"Straight from the Studio, Something Groovy is Coming..." (New Boxed Set)

[Dan Lega]

Was checking the other forum/same thread, and someone mentioned there was a copyright dump and was wondering what in the copyright dump did not make it onto the new set.  Now I can't recall if they specifically said "this year's copyright dump," or if they were talking about a dump from a year or more ago.  So I looked through their thread titles but couldn't find anything that appeared to be about a copyright dump in the past month. 

So does anyone here know about any recent copyright dumps, or copyright dumps related to the new box set?

[Angela Jones]

I agree with Hey Jude's comments. i've bought the box set from a German source and the 3 CD set from Japan. My main gripe is nothing to do with the music industry but with the amount of VAT we have to pay on it which is down to the government!

[Rocker]

Fittingly someone uploaded this:


The Beach Boys Love You: Tour Rehearsals 1977


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa2imKj1TRo

[HeyJude]

Fittingly someone uploaded this:


The Beach Boys Love You: Tour Rehearsals 1977


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa2imKj1TRo

This is a great use of AI; to remove the narration on that rehearsal film. That footage has been around for ages, but now that someone finally used the AI audio splitter to remove that narration, the music underneath it sounds quite good. I had forgotten then had apparently rehearsed "Let Us Go On This Way" for the live show; I don't think they ever ended up performing that one.

[bossaroo]

That does make a cool blanket!  It doesn't say how big it is, though.  

measures 50"x60"
it's nicer than I thought it would be. velvety soft on top with a furry lining underneath. wish I could upload a photo

100% polyester... very 1977!!!

[Dan Lega]

So the album is still "Sold Out" on UDiscover and The Beach Boys site.  Which makes it seem that the number crunchers have made a big mistake on this one.  (Unless, they really have manufactured more already and are just holding out to make it appear that it's in much higher demand than it really is -- which I wouldn't put past them.) But let's say that they did only manufacture only enough to make it possible for them to get all their money back plus the profit they expected to make.  That means they severely underestimated the demand for this product.  And if they did underestimate the demand then that means they probably could have made their assigned profit goal by selling different configurations, i.e., a 3 CD set only and an LP set only.  I mean, I don't have any numbers, but I'm guessing only a third of the people online have been able to pre-order the set, another third are purchasing the 3CD-only set from Japan, and another third are just not going to buy it because of the American configuration of CD/LP together.  It just seems like a serious miscalculation.

And since the LP/CD set is only being sold through UDiscover and The Beach Boys site, does that mean that if you're not in the ol' USofA you have to pay extra to have it shipped to your country?  That's even more alienation of the fan base!

Now I have no inside info, but I would be willing to bet that a 3CD only compilation will come out next year (or next holiday season), and will probably be sold through the usual outfits.  With The moves Iconic/BRI have made with this set everything just seems very calculated, verging on sinister.  And with all the under-crunching of the numbers, that means they probably could have made it a 4, or even a 5 CD set and just as easily have met their goals.  And, again, I have no qualms with the price because I would have bought both CD and LP sets, or bought this Super Deluxe version if it had been an option.  But I'm just flabbergasted at the continued "Sold Out" status of the set.  Did someone forget a "zero" or forget to "carry the one" at the end of their tabulations on what it would take to make a profit on this?  And as someone else said somewhere, this is not the time you want a "Sold Out" sign on your website, because this is the time when the internet was awash with the announcement of the set, and I'm guessing they're missing some sales because there are probably folks who would have pre-ordered right away, but by the time it's back in stock they will have forgotten about it and/or moved on to purchase something else.  It just boggles my mind to try to comprehend what the powers-to-be were thinking when they came up with this strategy.  It really comes across as very cynical.  Are fans of The Beach Boys really that much different in their purchasing habits as compared to Aerosimeth and Frank Zappa and Rush and others who just released boxed sets?  I guess we could be, but I sure would like to see the numbers on how we spend compared to how other fans spend for their band.

[BJL]

So the album is still "Sold Out" on UDiscover and The Beach Boys site.  Which makes it seem that the number crunchers have made a big mistake on this one.  (Unless, they really have manufactured more already and are just holding out to make it appear that it's in much higher demand than it really is -- which I wouldn't put past them.) But let's say that they did only manufacture only enough to make it possible for them to get all their money back plus the profit they expected to make.  That means they severely underestimated the demand for this product.  And if they did underestimate the demand then that means they probably could have made their assigned profit goal by selling different configurations, i.e., a 3 CD set only and an LP set only.  I mean, I don't have any numbers, but I'm guessing only a third of the people online have been able to pre-order the set, another third are purchasing the 3CD-only set from Japan, and another third are just not going to buy it because of the American configuration of CD/LP together.  It just seems like a serious miscalculation.

And since the LP/CD set is only being sold through UDiscover and The Beach Boys site, does that mean that if you're not in the ol' USofA you have to pay extra to have it shipped to your country?  That's even more alienation of the fan base!

Now I have no inside info, but I would be willing to bet that a 3CD only compilation will come out next year (or next holiday season), and will probably be sold through the usual outfits.  With The moves Iconic/BRI have made with this set everything just seems very calculated, verging on sinister.  And with all the under-crunching of the numbers, that means they probably could have made it a 4, or even a 5 CD set and just as easily have met their goals.  And, again, I have no qualms with the price because I would have bought both CD and LP sets, or bought this Super Deluxe version if it had been an option.  But I'm just flabbergasted at the continued "Sold Out" status of the set.  Did someone forget a "zero" or forget to "carry the one" at the end of their tabulations on what it would take to make a profit on this?  And as someone else said somewhere, this is not the time you want a "Sold Out" sign on your website, because this is the time when the internet was awash with the announcement of the set, and I'm guessing they're missing some sales because there are probably folks who would have pre-ordered right away, but by the time it's back in stock they will have forgotten about it and/or moved on to purchase something else.  It just boggles my mind to try to comprehend what the powers-to-be were thinking when they came up with this strategy.  It really comes across as very cynical.  Are fans of The Beach Boys really that much different in their purchasing habits as compared to Aerosimeth and Frank Zappa and Rush and others who just released boxed sets?  I guess we could be, but I sure would like to see the numbers on how we spend compared to how other fans spend for their band.

I don't think it takes some great cynic to veto a CD only set in America in 2025. My guess (and I have zero inside info) is that there isn't any great cynicism here. Just a perfectly smart hedge. Yes, by limiting the initial print run, they risk underestimating demand and losing some sales. But they also cap their losses by limiting how many unsold sets they'll have to eat. Lose some potential upside, cap the downside. If you consider the fact that at some point, the Beach Boys obsessives involved in this set had to get approvals from non-Beach Boys obsessives on the business side, and consider also what this music *sounds* like to someone listening to it for the first time as a business proposition.... not surprising at all. I love them to death, but these are *weird* records.

[Julia]

This is a great use of AI; to remove the narration on that rehearsal film. That footage has been around for ages, but now that someone finally used the AI audio splitter to remove that narration, the music underneath it sounds quite good. I had forgotten then had apparently rehearsed "Let Us Go On This Way" for the live show; I don't think they ever ended up performing that one.

@HeyJude, are you familiar with the technology at all, since you mentioned it? I did a quick google search and found some stuff but I was wondering if you or anyone else recommended one program in particular. Just curious.

[HeyJude]

This is a great use of AI; to remove the narration on that rehearsal film. That footage has been around for ages, but now that someone finally used the AI audio splitter to remove that narration, the music underneath it sounds quite good. I had forgotten then had apparently rehearsed "Let Us Go On This Way" for the live show; I don't think they ever ended up performing that one.

@HeyJude, are you familiar with the technology at all, since you mentioned it? I did a quick google search and found some stuff but I was wondering if you or anyone else recommended one program in particular. Just curious.

Nah, there are others far more familiar with it. I've never gone beyond using some simple web-based tools to take songs and do basic splitting of like vocals, drums, guitars, etc.

There are others that stay up on the latest software and latest software updates which keep improving on the ability to separate stuff out without leaving a bunch of artifacts. That live 76/77 rehearsal footage is a great example of something that would have had far more artifacts several years ago.

Where it gets really fascinating is like what Giles Martin did with "Revolver", where they can take high-quality multi-tracks and then separate the stuff on each track. I'd love to hear James Saez go back through the 60s stuff (after they finish the 70s/80s) remix using some of that type of tech, where they can get more isolation on those dense backing tracks.

As it pertains to the BBs, the software is now also getting better at isolating individual voices within a group of voices. Someone just recently pulled apart the '67 rehearsal take of "Their Hearts Were Full of Spring" and isolated each of the guys' parts. Insanely good and fascinating.

[MyDrKnowsItKeepsMeCalm]

Someone just recently pulled apart the '67 rehearsal take of "Their Hearts Were Full of Spring" and isolated each of the guys' parts. Insanely good and fascinating.

Any chance you can provide a link? That sounds fascinating - I'd love to hear it.

[HeyJude]

Someone just recently pulled apart the '67 rehearsal take of "Their Hearts Were Full of Spring" and isolated each of the guys' parts. Insanely good and fascinating.

Any chance you can provide a link? That sounds fascinating - I'd love to hear it.

This video has a remix of the track using separated stems, and in the description section of the video is a link to the individual stems:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-yjuKhGryQ

[Julia]

This is a great use of AI; to remove the narration on that rehearsal film. That footage has been around for ages, but now that someone finally used the AI audio splitter to remove that narration, the music underneath it sounds quite good. I had forgotten then had apparently rehearsed "Let Us Go On This Way" for the live show; I don't think they ever ended up performing that one.

@HeyJude, are you familiar with the technology at all, since you mentioned it? I did a quick google search and found some stuff but I was wondering if you or anyone else recommended one program in particular. Just curious.

Nah, there are others far more familiar with it. I've never gone beyond using some simple web-based tools to take songs and do basic splitting of like vocals, drums, guitars, etc.

There are others that stay up on the latest software and latest software updates which keep improving on the ability to separate stuff out without leaving a bunch of artifacts. That live 76/77 rehearsal footage is a great example of something that would have had far more artifacts several years ago.

Where it gets really fascinating is like what Giles Martin did with "Revolver", where they can take high-quality multi-tracks and then separate the stuff on each track. I'd love to hear James Saez go back through the 60s stuff (after they finish the 70s/80s) remix using some of that type of tech, where they can get more isolation on those dense backing tracks.

As it pertains to the BBs, the software is now also getting better at isolating individual voices within a group of voices. Someone just recently pulled apart the '67 rehearsal take of "Their Hearts Were Full of Spring" and isolated each of the guys' parts. Insanely good and fascinating.

Thanks for answering. Yeah I just used the first hit on "AI splitter" and was able to achieve one of my "holy grails" of isolation I thought was impossible--the "uh-um pretty baby wont you rock with me henry" backing vox from the Wonderful 2 session! And it was completely free and no tinkering with any complex settings at all! I've always wanted to try including them in the first version of Wonderful and combine all the major elements of that song in one. I ought to be able to make a cleaner restoration of the cornucopia lyrics for Veggies in the '11 single mix in the same way. And even include the verse lyrics from Project Smile in a boxset-sourced CIFOTM to "finish" that song. (Hell, I could use AI to have Brian's voice sing those lyrics!) This tech is black magic.   

And with what you describe about isolating individual vocalists, it is even more exciting. Nothing is off the table now in terms of SMiLE mixes. So many things were a case of "yeah that'd be nice, but the raw materials just aren't there" and now if what you're saying is true I ought to be able to preserve the CIFOTM reprise without the "na na" part at the end of Surf's Up. That's awesome.

Im gonna go geek out in the corner there, excuse me.

[BJL]

Thanks for answering. Yeah I just used the first hit on "AI splitter" and was able to achieve one of my "holy grails" of isolation I thought was impossible--the "uh-um pretty baby wont you rock with me henry" backing vox from the Wonderful 2 session! And it was completely free and no tinkering with any complex settings at all! I've always wanted to try including them in the first version of Wonderful and combine all the major elements of that song in one. I ought to be able to make a cleaner restoration of the cornucopia lyrics for Veggies in the '11 single mix in the same way. And even include the verse lyrics from Project Smile in a boxset-sourced CIFOTM to "finish" that song. (Hell, I could use AI to have Brian's voice sing those lyrics!) This tech is black magic.   

And with what you describe about isolating individual vocalists, it is even more exciting. Nothing is off the table now in terms of SMiLE mixes. So many things were a case of "yeah that'd be nice, but the raw materials just aren't there" and now if what you're saying is true I ought to be able to preserve the CIFOTM reprise without the "na na" part at the end of Surf's Up. That's awesome.

Im gonna go geek out in the corner there, excuse me.

I'm with you, it's absolutely mindblowing what this technology is making possible in the world of remixing 20th-century recordings. It really does feel like black magic, and I think we haven't even scratched the surface yet of what's possible.

Very surreal for me, because listening to Beach Boys and Beatles remixes on youtube, AI feels so powerful and beautiful and full of potential, whereas over in my day job (academic writing, history, and higher education), it's just been incredibly destructive and depressing in its effects. Hard to imagine how it'll all shake out across the culture as a whole.

[Don Malcolm]

I love how this thread evolved into an optimistic, enthusiastic take on the potential of AI in what seems to be emerging under the term "deconstructed mixes", as opposed to the dug-in-heels grist-grinding over at ThNFplay, with spasms of almost bipolar behavior from the French-i-fried legal beagle beach girl and what seems to be a collective obsession to up the ante on those scandalous songs that represent...what, 0.05% of the BBs output? 

It's clear from the interviews with Howie that the corporate clique imposed a format that was not what the curators had in mind, opting instead to retain a large(r)-format product a la the last two archival releases. It seems to have been forgotten over you-know-where that alternative format arrangements were made, albeit via international sources. (The lack of a cohesive announcement for such options was clearly a faux pas, but hardly seems like a hanging offense...)

As always, the calmest voice to be found in that shooting gallery belonged to Jim Murphy (suggesting that folks consider the context in tandem with their fandom and acquire both formats), but he was but a brief respite from the return of the caviling cavalry, stoking whatever fires of grievance they could access and extend into a series of tiresome repetitions. 

And poor Jude was accused of corporate shilling and called out for "attacks" on certain (thin-skinned) users for simply giving the interview with Howie and James Saez a thumbs-up, clearly overlooking the fact that Howie was up-front about wanting a different format for the project that what was mandated. We just have to remember that a large subset of the "key players" over there are apparent graduates of that curious meditation course known as "the Mike Love school of positivity"... 

...and take note that Mike's genuine positivity will be on display at the end of CD #3 (in his near-ecstatic response to the Love You demos). I was lucky enough to hear the tape many years ago thanks to David Leaf (pre-Internet!). It's a fantastic way to close out the set!!

[Dan Lega]

I got this info over at the other board...

Capitol Music is selling the big box set, and if you use VIP20 as a discount code you'll get 20% off, making it a cool $100.  (Plus $6.00 shipping fee.)  I don't know if you need to to sign up for email ads at the bottom to be able to use the VIP20 code.  I went ahead and signed up and then used the code without checking my email.  I'm betting you can just use the code without adding your name to their mailing list.  Just go the site below to get there...

shop.capitolmusic.com/products/we-gotta-groove-the-brother-studio-years


Also, IMPORTCDS.com is selling the Japanese 3 CD set for about $40 (at least yesterday they were), with only a $2.99 fee for shipping!  (I'm quoting shipping fees for the U.S. of course.  I don't know what foreign fees would be.)

Happy hunting!

[HeyJude]

The set is also back in stock at the Beach Boys official store and at Universal's UDiscover store.

[HeyJude]

I love how this thread evolved into an optimistic, enthusiastic take on the potential of AI in what seems to be emerging under the term "deconstructed mixes", as opposed to the dug-in-heels grist-grinding over at ThNFplay, with spasms of almost bipolar behavior from the French-i-fried legal beagle beach girl and what seems to be a collective obsession to up the ante on those scandalous songs that represent...what, 0.05% of the BBs output?  

It's clear from the interviews with Howie that the corporate clique imposed a format that was not what the curators had in mind, opting instead to retain a large(r)-format product a la the last two archival releases. It seems to have been forgotten over you-know-where that alternative format arrangements were made, albeit via international sources. (The lack of a cohesive announcement for such options was clearly a faux pas, but hardly seems like a hanging offense...)

As always, the calmest voice to be found in that shooting gallery belonged to Jim Murphy (suggesting that folks consider the context in tandem with their fandom and acquire both formats), but he was but a brief respite from the return of the caviling cavalry, stoking whatever fires of grievance they could access and extend into a series of tiresome repetitions.  

And poor Jude was accused of corporate shilling and called out for "attacks" on certain (thin-skinned) users for simply giving the interview with Howie and James Saez a thumbs-up, clearly overlooking the fact that Howie was up-front about wanting a different format for the project that what was mandated. We just have to remember that a large subset of the "key players" over there are apparent graduates of that curious meditation course known as "the Mike Love school of positivity"...  

...and take note that Mike's genuine positivity will be on display at the end of CD #3 (in his near-ecstatic response to the Love You demos). I was lucky enough to hear the tape many years ago thanks to David Leaf (pre-Internet!). It's a fantastic way to close out the set!!

Howie and James have now done at least three interviews (Surf's Up podcast, the Giggens interview, and the "Beach Boys Talk" interview). They've thoughtfully discussed the set at length and have ended up answering a bunch of the questions/complaints that this small group of unhappy "fans" have had. They address how the set was composed, what the label wanted/needed, what the market would bear, why some things were left off or included, etc.

I think this small group of impossible-to-please fans should maybe stop burping out insults and complaints like they have no impulse control and no self-awareness, and if they really have questions and desire some answers, then do the minimal work (e.g. just listen to these interviews) to get answers to a bunch of their questions.

And that's not even getting into the embarrassing trainwreck of a left turn that one thread took with a few people unaware of the concept of "over-sharing" concerning their personal experiences and opinions vis-a-vis the "Hey Little Tomboy"-adjacent issues. Oy.

[Dan Lega]

I could not find the BeachBoys Talk podcast when I looked for it today on their YouTube site!  Does anyone have a link?

[HeyJude]

I could not find the BeachBoys Talk podcast when I looked for it today on their YouTube site!  Does anyone have a link?

I think there was some sort of snafu with the live stream, so it hasn't been re-posted on YouTube yet. I believe it's on their Facebook page right now.

[Dan Lega]

I saw you can now buy the regular We Gotta Groove package at Sound Of Vinyl!  It has the later March 20 release date.

ALSO... you can buy the Japanese 3CD set at Deep Discount for $48!  (Though it was cheaper at ImportCDS.com.)  Deep Discount's release date is past us already, as they list Feb. 6 as the release date.

And I forget, are we going to be able to watch the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame interview on Thursday night live?  Or perhaps recorded afterwards? 
''

[Dan Lega]

Here's a new interview with Howie Edelson, James Saez, and... Alan Boyd!


https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-beach-boys-we-gotta-groove-with-howie-edelson/id1519299517?i=1000748895241

[Rocker]

The Beach Boys - Holy Man (2025 Mix Carl Wilson Vocal / Visualizer)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsAv3swCz7M

[rab2591]

The Beach Boys - Holy Man (2025 Mix Carl Wilson Vocal / Visualizer)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsAv3swCz7M

Holy Man is the the song that makes me just shake my head at all of the opportunities that this band let slip past. That song could have been a bonafide classic. Carl, as usual sounds like an angel on this track, even though he is saying nothing he sure is saying something.

I have been listening to this set here and there today and I am overjoyed by what I hear. I guess some people are upset about the mixes on this set? I mean, we have the originals, and these 2025 mixes breathe much needed life into the 15 BO songs. I've really never understood the irritation that some have about certain modern mixes - we have the original mono, stereo, updated stereo, vocals only, alternate mixes for so many songs. Hearing some songs in an updated form that allows us to more easily hear all the layers? I'm all for it and don't understand the whining especially with this set.

Also, the Love You tracks being remastered is huge. If you compare them to the originals - the originals sound flat and dull. This set, the songs pop perfectly - the bass really hits well, the synths sound like you are standing right next to Brian as he is recording.

Oh and the vocals-only 'The Night Was So Young'

Love this band and we're so blessed at how much care and effort has gone into all of these sets.

[Dan Lega]

When I purchased my set from Capitol Records they told me it would ship on February 13.  Now this was after the other two places, UDiscover and BeachBoys.com had sold out.  So I thought, whew, I won't have to wait until for another FIVE WEEKS to get my box set!

WELL... NOW on FEB. 13... I just got an email from Capitol telling me that they would not send my box set until MARCH 27!!!  SIX WEEKS after  the launch today!!!!

I mean, yeah, I'lll still buy Beach Boys products as they roll out, but after the year-and-a-half delay of the original Pet Sounds box set, this has been the most $#&^@$!# roll-out of product!  It makes me extremely MAD!  I don't want to wait that long and have to read all the posts about the box set for SIX WEEKS until I get mine!!!

This is just flat out TOTAL INCOMPETENCE!!!  How could they possibly misjudge the amount of box sets they needed to make so that most everyone who wants one could get one???  In this day and age of instant gratification, and people talking about things online, it does your company absolutely no good if you can't get your product into the consumers hands when the product is hot!  

This whole thing just REEKS!!!

Now I have to stew for SIX G*****M MORE WEEKS until I can hear it!!!  SIX G*****M MORE WEEKS!!!

UN-F*****G-BELIEVABLE!!!

I wanted to join in on the fun of hearing and talking about the box set, but now I don't want to read anything more about it!  Because that will only make me madder!

Oh, and by the way, that email Capitol Records sent telling me the box set is delayed also made me have to tell them I still want the set, or my order WOULD BE AUTOMATICALLY CANCELLED!!!

Will someone please tell me why ICONIC spent so much for The Beach Boys' Catalog if this piddling, middling, fiddling box set and roll out is all they are gonna do???  How in the world do they expect to make back all the money they spent on buying the catalog?  Put the box set out in a timely fashion!  Don't give people the chance to easily cancel their pre-order when you can't fulfill that pre-order!  Put out different configurations of the box, such as CD only, LP only, and how about a super deluxe edition that has more than 3 CD's worth of material from 3 album projects?!  How about a 6, or 9, or 12 CD box set!?!  You could sell that for a pretty penny!  So many other bands are doing it!  Why is ICONIC just sitting on this material that's in the vault and not trying to sell as much as they can?!  Do they think there will be even more people in 10 or 20 or 30 years who want to buy this kind of product than there are now?!  

And if music companies are not making any money from streaming services, then get the product OUT THERE IN PHYSICAL FORM for people to pay you a proper amount for it!!!

I listened to the Jokerman Podcast with Howie, Jamie, and Alan Boyd, the other night and I was super-pumped to get the box set!!!  NOW I HAVE TO WAIT A MONTH AND A HALF BEFORE I HEAR IT!!!

Please, ICONIC, if you don't want to make money off your investment, then SELL it to someone who does!!!!

SIGNING OFF NOW -- I don't want to come back here, I don't want to read anything, or hear anything about the box set until I have it myself!!!

SIGNED -- A loyal, but UTTERLY DISGUSTED FAN!  No "Love and merci" to you, Iconic!


PS -- Yeah, yeah, I could just streem it now.  Except, I don't stream music.  That's not how I roll.  Even if I bought the QUBOZ extra fidelity downloads, I couldn't play them through any of my speakers, all I could do is listen to them through my computer's speakers, or on tiny little wired earplugs.  Doesn't do it for me.  Besides, I want the book and sessionography to read and enjoy when I listen to it the first few times.

PSS -- My friend, in the same boat as me, says the box set should be re-named, "We Gotta Wait!"

[HeyJude]

I get the frustration with wanting the set ASAP.

But really, I would strongly recommend buying a digital download or streaming in the meantime. The set is that good, it's worth it. And then you'll still have all the swag once it arrives in the mail.

I long ago realized relying on getting physical product day-and-date was a losing proposition. Brick and mortar options for buying archival releases went away probably a decade ago (and was spotty even then; I remember trying to buy McCartney archive sets at Best Buy and getting the runaround).

I support all the physical product, but I always rip releases to my IPod Classic and end up doing a lot of my listening that way. And I often end up downloading releases before the physical product even gets to me.