I had a REALLY *F U N* afternoon...particularly with the Beach Boys [LIVE]

[Lee Marshall]

I have a new radio feature running called "The Old Codger's 'Double Shot' "  Rolls every day after the noon-hour news.  Song one...always a classic hit or monster lp track from some long standing act followed by something recent or new from the same artist(s) or principle individual from the preceding group.  The premise is to show the listening audience that many of their long time favourites may not be on the top 40 anymore but that they're still recording and/or performing live.  "Still making music in the 21st century."

For exanple...Eric Burdon [and Clapton], Cat Stevens/Yusuf. Steve Miller, Bonnie Raitt, Robert Plant, Brian Wilson, John Fogerty, Joe Walsh, David Clayton Thomas, Lynyrd Sknyrd, ZZ Top, Ray Davies, Heart, Neil Young, Randy Bachman...and on and on and on...etc. etc. etc.

So this afternoon I needed to expand the Beach Boys 'thing' because 1...Brian is playing in Detroit in July [5] and 2...The Beach Boys will be HERE live in August [8].  So I used 2 albums to perform my  task.  Produced intro...song 1...produced splitter...song 2.  I have more Brian Wilson work to do.  So far all I have is one produced file...Sloop John B followed by Sail Away.

Gawd!!!  Ir was fun today.  And you know what?  As GREAT as the 1973 live album most definitely is...the 2012 [released in 2013] album has been much mailigned unfairly as it holds up entirely favorably as long as you don't run new versions of songs originally sung by Carl.

By and large the playing, the singing and the harmonies are just as good as they were back in the day.  Maybe the energy level is tuned down a mini-tad...but it's not bad at all.

OK...I know that it will be a diminished version of the Beach Boys here in August but when one attends a LIVE  music event...it's easy to get caught up in the euphoria of the moment and the energy of the crowd and to enjoy the entire event without turning into a critic.

I have enough Beach Boys double shots to go with one every Monday...starting on the 25th of May...until  July 27th and then repeat them again every day at noon [following the news] until show day August 8.  Oh...and Fun Fun Fun is NOT the grand finale.  Good Vibrations [then] and I Get Around [now] is.

These Beach Boys...Given the chance...they just might have a future.

[Cabinessenceking]

The Beach Boys in Concert (1973) not only compared to, but exceeded by Live – The 50th Anniversary Tour (2013)?

Surely thou art jesting me 

[filledeplage]

The Beach Boys in Concert (1973) not only compared to, but exceeded by Live – The 50th Anniversary Tour (2013)?

Surely thou art jesting me 

Add Some - is correct, I think.  The 1973 live is far superior to the C50 CD.  (Widely debated)

Live at C50, or on YouTube is a toss up. 1973 had YSBIM and other CATP heavy tracks, and seemed an aggregate of the best of the best of that era.  On the other hand, we had both Brian and David together, for C50 and we didn't have that in 1973.

Add Some - is the program available online? Thanks!

[Lee Marshall]

Pretty sure that I didn't say the 50th anniversary show is "better' or that it exceeds '73s...only that it holds up well if programmed carefully and with IDs and SPLITTERs being used.  It's way better than it's given credit for generally.  Yes there are a few weaker moments but I don't need to use those songs.  There's more than enough really good stuff.

Filled...I wasn't looking to promote the station.  It's CKXS FM in Wallaceburg, Ontario.  But it REALLY was all about how much I enjoyed doing the recordings...spending quality time with my favourite group.  Almost 40 years later...2 KEY men down...and they still sound pretty damn good.  So the critics can take their shots but I AM IMPRESSED.  For my personal tastes?  That's all that matters.

[filledeplage]

Pretty sure that I didn't say the 50th anniversary show is "better' or that it exceeds '73s...only that it holds up well if programmed carefully and with IDs and SPLITTERs being used.  It's way better than given credit for USUALLY.  Yes there are a few weaker moments but I don't need to use those songs.  There's more than enough really good stuff.

Filled...I wasn't looking to promote the station.  It's CKXS FM in Wallaceburg, Ontario.  But it REALLY was all about how much I enjoyed doing the recordings...spending quality time with my favourite group.  Almost 40s years later...and they still sound pretty damn good.  So the critics can take their shots but I AM IMPRESSED.  For my personal tastes?  That's all that matters.

Yes, 40 years later and still spectacular! Earthy, funky and solid! 

I loved C50.  Just wish the CD captured the concerts as well as the '73 album did...

But, we now have YouTube to compensate!

[Gerry]

My only beef with 1973 In Concert was the lack of audience excitement(noise) which was mixed way down. If you were there, you know what I mean.

[Lee Marshall]

I adjusted those volumes to make them more realistic.

[Generation42]

Neat idea for a radio show.


As for the C50 live CD?  Myself?  I like the darned thing!

It is imperfect, sure.  And it will never quite live up to my memories of seeing the 'Boys perform one gorgeous evening at Darien Lake in 2012 with my Mom.

But by and large?  I thoroughly enjoy the release.  Even some of the songs originally sung by Carl ("Good Vibrations"?  Love it.).

My family and I happily spun both discs of that thing in our car every day for months (and even now, it still gets popped in the player a fair amount of time).


I'm even a fan (though less so) of the C50 live blu ray.  Enjoying the performances by the band is a lot of fun.  But it's also frustrating.

My two big gripes?   Same as everyone else's, I bet:

One, the amount of cuts to the audience.  It's not as bad as what you'll see on some concert videos, but the new Brian Wilson PBS video, for example, does a much more satisfying job of keeping the focus right where it belongs -- up there on the stage.

But like many of us, most of whatever bad feelings I have about the video comes from what isn't there.  Try as I might, it's awfully hard for me to divorce myself from the knowledge that we're only seeing about half of an average C50 set list.


Like a lot of us, I'm still holding out hope for a nice, deluxe release which offers one of a few possibilities:

- If they're into a single, uncut show, I'd love to see the Albert Hall gig.  That was kind of the ultimate Beach Boys set list, for a show in a wonderful setting.  Or, failing that, even something like the Chiba concert in Japan?  That sure looks like a video that was produced with an eye towards a widespread release.

- Or maybe they'd go the 'cherry-pick' route and compile the best selections from the whole tour?  That could be fun, too.  My only wish there would be that a version of every number performed on the tour was included.  Maybe they could narrow the focus and pick the best versions from among RAH and Wembley?  Call it, I don't know: "Live in London"?  It has a certain ring to it.