California Feelin'

[Jim V.]

This topic has been done to death by I just want to clarify.....how many versions of CF have been done, and when, and could whoever responds, AGD preferably.....sum up each track. I'm pretty sure I'm only in posession of a Beach Boys LA Album outtake and the obvious "Classics" version by BW and his band. Thanks everyone in advance!

[Jason]

I'm not "AGD preferably" but I'll respond anyway.

1974 version - Brian and a piano, just a demo. It sounds like Brian and a piano, or so I'm told.

1977 version - American Spring version with Rocky Pamplin on vocals. It really sounds like sh*t.

1978 version - Beach Boys version with Bruce/Carl on vocals. It really, really sounds like sh*t.

2002 version - Brian's "official" version. It really, really, REALLY sounds like sh*t.

Any questions?

[Jim V.]

Haha, thank you very much Jason....you are "preferably" fine with me.

[XY]

1974 version - Brian and a piano, just a demo. It sounds like Brian and a piano, or so I'm told.

But not a home demo - engineered by Jim Lockhart.

[Jim V.]

I'm wondering....

What was the point of the '74 demo....was it shown to the band? or Marilyn for American Spring? Or anybody? Seeing that he actually went to Western (I think) to record it, I would think that he must have felt strongly about the tune, one of his best in the 70s.

And then, seeing that he played it to that interviewer, he must have had some plans for it. Was Brian's preferred version the Spring one, with Rocky singing? I heard it was a "put on," but at the same time, why would Brian sabotage a great song of his, not even with the Beach Boys (we KNOW he would do that with the BB, haha)....Was he involved in the Beach Boys recording in 78 (?)....Is that him on the falsetto? And why did he object to including it on albums....or is that just conjecture.........AHHH so many questions.....lets try to unravel this mystery, if its of any importance to you guys.

Sorry for all the ridiculous questions.

[She Dont Know A Thing]

The Spring version sounds fine to me....

[Jim V.]

I haven't actually heard it yet........but most people seem to think it was a lapse of judgement to say the least, to have Rocky singing lead.

[MBE]

Rocky did a good job. The 1978 isn't too bad either it's just runs slow on the bootleg which makes it drag a bit. I think Brian is on it. Bruce is the one who didn't want it on L.A. I agree that the 2002 is the worst, the vocal is fine, but I don't care for the production or lyrical rewrite.

[Jim V.]

Why wouldn't Bruce want it on LA? That seems weird, it has that nice mellow vibe that either makes or breaks LA for most people and would have definately risen Brian's profile on the album. After all, he only had Good Timin and Shortenin Bread as real contributions, and I don't think hes really heard vocally at all.

I'm not so sure about that Bruce theory, but I'll take your word. Isn't it also true the band wanted to call the MIU Album "California Feeling," which I'm assuming means they recorded a version then too. Or is that just the Rocky version. How confusing.....or possibly they were gonna use the '74 version. All I know is for that album Brian didn't want it used. Any explanation?

This topic has become way more confusing to me that I originally imagined. Thanks for the help so far everyone.

[Smilin Ed H]

"lyrical rewrite."

Weren't these Kalinich's original lyrics?

[XY]

The original idea behind California Feeling was a concept, not only a song. Steve Kalinich wanted to do a movie about it. When he and Brian went into the studio together in '74, Brian picked out the lines he liked.

[Dancing Bear]

Why wouldn't Bruce want it on LA?

'Cause it would compete for space with his masterwork, "Here Comes the Night". 

I guess no one cared all that much about the song. I don't think Bruce had the powers to veto a track that, let's say, Carl wanted in the album.

PS: California Feelin' '78 sounds better speeded up. Try it!

[c-man]

A few more things to point out:

(1) there apparently is yet ANOTHER unreleased, and unbooted, version from sometime in the '70s, as Bruce told Brad Elliott in 1981 that he's on "a couple of Beach Boys versions".  I always thought that meant he was on the '74/'75 version, until it was pointed out that that one's a Brian-only demo.

(2) "MIU" WAS going to be called "California Feelin'" at one point (and "Winds Of Change" at another), but Brian insisted the song not be included (why?  dunno...maybe he wanted to save it for American Spring, who he was producing at the time)

(3) Brian WAS involved in the "Light Album" outtake version:  Eddie Roach posted a reply to my question about Brian's work at Criteria in late August/early September '78, and said that Brian first produced that version of "Calander Girl", then moved right into "California Feelin'".

(4) In a November '78 interview with David Leaf, Bruce talked about which songs would likely make it to the album, and said "California Feelin'" was "a heavy NO".  He didn't say who's decision that was, but it sounds like it was his. 

[Smilin Ed H]

Thank God Calendar Girl didn't make it onto the album!

[Andrew G. Doe]

1974 version - Brian and a piano, just a demo. It sounds like Brian and a piano, or so I'm told.

But not a home demo - engineered by Jim Lockhart.

I heard by Chuck Britz at Western.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Rocky did a good job. The 1978 isn't too bad either it's just runs slow on the bootleg which makes it drag a bit. I think Brian is on it. Bruce is the one who didn't want it on L.A. I agree that the 2002 is the worst, the vocal is fine, but I don't care for the production or lyrical rewrite.

Not a re-write - them's the original lyrics.

[Jim V.]

ok so i heard the rocky version. it sounded kind of unprofessional i thought. maybe it was just a demo? i've actually grown to quite like the beach boys LA version. it has a nice ambiance to it. the BW 2002 version.....well thats another story still.

i do think if there is another Beach Boys version its probably from MIU, or maybe Bruce was just incorrect about singing on a "few" versions.

and now that I think of it, why was "Good Timin" held all the way back for release until 1979.......it was obviously Brian's best composition since Sail On Sailor or maybe even Til I Die.

[Dancing Bear]

Rocky at least sounds like he's interested in the song. Carl sounds like he was hypnotized.

[Jim V.]

i suppose you have a point there. but then again, rocky had about as much business singing that song as any one of us. i know brians "autobiography" said it was a put-on to let him sing that.  but i wonder what the real story is. was rocky really a part of american spring?

[Dancing Bear]

A put on? That may lead to the question, is Rocky a worse lead singer than Marilyn or Diane?

[Jim V.]

another really valid question. i dont mind marilyn and dianes singing but its definately not top notch. is it just brian's attachment to his family that always made him work with them and the beach boys pretty much. or do you think that he was just easily used? because i mean hes produced things for the vail fellow, had their manager sing, produced a bunch for his wife and sister in law, rocky pamplin........but then mike had the guts to say redwood wasnt up to brians specifications (it was in an interview)......i just dont get it

sorry guys i recently had surgery and am on a bunch of meds....if i'm not making total sense i apologize.

[c-man]

was rocky really a part of american spring?

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