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Post by Kapitan on Feb 25, 2023 13:22:00 GMT
(How's that for a strange subject?) While watching Nolan Carr's second Mark Linnett interview yesterday, I was struck by Linnett's answer to a "this or that?" question. When asked to choose between CATP or Holland, he demurred and said something about how he'd love to take the best of each to make a single, stronger album. He did the same when asked to choose between MIU and LA. Those four albums happen to compose two of the twofers, having been released together on CDs in the '90s or '00s. It got me thinking it might be fun to see what people would do to take the twofers (i.e., two for ones) and make them "twotos" (i.e., two to one). In English, that is making a single, regular-length album out of the two albums on those or any other twofers. (Or, if you prefer, any two consecutive studio albums, whether on the same twofer or not.) Take whichever you like. Do it from whatever angle you like (e.g. making it more commercial, more artistic, more fun, more serious, or just to your personal taste). How big an improvement from either album to the one single album can you make, how good is the end product? Personally I'm thinking about it without previously unreleased tracks, but if you need or want to include those, knock yourself out.
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Post by jk on Feb 25, 2023 13:32:25 GMT
This sounds fun. I agree, no bonus tracks, just the original LPs. But to each their own, of course. I'll give Sunflower/ Surf's Up a go later today -- create one superb album from two great ones.
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Post by Kapitan on Feb 25, 2023 13:50:09 GMT
I'll give Sunflower/ Surf's Up a go later today -- create one superb album from two great ones. That's what I started with right after posting, thinking I'd revisited these albums and this era so often that it would be a breeze. Half an hour later, I have almost no idea where it's going to lead. I'm really struggling.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Feb 25, 2023 14:20:47 GMT
Great topic, Kapitan, and one that is near and dear to my heart. My initial entry covers a period in the band's career where, frankly, I think they blew it...again. After the success of "Kokomo", The Beach Boys had the opportunity to record an album to capitalize on that success, and they released Still Cruisin'. Don't let the sales figures fool you. Like 15 Big Ones thirteen years previously, it was a big disappointment. To make matters worse, they followed up Still Cruisin' with the lame Summer In Paradise, and like the Brian's Back campaign in the mid/late 1970s, it was a blown opportunity. The Beach Boys would not record another album of new material for twenty years.
Every Beach Boys' album has its highlights. There was too much talent in the band to not have some outstanding songs and performances on their albums, no matter when they were recorded. My goal with this "twoto" album is to present the highlights from Still Cruisin' and Summer In Paradise, and assemble an album that coulda/shoulda/woulda been a commercial and critical success. My secondary goal is to feature as many members of The Beach Boys' world at that time - Brian, Mike, Carl, Al, Bruce, Dennis (through John Stamos), Roger McGuinn (with a bonus track), Terry Melcher, and, yes, even The Fat Boys. This proposed album is fun, it rocks in places, the singing is good, it has some hits, and it's eclectic. What more could you ask for?
The Beach Boys - Still Cruisin'
Side 1 1. Still Cruisin' 2. In My Car 3. Wipe Out 4. Slow Summer Dancin' (One Summer Night) 5. Strange Things Happen 6. Kokomo
Side 2 1. Hot Fun In The Summertime 2. Lahaina Aloha 3. Forever 4. Somewhere Near Japan 5. California Dreamin' 6. Summer In Paradise
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Post by Kapitan on Feb 25, 2023 16:32:21 GMT
Here is my single album from the Sunflower and Surf's Up albums. I made a few difficult, and maybe even controversial, choices.
This Whole World (1971)
1. This Whole World 2. Slip On Through 3. Disney Girls (1957) 4. Our Sweet Love 5. Don't Go Near the Water 6. A Day in the Life of a Tree 7. Til I Die
8. Add Some Music to Your Day 9. Got to Know the Woman 10. Take a Load Off Your Feet 11. Long Promised Road 12. Feel Flows 13. All I Wanna Do
First, yes, I omitted what I think is the best song on either album by a country miles, "Surf's Up." I did this mostly because it just doesn't fit alongside these recordings very well, in my opinion: it belongs on Smile, and so in this world of hypotheticals, on Smile is where you'll find it!
Maybe the next questionable decision is omitting "Forever." Well, I just am not that big a fan of it. I like it fine, but I don't love it. So I omitted it.
Now, what was I thinking with what I did include?
First, I wanted to represent everyone to a reasonable extent, as I think their democracy in these years was a strength that made for a fun, diverse listening experience. Second, I wanted to represent both their progressive music and their cornier side (for lack of a better term). Third, I wanted to balance more uptempo music with ballads. Fourth, as always, I wanted to consider the listening experience for flow between tracks.
As a matter of process, I avoided anything not on the released albums and kept it to a generous but realistic length per side (each side here is about 20 minutes).
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Post by jk on Feb 25, 2023 17:13:31 GMT
I've tried to keep my Sunflower/Surf’s Up one-fer to LP length. The two tracks I juggled with before arriving at the final order were "Our Sweet Love" and "This Whole World". My preference was for the first but the second fits better time-wise and added a much-needed upbeat track. Dennis is in there twice -- no "Forever" like you Cap’n but more specifically because I prefer the Stamos-heavy version and Brian's wailing on the original soon outlives its welcome. Bruce is in there twice, Carl twice and Alan once. Brian gets the rest with a little help from Mike and Jack. My side two features the complete original side two of Surf's Up, ending in a blaze of sunshine with "Cool, Cool Water":
Little Surflower (after two posters from the past):
Side I: 1. "Slip On Through" 2. "Long Promised Road" 3. "This Whole World" 4. "Deirdre" 5. "Got To Know The Woman" 6. "Disney Girls (1957)" 7. "All I Wanna Do"
Side II: 1. "Feel Flows" 2. "Lookin' at Tomorrow (A Welfare Song)" 3. "A Day in the Life of a Tree" 4. "'Til I Die" 5. "Surf’s Up" 6. "Cool, Cool Water"
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Post by carllove on Feb 26, 2023 4:46:01 GMT
It’s hard to condense Sunflower/Surf’s Up - but I do have the twofer CD - so here is my go. Sadly No “Disney Girls”. It just doesn’t work here. Also sad to lose “Cool, Cool Water”. Choices had to be made. Two great albums.
1. This Whole World 2. Long Promised Road 3. All I Wanna Do 4. It’s About Time 5. Forever 6. Add Some Music 7. Our Sweet Love
1. Feel Flows 2. Tears in The Morning 3. Til I Die 4. Slip On Through 5. At My Window 6. Lookin at Tomorrow 7. Surf’s Up
I’ve always thought that “This Whole World” should have opened Sunflower, and feel that “Surf’s Up” is the perfect ending to that album. I added some songs I like less than some others, just because there needed to be more rockin tracks.
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Post by Kapitan on Feb 26, 2023 12:12:32 GMT
I added some songs I like less than some others, just because there needed to be more rockin tracks. I often feel that way when making playlists with this band, especially once we get toward Pet Sounds and thereafter. There were so many ballads, and ballads tended to be the best songs. They are who they are, and I love who they are, but I often wished there was a bit more rock and roll in the mix.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Feb 26, 2023 18:41:38 GMT
The Beach Boys released the Surfer Girl album on September 16, 1963. Three weeks later, they released the Little Deuce Coupe album on October 7, 1963. Three weeks! I can see why Capitol Records would want to "strike while the iron is hot", but that was ridiculous. And, talk about "the goose that laid the golden eggs". Poor Brian.
The amazing thing (well, not really, Brian was on fire) is that both albums are solid. For many fans, Surfer Girl and Little Deuce Coupe are favorites. There was a song ("Little Deuce Coupe") that appeared on both albums. Two songs were resurrected from other albums - "409" from Surfin' Safari and "Shut Down" from Surfin' U.S.A. - and thrown on Little Deuce Coupe. Did anybody really care?
Even though both Surfer Girl and Little Deuce are good/very good albums, the intention of this "twoto" album is to make one great album. A few songs had to be sacrificed - "South Bay Surfer", "The Rocking Surfer", "Boogie Woodie, "Spirit Of America", "No-Go Showboat", and "A Young Man Is Gone". I don't consider any of those to be big losses. I also deleted "409" and "Shut Down" to avoid the aforementioned repetition. By combining Surfer Girl and Little Deuce Coupe, I believe you would've had maybe the best album of 1963.
The Beach Boys - Surf & Turf (1963)
Side 1 1. Surfer Girl 2. Catch A Wave 3. Hawaii 4. The Surfer Moon 5. Car Crazy Cutie 6. Cherry, Cherry Coupe 7. Your Summer Dream
Side 2 1. Little Deuce Coupe 2. Custom Machine 3. Ballad Of Ole' Betsy 4. Our Car Club 5. Surfer's Rule 6. Be True To Your School 7. In My Room
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sockit
The Surfer Moon
Posts: 234
Likes: 181
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Post by sockit on Feb 26, 2023 18:48:39 GMT
Smiley Honey sounds kind of dorky, even for the 1960s, so I'm titling this.....
Wild Smile: Side 1 1. Wild Honey 2. Vegetables 3. Country Air 4. Aren't You Glad 5. Gettin' Hungry 6. Heroes and Villains
Side 2 1. Darlin' 2. I Was Made to Love Her 3. A Thing or Two 4. I'd Love Just Once to See You 5. Here Comes the Night 6. Let the Wind Blow
Side 1 has sort of an organic "down on the farm" feel with an airy R&B thing going on. Side 2 goes straight ahead into full on R&B. In true 1960s rock tradition, I bookended both sides with strong singles, and although LtWB was not an actual single, it should have been. At any rate, it's a very poignant and thought provoking finale to the album, which I believe would "leave the listener wanting more" (in a good way).
I originally thought about including "Good Vibrations" but it really doesn't fit, IMO. In this alternative universe, we'll assume one of the following would have occurred:
a.) "Good Vibrations" was somehow included on Pet Sounds. b.) SMiLE was actually released as the preceding album and included "Good Vibrations". c.) "Good Vibrations" would remain a single-only release, to be forever included on future comps.
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Post by B.E. on Feb 26, 2023 19:09:59 GMT
The Beach Boys released the Surfer Girl album on September 16, 1963. Three weeks later, they released the Little Deuce Coupe album on October 7, 1963. Three weeks! I can see why Capitol Records would want to "strike while the iron is hot", but that was ridiculous. And, talk about "the goose that laid the golden eggs". Poor Brian. I had the same thought and just finished my "twoto"! Except, I looked it at like this: What if instead of releasing the quasi-compilation, Little Deuce Coupe, three weeks later, they waited and released Fun Fun Fun, which featured the new tracks from Little Duece Coupe alongside the stronger Shut Down Vol. 2 material? Personally, I have more of a problem with Shut Down Vol. 2 as it was released than I do with Surfer Girl and this way I get to retitle Shut Down Vol. 2 from that cheap gimmick of a title! (By the way, SJS, when the inspiration struck to sequence "Pom Pom Playgirl" after "Be True To Your School", I thought: "SJS would appreciate that!") Fun, Fun, Fun - 15 tracks; 33 minutes 1. Fun, Fun, Fun 2. Don't Worry Baby 3. Be True To Your School 4. Pom Pom Playgirl 5, Ballad of Ole Betsy 6. In The Parking Lot 7. Keep an Eye on Summer 8. Custom Machine 9. The Warmth of the Sun 10. Car Crazy Cutie 11. Spirit of America 12. Cherry, Cherry Coupe 13. This Car of Mine 14. No-Go Showboat 15. A Young Man Is Gone I had meant to construct a 14-track album, but I managed to make the sequencing work with 15 and since it's still only 33 minutes I'm rolling with it. If this were truly an LP, I'd probably open side 2 with "The Warmth of the Sun" but listening straight through, uninterrupted, it works better to have "Custom Machine" where it is (and it also works as a side opener, too, as it's so explosive!).
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Post by lonelysummer on Feb 26, 2023 21:01:18 GMT
The mistake with those twofers was having CATP as the first album on that set; and MIU as the first album on it's set. You had to wade through a mediocre album to get to a good one. There are only two tracks I can omit from Sunflower/Surf's Up: Derdrie and Feet. Sunflower is nearly perfect; Surf's Up is very, very good. I would modify SC simply by leaving off the three old songs and replacing them with Rock 'N' Roll to the Rescue, California Dreaming, and (okay, shoot me) Problem Child. I might be able to make one good album by combining the best tracks from SIP and Sweet Insanity.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Feb 26, 2023 21:21:11 GMT
The mistake with those twofers was having CATP as the first album on that set; and MIU as the first album on it's set. You had to wade through a mediocre album to get to a good one. There are only two tracks I can omit from Sunflower/Surf's Up: Derdrie and Feet. Sunflower is nearly perfect; Surf's Up is very, very good. I would modify SC simply by leaving off the three old songs and replacing them with Rock 'N' Roll to the Rescue, California Dreaming, and (okay, shoot me) Problem Child. I might be able to make one good album by combining the best tracks from SIP and Sweet Insanity. - I don't think CATP is that much less quality-wise than Holland. Same with M.I.U. and L.A. (Light Album).
- I had a similar problem combining Sunflower and Surf's Up. Now, I can easily make alternate albums out of those two; there's plenty of material. But combining them? Not easy.
- If you're making an alternate album out of Still Cruisin', yep, absolutely add "Rock 'n' Roll To The Rescue" and "California Dreamin". And how about "Chasin' The Sky" and "Happy Endings". I like "Problem Child" but I think it came out after Still Cruisin'.
- I'd rather put Brian's 1988-89 Sweet Insanity songs with the BB originals/new stuff from 1989's Still Cruisin' and make that a stronger album than try to integrate them into Summer In Paradise (though Lord knows it could've used them ).
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Post by Kapitan on Feb 26, 2023 23:37:19 GMT
As the years go by, I am not sure CATP is worse than Holland at all. I used to think so, no question. But not anymore. The latter is more cohesive, yes. It sounds more like "an album," with CATP being really best thought of as a compilation album from three or four groups, or at least bandleaders. So maybe it's a worse album experience ... but I'm not sure it's a worse album.
That's probably the duo I'll tackle next to make a single album out of.
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sockit
The Surfer Moon
Posts: 234
Likes: 181
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Post by sockit on Feb 27, 2023 3:23:11 GMT
I know I'm probably treading in dangerous territory now, but I've always believed that there is one good album among the good tracks from Friends and 20/20. Since I don't have a catchy combo title I would just call this Friends. I never cared for the title 20/20.
Side 1 1. Meant for You 2. Friends 3. Wake the World 4. Time to Get Alone 5. Little Bird 6. Busy Doin' Nothin' 7. Diamond Head
Side 2 1. Do It Again 2. I Can Hear Music 3. Be With Me 4. The Nearest Faraway Place 5. Bluebirds Over the Mountain 6. I Went to Sleep
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