Still I Dream Of It alternate take

[Jay]

Today I heard an alternate take of Still I Dream Of It. It's very different to the version released on the 1993 box set and the commonly circulated Adult/Child bootlegs. The orchestration is quite a bit different. Actually, the whole thing sounds like a much earlier take. It's even a little faster than the commonly heard version. Brian's vocal is a lot different. In this version he sings "I'll find my life" during the fade out. I don't recall ever hearing or reading about an alternate take of this song. Is this old news that I've somehow never heard about? Or did it just circulate?

[MBE]

I've had it about 7-8 years. It was on a tape going around but I cannot remember if it was on a CD. I am more into the vinyl stuff so I am not an expert on what came out on boot CD. I generally know what's out there but not where it came from.

[Ian]

There is also a demo version that appeared in the 1995 doc-I Just Wasn't Made For These Times-which I prefer to the more fully produced one (indeed-I like a lot of Brian's demos from that period more than the finished versions)

[over and over]

Adult Child was the best beach boys album from the "Brian's Back" era in my opinion. They could have done a lot with that album, TV showcase maybe? (showcases were big in the 70s). Could you picture Dennis in a tuxedo singing "It's Trying To Say"? Or Brian behind the piano singing "Still I Dream Of It" with a full orchestra? I wonder why the Reprise lable didn't want to release it?

[buddhahat]

Was there ever a definitive track listing and/or cover art for Adult Child?

Interesting to hear about this alternate take. I think I've only heard the piano demo and GV box version.

[Andreas]

Was there ever a definitive track listing and/or cover art for Adult Child?

I don't think cover art was ever prepared, but the following track listing is seen as definitive (source besides bootlegs?):

Life Is For The Living
Hey Little Tomboy
Deep Purple
H.E.L.P. Is On The Way
It's Over Now
Everybody Wants To Live
Shortenin' Bread
Lines
On Broadway
Games Two Can Play
It's Trying To Say
Still I Dream Of It

[MBE]

Adult Child was a lot better than Love You or 15 Big Ones, but it was probably seen as too quirky after those two.

[Jay]

Adult Child was the best beach boys album from the "Brian's Back" era in my opinion. They could have done a lot with that album, TV showcase maybe? (showcases were big in the 70s). Could you picture Dennis in a tuxedo singing "It's Trying To Say"? Or Brian behind the piano singing "Still I Dream Of It" with a full orchestra? I wonder why the Reprise lable didn't want to release it?

It would have been cool to see Carl singing Life Is For The Living with the group argumented by an actual "big band".  I've  loved Adult Child from the first time I ever heard it. I would include it in a list of best unreleased albums, along with Bambu, SMiLE, The Who's Lifehouse, etc.

[Jay]

There is also a demo version that appeared in the 1995 doc-I Just Wasn't Made For These Times-which I prefer to the more fully produced one (indeed-I like a lot of Brian's demos from that period more than the finished versions)

I've heard a bootleg version of that demo(with a few seconds edited out, I believe) and it actually sounds better than the official release. I never could figure that out.