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Post by Kapitan on Jul 5, 2021 12:29:30 GMT
In early 1969, the Beach Boys were not in a great place. In fact, it was a period later described by Dennis Wilson as their low point (at least before their 1977 near-breakup), losing money on their own lifestyles and other artists, not selling records themselves in the quantities they had become accustomed to, and with Brian Wilson struggling with his mental health and drug abuse to the point that he checked himself into a psychiatric hospital in the latter half of '68.
The album the band cobbled together in Brian's near-absence ironically turned out to be a strong one, whatever the origins of the mishmash of tracks. The third single released from 20/20, a cover of the Barry/Greenwich/Spector song "I Can Hear Music," is one such strong song.
Carl Wilson made his debut as a (sole) producer with the song, one of two on the album (along with "Time to Get Alone") credited to him alone. Carl also took the soaring lead vocal, which floats atop the pseudo-Wall of Sound through the verses until the group joins him on the refrains.
The song was another minor hit, reaching #24 in the US and #10 in the UK, and so approaching but not quite beating the chart success of "Do It Again" or "Darlin," but topping the performance of other recent singles.
On the flip side was "All I Want to Do," one of the hardest rocking songs in the group's catalogue. A Dennis Wilson/Stephen Kalinich composition, Mike Love takes the lead vocals out of his comfortable baritone voice and into, well, a scream. The heavily distorted lead guitar that stood out as unnatural in "Bluebirds Over the Mountain" is firmly in its place here. And at the end, famously, remains audio evidence of Dennis's extracurricular activities. The song did not chart anywhere.
Please discuss and rate "I Can Hear Music" backed with "All I Want to Do."
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Post by B.E. on Jul 5, 2021 14:55:56 GMT
On the flip side was "All I Want to Do," ... The heavily distorted lead guitar that stood out as unnatural in "Bluebirds Over the Mountain" is firmly in its place here. Yes! Good point. I'm a big fan of both songs. Not quite 10s, but up there. I'm not sure they are such a great pairing, though. And, as fantastic and soaring as Carl's lead is, there are a few moments here and there that I'm not too fond of (e.g. how he pronounces "why" in "maybe that's why when we're all alone"). 9/10
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2021 17:32:47 GMT
I Can Hear Music is an easy 10. What a beautiful song and production. One of my favorites on the 20/20 album and a great choice for a single.
All I Want to Do, on the other hand is a 4, only because I'm feeling a little generous. I've stated elsewhere that I just don't like the song...well maybe not the song itself. I just don't care for Mike's lead and the production. Dennis' outtake vocal seems to work better for me.
So this single averages out to a 7, which makes me a little sad to say, because the A-side is such a wonderful song.
Btw, does anyone else think Time to Get Alone would have made a great B-side instead, making this a near perfect 10 single?
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Post by Kapitan on Jul 5, 2021 18:14:04 GMT
I happen to love "Time to Get Alone" to the point of favoring it to many of the hits. For me, it's one of the band's best two dozen songs ever. In fact, I like it more than I do "I Can Hear Music" (which I love).
Really it would have been a great B-side to "Darlin," if there were a version done by then. (Was there? I don't remember and am not going to interrupt myself to look.) But yes, it also would have been good here.
"All I Want to Do" is, for me, the ultimate album track ... or is that the ultimate B-side? Coming from the era of albums, I guess I don't even know. How often was a B-side meant as "single, part II" (e.g. the second best option to release) as opposed to being a throwaway? Those of you from the eras of singles, what was your impression through the years? (I can't believe it took me until now to ask this question.) What did you think of B-sides? The B-side of a lead single ... assumed to be the second-best track?
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Post by lonelysummer on Jul 5, 2021 20:07:44 GMT
I Can Hear Music is an easy 10 for me. This is the Beach Boys that people love. Yes, even in the late 60's, when surf music was dead, the classic BBs sound still resonated with a good chunk of pop music listeners. Carl seems to have taken over the role of the guy on the records with the sweet voice. All I Want to Do is great rocker. Put this on for people who think all they did was surf song and love songs. This is a LUST song! Note: the single version is minus the infamous tag that closes the album version. Personal note: this was the first Beach Boys record in my collection. My uncle was a school custodian, and he found several records in a garbage can at his school. Being a record lover himself, he dug them out, saw what they were, and gave them to me. I don't remember what the others were, but I think it's safe to say that this started my love of the Beach Boys. Another kid on our street got the Best of the Beach Boys album (Starline reissue), which introduced me to, among other things, the Boys doing Louie Louie.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jul 6, 2021 12:04:52 GMT
I view "I Can Hear Music" a little bit like "Do It Again". After Smiley Smile, Wild Honey, and Friends - where did that come from? Good old Beach Boys, emphasis on old. They started some momentum with "Do It Again", and I think they could've/should've built on that. Instead they took a step back with "Bluebirds Over The Mountain". Sometimes timing is crucial.
I like "I Can Hear Music" a lot. It's "feel good" music. This was the start of Carl really coming into his own. I was surprised when I read that Carl produced the song, a Phil Spector song, instead of Brian. Again, I like "I Can Hear Music", but I wouldn't consider it a favorite. It comes and goes, depending on my mood. It's usually borderline on making the cut of my 80 min. Greatest Hits comps. "I Can Hear Music" comes out firing and grabs you, then it kind of hits a roadblock with the bridge and fizzles out a bit. I'll give "I Can Hear Music" an 8, but a very strong 8, almost a 9. Carl's vocal and the opening verse/chorus carries it.
"All I Want To Do" is a tough one. I love Dennis's songs but this one is rough. It might be his weakest Beach Boys' song. Don't misunderstand, I like the song; I like any Beach Boys' rocker. "All I Want To Do" just sounds a little forced, like Dennis walked into the studio one day after meeting a new girl and laid the song down in a couple minutes (hey, that worked for Brian). It doesn't sound like a developed piece of work. And, I'm not a fan of Mike's vocal. I guess this was the first of Dennis's songs where he gave the lead to somebody else. He should've sung it.
Yes, sockit, "Time To Get Alone" would've been the better B-side, almost perfect actually. On many comps I go with "Time To Get Alone" followed by "I Can Hear Music" ("maybe that's why we're here all alone"). Why didn't they want to feature "Time To Get Alone"...somewhere? I guess they felt it should remain an album track. A ranking? "I Can Hear Music" is strong. "All I Want To Do" is...not strong. How 'bout a generous 8.
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Post by Kapitan on Jul 6, 2021 12:19:45 GMT
I went 7, but it's a low 7. "I Can Hear Music" is really good, mostly a genre exercise but freshened up a bit with the little down-home bridge/breakdown "I hear music all the time," which unlike Sheriff John Stone I quite like.
But the b-side is just weak. Very weak. The worst thing is, I could imagine the vocals getting more work and really helping the song. Instead of it being a chance for Mike to shout his way through a rocker on his own, one can imagine a more fully developed melody, or even more, some really good background harmony vocals, especially where we've got horn hits. It could have retained that energy but been something more.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jul 6, 2021 12:28:18 GMT
But the b-side is just weak. Very weak. The worst thing is, I could imagine the vocals getting more work and really helping the song. Instead of it being a chance for Mike to shout his way through a rocker on his own, one can imagine a more fully developed melody, or even more, some really good background harmony vocals, especially where we've got horn hits. It could have retained that energy but been something more. I agree. "All I Want To Do" could've been better arranged and produced. I definitely would've changed Mike's approach to the lead vocal. It's funny about Dennis. As wild and rowdy as he was personally, that didn't transfer over to his faster, harder rock songs (see Bambu especially). Dennis was the master of the emotional, orchestrated ballad. He didn't really attempt many rock and roll songs.
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Post by kds on Jul 6, 2021 12:32:25 GMT
I Can Hear Music might be The Beach Boys last truly great cover.
I think All I Want to Do is fine, but as noted, feels more like an album track than a single.
Nine
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Post by Kapitan on Jul 6, 2021 12:35:06 GMT
Dennis was the master of the emotional, orchestrated ballad. He didn't really attempt many rock and roll songs. I'd revise that first sentence. I don't think he was the master of them at all ... but he certainly did focus on them, I'll grant that. Your bigger point, that this guy who lived a rock and roll life, didn't really put out much rock and roll music. "All I Want to Do," "I'm Going Your Way," "It's About Time," "Slip On Through" ... not much else.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2021 1:31:13 GMT
I can't remember if someone posed this question on one of the other boards but....is it possible that this was Dennis's (and ultimately the group's) answer to the Beatles' "Helter Skelter"? Ya know, a challenge to shout out the roughest, rawest rock song?
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Post by Kapitan on Jul 7, 2021 11:31:45 GMT
I can't remember if someone posed this question on one of the other boards but....is it possible that this was Dennis's (and ultimately the group's) answer to the Beatles' "Helter Skelter"? Ya know, a challenge to shout out the roughest, rawest rock song? I don't now if there are any direct connections that would let us link the two: a lick stolen, a contemporaneous quote, etc. But both songs are heavy, even though "All I Want to Do" is more rollicking, I'd say, more a classic rock and roll feel than "Helter Skelter." And lyrically it's closer to "Why Don't We Do It In the Road"!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2021 23:48:41 GMT
I can't remember if someone posed this question on one of the other boards but....is it possible that this was Dennis's (and ultimately the group's) answer to the Beatles' "Helter Skelter"? Ya know, a challenge to shout out the roughest, rawest rock song? I don't now if there are any direct connections that would let us link the two: a lick stolen, a contemporaneous quote, etc. But both songs are heavy, even though "All I Want to Do" is more rollicking, I'd say, more a classic rock and roll feel than "Helter Skelter." And lyrically it's closer to "Why Don't We Do It In the Road"! Good point! I was just going off of something I read on one of the boards where one of the Beatles supposedly said (maybe in an interview?) that Helter Skelter was "the loudest, rawest thing we could spontaneously come up with"....or something to that effect. AIWtD strikes me as something similar.
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Post by jk on Jul 8, 2021 19:13:25 GMT
I have great trouble with most BB singles in terms of A and B sides and this is no exception. (One day I shall draw up a list of the ones I don't have trouble with.) I only tolerate "AIWTD" because it's short and part of the glorious patchwork quilt that is 20/20. I'm not sure whether I heard "ICHM" at the time (it's unlikely that I didn't). Either way, for me it's now an album track and one of my absolute favourite Carl outings. But what the heck do I award this single? I really don't know...
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Post by B.E. on Jul 10, 2021 15:36:32 GMT
Btw, does anyone else think Time to Get Alone would have made a great B-side instead, making this a near perfect 10 single? I happen to love "Time to Get Alone" to the point of favoring it to many of the hits. For me, it's one of the band's best two dozen songs ever. In fact, I like it more than I do "I Can Hear Music" (which I love). Really it would have been a great B-side to "Darlin," if there were a version done by then. (Was there? I don't remember and am not going to interrupt myself to look.) But yes, it also would have been good here. Yes, sockit, "Time To Get Alone" would've been the better B-side, almost perfect actually. On many comps I go with "Time To Get Alone" followed by "I Can Hear Music" ("maybe that's why we're here all alone"). Why didn't they want to feature "Time To Get Alone"...somewhere? I guess they felt it should remain an album track.
While, in my mind, "I Can Hear Music" fits right in on 20/20, I can't really say there's a perfect companion for it. I don't hear "Time To Get Alone" as a match (and, I agree with Kapitan about pairing that one with "Darlin'"). Perhaps they could have gone big and actually used it as the B-side to "Do It Again". But, if we aren't touching that, then the best fit I think would be "I Can Hear Music" b/w "Cotton Fields". Both being covers of popular American songs. Personally, I prefer the 20/20 version of "Cotton Fields" so I'm not worried about losing the single version (although, this is Al we're talking about it - if he wants to rework a song...he's going to!). Who knows, though? Perhaps if they make the decision to use "Cotton Fields" they (w/Brian) make an overdub or two and/or remix it to spruce it up. I tend to think the single version is overproduced so perhaps the best version lies somewhere in between. Anyway, the biggest plus of this pairing would be divvying up the lead vocals. And, I think that might explain why "Time To Get Alone" wasn't the B-side of "Darlin'" or "I Can Hear Music". They were reluctant to use Carl as the lead vocalist on both sides. In hindsight, it's clear that Carl became the main vocalist of the group, but they wouldn't have known that at the time. And, even if they saw that coming, that doesn't mean it's a smart business move to only offer up one of the group's voices to the buying public. Think about how little they used Carl as lead vocalist of singles up to that point. You got the B-side "Girl Don't Tell Me" which didn't chart anywhere and the otherworldly B-side "God Only Knows". Then you've got the recent, modest charting A-Sides "Wild Honey", "Darlin'", and "Friends". ("Good Vibrations" is a shared lead. Brian and Mike are at least as prominent as Carl, if not more so, IMO).
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