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Post by Kapitan on Oct 11, 2021 12:10:31 GMT
(Technically the next single was a re-release of "Sail On Sailor" backed with "Only With You." We will skip it, as its discussion would be redundant.)
As noted with the past couple of singles, the Beach Boys' activity with respect to releasing new material has slowed to a trickle, at best. The group returned with a new single in April 1976, a cover of Chuck Berry's "Rock and Roll Music," after a three-year period that saw only one new song released, "Child of Winter," about midway through the lull. Three years.
Gone were the new South African members. Gone was the influence of roots music and soul. Here was original rock and roll, albeit in a new arrangement featuring some very Wilsonesque touches: a background harmony part of "rock, roll, rockin' and a roll," and a prominent synth bass throughout. And why not? After all, "Brian is back." Under the supervision of Eugene Landy, Wilson was named sole producer for the first time in a decade.
The B-side, with its faux-fight intro, was something of a novelty song, "TM Song." A Brian Wilson composition, it comprises several brief sections, each slightly more rhythmically energetic than the last, the final one with Jardine struggling to cram in all the syllables. Removing the "fight," the song is only just over a minute's worth of music.
"Rock and Roll Music" was the group's highest charting single in nearly 10 years, its #5 chart peak the highest of any Beach Boys song since "Good Vibrations" topped the Billboard charts.
Please discuss and rate "Rock and Roll Music" backed with "TM Song."
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Post by Kapitan on Oct 11, 2021 13:12:54 GMT
I voted 7.
The A-side is a really good single, although one I didn't like for the first 10-15 years of my fandom. It is almost the epitome of Brian Wilson's conception of rock and roll, as I hear it. The voices aren't quite what they had been, but they're willing; and the arrangement and track are energetic and creative.
The B-side is actually interesting ... it's just not really much of a song, and certainly not single material. What's funny is, "Susie Cincinnati" would have actually made a lot more sense here! A traditional rock and roll song, a great Al vocal, an original to pair with a cover. ("Had to Phone Ya" might have been a nice pairing, too.)
Anyway, while I give the A-side a solid 8-9, I can't give "TM Song" even a 5. I weigh the A-sides more heavily than B-sides of singles, though, as they are obviously intended as the focus, not just the first half of a 50-50 split. (It's not like most radio stations would play the two songs in order on-air...) So 7.
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Post by jk on Oct 11, 2021 14:17:25 GMT
I remember when and where I first heard this. It was a sweltering day in Amsterdam just after I'd returned from work. I hadn't given the Boys a thought since "Sail On, Sailor" and was a little non-plussed. The fact is, the only cover version for me of Chuck's classic is the excellent one by The Beatles. This one plods. As for the B-side, the less said about that the better. Maybe it was a Spector-style ploy to prevent disc jockeys from flipping the single. Yuk! No idea what score to give this. Tell you what, I'll take the lowest score so far and subtract two (unless the lowest score is two).
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Oct 11, 2021 15:11:26 GMT
"Rock And Roll Music" was the first "new" single of my real fandom. I remember when it came out; right after my high school graduation; right at the start of summer; in hindsight probably a month too late (because it delayed "It's OK"). I never cared for it. Not then and not now. Oh, I was glad it got the boys on the radio. It gave them (and kind of Brian) a hit. It showed that there was still an audience/market for them on AM radio. And it sold albums, though Endless Summer/Spirit Of America were more responsible for the commercial success of 15 Big Ones.
Specifically, I don't like the 'no intro' beginning. I don't like the way Mike's voice sounds. The track/mix is bland. They should not have left a verse out ("keep on rockin' da piano!"). The tag is boring. And, basically, "Rock And Roll Music" doesn't rock. Need anything else? Seriously, there were several ways, in my opinion, to improve the song. I was and am still surprised it went Top 5. "Rock And Roll Music" was more important than it was good. Boy, they needed it, really needed it. We know Mike liked/likes it. I wonder what Brian thinks. I'll bet he likes the "rock, roll, rockin' and a roll" part. That's the best part of the record.
There's something funny (well, not really funny) about "TM Song". Other than the staged argument, which gets pretty boring after a few plays, the segments of the song aren't really that bad. I always thought that somewhere in "TM Song", there is a good song, a better song; not exactly a suite, but a potential three or four-minute interesting track/song. It was also a terrible choice for the B-side. There were so many better ones. What were they thinking to go with this as a B-side?
I can't go with anything higher than a 5, and that's being slightly generous.
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Post by Kapitan on Oct 11, 2021 15:24:52 GMT
There's something funny (well, not really funny) about "TM Song". Other than the staged argument, which gets pretty boring after a few plays, the segments of the song aren't really that bad. I always thought that somewhere in "TM Song", there is a good song, a better song; not exactly a suite, but a potential three or four-minute interesting track/song. I agree. jk said the less said the better, and I get his point. But in a way, it deserves WAY more to be said about it, just because it is so strange.
After the "fight," we have a little verse section that comprises two verses about 15 seconds apiece. The B-section lasts about 22 seconds (with the pregnant pause before the outro). Then the outro is a single musical phrase repeated once (with different lyrics), taking another 17 seconds or so.
And that's the song. Remove the fight and the silence at the end and it's roughly 1:10 long. It sounds to me somewhere between a children's song and a joke, trying to get Al to stumble over the rapid-fire words.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Oct 11, 2021 15:36:22 GMT
There's something funny (well, not really funny) about "TM Song". Other than the staged argument, which gets pretty boring after a few plays, the segments of the song aren't really that bad. I always thought that somewhere in "TM Song", there is a good song, a better song; not exactly a suite, but a potential three or four-minute interesting track/song. I agree. jk said the less said the better, and I get his point. But in a way, it deserves WAY more to be said about it, just because it is so strange.
After the "fight," we have a little verse section that comprises two verses about 15 seconds apiece. The B-section lasts about 22 seconds (with the pregnant pause before the outro). Then the outro is a single musical phrase repeated once (with different lyrics), taking another 17 seconds or so.
And that's the song. Remove the fight and the silence at the end and it's roughly 1:10 long. It sounds to me somewhere between a children's song and a joke, trying to get Al to stumble over the rapid-fire words.
There were a lot of Wrecking Crew members and other outside musicians on 15 Big Ones. "TM Song" is one song I wish Brian would've explored or developed a little more with them. Most of the other songs on the album are what they are.
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Post by kds on Oct 11, 2021 18:02:23 GMT
Sheriff stole my thunder as his thoughts on the flaws of Rock and Roll Music mirror mine. And its backed here by a quasi novelty song. And, this was the grand return of Brian Wilson?
I'm giving this a four. A weak cover and a very bizarre choice for a B side.
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Post by lonelysummer on Oct 12, 2021 6:53:04 GMT
Rock and Roll Music is not up to the standards of the 63-66 classics, but I like it. Especially like Dennis' drumming. It's never gonna make anyone forget the Beatles' version, or Chuck's original - still the definite version, IMO; but it's quite enjoyable. Note how they update "home brew" to "beer". It's quirky enough to be convincingly Brian's arrangement; it was even better live. TM Song reminds me of Cassius Love vs Sonny Wilson, and those other talking tracks on the early albums. It's nice that the guys still had a sense of humor. You know, humor was not high on the list of priorities for boring 70's bands. It goes by so fast, completely painless, fun to sing along with. Very nice to see the guys back in the top 40; of course that wouldn't last. I rate it a 7.
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Post by Kapitan on Oct 12, 2021 11:33:43 GMT
I was getting lonely at the top (to quote Randy Newman) with that 7; glad lonelysummer joined me there. It's also an oddity for me to be the highest voter! More often it's a 6 or 7 from me at or near the bottom.
But I agree with what lonelysummer said, too. Admittedly "Rock and Roll Music" isn't one of their greatest offerings, but it's a good, enjoyable one.
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Post by kds on Oct 12, 2021 15:23:57 GMT
Rock and Roll Music is not up to the standards of the 63-66 classics, but I like it. Especially like Dennis' drumming. It's never gonna make anyone forget the Beatles' version, or Chuck's original - still the definite version, IMO; but it's quite enjoyable. Note how they update "home brew" to "beer". It's quirky enough to be convincingly Brian's arrangement; it was even better live. TM Song reminds me of Cassius Love vs Sonny Wilson, and those other talking tracks on the early albums. It's nice that the guys still had a sense of humor. You know, humor was not high on the list of priorities for boring 70's bands. It goes by so fast, completely painless, fun to sing along with. Very nice to see the guys back in the top 40; of course that wouldn't last. I rate it a 7. As an album track, I'm pretty indifferent to TM song. But, I cannot grasp the logic of including it on a single.
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Post by Kapitan on Oct 12, 2021 15:45:15 GMT
Rock and Roll Music is not up to the standards of the 63-66 classics, but I like it. Especially like Dennis' drumming. It's never gonna make anyone forget the Beatles' version, or Chuck's original - still the definite version, IMO; but it's quite enjoyable. Note how they update "home brew" to "beer". It's quirky enough to be convincingly Brian's arrangement; it was even better live. TM Song reminds me of Cassius Love vs Sonny Wilson, and those other talking tracks on the early albums. It's nice that the guys still had a sense of humor. You know, humor was not high on the list of priorities for boring 70's bands. It goes by so fast, completely painless, fun to sing along with. Very nice to see the guys back in the top 40; of course that wouldn't last. I rate it a 7. As an album track, I'm pretty indifferent to TM song. But, I cannot grasp the logic of including it on a single. I agree with that entirely. It's the difference of rating the music in different contexts. A single? Even as a B-side ... a single?
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Post by lonelysummer on Oct 12, 2021 20:07:04 GMT
As an album track, I'm pretty indifferent to TM song. But, I cannot grasp the logic of including it on a single. I agree with that entirely. It's the difference of rating the music in different contexts. A single? Even as a B-side ... a single? The era of double sided hits was over, so the b-side's became just a spot for throwaway tracks. That will become really obvious when we get to the 80's.
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Post by Kapitan on Oct 12, 2021 20:11:32 GMT
I get that they weren't going to get two hits out of them--heck, they generally weren't even getting hits with their A-sides--but even so, there were better options. Real songs...
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Oct 12, 2021 20:28:20 GMT
I agree with that entirely. It's the difference of rating the music in different contexts. A single? Even as a B-side ... a single? The era of double sided hits was over, so the b-side's became just a spot for throwaway tracks. That will become really obvious when we get to the 80's. I can't disagree with you too much , but there are exceptions. If the single was for...just another group, maybe not one of your favorite groups, yes, the B-side was not crucial. You bought the record overwhelmingly for the A-side. But, if the single was released by one of your favorite groups, you WOULD take the time to explore the B-side, and, especially if the single preceded the album and/or the B-side was a non-album track, "as a B-side only" track if you will. I'll refer to The Doors. "Who Scared You" was the B-side of the single, "Wishful Sinful", and it did NOT appear on The Soft Parade. Also, the B-side of "Love Her Madly" was "You Need Meat (Don't Go No Further", which was not on L.A. Woman. Yes, those are two exceptions, rarities if you will, but it does happen. And, it frequently happens when the single precedes the album, sometimes by a month, and it's fun to get a jump or head start on new material.
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Post by Kapitan on Oct 12, 2021 20:41:07 GMT
I agree with that entirely. It's the difference of rating the music in different contexts. A single? Even as a B-side ... a single? The era of double sided hits was over, so the b-side's became just a spot for throwaway tracks. That will become really obvious when we get to the 80's. Oh hang on, did I misunderstand your point, lonelysummer, with my previous response? Did you mean that era was over for the Beach Boys, as in, they weren't so successful to the point of double-sided hits anymore? Or (which I suspect after reading Sheriff John Stone's post) did you mean that singles generally--not just theirs, but everyone's--weren't seen as "double-sided" so often anymore, and everyone was putting less thought and effort into B-sides?
I assumed the former, but if it's the latter, that is a whole other ball of wax. And not being old enough to remember, I honestly have no idea. It's new to me.
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