|
Post by B.E. on Nov 20, 2022 15:33:06 GMT
The recent discussion in the 'Beach Boys Survivor: The Worst Songs' thread had me thinking that there ought to be a dedicated thread for the topic. First, here are the posts: I am guessing some of you would have preferred those abridged versions of albums Capitol put out in the early 80's. They removed two tracks from every album before Party and Pet Sounds - Concert and Christmas being the only exceptions. That meant they could cut the stupid talk tracks. They cut more than the talk tracks. I still don't forgive Capitol from deleting "Amusement Parks U.S.A." from Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) which became California Girls.
Okay, that is earlier than the 80's versions I'm familiar with. I have seen those albums on Giggens You Tube channel, but not sure that I've ever come across them in a store. I do know that there was a Capitol album in the 80's called Be True to Your School that collected up the stray tracks that had been removed from the early albums. Oh, yes, I know the ones you are referring to in the 80's; I bought them, too.
|
|
|
Post by B.E. on Nov 20, 2022 15:34:01 GMT
While I was aware of these reissues, I wanted more details. According to stephenlee at SHF, there were two main batches of reissues in 1980. The first batch consisted of the following (and I'll add the omitted tracks courtesy of Bellagio10452):
Surfin' Safari - omitted "Cuckoo Clock" and "Surfin'" Surfin' USA - omitted "Stoked" and "Surf Jam" Surfer Girl - omitted "Little Deuce Coupe" and "Our Car Club" Little Deuce Coupe - omitted "Car Crazy Cutie" and "Custom Machine" Fun Fun Fun - reissue of early '70s budget album which had omitted "In The Parking Lot" and "Cassius vs Sonny" from SDV2 All Summer Long - reissue of early '70s budget album which had omitted "Carl's Big Chance" and "Favorite Recording Sessions" Dance Dance Dance - reissue of early '70s budget album which had omitted "In The Back Of My Mind" and "Bull Session" from Today! California Girls - reissue of early '70s budget album which had omitted "Amusement Parks USA" and "I'm Bugged At My Ol' Man" from SDSN
Second batch:
Beach Boys Concert Pet Sounds Smiley Smile Wild Honey Friends 20/20
Also (re)issued were Live in London, Party! and the Be True To Your School compilation which had most of the omitted tracks and the single version of the title track.
Of the first batch with the altered tracklists, I think All Summer Long is the only defensible one. But cutting "Surfin'", "In the Parking Lot" (not "Denny's Drums"!?!?), "Custom Machine", and "In The Back of My Mind" are especially idiotic. I can see the logic for saving "Little Deuce Coupe" and "Our Car Club" for Little Deuce Coupe, but it was still a mistake. And this is assuming I accept the premise of these projects - which I don't.
|
|
|
Post by B.E. on Nov 20, 2022 15:47:34 GMT
My 80’s Capitol reissues of Pet Sounds, Wild Honey, Smiley Smile and Friends aren’t missing any tracks. I think that ended with Summer Days/California Girls. Great vinyl pressings that used to be had for cheap - but now someone wants $100 on Discogs for the one green label I’m missing - 20/20. Yeah, I don't own any of these '80s green label pressings, but they certainly seem to have a good reputation sound quality-wise.
|
|
|
Post by kds on Nov 20, 2022 16:54:37 GMT
I'll have to look up the name, but I know there was a Beach Boys Christmas CD out there that only had eight or nine tracks from the Christmas Album.
|
|
|
Post by carllove on Nov 20, 2022 21:25:25 GMT
I have traveled down the rabbit hole of best reissues of Beach Boys Albums on Hoffman, and started with Pet Sounds. Most agree that the DCC Steve Hoffman mastered release is the best (no surprise there!), but Lee Dempsey prefers the AP vinyl. I have the AP Stereo 45 RPM and it is quite amazing, but the DCC blows everything else away. Those don’t come cheap though. I picked up a NM Capitol 1980’s green label release for $36 on eBay and it is wonderful. Look for the dead wax stamped N-1-16156 for the mono “Wouldn’t it Be Nice”. If it is stamped SN-1-16156, that song is duophonic. The only big bummer on the green label reissue, is that the dog barking sounds are cut off. An even cheaper version - the Brother Records two-fer with CATP is also a great option. The problem with earlier releases is that the quality of the vinyl and pressings themselves were not so great at Capitol in the mid 60’s. The Green label 1980’s Pet Sounds were mastered by Capitol and pressed at Specialty Records Corporation.
If you can swing it - The DCC will blow your mind. I almost wrecked my car the first day I played the CD because I was transported somewhere else in my mind. I got lucky, because a seller on eBay had a broken case CD with some water damage on the label so I picked it up for $35. He actually listened to it for me, before he sent it, to make sure it sounded perfect. It does. Maybe someday, I will shell out the $200 going rate for the vinyl DCC, but when I want a general listen while I’m getting ready, or doing stuff around the house, the green label reissue is my go to.
|
|
|
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Nov 20, 2022 21:42:52 GMT
I'll have to look up the name, but I know there was a Beach Boys Christmas CD out there that only had eight or nine tracks from the Christmas Album. I don't remember if it was the same one you are referring to, but many years I picked up a Beach Boys' Christmas Album that had a shortened version of "Merry Christmas, Baby". I couldn't for the life of me figure out why. The album clocks in at only 27:37. What possible reason would they have for cutting it?
|
|
|
Post by B.E. on Nov 20, 2022 22:23:34 GMT
Sheriff John Stone , I'm pretty sure that's the original mono mix; whereas, "Merry Christmas, Baby" on the 1991 CD is a folddown of the stereo version. I've been down this Christmas Album mono/stereo/reissue rabbit hole before, and I believe I posted about it, but I'll be damned if I can remember where or when. It wasn't until recently that the original mono album was available on CD. I had planned to get a copy, but haven't yet. I'm still rockin' the flawed 1991 CD year in and year out. Edit: Actually, after a little more digging, I'm not so sure the original mono mixes are available on CD. There appears to be a fairly recent 'mono & stereo' release, but as far as I can tell it's digital only.
|
|
|
Post by carllove on Nov 20, 2022 22:34:41 GMT
For Summer Days and Summer Nights - I recommend the Capitol From The Vaults 180g Vinyl from 2010. This still remains cheap on eBay, because a lot of folks don’t realize it is mono, since the packaging art is from the original duophonic lp. I picked mine up for $29 on eBay and the sleeve was perfect and in shrink. The vinyl is very quiet and sounds amazing. The problem with the 1980 Green Label release (California Girls), is not only is it missing songs, but it is duophonic.
|
|
|
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Nov 20, 2022 22:53:54 GMT
Sheriff John Stone , I'm pretty sure that's the original mono mix; whereas, "Merry Christmas, Baby" on the 1991 CD is a folddown of the stereo version. I've been down this Christmas Album mono/stereo/reissue rabbit hole before, and I believe I posted about it, but I'll be damned if I can remember where or when. It wasn't until recently that the original mono album was available on CD. I had planned to get a copy, but haven't yet. I'm still rockin' the flawed 1991 CD year in and year out. Would you care to speculate why they (whoever they are) would cut almost 30 seconds off a song that is only 2:22 to begin with? What, if anything, does making a mono mix have to do with it?
|
|
|
Post by carllove on Nov 20, 2022 23:02:51 GMT
Here is a post from Hoffman about the Capitol From The Vaults reissue of Summer Days and Summer Nights. I agree 100%.
|
|
|
Post by B.E. on Nov 20, 2022 23:15:26 GMT
Sheriff John Stone , I'm pretty sure that's the original mono mix; whereas, "Merry Christmas, Baby" on the 1991 CD is a folddown of the stereo version. I've been down this Christmas Album mono/stereo/reissue rabbit hole before, and I believe I posted about it, but I'll be damned if I can remember where or when. It wasn't until recently that the original mono album was available on CD. I had planned to get a copy, but haven't yet. I'm still rockin' the flawed 1991 CD year in and year out. Would you care to speculate why they (whoever they are) would cut almost 30 seconds off a song that is only 2:22 to begin with? What, if anything, does making a mono mix have to do with it? Do you have the 1964 mono LP? I don't, so I can't verify. But what I've read has led me to believe that's the original mix (possibly mixed by Brian himself). If so, then it should be available. (And therefore wasn't the work of someone shortening the song after the fact - which is what I assumed you meant in your response to KDS).
|
|
|
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Nov 20, 2022 23:42:17 GMT
Would you care to speculate why they (whoever they are) would cut almost 30 seconds off a song that is only 2:22 to begin with? What, if anything, does making a mono mix have to do with it? Do you have the 1964 mono LP? I don't, so I can't verify. But what I've read has led me to believe that's the original mix (possibly mixed by Brian himself). If so, then it should be available. (And therefore wasn't the work of someone shortening the song after the fact - which is what I assumed you meant in your response to KDS). I do have a 1964 Beach Boys' Christmas Album, but I'm not sure if it's mono or stereo. I'll try to dig it out of the closet. But, I guess my question remains, even if it was Brian who did the mix - why did he cut/shorten the track so...substantially?
|
|
|
Post by B.E. on Nov 20, 2022 23:43:48 GMT
I'll have to look up the name, but I know there was a Beach Boys Christmas CD out there that only had eight or nine tracks from the Christmas Album. Found it. Merry Christmas from the Beach Boys omits "The Man with All the Toys", "Christmas Day", and "Auld Lang Syne". Released by EMI-Capitol Music Special Markets in 1997 and 2000 on CD and cassette.
|
|
|
Post by carllove on Nov 20, 2022 23:45:28 GMT
I have the Green Label and the Simply Vinyl versions of Wild Honey - and I love both. I agree with Giggens, but my Simply Vinyl version was still mint and sealed, so what’s not to like there? I paid $34 for the sealed Simply Vinyl version on eBay, but $53 for a VG+ of the Capitol Green Label on Discogs. I was just happy to find that. Then again - Sunshine Tomorrow might be the best of the bunch for Wild Honey Songs though.
|
|
|
Post by B.E. on Nov 20, 2022 23:52:51 GMT
Sheriff John Stone, I agree with you about the mix. Not only does it fade too early, but it's abrupt and awkward. The last thing you hear is Mike saying "but".
|
|