THE BEACH BOYS ANNOUNCE 50TH ANNIVERSARY REUNION, NEW ALBUM AND TOUR

[Jim V.]

I'll be honest. I'm nervous that it will all happen too. But I'll say I'm confident that the new album and tour will definitely happen. And I'm nearly positive we'll get another hits package.

As far as reissues, I think it would be totally awesome to have all the albums with bonus material. But if not all, I think it would be cool if they at least gave us deluxe versions of some of their best: Today!, Sunflower and Surf's Up. That would be cool.

The box set does kinda seem unlikely, because their is already a comprehensive set out there that is only missing Summer in Paradise and Stars & Stripes. But if they do put it out, I'm sure they will put some interesting previously unreleased tracks on there, although I think I'd prefer previously unreleased stuff on an album by themselves, or added to deluxe versions of the albums, but I'll happy accept whatever they put out!

[Wirestone]

I would really like a complete albums box, with mono and stereo, and some discs of rarities thrown in there. No one could afford it, but it would be an awesome package. I guess the one issue would be whether to include SIP or S&S ... I mean, if you really tried, you could make a case for those albums with some of the British retakes on the former and some recorded but unreleased stuff on the latter, but that seems like a lot of effort.

I just hope the new album is good. Anything else can (and will) be forgiven if it's even halfway decent.

[letsmakeit31]

It's 6am now in the U.K and I've just woken up. The first thing I'm doing right now is checking all of the comments from you all . 2012 is going to be an amazing year for us all. And if as some mad people believe the world will end on 21st dec 2012, then I say let it Smile has be released, Beach Boys are whole again & touring nothing could really top the last few years as a Beach Boys fan .

[JohnMill]

apart from the inevitable "i guess it would be nice to believe in my shoulder," i really am not excited for a mike love solo album with guest vocals by brian wilson.

sorry, but watching grey-haired men sing about fun in the sun around instantly dated technology with spliced footage of young blondes on the beach sure does make you feel like it's 1991 instead of 2011.

With all due respect I think you are grossly missing the point as to a major part of The Beach Boys appeal.  The Beach Boys are California period.  To this day their image and legacy represents everything that is good and right about the "California Dream" that they basically established from the ground up in the sixties.  Before it all became phony, before we had paparazzi on every corner taking photographs of young starlets of whom they know nothing about other than they should be taking photos of them because it results in big bucks, before the era of crass commercialism and the rise of the new media there was something very real going on in California and this band extolled those virtues and exploitations in song.

The fact that they now have grey hair and wrinkles doesn't make The Beach Boys any less real than they were fifty years ago.  In fact given how times have changed in the past fifty years, you could argue that they are one of the most real deals out there.  They have never professed to do anything else other than represent the lure of California, the surf, the weather, the women all with a grace and style that arguably has never been matched.  I think in a lot of ways that is what keeps us all coming back time and time again to these forty-fifty year old recordings because for many of us they represent something extremely real and honest, qualities that are rare to find in mainstream music today.  The nostalgia, the memories, the harmonies, the emotions are timeless due simply to the fact that the band and their music represents an innocent, unassuming portrayal of a time and a place that whether we lived through it first hand or just vicariously through the music of The Beach Boys is as inviting and genuine now as it was then.

[Dunderhead]

Does anybody want to do a meetup for the show closest to them? I'd love to go back stage and attend a meet and greet or something on this tour.

[vintagemusic]

I'm very excited about the new album. I had no expectations they would ever do one.
So if there is one great song on there, well, that's worth the fifteen bucks to me.

If it turns out to be a great album, well so much the better, but I had zero expectation
so its all gravy, its all super.

Love the video.

[Ron]

Well I think this song sounds pretty fantastic.  I like how it has a 'different' sound, I haven't heard Brian or Mike sound like that, pretty much ever.  Mike kind of sounds like how he sounded on "cool head, warm heart" so maybe that's how he wants to sound in the studio now.  It's very soft and warm sounding, kind of a "friends" vibe.  This has the potential to be a great album.  

As for the autotune, etc. personally I dont' have dog ears enough to hear it, but again... nothing you ever hear, on any song, is authentic.  Even the early songs were done in numerous takes, had effects like reverb splashed all over them, were double tracked by the same person (which isn't natural) etc. so I never understood why people feel it's important that an album track sound like they were all standing in your living room singing it.  Of course they can't reproduce that live, exactly, it's a recording and as such has been manipulated.

Some of the best parts of live performances to me, are the parts that are changed to facilitate playing it live.  Brian's insistance on making the live performances exactly like the album recording isn't as important to me.  I'd much rather hear the band do it a little more raw when they perform live, much like how the boys did in the 70's... in the 70's the Beach Boys weren't afraid to mix things up in concert, play it too fast, sing the melody a bit different, etc.  I think that kind of stuff is interesting.

But  anyways, this is an awesome announcement and I'm really digging this new song.  

[Ron]

apart from the inevitable "i guess it would be nice to believe in my shoulder," i really am not excited for a mike love solo album with guest vocals by brian wilson.

sorry, but watching grey-haired men sing about fun in the sun around instantly dated technology with spliced footage of young blondes on the beach sure does make you feel like it's 1991 instead of 2011.

With all due respect I think you are grossly missing the point as to a major part of The Beach Boys appeal.  The Beach Boys are California period.  To this day their image and legacy represents everything that is good and right about the "California Dream" that they basically established from the ground up in the sixties.  Before it all became phony, before we had paparazzi on every corner taking photographs of young starlets of whom they know nothing about other than they should be taking photos of them because it results in big bucks, before the era of crass commercialism and the rise of the new media there was something very real going on in California and this band extolled those virtues and exploitations in song.

The fact that they now have grey hair and wrinkles doesn't make The Beach Boys any less real than they were fifty years ago.  In fact given how times have changed in the past fifty years, you could argue that they are one of the most real deals out there.  They have never professed to do anything else other than represent the lure of California, the surf, the weather, the women all with a grace and style that arguably has never been matched.  I think in a lot of ways that is what keeps us all coming back time and time again to these forty-fifty year old recordings because for many of us they represent something extremely real and honest, qualities that are rare to find in mainstream music today.  The nostalgia, the memories, the harmonies, the emotions are timeless due simply to the fact that the band and their music represents an innocent, unassuming portrayal of a time and a place that whether we lived through it first hand or just vicariously through the music of The Beach Boys is as inviting and genuine now as it was then.

Thank you John.  You really get it.  I never understood why people think that just because somebody gets older, they should start acting old.  Here's a hint: Mike Love still likes 20 year olds in bikinis.  He may not be able to do anything about it, but he's still the same guy, literally, that wrote and sang all those songs back then.  Brian to a lesser extent is too.  There's nothing wrong with old men singing about fun in the sun, like John said they're the real deal man, what they're talking about is what everybody feels it's just some don't remember what it's like to be young and in love. 

[Ron]

1 - permission to be exceedingly smug for about a week...

Andrew you're smug every week, are you just saying you dont' want us to call you out on it this week? lol

[Jay]

i may be in the minority, but I think it would be nice if they recorded a version of "I've Got A Friend". I think Brian singing it in his mid range "mature" voice with a simple piano backing would be quite nice to hear. 

[Wirestone]

apart from the inevitable "i guess it would be nice to believe in my shoulder," i really am not excited for a mike love solo album with guest vocals by brian wilson.

sorry, but watching grey-haired men sing about fun in the sun around instantly dated technology with spliced footage of young blondes on the beach sure does make you feel like it's 1991 instead of 2011.

With all due respect I think you are grossly missing the point as to a major part of The Beach Boys appeal.  The Beach Boys are California period.  To this day their image and legacy represents everything that is good and right about the "California Dream" that they basically established from the ground up in the sixties.  Before it all became phony, before we had paparazzi on every corner taking photographs of young starlets of whom they know nothing about other than they should be taking photos of them because it results in big bucks, before the era of crass commercialism and the rise of the new media there was something very real going on in California and this band extolled those virtues and exploitations in song.

The fact that they now have grey hair and wrinkles doesn't make The Beach Boys any less real than they were fifty years ago.  In fact given how times have changed in the past fifty years, you could argue that they are one of the most real deals out there.  They have never professed to do anything else other than represent the lure of California, the surf, the weather, the women all with a grace and style that arguably has never been matched.  I think in a lot of ways that is what keeps us all coming back time and time again to these forty-fifty year old recordings because for many of us they represent something extremely real and honest, qualities that are rare to find in mainstream music today.  The nostalgia, the memories, the harmonies, the emotions are timeless due simply to the fact that the band and their music represents an innocent, unassuming portrayal of a time and a place that whether we lived through it first hand or just vicariously through the music of The Beach Boys is as inviting and genuine now as it was then.

See, I just can't go there. And maybe that's why, as much as I'm interested in seeing what the group does in the studio, and excited as I am that they'll be getting some serious attention with the tour, the whole reunion thing has me a bit confounded.

You see, I don't care about California. I just don't. Never been there, never particularly care if I go there. I understand it's important to the music as a concept and a point of reference. But I often like the music in spite of what it's about. And that's why I get on board around the time of "Today," because most songs begin to be about relationships (widely relate-able) as opposed to surfing or SoCal culture.

So the Beach Boys really don't mean anything to me in that cultural context. They mean a lot to me as a parable of rise, fall and redemption, and of vocal harmony mixing with complementary genres. They mean a lot to me as experimental pop music. No other music I've heard gives me quite the same tingle. But it's not because of California.

[pmugghc]

i may be in the minority, but I think it would be nice if they recorded a version of "I've Got A Friend". I think Brian singing it in his mid range "mature" voice with a simple piano backing would be quite nice to hear. 

That would be awesome! Plus a live version with Dennis on lead.

[Jay]

Imagine that you're at a Beach Boys reunion show, and they call for an intermission about an hour into the show. After 15 minutes or so, all of the surviving members of "The Wrecking Crew" and "The Funk Brothers" join the Beach Boys, along with Van Dyke Parks, for an impromptu SMiLE set. Talk about a mindf*ck. 

[Ebb and Flow]

See, I just can't go there. And maybe that's why, as much as I'm interested in seeing what the group does in the studio, and excited as I am that they'll be getting some serious attention with the tour, the whole reunion thing has me a bit confounded.

You see, I don't care about California. I just don't. Never been there, never particularly care if I go there. I understand it's important to the music as a concept and a point of reference. But I often like the music in spite of what it's about. And that's why I get on board around the time of "Today," because most songs begin to be about relationships (widely relate-able) as opposed to surfing or SoCal culture.

So the Beach Boys really don't mean anything to me in that cultural context. They mean a lot to me as a parable of rise, fall and redemption, and of vocal harmony mixing with complementary genres. They mean a lot to me as experimental pop music. No other music I've heard gives me quite the same tingle. But it's not because of California.

The Beach Boys are inextricably linked to mid-century modernism and California culture...yes, even their introspective stuff like Today! and Pet Sounds.  Be it about surfing, cars and girls or loneliness and isolation, Brian's music is the sound of Los Angeles.  It's all right if you don't connect to that aspect of the group, but to deny it outright?

[Ron]

apart from the inevitable "i guess it would be nice to believe in my shoulder," i really am not excited for a mike love solo album with guest vocals by brian wilson.

sorry, but watching grey-haired men sing about fun in the sun around instantly dated technology with spliced footage of young blondes on the beach sure does make you feel like it's 1991 instead of 2011.

With all due respect I think you are grossly missing the point as to a major part of The Beach Boys appeal.  The Beach Boys are California period.  To this day their image and legacy represents everything that is good and right about the "California Dream" that they basically established from the ground up in the sixties.  Before it all became phony, before we had paparazzi on every corner taking photographs of young starlets of whom they know nothing about other than they should be taking photos of them because it results in big bucks, before the era of crass commercialism and the rise of the new media there was something very real going on in California and this band extolled those virtues and exploitations in song.

The fact that they now have grey hair and wrinkles doesn't make The Beach Boys any less real than they were fifty years ago.  In fact given how times have changed in the past fifty years, you could argue that they are one of the most real deals out there.  They have never professed to do anything else other than represent the lure of California, the surf, the weather, the women all with a grace and style that arguably has never been matched.  I think in a lot of ways that is what keeps us all coming back time and time again to these forty-fifty year old recordings because for many of us they represent something extremely real and honest, qualities that are rare to find in mainstream music today.  The nostalgia, the memories, the harmonies, the emotions are timeless due simply to the fact that the band and their music represents an innocent, unassuming portrayal of a time and a place that whether we lived through it first hand or just vicariously through the music of The Beach Boys is as inviting and genuine now as it was then.

See, I just can't go there. And maybe that's why, as much as I'm interested in seeing what the group does in the studio, and excited as I am that they'll be getting some serious attention with the tour, the whole reunion thing has me a bit confounded.

You see, I don't care about California. I just don't. Never been there, never particularly care if I go there. I understand it's important to the music as a concept and a point of reference. But I often like the music in spite of what it's about. And that's why I get on board around the time of "Today," because most songs begin to be about relationships (widely relate-able) as opposed to surfing or SoCal culture.

So the Beach Boys really don't mean anything to me in that cultural context. They mean a lot to me as a parable of rise, fall and redemption, and of vocal harmony mixing with complementary genres. They mean a lot to me as experimental pop music. No other music I've heard gives me quite the same tingle. But it's not because of California.

The point is: you don't have to love California, you just have to respect how much the boys love California.  To me, I see it as a beautiful thing how they represent where they grew up and what they experienced.

It's like listening to Bob Marley.  He represents the rastafarian life, I don't smoke weed, I don't have dreads, and I never will.  When I hear Bob Marley sing though, I have a deep respect for how much he loved what he was about and where he was from.  It's beautiful and it made his music exponentially better. 

Or hearing Lynyrd Skynyrd sing "Sweet Home Alabama".  I don't want to live in Alabama, don't see anything particularly great about Alabama, but damn I love that song and I love hearing those guys (and girls) be so excited about the place they call home.  It makes the song much better than it would be on it's own. 

[Andrew G. Doe]

There's been very little discussion about the proposed box set and other archival releases, though as Mark Linett has said, whether they happen is up to EMI's new owner. Anyhow, we recently got a 5-CD "Smile" box, and many other archival releases(official & unofficial) over the years. If there are more archival releases in 2012, I'll buy 'em, but if EMI's new owner says "No", I won't get tormented. Promise.

Phil, your secret's out - you can't read, can you ? Look at the OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE again, or get someone to read it to you, properly this time. We're getting...

A new hits compilation...

A new career-spanning box set...

Other new commemorative releases.

This isn't if/but/maybe. Like they said about TSS, it's happening. And despite your best (in fact, utterly pathetic) efforts, TSS did happen. Stop pissing on everyone's fire, go over to the Bloo and join in the unison bleating over there.

Like I said, them as can't be positive about this initial news, STFU and go away. We can begin the picking when we have more details.

[Ron]

Preach it brother!!! Beat them haters back!

[Andrew G. Doe]

1 - permission to be exceedingly smug for about a week...

Andrew you're smug every week, are you just saying you dont' want us to call you out on it this week? lol

I want to be smug with everyone's approval, for once. 

[Dunderhead]

It's heartening to know that no matter what I can always come here and see the same old gang, having the same old arguments 

I was busy today and didn't really get much of a chance to ruminate on this, though I am really blown away. My mind is turning with all the possibilities. A full on box including every studio album would be really lavish. I probably couldn't afford it, but I'd still find a way, by hook or by crook, to get my hands on one.

I've been saying for a while that I'd like to see an "Alternate" series of reissues. The classic albums with new mixes, tracklistings etc. Rhino did one for T.Rex that I really liked, releasing all the albums with alternate cover arts/titles where all the standard tracks were replaced with demos and alternate versions. I think something like that would be awesome for the BB. An alternate version of 15 Big Ones with a revised tracklist and different mix could be really spectacular. A version of SU without the titletrack (perhaps with the title of Landlocked?) and Dennis' tracks restored? There are so many what ifs and could have beens in BB history a campaign like that could be a huge amount of fun, and could totally revamp how the band is perceived.


Also, Andrew, for just one time in your whole life, I will be ok with you being smug, if that's what you need to get it out of your system. 

Great news, great day.

[The Shift]

Have at last had. Hance to listen through phones to the vid and have to say that the only individual voices I can discern are Mike's, Brian's and (presumably) Jeff's. Seems to be quite a massed chorus kicking in elsewhere. I hope we get to hear just the five together on the album and not have that special blend swamped out. Okay we'll always be without the tones of Dennis and Carl but that's no reason to over-egg this pudding.



Actually, let ME produce it...

[PhilCohen]

There's been very little discussion about the proposed box set and other archival releases, though as Mark Linett has said, whether they happen is up to EMI's new owner. Anyhow, we recently got a 5-CD "Smile" box, and many other archival releases(official & unofficial) over the years. If there are more archival releases in 2012, I'll buy 'em, but if EMI's new owner says "No", I won't get tormented. Promise.

Phil, your secret's out - you can't read, can you ? Look at the OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE again, or get someone to read it to you, properly this time. We're getting...

A new hits compilation...

A new career-spanning box set...

Other new commemorative releases.

This isn't if/but/maybe. Like they said about TSS, it's happening. And despite your best (in fact, utterly pathetic) efforts, TSS did happen. Stop pissing on everyone's fire, go over to the Bloo and join in the unison bleating over there.

Like I said, them as can't be positive about this initial news, STFU and go away. We can begin the picking when we have more details.

Mr.Doe,

            You seem to be unaware of the Mark Linett/Alan Boyd interviews at a website called "Icon Fetch", where Mr.Linett was asked about future projects, and he did say that the status of such projects depends on EMI's new owners. I remind you that EMI is in a state of limbo at the moment pending European & North American government approval of Universal Music's purchase of EMI's recorded music division. In recent years, the American branch of Universal Music has totally abandoned releasing archival material(other than greatest hits projects with no unreleased material), and when the company's British affiliates do release an archival CD box set, U.S.A. Universal merely imports the British product instead of pressing a U.S.A. edition. Under Universal's ownership, Capitol(if the label continues at all) will be far less supportive of archival CD product. And, be reminded that the 5-CD "Smile Sessions" box didn't chart at all(though the 2-CD edition did chart briefly)
            From my standpoint, whether this archival product materialises at all, is not worth getting tormented over, and certainly not worth another online jousting match with you. We've been there, and done that. I'm willing to believe that the reunion album is going to happen, because it is already in the process of being recorded. As for the archival product, we'll see. Unless the archival product is rush released before the Universal Music purchase of EMI Records becomes finalised, whether these archival projects get released......will entirely be Universal Music's decision.

[Dunderhead]

Have at last had. Hance to listen through phones to the vid and have to say that the only individual voices I can discern are Mike's, Brian's and (presumably) Jeff's. Seems to be quite a massed chorus kicking in elsewhere. I hope we get to hear just the five together on the album and not have that special blend swamped out. Okay we'll always be without the tones of Dennis and Carl but that's no reason to over-egg this pudding.



Actually, let ME produce it...

They should do an essay contest, 500 words on why you want to produce the beach boys, winner gets to produce a new version of Summer In Paradise.

[letsmakeit31]

I tell you what would top this amazing news?, AGD & Fishmonk together at one of the concerts nxt year dancing & hugging each other . Surely with everything good that's happened in the Beach Boys world over the last few years everyone will become brothers. Come on AGD & Fishmonk feel the love .

[SurfRiderHawaii]

There's been very little discussion about the proposed box set and other archival releases, though as Mark Linett has said, whether they happen is up to EMI's new owner. Anyhow, we recently got a 5-CD "Smile" box, and many other archival releases(official & unofficial) over the years. If there are more archival releases in 2012, I'll buy 'em, but if EMI's new owner says "No", I won't get tormented. Promise.

Phil, your secret's out - you can't read, can you ? Look at the OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE again, or get someone to read it to you, properly this time. We're getting...

A new hits compilation...

A new career-spanning box set...

Other new commemorative releases.

This isn't if/but/maybe. Like they said about TSS, it's happening. And despite your best (in fact, utterly pathetic) efforts, TSS did happen. Stop pissing on everyone's fire, go over to the Bloo and join in the unison bleating over there.

Like I said, them as can't be positive about this initial news, STFU and go away. We can begin the picking when we have more details.

Mr.Doe,

            You seem to be unaware of the Mark Linett/Alan Boyd interviews at a website called "Icon Fetch", where Mr.Linett was asked about future projects, and he did say that the status of such projects depends on EMI's new owners. I remind you that EMI is in a state of limbo at the moment pending European & North American government approval of Universal Music's purchase of EMI's recorded music division. In recent years, the American branch of Universal Music has totally abandoned releasing archival material(other than greatest hits projects with no unreleased material), and when the company's British affiliates do release an archival CD box set, U.S.A. Universal merely imports the British product instead of pressing a U.S.A. edition. Under Universal's ownership, Capitol(if the label continues at all) will be far less supportive of archival CD product. And, be reminded that the 5-CD "Smile Sessions" box didn't chart at all(though the 2-CD edition did chart briefly)
            From my standpoint, whether this archival product materializes at all, is not worth getting tormented over, and certainly not worth another online jousting match with you. We've been there, and done that. I'm willing to believe that the reunion album is going to happen, because it is already in the process of being recorded. As for the archival product, we'll see. Unless the archival product is rush released before the Universal Music purchase of EMI Records becomes finalised, whether these archival projects get released......will entirely be Universal Music's decision.

I heard the interview too. Mark and Alan aren't about to jump the gun (unlike Al). They aren't idiots (not that Al is).  The selling of EMI didn't stop Smile.

 So, it's been officially announced so those releases WILL happen.  Mark and Alan , I wager, would answer different to that question today.  Smile has exceeded expectations sales wise.  Pink Floyd, the Who, the Stones are re-mining the gold for $$$$$.  Record companies see the profit.  It's a no brainer. It's obvious that this has been meticulously planned sequence of events.

Just enjoy the ride and hope for those unreleased Dennis songs.

[Andrew G. Doe]

There's been very little discussion about the proposed box set and other archival releases, though as Mark Linett has said, whether they happen is up to EMI's new owner. Anyhow, we recently got a 5-CD "Smile" box, and many other archival releases(official & unofficial) over the years. If there are more archival releases in 2012, I'll buy 'em, but if EMI's new owner says "No", I won't get tormented. Promise.

Phil, your secret's out - you can't read, can you ? Look at the OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE again, or get someone to read it to you, properly this time. We're getting...

A new hits compilation...

A new career-spanning box set...

Other new commemorative releases.

This isn't if/but/maybe. Like they said about TSS, it's happening. And despite your best (in fact, utterly pathetic) efforts, TSS did happen. Stop pissing on everyone's fire, go over to the Bloo and join in the unison bleating over there.

Like I said, them as can't be positive about this initial news, STFU and go away. We can begin the picking when we have more details.

Mr.Doe,

            You seem to be unaware of the Mark Linett/Alan Boyd interviews at a website called "Icon Fetch", where Mr.Linett was asked about future projects, and he did say that the status of such projects depends on EMI's new owners.

Flag on the play right there - you're wrong. As usual. And, uh, if you're going to try to be patronising & condescending, let me tell you that, as a past master of that arcane art, your attempt is pitiful.

This 50th anniversary program (as announced) didn't suddenly emerge from a recent meeting of the principals: like TSS, I'm betting the whole 50th thing (tour, Smile, new box, new album etc...) has been in the works for months and, as they did with Smile, Capitol wouldn't risk ridicule by announcing something that's not going to happen. Also, remember that Capitol gave the OK to expand TSS from three to five CDs.

And Phil, you should be doing a small jig of joy - for once, something's been announced a goodly way in advance... oh, no, I forgot. Of course, now there's going to be a clampdown on any news (hopefully the ears I've whispered in will do just that, and thereby bug the piss out of you, which was my sole intent*).

Once again, we've had a hugely exciting announcement and you weigh in with with overwhelmingly negative comments. We know you can't think well of anything like this, been there before, and all had a good yuck when every last thing you cast doubt on came to happen. Seriously, go over to the Bloo, I gather there are folk of like mind. Just leave us to enjoy what's happening right now: we'll start dissecting it later, it what we do... but the difference is, we tend to wait until we have the material to hand as opposed to wailing it'll never happen.

[* OK, that's a lie, but if I could I damn well would  ]