Be Still is the best song no one ever talks about

[Sam_BFC]

I think the sudden burst of reverb on 'life begins' is so cool.

[Peadar 'Big Dinner' O'Driscoll]

This thread seems to have backfired on Mr Gabo 

[buddhahat]

But, agreed, Be Still is lovely and a perfect component of a near perfect album.

Do you believe you could turn it into a perfect album by omitting TM? You're not one of those are you???

I used to feel that way but I appreciate it more these days as another example of Brian's Fire songs (or at least, that's how I hear it). In this sense, TM's presence makes Friends even more of a Smile mk II (or mk III if you count Smiley Smile).

You could even argue that Diamond Head + TM is the closest Brian got to realising The Elements, although it may not have been a conscious decision on his part!

Don't forget that Child is the Father of the Man was recycled as the bridge to Little Bird.

Yes absolutely. It starts with a little prayer-like intro too!

[Mr. Cohen]

On the topic of Brian helping Dennis, I've always found the liner notes of the rereleased 20/20 curious. Brian writes:

"I have a genius for makin’ a complex piece of music seem easy. I wanted the instrumental track of 'I Can Hear Music' to be smooth and subliminal. I used acoustic guitars."

I thought Carl produced that song?

How involved was Brian with his brothers' productions early on?

[Jon Stebbins]

On the topic of Brian helping Dennis, I've always found the liner notes of the rereleased 20/20 curious. Brian writes:

"I have a genius for makin’ a complex piece of music seem easy. I wanted the instrumental track of 'I Can Hear Music' to be smooth and subliminal. I used acoustic guitars."

I thought Carl produced that song?

How involved was Brian with his brothers' productions early on?

If you're referring to the two-fer CD liner notes, don't ever rely on them to settle an argument. BW's comments are ghost-written for the most part, and there are factual errors throughout the BW credited notes as well as many errors in David Leaf's comments. Carl definitely produced I Can Hear Music, and it's probable that BW isn't on the track at all. Maybe C-man can update us on the session info.

[Jon Stebbins]

"Take that simple path and...love will set you free." Now that's a spiritual moment. Thanks to Gabo for bringing attention to this humble yet moving song/prayer.

[halblaineisgood]

This thread is meant to be.

[pixletwin]

This thread is meant to be.

[Mr. Cohen]

Submission is a gift.

Go on.

Give it your brother.

[Disney Boy (1985)]

This thread seems to have backfired on Mr Gabo 

That's because Gabo genuinely believes that he's absolutely in the right re Dennis' songwriting and that all us fans are wrongheaded idiots. Alas, as this thread has shown that's very much not the case and it's only those who don't like or understand Dennis' music that are missing out.

[retrokid67]

This thread seems to have backfired on Mr Gabo 

That's because Gabo genuinely believes that he's absolutely in the right re Dennis' songwriting and that all us fans are wrongheaded idiots. Alas, as this thread has shown that's very much not the case and it's only those who don't like or understand Dennis' music that are missing out.

exactly 

[bluesno1fann]

This thread seems to have backfired on Mr Gabo 

That's because Gabo genuinely believes that he's absolutely in the right re Dennis' songwriting and that all us fans are wrongheaded idiots. Alas, as this thread has shown that's very much not the case and it's only those who don't like or understand Dennis' music that are missing out.

exactly 

Seconded!

[Gabo]

High fives all around. Should I make a Make It Good thread, now? Another unfairly maligned track?

[bluesno1fann]

High fives all around. Should I make a Make It Good thread, now? Another unfairly maligned track?

Go ahead if you wish. It's not one of Dennis's better songs, but it has it's redeemable features.

[Jon Stebbins]

Should I make a Make It Good thread, now? Another unfairly maligned track?

Make It Good...yes. Good suggestion. An extremely non-Beach Boys style track on a Beach Boys LP. Very left field... really it's avant grade, or as i have written previously...it's not a song...it's a dreamscape. The fact that this completely abstract vision was allowed on So Tough is testament to the Jack Rieley regime. Progress, explore, take chances. I love it.

[alf wiedersehen]

Should I make a Make It Good thread, now? Another unfairly maligned track?

Make It Good...yes. Good suggestion. An extremely non-Beach Boys style track on a Beach Boys LP. Very left field... really it's avant grade, or as i have written previously...it's not a song...it's a dreamscape. The fact that this completely abstract vision was allowed on So Tough is testament to the Jack Rieley regime. Progress, explore, take chances. I love it.

I actually like it, too. I appreciate when people branch out and experiment, and that's just what Dennis does here.
It's very different and would probably be a bit more digestible if the length was cut down a bit.

[bluesno1fann]

Should I make a Make It Good thread, now? Another unfairly maligned track?

Make It Good...yes. Good suggestion. An extremely non-Beach Boys style track on a Beach Boys LP. Very left field... really it's avant grade, or as i have written previously...it's not a song...it's a dreamscape. The fact that this completely abstract vision was allowed on So Tough is testament to the Jack Rieley regime. Progress, explore, take chances. I love it.

I actually like it, too. I appreciate when people branch out and experiment, and that's just what Dennis does here.
It's very different and would probably be a bit more digestible if the length was cut down a bit.

It's already the shortest song off CATP 

[retrokid67]

Should I make a Make It Good thread, now? Another unfairly maligned track?

Make It Good...yes. Good suggestion. An extremely non-Beach Boys style track on a Beach Boys LP. Very left field... really it's avant grade, or as i have written previously...it's not a song...it's a dreamscape. The fact that this completely abstract vision was allowed on So Tough is testament to the Jack Rieley regime. Progress, explore, take chances. I love it.

I actually like it, too. I appreciate when people branch out and experiment, and that's just what Dennis does here.
It's very different and would probably be a bit more digestible if the length was cut down a bit.

I agree with you both.  I usually don't listen to the slower songs all the way through unless I'm in the mood for it.  this one is another one like that but I really like the arrangement and "dreamscape" is probably the best way to describe it

[Mike's Beard]

High fives all around. Should I make a Make It Good thread, now? Another unfairly maligned track?

The only real stinker Dennis ever wrote IMO.

[rogerlancelot]

"Make It Good" is a masterpiece. Dennis never wrote a stinker musically that I've ever heard. Just like most (but not all) Beach Boys material, I don't pay much mind to the lyrics and hear the voices as instruments. The music that Dennis has written that is out there (legit or not) has always seemed inspired to me. He is one of those artists where you either "get it" or not. I would say that "Are You Real?" is my favorite song by Dennis and features some stellar piano work from him.

[bringahorseinhere?]

personally, I think one of his best tunes is 'only with you'.....

the version on the 'POB' reissue is the best, on the same level...

how can you go past Carl's live version that is on MIC boxset?

RickB

[bluesno1fann]

"Make It Good" is a masterpiece. Dennis never wrote a stinker musically that I've ever heard. Just like most (but not all) Beach Boys material, I don't pay much mind to the lyrics and hear the voices as instruments. The music that Dennis has written that is out there (legit or not) has always seemed inspired to me. He is one of those artists where you either "get it" or not. I would say that "Are You Real?" is my favorite song by Dennis and features some stellar piano work from him.

Agreed. I guess Gabo doesn't "get it" 

[Disney Boy (1985)]

High fives all around. Should I make a Make It Good thread, now? Another unfairly maligned track?

Go for it! Make It Good is a lovely piece. It's original, musically daring, utterly unique and features a beautiful Dragon arrangement. Thanks for completely proving my point, Gabo!  

[Ron]

Little Bird is so great, in so many ways.  Be Still is o.k. but Little Bird just has genius dripped all over it.  The Cellos, wow.  It's like something out of Fantasia.  Brian's falsetto 'Nah Nah's" in the background.

Something like that is so easily taken for granted.  We've heard Brian do that dozens of times on dozens of songs, but it's so creative and beautiful, he's using his voice completely as an instrument because the inspiration hit him.  Little touches like that put songs like Little Bird on another level.

The way the rhythm of the vocals changes at the end, who thought that up?  

That period of their music has creative genius like that all over everything though, it's just an example of how Brian and the others had completely moved into their own little world musically.  

[Moon Dawg]

High fives all around. Should I make a Make It Good thread, now? Another unfairly maligned track?

  I love "Make It Good." One of the truly underrated progressive tracks. Is it a tone poem?

 "Be Still" would work well on SMILEY SMILE or maybe a concurrent post-Barrett Pink Floyd album.