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Post by Kapitan on Dec 13, 2021 12:25:53 GMT
Roughly six months after their previous single and two weeks before their next album, the Beach Boys released their first single of the 1980s. "Goin' On" backed with "Endless Harmony" was released March 11, 1980 as the first single from their upcoming Keepin' the Summer Alive.
The song, written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, features the band's harmonies atop a track primarily performed by studio musicians. It reached #83 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The B-side was Bruce Johnston's "Endless Harmony."
Please discuss and rate "Goin' On" and "Endless Harmony."
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 13, 2021 13:16:56 GMT
"Goin' On" is a good song. Even though it is now over 40 years old, it's one of the last B.Wilson/M. Love songs. And it sounds like a Brian & Mike song, both musically and lyrically. The melody isn't much, though; I think the production and the group's performance are the real highlights. It's almost a showcase for the harmonies and Carl Wilson's vocal contribution rather than the songwriting. The guys must've liked it, too. They performed it in concert, maybe because Brian could handle his small part (more easily than some other songs).
I have mixed feelings about "Endless Harmony". Parts of it I like very much (the second half of the song, especially Carl's vocal), but, overall, it's a bit sappy. This thread is about the single, but I also question how much "Endless Harmony" fit on Keepin' The Summer Alive. Anyway, I'm glad that Bruce was contributing songs again, even if it wasn't exactly a favorite.
This opinion might appear contradictory. I like "Goin' On", but I think it has become overrated by fans through the years. I don't think it's a great song but I do think it should've done better than #83 on the Billboard Singles Chart. In less than four years after the Brian's Back campaign and massive popularity, the Beach Boys were firmly back...to not being able to sell records again. I'll go with a kind 7. Barely.
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Post by kds on Dec 13, 2021 13:29:32 GMT
I like Goin' On, but I do agree that it's become a tad overrated over the years, perhaps because it's one of the few good songs on a very weak (IMO) album.
I like Endless Harmony too, but as I've said in the past, the ending is both wonderful and frustrating in that you hear those harmonies kick in, and just like that, they're gone. Song over. Album over.
I think it's worth a seven.
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 13, 2021 13:56:51 GMT
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 13, 2021 14:19:56 GMT
I'm not such a fan of this one. In fact, I prefer the next couple of KTSA singles to "Goin' On," despite their utter chart failures. But it is a pleasant song. (I do not hear it as a single, much less a lead-off single.)
"Endless Harmony" would be much improved if its first 2:15 were cut entirely. The ending is nice, though. Very nice. But considering the proportion of the song dedicated to what I find enjoyable, I can not say I like this song.
I'll probably end up around a 5.
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Post by lonelysummer on Dec 16, 2021 1:56:39 GMT
I love "Goin' On". It's the vocals that really sell the song to me. Bruce's production on KTSA leaves something to be desired, but "Goin' On" sells itself. Love the version from Fridays. Carl kills it! "Endless Harmony" is just okay. So the single gets an 8 from me.
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Post by carllove on Dec 16, 2021 11:40:31 GMT
I love "Goin' On". It's the vocals that really sell the song to me. Bruce's production on KTSA leaves something to be desired, but "Goin' On" sells itself. Love the version from Fridays. Carl kills it! "Endless Harmony" is just okay. So the single gets an 8 from me. Oh my gosh - that performance of “Goin’ On” on Fridays is one of my favorite Beach Boys performances ever! Carl slays it and I love Brian’s part as well. I bought KTSA just because of it. Not quite as fond of the recorded version (though I still love it) and “Endless Harmony” is not one of my favorite Bruce songs, but I still have to give the combo an 8, mainly because of Carl and the lovely harmonies on “GO” from the group. One of the last hurrah’s of my favorite group.
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Post by lonelysummer on Dec 17, 2021 3:13:14 GMT
I love "Goin' On". It's the vocals that really sell the song to me. Bruce's production on KTSA leaves something to be desired, but "Goin' On" sells itself. Love the version from Fridays. Carl kills it! "Endless Harmony" is just okay. So the single gets an 8 from me. Oh my gosh - that performance of “Goin’ On” on Fridays is one of my favorite Beach Boys performances ever! Carl slays it and I love Brian’s part as well. I bought KTSA just because of it. Not quite as fond of the recorded version (though I still love it) and “Endless Harmony” is not one of my favorite Bruce songs, but I still have to give the combo an 8, mainly because of Carl and the lovely harmonies on “GO” from the group. One of the last hurrah’s of my favorite group. They also performed KTSA and GV on that Fridays show; kinda like they realized who their greatest strength was at that point in time - Carl; and they put him front and center.
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Post by kds on Dec 17, 2021 13:56:11 GMT
Oh my gosh - that performance of “Goin’ On” on Fridays is one of my favorite Beach Boys performances ever! Carl slays it and I love Brian’s part as well. I bought KTSA just because of it. Not quite as fond of the recorded version (though I still love it) and “Endless Harmony” is not one of my favorite Bruce songs, but I still have to give the combo an 8, mainly because of Carl and the lovely harmonies on “GO” from the group. One of the last hurrah’s of my favorite group. They also performed KTSA and GV on that Fridays show; kinda like they realized who their greatest strength was at that point in time - Carl; and they put him front and center. I think they kinda did the same for the BB 85 album as the bulk of the songs feature Carl leads. Although, as we'll soon see, the big single did not.
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 20, 2021 12:19:31 GMT
Seven voters rated "Goin On" b/w "Endless Harmony" a 7.0. I'll update the ratings thread, and we will proceed shortly.
Thanks for participating.
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Post by B.E. on Dec 31, 2021 21:55:56 GMT
I'm actually at an '8' on this one. I've always liked "Goin' On" a lot. And while I, too, was starting to consider whether it might have become a tad overrated among Beach Boys fans, I've reverted back to thinking it's worthy of its praise. And for all the criticism Bruce receives for his production of the era, I think "Goin' On" has very good energy...and dare I say - guts. I think this one and "Good Timin'" are probably the two best, most classic-sounding Beach Boys tracks since "Sail On Sailor" or "Marcella". I think I might even prefer "Goin' On" over "Good Timin" at the moment.
"Endless Harmony" is a fine album closer and B-side. I like both sections. Bruce delivers that magical falsetto singing that Brian used to. And I love the harmonies at the very end. The only thing that has ever irked me about the song is the line "and we sang God Bless America". I don't know, just seems corny or something. (Why that bothers me and the rest of the sappy lyrics don't, who knows? But Bruce's singing is fantastic throughout. In other words, the rest of the lyrics sound really good. The line in question, however, is sung unremarkably. I suppose that may or may not have something to do with it. Could also be the melody is more ordinary there.)
8
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