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Post by Kapitan on Apr 6, 2019 17:44:13 GMT
SJS, I love your dedication to playlists. Obviously our tastes differ here and there, but I also really enjoy putting in the work that goes into sequencing a good album/playlist. Most of my playlist-making is on annual new-music playlists, which I've done formally since 2012, but I do still put in some time on the occasional band- or style-specific ones, too.
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Post by sebevedomy on Apr 6, 2019 17:49:50 GMT
I make playlists on my iPod. I tend to go for 30-45 minutes personally, much longer than that and I get bored. The nineties trend of really long CDs was one of the worst things to happen to music. With this stuff I combine mid-80s stuff with Beach Boys 85, and put Still Cruisin'/Summer in paradise songs separately. Together there's a...well better album than either. There's a good argument for a Melcher playlist: I also do playlists according to songwriter partner like you all did with Rieley. I'm kinda split. I do like to make 30-45 minute alternate albums just for the sake of improving them (in my opinion, of course) and to change things up. Many of the albums I choose are ones that Ive been listening to for decades, so sometimes there's also a boredom factor that I'm addressing. But I am admittedly obsessed with the sequencing of albums. I feel it's an important element in the enjoyment of an album, and one that has not been taken seriously enough. I'm convinced that most if not all the great bands of the 1960's and 1970's did not devote enough time to that aspect of their albums. I also recognize that the record companies had their say in the way things would come out, too.
I also am consistently making CDs for the car and for friends, relatives, and co-workers. So, most of the time I will utilize the full 80 minutes of a blank CD. I consider these comps as little works of art , better than a record company could ever do, and I take them very seriously, probably too seriously. I'm always trying to give the person, sometimes me, a fulfilling and occasionally mind-blowing listening experience. Most of the time I'm trying to "open someone's eyes/ears and trying to convert them. It's fun! Yes, you spend an admirable amount of thought thinking about sequence. I get where you are coming from. I'm not so good at that. Making playlists is a little hobby of mine, too, though I definitely am not trying to turn anyone else on to the thing. That is a hopeless endeavour! Lately I've made playlists for prominent co-writers (Usher, Christian, Paley, Bennett, Jakobson, Kalinich, Thomas, Rieley): it's just another way to listen to the music, to explore it from different angles. But I honestly just kind of slop it together chronologically. I do it with other groups, too, though mainly with other groups I end up cutting long albums down to 35-45 minutes. I agree there is something off about most Beach Boys albums in terms of sequencing, but I don't think I'm quite as good as you are at making new ones.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Apr 6, 2019 18:25:05 GMT
SJS, I love your dedication to playlists. Obviously our tastes differ here and there, but I also really enjoy putting in the work that goes into sequencing a good album/playlist. Most of my playlist-making is on annual new-music playlists, which I've done formally since 2012, but I do still put in some time on the occasional band- or style-specific ones, too. Thanks, Kapitan, but you know it can also be a curse, the sequencing thing. It can actually detract from my enjoyment of listening to an album. For example, just this morning I was listening to Beatles For Sale, and it was driving me nuts! They opened with "No Reply" and closed with "Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby". Hell, I would completely flip-flop those two songs. They had these great closers - "Ill Follow The Sun", "Kansas City", and "I Don't Want To Spoil The Party" SO I'LL GO!!!! - and they chose none of them. It's time for me to meditate...
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Apr 6, 2019 18:28:29 GMT
I'm kinda split. I do like to make 30-45 minute alternate albums just for the sake of improving them (in my opinion, of course) and to change things up. Many of the albums I choose are ones that Ive been listening to for decades, so sometimes there's also a boredom factor that I'm addressing. But I am admittedly obsessed with the sequencing of albums. I feel it's an important element in the enjoyment of an album, and one that has not been taken seriously enough. I'm convinced that most if not all the great bands of the 1960's and 1970's did not devote enough time to that aspect of their albums. I also recognize that the record companies had their say in the way things would come out, too.
I also am consistently making CDs for the car and for friends, relatives, and co-workers. So, most of the time I will utilize the full 80 minutes of a blank CD. I consider these comps as little works of art , better than a record company could ever do, and I take them very seriously, probably too seriously. I'm always trying to give the person, sometimes me, a fulfilling and occasionally mind-blowing listening experience. Most of the time I'm trying to "open someone's eyes/ears and trying to convert them. It's fun! Yes, you spend an admirable amount of thought thinking about sequence. I get where you are coming from. I'm not so good at that. Making playlists is a little hobby of mine, too, though I definitely am not trying to turn anyone else on to the thing. That is a hopeless endeavour! Lately I've made playlists for prominent co-writers (Usher, Christian, Paley, Bennett, Jakobson, Kalinich, Thomas, Rieley): it's just another way to listen to the music, to explore it from different angles. But I honestly just kind of slop it together chronologically. I do it with other groups, too, though mainly with other groups I end up cutting long albums down to 35-45 minutes. I agree there is something off about most Beach Boys albums in terms of sequencing, but I don't think I'm quite as good as you are at making new ones. I seriously wonder how much Brian Wilson spent on sequencing? We know he was rushed and just churning out album after album. Pet Sounds, for example, is all over the place, one of the worst. And Sunflower. On the other hand, it doesn't take THAT long to sit down and listen to a couple of different sequences/configurations. Maybe if I was a fly on the wall, I would've addressed sequencing with him.
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Post by sebevedomy on Apr 6, 2019 19:10:50 GMT
I don't have a problem with Pet Sounds' sequencing, other than "Sloop John B" sticking out a bit, but I think Summer Days! is terribly sequenced.
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 6, 2019 19:20:47 GMT
I love Pet Sounds' sequencing, including Sloop John B. Personally, I wouldn't change it. Sure, there are other songs that could fit in with it (like the much discussed Little Girl I Once Knew for Sloop swap), but I don't see any reason. Then again I'm not too concerned about the lyrical narrative coherence.
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Post by kds on Apr 10, 2019 16:11:11 GMT
Yes, you spend an admirable amount of thought thinking about sequence. I get where you are coming from. I'm not so good at that. Making playlists is a little hobby of mine, too, though I definitely am not trying to turn anyone else on to the thing. That is a hopeless endeavour! Lately I've made playlists for prominent co-writers (Usher, Christian, Paley, Bennett, Jakobson, Kalinich, Thomas, Rieley): it's just another way to listen to the music, to explore it from different angles. But I honestly just kind of slop it together chronologically. I do it with other groups, too, though mainly with other groups I end up cutting long albums down to 35-45 minutes. I agree there is something off about most Beach Boys albums in terms of sequencing, but I don't think I'm quite as good as you are at making new ones. I seriously wonder how much Brian Wilson spent on sequencing? We know he was rushed and just churning out album after album. Pet Sounds, for example, is all over the place, one of the worst. And Sunflower. On the other hand, it doesn't take THAT long to sit down and listen to a couple of different sequences/configurations. Maybe if I was a fly on the wall, I would've addressed sequencing with him. I actually think that Pet Sound is the one time that The Beach Boys / Brian Wilson knocked it out of the park when it comes to sequencing an album. I'd say that Surf's Up and That's Why God Made the Radio are also sequenced quite well.
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Post by B.E. on Apr 15, 2019 16:41:49 GMT
I've attempted to compile the best album possible from their pre- Today! material. That's seven albums down to one! Ultimately, for production and thematic reasons, I only included material from five albums ( Surfin' USA - All Summer Long). It's really fun (and easy) to make playlists from this material because there's great consistency in production. I seriously doubt I could top this album with any other era of the Beach Boys. There are too many changing variables in later periods. It's headache-inducing to try to manufacture cohesion. It can be done, but only if considering 2-3 albums at a time (not 5-7 albums). What I tried to do with this playlist was prioritize the best songs first, followed by the best 'fit'. I also tried to make sure that I didn't overlook any aspect of what made the group great during this period and I tried to maintain a balance thereof. I dare anyone to top this album. The flow is fantastic! I used the mono mix of each song from the 2012 mono/stereo remasters. 1. Surfin' USA 2. Little Deuce Coupe 3. In My Room 4. I Get Around 5. Girls On The Beach 6. In The Parkin' Lot 7. Custom Machine 8. Surfer Girl 9. All Summer Long 10. Pom Pom Play Girl 11. Car Crazy Cutie 12. Don't Worry Baby 13. Fun Fun Fun 14. Keep An Eye On Summer I'd like to thank Brian and the guys for making this so easy for me.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Apr 15, 2019 20:16:35 GMT
I've attempted to compile the best album possible from their pre- Today! material. That's seven albums down to one! Ultimately, for production and thematic reasons, I only included material from five albums ( Surfin' USA - All Summer Long). It's really fun (and easy) to make playlists from this material because there's great consistency in production. I seriously doubt I could top this album with any other era of the Beach Boys. There are too many changing variables in later periods. It's headache-inducing to try to manufacture cohesion. It can be done, but only if considering 2-3 albums at a time (not 5-7 albums). What I tried to do with this playlist was prioritize the best songs first, followed by the best 'fit'. I also tried to make sure that I didn't overlook any aspect of what made the group great during this period and I tried to maintain a balance thereof. I dare anyone to top this album. The flow is fantastic! I used the mono mix of each song from the 2012 mono/stereo remasters. 1. Surfin' USA 2. Little Deuce Coupe 3. In My Room 4. I Get Around 5. Girls On The Beach 6. In The Parkin' Lot 7. Custom Machine 8. Surfer Girl 9. All Summer Long 10. Pom Pom Play Girl 11. Car Crazy Cutie 12. Don't Worry Baby 13. Fun Fun Fun 14. Keep An Eye On Summer I'd like to thank Brian and the guys for making this so easy for me. Good one, B.E.
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Post by The Cincinnati Kid on Apr 15, 2019 23:49:48 GMT
Do any of you guys have a summer playlist that heavily features the Beach Boys?
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Apr 16, 2019 4:48:00 GMT
It's Almost Summer!
01 Radio Jingle: Wonderful KOMA - The Beach Boys
02 Almost Summer - Celebration 03 He's A Doll - The Honeys 04 In The Parking Lot - The Beach Boys
05 When It's Over - Jan & Dean 06 It's As Easy As 1,2,3 - Jan & Dean
07 Surf City - Jan & Dean 08 Radio Jingle: You're listening to Murray The K - The Beach Boys
09 A Surfer's Dream - Jan & Dean
10 Catch A Wave - The Beach Boys
11 Don't Back Down - The Beach Boys
12 Girls On The Beach - The Beach Boys 09 Catch A Wave - The Beach Boys 13 Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys 14 Surfer Girl - The Beach Boys 15 Do Ya - The Honeys 16 Fun, Fun, Fun - The Beach Boys 17 Radio Jingle: Where is your ID, what is your name - The Beach Boys 18 It's OK - The Beach Boys 19 Palisades Park - The Beach Boys 20 Your Summer Dream - The Beach Boys
21 Sea Cruise - The Beach Boys 22 Sunshine - The Beach Boys 23 Lonely Sea - The Beach Boys 24 Radio Jingle: Wonderful KYA - The Beach Boys
25 Drive-In - The Beach Boys 26 Cherry, Cherry Coupe - The Beach Boys 27 Custom Machine - The Beach Boys 28 I Get Around - The Beach Boys
29 Dead Man's Curve - Jan & Dean 30 Radio Jingle: Down By The Old Mill Stream - The Beach Boys
31 California Girls - The Beach Boys 32 Do It Again - The Beach Boys 33 Back Home - The Beach Boys 34 Good Timin' - The Beach Boys 35 Radio Jingle: - Hi, we're The Beach Boys, and we'd like to thank...- The Beach Boys 36 All Summer Long - The Beach Boys
I'm not sure this is what you're looking for (maybe too much Beach Boys?), but it's one I've been using for a couple of years. Obviously they are not all strictly "summer" songs, but they do have that feel, and I tried to use some songs to form a boy/girl relationship...as they enjoy their summer together. Obviously, any homemade comp is a matter of opinion, and these are songs I've enjoyed for years that happen to fit this theme.
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 19, 2019 14:39:31 GMT
As I mentioned in the "blew it" thread, I started messing with an alternate Wild Honey album. This assumes there was no Smile, but also that there was no Smiley Smile. It also assumes "Heroes and Villains" was still released as a single when it was.
My thinking on this was to basically present an album in the spirit of Wild Honey, which is to say relatively straightforward, most of the instrumental tracks done by the band, but also to incorporate back in some more harmonies to remind everybody who this band is, after all. It avoids the bulk of the far-out psychedelia that doesn't really jibe with that aforementioned sound.
I'm not saying this would have been a #1 record or anything, but I do think it would have been a better--if much delayed, by the standards of the time--follow-up to Pet Sounds.
Side One: 1. Wild Honey 2. Good Vibrations 3. Let the Wind Blow 4. With a Little Help From My Friends 5. I Was Made to Love Her 6. Aren't You Glad?
Side Two 7. Darlin' 8. I'd Love Just Once to See You 9. Time to Get Alone 10. Vegetables 11. Here Comes the Night 12. How She Boogalooed It 13. With Me Tonight
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Apr 19, 2019 16:27:26 GMT
As I mentioned in the "blew it" thread, I started messing with an alternate Wild Honey album. This assumes there was no Smile, but also that there was no Smiley Smile. It also assumes "Heroes and Villains" was still released as a single when it was.
My thinking on this was to basically present an album in the spirit of Wild Honey, which is to say relatively straightforward, most of the instrumental tracks done by the band, but also to incorporate back in some more harmonies to remind everybody who this band is, after all. It avoids the bulk of the far-out psychedelia that doesn't really jibe with that aforementioned sound.
I'm not saying this would have been a #1 record or anything, but I do think it would have been a better--if much delayed, by the standards of the time--follow-up to Pet Sounds.
Side One: 1. Wild Honey 2. Good Vibrations 3. Let the Wind Blow 4. With a Little Help From My Friends 5. I Was Made to Love Her 6. Aren't You Glad?
Side Two 7. Darlin' 8. I'd Love Just Once to See You 9. Time to Get Alone 10. Vegetables 11. Here Comes the Night 12. How She Boogalooed It 13. With Me Tonight
I like it! It got longer, it definitely got better, and not too "out there". Interesting choices to delete "Heroes And Villains" and to add "Time To Get Alone". But after all I taught you about sequencing :
1. Good Vibrations 2. Wild Honey 3. I Was Made To Love Her 4. Aren't You Glad 5. With A Little Help From My Friends (she's thinking about going - WOULD YOU you stand up and walk out on me?)
6. Let The Wind Blow (she's gone; let the album side fade out)
and then "Darlin'", yes - I was living like half a man. But now she's back. Gonna love you every single night - and you DID go into the night!
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 19, 2019 16:34:45 GMT
When it comes to sequencing you tend to be a little more lyrically literal than I do: I don't worry much--at least not consistently--about telling a story with it. I'm more likely to look at pacing, etc.
I left off H&V because it just didn't really work musically. It is a Smile song, and there's just no getting around that for me. "Good Vibrations" is a much better fit with this batch of songs, so even though it is far older (more than a year by the time this album would have come out, if I'm not mistaken), I thought it worked well. And I really like it as the second song on the album: you hit the listener with the "new" sounds ... but reward them with a callback uber-hit immediately after.
You also end up with both more opportunities for hit singles (GV, WH, Darlin, as well as the possibilities opened up for the Beatles cover and TTGA.)
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Post by B.E. on Apr 19, 2019 17:40:34 GMT
I like it! It got longer, it definitely got better, and not too "out there". Interesting choices to delete "Heroes And Villains" and to add "Time To Get Alone". But after all I taught you about sequencing : 1. Good Vibrations 2. Wild Honey 3. I Was Made To Love Her 4. Aren't You Glad 5. With A Little Help From My Friends (she's thinking about going - WOULD YOU you stand up and walk out on me?)
6. Let The Wind Blow (she's gone; let the album side fade out) and then "Darlin'", yes - I was living like half a man. But now she's back. Gonna love you every single night - and you DID go into the night!
Lyrics are usually a (very) low priority for me when sequencing, but, lyrically, I really like this! Nice.
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