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Post by Kapitan on Jan 31, 2022 12:39:48 GMT
The Beach Boys afforded Bruce Johnston his first opportunity for an A-side of a Beach Boys single since October 1970, when his "Tears in the Morning" was selected (and failed to chart in the US or UK, although it was #4 among the Dutch). With a September 1985 release, it had been almost 15 years since he had the honor.
"She Believes in Love Again" was written by Johnston, with the lead vocal sung by him (verses) and Carl Wilson (chorus). Johnston also played synthesizer on the track, making him the only Beach Boy to contribute instrumentally to the song. It did not chart on the primary charts, though it hit #26 on Billboard's adult contemporary chart.
The B-side was Brian Wilson's "It's Just a Matter of Time," which did not chart anywhere.
Please discuss and rate "She Believe in Love Again" backed with "It's Just a Matter of Time."
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jan 31, 2022 13:33:43 GMT
I didn't realize that "She Believes In Love Again" charted that high (#26) on Billboard's Adult Contemporary Chart. I never heard it played anywhere. It's not a bad song; actually it's probably a borderline good song. It was bad choice for a single. It just didn't have the "oomph" to make it as a ballad single in 1985.
So, they complement the A-side - a ballad - with "It's Just A Matter Of Time" on the B-side - another ballad. "It's Just A Matter Of Time" is just an OK song; it's hard to even call it a good song.
While I'm not an especially big fan of "I Do Love You", it was a Stevie Wonder song and they could've capitalized on it/that. "Maybe I Don't Know" rocked and it sounded contemporary (if that's what they wanted). It would've made a better B-side. I've already posted that "California Calling" should been released as a single.
"She Believes In Love Again"/"It's Just A Matter Of Time" was a weak single. A 5.
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Post by Kapitan on Jan 31, 2022 13:57:32 GMT
I'm going with a 6, at least to begin with. I think "She Believes..." is actually one of the most successful songs on the album, and wasn't a terrible choice for a single. I'm not saying I love it or anything, but I think it's pretty decent and fits in to what was going on at the time. I even like Bruce's raspy voice. If you'd told me this was #26 on the Hot 100 instead of the AC chart, I'd have believed you.
My opinion of "It's Just a Matter of Time" is lower. It sounds like something Wilson did on assignment for a cheeseburger: super simple, short, just a by-numbers kind of exercise. What's there isn't terrible, but there's not much there. And unlike "She Believes...," it more certainly does not sound like a 1985 pop song.
So if the A-side is in the mid-7s and the B-side is 4ish, I feel OK going 6.
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Post by kds on Jan 31, 2022 15:08:12 GMT
I'm going with a six here too. I think the A side is a decent Bruce Johnston song. The only thing that ever irked me about it was his trying to sing with a gruffer voice, which sounds odd on first listen.
It's Just a Matter of Time is OK.
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Emdeeh
Pacific Coast Highway
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Post by Emdeeh on Jan 31, 2022 15:34:51 GMT
The intriguing thing about SBILA is Carl singing lead on the chorus. The majority of Bruce’s BB songs have just Bruce singing lead throughout. However, Bruce sang lead on the whole song at BB shows in the ‘80s.
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Post by Kapitan on Jan 31, 2022 15:40:17 GMT
The intriguing thing about SBILA is Carl singing lead on the chorus. The majority of Bruce’s BB songs have just Bruce singing lead throughout. However, Bruce sang lead on the whole song at BB shows in the ‘80s.That is interesting. I suppose it was to give Bruce his one feature, a la "Disney Girls" in earlier years?
I totally understand giving part of the song to Carl, though. I mean, if you want a song to connect with people, that's a good strategy! But it's a good point, that Bruce tended to sing his songs. (Not that there were so many to choose from on Beach Boys records.)
I have to say, I prefer the singing on the actual '85 single version than the mid-00s remake with Bruce throughout, both Bruce's and Carl's parts sound better to me than Bruce's later performance. I like that little Bryan Adams rasp!
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Post by lonelysummer on Jan 31, 2022 21:23:08 GMT
The best thing about this single: they chose a current track for the flip side, instead of something 9 years old. She Believes in Love Again is a typically slow, sappy Bruce song. I do like the raspy voice, and of course Carl sounds great on it. Not a hit single, though. I would have chosen (the obvious one) California Calling. Who chose their singles in the 80's? I agree that I Do Love You or Maybe I Don't Know would have made better singles, too - or even Where I Belong? It's Just a Matter of Time was a song Brian sang at some BB's shows in 1983 - apparently to show people he was writing again. Nice little tune, but certainly not genius. It made a nice, nostalgic album closer. I really can't rate it higher than 6; I could drop it down to 5. Not great, but not bad.
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Post by Kapitan on Feb 3, 2022 14:12:45 GMT
Where do people rate this one compared to Bruce's other Beach Boys songs? There really aren't many to pick from, but they are mostly ballads, so comparisons are not too hard to make in that respect.
I have to say he is pretty heavy on the schmaltz, and that's not my taste. But I do think his Sunflower/Surf's Up contributions are more to my taste than his latter-day ones. I might rate this third, after "Deirdre" and "Disney Girls."
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Post by kds on Feb 3, 2022 16:02:51 GMT
I'd probably put it just behind Disney Girls, Tears in the Morning, and Nearest Faraway Place. I'd say it's on par with Deirdre, and above Endless Harmony and Slow Summer Dancing.
Is this six pack all there is?
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Feb 3, 2022 17:29:37 GMT
I'll go with:
- Disney Girls - The Nearest Faraway Place
- She Believes In Love Again - Deidre - Slow Summer Dancing (One Summer Night)
- Endless Harmony - Tears In The Morning
...but, other than the first two, they're all kind of the same quality to me.
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Post by lonelysummer on Feb 4, 2022 2:53:37 GMT
Disney Girls and Tears in the Morning are my favorites. She Believes in Love Again is middle of the pack, with Endless Harmony. Deirdre is barely tolerable. Nearest Faraway Place is muzak to my ears; Slow Summer Dancing sounds like a gem because of the turkeys that surround it on SIP.
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Post by B.E. on Feb 6, 2022 15:20:48 GMT
I even like Bruce's raspy voice. I do like the raspy voice Whoa, me too! Cool. I thought I was all but alone! I also agree with Kapitan that "She Believes In Love Again" sounds of its time and hit-worthy. I'm also a fan of "It's Just A Matter Of Time". I like when Brian writes in that style, and Brian and Mike are sounding pretty darn good together. I like the harmonica. I love Mike's bass vocals. And, listen to Mike's lead on the bridge! He could still sing without being overly nasal (which makes it so frustrating that he didn't sing more like that). Anyway, both of these songs are highlights of the album for me (after "Where I Belong" and "Getcha Back"). So, a solid '8' from me.
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Post by lonelysummer on Feb 6, 2022 21:07:14 GMT
I even like Bruce's raspy voice. I do like the raspy voice Whoa, me too! Cool. I thought I was all but alone! I also agree with Kapitan that "She Believes In Love Again" sounds of its time and hit-worthy. I'm also a fan of "It's Just A Matter Of Time". I like when Brian writes in that style, and Brian and Mike are sounding pretty darn good together. I like the harmonica. I love Mike's bass vocals. And, listen to Mike's lead on the bridge! He could still sing without being overly nasal (which makes it so frustrating that he didn't sing more like that). Anyway, both of these songs are highlights of the album for me (after "Where I Belong" and "Getcha Back"). So, a solid '8' from me. It's surprising they even released a 3rd single from the album- but clearly, they were aiming at the A/C market with this one. I had hoped that they would get another album out within a year or two of this one; but instead, we got another compilation - granted, a good one - the next year with a couple new recordings added to it; then 3 more years...and yet another compilation!
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Post by Kapitan on Feb 7, 2022 12:28:19 GMT
Eight voters rated "She Believes in Love Again" backed with "It's Just a Matter of Time" an average of 6.1.
Thank you for participating. I will update the ratings thread and we will proceed shortly.
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