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Post by Kapitan on Dec 6, 2021 12:28:33 GMT
In September 1979, the Beach Boys released "It's a Beautiful Day," a non-album single that was also found on the soundtrack to the August 1979 film Americathon, along with songs by Elvis Costello and Eddie Money. (Roger Ebert gave the film one-half of one star; the NYT said the premise was strong enough for a 15-minute skit, "but the movie has the ill fortune to drag on for an hour and a half.") The song was included on the 1981 compilation album Ten Years of Harmony.
The song was co-written by Al Jardine and Mike Love, features a prominent Carl Wilson vocal part in the refrain, and was produced by Bruce Johnston. It did not chart.
Mike Love's "Sumahama" was included as the B-side in the US. However, it was released as an A-side in the UK, backed with "Angel Come Home." It charted at #45 there. Unusually, the single version was longer than the album version.\
Please discuss and rate "It's a Beautiful Day" and "Sumahama."
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 6, 2021 13:07:17 GMT
I remember the first time I heard "It's A Beautiful Day". There was a short interview with Mike Love on some radio station and they played about a 30 second snippet of the song. I must've known about the interview ahead of time because I recorded it on my little cassette player. I was gushing about the snippet and played it for my Beach Boys' buddy over and over. Anyway, I like "It's A Beautiful Day". It's a little slick, it's another of those "Mike trying to recapture the old formula" songs, and I'm not sure if Brian is even on the record. But, I guess it was the way The Beach Boys were supposed to sound as we were approaching 1980. Hopefully, the raspy-sounding, strange days were behind them. Wasn't a song like "It's A Beautiful Day" the kind of song we were waiting for since Endless Summer? Wasn't it the kind of song we hoped would've been on 15 Big Ones ("It's OK" was close). Surely "It's A Beautiful Day" would be a hit and everybody would be happy. The good ol' Beach Boys would be back! Um...no. I never heard "It's A Beautiful Day", well, anywhere. It came and went without a whisper. On a side note, I wish the group would've splurged and purchased the rights and included the song on Keepin' The Summer Alive. It would've been a perfect fit, which, of course, explains why it wasn't included.
And, of course, the group couldn't record a new song or use an unreleased song/outtake/live track as the B-side. No, they tacked on the 7th song from L.A. (Light Album). Wow, "Sumahama"! (he says sarcastically). Mike has written worse songs, and "Sumahama" isn't terrible, but it's never been a favorite of mine, and it's very low on the list of L.A. (Light Album) songs. Maybe Mike was pushing for it but who cares, and what other songs were left? "Shortenin' Bread"?
I purchased this single; I refused to splurge for the soundtrack album. "It's A Beautiful Day" is good. "Sumahama" isn't. I want to go with a 7 but that feels too high. How about a strong 6?
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Post by jk on Dec 6, 2021 18:22:56 GMT
I didn't think I'd heard "IABD" before but it sounds strangely familiar. And I really like it! Nothing wrong with "Sumahama" either in my book. I've been holding back on voting for too long for one or other reason, so I'll give this one an encouraging ten.
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 6, 2021 18:27:36 GMT
I've been holding back on voting for too long for one or other reason, so I'll give this one an encouraging ten. I, for one, always encourage you (and others) to vote more, not less! We're all just members of a message board, not deciding international elections or something. I say the more votes--and even more valuable, comments or discussion--the better.
This is a pretty solid single, all things considered. I haven't decided how I'll vote yet, but I do think the A-side in particular is pretty good.
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Post by kds on Dec 6, 2021 18:58:31 GMT
I think I've only heard It's a Beautiful Day one time, back when I got the MiC box a few years ago. It's enjoyable as a run of the mill "fun in the sun" type of thing. I'd honestly rather have it on LA Light than HCTN '79 or even Shortenin' Bread.
My appreciation for Sumahama has actually declined over the years. It's OK, but I remember really enjoying it the first few times I listened to LA Light.
I'll go with a five. I originally posted six, but I dunno. This one's a little lacking.
Edit, on third thought, I'm going back to a six. I feel like if we were rating this single in July rather than December, I'd be more favorable towards it.
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 6, 2021 20:15:24 GMT
On a side note, I wish the group would've splurged and purchased the rights and included the song on Keepin' The Summer Alive. It would've been a perfect fit Was that the issue with it? That there were legal/contractual issues since it was for that soundtrack? If so, that's sad/insane. You'd think the Beach Boys would have had someone handling that to ensure that anything they did for anyone else, they also could use themselves however they wanted to.
I could see it not having been on LA, since it may not even have been done in time for the release of that. (I don't actually know, since wiki doesn't have the recording date(s) for "It's a Beautiful Day." But LA was released in March 1979, a good 5 months or so before the movie and single.) Regardless, at the very least it could have been on Keepin' the Summer Alive. Sure, it would have been about six months old at that point, but that's not such a big deal. It would have strengthened either album for sure.
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Post by lonelysummer on Dec 7, 2021 3:24:11 GMT
I had completely forgotten about this single. In fact, I don't think I've ever come across a copy. I suppose it didn't have a chance, being attached to a bomb movie. It used to come up on late night tv, but I never could sit through it. So it's sad that a good tune was wasted on a bad movie. But this single is significant for pointing the way to their future direction - lots of songs in movies. Most don't catch on, but once in a blue moon, you get lucky. "It's a Beautiful Day" isn't one of the best songs included on the Ten Years of Harmony double album, but it fits in nicely with other stuff they were recording around the same time. "Sumahama" is a nice tune; I never would have picked it to be a hit single, but I enjoy it in the context of the album. 6 or 7 on this one.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 7, 2021 12:51:33 GMT
On a side note, I wish the group would've splurged and purchased the rights and included the song on Keepin' The Summer Alive. It would've been a perfect fit Was that the issue with it? That there were legal/contractual issues since it was for that soundtrack? If so, that's sad/insane. You'd think the Beach Boys would have had someone handling that to ensure that anything they did for anyone else, they also could use themselves however they wanted to.
I could see it not having been on LA, since it may not even have been done in time for the release of that. (I don't actually know, since wiki doesn't have the recording date(s) for "It's a Beautiful Day." But LA was released in March 1979, a good 5 months or so before the movie and single.) Regardless, at the very least it could have been on Keepin' the Summer Alive. Sure, it would have been about six months old at that point, but that's not such a big deal. It would have strengthened either album for sure.
I'm not sure. I could be wrong. I'm probably wrong. I thought because Lorimar appeared on the record label that they had SOME rights to it. I didn't know if the song was recorded specifically for the movie, Americathon (as opposed to previously-recorded, older songs that were just hand-picked like the other songs on the soundtrack), thus making it...exclusive to that movie project. The publishing for "It's A Beautiful Day" is listed as Brother and Al/Mike, so obviously that carries a lot of weight. The song was recorded in June 1979 and produced by Bruce Johnston, so there is kind of a continuity with it, meaning it could've flowed right into/onto Keepin' The Summer Alive. Certainly the subject matter is a perfect fit. It does make you wonder why the group would bypass "It's A Beautiful Day" on Keepin' The Summer Alive and, in turn, resurrect older songs like "When Girls Get Together", Endless Harmony", and "Mike Come Back To L.A.". Then they found it...more appropriate...to include it on the Ten Years Of Harmony comp. Interesting...
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 7, 2021 13:39:51 GMT
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 7, 2021 13:59:29 GMT
I am going to share an opinion about "It's a Beautiful Day" that I can't back up in any objective way, and in fact that somewhat goes against what I believe in, in terms of music.
For some fuzzy reason, while it is certainly a return to a more "Beach Boys" sound, it feels very forced, very artificial to me. This might seem perfectly accurate to some of you, but keep in mind that I've said in the past (and still believe) that the whole idea of authenticity/inauthenticity in music is silly and overblown. I don't think you need to surf to believably perform "Surfin USA," or be working class to do "Working Class Hero."
But when I listen to "It' a Beautiful Day," despite the fact that I like it and the fact that it's well done, it feels like an exercise to me, like somebody punching the clock. For some reason, I think even something like "Goin to the Beach" (which I think is inferior) or "Keepin the Summer Alive" seem more alive, more believable.
And I can't explain why. It's absolutely just a feeling I get. Does anyone relate to this, or am I on my own, here?
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Post by kds on Dec 7, 2021 14:11:26 GMT
I am going to share an opinion about "It's a Beautiful Day" that I can't back up in any objective way, and in fact that somewhat goes against what I believe in, in terms of music.
For some fuzzy reason, while it is certainly a return to a more "Beach Boys" sound, it feels very forced, very artificial to me. This might seem perfectly accurate to some of you, but keep in mind that I've said in the past (and still believe) that the whole idea of authenticity/inauthenticity in music is silly and overblown. I don't think you need to surf to believably perform "Surfin USA," or be working class to do "Working Class Hero."
But when I listen to "It' a Beautiful Day," despite the fact that I like it and the fact that it's well done, it feels like an exercise to me, like somebody punching the clock. For some reason, I think even something like "Goin to the Beach" (which I think is inferior) or "Keepin the Summer Alive" seem more alive, more believable.
And I can't explain why. It's absolutely just a feeling I get. Does anyone relate to this, or am I on my own, here?
I've always felt that many of their later summer, surfing, beachy songs felt a tad forced. I do still enjoy them, but they just don't sound as natural as the ones they released from 1962-65. It's kind of the like with the Pet Sounds-isms that can be found across Brian's solo catalog.
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 7, 2021 14:21:34 GMT
I agree with you, but it's even beyond that: like I said, I even consider a couple of those other relatively contemporaneous "throwback songs" more believable, even though obviously they're also pretty silly for a bunch of 40-year-olds. It's almost like they needed Murry Wilson yelling at them during the "It's a Beautiful Day" sessions...
"C'mon, guys, ya got any guts?"
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 7, 2021 14:22:22 GMT
Oh, I absolutely agree. Look at who wrote the song - Al and Mike - the Kings Of Recycling. That's where the "forced" part comes in. And, Bruce was well into his late-70's production mode, adding the "artificial" nuance. It's no wonder the song ended up sounding the way it did. It was that COMBINATION of contributors.
More speculating on my part, but I got the feeling that, even though they did M.I.U. Album to "get back" to the earlier Beach Boys' world, I think Al and Mike got together and thought, "Enough of this Love You nonsense, Beach Boys-lite M.I.U., and Light Album depressing stuff. Let's do a real, rockin' Beach Boys' song." And, "It's A Beautiful Day" was what they came up with. I have to go back to the Keepin' The Summer Alive timeline again, but I wonder how much the creation of "It's A Beautiful Day" led to at least the thinking for the concept of the next Beach Boys' album.
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 7, 2021 14:59:50 GMT
More speculating on my part, but I got the feeling that, even though they did M.I.U. Album to "get back" to the earlier Beach Boys' world, I think Al and Mike got together and thought, "Enough of this Love You nonsense, Beach Boys-lite M.I.U., and Light Album depressing stuff. Let's do a real, rockin' Beach Boys' song." And, "It's A Beautiful Day" was what they came up with. I have to go back to the Keepin' The Summer Alive timeline again, but I wonder how much the creation of "It's A Beautiful Day" led to at least the thinking for the concept of the next Beach Boys' album. This is just a wikipedia-driven timeline, but:
KTSA sessions--not counting music that had been begun earlier and just brought in for the album, a la "When Girls Get Together"--began in July 1979 at Western, with Brian present and apparently (briefly) energized. At this point, there was no producer yet chosen for the album. But Brian only wanted to do covers. Dennis didn't like the situation and bailed, ne'er to return.
In late August, Carl and Randy Bachman worked together on four songs, two of which made the album. Bachman was asked to co-produce the album but declined.
In October, the band reconvened with Bruce Johnston as producer, with sessions going through January 1980. Sessions were also held at Rumbo Recorders and Al's barn. (I'm not sure whether those other studios were for these later sessions, or among sessions from July.)
The thing is, we don't know when "It's a Beautiful Day" was recorded: we just know it was released as a single in September 1979 (and the movie in August 1979), and so recorded sometime before that.
The other thing is, whether or when there was really a "concept" for that album. It had a few working titles along the way. (Cousins, Friends, and Brothers and Can't Wait Till Summer.) I think it might be more of a general thrust/style than an album-specific concept. But your overall point--that they returned to a more traditional, nostalgic "Beach Boys" feel, seems true. And it's obvious who led it, considering Dennis's disappearance, Brian's retreat, and Carl's dissatisfaction.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 7, 2021 22:34:12 GMT
"Sumahama" on American Bandstand - September 15, 1979 - I saw it when it aired and was ecstatic at Brian's appearance:
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