"That's Why God Made The Radio" Single!

[Rocker]

Didn't Mike say that Brian wrote it ? Maybe I misremember

[The Shift]

More, from the Joe Vana thread on Melodic Rock forum:

Question: Being an insider, what's the greatest Survivor and/or Jim Peterik track that has never been released to the public (not including FMS demos)?

Answer: Dude...I sang on alot of JP's stuff and demos for years there, but you know way too much about that stuff!!!!....I did a demo called "Save Me" which was a heavy tune...I will go through some of my old CD's of demo stuff....even though I hate doing that..I was so new to singing, and I did not have the control I do now, so the parts were a bit loose.....

My original lead vocal version to "Too Miss Somebody" from World Stage 1....I sang on the final tune with Dennis Deyoung as well, I am all over the backgrounds and I have some step outs at the end of the tune....some of my favorite moments in the studio working with Dennis...and to hear one of your idols praise your work is humbling beyond belief.....he is a misunderstood guy, really a gem....

Oh yea...."That's Why God Made The Radio".....my first thing I ever sang on....it was a demo for the Beach Boys and Brian Wilson....written by JP and Joe Thomas.....that song I will say was killer.....

[Wirestone]

Seems That's Why God Made The Radio was written by Jim Peteri, Joe Thomas and Larry (Millas?).

Jim Peteri: "There's a song that I wrote with Larry and Joe Thomas called 'That's Why God Made the Radio', which you'll hear some day, it's really pretty neat. It was meant to be for the Beach Boys."

Also featured some guy called David Hungate.

Source: http://www.melodicrock.com/interviews/Mecca-JimPeterik.html

A sessions seemingly produced by Peteri includes backing vocals by one Joe Vana:

JV: "A week later, yes, a week later he (JP) had me singing backgrounds on “That's why God Made the Radio”....for the BEACH BOYS....WTF"

Source:

http://forums.melodicrock.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=52689&sid=b16991b139ddbdfdca219e9ca0fefc74

Be veeeery interesting to see the songwriting credits on this one when it comes to light.  

Jim Peterik co-wrote "Dream Angel" on Imagination, and is credited in the BMI database as co-writing "Your Imagination," even though his name isn't in the CD booklet.

Interesting indeed ... I'll bet Brian added a bridge (that's what he did for several of the Andy Paley collaborations, apparently).

[Wirestone]

Although, it must be said, it is sad that the standout track on the last Beach Boys album did not originate with Brian.

[The Shift]

Suddenly I have a real urge to obtain a copy of this demo!

[SMiLE Brian]

I have a bad feeling about all this now....

[Lowbacca]

I have a bad feeling about all this now....

Just because TWGMTR isn't a brand-new song and not written by Brian?

[Wirestone]

I have a bad feeling about all this now....

Just because TWGMTR isn't a brand-new song and not written by Brian?

Mm-hm. On consideration, I have rather a sinking feeling as well.

[SMiLE Brian]

I have a bad feeling about all this now....

Just because TWGMTR isn't a brand-new song and not written by Brian?

Mm-hm. On consideration, I have rather a sinking feeling as well.

I am feeling that this album is a Joe Thomas run affair just like 1998 with Imagination, and this song might be a well worn nostalgia song.

[Justin]

Let's not lose scope of the grand picture here...we are still getting a dozen songs with all living Beach Boys singing on each track.  Two years ago if we had gotten out of the blue this song released and found out that Brian didn't write most of it---I doubt we would all crap on it; we'd be freaking out that the guys came together to record a new song.   Just because we're right in the middle of all this reunion hoopla and it's been a few months of us following every little piece of news regarding this album and tour--doesn't mean we should be as jaded as we're becoming here.  So Brian didn't really write this song on his own?  Wish he did but oh well.  Dennis didn't write "Never Learn Not To Love" but look how that turned out.  Brian may not have written this song but I"m sure the arranging and voices will be, as he says, outtasite.

[urbanite]

If it's a great Beach Boys song, it won't matter who wrote it.  Do you think any less of Sloop John B because it was not written by a member of the group?

[Lowbacca]

Let's not lose scope of the grand picture here...we are still getting a dozen songs with all living Beach Boys singing on each track.  Two years ago if we had gotten out of the blue this song released and found out that Brian didn't write most of it---I doubt we would all crap on it; we'd be freaking out that the guys came together to record a new song.   Just because we're right in the middle of all this reunion hoopla and it's been a few months of us following every little piece of news regarding this album and tour--doesn't mean we should be as jaded as we're becoming here.  So Brian didn't really write this song on his own?  Wish he did but oh well.  Dennis didn't write "Never Learn Not To Love" but look how that turned out.  Brian may not have written this song but I"m sure the arranging and voices will be, as he says, outtasite.

Amen.

Dennis didn't write "Never Learn Not To Love" but look how that turned out.

With a crazy madman and sect leader turned angry.  

[The Shift]

Let's not lose scope of the grand picture here...we are still getting a dozen songs with all living Beach Boys singing on each track.  Two years ago if we had gotten out of the blue this song released and found out that Brian didn't write most of it---I doubt we would all crap on it; we'd be freaking out that the guys came together to record a new song.   Just because we're right in the middle of all this reunion hoopla and it's been a few months of us following every little piece of news regarding this album and tour--doesn't mean we should be as jaded as we're becoming here.  So Brian didn't really write this song on his own?  Wish he did but oh well.  Dennis didn't write "Never Learn Not To Love" but look how that turned out.  Brian may not have written this song but I"m sure the arranging and voices will be, as he says, outtasite.

You're saying Joe Thomas is akin to Chuckie Manson? Let me think about that a while...

I know where you're coming from and you're right, of course you're right. But I, for one, feel a tad winded by the fact that the one new  track being bigged up seems, in fact, not to be a BW/BBs' original but a retread of a demo by others. The first single, potentially, chissakes... I know, I know, let's wait and see... Maybe someone will offer some more info in light of this coming to the board's attention.

( and aye, I think you've got to have been a fan for many years to take this as a negative...)

[the captain]

Other than being a disappointment from a "perfect ending to the story" kind of perspective, I don't think it's especially relevant who wrote the song or when. If everyone keeps saying what a good song and/or recording it is--and not just Mike or Brian, but people like Probyn--then it may be just that. It would be cool if the Brian-Mike songwriting partnership of old rose from the dust for a new classic (and it may have in some other song(s), who knows?), but it's not essential for a successful song or album. If it comes to it, I would much rather have them do good versions of other people's good songs than of their own terrible ones.

[Wirestone]

I, for one, feel a tad winded by the fact that the one new  track being bigged up seems, in fact, not to be a BW/BBs' original but a retread of a demo by others. The first single, potentially, chissakes...

Exactly my thoughts. I mean, there's no question that Brian will get a writing credit on the tune, and he may well end up adding a bridge or tag and re-arranging it. But still ... sheesh. I guess my hope was that this would be a really Brian-dominated project, at least on the production, arranging and songwriting side of things. But time will tell.

[Melt Away]

I knew Joe Thomas was going to ruin this album. I'm probably speaking a little too early but it just seems to be going in a bad direction..

[Runaways]

man that's a real bummer.  i suddenly care a lot less about the tune.  

[southbay]

Since there will apparently be other Wilson/Love originals on the album, if its a great song I don't care who wrote it. But Dream Angel sucked, and Your Imagination was simply ok

[Autotune]

man that's a real bummer.  i suddenly care a lot less about the tune.  

There's a certain fan on this board that suddenly cared less about Meant for You once he knew Mike was singing lead instead of Brian. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but that's tone-deaf idiocy in my book.

Let us enjoy the music for what it is once we hear it. If the song is outstanding, what's wrong with these guys picking it up and singing it? The only thing I did not like was that the song got mentioned in about 25 interviews and the name of the songwriters was never mentioned... Now that was misleading, considering that most people suppose Brian's writing all the songs.

Now: when did that demo for TWGMR originate?

[Wirestone]

man that's a real bummer.  i suddenly care a lot less about the tune. 

There's a certain fan on this board that suddenly cared less about Meant for You once he knew Mike was singing lead instead of Brian. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but that's tone-deaf idiocy in my book.

Let us enjoy the music for what it is once we hear it. If the song is outstanding, what's wrong with these guys picking it up and singing it? The only thing I did not like was that the song got mentioned in about 25 interviews and the name of the songwriters was never mentioned... Now that was misleading, considering that most people suppose Brian's writing all the songs.

Now: when did that demo for TWGMR originate?

People aren't fans of the BBs / BW because of their stunning interpretive abilities. It's generally at least partially because of the guys' ability as songwriters. You can't totally separate the band from the songs they wrote.

As for the interview mentions, my guess is that Brian is credited as one of the writers on the tune. I bet every tune on the album has one of the guys listed as a writer or co-writer, regardless of what they actually did. And I suspect the chances are good that Brian added something to it.

Finally, if the tune was written for the BWs by Joe and Jim, that would suggest a late-90s composition date (somewhere between Stars and Stripes and Imagination).

[Autotune]

man that's a real bummer.  i suddenly care a lot less about the tune. 

There's a certain fan on this board that suddenly cared less about Meant for You once he knew Mike was singing lead instead of Brian. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but that's tone-deaf idiocy in my book.

Let us enjoy the music for what it is once we hear it. If the song is outstanding, what's wrong with these guys picking it up and singing it? The only thing I did not like was that the song got mentioned in about 25 interviews and the name of the songwriters was never mentioned... Now that was misleading, considering that most people suppose Brian's writing all the songs.

Now: when did that demo for TWGMR originate?

People aren't fans of the BBs / BW because of their stunning interpretive abilities. It's generally at least partially because of the guys' ability as songwriters. You can't totally separate the band from the songs they wrote.

As for the interview mentions, my guess is that Brian is credited as one of the writers on the tune. I bet every tune on the album has one of the guys listed as a writer or co-writer, regardless of what they actually did. And I suspect the chances are good that Brian added something to it.

Finally, if the tune was written for the BWs by Joe and Jim, that would suggest a late-90s composition date (somewhere between Stars and Stripes and Imagination).

I concur that Brian probably added a bridge or something to the song.

My point was that this reunion time is so special and unexpected, that these complaints end up seeming a little too miserable.

[The Shift]

The only thing I did not like was that the song got mentioned in about 25 interviews and the name of the songwriters was never mentioned... Now that was misleading, considering that most people suppose Brian's writing all the songs.

That's what's eating me.  AGD's always advising folk to credit sources, and pros like the BBs ought to give credit where credit's due too.

People aren't fans of the BBs / BW because of their stunning interpretive abilities. It's generally at least partially because of the guys' ability as songwriters. You can't totally separate the band from the songs they wrote.

Totally.  This isn't the Gershwin album, or the Disney album. It's the first proper BBs band album since 1985… or is it S&S Vol II?

As for the interview mentions, my guess is that Brian is credited as one of the writers on the tune. I bet every tune on the album has one of the guys listed as a writer or co-writer, regardless of what they actually did. And I suspect the chances are good that Brian added something to it.

This. I hope the credits on all the tracks are legitimate and accurate. I recall (very vaguely, unfortunately)  a thread many moons ago in which it was implied that there's occasionally some, shall we say, negotiation over stated provenance of songs. I sure as hell don't want to be misled.

[Alan Smith]

Let us enjoy the music for what it is once we hear it. If the song is outstanding, what's wrong with these guys picking it up and singing it?

Hooray for Dr Lenny!  I can't believe what a drubbing this relatively unheard song is attracting (or can I?)  

Be cool, and (cautiously) optimistic -  I'm sure the new record will comply to the quality levels our boys have presented over the last 50 years (varied).

Demos won't always tell you the full story - heard a demo of a mega classic rock hit yesterday, it was a woeful
approximation of the completed behemoth.

[Wirestone]

I hope the credits on all the tracks are legitimate and accurate. I recall (very vaguely, unfortunately)  a thread many moons ago in which it was implied that there's occasionally some, shall we say, negotiation over stated provenance of songs. I sure as hell don't want to be misled.

Brian on "That's Why God Made the Radio" (predicted interview response):

"Oh, my friend Joe came up with that idea, and I thought it was really cool. We sat down and worked it out -- we were done in literally 20 minutes! Twenty minutes and the song was done! It's one of my favorites. It's about how God, you know, made the radio that we all listen to. It's like that. Really good. And the guys sing it so good too."

[The Shift]

Let us enjoy the music for what it is once we hear it. If the song is outstanding, what's wrong with these guys picking it up and singing it?

Hooray for Dr Lenny!  I can't believe what a drubbing this relatively unheard song is attracting (or can I?) 

Be cool, and (cautiously) optimistic -  I'm sure the new record will comply to the quality levels our boys have presented over the last 50 years (varied).

Demos won't always tell you the full story - heard a demo of a mega classic rock hit yesterday, it was a woeful
approximation of the completed behemoth.

Not drubbing the song, Alholio71, Dr Lenny, it's just the feeling that we've been somewhat mislead about its status. And you could argue that that's not the case, as no-one had said anything much about it.

It's a bit like when I was a kid and my dad came home after what I'd always been told was eight years at war, only it turned out he'd spent those eight years in prison*.









* This never happened by the way.  It's just there for the sake of effect.