What "commemorative releases" should we expect for the 50th anniversary?

[PhilCohen]

For better(or I would say worse), it is obvious that the "strategy"(if you could call it that) of Capitol Records & The Beach Boys is totally opposite of most record companies & classic rock back catalogue artists, with respect to promoting an upcoming archival release. Most other artists/labels reveal track listings & release dates months in advance and build consumer "buzz" through publicity(such as that for upcoming archival releases such as the expanded editions of Paul McCartney's "Ram" or the expanded multi disc reissues by Small Faces). As for The Beach Boys & Capitol, their strategy is make an initial vague announcement, then tell the public absolutely nothing until 6 months later, while keeping all individuals involved in these projects gagged with strict secrecy/confidentiality contracts.

I generally try to stay out of the Neverending Phil And Andrew Battle Royale And Periodic Dick-Waving Contest -- both sides inevitably end up looking less than classy -- but Phil, you chose the wrong example in this instance when you cited McCartney's RAM reissue. If you look at the details of that one, it was arguably WORSE than how the BBs handled the SMiLE box set. First off, Paul started off a YEAR-AND-A-HALF of speculation by simply IMPLYING that Ram would be an upcoming reissue, with a little slip of paper inserted into the BOTR reissue. It was only confirmed in March 2012 that Ram would indeed be the next album reissued, and it the full contents and configurations were only finally announced on Macca's website last week, a mere month before the release date. In contrast, the BBs announced that SMiLE would be released "later this year" in February 2011, followed that up with a Record Store Day release in April, followed THAT up with a special 45 in MOJO in June, and then announced all the configurations and track lists on September 1st, a full 2+ months before the release date. You were wrong about SMiLE last year, and I pretty much expect that you're wrong about everything this year too. In fact, if you wouldn't mind giving us all a heads-up on what the next Mega Millions numbers WON'T be, we can all go in on the tickets, and we'll be able to afford all this stuff you think won't be released this year.

Cheers, and please stop.
Your pal and occasional defender,

Amazon.com has stated the complete track listing for the deluxe box edition for Paul McCartney's "Ram" for more than a month.

[seanmurd]

For better(or I would say worse), it is obvious that the "strategy"(if you could call it that) of Capitol Records & The Beach Boys is totally opposite of most record companies & classic rock back catalogue artists, with respect to promoting an upcoming archival release. Most other artists/labels reveal track listings & release dates months in advance and build consumer "buzz" through publicity(such as that for upcoming archival releases such as the expanded editions of Paul McCartney's "Ram" or the expanded multi disc reissues by Small Faces). As for The Beach Boys & Capitol, their strategy is make an initial vague announcement, then tell the public absolutely nothing until 6 months later, while keeping all individuals involved in these projects gagged with strict secrecy/confidentiality contracts.

I generally try to stay out of the Neverending Phil And Andrew Battle Royale And Periodic Dick-Waving Contest -- both sides inevitably end up looking less than classy -- but Phil, you chose the wrong example in this instance when you cited McCartney's RAM reissue. If you look at the details of that one, it was arguably WORSE than how the BBs handled the SMiLE box set. First off, Paul started off a YEAR-AND-A-HALF of speculation by simply IMPLYING that Ram would be an upcoming reissue, with a little slip of paper inserted into the BOTR reissue. It was only confirmed in March 2012 that Ram would indeed be the next album reissued, and it the full contents and configurations were only finally announced on Macca's website last week, a mere month before the release date. In contrast, the BBs announced that SMiLE would be released "later this year" in February 2011, followed that up with a Record Store Day release in April, followed THAT up with a special 45 in MOJO in June, and then announced all the configurations and track lists on September 1st, a full 2+ months before the release date. You were wrong about SMiLE last year, and I pretty much expect that you're wrong about everything this year too. In fact, if you wouldn't mind giving us all a heads-up on what the next Mega Millions numbers WON'T be, we can all go in on the tickets, and we'll be able to afford all this stuff you think won't be released this year.

Cheers, and please stop.
Your pal and occasional defender,

Amazon.com has stated the complete track listing for the deluxe box edition for Paul McCartney's "Ram" for more than a month.

Actually, the track list was leaked and posted on a number of websites starting on March 21st, but Amazon was NOT among them at first. It was a few more weeks before Amazon posted track listings. Either way, your response is a classic example of a sad "gotcha!" rebuttal while missing the entire larger point of my response.

[seanmurd]

Sean, while you correct on every respect, I take exception with you calling out Andrew. Anyone here has a right to call out Phil every time he posts his malarky. Like you say, he is always off the mark with all his naysaying  posts regarding The Boys, and especially Capitol and it's marketing strategies. You would think that after all that has happened to him here, that he would rethink his own thoughts and strategies. He never has, and I suspect that he never will. Our reactions are the express reason why he posts here. For Phil, he reaps what he sows.

I think about 99% of the "calling out" in my post was aimed at Phil, but I'll stand by what I said in the other 1%. I do understand that AGD's seemingly bottomless well of enmity for Phil comes mostly from frustration at having to read his consistently wrong prognostications while knowing the specific details (even if he doesn't share them with us) of just how wrong he is. However, and this is only my own opinion, a lot of Andrew's "corrective" posts come across as mean-spirited and petty -- maybe it's just the cumulative tonnage of rebuttals he feels he needs to post, but I do think that in his zeal to convince Phil to "STFU" (AGD's usual refrain), he lowers himself in the process. Personally, I think that Phil's reputation for gloom-and-doom -- and his record of being dead wrong -- is established well enough that a silent eye roll and a scroll to the next post is more than enough response.

[PhilCohen]

By the way, I have one bit of good news for you:unlike other CD exclusives created for Walmart, Walmart will accept online orders for the Zinepack, sparing me and many others from an in-person trip to Walmart that would have likely resulted in coming home empty-handed. The nearest Walmart is in a predominately African-American neighborhood, and yet, oddly, their selection of CD's is mainly Cuban music.

Also, when my existing CD backorders(21 preordered discs which run through May 30,2012) have run their course, I intend to go on hiatus from the hobby of music collecting for a while. May all the CD's that you wish for come to be.

[John Manning]

By the way, I have one bit of good news for you:unlike other CD exclusives created for Walmart, Walmart will accept online orders for the Zinepack, sparing me and many others from an in-person trip to Walmart that would have likely resulted in coming home empty-handed. The nearest Walmart is in a predominately African-American neighborhood, and yet, oddly, their selection of CD's is mainly Cuban music.

Also, when my existing CD backorders(21 preordered discs which run through May 30,2012) have run their course, I intend to go on hiatus from the hobby of music collecting for a wIile. May all the CD's that you wish for come to be.

Sadly Walmart doesn't ship international.

[PhilCohen]

By the way, I have one bit of good news for you:unlike other CD exclusives created for Walmart, Walmart will accept online orders for the Zinepack, sparing me and many others from an in-person trip to Walmart that would have likely resulted in coming home empty-handed. The nearest Walmart is in a predominately African-American neighborhood, and yet, oddly, their selection of CD's is mainly Cuban music.

Also, when my existing CD backorders(21 preordered discs which run through May 30,2012) have run their course, I intend to go on hiatus from the hobby of music collecting for a wIile. May all the CD's that you wish for come to be.

Sadly Walmart doesn't ship international.

Sort of like the situation that I encounter with "Stones Archives", an official Rolling Stones website which sells both MP3 & lossless FLAC downloads of previously unreleased Rolling Stones concerts...but they won't sell to people in the U.S.A.(The Stones' U.S.A. licensee "Google Music" sells only MP3 versions), so I get people outside the U.S.A. to copy the lossless versions for me. No way am I going to pay for the less than CD sound quality of MP3.

No doubt, the Zinepack will be resold on Ebay, and you'll be able to find it there.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

The nearest Walmart is in a predominately African-American neighborhood, and yet, oddly, their selection of CD's is mainly Cuban music.

What does the neighborhood have to do with anything?

[18thofMay]

The nearest Walmart is in a predominately African-American neighborhood, and yet, oddly, their selection of CD's is mainly Cuban music.

What does the neighborhood have to do with anything?

I have already reached my point of absolute hatred with Phil and then he makes a comment like that.

[PhilCohen]

The nearest Walmart is in a predominately African-American neighborhood, and yet, oddly, their selection of CD's is mainly Cuban music.

What does the neighborhood have to do with anything?

I have already reached my point of absolute hatred with Phil and then he makes a comment like that.

Because a big retailer will tailor their stock to what the customers in that neighborhood want to buy. There is no market for rock(vintage or modern) in that particular neighborhood(North Miami Beach,Florida). I'm sure that some of you are going to accuse me of racism. It is not. Walmart is supplying what they think the market in that particular neighborhood wants to buy. Why stock items that customers in that neighborhood won't buy? It is a fact that the stock of CD's at that particular store is mostly Spanish-language dance & salsa music.

I've learned from past experience that when a Walmart-exclusive rock CD or DVD is released, that this store won't stock it. Fortunately, Walmart is offering the Beach Boys "Zinepack" through the Walmart website, so I ordered it. For previous Walmart-exclusive rock CD's or DVD's, if your local Walmart didn't stock the item, then the consumer was out of luck.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

That is an anomaly. I used to work for Wal-Mart...the ENDCAPS are tailored towards whatever market they are in, not the general release section. And, it goes by region of states (northeast, west coast, ect),not neighborhood....which is why you have a selection of Cuban music that seems to stand out by the neighborhood's demographic.

[sea of tunes]

It's a pipe dream I know, but I would really appreciate a 2nd U.S. Singles Collection going from 1965-1969.

[PhilCohen]

It's a pipe dream I know, but I would really appreciate a 2nd U.S. Singles Collection going from 1965-1969.

But, though I purchased the first box, more people copied it than purchased it. I DID copy it:for myself; recording it complete on two discs, which made the material far more convenient to play.

[punkinhead]

It's a pipe dream I know, but I would really appreciate a 2nd U.S. Singles Collection going from 1965-1969.

I agree. But really, the best would be the Brother years with added singles by Dennis (Lady/Sound of Free & River Song/You and I)...maybe Celebration singles (Almost Summer)...It's a Beautiful Day...etc. PLUS the single mixes that aren't on the albums (R&R Music, Honkin' Down the Highway, Hey Little Tomboy, Come Go With Me, Lady Lynda, Male Ego, School Days, Chasin' the Sky, Rock and Roll to The Rescue, Lady Liberty). I'm sure the Medlies would be added. 

[lance]

I would love to see all the various unavailable released releases released, but not if there's going to be, like, 2 songs per CD. Just collate them on one or two CDs and I will make my own Deluxe albums. Some unreleased already bootlegged/not yet bootlegged stuff would be cool, too.

[Paulos]

I would love to see all the various unavailable released releases released, but not if there's going to be, like, 2 songs per CD. Just collate them on one or two CDs and I will make my own Deluxe albums. Some unreleased already bootlegged/not yet bootlegged stuff would be cool, too.

Do you mean songs like the following?

What'd I Say (Live)
The Monkey's Uncle
Karen
With A Little Help From My Friends
The Letter
We Got Love
Sea Cruise
It's A Beautiful Day
Happy Endings
East Meets West
Rock n  Roll to The Rescue
California Dreamin' (Original version)
Chasin' The Sky
Runaway (Live)
Lady Liberty
Crocodile Rock
Problem Child

Because that would be sweet (apart from the last three)

[lance]

Exactly what I mean.

[seanmurd]

Bad news for Phil -- the new album is done and being mixed. On schedule for June 5th release.

http://www.billboard.com/news#/news/beach-boys-album-it-s-all-brand-new-1006844362.story

[John Manning]

Bad news for Phil -- the new album is done and being mixed. On schedule for June 5th release.

http://www.billboard.com/news#/news/beach-boys-album-it-s-all-brand-new-1006844362.story

"The music, [Johnston] says, "reminds me of our 'Sunflower' album, which is probably one of our least-selling albums, and some of the songs there are stunning. This album has elements, kind of, of everything."

Smart cookie!

But why in the hell has he reworked She Believes in Love Again?  Reckon that's a typical BJ put-on - possibly even for our benefit!

[PhilCohen]

Bad news for Phil -- the new album is done and being mixed. On schedule for June 5th release.

http://www.billboard.com/news#/news/beach-boys-album-it-s-all-brand-new-1006844362.story

Even if they send the digital masters to the pressing plant today, it is still questionable whether they can get the discs into stores by June 5th. It takes 5 to 6 weeks to get the CD's pressed. Good luck!

[Lowbacca]

Bad news for Phil -- the new album is done and being mixed. On schedule for June 5th release.

http://www.billboard.com/news#/news/beach-boys-album-it-s-all-brand-new-1006844362.story

Even if they send the digital masters to the pressing plant today, it is still questionable whether they can get the discs into stores by June 5th. It takes 5 to 6 weeks to get the CD's pressed. Good luck!

[SMiLE Brian]

Bad news for Phil -- the new album is done and being mixed. On schedule for June 5th release.

http://www.billboard.com/news#/news/beach-boys-album-it-s-all-brand-new-1006844362.story

Even if they send the digital masters to the pressing plant today, it is still questionable whether they can get the discs into stores by June 5th. It takes 5 to 6 weeks to get the CD's pressed. Good luck!

What is honestly your problem? What the heck do you want that would make happy?

[Andrew G. Doe]

But why in the hell has he reworked She Believes in Love Again?  Reckon that's a typical BJ put-on - possibly even for our benefit!

Nope. 

[SBonilla]

Bad news for Phil -- the new album is done and being mixed. On schedule for June 5th release.

http://www.billboard.com/news#/news/beach-boys-album-it-s-all-brand-new-1006844362.story

Even if they send the digital masters to the pressing plant today, it is still questionable whether they can get the discs into stores by June 5th. It takes 5 to 6 weeks to get the CD's pressed. Good luck!

What is honestly your problem? What the heck do you want that would make happy?

Yes, if only there was a Vine Street webcam in front of The Tower, we could just check it. I'm sure we wouldn't be seeing any heads rolling south, toward Wilshire. Tranquilo, dude.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Bad news for Phil -- the new album is done and being mixed. On schedule for June 5th release.

http://www.billboard.com/news#/news/beach-boys-album-it-s-all-brand-new-1006844362.story

Even if they send the digital masters to the pressing plant today, it is still questionable whether they can get the discs into stores by June 5th. It takes 5 to 6 weeks to get the CD's pressed. Good luck!

Phil, you've been associated with small, quasi-independent labels that specialise in archival reissues on a limited scale. Capitol are (still) a major label with facilities at their disposal far larger than anything you've experienced, and this is a major, major release. The date June 5th is all over the place, and cannot be delayed by anything more than 24 hours because of the tie-in with the PBS TV special. That date was set months ago and they will have 'booked' the time and the facilities to get the album manufactured and out to the shops As quickly as they can. Concisely, you're talking bollocks again, as usual.

You know what I think would be the one thing make your day, give you an intense orgasm of pleasure ? If the entire band were involved in some fatal incident, and Capitol, out of respect, decided to pull all the C50 products from schedule permanently... because then you'd be able to say "see, I told you it would never be released". And you would, you know you would. I believe this, I truly do, because for the last 18 months or so, ever since the Smile rumors started circulating, you've not said one single positive thing about that or the current projects but wallowed in the misery of telling us all that they would never happen. In this respect, you are truly a sick and twisted person, and I hope you decide to get some treatment for it. We don't want your kind here.

[John Manning]

But why in the hell has he reworked She Believes in Love Again?  Reckon that's a typical BJ put-on - possibly even for our benefit!

Nope.  

Grrrr...



With thanks to AGD for proof-reading.


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