Out in the country

[Jim Curtis]

I’ve had a very short bootleg of this song since the mid 70s. I know there is an extended version with The Beach Boys (Bruce and Al) singing the intro then a segue into  long version with someone else’s lead.  I was surprised that any version of this song did not show up on the Feel Flows box set since it was early 70s.  Can anyone shed some light on this song.  I always liked the intro boot that I had and whoever did the long country version did a nice job.

[Lonely Summer]

I’ve had a very short bootleg of this song since the mid 70s. I know there is an extended version with The Beach Boys (Bruce and Al) singing the intro then a segue into  long version with someone else’s lead.  I was surprised that any version of this song did not show up on the Feel Flows box set since it was early 70s.  Can anyone shed some light on this song.  I always liked the intro boot that I had and whoever did the long country version did a nice job.

Before the breathing air is gone? Before the sun is just a bright spot in the nighttime?

[Bellagio 1975]

https://youtu.be/vLBEaR1BGro

[sloopjohnb72]

I’ve had a very short bootleg of this song since the mid 70s. I know there is an extended version with The Beach Boys (Bruce and Al) singing the intro then a segue into  long version with someone else’s lead.  I was surprised that any version of this song did not show up on the Feel Flows box set since it was early 70s.  Can anyone shed some light on this song.  I always liked the intro boot that I had and whoever did the long country version did a nice job.

What you've heard is a fan edit that combines two completely different recordings. The slow organ version, which has appeared on various bootlegs over the years, was recorded for the Holland album, but ultimately left off. The faster, longer version is the original recording of the song, with a lead vocal by Don Goldberg (who cowrote the song with Brian). This one was recorded for Carl & the Passions. Neither appeared on Feel Flows, as that release focused on the Sunflower - Surf's Up era.

[Jim Curtis]

I thought Bruce left after the Surfs Up album?  His vocals are on this song.  I’m not sure this was recorded during the Holland sessions?

[WillJC]

I thought Bruce left after the Surfs Up album?  His vocals are on this song.  I’m not sure this was recorded during the Holland sessions?

Bruce isn't on either version.

[Awesoman]

https://youtu.be/vLBEaR1BGro

Link is dead.

[HeyJude]

When "Out in the Country" first "surfaced" back around 1998/99/00 (somewhere in that vicinity), a lot of people thought it was Bruce on the lead. This was amplified by the track running too fast, which made it sound even more like Bruce, as well as the nebulous origins of the track (while it was generally assumed to be from the early 70s, it seemed plausible it came from "So Tough" or earlier sessions, which could have included Bruce). Also, when it first surfaced, the sound quality was kinda dicey. Once it was slowed down to the correct speed and surfaced in more acceptable quality, it was more clearly Al.

It does reinforce how much these guys could sound like each other, including the various *non-related* members. Al/Brian mix-ups are perhaps most common in this category, but I've heard just about every permutation of mix-up at one point or another, at least for fleeting moments. Even Brian and Mike could sound like each other on occasion.