Spark in the Dark/David Leaf exaggerations...

[Jim V.]

So, I was wondering, in David Leafs book about The Beach Boys and Brian, he says during the "bedroom years" or whatever, he wrote two very personal songs or something like that. And one was "Just An Imitation", which apparently is real and really good, but unfortunately was never committed to tape. However, Mr. Leaf also mentions another song entitled "Spark in the Dark".

Anyways, as we know, Brian did record something entitled "Spark in the Dark" before the "bedroom years", in 1972, to be particular. But it was apparently just him noodling around the piano, and not really a coherent "song". So anyways, did he actually write and/or record a song in 1974 or 1975 with that title or was that just David Leaf being his usual over-hyperbolic self?

Another one from that book was the mentioning of a song from "around Christmas of '74" that apparently sounded a lot like "Surf's Up". Where did he get this info from? And why did we never anything that we could say would be in anyway comparable to that? I'm figuring he probably means "California Feelin'", but from the versions I've heard, it sounds NOTHING like "Surf's Up". And I doubt Brian's 1974 recording of it does either (not that I wouldn't loooooove hear it though).

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

All of it is hyperbole. Look at the dates of the songs Brian recorded in 1974...I haven't heard 74CF or Lucy Jones but from what I've been told about the latter, it's dire*. Brian is said to have a voice close to his 15BO self, and IIRC I was told that there's some spoken word parts.


* I still want to hear it, reallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreally badly.

[Andrew G. Doe]

All of it is hyperbole. Look at the dates of the songs Brian recorded in 1974...I haven't heard 74CF or Lucy Jones but from what I've been told about the latter, it's dire*. Brian is said to have a voice close to his 15BO self, and IIRC I was told that there's some spoken word parts.


* I still want to hear it, reallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreally badly.

No... no you don't. Trust me.

[Andrew G. Doe]

So, I was wondering, in David Leafs book about The Beach Boys and Brian, he says during the "bedroom years" or whatever, he wrote two very personal songs or something like that. And one was "Just An Imitation", which apparently is real and really good, but unfortunately was never committed to tape. However, Mr. Leaf also mentions another song entitled "Spark in the Dark".

"Spark..." is indeed just Brian noodling through various riffs - starts of like "Loop", end up several minutes later as "Chain Reaction Of Love". As for "Imitation", spoken to someone reliable who heard it (that is, Brian at the piano  in Bellagio), and according to them it's Pet Sounds standard.

[18thofMay]

Yeah I heard that but I am not sure if it was Andrew that said it or a dream.....

[hypehat]

So, I was wondering, in David Leafs book about The Beach Boys and Brian, he says during the "bedroom years" or whatever, he wrote two very personal songs or something like that. And one was "Just An Imitation", which apparently is real and really good, but unfortunately was never committed to tape. However, Mr. Leaf also mentions another song entitled "Spark in the Dark".

"Spark..." is indeed just Brian noodling through various riffs - starts of like "Loop", end up several minutes later as "Chain Reaction Of Love". As for "Imitation", spoken to someone reliable who heard it (that is, Brian at the piano  in Bellagio), and according to them it's Pet Sounds standard.

goshdarn. When you say 'Brian at the piano in Bellagio' that sounds like it didn't make it onto tape, although me and my sole cup of coffee today are liable to misunderstand even more than usual 

[Andrew G. Doe]

So, I was wondering, in David Leafs book about The Beach Boys and Brian, he says during the "bedroom years" or whatever, he wrote two very personal songs or something like that. And one was "Just An Imitation", which apparently is real and really good, but unfortunately was never committed to tape. However, Mr. Leaf also mentions another song entitled "Spark in the Dark".

"Spark..." is indeed just Brian noodling through various riffs - starts of like "Loop", end up several minutes later as "Chain Reaction Of Love". As for "Imitation", spoken to someone reliable who heard it (that is, Brian at the piano  in Bellagio), and according to them it's Pet Sounds standard.

goshdarn. When you say 'Brian at the piano in Bellagio' that sounds like it didn't make it onto tape, although me and my sole cup of coffee today are liable to misunderstand even more than usual 

Correct, sir - he sat down and played it for someone.

[Sam_BFC]

I guess there is a slight possibility that it  might still exist on paper or something in some kind of 'briefcase', right?   

Or is it - as I suspect - lost to history forever?   

[Jim V.]

I've accepted that I'm never gonna hear "Just an Imitation". Brian just didn't have it in him at the time to get things done. Which is really unfortunate. But there are quite a few things that I'd still like to hear. I can't imagine "Lucy Jones" is that bad. I think it'd be interesting to hear....at least once. And also "You're Riding High on the Music", that's apparently from the same time period.

There's a few more apparently from around then. There is "In the Back of My Mind" with Brian sounding half like his pre '74 self, and half like his gruff self. And then there is "California Feelin'" from around this time period, which apparently is quite worthy and hopefully we'll hear soon.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

I can't imagine "Lucy Jones" is that bad. I think it'd be interesting to hear....at least once. And also "You're Riding High on the Music", that's apparently from the same time period.

All of it is hyperbole. Look at the dates of the songs Brian recorded in 1974...I haven't heard 74CF or Lucy Jones but from what I've been told about the latter, it's dire*. Brian is said to have a voice close to his 15BO self, and IIRC I was told that there's some spoken word parts.


* I still want to hear it, reallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreally badly.

No... no you don't. Trust me.

I'm a nut like that. Have to hear *everything* pre-Landy  that has a Brian vocal on it, esp. anything done in the post-Holland, pre-15BO time period! The way some people obsess over every detail concerning Smile, I obsess over Brian's voice right before the seemingly drastic change!

[Joshilyn Hoisington]

I pretty much like Lucy Jones--not a gem or anything, but fun enough to hear.

[Peter Reum]

me too

[Jay]

There are days when I really hate being just an "average fan".   

[Myk Luhv]

One of you almost-insider-types should post a helpful guide for us rabble to get closer to some folks more 'in the know', haha!

[Joshilyn Hoisington]

I always hesitate when discussing stuff that most people haven't heard--and I count myself as unfairly lucky to have heard what I have, I have usually figured that people would rather hear about this kind of thing as much as possible than be totally in the dark--to provide a spark in the dark, so to speak.  So I hope that's what any discussion of mostly unheard stuff supplies, some kind of taste of it, however tantalizing it might be.  What do people think about this?

[Jay]

I always hesitate when discussing stuff that most people haven't heard--and I count myself as unfairly lucky to have heard what I have, I have usually figured that people would rather hear about this kind of thing as much as possible than be totally in the dark--to provide a spark in the dark, so to speak.  So I hope that's what any discussion of mostly unheard stuff supplies, some kind of taste of it, however tantalizing it might be.  What do people think about this?

Sometimes I find it a little annoying when people speak in detail about recordings that I'll probably never hear in my lifetime. But then again, I feel fortunate when people occasionally tell me things "off the record", when not many people can openly talk about such recordings. Kind of a paradox, huh?

[Joshilyn Hoisington]

I always hesitate when discussing stuff that most people haven't heard--and I count myself as unfairly lucky to have heard what I have, I have usually figured that people would rather hear about this kind of thing as much as possible than be totally in the dark--to provide a spark in the dark, so to speak.  So I hope that's what any discussion of mostly unheard stuff supplies, some kind of taste of it, however tantalizing it might be.  What do people think about this?

Sometimes I find it a little annoying when people speak in detail about recordings that I'll probably never hear in my lifetime. But then again, I feel fortunate when people occasionally tell me things "off the record", when not many people can openly talk about such recordings. Kind of a paradox, huh?

That's why I asked--I wondered which side of the paradox wins in the end.

[Jay]

I always hesitate when discussing stuff that most people haven't heard--and I count myself as unfairly lucky to have heard what I have, I have usually figured that people would rather hear about this kind of thing as much as possible than be totally in the dark--to provide a spark in the dark, so to speak.  So I hope that's what any discussion of mostly unheard stuff supplies, some kind of taste of it, however tantalizing it might be.  What do people think about this?

Sometimes I find it a little annoying when people speak in detail about recordings that I'll probably never hear in my lifetime. But then again, I feel fortunate when people occasionally tell me things "off the record", when not many people can openly talk about such recordings. Kind of a paradox, huh?

That's why I asked--I wondered which side of the paradox wins in the end.

Well, if I never get to hear something, then I guess the next best thing is to at least know some details about it. I've been lucky enough to get some uncirculated recordings of The Who and have turned people down when I've been asked for copies, so I guess I'm in the same boat as you, so to speak.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

I'm of the belief that if there is enough outcry for a song/album, the artist in this day and age should at least put a streaming version on their site. Personally speaking, if my band ever breaks we plan to have our 'odds & ends' available for streaming. One side effect of the close-to-death state of the physical medium of music is that there's no money to be made in piracy any more, which is great news for both the artists and the consumer, IMHO.

There are days when I really hate being just an "average fan".

Me too bro. I cannot possibly overstate my obsession with Brian's vocal change...you guys think you obsess over every last detail of Smile? I'm that bad with this! It's only gotten worse as I've gotten older, because I'm now at the same age as Brian was in 'year zero'(1975).

I've been lucky enough to get some uncirculated recordings of The Who and have turned people down when I've been asked for copies, so I guess I'm in the same boat as you, so to speak.

Same here.Not with The Who, but have been privvy to material by a certain band that released their debut CD in the  '90s  that would blow some people's minds. However, my word is my word. Tricky spot to be in at times.

[Jay]

You know i'm going to ask the name of the band, right? 

[Jay]

I'm of the belief that if there is enough outcry for a song/album, the artist in this day and age should at least put a streaming version on their site. Personally speaking, if my band ever breaks we plan to have our 'odds & ends' available for streaming. One side effect of the close-to-death state of the physical medium of music is that there's no money to be made in piracy any more, which is great news for both the artists and the consumer, IMHO.

There are days when I really hate being just an "average fan".

Me too bro. I cannot possibly overstate my obsession with Brian's vocal change...you guys think you obsess over every last detail of Smile? I'm that bad with this! It's only gotten worse as I've gotten older, because I'm now at the same age as Brian was in 'year zero'(1975).

I've been lucky enough to get some uncirculated recordings of The Who and have turned people down when I've been asked for copies, so I guess I'm in the same boat as you, so to speak.

Same here.Not with The Who, but have been privvy to material by a certain band that released their debut CD in the  '90s  that would blow some people's minds. However, my word is my word. Tricky spot to be in at times.

I'd try to quote a specific part of this post, but I'm sure I'd just screw it up, so I'll quote the whole thing. You know, if somebody gave me a choice between a SMiLE box set, or a cd with the 1974 California Feeling demo, Lucy Jones, Spark In The Dark, Just An Imitation,  In The Back Of My Mind(Brian's version), and You're Riding High On The Music...I just might take a pass on the SMiLE set. 

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

You know i'm going to ask the name of the band, right?

I'd try to quote a specific part of this post, but I'm sure I'd just screw it up, so I'll quote the whole thing. You know, if somebody gave me a choice between a SMiLE box set, or a cd with the 1974 California Feeling demo, Lucy Jones, Spark In The Dark, Just An Imitation,  In The Back Of My Mind(Brian's version), and You're Riding High On The Music...I just might take a pass on the SMiLE set.

I've spent years obsessing over Brian's vocals from Wild Honey thru 15 Big Ones. In the early days of my BB/BW fandom I was lucky enough to have heard some what I guess were alternate/rough mixes of "Mess of Help" and "Marcella" that I wish I could hear again;sadly, my friend passed away several years ago, and this was long before I became a diehard. Gah...I was a complete neophyte back then so it was wasted on me! A few years ago I isolated Brian's vocals as best as possible on songs from So Tough and Holland, and I was shocked at 1) How much more work he did on So Tough compared to the established story  and 2) How much earlier his voice changed than most people noticed.  Unfortunately, my hard drive and my old computer both got fried so I'm going to have to redo it -_-

Anyway, the point is, I would buy that CD in a heartbeat!

[Jay]

I remember that. Hearing the "1975 Brian voice" on He Come Down is one of the most perplexing thing I've ever heard. 

By the way, I have those files saved on my computer. 

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

I remember that. Hearing the "1975 Brian voice" on He Come Down is one of the most perplexing thing I've ever heard.

I know, right? Even more mystifying is that the high part he did on the same song, he sounded like he did on Sunflower. Same phenomenon happened on 'Funky Pretty' ("Pretty Funky Gone" sounding like 'classic' Brian, and his part in the tag sounding like his backups on MIU!)

[Andrew G. Doe]

Sometimes I find it a little annoying when people speak in detail about recordings that I'll probably never hear in my lifetime. But then again, I feel fortunate when people occasionally tell me things "off the record", when not many people can openly talk about such recordings. Kind of a paradox, huh?

I can understand that - there's the element of one-upmanship, a slight eliteism. Not intentional, on my part - just want to share.