15 Big Ones album: Critical standing over time

[joshferrell]

Awake is also a great song that I wish they did

[Ron]

Ditto on the good timing thing... It's really pretty mind boggling.  If I had a song that sounded that good, hell I'd rush to get it to be the next single... and when they finally did release it as a single, it did pretty good comparitively, right? 




I think what we don't take into account is just how space-cadet Rock Stars get when they're rolling in it.  I guess what it comes down to is, they had a concept for 15 Big Ones, and while it appears to us tht the concept was abandoned and the album just came out as kind of a hodge podge of whatever the hell they wanted to put on there... they probably had it in their mind that it sounded just how they wanted it to sound! 

They've all done crazier things, so it's not a stretch to think they didn't realize Good Timin and California Feelin' were good tracks. 

Or maybe your Brian theory is true, I've thought that from time to time.  For instance I'm convinced he sabotaged "Wonderful" and "wind chimes" when he put them on Smiley Smile. 

[Disney Boy (1985)]

I always kinda wondered what exactly possessed the group to use "Had to Phone Ya" for 15 Big Ones. Did Brian suggest it while in the middle of crankin' out all of those oldies he was recording? It seems odd that he would pick out that random song that was already released and work on it. I wonder if that was a song the band coaxed him into recording because they wanted more Brian written material. Although it was just as odd that he would pick a song out from the early '60s ("Back Home") and work on that too. And it's kinda weird how differently produced it is, especially compared to the rest of the album. Its more akin to Pet Sounds than 15 Big Ones. Perhaps the instrumental was really tracked in 1973 or 1974 or something, and we don't know that?

Only shame is, if Brian and the boys were into using previously used American Spring material, I wish they would have used "Sweet Mountain", although I have the vibe that it was written more by Sandler than Wilson, especially with that melody of Sandler's from a few years before or something.

And I know it's lame of me to bring it up again, but I still just don't understand why "Good Timin'" and "California Feelin'" weren't used for their followup to Holland. I know Dennis and Mike both talked up "Good Timin'", and Brian even played "California Feelin'" to a writer in the studio during the sessions for 15 Big Ones, so it's not like they were forgotten or thought of as unworthy of release. I think it's possible that Brian knew when he had a great song, and by say, 1972 or so, he would rather not send that song out to the world to be judged, and would rather just leave it unreleased. Kinda like the "Surf's Up" scenario.

Not to mention the insanely catchy Rollin' Up To Heaven (a few lyric changes would've made it album-friendly) and the avalanche of amazing material Dennis was producing around this time.

Re: Everyone's In Love With You
Prior to 15 Big Ones, i can honestly say their isn't a single Beach Boys song that i hate. Tears In The Morning, Student Demo Time, etc - they may not be entirely my cup of tea, but i can still at least see some merit in them. HOWEVER... Everyone's In Love With You - i can see absolutely no worth whatsoever in this song! It is absolutely ghastly - trite lyrics, vomit-inducingly twee singing, dreadful melody.

[Ron]

Although I love Mike, I think the reason "everyone's in love with you" doesn't work is because of his vocal.  If Carl sang it, everybody would talk about what a masterpiece it is.  It just wasn't Mike's type of song, or he didn't sing it the way he could have. 

[Disney Boy (1985)]

Well I wouldn't be talking about it being a masterpiece i can assure you. The song itself is awful, such a weak melody.

[beach boys fan podcast]

in hindsight it´s a bit sad it wasn´t more ambitious, they were still young and could do a lot. I love it just because it´s one of the first beach boys albums I got into as a child so it has sentimental value. contrary to some, I also like dennis´ and brian´s rough voices on it, adds a bit of humanity and heart (and even pain)to some rather bland songs.

[Will C.]

Am I the only one who's attempted to gift 15 Big Ones to a member of the opposite sex?  That instance has been forever immortalized by this drawing...



Also, I don't have it in great quality, but isn't this the Brian shot from the album cover?

[beach boys fan podcast]

love the drawing Will:)

[Exapno Mapcase]

 As the follow-up - and a long awaited one at that - to a strong album, it's beyond disappointing.  As a therapy album for Brian with songs from his younger years and some somgs in that kind of groove, it has a certain charm.  I also think Had to Phone Ya is wonderful and Everyone's in Love is frighteneingly awful.  Like other posters, I made a 'boot' of 15 oldies recorded around this time and I appfeciate them for what they are, kinda like Dylan's Good as I Been To You; I also made a 'boot' incorporating the better new tracks from 15 BO and most of Love You. Works for me, but I love Love You as it is.