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Post by Sheriff John Stone on May 11, 2019 20:00:59 GMT
The Beach Boys Love You...After Pet Sounds and maybe my personal SMiLE mix, The Beach Boys Love You is probably my favorite Beach Boys' album. It might be my most played album, well, by any artist. It is soooo Brian, a musical picture into his mind and world at a very interesting time in his life and the group's career. The Beach Boys Love You is the real Adult/Child album. I bought the album the day it came out and I've never gotten tired of it. Love You is certainly flawed. While "Good Time" fits thematically, I still wish it would've been left in the can or re-recorded with 1976 vocals; it just sounds too out of place. And, of course, the album's biggest flaw is with the lead vocals. I'm not sure how that could've been corrected. Maybe another take or two would've brought better results, but their voices at that time, especially Dennis and Brian's, were pretty damaged. Oh, and the album's closer ain't exactly a classic, but more on that later.
Love You's sequencing isn't bad, I mean, it isn't disastrous, but with a little tweaking it could be much better. Actually, only three or four songs need to be rearranged to make the flow better, musically AND lyrically. And I have a way to end on a more positive note than the disappointing closer, "Love Is A Woman". So here we go!
The first song to move is "Mona", for two reasons. First, and least important, the album isn't ready for a raspy Dennis Wilson, not the third song in (the song should've been sung by Brian but that's for another thread). And second, the phrase "Enough of going steady" dictates that the song be moved. Our couple isn't ready to go steady yet; they just met! The perfect song to put in its place is the Al Jardine-led "Honkin' Down The Highway" with the line "take it one little inch at a time now, til we're feeling fine now...".
After that rockin' three song start, it's time for a ballad, and there is a perfect one sitting on Side 2 - "Let's Put Our Hearts Together". Lyrically it is perfect after the aforementioned first three songs. They are still getting to know each other, and it's a nice place to hear from "the girl" in our story. Again, while I would not have included "Good Time" with the 1970 vocals, it does fit perfectly as another "let's see where this relationship goes" song - and it fits perfectly after "Let's Put Our Hearts Together".
So, we started the album with featured leads by, in order, Carl, Mike, Al, and Brian. NOW it's time to bring Dennis in, and I would've featured him with a one-two punch. After our couple have been dating for awhile (five songs), NOW it's time for "Mona". "Mona" is still a "getting to know each other" song, but it's a little farther along in the relationship with the line "could we get married, enough of going steady". And I would've immediately followed that with "I Wanna Pick You Up". It's like after all of that courting and getting to know each other, our girl is tired and "she's going to sleep". I'm not a big fan of fast side/slow side albums, mainly because of flow issues, but Love You could've easily created a Day Side and a Night Side. To some extent they did, but ending Side 1 with "I Wanna Pick You Up" would've been an appropriate ending to the Day Side. Now bring on the night!
When you think of Johnny Carson, what is one thing that comes to mind? Late night TV viewing! So get "Johnny Carson" off of Side 1 and put him/it where it belongs, on Side 2 - the Night Side. I would start Side 2 with "Johnny Carson" and then go with "Solar System". Did you know that Johnny Carson was into astrology? Anyway, the line in "The Night Was So Young" - 'the moon shining bright on my window sill' - sounds better immediately following "Solar System".
OK, the big finish. How disappointing is "Love Is A Woman"? Ugh. The only dud on the album. Do you hang in that long? Do you stay with it until the end? It isn't a totally bad closer, but I have a better one - "Ding Dang". I refuse to go out on a sour note, with a weak song and performance. Why not rock out? With a little humor to boot? Think about it, Brian is bragging and telling us how to get, love, and keep a woman with "Love Is A Woman", then Mike comes along and sings, "I treat her so fine but she treats me so badly". Perfect Brian/Mike ying-yang. A great place to put "Ding Dang". Fading out the album with a smile!
The Beach Boys Love You - Produced By Brian Wilson (1977)
Side 1 01 Let Us Go On This Way 02 Roller Skating Child 03 Honkin' Down The Highway 04 Let's Put Our Hearts Together 05 Good Time 06 Mona 07 I Wanna Pick You Up
Side 2 08 Johnny Carson 09 Solar System 10 The Night Was So Young
11 I'll Bet He's Nice 12 Airplane 13 Love Is A Woman 14 Ding Dang
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Post by eraserheadbaby on May 14, 2019 18:36:57 GMT
I'd replace Good Time with You've Lost that Loving Feeling
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Post by Kapitan on May 14, 2019 18:41:07 GMT
I couldn’t lose Good Time, personally: I’m a sucker for those 70ish Al-heavy (as co-writer or prominent singer) tunes like it, Feet, Loop de Loop, Susie Cincinnati, etc.
Granted, I’d rather it were on Sunflower. But in a way it’s fitting where it is amid the goofy Love You songs.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on May 14, 2019 20:03:12 GMT
I'd replace Good Time with You've Lost that Loving Feeling Personally, I love Brian's take on "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'", and I'm sure they could've "Love You'd" it with synthesizers to make it fit sonically. But one thing I really like about The Beach Boys Love You - and wouldn't change - is that it has all original compositions and no covers/oldies. It's one of the few BB albums like that, especially later-period BB albums. The only way I would consider it would be to substitute it for "Love Is A Woman", the weakest track on the album, but even that song has sentimental value. It epitomizes Love You.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jun 1, 2019 12:31:34 GMT
Through the years, the criticisms of the M.I.U. Album have been pretty consistent - lightweight songwriting, less than exciting production, and not enough Carl Wilson participation. There have been some positive responses including a somewhat retro Beach Boys' vibe (which is also a negative for some listeners) and much-improved Brian Wilson vocals. For me personally, I REALLY like the lead vocals on this album, especially Brian's but also Al Jardine's. I think Al's lead vocal on "Peggy Sue" is the best of his career. Also, I never thought the songs were that bad; actually I think some ("Wontcha Come Out Tonight", "She's Got Rhythm", "Pitter Patter", and especially "Match Point Of Our Love") are pretty good.
However, keeping with the thread, of course I think the M.I.U. Album could've been improved, and very simply. Tweaking the sequence is a given, but I would also add not one but two songs. I don't think I would delete any tracks; while a couple are weak(er), they are not an embarrassment (who would've thought that out of all of the Adult/Child songs, they would choose/keep "Hey Little Tomboy"). The album clocked in at 32:19 and that's not bad. I just think this album is calling out for MORE MUSIC! The Beach Boys went from 15 songs on 15 Big Ones, to 14 songs on Love You, to 12 songs on the M.I.U. Album. Why? They group was doing so much recording; the songs were available.
The first song I would add from the M.I.U. sessions would be "Winter Symphony". I don't think it would've stuck out as a Christmas song had it appeared on the album. It doesn't mention the word "Christmas", but we're used to hearing it on the Ultimate Christmas collection. It's such a good song - and Brian Wilson vocal. The other song I would include would be "Our Team". Now, this song is far from a classic and some of the vocals are shaky at best. But I like the feel, the mood of the song, and the lyrics might serve to add some much needed unity - meaning the unity of the band - to the album.
Oh, and the album title? Terrible. Who came up with these album titles and how did they ever get approved? How about Our Team, Winds of Change, Come Go With Me? Take your pick or come up with an alternative. For now I'll go with Our Team; a little corny and certainly not accurate.
The Beach Boys - Our Team (1978)
Side 1 01 Come Go With Me 02 Wontcha Come Out Tonight 03 Hey Little Tomboy 04 Peggy Sue 05 Sweet Sunday Love 06 Belles Of Paris 07 She's Got Rhythm
Side 2 08 Winds Of Change 09 Pitter Patter 10 Winter Symphony 11 Kona Coast 12 Match Point Of Our Love 13 My Diane 14 Our Team
Length: 37:58
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jun 18, 2019 0:39:38 GMT
L.A. (Light Album)...I'll give them an A for effort. At least they tried to go back to "adult" or mature themes like some of their early 70's albums. But then they totally obliterated that concept with some bad choices.
In my attempt to improve L.A. (Light Album) but keeping the light/adult vibe, I made three basic changes. The first change was the most obvious - cut "Here Comes The Night" to a more desirable length. I think the single version of the song was adequate and I used it. I applaud Bruce for his attempt at an elaborate production, but the eleven minute version was best served on the special extended "dance mix" records that were in vogue during the disco era. I thought about deleting "Here Comes The Night" completely. It certainly doesn't fit on the album, but it is such a part of their history; it's almost legendary and it does remind me of that space in time...1979.
Second, by trimming "Here Comes The Night", I was able to add a song to the album. With "Goin' South", "Full Sail", and even "Sumahama", there's a bit of a traveling or nautical feeling going on. There was an Al song sitting there that would've fit nicely on the album, and specifically in conjunction with the aforementioned three songs. I inserted "Looking Down The Coast" into my mini traveling-by-the-sea suite.
Lastly, I am swapping out one song for another. In my opinion, "Shortenin' Bread" was the worst song selection for any Beach Boys' album and also the worst closing song on any Beach Boys' album. WHAT IN THE HELL WERE THEY THINKING? Of all the songs in the can, they chose this one? Unbelievable, just unbelievable. So, "Shortenin' Bread" is out and "California Feelin'" is in. "California Feelin'" is light, kind of another traveling song, and a nice positive closing song. The album needed more positivity anyway.
After making the above changes, I re-sequenced the album. That wasn't easy with all of the slow songs. I also thought the album title needed changing, too. Any title is better than L.A. (Light Album). I thought about Good Timin' but the album isn't good timey enough. I like Full Sail, too. Baby Blue would've been cool. How about a safe choice - California Feelin'? It doesn't sound much like California music, does it? I'm taking suggestions.
The Beach Boys - California Feelin' (1979)
Side 1 01 California Feelin' 02 Goin' South 03 Lookin' Down The Coast 04 Full Sail 05 Sumahama 06 Love Surrounds Me
Side 2
07 Here Comes The Night (Single Version)
08 Baby Blue 09 Angel Come Home 10 Lady Lynda 11 Good Timin'
Length: 38:31
What was it with The Beach Boys and apostrophes?
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jun 28, 2019 21:50:21 GMT
Dennis Wilson - Bambu (CD Version)
01 Time For Bed 02 Wild Situation 03 Album Tag Song 04 Cocktails 05 Under The Moonlight 06 I Love You 07 School Girl 08 Common
09 Constant Companion 10 He's A Bum 11 Are You Real 12 Love Remember Me 13 Mexico 14 Holy Man
15 All Alone 16 It's Not Too Late 17 Piano Variations On Thoughts Of You
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jun 28, 2019 22:46:59 GMT
Dennis Wilson - Bambu (Album Version)
Side 1 01 Time For Bed 02 Wild Situation 03 Album Tag Song 04 Cocktails 05 Under The Moonlight 06 I Love You 07 School Girl
Side 2 01 Constant Companion 02 Are You Real 03 Love Remember Me 04 Mexico 05 Holy Man
06 All Alone 07 It's Not Too Late
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Post by Kapitan on Jun 29, 2019 0:33:05 GMT
You know I love your alternates and playlists, but the Bambu material is probably the most disappointing Beach Boys related material I've ever encountered (comparing reputation to reality). I can't really ever even get through it: I either skip ahead song to song, or just turn it off and check back later. Much later. But bless you!
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jun 29, 2019 1:25:15 GMT
You know I love your alternates and playlists, but the Bambu material is probably the most disappointing Beach Boys related material I've ever encountered (comparing reputation to reality). I can't really ever even get through it: I either skip ahead song to song, or just turn it off and check back later. Much later. But bless you! I'm gonna agree with you somewhat on this one. I heard some Bambu (then it was Bamboo) tracks on bootlegs many years ago and wasn't very impressed. I was hoping for some better songs on the 2008 POB expanded edition, but didn't find as many as I had hoped for. Oh, there were a few - "Love Remember Me", "Constant Companion", "It's Not Too Late", and "Are You Real" - but not enough quality material to compare to Pacific Ocean Blue. Not to belabor the point, but again, I think Dennis' faster, rockier, bluesy songs are the most disappointing. They can be plodding. And like Pacific Ocean Blue, I think the ballads are the highlights.
I know what you mean about struggling to get through it and skipping tracks. That's why I had to (re)sequence it - for my own benefit, for my own personal enjoyment. I tried to create some kind of flow, and of course, I tried to make sense out of it lyrically. On the album version, I added a couple of POB outtakes (Mexico and Holy Man) to strengthen it, while deleting He's A Bum.
Bambu is not...bad. The best thing I can say about it is that it has its moments.
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Post by kds on Jul 1, 2019 12:33:15 GMT
L.A. (Light Album)...I'll give them an A for effort. At least they tried to go back to "adult" or mature themes like some of their early 70's albums. But then they totally obliterated that concept with some bad choices.
In my attempt to improve L.A. (Light Album) but keeping the light/adult vibe, I made three basic changes. The first change was the most obvious - cut "Here Comes The Night" to a more desirable length. I think the single version of the song was adequate and I used it. I applaud Bruce for his attempt at an elaborate production, but the eleven minute version was best served on the special extended "dance mix" records that were in vogue during the disco era. I thought about deleting "Here Comes The Night" completely. It certainly doesn't fit on the album, but it is such a part of their history; it's almost legendary and it does remind me of that space in time...1979.
Second, by trimming "Here Comes The Night", I was able to add a song to the album. With "Goin' South", "Full Sail", and even "Sumahama", there's a bit of a traveling or nautical feeling going on. There was an Al song sitting there that would've fit nicely on the album, and specifically in conjunction with the aforementioned three songs. I inserted "Looking Down The Coast" into my mini traveling-by-the-sea suite.
Lastly, I am swapping out one song for another. In my opinion, "Shortenin' Bread" was the worst song selection for any Beach Boys' album and also the worst closing song on any Beach Boys' album. WHAT IN THE HELL WERE THEY THINKING? Of all the songs in the can, they chose this one? Unbelievable, just unbelievable. So, "Shortenin' Bread" is out and "California Feelin'" is in. "California Feelin'" is light, kind of another traveling song, and a nice positive closing song. The album needed more positivity anyway.
After making the above changes, I re-sequenced the album. That wasn't easy with all of the slow songs. I also thought the album title needed changing, too. Any title is better than L.A. (Light Album). I thought about Good Timin' but the album isn't good timey enough. I like Full Sail, too. Baby Blue would've been cool. How about a safe choice - California Feelin'? It doesn't sound much like California music, does it? I'm taking suggestions.
The Beach Boys - California Feelin' (1979)
Side 1 01 Good Timin' 02 Goin' South 03 Lookin' Down The Coast 04 Full Sail 05 Sumahama 06 Love Surrounds Me
Side 2
07 Here Comes The Night (Single Version)
08 Baby Blue 09 Angel Come Home 10 Lady Lynda 11 California Feelin'
Length: 38:31
What was it with The Beach Boys and apostrophes?
I like that a lot. I think LA Light is another one of those woulda / coulda / shoulda BB albums. It could've been their very good Yacht Rock album, but Shortenen Bread and the overly long HCTN really tarnish the overall listening experience. The shorter HCTN would've made it infinitely better. And while California Feelin' isn't ace material, it's miles better than SB.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jul 3, 2019 13:15:05 GMT
As great as Brian Wilson was at creating Beach Boys' songs, I wish he - or the group or the record company - would've taken just as much care at developing The Beach Boys' albums. And maybe he/they did, I don't know...Just a song added here or a song omitted there would've made a big difference. And sequencing? I often wonder how much time they (whoever?) spent at the final sequencing of Beach Boys' albums.
The Beach Boys' Summer Days (And Summer Nights) is a great album, well, it has some great songs, but, again, I think it could've been improved. Summer Days (And Summer Nights) doesn't require as much plastic surgery as most BB-related albums. There weren't many songs recorded that were left off, and the sequencing isn't terrible. This is what I came up with.
"I'm Bugged At My Old Man" - this song is more fascinating than good. Parts of it are interesting but parts of it are annoying. Why did Brian record this song in the first place? People have suggested that Brian Wilson was this nice guy, non-confrontational, and wouldn't hurt a fly. Then why record/release this song? Was it an overt, direct shot at his father? Regardless, after much thought, I'm going to keep it, mainly because the album needs more music, more time. Now, where to place it is another question.
There are two outtakes hanging around - "Graduation Day" and "Sherry She Needs Me". I wish Brian would've released the studio version of "Graduation Day". Yes, they just released a live version of the song a year earlier on The Beach Boys' Concert, but releasing two versions of a song never stopped Brian before (i.e. "Be True To Your School", "Help Me, R(h)onda"). And this studio version is so good. The other song, "Sherry She Needs Me" is another story. How could Brian not finish this song? What a song, what a backing track! Even though there is no finished recording of "Sherry She Needs Me", I'm going to include it on this alternate/fantasy version. The MIC version will have to suffice.
Sequencing? The sequencing on Summer Days (And Summer Nights) isn't bad; it isn't as bad as most BB albums. Here is my alternate version:
The Beach Boys - Summer Days (And Summer Nights) Produced by Brian Wilson (1965)
Side 1 01 The Girl From New York City 02 Then I Kissed Her 03 You're So Good To Me 04 Graduation Day (Studio Version) 05 I'm Bugged At My Old Man 06 Amusement Parks U.S.A. 07 Salt Lake City
Side 2 08 California Girls 09 Sherry She Needs Me (MIC Version)
10 Help Me, Rhonda 11 Girl Don't Tell Me 12 Let Him Run Wild 13 Summer Means New Love 14 And Your Dream Comes True
Length: 31:57
Do you find this alternate version an improvement? It has more songs; it's longer by five minutes. I like the flow and how it works better lyrically.
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Post by Kapitan on Jul 3, 2019 13:33:48 GMT
With the music of that period, it's frankly pretty hard to mess things up: 1964-66 are almost universally priceless.
My only quibble would be one you predicted, which is I'm Bugged At My Old Man. I'd cut it. It's moderately funny once or twice, but is baffling alongside such great music. It would have been a great thing to have as an outtake on a twofer or box set, but I don't think it belongs on an album, much less a classic one.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Sept 15, 2019 16:04:04 GMT
Friends...You gotta give Brian Wilson credit. In 1968 he put his art before anything, certainly before what many other Beach Boys' fans wanted. Actually, Friends might've been the least kind of album that the group's dwindling fan base wanted. The Beach Boys lost a lot of fans with Smiley Smile, held the fort with Wild Honey, and, well, probably lost even more fans with Friends (which peaked at No. 126 on the Billboard charts). History has been kinder to Friends, though. Through the years, many fans including Brian Wilson himself have proclaimed Friends as one of their favorite Beach Boys' albums.
So, how can Friends be improved using 20/20 hindsight? Oh, like just about every other Beach Boys' album - add a song or two and tweak the sequencing. There really weren't many other quality songs recorded during the Friends' sessions to include. I considered Brian's demo of Bacharach/David's "My Little Red Book", but decided against it. In the end I added "Our New Home", a bouncy little instrumental which fits nicely with the other "domestic" songs on Side 1.
One of my main goals in resequencing was to get "Meant For You", so out of place as an opening song, near the end of the album where it belongs. Lyrically, it's telling you that - "As I sit and close my eyes, there's peace in my mind." Is he meditating? I actually like "Meant For You" as the closing track, but decided to place it right before the obvious closer, "Transcendental Meditation". It works better that way, especially lyrically. Anyway, here's what I came up with:
The Beach Boys - Friends Produced by Brian Wilson (1968)
Side 1 1. Be Still 2. Wake The World 3. Be Here In The Morning 4. When A Man Needs A Woman 5. Our New Home 6. Little Bird
Side 2 1. Anna Lee, The Healer 2. Diamond Head 3. Friends 4. Busy Doin' Nothin' 5. Passing By
6. Meant For You 7. Transcendental Meditation
- Friends goes from 12 songs to 13 songs - Album running time goes from 25:32 to 27:38
Alternate album cover:
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Nov 15, 2019 22:35:38 GMT
When Brian Wilson released his first solo album in 1988, there were a lot of expectations. Very high expectations. One song that didn't appear on the album, "He Couldn't Get His Poor Old Body To Move", was the B-side to the single "Love And Mercy". I think "He Couldn't Get His Poor Old Body To Move" was strong enough to appear on BW1988; the album could've used the "life" - and the Lindsey Buckingham association. Another track, "Being With The One You Love", which was the B-side of "Melt Away", is another good song that didn't appear on the album. I think both "He Couldn't Get His Poor Old Body To Move" AND "Being With The One You Love" were stronger cuts than, say, "Night Time" and "Little Children".
Brian Wilson 1988 wasn't necessarily a short album. It clocked in at 37:20, but it could've accommodated another song or two. By 1988, we were already in the CD era. Brian had a long time to accumulate and assemble songs for his first solo album. I think more rather than less - songs that is - would've served him better. This is my attempt at assembling an improved Brian Wilson 1988 solo album. Again, because those two additional songs were already recorded, it's not much of a reach to include them. And, am I the only one who thinks opening the album with "One For The Boys" is a no-brainer? Doesn't "Meet Me In My Dreams Tonight" make a perfect side opener, for Side 2, the "night" side. Take a look. Better than that, take a listen:
Brian Wilson - Brian Wilson (1988)
Side 1 1. One For The Boys 2. He Couldn't Get His Poor Old Body To Move 3. Little Children 4. Walkin' The Line 5. Melt Away 6. Being With The One You Love 7. Love And Mercy
Side 2 1. Meet Me In My Dreams Tonight 2. There's So Many 3. Let's Go To Heaven In My Car 4. Let It Shine 5. Rio Grande
Produced By Brian Wilson, Russ Titelman, Jeff Lynne, Lenny Waronker, & Andy Paley
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