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Post by Kapitan on Sept 27, 2021 11:26:12 GMT
In April 1973--roughly three months after both its predecessor single, "Sail On Sailor," and the Holland album--the Beach Boys released their second and final single from that album, "Califoria Saga: California," backed with "Funky Pretty."
With the same loping bassline as "California Girls," the Al Jardine-penned song veered more into the folk and country styles than did the song it echoed. However, it also included full-band background harmony vocals throughout the refrain, lending it a familiar Beach Boys sound. Famously, Brian Wilson sang the opening line, if nothing else.
The song did not perform well on the charts in the US, reaching just #84. It did better in the UK (#37) and charted in the Top 100 in Canada (#85). However, it made its way into live shows through the years.
The B-side was "Funky Pretty," an oddball astrological tune written by Brian Wilson, Mike Love, and Jack Rieley, and including vocals by most members of the group. It did not chart.
Please discuss and rate "California Saga: California" b/w "Funky Pretty."
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Post by kds on Sept 27, 2021 12:28:36 GMT
If there was any song off Holland that one would think would chart it's Cal Saga: California. It's got those classic harmonies, the familiar bassline (as Kap noted), and the familiar lead singer from so many Beach Boys hits, Mike Love, in fine form. But, alas, it was not to be.
I think Funky Pretty is the weakest link on the album proper. I know it's a bit of a fan favorite, and has even been performed by Brian in recent years, but I don't really get it. I don't think the song really goes anywhere.
But, based on the strength of the A side, I'll overlook the weak B, and give this an 8.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Sept 27, 2021 13:18:02 GMT
Yeah, like kds said, The Beach Boys just couldn't get a hit, and "California" was right up their - and their fans' - alley. It's even more surprising considering many of the old BB hits were being featured and being received well in concert. They must've been thinking, "What does it take to get back on the radio?" That being said, "California", while a good song/record, isn't a great song. By that I mean it's not an all-timer; close, but it doesn't quite get there. Back to lyrics again...some of "California"'s are a bit obscure. I guess if you're familiar with California...I'm from Pennsylvania.
I like "Funky Pretty". It's become overrated through the years, mostly because it was written by you-know-who. I think it's a decent song. It has its moments. I like the tag. And, I think it makes a good B-side. I think it was/is good to give the fans something different to take in on the B-sides. And, "Funky Pretty" was not your typical BB song.
Two quick things. I do prefer the single version of "California" over the album version. I heard it for the first time on Ten Years Of Harmony. There's some cool, little parts in there. And, second, watching "Sail On Sailor" and "California", how can I say, not reach expectations commercially - and with the live audiences clamoring for more oldies - I think the seeds for Endless Summer and a change in direction were starting to be planted.
How about a strong 7? It's a good single.
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Post by jk on Sept 27, 2021 13:21:12 GMT
Another I remember from its time of release. I was much taken by those opening synth squelches. Like “SO,S”, I don’t recall hearing it much on UK radio. As I had to wait three decades to hear the flip, I can only award it nine.
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Post by Kapitan on Sept 27, 2021 13:28:15 GMT
Two quick things. I do prefer the single version of "California" over the album version. I heard it for the first time on Ten Years Of Harmony. There's some cool, little parts in there. I tend to forget how different the single version is from the album version, as I usually hear the latter. Especially those extra "On my way" lines.
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Post by lonelysummer on Sept 27, 2021 19:38:04 GMT
They should have reissued this, as they did with Sail On Sailor, in the wake of Endless Summer's success. I think it would have done much better second time around. Surprised it's not on Good Vibrations: Best of the Beach Boys.
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Post by Kapitan on Sept 27, 2021 20:07:05 GMT
Two quick things. I do prefer the single version of "California" over the album version. I heard it for the first time on Ten Years Of Harmony. There's some cool, little parts in there. A Back to this again: has the single version been on any of the other comps? It seems to me that at least the more recent ones always go with the album version. The only place I'm seeing it in the single version online is this YouTube clip, which is not by the band itself.
Another thing about this song, it seems it's been called a number of things! On the album, it's "California Saga: California." You also see it as "California Saga (On My Way to Sunny Californ-i-a)" on 50 Big Ones and The Warmth of the Sun. And then on the Good Vibrations box set from the '90s, it's just "California." I swear I've also seen it titled simply as "California Saga," though to be honest I haven't gone digging to confirm this. But if I'm right, that's kind of a slap in the face to the other two segments of that suite!
There is something funny about writing the name of a song different on different releases.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Sept 27, 2021 22:36:04 GMT
Two quick things. I do prefer the single version of "California" over the album version. I heard it for the first time on Ten Years Of Harmony. There's some cool, little parts in there. Back to this again: has the single version been on any of the other comps? It seems to me that at least the more recent ones always go with the album version. The only place I'm seeing it in the single version online is this YouTube clip, which is not by the band itself. The single version appears on Greatest Hits Volume 3: Best Of The Brother Years 1970-1986.
I also wanted to clarify that the Ten Years Of Harmony version that I initially heard the single version of "California" on was the 1981 vinyl version. The later CD reissue contains the album version.
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Post by Kapitan on Sept 28, 2021 12:52:13 GMT
"Funky Pretty" is by far the lesser of these two songs in my opinion ... but I am actually very interested to hear it remixed/remastered and/or its component parts on the next copyright release.
I don't think it's going to show there was a hidden masterpiece in there or anything--the song is the song--but I suspect a cleaner mix is going to reveal some cool details on this and others of the era.
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Post by lonelysummer on Sept 29, 2021 4:34:22 GMT
Two quick things. I do prefer the single version of "California" over the album version. I heard it for the first time on Ten Years Of Harmony. There's some cool, little parts in there. A Back to this again: has the single version been on any of the other comps? It seems to me that at least the more recent ones always go with the album version. The only place I'm seeing it in the single version online is this YouTube clip, which is not by the band itself.
Another thing about this song, it seems it's been called a number of things! On the album, it's "California Saga: California." You also see it as "California Saga (On My Way to Sunny Californ-i-a)" on 50 Big Ones and The Warmth of the Sun. And then on the Good Vibrations box set from the '90s, it's just "California." I swear I've also seen it titled simply as "California Saga," though to be honest I haven't gone digging to confirm this. But if I'm right, that's kind of a slap in the face to the other two segments of that suite!
There is something funny about writing the name of a song different on different releases.
I feel like no one even remembers that this song was part of a suite. It's the one that is always "singled out" har dee har. I've always preferred hearing the full suite.
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Post by Kapitan on Sept 29, 2021 13:19:17 GMT
I think between its status as a single and a tune that gets played live (and has been rerecorded), that is true. It has its own separate life beyond the suite it was initially part of.
I'm not sure what I think of that. I enjoy the suite, though I really do think the spoken word in "Beaks of Eagles" is pretty cringeworthy.* The music of it is really nice, though. I suppose in the end, 10+-minute suites aren't going to be played as a whole on any regular basis, so it's better for the catchiest song of the bunch to be played than for none of it to be played. If I were planning a best-of comp, I certainly wouldn't leave space for the full thing. If I were going to include anything, it would be "California," too.
*I can't call something "cringe," as the kids do nowadays. It's grammatically cringe to call something cringe... It's like saying "your behavior is frown" or "that guy is clap."
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Post by kds on Sept 29, 2021 14:56:37 GMT
I think between its status as a single and a tune that gets played live (and has been rerecorded), that is true. It has its own separate life beyond the suite it was initially part of.
I'm not sure what I think of that. I enjoy the suite, though I really do think the spoken word in "Beaks of Eagles" is pretty cringeworthy.* The music of it is really nice, though. I suppose in the end, 10+-minute suites aren't going to be played as a whole on any regular basis, so it's better for the catchiest song of the bunch to be played than for none of it to be played. If I were planning a best-of comp, I certainly wouldn't leave space for the full thing. If I were going to include anything, it would be "California," too.
*I can't call something "cringe," as the kids do nowadays. It's grammatically cringe to call something cringe... It's like saying "your behavior is frown" or "that guy is clap."
I'm with you, both about the spoken word bits on Beaks of Eagles and the use of the word "cringe," which I find annoying.
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Post by Kapitan on Oct 4, 2021 11:42:14 GMT
Light participation, with only seven voters in last week's single. They scored "California" b/w "Funky Pretty a 7.6.
I'll update the ratings thread and soon we will move ahead.
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