The Beach Boys Wild Honey(Sunshine Tomorrow) 2CD Set?

[Emdeeh]

Sigh, another reviewer who buys into the mythology:

REVIEW | WHY THE BEACH BOYS LATEST RELEASE IS SUPER APPROPRIATE
MUSIC | The sentiments of the 1960s don't differ much from what the kids need and want to hear today
7/5/17
By Rachel A.G. Gilman

https://www.popdust.com/the-beach-boys-release-2453398705.html

[JK]

It looks like someone is updating the setlist as the show continues here:

http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/brian-wilson/2017/tivolivredenburg-grote-zaal-utrecht-netherlands-63e42a9f.html

Looks kind of garbled in terms of order, unless all of a sudden they've shifted Blondie's songs to the middle of the first set.

Interesting to see that so far everything has been described as "The Beach Boys Song" except "Aren't You Glad", which if you click on it is a Brian Wilson song that has only ever been played live once----today.

[HeyJude]

It looks like someone is updating the setlist as the show continues here:

http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/brian-wilson/2017/tivolivredenburg-grote-zaal-utrecht-netherlands-63e42a9f.html

Looks kind of garbled in terms of order, unless all of a sudden they've shifted Blondie's songs to the middle of the first set.

Interesting to see that so far everything has been described as "The Beach Boys Song" except "Aren't You Glad", which if you click on it is a Brian Wilson song that has only ever been played live once----today.

That's just a tick of the way that setlist.fm website works. It ties each song listing to a master song listing, which is ID'ed based on the song's original artist. Thus, Brian's shows are weirdly shown as 99% cover versions while Mike's shows are mostly original, since his licensed band carries the original band's name.

"Aren't You Glad" isn't cataloged as a BB song likely because the person who entered it didn't enter that part of the information (probably because they copied and pasted entries from previous recent setlists; and "Aren't You Glad" wasn't in any recent setlists).

[JK]

It looks like someone is updating the setlist as the show continues here:

http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/brian-wilson/2017/tivolivredenburg-grote-zaal-utrecht-netherlands-63e42a9f.html

Looks kind of garbled in terms of order, unless all of a sudden they've shifted Blondie's songs to the middle of the first set.

Interesting to see that so far everything has been described as "The Beach Boys Song" except "Aren't You Glad", which if you click on it is a Brian Wilson song that has only ever been played live once----today.

That's just a tick of the way that setlist.fm website works. It ties each song listing to a master song listing, which is ID'ed based on the song's original artist. Thus, Brian's shows are weirdly shown as 99% cover versions while Mike's shows are mostly original, since his licensed band carries the original band's name.

"Aren't You Glad" isn't cataloged as a BB song likely because the person who entered it didn't enter that part of the information (probably because they copied and pasted entries from previous recent setlists; and "Aren't You Glad" wasn't in any recent setlists).

Thanks, HJ. It's a strange world we live in, to be sure.

[HeyJude]

Sigh, another reviewer who buys into the mythology:

REVIEW | WHY THE BEACH BOYS LATEST RELEASE IS SUPER APPROPRIATE
MUSIC | The sentiments of the 1960s don't differ much from what the kids need and want to hear today
7/5/17
By Rachel A.G. Gilman

https://www.popdust.com/the-beach-boys-release-2453398705.html

Geez, the Marinucci review was too brief and amateur, while this one is full of bloviations and filler.

Listing Bruce Johnston as a "influence" for this era, even though he isn't on SS and hardly writes anything on the entire set? Bruce was on WH and did a good job, no question. But this reviewer seems sketchy on the band's history.

They also wrongly characterize the stereo mix as an "original" mix only newly "remastered", when in fact it's a brand new remix.

If you can't differentiate between remix and remaster, then don't write reviews of archival music releases.

I'm glad young folks are listening to this set and young folks are reviewing it, but sheesh man. I guess the review is still positive? Does she really think nobody buys CDs anymore?

Was this written for a high school report?

[GuyO]

It looks like someone is updating the setlist as the show continues here:

http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/brian-wilson/2017/tivolivredenburg-grote-zaal-utrecht-netherlands-63e42a9f.html

Looks kind of garbled in terms of order, unless all of a sudden they've shifted Blondie's songs to the middle of the first set.

That would be me :-). My phone batteries were running low so only had time to add titles quickly. Someone else added the "Beach Boys song" tag. I have completed the setlist now.

Yes, I have video. https://youtu.be/rRe5Ys-fMDg

[William Bowe]

So are we going to get something similar next year covering 1968? Presumably something less interesting than ST if so, since Friends is already in stereo and the seam of unreleased material has, I assume, been mined out by now (unless you're excited by live recordings, which I'm not). Am I missing something though? A bunch of Ol' Man River recordings, maybe? Anything else?

[HeyJude]

It looks like someone is updating the setlist as the show continues here:

http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/brian-wilson/2017/tivolivredenburg-grote-zaal-utrecht-netherlands-63e42a9f.html

Looks kind of garbled in terms of order, unless all of a sudden they've shifted Blondie's songs to the middle of the first set.

That would be me :-). My phone batteries were running low so only had time to add titles quickly. Someone else added the "Beach Boys song" tag. I have completed the setlist now.

Yes, I have video. https://youtu.be/rRe5Ys-fMDg

Awesome! Major thanks for the setlist and video contributions!

[HeyJude]

So are we going to get something similar next year covering 1968? Presumably something less interesting than ST if so, since Friends is already in stereo and the seam of unreleased material has, I assume, been mined out by now (unless you're excited by live recordings, which I'm not). Am I missing something though? A bunch of Ol' Man River recordings, maybe? Anything else?

I think of course at this stage not much else is known. While I certainly don't mind if "copyright extension" is an impetus for putting more unreleased material out, I hope that very soon here we'll see some signs that a major ongoing archival program will have much more breadth than that. That is, let's hope a release of key early-mid 70s tracks doesn't have to wait until 2020 or later.

If there is a need for some background "copyright extension" releases, that's cool. But I'm hoping they will now be able to start strategizing for what are the *best* boxed set and individual release concepts, regardless of era or copyright extension timing. Something like key boxed sets for "Sunflower" and "Surf's Up", etc., and/or something themed to the Sunflower-through-Holland era, and/or a *loosely-themed* "Bedroom Tapes" compilation of Brian's best demo/studio material, and then also something that explores the mid-late 70s through early-mid 80s. Multi-disc reissues of the "Brother Years" albums with full discs of outtakes for each album would be nice of course.

Then, either in conjunction with this or all on its own, an online/download program for live shows and whatnot.

But anyway, the main point is that fans and the band are getting too old to wait for 2023 for "Holland" outtakes, etc. Hopefully BRI will have the luxury of throwing 50-year-copyright-extension timing out the door and strategize the best releases that will help the brand/trademark and that fans will dig.

[Wrightfan]

So are we going to get something similar next year covering 1968? Presumably something less interesting than ST if so, since Friends is already in stereo and the seam of unreleased material has, I assume, been mined out by now (unless you're excited by live recordings, which I'm not). Am I missing something though? A bunch of Ol' Man River recordings, maybe? Anything else?

I think there's enough stuff. Let me have a go at it based on what we know exists:

1968: A brand new morning

Friends remixed:
1. Meant For You
2. Friends
3. Wake the World
4. Be Here in the Mornin
5. When a Man Needs a Woman
6. Passing By
7. Anna Lee, the Healer
8. Little Bird
9. Be Still
10. Busy Doin' Nothin
11. Diamond Head
12. Transcendental Meditation
Bonus tracks
13. All I wanna Do (early version)
14. You're as Cool as can Be
15. Friends (Session Highlights)
16. Busy Doin' Nothin (early version)
17. Walkin (Friends version)
18. Busy Doin' Nothin (Session Highlights)
19. Little Bird (Session Highlights)
20. My Little Red Book
21. Passing By (70's version)
22. Wake the World (70's version)
23. Be Still (70's version)
24. Friends (70's version)
25. Transcendental Meditiation (early version)
26. Ol' Man River (Session Highlights)
27. Can't Wait Too Long (Session Highlights)
28. Walk on By (Alternate version)
29. A Time to Live in Dreams (Session Highlights)
30. Our Happy Home
31. Transcendental Meditation (Live New Rochelle 1968)
32. Friends (Live Memphis 1968)
33. Little Bird (Live Chicago 1968)
34. Wake the World (Live San Diego 1968)

Live selections based on SetlistFM

[Da Doo Ron Ron]

Will a full Live in Hawaii from August 1967 ever be released? They released a few tracks from their set on this CD but there are more.

[Rocker]

Will a full Live in Hawaii from August 1967 ever be released? They released a few tracks from their set on this CD but there are more. Something like this - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1a5E9J32jk

I have a feeling that we might get them and the other'67 shows as copyright releases at the end of the year. I think the same was done with the Michigan recordings that showed up on the new Pet Sounds box and then later as such a download only release

[urbanite]

The Rachel Gilman review in Pop Dust says that race riots were breaking out across the country in 1967, that was 1968, when ML King was killed in April of 1968.

Here Comes the Night is the best track from Sunshine tomorrow.  I Was Made To Love Her would have been a better song without the "you son of a bitch" vocal repeated in the background, it's grating to hear it.

[Steve Latshaw]

<Friends remixed:>

Do we really need a remixed Friends?  It was produced in stereo and, in my view, is a beautifully mixed album...the beginning of the lush stereo sound continued through 20/20, Sunflower and Surf's Up.

[Chocolate Shake Man]

The Rachel Gilman review in Pop Dust says that race riots were breaking out across the country in 1967, that was 1968

Actually, even earlier than 1967 but 1967 is as good a focal point as any:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watts_riots

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hough_riots

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1967_Newark_riots

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1967_Plainfield_riots

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1967_Detroit_riot

http://www.mnopedia.org/event/civil-unrest-plymouth-avenue-minneapolis-1967

[HeyJude]

<Friends remixed:>

Do we really need a remixed Friends?  It was produced in stereo and, in my view, is a beautifully mixed album...the beginning of the lush stereo sound continued through 20/20, Sunflower and Surf's Up.

It certainly isn't needed. I'm sure a stereo remix could sound good and interesting, especially if Mark Linett continues the dry remixing ethos used for "Wild Honey."

But yeah, I'd certainly prefer the focus to shift to themed collections of outtakes, as they've pretty much run through everything that *needs* a first-time remix. If they did a 2-disc 68/69 set and threw in a "Friends" stereo remix, I certainly wouldn't complain though. It's probably a bit in vogue right now to take these older albums and remix them in part for the younger, hipster crowd. Many have argued "Sgt. Pepper" didn't need the stereo remix it got this year either, but it certainly allows for an uptick in visibility and attention to a given album. And the Pepper remix was quite good as well, certainly as simply an alternate way to hear it.

And that's the rub too, these remixes don't replace the originals. Some later era remixes in the BB catalog have sounded quite good (e.g. "It's a Beautiful Day" on MIC). I wouldn't mind hearing "Sunflower" remixed as an alternate way to hear it. I've always wanted a dry mix of "All I Wanna Do" as an alternate way to hear that song, for instance.

But really, what I think maybe makes sense next is boxed sets (a la the Pepper set from this year) for "Sunflower" and "Surf's Up" (and possibly So Tough and Holland as well), where we could get the original mixes, a remix, and several discs of outtakes.

I'm obviously just spitballing all kinds of stuff here, but I think while the main idea is to get in bulk as many *previously unreleased* tracks as possible at this stage, if they are to do more elaborate physical CD boxed set sort of packages, some remixes of later-era stuff might be a good centerpiece for some themed collections.

[Silken]

Sigh, another reviewer who buys into the mythology:

REVIEW | WHY THE BEACH BOYS LATEST RELEASE IS SUPER APPROPRIATE
MUSIC | The sentiments of the 1960s don't differ much from what the kids need and want to hear today
7/5/17
By Rachel A.G. Gilman

https://www.popdust.com/the-beach-boys-release-2453398705.html

""God Only Knows" turns heart wrenching and weak, Brian Wilson's voice uttering out the words as if he's in a trance."

[Emdeeh]

""God Only Knows" turns heart wrenching and weak, Brian Wilson's voice uttering out the words as if he's in a trance."

Yeah -- talk about factual errors! That's a huge one.

In the meantime, I've found another review, this time by someone who "gets" it:

http://www.heraldstandard.com/entertainment/music/clints_music_review/music-review-the-beach-boys---sunshine-tomorrow/article_83fd5f8a-671b-575f-9786-4e528d6028ba.html

And an interview with Alan Boyd:

http://www.cbc.ca/radio/q/thursday-july-6-2017-whitehorse-roxane-gay-and-more-1.4190700/how-a-beach-boys-fan-ended-up-being-a-guardian-of-their-legacy-1.4190714

[Ed Roach]

The Rachel Gilman review in Pop Dust says that race riots were breaking out across the country in 1967, that was 1968, when ML King was killed in April of 1968.

Summer of '67 was most definitely the start of the race riots.  Had my first Keraoucian cross country trip that summer, and ran into many riots

[Emdeeh]

Another review, this time with insight:

A BRILLIANT NEW COMPILATION CAPTURES THE BEACH BOYS' MOST PIVOTAL YEAR
By Tim Sommer
Friday, July 7, 2017

http://www.laweekly.com/music/new-beach-boys-compilation-1967-sunshine-tomorrow-features-a-wild-honey-stereo-mix-and-more-8404851

[Justin]

I'm sorry if this has been covered but would anyone know who is in the room with Brian as he is tracking "Darlin?"  He starts solo then bass and drums eventually join.  He refers to Carl at one point...which instrument, if at all, is he playing?

[Ian]

I should point out that a few of those live rarities from 1968 that you said could be on a 1968-69 release may not exist. The set list fm site got some of their info from the data I compiled for my book. I related in the book that a reviewer of the 1968 new Rochelle show mentions them playing transcendental meditation but there is no evidence that the show was taped. Desper told me that the group regularly taped shows in that period to listen to and learn from but that they often taped over them the next night.  Boyd told me that they had tapes from November 67 and July-August 1968 of a few select shows that happened to get preserved but the vaults do not have tapes of every bb show from those years. I don't know that any tapes exist from the April 68 tour with buffalo Springfield or the may 68 Maharishi tour

[Tony S]

A bit late to the party as I was traveling on vacation when the release came out last week. Listening to the stereo version of WH right now, almost through the first section....just tremendous. Sounds like a completely different CD than the muddy original version. Hope they do this with all of the back catalogue!!! LOVE IT!!!

[Seagull Merlin]

I'm sorry if this has been covered but would anyone know who is in the room with Brian as he is tracking "Darlin?"  He starts solo then bass and drums eventually join.  He refers to Carl at one point...which instrument, if at all, is he playing?

If I remember correctly (and I may not so bear with me) Carl plays the drums on the original run through of Darlin and Hal Blaine plays them on the final recording mixed over top of or completely replacing Carl's drum track. If anyone knows more information then me please fill in the blanks haha

[Pablo.]

While part of me wants to listen the music in mono, as nature (ie. Brian) intended, this Wild Honey stereo remix is subtle, tasteful, well, terrific. Since Friends was released in stereo, I think a remix for a tentative 1968 set is unlikely, unless they choose to go the Sgt Pepper way.

By the way (sorry if this has already been discussed)... the alternate version of "Time to get alone" spotlight in its brass and string arrangement a melody (you can hear part of it on the background of the originally released version) which predates the melody of the verses of Simon & Garfunkel's "America". Anyone else hears this?

And the tracking sessions (not included on the SOT set) are a treat. The way the right hand of the piano in "Aren't you glad" sounds almost like a banjo due to all the echo applied to it, or the guitars in "A thing or two" (the one playing the chords -prominent on the mono mix- and another playing a countermelody), or Brian in control of pretty much of the sessions... more evidence to debunk the myth of Brian gaving up after Smile.