UPDATED: I met with Alan Boyd last week

[The Shift]

That video has been posted maybe a dozen times in the last year

Me n' Boyd hadn't seen it. I must keep good company.

[PongHit]

Apparently, Spector will have one last shot at appealing his murder conviction: http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2013/03/18/phil-spector-s-last-chance.html  Also, the entire Spector documentary can be seen here: http://youtu.be/90zip4w_ICU

But anyway, to bring this thread back on-topic: yes I listened to more music slated for MIC when I returned to Alan's house in November — by then the project was in-progress, and had been structured into five iTunes playlists on his computer. Some of it struck me as mediocre and forgettable, like a song that was used in a movie soundtrack (it was song #1 on a playlist, and I commented to Alan that it didn't seem like a strong way to open a CD). Of course lots of very cool material too — I won't ruin your day with spoilers, but there were some great surprises, including one very memorable tune from the FRIENDS sessions.

[Nicko1234]

But anyway, to bring this thread back on-topic: yes I listened to more music slated for MIC when I returned to Alan's house in November — by then the project was in-progress, and had been structured into five iTunes playlists on his computer. Some of it struck me as mediocre and forgettable, like a song that was used in a movie soundtrack (it was song #1 on a playlist, and I commented to Alan that it didn't seem like a strong way to open a CD). Of course lots of very cool material too — I won't ruin your day with spoilers, but there were some great surprises, including one very memorable tune from the FRIENDS sessions.

It's a Beautiful Day or Chasin' the Sky?

[Shady]

Can't be either of them because anyone with a brain knows they don't belong on a career retrospective

[Paulos]

Can't be either of them because anyone with a brain knows they don't belong on a career retrospective

I dunno, they are both good songs (IMO) that are currently unavailable to purchase and one of them has never been on any official Beach Boys album. Of course it could actually be Happy Endings...

[Shady]

I don't think they're terrible songs or anything, but with only 6 discs available to fill with the best hits and rarities by the Beach Boys I don't think those songs fit into either category.

[Nicko1234]

Can't be either of them because anyone with a brain knows they don't belong on a career retrospective

Well I presume he wasn't referring to Girls on the Beach so how many options are there?

Almost Summer (a Beach Boys version?)
It's a Beautiful Day
Chasing the Sky
Happy Endings
Make it Big (movie mix)
Still Cruisin'
Problem Child

I think you should start praying it was It's a Beautiful Day or Chasing the Sky!  

[Shady]

Actually I love "Still Cruisin", song and the album.

I have no problem with that being on the box set 

[PongHit]

I don't remember much about the song that was in a movie, but I think it was 1980s, maybe.

[pixletwin]

I like both Chasing the Sky and Beautiful Day. So win-win for me.

[Nicko1234]

Actually I love "Still Cruisin", song and the album.

I have no problem with that being on the box set 

As that is a moderately famous song (and was a late release and so wouldn't be first song an any disc) it's a long shot though.

It's a Beautiful Day should be on the album as it is pretty rare, an original and better than most of the album tracks of that time.

As Chasing the Sky was written by someone else it wouldn't bother me if it were left off the album but that all depends on what other material is available. It's better than crappy covers like Da Doo Ron Ron and At The Hop for example.

[Heysaboda]

But anyway, to bring this thread back on-topic: yes I listened to more music slated for MIC when I returned to Alan's house in November — by then the project was in-progress, and had been structured into five iTunes playlists on his computer. Some of it struck me as mediocre and forgettable, like a song that was used in a movie soundtrack (it was song #1 on a playlist, and I commented to Alan that it didn't seem like a strong way to open a CD). Of course lots of very cool material too — I won't ruin your day with spoilers, but there were some great surprises, including one very memorable tune from the FRIENDS sessions.

So Ponghit, good fellow, can you say is the MIC project more a "career retrospective" or rather a "deep cuts anthology w/ some hits".
I, of course, am hoping for the LATTER!

[Nicko1234]

I don't remember much about the song that was in a movie, but I think it was 1980s, maybe.

This one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8YGsoG-12g

Or this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DI-Lway3bdM

Sound is a little too slow on the second one.

[drbeachboy]

I don't think they're terrible songs or anything, but with only 6 discs available to fill with the best hits and rarities by the Beach Boys I don't think those songs fit into either category.

See, I disagree. First off, the long version of It's A Beautiful Day has never been on any official CD and Chasin' The Sky has never been on a released CD at all, AFAIK. To me, both are rare and should be included. Both songs are part of their career, so how you figure different is beyond me.

[Nicko1234]

Of course it is possible that Mike recorded a lead vocal for his Bop Bop on the Beach from Karate Kid... 

[AndrewHickey]

I don't think they're terrible songs or anything, but with only 6 discs available to fill with the best hits and rarities by the Beach Boys I don't think those songs fit into either category.

See, I disagree. First off, the long version of It's A Beautiful Day has never been on any official CD and Chasin' The Sky has never been on a released CD at all, AFAIK. To me, both are rare and should be included. Both songs are part of their career, so how you figure different is beyond me.

They're both rare, and both part of their career, but neither are actually much good. Personally, I'd far rather the decisions for the box set were made on artistic quality rather than just representativeness. Unlike Shady, however, I don't think it's reasonable to disagree with me.

[Shady]

I don't think they're terrible songs or anything, but with only 6 discs available to fill with the best hits and rarities by the Beach Boys I don't think those songs fit into either category.

See, I disagree. First off, the long version of It's A Beautiful Day has never been on any official CD and Chasin' The Sky has never been on a released CD at all, AFAIK. To me, both are rare and should be included. Both songs are part of their career, so how you figure different is beyond me.

It really depends what this box set is about.

If it's a best of retrospective with some deep cuts thrown in then they shouldn't be included simply because they're not good enough.

If the box set's about getting all possible rarities on CD, quality not withstanding then I guess they should be. My point is those songs are bearable but IMO have no business being on the box set. Ok they are rare but are also pretty awful, again just my opinion.

[Nicko1234]

If the box set's about getting all possible rarities on CD, quality not withstanding then I guess they should be. My point is those songs are bearable but IMO have no business being on the box set. Ok they are rare but are also pretty awful, again just my opinion.

That's fair enough but I wonder how many rare songs there are in the vaults that are better than these 2. When people were nominating their favourite songs from the wilderness era recently It's a Beautiful Day was regularly mentioned and it is often suggested when the topic of what should have been on LA (despite being recorded later) comes up. I just don't know how many better original unreleased songs there will be from the wilderness era.

[AndrewHickey]

If the box set's about getting all possible rarities on CD, quality not withstanding then I guess they should be. My point is those songs are bearable but IMO have no business being on the box set. Ok they are rare but are also pretty awful, again just my opinion.

That's fair enough but I wonder how many rare songs there are in the vaults that are better than these 2. When people were nominating their favourite songs from the wilderness era recently It's a Beautiful Day was regularly mentioned and it is often suggested when the topic of what should have been on LA (despite being recorded later) comes up. I just don't know how many better original unreleased songs there will be from the wilderness era.

Not sure what you mean by 'the wilderness era' -- what you're counting -- but just off the top of my head, unreleased 1975-1996 tracks that deserve inclusion ahead of those:
Sherry She Needs Me
Life Is For The Living
Looking Down The Coast
Lines
It's Trying To Say
Santa Ana Winds (early version)
Soul Searchin'
You're Still A Mystery
Everybody Wants To Live
Marilyn Rovell

And that's not counting things like live versions, alternative versions, covers, demos, unbooted tracks, solo tracks...

[Rocker]

Don't like "It's a beautiful day" very much. But it seems Mike likes it and that's why he used part of it for "Beaches in mind"

[Nicko1234]

Not sure what you mean by 'the wilderness era' -- what you're counting -- but just off the top of my head, unreleased 1975-1996 tracks that deserve inclusion ahead of those:
Sherry She Needs Me
Life Is For The Living
Looking Down The Coast
Lines
It's Trying To Say
Santa Ana Winds (early version)
Soul Searchin'
You're Still A Mystery
Everybody Wants To Live
Marilyn Rovell

And that's not counting things like live versions, alternative versions, covers, demos, unbooted tracks, solo tracks...

Are Soul Searchin' or You're Still a Mystery available for this collection though? Obviously if they are they should be included.

Those early lyrics to Santa Ana Winds are atrocious unfortunately.

Al has said in interviews in the past how unhappy he was with the BBs version of Looking Down the Coast. Who knows whether he would veto it.

Sherry She Needs Me, Marilyn Rovell (would Brian want that included?) and Everybody Wants to Live are all desperately mediocre.

It's Trying to Say and Lines I would like to see included though.

[Shady]

Why does Carl's "Where we are" never get attention.

That song is criminally underrated even among hardcore fans

[Mikie]

"Sherry She Needs Me" is great!

"Soul Searchin'" and "You're Still A Mystery" are very good too.

And I've always really liked "It's Trying To Say" (Baseball). Especially this time of year.

[drbeachboy]

I don't think they're terrible songs or anything, but with only 6 discs available to fill with the best hits and rarities by the Beach Boys I don't think those songs fit into either category.

See, I disagree. First off, the long version of It's A Beautiful Day has never been on any official CD and Chasin' The Sky has never been on a released CD at all, AFAIK. To me, both are rare and should be included. Both songs are part of their career, so how you figure different is beyond me.

They're both rare, and both part of their career, but neither are actually much good. Personally, I'd far rather the decisions for the box set were made on artistic quality rather than just representativeness. Unlike Shady, however, I don't think it's reasonable to disagree with me.

I'd just like better quality recordings of both. The boots sound terrible to my ears. My best versions of each are my own needle drops.

[GhostyTMRS]

If the box set's about getting all possible rarities on CD, quality not withstanding then I guess they should be. My point is those songs are bearable but IMO have no business being on the box set. Ok they are rare but are also pretty awful, again just my opinion.

That's fair enough but I wonder how many rare songs there are in the vaults that are better than these 2. When people were nominating their favourite songs from the wilderness era recently It's a Beautiful Day was regularly mentioned and it is often suggested when the topic of what should have been on LA (despite being recorded later) comes up. I just don't know how many better original unreleased songs there will be from the wilderness era.

Not sure what you mean by 'the wilderness era' -- what you're counting -- but just off the top of my head, unreleased 1975-1996 tracks that deserve inclusion ahead of those:
Sherry She Needs Me
Life Is For The Living
Looking Down The Coast
Lines
It's Trying To Say
Santa Ana Winds (early version)
Soul Searchin'
You're Still A Mystery
Everybody Wants To Live
Marilyn Rovell

And that's not counting things like live versions, alternative versions, covers, demos, unbooted tracks, solo tracks...

I'd also add "Go and Get That Girl" to that list.