If Still Cruisin' and SIP had never existed

[Jay]

A couple days ago, I came up with a list of songs for my own version of a final Beach Boys album. In this list, I tried to combine the best of the Still Cruisin' and Summer In Paradise albums. Basically, my "concept" is that  The Beach Boys could have come up with one final album after their self titled 1985 album. I thought maybe we could all do this. The only rule is that you can ONLY include songs recorded between 1985 and 1991/2. Basically, the period between the release of "BB 85" and Summer In Paradise. Here is my list:

1. Lahaina Aloha

 2. Still Cruisin'
 
 3. Still Surfin'

 4. Somewhere Near Japan

 5. Strange Things Happen
 
 6. One Summer Night

 7. Hot Fun In The Summertime(with a better production. Whether you like to admit it or not, this song is fun. Plain and simple)*

 8. Summer In Paradise(with a special accapella(sp?) ending, that would gradually fade out in a big mountain of the vocals that made The Beach Boys what they were, and still would have been had they tried just a little bit harder)*


*You can also give your ideas/opinions of how a song could have been recorded if you had been in charge

[Aegir]

Do you dislike Kokomo just because it's popular?

You may not be able to answer this question.

[Awesoman]

How about none of them???

[shelter]

Do you dislike Kokomo just because it's popular?

You may not be able to answer this question.

Yeah, you might not like Kokomo, but it's hard to deny that it's one of their better songs from that era...

[The Shift]

8. Summer In Paradise(with a special accapella(sp?) ending, that would gradually fade out in a big mountain of the vocals that made The Beach Boys what they were, and still would have been had they tried just a little bit harder)

Just use the superior live version...

[punkinhead]

Island Girl, Make it Big and In My Car are all fantastic

[phirnis]

Island Girl, Make it Big and In My Car are all fantastic

I pretty much like the whole of Still Cruisin'. It could have used two more Brian songs (not to mention "Rock & Roll To The Rescue"), but still I think it eventually has more highlights to offer than both KTSA and BB85 (though I don't think that any of these songs can beat "Getcha Back").

[The infamous Baldwin Organ]

I like a lot of the songs from that period, and listen to both of those albums occasionally. For me, I myself strongly dislike digital drums and keyboards, which is my main complaint about all of those recordings. If they were played by human musicians and not sequencers, I think all of that material would've done better.

I'd like to give a mention to "Chasin' The Sky", which I think is a pretty good tune from their later recordings.

Not in order but here's my favorites:

1. Lahaina Aloha
2. Chasin' The Sky
3. Island Girl
4. Somewhere Near Japan
5. Wipe Out
6. In My Car
7.Kokomo (..don't love it, don't hate it;  but it probably should be on here)
8. Summer In Paradise
9. Under The Boardwalk (UK Version)
10. Stramge Things Happen
11.Still Surfin'
12. Island Fever

And yes, in my opinion, it certainly would've helped if they been able to include some of the songs from Brian Wilson '88 LP. 

[Jeff]

If Still Cruisin' and SIP had never existed, this would be a better world.  I really can't fathom how anyone who enjoys 60s and early 70s Beach Boys could also like those albums.

[Sheriff John Stone]

If Still Cruisin' and SIP had never existed, this would be a better world.  I really can't fathom how anyone who enjoys 60s and early 70s Beach Boys could also like those albums.

I enjoy them for the melodies and the vocals. Anyway, here's my comp:

The Beach Boys - Still Cruisin'

1. Still Cruisin'
2. Rock And Roll To The Rescue
3. Slow Summer Dancin' (One Summer Night)
4. Kokomo
5. Hot Fun In The Summertime
6. Still Surfin'
7. Wipeout
8. Strange Things Happen
9. Under The Boardwalk
10. Lahaina Aloha
11. California Dreamin'
12. Somewhere Near Japan
13. Forever (feat. John Stamos)
14. Summer In Paradise

A No. 1 album!

[Reggie Dunbar]

Good listings but I have to concur that the omission of Kokomo is unacceptable. Just see if you get Mike's
blessing without it. 

I like a lot of the songs from that period, and listen to both of those albums occasionally. For me, I myself strongly dislike digital drums and keyboards, which is my main complaint about all of those recordings. If they were played by human musicians and not sequencers, I think all of that material would've done better.



Agreed Johnny, the B.B.'s are spiritually bound to the organic, analog tones.

[Awesoman]

I may be mistaken here but I recall at one point during all of the album reissues there was talk of putting out a revamped Still Cruisin' album; one that omitted the unnecessary classic tracks and instead included other songs they recorded around that time such as "Problem Child".  There are a bunch of tracks from the 70's and 80's that are floating around in limbo and it would be nice to see them on some rarities compilation if for nothing more than completest purposes. 

[Jay]

Here's my revised list:


 1. Remember (Walking In The Sand)

 2. Lahaina Aloha

 3. Still Cruisin'
 
 4. Still Surfin'

 5. Island Girl
 
 6. Somewhere Near Japan

 7. Strange Things Happen
 
 8. Slow Summer Dancin' (One Summer Night)

 9. Hot Fun In The Summertime(with a better production. Whether you like to admit it or not, this song is fun. Plain and simple)*

10. Rock And Roll To The Rescue

11. Kokomo

12. Summer In Paradise(with a special accapella(sp?) ending, that would gradually fade out in a big mountain of the vocals that made The Beach Boys what they were, and still would have been had they tried just a little bit harder)*

[punkinhead]

I forgot Male Ego, that's a classic to put on there   

[Magic Transistor Radio]

In my world, you would have to include

Love and Mercy
There's So Many
Melt Away
Rio Grande
Baby Let Your Hair Grow Long
Let's Go to Heaven in My Car

add those to

Kokamo
Somewhere Near Japan
Make It Big
Summer In Paradise
Slow Summer Dancing
Strange Things Happen
California Dreamin
Wipe Out

[phirnis]

BW88 could have made an incredible Beach Boys album on its own. Imagine the group really contributing (in terms of vocals and maybe even production) and "Night Time"/"Let It Shine" being replaced by  "Kokomo"/"Somewhere Near Japan". Now that could have been an album every bit as good as Sunflower (or at least it could've come pretty close...).

[Sheriff John Stone]

BW88 could have made an incredible Beach Boys album on its own. Imagine the group really contributing (in terms of vocals and maybe even production) and "Night Time"/"Let It Shine" being replaced by  "Kokomo"/"Somewhere Near Japan". Now that could have been an album every bit as good as Sunflower (or at least it could've come pretty close...).

Yeah, Phirnis, I've felt that way for a long time. A long time. So I made my own synthesis of the two. Sorry to bore you with another comp...

The Beach Boys - Let It Shine

1. Still Cruisin'
2. In My Car
3. There's So Many
4. Walkin' The Line
5. Melt Away
6. Kokomo

7. One For The Boys
8. Love And Mercy
9. Meet Me In My Dreams Tonight
10. Somewhere Near Japan
11. Let It Shine
12. Rio Grande

[phirnis]

That could've been the ultimate comeback album. The public probably would've bought it because of "Kokomo" and critics would have loved it because of the great new Brian Wilson tunes.

Many songs on BW88 sounded like they could use a Carl Wilson lead vocal anyway.

[The infamous Baldwin Organ]

I like that idea for a compilation.

It would be cool to combine the Still Cruisin' tracks with Brian Wilson '88.

But to take things a step further; I've never heard "Sweet Insanity" myself, but maybe it would be cool to combine the best of those tracks with the best of Summer In Paradise. Any takers? 

[hypehat]

You wouldn't say that if you heard Sweet Insanity 

[Awesoman]

I like that idea for a compilation.

It would be cool to combine the Still Cruisin' tracks with Brian Wilson '88.

But to take things a step further; I've never heard "Sweet Insanity" myself, but maybe it would be cool to combine the best of those tracks with the best of Summer In Paradise. Any takers? 

Sweet Insanity is best left unreleased; the production is dreadful and his best songs have been re-recorded. 

[Sheriff John Stone]

Actually, as far as the time line goes, Sweet Insanity goes with Still Cruisin' more than BW88 does.

[Jay]

I wasn't really including solo Brian songs, but it would have been interesting to hear a Beach Boys version of "Meet Me In My Dreams Tonight". For some reason, I think that Mike could have done a really good vocal on "Love and Mercy". Kind of like an updated version of Meant For You. Also, an honourable mention(for me, at least) would be Lady Liberty.

[Jay]

Actually, as far as the time line goes, Sweet Insanity goes with Still Cruisin' more than BW88 does.

Still Cruisin' was released in 1989, wasn't it? I thought Sweet Insanity didn't happen untill around 1991?