WARMTH OF THE SUN - first impressions

[PS]

The stereo mixes are simply spectacular. Much like the PET SOUNDS stereo mixes, it’s as if someone let the music out of the house and into the very air. Once again, it’s the spatial separation that allows the background vocals, the doubled leads, and the palpably comprehensible harmonies to breathe - and new details seem to emerge everywhere. LET HIM RUN WILD, in particular, is so thrilling - you can hear little metallic percussive hits and vibe notes that were fogged or buried in the central mass of the mono mix (e.g., the instrumental doubling - guitar? - of Mike’s “waited for you, girl” at the end of the chorus is much more evident now on the right channel) - and yet the overall mix is even more punchy and more dramatic than ever before. Brian's soaring tops to the backgrounds are sky-bound, impossible...they seem to only exist somewhere in the back of one’s head, completely out of the body. Would this song have worked on PET SOUNDS instead of being the historical bridge to it? The new mix really makes the case for me. I cannot stop listening to it.

PLEASE LET ME WONDER, as you might imagine, is the other huge thrill here, even after hearing all the variations of the (uncompressed) stereo SOT tracking and vocal sessions. What's most apparent now is just how brilliantly the instrumental tracking ideas mix with the vocals - and once again, its the background vox that really get to have their day out in the park, out in the country air…Lambert devotes a whole chapter to this great song, and its no “wonder”. My overall favorite song of the pre-Pet Sounds period has been given new life.

On YOU'RE SO GOOD TO ME, the Brian (self?) lower harmony on "AND I LOVE IT - LOVE IT" is now right out front and shining through on the left channel - as well as newly audible (for me) lower harmonies on the “la la lala” backgrounds. Again, this track is, to my ears, much more exciting taken out of the middle and now occupying the full soundstage.

The opening 12 string notes on THEN I KISSED HER (which come in from the left but slap echoes on the right) are now alive with spatial reverberation from the outset – and the track building on each round thereafter is much more acoustically (and physically) perceptible, as it  gradually fills out the stereo soundstage when the bass/pianos/drums come in. Separating Al’s doubled vocals gives him more power and presence in the mix. Less thin and tinny, it IS now, in stereo, much more of my idea of a Wall of Sound nod, oddly enough…

ALL SUMMER LONG seems to be much more purely percussive (and driving) with the mallets in full separation throughout – though truth be told, I still have little interest in this song and it has always rather annoyed me (especially Mike's lines and the solo section). Still does, albeit in stereo…

Overall impression is that ALL of the new mixes just seem so much more electric, exciting, and powerful.

And, yes, the tracking order is just plain weird.

But make no mistake – this is a new (mini) Beach Boys record, and just in time. Nothing could make me happier. You can keep your old Phil Spector buttons. I say “Back to Stereo”. Bring on WILD HONEY and (the complete) SMILEY SMILE (if only…)

PS

[Andrew G. Doe]

Question - on the Bloo, a poster states there's weather FX on the intro to "California Dreamin'", which seems to indicate they've used the wrong, 1982 version of the song. Your observations, please ?  Also, are "California" & "Cool, Cool Water" the 45 mixes, as intended ?

Those new stereo mixes sound ace.

[Shane]

My question is this:  When will the time come when they have put out so many compilation albums with  new stereo remixes here and there, that we can finally put together a complete stereo Today and Summer Days album? 

[Ebb and Flow]

I've listened to this too.  Still have my copy pre-ordered though, so off my back!

The remixes are great.  "Let Him Run Wild" is awesome.  The background harmonies on the verse are just...   "You're So Good To Me" is vastly improved for the same reason.  "Then I Kissed Her" sounds great.  And for those interested, "Wendy" is a slight remix in that it removes the infamous cough.  I can't wait for future remixes.

A few caveats: "Please Let Me Wonder" sounds like it has way too much reverb on the backing track, but it's still awesome to hear those harmonies.  "All Summer Long" is ever so slightly dissapointing in that the double tracked vocals aren't in stereo, but just put in the center.  Still great to have new mixes though. 

Mentioned in a thread a few weeks ago"Why Do Fools Fall in Love" sounds like it's the 45 version, as there's no drum beat at the beginning and a slightly audible Brian harmonizing with Mike on the intro.  Definitely not the same version from the album.

And AGD, California Dreamin' is definitely the version with weather effects.  However, I don't know about California and CCW.  What are the differences with the 45 versions?

[Andrew G. Doe]

"CCW" - 45 version is about a minute and a half shorter and starts in the 'thunderstorm' bit.

"CalSaga" - Brian pops up at the end of the 2nd & 4th lines of the first verse ("on my way-hay !") and the horns are mixed up later in the song.

[Ebb and Flow]

Ok, well, "CCW" is definitely the single mix then.  "California" sounds identical to the Holland version to me though.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Just to be sure - the leads for the verses of "CalDreamin'" go Alan-Carl-Mike, yes ?

[Ebb and Flow]

Yep.

[Rocker]

Just to be sure - the leads for the verses of "CalDreamin'" go Alan-Carl-Mike, yes ?

I never heard Mike singing lead on "Cal.Dreamin". Have to re-listen to this song, which I haven't done in a long while, but I'm sure the version that pops up on many best-ofs is Al-Carl-Al

[PS]

Confirmed on Dreamin' weather FX, Single version of Cool Cool Water, but agree that Saga is the Holland version.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Just to be sure - the leads for the verses of "CalDreamin'" go Alan-Carl-Mike, yes ?

I never heard Mike singing lead on "Cal.Dreamin". Have to re-listen to this song, which I haven't done in a long while, but I'm sure the version that pops up on many best-ofs is Al-Carl-Al

On the original, Radio Shack distributed version of "CD" (on the ROCK & ROLL CITY cassette compilation  of classic covers) Mike sang lead on the third verse. For release as a single in 1986, this version was remixed and partly re-recorded. Alan's first verse is simply cloned to replace Mike's original, and the rain FX was removed. McGuinn added 12-string too.

Edit - so much for memory. Mike sings the FIRST verse on the Radio Shack version. Duh ! Plus no harmonies towards the end of the middle-eight sax break.

[The Shift]

Those of you who've listened to the disc... is there no hidden bonus track?

(I know, I'm greedy!)

[PS]

And yes Al-Carl-Al on Dreamin' verses - wtih Mike fairly predominant (with chorus) echoing the final (repeat) verses and chorus fade.

Which version appears on the Rarities lp?

[Andrew G. Doe]

If you mean the 1983 Rarities LP - it wasn't on it.

Hmmmmmmm... this sounds like some bizarre hybrid of the two versions. Very odd.

[Andrew G. Doe]

OK, sorted - it's the 1986 revised version with the 1982 rain SFX added.  I have an idea why this happened.

[SloopJohnB]

OK, sorted - it's the 1986 revised version with the 1982 rain SFX added.  I have an idea why this happened.

Could you enlighten us?   

Oh, and by the way I like this "new" version of their cover of California Dreamin', one of my favourite post-1977 songs by the 'Boys. I liked both the "Rock And Roll City" and the "Made In USA" versions, so this one is a treat.

Nothing to add about the stereo remixes... They're worth the price of the compilation (that I'll buy as soon as it is released) alone! 

Edit: I'm not sure whether the "rain FX" is the same as the one featured on the '82 version. They don't sound similar to me, but I could be wrong (my '82 version has a not-quite-perfect sound quality).

[Andrew G. Doe]

OK, sorted - it's the 1986 revised version with the 1982 rain SFX added.  I have an idea why this happened.

Could you enlighten us?   

Um, no, because my notion was incorrect... And indeed, it's not the 1982 rain.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

I thought the Made in the USA/Best of the Brother years version had rain sfx at the beginning? Huh.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Nope.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Yep...you're right. 'Tis only  thunder, if I remember correctly (my copy of BotBY was lost a few years ago). As I've only heard the "Radio Shack" version once, and that was along time ago, I didn
t even recall there being "rain" on it.

[Andrew G. Doe]

I mean, "nope - no fx at all". They were only on the 1982 version.  Until now... 

[Smilin Ed H]

AGD - or anyone else, how much do I need this if I have the Platinum Collection, Sounds of Summer edition?

[SloopJohnB]

I have the Platinum Collection as well... Then you only need the "Warmth of The Sun" CD if you want to hear the new stereo mixes. If you're not that much interested in stereo mixes, you don't really have to buy it... 

...That said, the new stereo mixes are great. And there are alternate versions (Why Do Fools Fall In Love, California Dreamin'...) unavailable anywhere else.

[SloopJohnB]

Oh yeah, I've just noticed that the version of "Breakaway" is the "alternate version" from "Hawthorne, CA"... A deliberate choice or a mistake? 

[Smilin Ed H]

Thanks.  Probably get it anyway...