Surfs Up (Live)

[hypehat]

Hello All!

so i have a live version of Surfs Up.... not the Brian solo , but a full band one with Carl on lead and a horn section.... where does it come from? can't imagine it was a regular in the setlist.....

[juggler]

Hello All!

so i have a live version of Surfs Up.... not the Brian solo , but a full band one with Carl on lead and a horn section.... where does it come from? can't imagine it was a regular in the setlist.....

Not sure what you've got, but it was a semi-regular part of the setlist in 1971-73.  I think that there was a widely-traded recording made at Princeton University from 1971 floating around, but you might have something else.

[petsite]

If you have the one I am thinking of with Carl giving a count at the begining (a board tape) it is the version of the song that the group recorded in Baambrugge while working on the Holland LP.

[Andrew G. Doe]

If you have the one I am thinking of with Carl giving a count at the begining (a board tape) it is the version of the song that the group recorded in Baambrugge while working on the Holland LP.

That's actually the song as performed live at the legendary Grand Gala du Disque Dutch TV show, February 25th 1972. They didn't record "Surf's Up" in Baambrugge, or even re-record it.

[petsite]

Really? I have the tape from Grand Gala du Disque Dutch and this one sounds different. Brad has an entry in his book about it. I always thought is was like a reheasal recording. Thanks for the info.

[smile-holland]

Agree with AGD, Surf's Up was never re-recorded in the studio during their stay in Holland. But just prior to their temporary emigration they did play on the Grand Gala Du Disque TV-show. (H&V, Sloop JB, Surf's Up and Stud. Demonstr. Time). I see that Brad Elliott does mention it in his book (page 285), being a Holland-outtake, but I suspect this is a mix-up with the GGDD-live version, from a few months earlier.

As for the origin of the recording hypehat is talking about. Comparing the Princeton with GGDD recording: both start of with a count. Diffrecne is that their is some applauding on the Princeton-version during it's announcement and count-of (both by Carl), while on the GGDD-recording the audience is quiet (and before Carl starts counting, Dennis introduces the song).

[hypehat]

if it clears it up a little bit, it's in Project Smile (i know we're not supposed to mention such things on the board ). It's definitely not an audience recording, as the qualities pretty good (relatively speaking) . I had no idea it was performed live at all, seems like the sort of thing they'd veto as being too 'out there' for the regular crowd....

[c-man]

if it clears it up a little bit, it's in Project Smile (i know we're not supposed to mention such things on the board ). It's definitely not an audience recording, as the qualities pretty good (relatively speaking) . I had no idea it was performed live at all, seems like the sort of thing they'd veto as being too 'out there' for the regular crowd....

It was the legendary title track of their then-current LP, with much written in the contempo press about it, so of course they did it live regularly from Sept. '71 to the end of '72, with a few reprises in '73 and '74.  It even made the Wembley setlist in June '75. 

[c-man]

Agree with AGD, Surf's Up was never re-recorded in the studio during their stay in Holland. But just prior to their temporary emigration they did play on the Grand Gala Du Disque TV-show. (H&V, Sloop JB, Surf's Up and Stud. Demonstr. Time). I see that Brad Elliott does mention it in his book (page 285), being a Holland-outtake, but I suspect this is a mix-up with the GGDD-live version, from a few months earlier.

As for the origin of the recording hypehat is talking about. Comparing the Princeton with GGDD recording: both start of with a count. Diffrecne is that their is some applauding on the Princeton-version during it's announcement and count-of (both by Carl), while on the GGDD-recording the audience is quiet (and before Carl starts counting, Dennis introduces the song).

OK, SMiLE-Holland, here's an assignment for you:  talk to your current contacts over there, make some new contacts over there, whatever it takes...but find out if the Grand Gala Du Disque performance exists on archived videotape, and if so...get the national TV to rebroadcast it and put it on the web.    Since they did that docu on the Holland album, I'm sure they'd be willing to consider it!

[c-man]

A new studio recording of "Surf's Up" WAS made...or at least attempted...on June 18, 1971 at Sunset Sound, using many of the same studio musicians who played on the original.  But I'm not sure if vocals were recorded on that.  Come to think of it, I'm not sure why they would use the original 4-track backing tape for the released version, instead of a brand new 16-track recording...unless the new version just wasn't as good as the original...meaning it likely just didn't have the same "vibe"...

[smile-holland]

Agree with AGD, Surf's Up was never re-recorded in the studio during their stay in Holland. But just prior to their temporary emigration they did play on the Grand Gala Du Disque TV-show. (H&V, Sloop JB, Surf's Up and Stud. Demonstr. Time). I see that Brad Elliott does mention it in his book (page 285), being a Holland-outtake, but I suspect this is a mix-up with the GGDD-live version, from a few months earlier.

As for the origin of the recording hypehat is talking about. Comparing the Princeton with GGDD recording: both start of with a count. Diffrecne is that their is some applauding on the Princeton-version during it's announcement and count-of (both by Carl), while on the GGDD-recording the audience is quiet (and before Carl starts counting, Dennis introduces the song).

OK, SMiLE-Holland, here's an assignment for you:  talk to your current contacts over there, make some new contacts over there, whatever it takes...but find out if the Grand Gala Du Disque performance exists on archived videotape, and if so...get the national TV to rebroadcast it and put it on the web.    Since they did that docu on the Holland album, I'm sure they'd be willing to consider it!

speaking of a nice little challenge here... 

Chances are not that little that the the original footage isn't there anymore. But one never knows...
Might as well ask if indeed a lip-synch performance Marcella exists. According to Badman's book it was recorded a day before GGDD by the same Dutch TV-channel...

[The Heartical Don]

Agree with AGD, Surf's Up was never re-recorded in the studio during their stay in Holland. But just prior to their temporary emigration they did play on the Grand Gala Du Disque TV-show. (H&V, Sloop JB, Surf's Up and Stud. Demonstr. Time). I see that Brad Elliott does mention it in his book (page 285), being a Holland-outtake, but I suspect this is a mix-up with the GGDD-live version, from a few months earlier.

As for the origin of the recording hypehat is talking about. Comparing the Princeton with GGDD recording: both start of with a count. Diffrecne is that their is some applauding on the Princeton-version during it's announcement and count-of (both by Carl), while on the GGDD-recording the audience is quiet (and before Carl starts counting, Dennis introduces the song).

OK, SMiLE-Holland, here's an assignment for you:  talk to your current contacts over there, make some new contacts over there, whatever it takes...but find out if the Grand Gala Du Disque performance exists on archived videotape, and if so...get the national TV to rebroadcast it and put it on the web.    Since they did that docu on the Holland album, I'm sure they'd be willing to consider it!

speaking of a nice little challenge here... 

Chances are not that little that the the original footage isn't there anymore. But one never knows...
Might as well ask if indeed a lip-synch performance Marcella exists. According to Badman's book it was recorded a day before GGDD by the same Dutch TV-channel...

Did the Boys ever appear in 'Sjef Van Oekel's Discohoek'?

[smile-holland]

for the Beach Boys I really hope they didn't (speaking of another challenge...)

[hypehat]

if it clears it up a little bit, it's in Project Smile (i know we're not supposed to mention such things on the board ). It's definitely not an audience recording, as the qualities pretty good (relatively speaking) . I had no idea it was performed live at all, seems like the sort of thing they'd veto as being too 'out there' for the regular crowd....

It was the legendary title track of their then-current LP, with much written in the contempo press about it, so of course they did it live regularly from Sept. '71 to the end of '72, with a few reprises in '73 and '74.  It even made the Wembley setlist in June '75. 

good point, although not everyone has detailed knowledge of BB's setlists, y'know.

strange how many Smile songs made it into the setlist after all the 'how can we play this live?' aspect of the anti-smile feeling from the rest of the group....

[Jon Stebbins]

if it clears it up a little bit, it's in Project Smile (i know we're not supposed to mention such things on the board ). It's definitely not an audience recording, as the qualities pretty good (relatively speaking) . I had no idea it was performed live at all, seems like the sort of thing they'd veto as being too 'out there' for the regular crowd....

I'm not following that logic. The BB's regular crowd in '71 was probably more out there than they were. They were comfortable enough to perform Vegetables on national TV in '71...and as C-man said Surf's Up was the title track of the Top 30 LP they were flogging at the time...seems obvious they'd be playing it in concert. Those were certainly the good old days. I think the "how can we play this live?" stuff from the rest of the group is just more Leafian myth. I don't really see much actual evidence of that.

[smile-holland]

good point, although not everyone has detailed knowledge of BB's setlists, y'know.

you'll be a quick learner if you'd visit this very informative website    : http://members.tripod.com/~fun_fun_fun/setlists.html

[TonyW]

For me a high quality, official release of Surf's Up from the early 70s era is high up on my wish list. One can but hope and pray that during the recording of shows for the In Concert album that Surf's Up was recorded and today sits somehwere in the vaults awaiting official release.

I have two recording of the Grand Gala du Disque version of Surf's Up. One is a muddy version from the Long Lost Surf's Songs series of boots (this version seems to be in wide circulation) and the other is a rarer but very good quality version of the same recording I picked up in a trade. I love this version and it sits very comfortably in my 70's live compilation alongside the Nov 72 Carneige Hall recordings and the In Concert album. 

[Emdeeh]

I saw the BBs perform "Surf's Up" live at the Georgia Tech concert in March of 1972. They did a lot of then-recent songs, reserving a few of the oldies for the end of the show. The crowd at GT was generally appreciative, the audience at the University of Georgia show later in the year (after the BBs had returned from Holland) was much less so. The UGA crowd kept yelling out for the hits -- there was even an editorial in the student paper bemoaning the lack of older material in the set list:

"Yes, they were good, but they didn't play what I wanted to hear." Sound familiar?

As for myself, I enjoyed hearing both old and new material in those shows.

[hypehat]

if it clears it up a little bit, it's in Project Smile (i know we're not supposed to mention such things on the board ). It's definitely not an audience recording, as the qualities pretty good (relatively speaking) . I had no idea it was performed live at all, seems like the sort of thing they'd veto as being too 'out there' for the regular crowd....

I'm not following that logic. The BB's regular crowd in '71 was probably more out there than they were. They were comfortable enough to perform Vegetables on national TV in '71...and as C-man said Surf's Up was the title track of the Top 30 LP they were flogging at the time...seems obvious they'd be playing it in concert. Those were certainly the good old days. I think the "how can we play this live?" stuff from the rest of the group is just more Leafian myth. I don't really see much actual evidence of that.

is it? i haven't read Leaf's book, is it really that bad? my (somewhat limited - i've only started getting seriously into the BB's recently) understanding was that the BB's live sets never veered far from surfing and cars, although i'm always welcome to be corrected thanks for the link too, Smile holland

i had no idea about veggies on telly, too. Is it on youtube?

oh, and hi everyone. Nice to meet y'all 

[Andrew G. Doe]

Check this setlist:

Carnegie Hall, New York City
September 24, 1971

1. GOOD VIBRATIONS
2. TAKE A LOAD OFF YOUR FEET
3. DON'T GO NEAR THE WATER
4. WOULDN'T IT BE NICE
5. DARLIN'
6. STUDENT DEMONSTRATION TIME
7. COOL COOL WATER
8. LONG PROMISED ROAD
9. GOD ONLY KNOWS
10. SLOOP JOHN B.
11. IT'S ABOUT TIME
12. MIKE'S TM POEM
13. FEEL FLOWS
14. DISNEY GIRLS
15. LOOKIN' AT TOMORROW
16. CAROLINE, NO
17. BARBARA
18. SURF'S UP
19. HEROES AND VILLAINS

-Encore-
20. DO IT AGAIN

[c-man]

if it clears it up a little bit, it's in Project Smile (i know we're not supposed to mention such things on the board ). It's definitely not an audience recording, as the qualities pretty good (relatively speaking) . I had no idea it was performed live at all, seems like the sort of thing they'd veto as being too 'out there' for the regular crowd....

I'm not following that logic. The BB's regular crowd in '71 was probably more out there than they were. They were comfortable enough to perform Vegetables on national TV in '71...and as C-man said Surf's Up was the title track of the Top 30 LP they were flogging at the time...seems obvious they'd be playing it in concert. Those were certainly the good old days. I think the "how can we play this live?" stuff from the rest of the group is just more Leafian myth. I don't really see much actual evidence of that.

is it? i haven't read Leaf's book, is it really that bad? my (somewhat limited - i've only started getting seriously into the BB's recently) understanding was that the BB's live sets never veered far from surfing and cars, although i'm always welcome to be corrected thanks for the link too, Smile holland

i had no idea about veggies on telly, too. Is it on youtube?

oh, and hi everyone. Nice to meet y'all 

Then Hypehat, you're in for a treat...if you look around, you'll probably find one or two fairly decent concert recordings from that era...

[c-man]

I saw the BBs perform "Surf's Up" live at the Georgia Tech concert in March of 1972. They did a lot of then-recent songs, reserving a few of the oldies for the end of the show. The crowd at GT was generally appreciative, the audience at the University of Georgia show later in the year (after the BBs had returned from Holland) was much less so. The UGA crowd kept yelling out for the hits -- there was even an editorial in the student paper bemoaning the lack of older material in the set list:

"Yes, they were good, but they didn't play what I wanted to hear." Sound familiar?

As for myself, I enjoyed hearing both old and new material in those shows.

How lucky you are Emdeeh...so, what do you recall about the onstage configuration for "Surf's Up"?  Carl on piano or electric piano, I assume...was Dennis upfront for that one, or toward the back on keyboards?  What about Bruce (still there in March '72)...I know it was a LONG time ago, but I remember most details of all my BBs gigs, going back to '79...

[Wilsonista]

if it clears it up a little bit, it's in Project Smile (i know we're not supposed to mention such things on the board ). It's definitely not an audience recording, as the qualities pretty good (relatively speaking) . I had no idea it was performed live at all, seems like the sort of thing they'd veto as being too 'out there' for the regular crowd....

I'm not following that logic. The BB's regular crowd in '71 was probably more out there than they were. They were comfortable enough to perform Vegetables on national TV in '71...and as C-man said Surf's Up was the title track of the Top 30 LP they were flogging at the time...seems obvious they'd be playing it in concert. Those were certainly the good old days. I think the "how can we play this live?" stuff from the rest of the group is just more Leafian myth. I don't really see much actual evidence of that.

David, in his book,and the liner notes  praises the band's early 70's shows and commends their musiciansship (Leaf became a fan during this era). In his book, he also points out (as Margaret does in her post in this very thread) that some audiences weren't that receptive to their more eclectic shows. It's not submitting to a "Leafian myth" to suggest the obvious in this case.  Thew Boston Commons show tape  from '72 anyone??

[MBE]

I will give Leaf that one. He doesn't give much a fair shake else from anyone but Brian, but those early seventies sets he does praise.  hypehat they were a very progressive band on stage especially from 1971-73. The shows were short before then, but very tight and the set was continually updated.  It was only around 1975 that oldies really took over. Even as late as 1993 they occasionally had progressive set lists. When playing indoor theatre shows even Mike and Bruce do a lot of rarities these days. They deserve a lot of criticism for many of there sets, but they were a great live band during the same years they were a great studio band.

[Dancing Bear]

Ok, let's leave Leaf off for this one, though 'Leafian' is a good (if somewhat unfair) label for the 'Smile wasn't released because the band couldn't play it live' myth. The guys played 3 or 4 songs from Pet Sounds when it was a new release and took care of business. Smile would just be a new album and the same amount of singles and album tracks would be added to the set list. Nothing new.

Btw, Surf's Up was one of two singles extracted from the then new album. Why oh why wouldn't they play it live?