Do any of the Two-fers work as coherent albums in their own right?

[GuyOnTheBeach]

I was listening to the Sunflower/Surf's Up two-fer the other day and I thought that as a whole album (as oppose to two albums on one disk) it actually sounds pretty good, in the same respect I never liked the jarring change between other ones such as KTSA/BB85 and 15 Big Ones/Love You (while not that different stylistically, the production differences between the two jump out at me)

So I started looking at the others, some of the earlier albums are failed in this respect because of the rate the band were growing, for example, while interesting for tracking the band's progress, Little Deuce Coupe/All Summer Long isn't very coherent to me as a whole (I know it's missing Shut Down vol.2)

Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

[Jukka]

Smiley Smile / Wild Honey with bonus tracks is one epic album

Early surf album twofers work fine as well.

CATP/Holland too.

[Cabinessenceking]

I was listening to the Sunflower/Surf's Up two-fer the other day and I thought that as a whole album (as oppose to two albums on one disk) it actually sounds pretty good, in the same respect I never liked the jarring change between other ones such as KTSA/BB85 and 15 Big Ones/Love You (while not that different stylistically, the production differences between the two jump out at me)

So I started looking at the others, some of the earlier albums are failed in this respect because of the rate the band were growing, for example, while interesting for tracking the band's progress, Little Deuce Coupe/All Summer Long isn't very coherent to me as a whole (I know it's missing Shut Down vol.2)

Anyone else have any thoughts on this?

album title:
"Add Some Music To Your Day In The Life Of A Tree" ?

[guitarfool2002]

I realize there has been a cult following of sorts built around the greatness of "side 2 of 'Today'", but one of the best two-fers of them all is Today/Summer Days. The production is terrific, the studio sounds are "alive" and certain instrumental breaks and vocals just leap out of the speakers, it speaks to a certain time and mindset of Brian as producer where it felt like he was in the driver's seat and no one at least in the band would or could question him, and ultimately he was still making records a certain way that blended enough of the California mythology with the fun and appeal of the Beach Boys' image as well as a forward-thinking, reflective and personal side.

It all plays out on those two albums, though they were made some time apart, they feel like they fit together, much like the Rubber Soul/Revolver combination with the Beatles. It's tough to consider one without considering the other.

That's not to say there aren't a few clunkers and filler tracks, but the Today/Summer Days 2-fer is one of the most coherent and best of the lot.

One that should have been better would be anything paired with the "All Summer Long" album as a half...It just never worked as it was paired with Little Deuce Coupe, it just doesn't gel and feels like they just stuck two albums together because of a timeline, and you lose the impact of the incredible music on "All Summer Long" by putting it in second place. Just my 2 cents.

The Smiley Smile-Wild Honey two-fer improved both albums by combining them, while the changing sonics and mood shifts can be jarring as Smiley goes into WH, you get a more developed picture of what 1967 was for the band by combining them, especially for fans who had not previously owned single-album copies of either. Great decision, amazing bonus tracks too.

[Aegir]

Sunflower/Surf's Up is a great Part 1, Part 2, because of the great Cool Cool Water / Don't Go Near the Water transition.

[shelter]

The 1962-1964 2fers, Sunflower/Surf's Up and Carl And The Passions/Holland.

[Sheriff John Stone]

I think the 15 Big Ones/Love You two-fer works well. I love the way "Just Once In My Life" goes right into "Let Us Go On This Way". Brian's and Dennis' vocals are about the same on both albums. Come to think of it so are Mike's and Carl's.

Actually, I've added "Sea Cruise" to the 15 Big Ones/Love You two-fer, sequenced it in a way that made sense, and titled it Pick Ya Up At 8. They're all songs recorded in 1976. It's one of my favorite mix CDs for the car.

[wantsomecorn]

Sunflower/Surf's Up is a great Part 1, Part 2, because of the great Cool Cool Water / Don't Go Near the Water transition.

I came into this thread to say just this. Having the two songs of similar subject matter coming right after each other, with each album's tone in place (Sunflower's enthusiasm & Surfs Up's darker, political tone) sounds really great.

Actually, I've always wondered what went through Mike's head when he was writing Don't Go Near the Water. Maybe he looked at Sunflower's sales and thought "Don't Go Near the Water, It Isn't Commercial Anymore." And then added the overdubs about Toothpaste and Soap making the ocean a bubblebath and called it a day.

I love the way "Just Once In My Life" goes right into "Let Us Go On This Way".

This too.

[sockittome]

Don't Go Near the Water right after CCW has got to be the biggest buzzkill in cd sequencing.  Which is why I'm really digging the new standalone Sunflower remaster.  After CCW dissolves into the air I have a moment to reflect on what I just heard, rather than having that jarring, twangy synth intro to DGNtW crap all over everything!

[harrisonjon]

Some of the post-1966 ones create a 'White Album' problem: too uneven to be wholly enjoyable at all times but which tracks would you dump to make one fully satisfying album? For example, it doesn't feel right that the godawful (IMHO) Student Demonstration Time is on the same CD as Our Sweet Love.

OTOH it's awesome that you can go from Add Some Music to Our Sweet Love to Til I Die to Surf's Up on one album. Dump the weaker tracks and it rivals Pet Sounds and Smile (but then who defines the 'weaker tracks', hence the White Album problem).

I think with Today/Summer Days the tracks come out in the wrong order, in that Side 2 of Today really ought to come after the upbeat stuff on the later album. It also makes more sense artistically for Side 2 of Today to then be followed sonically by Pet Sounds (omitting Party!).

[kookadams]

Some of the post-1966 ones create a 'White Album' problem: too uneven to be wholly enjoyable at all times but which tracks would you dump to make one fully satisfying album? For example, it doesn't feel right that the godawful (IMHO) Student Demonstration Time is on the same CD as Our Sweet Love.

OTOH it's awesome that you can go from Add Some Music to Our Sweet Love to Til I Die to Surf's Up on one album. Dump the weaker tracks and it rivals Pet Sounds and Smile (but then who defines the 'weaker tracks', hence the White Album problem).

I think with Today/Summer Days the tracks come out in the wrong order, in that Side 2 of Today really ought to come after the upbeat stuff on the later album. It also makes more sense artistically for Side 2 of Today to then be followed sonically by Pet Sounds (omitting Party!).

Im so glad the Beach Boys didnt do what the Beatles did with the White album, making a double studio album that is. So unnecessary. 

[rogerlancelot]

Some of the post-1966 ones create a 'White Album' problem: too uneven to be wholly enjoyable at all times but which tracks would you dump to make one fully satisfying album? For example, it doesn't feel right that the godawful (IMHO) Student Demonstration Time is on the same CD as Our Sweet Love.

OTOH it's awesome that you can go from Add Some Music to Our Sweet Love to Til I Die to Surf's Up on one album. Dump the weaker tracks and it rivals Pet Sounds and Smile (but then who defines the 'weaker tracks', hence the White Album problem).

I think with Today/Summer Days the tracks come out in the wrong order, in that Side 2 of Today really ought to come after the upbeat stuff on the later album. It also makes more sense artistically for Side 2 of Today to then be followed sonically by Pet Sounds (omitting Party!).

Im so glad the Beach Boys didnt do what the Beatles did with the White album, making a double studio album that is. So unnecessary. 

I disagree. Not only is the "White" album my favorite by the Beatles but I think it would have been awesome for the BBs to make a double album out of their 1969-1970 sessions. The only problem was: nobody would have been interested least of all Warner's. They were lucky to get an album out at all under those conditions. But still it's fun to make your own playlists and make your own BB 1970 double album. There really are a lot of songs to choose from! Now a double album from the 15BO sessions would have been painful on the other hand...

[Don Malcolm]

Personally, I don't think you can beat Beach Boys' Party/Stack'o'Tracks for the type of cohesion that seems most apt in these tumultuous times.

But only if you put it on shuffle...