Wouldn't It Be Nice To Live Again

[FatherOfTheMan Sr101]

Well, like I've said before about the japan remasters some people jumped for, I think that in a situation where valuables and money could be saved, little things should be "slipped"...

[runnersdialzero]

It's a compilation that's going to contain rarities, it's the single most highly sought after rarity at the moment, and even Mr.Love whom has partial control over the situation and might not care for the song (or, at least, didn't think it appropriate for a greatest hits, which you can kind of understand but still WTFd00d) can see that the song has value in terms of helping this box sell. I'd bet my eyeballs it'll be on the box set.

[Mike's Beard]

I realy hope it does make the box set this time round. I'm not too keen on waiting for a 100th anniversay set.

[FatherOfTheMan Sr101]

I'm not saying it won't... haha I'm just looking back at how many missed opportunities there were and getting nervous...

[drbeachboy]

Well, like I've said before about the japan remasters some people jumped for, I think that in a situation where valuables and money could be saved, little things should be "slipped"...

Yep, though that was a tough call. The U.S. rarely releases the same product as Japan. We got lucky that they followed through with the release here. I did bite early on and bought 3 Japanese CD's, just in case.

[Shady]

I think I'm more excited for the MIC track list than I was for TSS's one.

That's saying something..

[acedecade75]

 If the box set is finished and has been given a street date, is it safe to assume that the track listing has been finalized even if it's not public yet?  Realisticly,  how long before we can expect the track listing to go public?

[Dave Modny]

I realy hope it does make the box set this time round. I'm not too keen on waiting for a 100th anniversay set.

Let me just preface this by saying that I have zero idea as to whether or not the track will be on the box, but once again, my *gut feeling* tells me that Capitol, or the BBs for that matter aren't stupid when it comes to realizing that there's no better time, artistically or financially, to release it.

 The track has been "hyped" and touted just enough over the last few years (some of it....unplanned), with just the right amount of build-up and anticipation, that waiting too much longer to deliver may actually diminish its maximum value. As you noted, the target audience isn't getting any younger. The music market in general, in terms of physical product, may see time slipping away as well. And just like a good movie director (or writer) knows how to deliver the perfect balance of conflict and resolution within a film, so does a smart record company.

And unlike Smile, which had an almost larger-than-life and legendary existence in comparison, we're dealing with something far smaller and niche-oriented here with this particular track. And, that niche market is exactly who will be buying this box. With the recent SU remaster, that pretty much took care of that as an option. And as Capitol has already found out, solely niche-based rarities packages (Hawthorne anyone?) are really not financially viable.

That leaves us...

[Dave Modny]

I think I'm more excited for the MIC track list than I was for TSS's one.

That's saying something..

Preach it. With Smile, give or take a few tasty surprises, I think we pretty much knew what we would be getting. With this box, I don't think anyone quite knows what jewels await us.

And, as I said a few years ago on another board, in terms of WIBNTLA, I wanted that track more than ANY Smile-related track. This is the "big one" for me. The "die-a-happy man" kind of track. Hopefully, a musical dream will come true.

[Don Malcolm]

Dave, that sounds like an eminently reasonable sequence. When we finally get WIBNTLA (and I will echo all the optimism here) one of the first things I'll do is to try out your suggestion!

[Dave Modny]

Dave, that sounds like an eminently reasonable sequence. When we finally get WIBNTLA (and I will echo all the optimism here) one of the first things I'll do is to try out your suggestion!

Let's keep our fingers crossed, Don. I don't know if we'll see it on this box, but if so (and there's that "gut feeling" again), it's sure gonna make a lot of Beach Boys fans happy!

[Jeff]

The first time I ever heard it, my reaction was, "now the SURF'S UP album makes sense."

It really sounds like the missing link on that record.  It doesn't surprise me it was pulled at more or less the last minute.

To be a fly on the wall for that discussion, and to have been able to assume human form in time to intervene in order to effect a compromise that would have gotten WIBNTLA on that album. (sigh)

I get the impression, though, that the song needed to be edited for length (given that those who've heard the tape peg its length at 7+ minutes, and the edit on beachboys_fr's acetate is around four and a half...) , and who knows how that might have entered into the dispute. Some have said that the argument was over track placement (Dennis wanting it to close the LP, and "Surf's Up" disrupting that scenario). Can't imagine that Mike was going to roll over on SDT, and it's likely that Reiley was in his corner for that, because it had "relevant" lyrics and it was the only hard-rockin' track on the entire LP.

If you use those two notions as binding constraints for the decision-making, where would WIBNTLA fit on the LP? Missing link it may very well be, but given that you're gonna have SU and SDT, where does it fit, sequence-wise?

A person could add *both* WIBNTLA and 4th Of July, without getting rid of anything, and the album would still clock in at just a hair above 40 minutes...which would have been do-able and nominal for Warner Brothers in 1971, in terms of LP cutting practices. And nothing would have to be rearranged, side-wise, to make the times work (though one could do that as well if they wanted to...more down below). Maybe not 100% ideal in terms of maximum fidelity, but again, still nominal for 1971 (both 15 BO and LA Light are also in the 40 min. range).

For me, I still would've put WIBNTLA as the closer for Side 1...right *after* SDT. I can imagine it having a sort of side finality to it  -- especially with CL's flute trailing off -- but NOT as the closer to the entire album. Carl was right there. SU is the epic track, in movements, and it belongs where it was. Ditto for the finality of the trailing off part of the latter (IMHO, of course).

I'd then put 4th Of July on Side 2, right after LAT. Roughly 20 minutes per side (or actually 21 and 19). You could even swap out "Feet" and LAT if you wanted to make those sides a little closer, time-wise (i.e. more like 20-20). Ultimately, 6 tracks per side.


PS - Andrew, I'm assuming "Feet," being in the can, was the other replacement song once Denny pulled his two? I think I've read that before, correct?


EDIT: Also, this is of course assuming WIBNTLA being the 4 + minute mix.

We all can change the albums around however we want, assuming we have the tracks available.  But there's just nothing indicating that all of those tracks were to be part of the album at once.  Dennis' tracks (WIBNTLA and 4th of July) went out, and Student Demonstration Time and Feet went in. 

Personally, I'd much prefer to listen to an alternate Surf's Up that includes Dennis' tracks and not SDT or Feet.  For one thing, that's at least a version of the album that might have been.  And at least as importantly, that's a really strong 10-track sequence, or will be if and when WIBNTLA is released.  Keep SDT and Feet in there, and you have something that is far, far less enjoyable, IMO.

[Dave Modny]

We all can change the albums around however we want, assuming we have the tracks available.  But there's just nothing indicating that all of those tracks were to be part of the album at once.  Dennis' tracks (WIBNTLA and 4th of July) went out, and Student Demonstration Time and Feet went in.  

Yes, of course not. We know as much as fact that all of those tracks wouldn't have been on together. In my perfect lineup, I'd probably excise one of those noted songs myself (I'll leave you to guess which one).

I'm just saying that this *could* have been released, timewise and in-full, without anyone's toes in the band being stepped-on, or retroactively having to remove the two songs that some have come to consider a real part of the album, today.

Furthermore, if someone wants to take the straight "what would've happened" approach, as you noted, it's a simple matter of substitution (and rearrangement if one also chooses). In that regard, I'd still end Side 1 with WIBNTLA.

Another option I've also seen suggested, using the straight, 2-song substitution, is to end Side 1 with 4th Of July, and put WIBNTLA on Side 2 before Brian's 3-song finale (moving The Welfare Song to Side 1, in place of the excised "Feet," as well). Though, I think I personally still slightly prefer it the other way...with WIBNTLA at the end of Side 1. Both are actually pretty do-able, as well as making sense.

[Jeff]

We all can change the albums around however we want, assuming we have the tracks available.  But there's just nothing indicating that all of those tracks were to be part of the album at once.  Dennis' tracks (WIBNTLA and 4th of July) went out, and Student Demonstration Time and Feet went in.  

Yes, of course not. We know as much as fact that all of those tracks wouldn't have been on together. In my perfect lineup, I'd probably excise one of those noted songs myself (I'll leave you to guess which one).

I'm just saying that this *could* have been released, timewise and in-full, without anyone's toes in the band being stepped-on, or retroactively having to remove the two songs that some have come to consider a real part of the album, today.

Furthermore, if someone wants to take the straight "what would've happened" approach, as you noted, it's a simple matter of substitution (and rearrangement if one also chooses). In that regard, I'd still end Side 1 with WIBNTLA.

Another option I've also seen suggested, using the straight, 2-song substitution, is to end Side 1 with 4th Of July, and put WIBNTLA on Side 2 before Brian's 3-song finale (moving The Welfare Song to Side 1, in place of the excised "Feet," as well). Though, I think I personally still slightly prefer it the other way...with WIBNTLA at the end of Side 1.

There was a thread last year in which someone said that he had sources stating that 4th of July would have opened the album, followed by Road, Disney Girls, Water and the title track.  Side 2 would have been the same as released, except with WIBNTLA replacing the title track.

4th of July works well as an initial track, IMO, with the fade-in and the "born of the age" opening lyric.

I think we also heard some commentary when Smile came out about Surf's Up (the song) being intended as a mid-point.

[Dave Modny]

Side 2 would have been the same as released, except with WIBNTLA replacing the title track.

Considering the debate that caused the whole stink in the first place, I think it would've been interesting to be a fly-on-the-wall during that whole Dennis-Carl scene. Truly interesting.

I also have to say, and I know it has its detractors, but I've never really disliked Take A Load Off Your Feet. I actually find it quite charming, and I think it adds a touch of lightness and quirkiness to a pretty heavy album. Though, I respect that others see it as out of place. Had it been on LY, with Brian gruffly singing it, it probably would've been considered some sort of later day masterpiece...lol. I really like the version they did with Carl singing on the box set tour.

[Dave Modny]

.

[Mikie]

I think I'm more excited for the MIC track list than I was for TSS's one.

That's saying something..

Yeah, that's really saying something.

[runnersdialzero]

I think I'm more excited for the MIC track list than I was for TSS's one.

That's saying something..

Yeah, that's really saying something.

Like "poop" and "narascalopolators,"

[Nicko1234]

There was a thread last year in which someone said that he had sources stating that 4th of July would have opened the album, followed by Road, Disney Girls, Water and the title track.  Side 2 would have been the same as released, except with WIBNTLA replacing the title track.

If that were the case then I'm not sure what earthly reason Dennis could have had for complaining...

[Mike's Beard]

I realy hope it does make the box set this time round. I'm not too keen on waiting for a 100th anniversay set.

Let me just preface this by saying that I have zero idea as to whether or not the track will be on the box, but once again, my *gut feeling* tells me that Capitol, or the BBs for that matter aren't stupid when it comes to realizing that there's no better time, artistically or financially, to release it.

 The track has been "hyped" and touted just enough over the last few years (some of it....unplanned), with just the right amount of build-up and anticipation, that waiting too much longer to deliver may actually diminish its maximum value. As you noted, the target audience isn't getting any younger. The music market in general, in terms of physical product, may see time slipping away as well. And just like a good movie director (or writer) knows how to deliver the perfect balance of conflict and resolution within a film, so does a smart record company.

Exactly. Time to sh*t or get off the pot.

[Wylson]

Side 2 would have been the same as released, except with WIBNTLA replacing the title track.

I also have to say, and I know it has its detractors, but I've never really disliked Take A Load Off Your Feet. I actually find it quite charming, and I think it adds a touch of lightness and quirkiness to a pretty heavy album. Though, I respect that others see it as out of place. Had it been on LY, with Brian gruffly singing it, it probably would've been considered some sort of later day masterpiece...lol. I really like the version they did with Carl singing on the box set tour.

Funnily enough I like "feet", but have never liked the live version with Carl singing the opening. Perhaps it's because Carl's voice was older by the time of the box set tour, but I think he lacks the light heartedness and charm on the vocal, and I don't like the way he pronounces avocado! Also that fake keyboard horn... How hard is it to bring a handheld horn!

anyway...

[Dave Modny]

Side 2 would have been the same as released, except with WIBNTLA replacing the title track.

I also have to say, and I know it has its detractors, but I've never really disliked Take A Load Off Your Feet. I actually find it quite charming, and I think it adds a touch of lightness and quirkiness to a pretty heavy album. Though, I respect that others see it as out of place. Had it been on LY, with Brian gruffly singing it, it probably would've been considered some sort of later day masterpiece...lol. I really like the version they did with Carl singing on the box set tour.

Funnily enough I like "feet", but have never liked the live version with Carl singing the opening. Perhaps it's because Carl's voice was older by the time of the box set tour, but I think he lacks the light heartedness and charm on the vocal, and I don't like the way he pronounces avocado! Also that fake keyboard horn... How hard is it to bring a handheld horn!

anyway...

Well, considering that it's a car horn on the original studio version, I suppose they could've just backed the tour bus up on to the stage...and let it blast...

Though, I have to say, what the heck is up with that weird, out-of-sync doubling effect on Brian's opening vocal? IIRC, the Landlocked b**t mix didn't feature that lovely little indulgence.

[Ziggy Stardust]

Since we're not getting the track, may someone at least please repost the link of that full cover someone did (that is not Adam)?

[SonicVolcano]

Since we're not getting the track, may someone at least please repost the link of that full cover someone did (that is not Adam)?

Seconded.

[beachboys_fr]

I guess it's to be assumed that Mr. beachboys_fr has the excellent East German "The Very Best of Beach Boys" from 1985?

It is a CD?