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Post by Kapitan on May 2, 2022 11:35:25 GMT
In April 2012, the Beach Boys released the first single from their reunion album, That's Why God Made the Radio. The single (of the same name) was a collaboration between Joe Thomas, Brian Wilson, Larry Millas and Jim Peterik.
The single received relatively strong promotion in conjunction with the reunion tour. It charted at #30 on the Adult Contemporary charts and was (as the saying goes) big in Japan, reaching #12 there.
Listen, discuss, and rate TWGMTR. (The B-side was the instrumental track of the song.)
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Post by kds on May 2, 2022 12:18:24 GMT
I pretty much expressed my feelings on the song TWGMTR in the C50 Tenth Anniversary thread.
I think it's a good, but not great, single. Although, to be honest, as much as I like the album, I'm not really sure if any track really screams single to me. Maybe Spring Vacation, a song I know SJS has said should've been the lead single. And, I could see that.
Anyway, I'll go seven.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on May 2, 2022 12:19:34 GMT
I remember being intrigued by the song title before it even came out. Who came up with that title? What would this song sound like? Who wrote the song? Who wrote the lyrics? And on and on. Ten years down the road and I'm not sure all of those questions are answered satisfactorily.
"That's Why God Made The Radio" is an above average to good song. I put it somewhere in the middle of the pack of the album's songs. It wasn't the correct choice for the first single. It should've been "Spring Vacation" and I feel very strongly about that. Anyway, this is what we got, and the band did their best to promote it, performing it on TV and during the reunion concerts. The song is loaded - maybe too loaded - with Beach Boys' goodies. We got a new Brian Wilson (and others) lead vocal, some very nice and layered harmonies, and, yes, even some car lyrics. Hey, this is what we wanted! This is what we were waiting for! Well...
I like the song. Like I said, it's an above average to good song I guess. It's just not THAT good, and also like I said, I think there were better songs that might've better jump-started the album and the reunion. The recording is much better than the live performances because the song is so busy in places, not so much the backing track but the vocals. Did they try maybe too hard to make this song more than it was?
I didn't buy the single; I waited for the album (though I certainly HEARD the single; I didn't even know the instrumental version was the B-side). It was exciting when it came out, that's for sure. I had no idea how it would do but I had a feeling . I'm not sure where it charted on The Billboard Hot 100 (did it chart there?), but as Kapitan alluded, it reached #30 on the Adult Contemporary Chart - and Rolling Stone ranked the song the 30th best song of 2012. Whoa! I don't think I can go that high. This might appear harsh but I'm only going with a 6. Maybe I'll go to a 7 after reading others' reviews.
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Post by jk on May 2, 2022 12:26:53 GMT
An excellent single from a great swan song of an album. Guys, please leave it at that! But I digress... I don't think I've posted this at BBT yet -- it comes from my former "hobby forum". Here, for better or for worse, is my transcription of the chords of "TWGMTR". There are moments when the chords reflect the vocal harmonies. At times my primitive notational system has forced me to choose between the vocal and instrumental harmonies (one reason why Verse II deviates slightly from Verse I). Such is life. All corrections and/or suggestions welcome -- except that one suggestion. Intro:| C - - - | F/G - - - || Verse I:| C - Am - | Bm - Esus4 - | A - F#m7 - | Dm - G - | Am - D - | Am - D - | Dm - C/E - | | B b - - - | Gsus4 - G - || Chorus I:| C - - - | Gm - - - | E b E bma7 E bm7 - | D b - D bma7 D bm7 | F# F#ma7 F#m7 - | B - D - | F#/C# - G#m/C# | | F#/C# - G#m/C# - | Dm7+9 - C/E Fma7 | Gsus4 - G - || Verse II:| C - Am - | Bm - Esus4 E | A - F#m7 - | Dm - G - | Am - D - | Am - D - | Dm - C/E - | | B b - - - | C/G - G - || Chorus II Bridge:| Am - - - | D - - - | Dm - C/E - | Fma7 - G - | B bm/A b - A b - || Coda + fade (general chords only):| D b - - - | A bm - - - | D b - - - | B - - - || | D b - - - | A bm - - - | D b A b/C B bm - | E bm - G bm - | | D b - - - | A bm - - - | D b D b/C B bm - | B - - - | | D b - - - | A bm - - - | D b A b/C B bm - | E bm - G bm - || I just love the idea of putting the instrumental track on the flip. It can't have been done very often -- maybe there's a list somewhere. I know The Jaynetts did it. If only Procol Harum had done it with "AWSOP"! It doesn't feel right to award it ten, so I'll make that a nine.
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Post by kds on May 2, 2022 12:31:52 GMT
I remember being intrigued by the song title before it even came out. Who came up with that title? What would this song sound like? Who wrote the song? Who wrote the lyrics? And on and on. Ten years down the road and I'm not sure all of those questions are answered satisfactorily.
"That's Why God Made The Radio" is an above average to good song. I put it somewhere in the middle of the pack of the album's songs. It wasn't the correct choice for the first single. It should've been "Spring Vacation" and I feel very strongly about that. Anyway, this is what we got, and the band did their best to promote it, performing it on TV and during the reunion concerts. The song is loaded - maybe too loaded - with Beach Boys' goodies. We got a new Brian Wilson (and others) lead vocal, some very nice and layered harmonies, and, yes, even some car lyrics. Hey, this is what we wanted! This is what we were waiting for! Well...
I like the song. Like I said, it's an above average to good song I guess. It's just not THAT good, and also like I said, I think there were better songs that might've better jump-started the album and the reunion. The recording is much better than the live performances because the song is so busy and layered in places, not so much the backing track but the vocals. Did they try maybe too hard to make this song more than it was?
I didn't buy the single; I waited for the album (though I certainly HEARD the single; I didn't even know the instrumental version was the B-side). It was exciting when it came out, that's for sure. I had no idea how it would do but I had a feeling . I'm not sure where it charted on The Billboard Hot 100 (did it chart there?), but as Kapitan alluded, it reached #30 on the Adult Contemporary Chart - and Rolling Stone ranked the song the 30th best song of 2012. Whoa! I don't think I can go that high. This might appear harsh but I'm only going with a 6. Maybe I'll go to a 7 after reading others' reviews. I've I really thought about the music that was released in 2012, #30 probably isn't too outlandish for TWGMTR. Although, there are probably 6-7 songs on the album alone that I think are better. One thing I've always thought is that the title is pretty clunky. I know some of you guys were on BB boards when the single came out. I have to imagine there was a bit of a sense of relief that the newest BB song bared no resemblance to some of their previous output from the 80s and 90s.
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Post by Kapitan on May 2, 2022 12:34:04 GMT
I'm not sure where it charted on The Billboard Hot 100 (did it chart there?) Nope.
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Post by Kapitan on May 2, 2022 12:35:00 GMT
An excellent single from a great swan song of an album. Guys, please leave it at that! What would message boards be for if we left it at that? Discussion and debate is the only reason these places exist.
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Post by Kapitan on May 2, 2022 12:41:23 GMT
I know some of you guys were on BB boards when the single came out. I have to imagine there was a bit of a sense of relief that the newest BB song bared no resemblance to some of their previous output from the 80s and 90s. Absolutely. While I'm not so high on this song, there is no question whatsoever for me that it was a massive relief when I thought of what the new album could sound like based on the past few decades' history.
Of course, Terry Melcher had already passed away and obviously wasn't involved, so there was no reason to think it would be SiP revisited ... but having Joe Thomas's name attached to the project was for me not a whole lot better. Were the cheesy atmospheric synth pads, tinkling pianos, and noodling classical guitars (already outdated by the time they were incorporated into Imagination) going to reappear?
"That's Why God Made the Radio" isn't my idea of a great song, but it does sound good. It was a very legitimate release that left me with hope for the album (which then exceeded my expectations again). I'll probably rate it about a 7.
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Post by kds on May 2, 2022 12:45:10 GMT
I know some of you guys were on BB boards when the single came out. I have to imagine there was a bit of a sense of relief that the newest BB song bared no resemblance to some of their previous output from the 80s and 90s. Absolutely. While I'm not so high on this song, there is no question whatsoever for me that it was a massive relief when I thought of what the new album could sound like based on the past few decades' history.
Of course, Terry Melcher had already passed away and obviously wasn't involved, so there was no reason to think it would be SiP revisited ... but having Joe Thomas's name attached to the project was for me not a whole lot better. Were the cheesy atmospheric synth pads, tinkling pianos, and noodling classical guitars (already outdated by the time they were incorporated into Imagination) going to reappear?
"That's Why God Made the Radio" isn't my idea of a great song, but it does sound good. It was a very legitimate release that left me with hope for the album (which then exceeded my expectations again). I'll probably rate it about a 7.
I alluded to this in the 10th anniversary thread, but I was also somewhat underwhelmed by it. And, since it was the lead single, and one of two songs that they played in concert when I saw them, I really didn't feel motivated to buy the album. Plus, money was a little tighter for me in 2012. Believe it or not, a CD for over $10 was a purchase I had to think about. I did finally use my Best Buy Reward Zone Points to get a copy in mid to late August.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on May 2, 2022 12:47:55 GMT
I remember being intrigued by the song title before it even came out. Who came up with that title? What would this song sound like? Who wrote the song? Who wrote the lyrics? And on and on. Ten years down the road and I'm not sure all of those questions are answered satisfactorily.
"That's Why God Made The Radio" is an above average to good song. I put it somewhere in the middle of the pack of the album's songs. It wasn't the correct choice for the first single. It should've been "Spring Vacation" and I feel very strongly about that. Anyway, this is what we got, and the band did their best to promote it, performing it on TV and during the reunion concerts. The song is loaded - maybe too loaded - with Beach Boys' goodies. We got a new Brian Wilson (and others) lead vocal, some very nice and layered harmonies, and, yes, even some car lyrics. Hey, this is what we wanted! This is what we were waiting for! Well...
I like the song. Like I said, it's an above average to good song I guess. It's just not THAT good, and also like I said, I think there were better songs that might've better jump-started the album and the reunion. The recording is much better than the live performances because the song is so busy and layered in places, not so much the backing track but the vocals. Did they try maybe too hard to make this song more than it was?
I didn't buy the single; I waited for the album (though I certainly HEARD the single; I didn't even know the instrumental version was the B-side). It was exciting when it came out, that's for sure. I had no idea how it would do but I had a feeling . I'm not sure where it charted on The Billboard Hot 100 (did it chart there?), but as Kapitan alluded, it reached #30 on the Adult Contemporary Chart - and Rolling Stone ranked the song the 30th best song of 2012. Whoa! I don't think I can go that high. This might appear harsh but I'm only going with a 6. Maybe I'll go to a 7 after reading others' reviews. I've I really thought about the music that was released in 2012, #30 probably isn't too outlandish for TWGMTR. Although, there are probably 6-7 songs on the album alone that I think are better. One thing I've always thought is that the title is pretty clunky. I know some of you guys were on BB boards when the single came out. I have to imagine there was a bit of a sense of relief that the newest BB song bared no resemblance to some of their previous output from the 80s and 90s. It was mostly positive, and as you say, there was a sense of relief. The guys sounded good which was/is always a concern. Like I mentioned above, the subject matter of the song was...safe. There was some controversy and discussion about the authorship/credits of the song. As you can imagine, it got a little heated.
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Post by Kapitan on May 2, 2022 12:59:31 GMT
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Post by jk on May 2, 2022 14:08:08 GMT
An excellent single from a great swan song of an album. Guys, please leave it at that! What would message boards be for if we left it at that? Discussion and debate is the only reason these places exist. Sorry, Cap'n, I'm being vague again. I meant The Beach Boys should leave it at that and not attempt a follow-up album!!
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Post by lonelysummer on May 2, 2022 19:56:17 GMT
Now we're in the era where a single is just a track posted online for download, so I was very happy when I was shopping at Target and saw a 45/t-shirt combo box. Don't remember how much it cost; i still have the shirt, and and I do play the record occasionally. It's not a great Beach Boys record; for a long time, it reminded me of the Imagination version of Keep an Eye on Summer, and everytime I heard it, the older song would play in my head. I agree that it wasn't the best choice for the first BB's single in ages, but at least it wasn't SIP Revisited. A mild criticism: there's not one solo BB voice that really stands out on this track; I kept listening, trying to discern "is that Brian? Is that Jeff? Al?" Maybe it was the use of Autotune. I think a song with a more recognizable BB voice would have been better. I'm giving it a 6.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on May 2, 2022 20:41:16 GMT
The link below is for Songfacts. I have no idea as to the accuracy and reliability - there are no footnotes or names of the person(s) who contributed the information. Anyway it says:
Brian Wilson wrote the song with Jim Peterik (formerly of Survivor), Joe Thomas and Larry Millas in the summer of 1998. According to Peterik, they were gathered at a Chicago restaurant called Bice when he started talking about the good old days when he would hear the hits coming out of the speaker in his 1964 Plymouth Valiant. Brian Wilson agreed, and added, "Guess that's why God made the radio."
Peterik wrote that down and started crafting a melody for the song. Millas came up with the verse ideas, and they completed the song over the next few months. When the song was revived more than a decade later, Millas, Peterik and Thomas got together again to compose another track for the album with Brian Wilson and Mike Love. That turned out to be "Isn't It Time," which was the second single.
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2022 4:47:30 GMT
I like radio because I love hearing David Marks play that classic rhythm part. And I love hearing Bruce and Al and Mike and Brian sing
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