New Beach Boys 2012 Remasters!

[Amazing Larry]

The All Summer Long remix sounds GREAT.

[DonnyL]

"In the Back of My Mind" sounds REALLY cool.

[Justin]

I guess it depends on how much we're really ready to spend on this if they actually offered us a complete box set.  I'd imagine a box set containing the entire catalog (40+ titles) would run in the $400-$500 range.  Incidentally, if you bought all the Japanese remasters that just came out---that would run you about $400 just for that batch alone.  If the Japanese went ahead and continued to release the entire catalog you'd be looking to spend about $1400-$1800!  So if you look at it that way, one must weigh the options.

It's not like a massive boxset of this magnitude hasn't ever been done before.  Miles Davis has a huge 50+ box set...Frank Sinatra has a 35+ set both in the price range I mentioned above.  I suppose it all lies on Captiol to take the leap of faith that the fans will be there to buy this huge box set regardless of which direction the market is shifting regarding physical media.   

In a perfect world, I wish they'd do something like what Sony did for Elvis' The Complete Masters Collection (All 711 master takes/30 CDs/240 page book = $749.99).  They sold it online only for a limited run of 1000 units.  They're there for the fans who wanted them and wished to spend that kind of money.  Capitol could do the same thing: offer a limited run of the box set to fans and once that sells out---that's it.  Show's over. 

[Wirestone]

This isn't rocket science.

The entirety of the Beach Boys back catalog has been reissued on CD twice for the U.S. market. The Capitol albums have been reissued three times.

Capitol knows how many of these albums they would be likely to move. Thus, when the 50th anniversary came around, they said they would release a new hits compilation, a new boxed set (taking the GV set out of print around the same time) and some commemorative releases. They did not promise a catalog revamp, because they have already revamped the catalog multiple times.

Guess what? The Monkees and Beatles and Who and BeeGees catalogs -- they have all been reissued fewer times. And they have fewer base albums to work with. And their fans buy more of their albums. The Beach Boys have a singles oriented, broad fan base. Their enthusiast fan base much smaller and concentrates on fewer albums from a specific time -- which is why we've had boxed sets about Pet Sounds and Smile.

As for Capitol in Japan -- they have already put out deluxe versions of the single albums. (The LP sleeve issues of a few years back.) They know how well those sold to their market, so they're doing it again. Clearly, Japan has enough collectors willing to spend money on these releases to make money for the parent company and band. The U.S. and Europe does not.

Import them. Get them dubiously. Whatever. But don't claim the reissues are coming here when there is every reason to believe they won't.

[Heysaboda]

The much discussed Japan imports have turned up on Amazon's US site!

I'm going to dip my toe in this, for sure.

With all respect the excellent guidance that been posted here, I still don't understand the logic of Capitol USA NOT "Capitalizing" on this.

But, what ev's.  They've got other fish to fry!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008D4QMXE/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

[Heysaboda]

They are $43.99 a pop at Amazon US.

[PhilCohen]

I've made my decision as to what I'm going to do: I've asked a friend in Southeast Asia to find the recordings on the internet for me. $45 per disc is simply outrageous. If the discs are someday released in the U.S.A., UK or Europe(and I can obtain them at sane prices), then I'll buy the discs.

[Quzi]

Of course the preview for In the Parkin' Lot cuts out just before the outro  I'm interested to see what they have done with those found SD2 multis!

[Ebb and Flow]

I know everybody's probably interested in the previously-mono-only albums, but Little Deuce Coupe contains new stereo mixes of 409 and A Young Man Is Gone!

http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/artist_Beach-Boys_000000000000485/item_Little-Deuce-Coupe_5103118

[Quzi]

Of course the preview for In the Parkin' Lot cuts out just before the outro  I'm interested to see what they have done with those found SD2 multis!

Just listened to Don't Worry Baby and they've gone the pre-2008 panned vocal route. If that's not the remixed version, I seriously doubt any of the other stuff they found on that tape will be hitting SD2

[ahoutman1]

I can't understand how capitol felt there was enough demand to release the US singles boxset, but not enough to release at least the capitol albums in a nice boxed collection.

[drbeachboy]

Of course the preview for In the Parkin' Lot cuts out just before the outro  I'm interested to see what they have done with those found SD2 multis!

Just listened to Don't Worry Baby and they've gone the pre-2008 panned vocal route. If that's not the remixed version, I seriously doubt any of the other stuff they found on that tape will be hitting SD2

I would think they used the new stereo version of Why Do Fools Fall In Love from the found tapes.

[puni puni]

The stereo mix of Let the Wind Blow on the Hawthorne cd is incredible! It is one of my favorite tracks to listen to!

Spreading the lows and highs of the piano and bass over the left and right channels and adding tinny, digital reverb to a hi-hat isn't something I'd call incredible for a mix.

Smiley Smile's mixes do sound incredible, though. And the Today mixes are an incomparable improvement over the mono.
Too bad absolutely nobody knows these exist, so it'll take like a year for them to show up anywhere.

[EgoHanger1966]

Of course the preview for In the Parkin' Lot cuts out just before the outro   I'm interested to see what they have done with those found SD2 multis!

Just listened to Don't Worry Baby and they've gone the pre-2008 panned vocal route. If that's not the remixed version, I seriously doubt any of the other stuff they found on that tape will be hitting SD2

I would think they used the new stereo version of Why Do Fools Fall In Love from the found tapes.

I think they are only remixing when there was no stereo to begin with. I agree with that (in the context of these reissues).

[Wirestone]

I can't understand how capitol felt there was enough demand to release the US singles boxset, but not enough to release at least the capitol albums in a nice boxed collection.

It was a failed experiment.

The box didn't sell, and the planned second set (for the second half of the Capitol singles) was not released.

[PhilCohen]

I can't understand how capitol felt there was enough demand to release the US singles boxset, but not enough to release at least the capitol albums in a nice boxed collection.

It was a failed experiment.

The box didn't sell, and the planned second set (for the second half of the Capitol singles) was not released.

I bought the singles box, but like many people who bought it, I compiled it into a 2-CDR set, simply to make it more convenient to play it. Coincidentally, Capitol compiled the exact same 2-disc set(the same running order as my homemade set) for distribution as a promotional item. The iTunes database recognizes my homemade set, since it is musically identical to Capitol's promo set.

[sea of tunes]

I can't understand how capitol felt there was enough demand to release the US singles boxset, but not enough to release at least the capitol albums in a nice boxed collection.

It was a failed experiment.

The box didn't sell, and the planned second set (for the second half of the Capitol singles) was not released.

That's a shame too... I really like that box.  I was always puzzled by the fact that they did not put "The Little Girl I Once Knew" and "Barbara Ann" in.  I suppose that is where Box #2 was going to pick up.

[TV Forces]

Procede with caution when buying Japanese Beach Boys CD's on Ebay, because most of these CD's are NOT the 2012 stereo + mono editions. While some actual 2012 Japan CD's were on Ebay yesterday(July 25th), my search on Ebay today showed no actual 2012 Japan discs.

All 12 are there.  When you click on it and scroll to the details, it mentions 2012 and mono+stereo.
The guy I bought it from has a 100% positive rating.  If for some reason he lied, I'll send it back.

[Wirestone]

I can't understand how capitol felt there was enough demand to release the US singles boxset, but not enough to release at least the capitol albums in a nice boxed collection.

It was a failed experiment.

The box didn't sell, and the planned second set (for the second half of the Capitol singles) was not released.

That's a shame too... I really like that box.  I was always puzzled by the fact that they did not put "The Little Girl I Once Knew" and "Barbara Ann" in.  I suppose that is where Box #2 was going to pick up.

Yep. They split it right in half of the Capitol years singles releases -- which clearly suggests they started with a two-box plan.

My problem with the box was that, as nice as it looked on first glance, it was rather shoddily put together. Mine started falling apart the day after I brought it home.

I guess i should point out, incidentally, that I would so love to have these remasters in the U.S. Actually, I'd love to have two-disc remasters for all the albums. But we have to play the hand we're given ...

[Quzi]

I think they are only remixing when there was no stereo to begin with. I agree with that (in the context of these reissues).

Why do you think that's the best option though? I can perhaps understand why someone may not want to hear anything but a Brian Wilson mono mix, but it's not like Chuck Britz was some mindblowingly awesome stereo mixer who slaved away for months to ensure each of his mixes could not be improved upon. There's wide room for improvement with some of these early stereo mixes, and since the multis are in the hands of those who can do something about it, why not just do it? If we ever want to hear the original stereo mix, we can just put on the original stereo record, there's just no need to pass up this opportunity to have superior sounding versions of some of our favourite songs imo.

[Joshilyn Hoisington]

I think they are only remixing when there was no stereo to begin with. I agree with that (in the context of these reissues).

Why do you think that's the best option though? I can perhaps understand why someone may not want to hear anything but a Brian Wilson mono mix, but it's not like Chuck Britz was some mindblowingly awesome stereo mixer who slaved away for months to ensure each of his mixes could not be improved upon. There's wide room for improvement with some of these early stereo mixes, and since the multis are in the hands of those who can do something about it, why not just do it? If we ever want to hear the original stereo mix, we can just put on the original stereo record, there's just no need to pass up this opportunity to have superior sounding versions of some of our favourite songs imo.

Indeed, there are anecdotal reports that Chuck would do some stereo mixes without bothering to monitor in stereo.

[sockittome]

The sample of Wendy has the cough.

[LetHimRun]

The sample of Wendy has the cough.

I just ran across that. I think that is great it was kept in there.

[Zach95]

I'm hoping the price goes down for the imports on amazon.com.  I have a bit of money in gift cards, so I can now purchase these, though I was saving them for the box set and dvd later this year.  Decisions decisions...

Furthermore, I can't seem to be able to find the remasters on amazon.com other than using the link posted above.  How was that link found?

[DonnyL]

I think they are only remixing when there was no stereo to begin with. I agree with that (in the context of these reissues).

Why do you think that's the best option though? I can perhaps understand why someone may not want to hear anything but a Brian Wilson mono mix, but it's not like Chuck Britz was some mindblowingly awesome stereo mixer who slaved away for months to ensure each of his mixes could not be improved upon. There's wide room for improvement with some of these early stereo mixes, and since the multis are in the hands of those who can do something about it, why not just do it? If we ever want to hear the original stereo mix, we can just put on the original stereo record, there's just no need to pass up this opportunity to have superior sounding versions of some of our favourite songs imo.

Indeed, there are anecdotal reports that Chuck would do some stereo mixes without bothering to monitor in stereo.

While I understand the appeal of the stereo mixes, there is something to be said for the purity of leaving just the original mixes out there. The new mixes always sound great, fresh, exhilarating for a period ... but I always go back to the originals ultimately. There is something quite definitive about them ... emotional punch maybe. Perhaps it's those quirky 'flaws'.