If you could go back in time and change anything about any Beach Boys song...

[Ziggy Stardust]

As for Sail On, Sailor, i know that Dennis first tried to sing it and then Carl before they gave it to Blondie, so the recordings of Dennis and Carl takes DOES exists right ? why isn't this out already ?
it's not like A Day In The Life Of A Tree where no one even tried (far as i know), correct ?

Oh and also, one major thing i would change in the Beach Boys history/recording :

DO NOT REJECT SEASONS IN THE SUN, KEEP IT AND RELEASE IT , MY GOD !

[Phoenix]

And yeah, shame he appears so little on that album. Has it ever been stated why?

Not specifically that I know of but it got even worse later.  No solo lines on "Add Some Music..."  or "Funky Pretty".  No leads on Wild Honey, Surf's Up,  In Concert, or 15 Big Ones, and vocally, he's barely on Holland either.  Live In London is kind of excusable but the others are really weird, especially when you look at the amount given to Blondie and Ricky during their time with the band.  I'm actually a big fan of Blondie (more so than Dennis) but he got three leads (plus "Funky Pretty") on In Concert, compared to Dennis's zero AND he was out of the band before the album was even finished!

I honestly think Dennis would have been better served leaving the band after his injury and going solo.  It's a shame Pacific Ocean Blue wasn't a commercial success.  I think it did better than most of the band's output at the time but I guess its sales didn't give Dennis the confidence necessary to go out on his own.

[Kirk]

Dennis has "In the Still of the Night" on 15 Big Ones, but I agree otherwise ... I wish "Carry Me Home" had made it to Holland. That's such an amazing song.

[Phoenix]

Dennis has "In the Still of the Night" on 15 Big Ones, but I agree otherwise ... I wish "Carry Me Home" had made it to Holland. That's such an amazing song.

Oops.  I was going by memory and barely listen to 15 Big Ones.
Thanks for the correction.

[cablegeddon]

Lyrics to Forever

[Phoenix]

Lyrics to Forever

What about them?  That's what you'd change?

[cablegeddon]

Lyrics to Forever

What about them?  That's what you'd change?

Yes.

It's pompous, cheesy, hypocritical.

[Ziggy Stardust]

....

[runnersdialzero]

Dennis has "In the Still of the Night" on 15 Big Ones

But he sounds awful on that song! Listen to it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXvTFSwjNts

[runnersdialzero]

Lyrics to Forever

What about them?  That's what you'd change?

Yes.

It's pompous, cheesy, hypocritical.

Hypocritical? In what way?

[SG7]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuCz8JeMhuQ

He means this

[runnersdialzero]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuCz8JeMhuQ

He means this

I'd blocked this from my memory and I hate you I hate you I hate you and

[Kirk]

I thought he meant this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTPlBypDk4c

[SG7]

 

[Joshilyn Hoisington]

I think this thread would be more interesting if we kept specifically and strictly to the premise--not about including things on albums, or whether a song should have even been recorded or not, but about intra-song changes.  It still has to be recognizable at the end of the day.

And in order to suggest a change, you should have to supply what's necessary if possible.  So if you think lyrics should be changed, you have to write new ones.

Mixing decisions are an interesting discussion.

By the way, I think there's pretty convincing evidence that Dennis DID record the lead for IJWMFTT and it was recorded over.

[Ziggy Stardust]

Serious stuff bro.

[bossaroo]

some wacky answers up in here...


I wish Brian had sang more leads back in the day.

Carl is amazing on everything from God Only Knows to Wind Chimes to This Whole World to... well, everything he ever sang. But I'd still like to hear Brian sing those songs back then... at least in demo form.

and Dennis was way under-utilized. his voice added so much color and character.

[Ziggy Stardust]

I'm still hoping to hear Dennis's take on Sail On, Sailor someday soon or late.

[runnersdialzero]

By the way, I think there's pretty convincing evidence that Dennis DID record the lead for IJWMFTT and it was recorded over.

Hrm? Do tell.

Also, if we're talking mixes, the one that never sat right with me was "Do It Again". The amount of reverb going on with Mike's vocal is totally ridiculous, for instance. The mix feels a bit out of whack, too. Has this ever been explained? I feel like the theory of Brian attempting to destroy the master and a new mix quickly being assembled from a safety master was debunked some time ago.

[Mr. Cohen]

I think the reverb on Mike's voice is cool! And how about the way those insanely reverbed horns (I think?) during the first verse gradually transitioning into the Beach Boys harmonizing? Brilliant! The chorus does seem like it was a mixed sloppily, though - I wanna hear that sax. But I think it's a very psychedelic production...

[runnersdialzero]

I think the reverb on Mike's voice is cool! And how about the way those insanely reverbed horns (I think?) during the first verse gradually transitioning into the Beach Boys harmonizing? Brilliant! The chorus does seem like it was a mixed sloppily, though - I wanna hear that sax. But I think it's a very psychedelic production...

I guess it's a lot less the reverb (which is cool, when I think about it) and more how the vocal is absolutely buried in the mix and also just sounds a bit muddy - no mid-range etc. Just me, though.

[Sam_BFC]

If we are gonna talk alternative mixing decisions, then I can suggest this for TLOS (does BW solo count?  ):

I wish there was more reverb, the mix is a bit dry for me...case in point; compare the MAD demo with the released version...it would have been nice if the vibe from the early RFH live shows was more present in the record.

[Ziggy Stardust]

If we are gonna talk alternative mixing decisions, then I can suggest this for Brian presents SMiLE (does BW solo count?  ):

the mix is a bit dry for me...

[Sheriff John Stone]

Speaking of reverb on Mike's vocal..."All I Wanna Do" from Sunflower is such a great song, but I wish Brian would've played it straight and not added the vocal effects.

[Ziggy Stardust]

I kinda wish they would have done songs where it's just someone and a guitar or a piano.