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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Sept 2, 2021 11:53:56 GMT
I see Kapitan and The Cincinnati Kid used "Breakaway"...I so wanted to include it but I just couldn't pull the trigger. I just kept thinking Goodbye Capitol, Hello Reprise. And, I just kinda thought it sounded a little too much like the "old" sound and not enough like their new Sunflower sound, whatever that is. "Breakaway" does make a great album opener or a Side 2 opener. I also feel similar about "Susie Cincinnati", and after wavering and editing, I eventually included it. I also needed an Al lead vocal. I still might change it. Again.
I do love these exercises, though. Maybe even obsessively.
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Post by Kapitan on Sept 2, 2021 12:01:07 GMT
I think "Break Away" fits sound-wise really well among their uptempo pop tunes of the era, plus it's just a strong tune I hate leaving off an album. Plus the lyrics are good for any attempt at reinvention, while the music isn't a sharp departure from their known sound: it's both familiar and new in the context of that era.
In fact I thought strongly about adding "Cotton Fields" (the single version), but just couldn't make it work.
Without looking back at it, I think I ended up with three of 13 songs having been released already by the time of the album: "Break Away," "Susie Cincinnati," and "Lady." They are lumped together to open Side Two, which I thought was a nice way to give listeners a full side of new music first, then a "short set" of previously released music that--let's be honest--many fans would never have heard before anyway, and then closing with more new music.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Sept 2, 2021 12:05:20 GMT
I think "Break Away" fits sound-wise really well among their uptempo pop tunes of the era, plus it's just a strong tune I hate leaving off an album. Plus the lyrics are good for any attempt at reinvention, while the music isn't a sharp departure from their known sound: it's both familiar and new in the context of that era. I was initially thinking of starting the album with "Breakaway" into "San Miguel", both for percussion and lyrical reasons. I still might. The edit feature is your friend.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Sept 2, 2021 12:19:53 GMT
I should add I would have included "Won't You Tell Me" and almost definitely "It's Natural" if they were finished, but I wanted my album to be something I could play and enjoy as it is--no imagination required. "It's Natural" is obviously, sadly not finished. (I would love to hear the remainder of the lyrics and melody, and to have a better lead vocal for it all.) And "Won't You Tell Me," while I really like it, I think the lead vocal is just not releasable. Yes, I feel the same way, but I gave into "It's Natural" and included it anyway. I love the melody and Mike's vocal (and I wanted another Mike vocal). I don't think it sounds THAT unfinished. What do you think is missing? Background vocals? Addition lyrics/lead vocals?
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Post by Kapitan on Sept 2, 2021 12:43:18 GMT
I should add I would have included "Won't You Tell Me" and almost definitely "It's Natural" if they were finished, but I wanted my album to be something I could play and enjoy as it is--no imagination required. "It's Natural" is obviously, sadly not finished. (I would love to hear the remainder of the lyrics and melody, and to have a better lead vocal for it all.) And "Won't You Tell Me," while I really like it, I think the lead vocal is just not releasable. Yes, I feel the same way, but I gave into "It's Natural" and included it anyway. I love the melody and Mike's vocal (and I wanted another Mike vocal). I don't think it sounds THAT unfinished. What do you think is missing? Background vocals? Addition lyrics/lead vocals? Well it only has one verse! Verse two begins around :38, and there are no words. Then Mike's voice returns for that little pre-chorus sounding thing. The bridge part has no vocal at all. After that we go back to another verse without vocals. So yeah, it's missing almost all the vocals, and the one Mike does can't be considered final: think how sketchy he sounds on the end of that pre-chorus line "rain." I don't think he ever released a lead where he sounded that flimsy and almost breathless. I'm sure it was a demo/scratch/guide vocal.
So I'd imagine the final would have two more verses, probably something in the bridge, maybe a vocal chorus of sorts after that "rain" figure, and background harmonies.
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Post by The Cincinnati Kid on Sept 2, 2021 12:50:49 GMT
I should add I would have included "Won't You Tell Me" and almost definitely "It's Natural" if they were finished, but I wanted my album to be something I could play and enjoy as it is--no imagination required. "It's Natural" is obviously, sadly not finished. (I would love to hear the remainder of the lyrics and melody, and to have a better lead vocal for it all.) And "Won't You Tell Me," while I really like it, I think the lead vocal is just not releasable. I guess I'm in the minority here, but I think Won't You Tell Me has one of Brian's best vocals. Sure, there are a couple wonky parts (I've read this is from editing, not that vocal session), but it sounds pretty complete to me.
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Post by Kapitan on Sept 2, 2021 12:58:44 GMT
I should add I would have included "Won't You Tell Me" and almost definitely "It's Natural" if they were finished, but I wanted my album to be something I could play and enjoy as it is--no imagination required. "It's Natural" is obviously, sadly not finished. (I would love to hear the remainder of the lyrics and melody, and to have a better lead vocal for it all.) And "Won't You Tell Me," while I really like it, I think the lead vocal is just not releasable. I guess I'm in the minority here, but I think Won't You Tell Me has one of Brian's best vocals. Sure, there are a couple wonky parts (I've read this is from editing, not that vocal session), but it sounds pretty complete to me. It's complete (via editing takes or whatever), but it's not what I'd call a finished-sounding lead vocal. Basically everything that goes into the higher register is really off, pitch and delivery-wise. It just sounds like somebody running through it, not putting it down for final use. And the stuff that's more on pitch in the lower register just sounds sleepy to me, not punchy or confident. In other words, it all just doesn't sound like it was meant as "the take(s)."
One of his best vocals? I definitely can't hear that. I love the melody, but not the performance.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Sept 2, 2021 13:03:41 GMT
Yes, I feel the same way, but I gave into "It's Natural" and included it anyway. I love the melody and Mike's vocal (and I wanted another Mike vocal). I don't think it sounds THAT unfinished. What do you think is missing? Background vocals? Addition lyrics/lead vocals? Well it only has one verse! Verse two begins around :38, and there are no words. Then Mike's voice returns for that little pre-chorus sounding thing. The bridge part has no vocal at all. After that we go back to another verse without vocals. So yeah, it's missing almost all the vocals, and the one Mike does can't be considered final: think how sketchy he sounds on the end of that pre-chorus line "rain." I don't think he ever released a lead where he sounded that flimsy and almost breathless. I'm sure it was a demo/scratch/guide vocal.
So I'd imagine the final would have two more verses, probably something in the bridge, maybe a vocal chorus of sorts after that "rain" figure, and background harmonies.
Yeah, I see what you're saying. OK, "It's Natural" is out and "Break Away" is back in - as the album opener!
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Post by Kapitan on Sept 2, 2021 13:10:01 GMT
I know what you mean about trying to get more Mike leads in, though. I only ended up with two--"Big Sur" and "Sweet and Bitter"--with some prominent harmonies and backgrounds in other tunes. I almost put in "HELP is on the Way" to get another one, but just don't think it is up to par with the other tunes on my list. (I did not consider "When Girls Get Together," which I just haven't ever been able to enjoy much. Cool enough track, acceptable if goofy lyrics, but s o d a m n s l o w .
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Post by The Cincinnati Kid on Sept 3, 2021 17:12:25 GMT
The Beach Boys - (Wouldn't It Be Nice) To Live Again (using similar trickery to Surf's Up as to what people would expect) Side One: 1. Sound of Free 2. San Miguel 3. It's A New Day 4. Breakaway 5. Seasons in the Sun 6. Big Sur Side Two 7. Soulful Old Man Sunshine 8. Two Can Play 9. I Just Got My Pay 10. Susie Cincinnati 11. Sweet and Bitter 12. Wouldn't It Be Nice (to Live Again) (MiC) 13. Won't You Tell Me I managed to cut everything down to a reasonable album length. My final three cuts were Where is She, Behold the Night and Old Movie. I wanted to start the album with a feeling of wow, this is the Beach Boys?? I consider Breakaway the lead single and it gives the listener a familiar sound early on. I almost didn't include Seasons in the Sun since a lot of fans seem to not like it these days, but it was a smash hit just a few years later. Who knows what would have happened if the Boys released it back then. Side two begins with more traditional Beach Boys sounds, then I close out the album with three tracks to remind you the Beach Boys are no longer that band you remember from 1964. Won't You Tell Me is sort of a coda to the album and a goodbye to that sweet and gentle voice from Brian. I think I may come up with a follow up album since there's so many good songs still left over. Sitting here at work looking out the window and seeing that it's a sunny day with temps in the mid 70s with low humidity, and it's Friday! I'm listening to my album and it just has me in a really good mood, especially I just Got My Pay. Those backing vocals are my favorite thing in a while. I still can't get over how much great music Feels Flows has brought us that was previously unreleased or hard to access in good quality. If I don't go out tonight, I'll try seeing how viable a follow up album is as I mentioned in my post above.
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Post by B.E. on Sept 3, 2021 17:21:10 GMT
listening to my album and it just has me in a really good mood, especially I just Got My Pay. Those backing vocals are my favorite thing in a while. I LOVE “I Just Got My Pay”. One thing I’m sure of about my album is that it kicks off with “Break Away” followed by “I Just Got My Pay”. I think that sequence works really well and gets the album off to a strong start.
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Post by The Cincinnati Kid on Sept 3, 2021 17:35:27 GMT
listening to my album and it just has me in a really good mood, especially I just Got My Pay. Those backing vocals are my favorite thing in a while. I LOVE “I Just Got My Pay”. One thing I’m sure of about my album is that it kicks off with “Break Away” followed by “I Just Got My Pay”. I think that sequence works really well and gets the album off to a strong start. That's the sequencing I wanted to use, but with the lack of chart success Break Away had and I Just Got My Pay having a *bit* of a novelty feel, I wanted to give the listener something they wouldn't expect from the Beach Boys in 1970-71 to start the album.
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Post by The Cincinnati Kid on Sept 4, 2021 3:51:31 GMT
The Beach Boys - (Wouldn't It Be Nice) To Live Again (using similar trickery to Surf's Up as to what people would expect) Side One: 1. Sound of Free 2. San Miguel 3. It's A New Day 4. Breakaway 5. Seasons in the Sun 6. Big Sur Side Two 7. Soulful Old Man Sunshine 8. Two Can Play 9. I Just Got My Pay 10. Susie Cincinnati 11. Sweet and Bitter 12. Wouldn't It Be Nice (to Live Again) (MiC) 13. Won't You Tell Me I managed to cut everything down to a reasonable album length. My final three cuts were Where is She, Behold the Night and Old Movie. I wanted to start the album with a feeling of wow, this is the Beach Boys?? I consider Breakaway the lead single and it gives the listener a familiar sound early on. I almost didn't include Seasons in the Sun since a lot of fans seem to not like it these days, but it was a smash hit just a few years later. Who knows what would have happened if the Boys released it back then. Side two begins with more traditional Beach Boys sounds, then I close out the album with three tracks to remind you the Beach Boys are no longer that band you remember from 1964. Won't You Tell Me is sort of a coda to the album and a goodbye to that sweet and gentle voice from Brian. I think I may come up with a follow up album since there's so many good songs still left over. After chart topping success, the Beach Boys quickly followed with their next album, I'm Going Your Way Side One 1. I'm Going Your Way 2. Back Home 3. Good Time 4. H.E.L.P. Is On The Way 5. 4th of July 6. Where Is She 7. Lady (Fallin' In Love) Side Two 8. Walkin' 9. Before 10. Behold The Night 11. Barbara 12. Awake 13. Celebrate the News 14. Medley: All Of My Love/Ecology Obviously weaker than the album before it, but still a solid album, imo. Side two is a little soft in the underbelly, but really that's just because most of the songs aren't completed. After playing back the album, I really liked how side one flowed and didn't want to mess it up.
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Post by Kapitan on Sept 4, 2021 11:11:18 GMT
Which Back Home are you using?
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Post by The Cincinnati Kid on Sept 4, 2021 14:01:21 GMT
Which Back Home are you using? I used the one from Feel Flows, but I guess I could have used the one from MiC. I might even prefer it. I'll have to give it a listen...
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