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Post by kds on Jul 20, 2022 12:55:32 GMT
For the best song on Surfin' Safari, I'll go with the title track. It was one of the first songs that Brian (and Mike) wrote for The Beach Boys - what was he, only 19 years old at the time - but it still holds up quite well. I think "Surfin' Safari" is as good as any surfing song in the catalog. If "Surfin' U.S.A." is better, it's not by much. But, "Surfin' Safari" has everything - one of the best intros Brian ever wrote, a great Mike Love lead vocal (and lyrics), a good melody, and it rocks! Carl and David definitely had their moments. This is pure garage rock, and the garage was literally right off the Wilson's house in Hawthorne. I still put "Surfin' Safari" on most "best of" comps. You can't lose with starting a comp with it.
At the risk of getting ahead of myself, while I agree that Surfin' Safari (the song) is a classic, I think that Surfin' USA (the song) is head and shoulders above it. Sonically, it almost sounds like a completely different band.
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Post by kds on Jul 20, 2022 15:48:14 GMT
I think I'm going to go from three to two albums a week to flesh out the topic a little more, and probably allow for some more lively discussion when we get to the likes of ASL, Today, Pet Sounds, etc.
So, Mondays and Thursdays sound good then?
This would take us up to about Halloween.
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Post by Kapitan on Jul 20, 2022 17:32:09 GMT
Sounds great. And it’s been nice having this activity.
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Post by kds on Jul 20, 2022 18:20:11 GMT
Thinking a little ahead, are there any thoughts on the "talk tracks" from SDV2, ASL, and Today?
I was thinking that they are pretty obvious choices for "worst" tracks on each of these albums, but perhaps limiting the options to strictly pieces of music could make the discussions more interesting for these albums.
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Post by B.E. on Jul 20, 2022 18:30:08 GMT
Either way is fine with me. I agree, though, that it would probably be more interesting to remove the “talk tracks“ and tracks like “Denny’s Drums”.
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Post by kds on Jul 20, 2022 18:45:52 GMT
Either way is fine with me. I agree, though, that it would probably be more interesting to remove the “talk tracks“ and tracks like “Denny’s Drums”. I think I'd probably keep Denny's Drums, even though it's barely a piece of music. But, I might think more about it when SDV2 comes up
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Post by Kapitan on Jul 20, 2022 18:50:44 GMT
I’m fine with whatever others prefer.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jul 20, 2022 18:54:24 GMT
I would eliminate the talk/skit/comedy tracks and I would eliminate "Denny's Drums", too.
Could you give another thought to including the live albums? They might be fun and interesting.
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Post by kds on Jul 20, 2022 19:04:05 GMT
I would eliminate the talk/skit/comedy tracks and I would eliminate "Denny's Drums", too.
Could you give another thought to including the live albums? They might be fun and interesting.
I think I'd rather just stick with the studio albums, at least initially. Perhaps the live albums once we complete the studio discography.
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Post by jk on Jul 20, 2022 21:53:58 GMT
Thinking a little ahead, are there any thoughts on the "talk tracks" from SDV2, ASL, and Today? I was thinking that they are pretty obvious choices for "worst" tracks on each of these albums, but perhaps limiting the options to strictly pieces of music could make the discussions more interesting for these albums. I consider "Do You Remember?" less memorable (despite the title) than "Our Favorite Recording Sessions". So please leave them in!
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Post by lonelysummer on Jul 21, 2022 1:26:00 GMT
If it's listed as a track on the album, keep it. Live albums, too. Some live versions are better than the studio takes; and the reverse is often true, too.
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Post by The Cincinnati Kid on Jul 21, 2022 1:47:34 GMT
This was relatively easy. My initial thought for best track was the title track, but there's also 409. As much as I love that, I have to give the nod to Surfin' Safari. Like the Sheriff, I think it's nearly as good as Surfin' USA, I know I certainly enjoy it more.
As far as the worst track, I also ended up going with my initial thought, which is Ten Little Indians. It doesn't really have anything redeeming about it, at least Summertime Blues at its core is a good song. Chug a Lug is fun, the vocals on Moon Dawg are enjoyable, etc.
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Post by kds on Jul 21, 2022 12:28:18 GMT
Thinking a little ahead, are there any thoughts on the "talk tracks" from SDV2, ASL, and Today? I was thinking that they are pretty obvious choices for "worst" tracks on each of these albums, but perhaps limiting the options to strictly pieces of music could make the discussions more interesting for these albums. I consider "Do You Remember?" less memorable (despite the title) than "Our Favorite Recording Sessions". So please leave them in! In fairness, Do You Remember is an actual song though.
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Post by kds on Jul 21, 2022 12:34:09 GMT
Ok, for the sake of argument, I'll leave the talk tracks in so that the albums are complete.
But, sticking to studio albums only. Perhaps after TWGTMR, I'll do the live albums.
So, before we move on to Surfin USA, which I'll do at 11:00am EDT.
1. Two albums per week, posting on Monday and Thursday
2. Each album track will be up for grabs, including talk tracks, drum solos, seasonal greetings, etc etc.
3. Each Beach Boys studio album will be covered. I'm also including Smile (Sessions Disc 1), and will do a separate post for the Mt. Vernon EP, as it really is it's own thing, separate from Holland.
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Post by jk on Jul 21, 2022 12:53:36 GMT
I consider "Do You Remember?" less memorable (despite the title) than "Our Favorite Recording Sessions". So please leave them in! In fairness, Do You Remember is an actual song though. Yes indeed. I just prefer "OFRS"...
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