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Post by Sheriff John Stone on May 21, 2023 17:20:17 GMT
What? No Beatles, Stones, Animals, Byrds, or Dylan on the cover? Maybe Dylan hadn't...rocked...yet.
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Post by jk on May 23, 2023 10:55:50 GMT
MAY 23 Shut Down, Vol. 2 tops out at #13 (this and next week) in 1964 Here's the title track (give or take a few characters): I recall it was used to introduce BW on a TV show (in the 90s?); I'll keep looking for the video...
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on May 23, 2023 11:42:23 GMT
I like the song, "Shut Down, Part II". I always thought it was one of the more underrated instrumentals.
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Post by jk on May 25, 2023 20:31:07 GMT
MAY 25 "Surfin' U.S.A." peaks at #3 in the singles charts in 1963
Just imagine hearing this record at the time! (There must be at least one other BBT poster besides myself who did.) The hook, which grabbed you by the particulars and refused to let go, was the extraordinary falsetto line that wasn't a falsetto line. Another iconic moment was that dominant seventh chord on the organ arriving three beats early -- one of the great organ solos of '60s pop:
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on May 25, 2023 21:43:54 GMT
I was too young to remember this one in 1963 - but not by much! "Surfin' Safari" opened the door, but "Surfin' U.S.A." catapulted them. The power of the single, the power of AM radio. And Brian knew it.
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Post by jk on May 29, 2023 8:50:10 GMT
MAY 29 In 1975 Brian conducts the studio orchestra on "Why Do Fools Fall In Love?" for the group California Music
H'mm -- never heard this one before. It has its moments, but it's nothing special. The original and the BB cover make mincemeat of it.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on May 29, 2023 11:36:22 GMT
It is a bit...different. Brian was starting to leak oil, but, you know, even though this cover was nothing special and bombed, Brian was still taking chances and being creative. It sort of resembles his 15 Big Ones' productions. Brian didn't merely duplicate the originals, he put his own unique stamp on them, to mixed results, of course.
And, these California Music productions caused a sh--storm in The Beach Boys' world. What? Brian is producing somebody else? And not us? Shades of Three Dog Night.
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Post by Kapitan on May 29, 2023 11:40:09 GMT
And, these California Music productions caused a sh--storm in The Beach Boys' world. What? Brian is producing somebody else? And not us? Shades of Three Dog Night. But even worse, consider the timing. At least back during the Three Dog Night incident, he'd still been writing and recording with the band. In early 1975, Brian hadn't exactly been churning out music. They hadn't had any new albums in about two years, and Brian's participation on those last few, while probably more than had been once thought, was still not exactly that of the goose laying golden eggs. And suddenly here he is working outside of the band.
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Post by jk on May 30, 2023 20:22:29 GMT
MAY 30 "Help Me Rhonda" (with Alan on lead vocals) in 1965 gives The Beach Boys their second US #1
Not the original this time but instead this stunning recreation of the instrumental track by you-know-who:
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on May 31, 2023 14:23:57 GMT
Even though "Help Me Rhonda" was a #1 single and obviously a timeless classic, I think I like it - and maybe rank it - higher than most fans. It's in my Top 10 Beach Boys' songs. I never get tired of it and whenever I hear it on an oldies station, it still satisfies. It's also a great rocker in concert, always getting the crowd going.
If there's one thing I would change about the single version, and it's a small change, it would be to keep/include the intro that Brian used for the Today! "Help Me Ronda" version. I like that guitar strumming intro as opposed to basically no intro on the single version.
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Post by Kapitan on May 31, 2023 14:40:50 GMT
This was one of those hits that I was very, very slow to warm to. I always lumped it in with the "early surf and car songs" even though it's not that early and is neither a surf nor car song. But I just dismissed it out of hand, especially the little "bow bow bow" vocal that goes along with the instrumental line before the chorus. I HATED it. I just hated "bow bows," I hated "corny" things...I hated Mike Love. I did not like this song.
But then I started actually hearing this song, not hearing my memories and impressions of this song. Two different things. I really do love it now. It's an all-timer, to be sure. Great from top to bottom, though I agree with @sherrif that an intro would be nice. I like it without, too, though. But I'd prefer to keep it.
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Post by jk on May 31, 2023 17:24:45 GMT
I'd say they are two different songs. The laid-back "Ronda" is the one with the intro (and the reverb) and the more assertive "Rhonda" leaps into the fray without further ado. Very confusing back in 1965, when information was thin on the ground, but most satisfying today.
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Post by jk on May 31, 2023 20:30:44 GMT
MAY 23 Shut Down, Vol. 2 tops out at #13 (this and next week) in 1964 Here's the title track (give or take a few characters): I recall it was used to introduce BW on a TV show (in the 90s?); I'll keep looking for the video... Here it is! With thanks to metal flake paint (mfp) for originally pointing me at it. Actually it was wonderful Wendy Wilson who jogged my memory. In her conversation with Matt and Greg she mentioned Brian singing "I'm a Little Teapot" at home. Here he is performing it at Wild Honey's Brian Wilson Tribute Concert in November of 1994. But first the band plays "Shut Down Part II":
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Post by jk on Jun 1, 2023 9:02:35 GMT
JUNE 1 Sharon Marie's "Thinkin' 'Bout You Baby", a Brian production later recycled by the BBs as "Darlin'", released in 1964
What a gorgeous track!
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jun 1, 2023 10:40:40 GMT
Whatever happened to Sharon Marie Esparza? Love the intro. Love the song. Is it as good as "Darlin'"? It's close! Maybe with an instrumental bridge and a less shouty vocal...
Where is David or Al?
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