Details on the new greatest hits albums and remasters

[Bean Bag]

Exactly.  I'm waiting for more info on the box before I spring for the remasters.

Something like this could happen...

[Justin]

The idea of them "reserving" the second batch just for the hardcore fans as a seperate product all together like they did with The Beatles in Mono, yes, it could happen.

[Bean Bag]

The idea of them "reserving" the second batch just for the hardcore fans as a seperate product all together like they did with The Beatles in Mono, yes, it could happen.

I didn't mean to imply that they're holding out so we double dip...but just that I want to wait.  A box like that would be ideal.

[Justin]

Well, we've all been fantasizing about such a box set for months ever since Japan announced their remasters in June.  We obviously want a box set but considering how things are trickling out here, it's becoming obvious that they have different intentions in mind on how to go about this.   It's not just a simple "put them all in a box just like The Beatles ones."  Them releasing 12 semi-random albums all individually, leaving out a portion of their catalog that actually fills in the gaps in that first batch is quite telling.  There is obviously some kind of larger plan in motion here.  We won't know for sure how it will pan out and a part of me believes that neither will Capitol!

[Catbirdman]

Only one comment: I think the artwork is great - surprised there's so much negative reaction. FWIW.

[Cabinessenceking]

I think the 50BO deal looks quite good. I can easily imagine ppl skipping the 1CD set b ecause it has only the most fundamental hits, so many might be interested in 50BO, which has a pretty good CD 2 song list. Might make the deeper stuff like IJWFTT get some real recognition. Because Pet Sounds is acclaimed, and IJWMFTT is without doubt one of the very best songs from that album. I mean...how the hell can somone write a song like IJWMFTT at the age of 24?

[egon spengler]

Looks like they used the tour setlist as a template for the 50 Big Ones box set. I see only a few box tunes they didn't play (Surf's Up, Wild Honey, Friends) and can only think of a few tour songs they left out (Prayer, Marcella, a couple others I'm not thinking of).

[Banana]

I'm not a huge fan of Rush...but last year they remastered their entire back catalog and split it into three boxed sets...all actually quite reasonably priced.  I believe (and I could be wrong) that one can also buy the new remasters individually, as well.

This is what EMI needs to do.  Yes...box them up...do it in multiple boxes if they must...but make each LP also available individually.  It teed me off that they didn't sell any of their Beatles mono remasters on their own...so I had to go and plunk down for the box after I'd already bought the stereo set.

Just to satisfy my curiosity (and excuse my technical ignorance) but how are these remasters going to sound in comparison to the original "two-fers"?  Should we expect a great improvement in sound...or is it more of a "hey, I can finally hear (fill in track name here) in stereo?" kind of deal?

[Rocky Raccoon]

I wonder if the remasters will retain the bonus tracks from the twofers.  While some are just outtakes, some are essential (the single version of Be True to Your School, Little Girl I Once Knew...)

And I bet there will be a second wave of remasters, for the next 12 major albums (Surfin' Safari, Wild Honey, Friends, 20/20, Carl and the Passions, Holland, 15 Big Ones, Love You, MIU, LA, Keepin' the Summer Alive, The Beach Boys 1985).

[Rocker]

I wonder if the remasters will retain the bonus tracks from the twofers.  While some are just outtakes, some are essential (the single version of Be True to Your School, Little Girl I Once Knew...)

I hope Surf's Up will feature bonustracks, e.g. "Wouldn't it be nice to live again".

[Shady]

Exactly.  I'm waiting for more info on the box before I spring for the remasters.

Something like this could happen...

Something like that should happen

[EgoHanger1966]

The Beatles In Mono box was a b*tch only in terms of having to buy another box. Most everything could have fit in one box with the addition of a cd or two, but all of those thoughts went away once I actually bought the (legit, not fake) mono box - it's a thing of beauty. Any band's fans should be proud if they had a box that looked and sounded like that!

[monicker]

This is all really great, exciting news, but that cover is so insulting. Capitol and capitalism will go to the grave insisting that the Beach Boys can and should be reduced to their first two years as a band, a surf group, period. It’s pathological at this point. I’ve never, ever seen anyone or anything continually belittled and boxed-in like they have over the decades. Even Christmas Harmonies has a damn surfboard. Just in case, for one brief moment, you might forget that they were/are a surf band. Also, don’t forget that in the overall scope of the group's career, Smile does not exist. Neither does Love You. Kewl.

ANYWAY, has there been any information on the Isn’t It Time single version, whether it’s newly recorded, or if it just has new overdubs/different vocals and lyrics, or if it’s just an extended mix of the album version? I'm really curious about this. 

[LetHimRun]

The Beatles In Mono box was a b*tch only in terms of having to buy another box. Most everything could have fit in one box with the addition of a cd or two, but all of those thoughts went away once I actually bought the (legit, not fake) mono box - it's a thing of beauty. Any band's fans should be proud if they had a box that looked and sounded like that!

I agree. I got the stereo box set first because it was cheaper (and had all of the albums), but later, Amazon had a fantastic price on the mono box set and I picked that up. It is absolutely amazing.

[SurfRiderHawaii]

As many predicted/suspected (AGD), about reporting my conversation with Al; he was mixing up both projects up in the conversation.

Whew, so glad we are still getting the box set; and that Phil Cohen may finally go away!

[Wirestone]

I wonder if the remasters will retain the bonus tracks from the twofers.  While some are just outtakes, some are essential (the single version of Be True to Your School, Little Girl I Once Knew...)

I hope Surf's Up will feature bonustracks, e.g. "Wouldn't it be nice to live again".

I do think this is almost certainly not going to happen.

[Wirestone]

ANYWAY, has there been any information on the Isn’t It Time single version, whether it’s newly recorded, or if it just has new overdubs/different vocals and lyrics, or if it’s just an extended mix of the album version? I'm really curious about this.  

The middle option, I believe. They made some changes to the bridge lyrics and added some harmony to Jeff's part there, and there have been live versions with extra fuzz-tone guitar.

[I. Spaceman]

This is all really great, exciting news, but that cover is so insulting. Capitol and capitalism will go to the grave insisting that the Beach Boys can and should be reduced to their first two years as a band, a surf group, period. It’s pathological at this point. I’ve never, ever seen anyone or anything continually belittled and boxed-in like they have over the decades. Even Christmas Harmonies has a damn surfboard. Just in case, for one brief moment, you might forget that they were/are a surf band. Also, don’t forget that in the overall scope of the group's career, Smile does not exist. Neither does Love You. Kewl.

ANYWAY, has there been any information on the Isn’t It Time single version, whether it’s newly recorded, or if it just has new overdubs/different vocals and lyrics, or if it’s just an extended mix of the album version? I'm really curious about this. 

Their name is The Beach Boys. Lends itself to surfboards. The idea of a band named The Beach Boys being taken too seriously is kinda funny, if you think about it.
I think surf culture and surfboards are pretty boss, myself. Being linked with them isn't a bad thing.

[MBE]

Very underwhelmed.

[The Shift]

Hmmm…

If, as folk are suggesting, the tracklist of 50BO is intended to mirror the tour setlist, albeit roughly, then maybe there's a chance that the UK audiences will get to hear Surf's Up, Friends and I Can Hear Music.

That would be nice…

Surprised that the single disc's tracklist isn't a mirror of Disc One of the 2CD version.

Chalk me up as a fan of the cover – great image, candy colours and, as it's for AGD's mate JQP, on the button.

[Shady]

Very underwhelmed.

Can't help but agree

[Doo Dah]

Can't pull a trigger on the two CD set until I know whether or not there's an overlap with the real box set. Hopefully it's not asking too much for further clarification by mid September.

I'm quite happy about the stereo Today and Summer Days. But lordy, if the other twelve are remastered, that will be the bombay. I am pining for a clean and hi-fidelity Wild Honey. That to me would be the motherlode.

[Zach95]

Very underwhelmed.

After all we've been given thus far? Just the fact that the Beach Boys catalog, albeit a good chunk of it, finally will be treated properly with individual CD releases in mono and stereo is very unexpected, in my mind.

[hypehat]

Very underwhelmed.

Can't help but agree

Couldn't give a fig about the best-ofs, but a boxset is coming and the remasters are getting an international release! That is great news

[Beach Head]

Looking closely at the tracklist for the 1-CD Greatest Hits and the 2-CD 50 Big Ones, can someone explain to me why "Be True To Your School" is on the former, but not the latter?!! It was a #6 single, for God's sake! Good enough to be one of the group's 20 greatest hits, but not one of their 50 Big Ones? It makes absolutely no sense to me.