brilliantly written and sung lead vocal, with the secondary feature being the group's background singing.
|
|
|
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Mar 10, 2021 18:02:14 GMT
Something that bears note with "She Knows Me Too Well," considering its vibe and even positioning as a ballad on Today! (where common consensus talks about Brian Wilson's advancement, evolution, of musicianship).
The the instrumental track could hardly be more basic, and it was basically played entirely by the Beach Boys themselves. It's drums by Dennis, electric bass by Al, guitars by Carl, and piano by Brian. Other than "microphone boom with screwdriver" by Russ Titelman, that's it. The track is drenched in reverb and often supplemented with group harmony vocals that flesh out the sound.
But really, this track is an unobtrusive complement to Brian's brilliantly written and sung lead vocal, with the secondary feature being the group's background singing.
That's basically why I referred to "She Knows Me Too Well" as "Don't Worry Baby - Part 2" in my above post. And there was no criticism intended. They're both aces in my book.
|
|
|
Post by lonelysummer on Mar 11, 2021 6:54:08 GMT
She Knows Me Too Well is an outstanding track - almost like a preview of Pet Sounds. Excellent vocal by Brian, and the instrumental track is perfect. When I Grow Up can almost feel like a novelty track at this distance - 50 plus years later. I can understand why Mike or Brian might not want to sing it now - WHEN I grow up? Man, if you haven't grown up by now, you never will! But it's a great record - and when I heard it as a teenager, it sure brought out the emotions in me.
|
|
|
Post by Kapitan on Mar 14, 2021 18:53:40 GMT
Last day to vote on "When I Grow Up (to Be a Man)" and "She Knows Me Too Well." Please be sure to weigh in by midnight.
|
|
|
Post by B.E. on Mar 14, 2021 21:25:29 GMT
I'm not sure how fair this is, but "When I Grow Up" and "She Knows Me Too Well" feel like great album tracks as opposed to a great single. I'm particularly fond of the B-side, but as you can see I had to rank it lower on my list (though, still a 9!).
I Get Around/Don't Worry Baby - 10 Surfer Girl/Little Deuce Coupe - 10 Little Saint Nick/The Lord's Prayer - 10 Surfin' USA/Shut Down - 9 Fun Fun Fun/Why Do Fools Fall In Love - 9 Be True To Your School/In My Room - 9 When I Grow Up/She Knows Me Too Well - 9 Surfin' Safari/409 - 8 Surfin'/Luau - 7 Ten Little Indians/County Fair - 7
|
|
|
Post by Kapitan on Mar 15, 2021 11:59:21 GMT
Nine voters have rated "When I Grow Up to Be a Man" b/w "She Knows Me Too Well" an average of 9.2. I'll update the ratings thread accordingly and launch the next poll and thread shortly.
Thanks for participating.
|
|