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Post by Kapitan on Apr 26, 2021 19:53:38 GMT
So far, this is the most diverse voting we've had...I think. For singles, we had several that were similarly diverse (about 5 points between high and low votes).
For albums we definitely had more diverse. Little Deuce Coupe and BWPS, I believe, were both 8 or 9 between high and low (though in each case I believe there was an outlier on the low end. And in BWPS, I won't name names, SJS, but I think you recall who he was! ).
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Post by kds on Apr 26, 2021 19:55:49 GMT
Across the various BB message boards I've been on, I'm pretty confident that Barbara Ann is the most divisive Beach Boys hit, at least from the original band.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Apr 26, 2021 19:59:58 GMT
So far, this is the most diverse voting we've had...I think. For singles, we had several that were similarly diverse (about 5 points between high and low votes).
For albums we definitely had more diverse. Little Deuce Coupe and BWPS, I believe, were both 8 or 9 between high and low (though in each case I believe there was an outlier on the low end. And in BWPS, I won't name names, SJS, but I think you recall who he was! ).
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 26, 2021 20:00:30 GMT
Across the various BB message boards I've been on, I'm pretty confident that Barbara Ann is the most divisive Beach Boys hit, at least from the original band. Oh, that's definitely my experience, too: and my BBs message boarding goes back about 20 years now. It goes from the very positive, perfect 10 in some eyes to an abomination that should never be played again.
As for me, I don't get that worked up about it either way.
Then again, I try not to get worked up about anything, if I can help it.
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Post by kds on Apr 26, 2021 20:09:51 GMT
Across the various BB message boards I've been on, I'm pretty confident that Barbara Ann is the most divisive Beach Boys hit, at least from the original band. Oh, that's definitely my experience, too: and my BBs message boarding goes back about 20 years now. It goes from the very positive, perfect 10 in some eyes to an abomination that should never be played again.
As for me, I don't get that worked up about it either way.
Then again, I try not to get worked up about anything, if I can help it.
Yeah, it's not really worth getting worked up about. I think it's somewhat natural for fans to be annoyed as a fluky cover becoming more popular than many of the "superior" original songs, but I think it's unfair to hold that against Barbara Ann.
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 26, 2021 20:32:50 GMT
There is something a little funny about the fact that this band helmed by one of the great pop geniuses of the era has "Barbara Ann" and "Kokomo" as two of its most successful five or so singles.
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Post by B.E. on Apr 27, 2021 0:53:08 GMT
Don't Tell Me is slightly better, but still not really great IMO. I've also found it nearly impossible to separate it from Ticket to Ride. I really, really don't hear that. Some vague, fleeting Beatle vibes? Yeah, but "Ticket To Ride" is 100x better, IMO. (I know that there are some musical similarities but they just don't jump out at me at all. And, I don't mean to single out KDS. It's a very common association among BBs fans.)
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Post by B.E. on Apr 27, 2021 0:54:48 GMT
As much as I like the recorded BB live versions, and they rock, none of them has a good falsetto singer. I guess it's Al on both Live In London and Knebworth, and he's weak. Good point. There's no replacing Brian's '60s falsetto. (Even if it is diminished a bit by Dean's doubling.) By the way, SJS, you're referring to the single version of "Barbara Ann" in your review, right? Is that the one you usually listen to? Because I pulled out my old 1995 Greatest Hits compilation and I noticed the mix wasn't the proper single version. You can hear Dean's falsetto freak out (as heard at 2:30 of the album version), then it abruptly fades.
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Post by B.E. on Apr 27, 2021 1:20:30 GMT
I'm going with a 7. "Barbara Ann" is fantastic. Not quite a 10 in my book, but it's certainly in the 8.5-9 range. The epitome of a "fun" track, IMO. As alluded to last week, though, this is another horrific pairing. They don't sound like they belong together at all. Couple it with another Party! track and my rating easily goes up to an 8 or 9 depending on the selection. jk , I'm really curious to know your experience. Did you like the pairing? How did you think "Girl Don't Tell Me" compared? Or were you only interested in "Barbara Ann"? Making matters worse, for me, is I'm just not a big fan of "Girl Don't Tell Me". I think it might be Carl's worst lead vocal performance of his career. Carl's enunciation is very poor in spots, and it almost sounds like he's trying to imitate Dennis, and though he does achieve the gruffer sound, Dennis would have sung it better. Brian and Mike for sure would have sung it better. So, the decision to not include harmonies is near fatal. On top of that, it's just a 'meh' song (for Brian at the time). Actually, it might be one of the worst. Now, you might think I hate the song or something - I don't. But, I'd only give it a marginally favorable rating on its own. Compared to what Brian and the boys were up to in '65...well, that puts it in 'skippable' territory. (Oh, and the cold opening doesn't do it for me either. I think a proper intro would have improved it.) I Get Around/Don't Worry Baby - 10 Surfer Girl/Little Deuce Coupe - 10 California Girls/Let Him Run Wild - 10 Help Me Rhonda/Kiss Me Baby - 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 Do You Wanna Dance/Please Let Me Wonder - 9 When I Grow Up/She Knows Me Too Well - 9 Dance Dance Dance/Warmth Of The Sun - 9 Surfin' Safari/409 - 8 Man With All The Toys/Blue Christmas - 8 The Little Girl I Once Knew/There's No Other (Like My Baby) - 8 Barbara Ann/Girl Don't Tell Me - 7 Surfin'/Luau - 7 Ten Little Indians/County Fair - 7
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Post by jk on Apr 27, 2021 8:16:32 GMT
jk , I'm really curious to know your experience. Did you like the pairing? How did you think "Girl Don't Tell Me" compared? Or were you only interested in "Barbara Ann"? It was a better balance for me than with "Like A Rolling Stone" a few months earlier, when I merely tolerated "Gates Of Eden". I thought "GDTM" was a good song with some very colourful instrumentation. That said, in almost every case when I bought a 45, B-sides were B-sides. You might say they were there to stop the A-side from falling through the record. So yes, I played "Barbara Ann" far more often than I did "GDTM".
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Apr 27, 2021 11:24:20 GMT
As much as I like the recorded BB live versions, and they rock, none of them has a good falsetto singer. I guess it's Al on both Live In London and Knebworth, and he's weak. Good point. There's no replacing Brian's '60s falsetto. (Even if it is diminished a bit by Dean's doubling.) By the way, SJS, you're referring to the single version of "Barbara Ann" in your review, right? Is that the one you usually listen to? Because I pulled out my old 1995 Greatest Hits compilation and I noticed the mix wasn't the proper single version. You can hear Dean's falsetto freak out (as heard at 2:30 of the album version), then it abruptly fades. Yes, I was referring to the single version in my review/praise, but I should be clear. Over the years, I've seen the power of the "Barbara Ann" single. I've been in group situations - at work, at family gatherings, picnics/cookouts, parties, when I DJ'd, etc. - and when "Barbara Ann" came on, IT GOT ATTENTION. It just stands out. When I used to DJ, there was always a part of the gig when you played "dinner music". Some might call it background music, but I took it very seriously. That was my opportunity to throw in a Beach Boys' song because I couldn't play their music during the dancing portion (you can't dance to the Beach Boys). Anyway, when "Barbara Ann" came on, you could see the people bopping their heads, singing along, and smiling!
That being said, as much as I appreciate the single version, yes, I have gotten somewhat tired of it, though not nearly as much as some fans. And, yes, at this point I might prefer a live version. But, it (the single version) still remains a mandatory selection when I compile a Greatest Hits CD for someone.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Apr 27, 2021 11:37:36 GMT
I'm bumping my own post!
This is an excellent version of "Girl Don't Tell Me". It addresses two issues that were brought up in this thread. They came up with a short but effective intro, and, when Jeff Foskett doubles Brian (to assist in hitting some notes), he, in effect, is adding harmony at another effective point. Brian appears to be into it, and I'm slightly surprised the song didn't stay in the setlist (longer?).
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 27, 2021 11:56:01 GMT
I have an honest question for those of you who were conscious in the mid 60s (or at least soon thereafter): was it common to call or refer to girls/young women as "little girl" the way the first line of this song goes? Or do you think it was just a way to fit the rhyme scheme and meter?
Not trying to stir things up or anything: I don't think this is some kind of "Hey Little Tomboy" creepy thing. But it just struck me yesterday--for the first time ever in my 20+ years knowing this song--as a strange thing to say. "Hi, little girl, it's me..." If we assume the characters are teenagers, I can't imagine a teenage girl being complimented by that. And among older people it's even stranger.
Was it just common slang?
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Post by kds on Apr 27, 2021 12:20:07 GMT
Don't Tell Me is slightly better, but still not really great IMO. I've also found it nearly impossible to separate it from Ticket to Ride. I really, really don't hear that. Some vague, fleeting Beatle vibes? Yeah, but "Ticket To Ride" is 100x better, IMO. (I know that there are some musical similarities but they just don't jump out at me at all. And, I don't mean to single out KDS. It's a very common association among BBs fans.) It's not the whole song, but the similarity in the chorus is inescapable. Girl don't tell me you'll write-ite-ite Girl don't tell me you'll write-ite-ite Girl don't tell me you'll write me again this time
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Apr 27, 2021 12:29:50 GMT
I really, really don't hear that. Some vague, fleeting Beatle vibes? Yeah, but "Ticket To Ride" is 100x better, IMO. (I know that there are some musical similarities but they just don't jump out at me at all. And, I don't mean to single out KDS. It's a very common association among BBs fans.) It's not the whole song, but the similarity in the chorus is inescapable. Girl don't tell me you'll write-ite-ite Girl don't tell me you'll write-ite-ite Girl don't tell me you'll write me again this time I always thought the similarity was that the short guitar part after the chorus of "Girl Don't Tell Me" was very similar to the guitar intro of "Ticket To Tide". I also wonder if the lyrics to "Girl Don't Tell Me" were influenced by "Ticket To Ride"...you know, after the girl that's going away has come back, or is going to write him. The lyrics to "Girl Don't Tell Me" were written by Brian, not Mike. I don't know how the timeline lays out.
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