50 years ago today...

[Andrew G. Doe]

... was the very first professional recording session of the band who would become The Beach Boys.

[SMiLE Brian]

I will raise a glass to this important anniversary.

[37!ws]

And five years after that, the backing track of "Cabinessence" was recorded.

[Chris Brown]

And five years after that, the backing track of "Cabinessence" was recorded.

Such a fast progression is quite ridiculous, isn't it?  Hard to believe it was just 5 short years between simple surfing songs to something like "Cabinessence." 

[monicker]

That progression--five years--is beyond mind blowing. I think it's easy for people to overlook something like that when evaluating an artist's career in hindsight and being able to neatly categorize different eras of one's career. But five years is NOTHING. From Surfin' to (in this case) Cabin Essence in that short amount of time is awe inspiring and totally insane. My life feels exactly the same today as it did five years ago.

And then one year later, they were doing WILD HONEY. Unbelievable. They evolved more from year to year than many bands do in an entire career.

[hypehat]

Safe

[PS]

"That progression--five years--is beyond mind blowing. I think it's easy for people to overlook something like that when evaluating an artist's career in hindsight and being able to neatly categorize different eras of one's career. But five years is NOTHING. From Surfin' to (in this case) Cabin Essence in that short amount of time is awe inspiring and totally insane. My life feels exactly the same today as it did five years ago.

And then one year later, they were doing WILD HONEY. Unbelievable. They evolved more from year to year than many bands do in an entire career."


That, Ladies and Gents, was the (second half of) the 60's - that's precisely what it felt like to live through. Every year, between 1965-1969 was a revolution in art, film and music. It was an incredible wave to ride.

[The Shift]

And five years after that, the backing track of "Cabinessence" was recorded.

Such a fast progression is quite ridiculous, isn't it?  Hard to believe it was just 5 short years between simple surfing songs to something like "Cabinessence." 

And it took them just a further short 22 years to evolve from simple SMILE era songs to something like "Kokomo".

(Actually, I like bits of KKMo, esp Carl's soaring vocal, but it's like comparing Beethoven to Brotherhood of Man…)

[Matt Bielewicz]

Blimey, yes, that is amazing... from those truly awful attempts to overdub drums on 'Surfin' Safari' after the backing track was recorded in 1962 to TOTAL MASTERY of the studio in early 1967.

And from the almost non-existent band of Surfin' (vocals round one mic, a bit of guitar, rudimentary bass and 'drums' supplied by a trash can) to Cabin Essence - a whole professional studio full of crack musicians playing everything from oriental percussion to cellos and sarod... with the Beach Boys in multi-overdubbed six-part harmony over the top.

Wow.

MattB

[Pretty Funky]

...and 'Surfin' released Dec 8 1961.

[Jon Stebbins]

I did a segment with BBC World News Update this morning to recognize the anniversary of "Surfin'". Follow the link below...my segment begins at approx. the 24 minute mark on the Dec 8th episode.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/worldupmc
 

[Andrew G. Doe]

...and 'Surfin' released Dec 8 1961.

Er... actually, it wasn't. Late November is the best current guess.

[Jon Stebbins]

...and 'Surfin' released Dec 8 1961.

Er... actually, it wasn't. Late November is the best current guess.

Yeah, but those BBC people insisted on celebrating it today...so...I went with the flow.

[Andrew G. Doe]

...and 'Surfin' released Dec 8 1961.

Er... actually, it wasn't. Late November is the best current guess.

Yeah, but those BBC people insisted on celebrating it today...so...I went with the flow.

Eh, the BBC - what do they know ? What was it that newspaper dude said ? "When the truth and the legend conflict, print the legend". 

[Mikie]

Remember Lennon.   31 years ago.  I miss him.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Remember Lennon.   31 years ago.  I miss him.

Never did much for me once The Beatles were over: like Macca, he was coasting on past glories post-1969. Solo stuff was very patchy.

[Mikie]

I disagree with you to the fullest extent of the law.

[Andrew G. Doe]

I disagree with you to the fullest extent of the law.

... which is your perfect entitlement and democratic right. 

[18thofMay]

I disagree with you to the fullest extent of the law.

I concur.sadly

[Mikie]

Yes. Thank God for the First Amendment, AGD.

Lennon was great. That's an understatement. Wrote songs about love and peace and all that. The only thing I question is his taste in women. Why he went back to Yoko after he could have kept May Pang is beyond me!

[18thofMay]

Yes. Thank God for the First Amendment, AGD.

Lennon was great. That's an understatement. Wrote songs about love and peace and all that. The only thing I question is his taste in women. Why he went back to Yoko after he could have kept May Pang is beyond me!

ummm she was more cough* talented cough*

[Mikie]

So am I missing the point today, 18thofMay?

[18thofMay]

So am I missing the point today, 18thofMay?

I don't think there is any

[Mikie]

You missed the point, 18thofMay.

[SMiLE Brian]

John Lennon wasn't perfect, but he gave the world great music and didn't deserve to be gunned down in cold blood by a maniac.