Surf's Up fan mix

[Paulos]

I've been thinking about this for a while as Surf's Up is an album that I like but at the same time I find it frustrating that it's weighed down by lesser songs (Take A Load Off Your Feet, Student Demonstration Time) ) when the Boys had much better songs recorded at the time that were never used (4th of July, Wouldn't It Be Nice To Live Again). With this in mind I present my alternative version/vison of Surf's Up:

Side One

Don't Go Near The Water
Long Promised Road
Big Sur (4/4 version)
Disney Girls
Fourth of July

Side Two

Surf's Up
Feel Flows
Lookin' At Tomorrow
A Day n The Life Of A Tree
'Till I Die
Wouldn't It Be Nice To Live Again

I put this together last night, using the AMCB version of WIBNTLA of course, (release the proper version already!!) and it flows rather nicely. Had the Boys released Surf's Up with this track selectin and running order then we would have had an all time classic rather than an album which is merely good.

[BillA]

I love 'Take A Load off Your Feet' - It is a consciously silly song in a SMiLE sort of way.

When my daughter was four she could sing it note for note.

[Sound of Free]

This is another great Beach Boys "what ifs." With Rieley getting the Boys back into the spotlight and with Surf's Up the song creating interest, this got up to No. 29. It it had been a truly great album, it could have given them a really big comeback with progressive songs instead of the coneback with oldies that would come with Endless Summer.

They needed a great album, and didn't quite get there. If Smiley Smile was "a bunt instead of a grand slam," then Surf's Up was a double, with the runners being left and second and third. Adding 4th of July and WIBNTLA would have given them the great album.

It's really sad when you think of how Dennis and Carl tried to fight the oldies trend in the mid-late 70s that it was a disagreement between Dennis and Carl that might have cost them their best chance to reestablish themselves as a viable, progressive group.

[Sheriff John Stone]

I've been thinking about this for a while as Surf's Up is an album that I like but at the same time I find it frustrating that it's weighed down by lesser songs (Take A Load Off Your Feet, Student Demonstration Time) ) when the Boys had much better songs recorded at the time that were never used (4th of July, Wouldn't It Be Nice To Live Again). With this in mind I present my alternative version/vison of Surf's Up:

Side One

Don't Go Near The Water
Long Promised Road
Big Sur (4/4 version)
Disney Girls
Fourth of July

Side Two

Surf's Up
Feel Flows
Lookin' At Tomorrow
A Day n The Life Of A Tree
'Till I Die
Wouldn't It Be Nice To Live Again

I put this together last night, using the AMCB version of WIBNTLA of course, (release the proper version already!!) and it flows rather nicely. Had the Boys released Surf's Up with this track selectin and running order then we would have had an all time classic rather than an album which is merely good.

Good thoughts, Paulos. I agree with your additions and deletions completely. I think those changes would've improved the album by one full grade, moving the album into "classic album" territory.

The only area we differ - just a little - is in the sequencing. I think the album (like SMiLE) has to end with "Surf's Up", in which case, I guess, I would leave Side B the way it actually came out. That ending trifecta from Brian is hard to improve on.

How about ending Side A with "Wouldn't It Be Nice To Live Again"? That way you have a double-dose of Dennis-penned material to close out the side...

[Paulos]

Hmmm, I may just try that SJS although I do like the way 4th of July closes out side one of my mix. I put WIBNTLA at the end of the album as I know that is what Dennis wanted to do until the very unfortunate falling out with Carl (as mentioned by Sound Of Free) which led to Dennis removing both 4th of July and WIBNTLA from the listing.

I don't think I can praise 4th of July highly enough, I still can't believe that it sat in the archives until the Good Vibrations boxset - it's definately in my top five favourite BB songs, the piano and flute outro is incredibly beautiful and the shimmering strings in the verses are out of this world.

[TonyW]

I'd drop Day In The Life and add the early 70s version of Back Home.

[runnersdialzero]

I love 'Take A Load off Your Feet' - It is a consciously silly song in a SMiLE sort of way.

When my daughter was four she could sing it note for note.

Agreed - I love the track, no problems with it. The "Stepping on a piece of glass" part is really nice. Obviously it's not stunning or anything of the sort, but it's still a fun song, lots of quirks and nice hooks.

I definitely think the original "Big Sur" should have been used somewhere - if not on Surf's Up, then on Holland. One of Mike's best moments as a songwriter and vocalist. The final version is enjoyable enough, but definitely not either of the things I just mentioned.

[Paulos]

I haven't heard the early 70s version of Back Home, I'm assuming it has been booted?

As for Take A Load Off Your Feet, each to their own as personally cannot stand that song and feel that it should have stayed in the can forever but as I said, each to their own.

Big Sur is definately Mike's shining moment, I do actually like the 3/4 version too but the 4/4 is superior and deserved a proper release. I wish his vocal delivery on other songs could have been as warm and heartfelt as it is on Big Sur, only other example I can think of is Meant For You which is simply gorgeous.

[Alex]

I gotta have Feet...I love Feet! I'd knock off SDT, replace it with Fallin' In Love, add 4th of July and Sound of Free, move Surf's Up to another spot on the record, and end with the 'Til I Die-WIBNTLA segue.

[Jeff]

So from what I've read in various places, this seems like the most likely Surf's Up track lineup if Dennis' songs had not been excised:

Side One

Don't Go Near The Water
Long Promised Road
4th of July
Disney Girls
Surf's Up

Side Two

Feel Flows
Lookin' At Tomorrow
A Day n The Life Of A Tree
'Till I Die
Wouldn't It Be Nice To Live Again

Anyone have other thoughts?

[pixletwin]

Replace Surf's Up with Fallin' In Love and you have a bingo.

 

[Smilin Ed H]

I'd just add, not subtract.

[Cabinessenceking]

So from what I've read in various places, this seems like the most likely Surf's Up track lineup if Dennis' songs had not been excised:

Side One

Don't Go Near The Water
Long Promised Road
4th of July
Disney Girls
Surf's Up

Side Two

Feel Flows
Lookin' At Tomorrow
A Day n The Life Of A Tree
'Till I Die
Wouldn't It Be Nice To Live Again

Anyone have other thoughts?

I heard from sources (cannot recall where) that 4th Of July was the intro, and supposed to segue into Long Promised Road

so something like

Side One

4th of July
Long Promised Road
Disney Girls
Don't Go Near The Water
Surf's Up

Side Two

Feel Flows
Lookin' At Tomorrow (or Fallin In Love
A Day n The Life Of A Tree
'Till I Die
Wouldn't It Be Nice To Live Again

I don't know if the early Big Sur would have made the cut, but im certain SDT would be OUT OUT OUT.

Edit: I know people don't love Don't Go Near The Water because it seems forced and slightly un-Mike Love like, but that outro blows me away each time, great finish. Would work perfect for SU to make its intro at the end of Side One

[Disney Boy (1985)]

I've always sequenced (in my head) my dream Surf's Up album thus:

1. Dont Go Near The Water
2. Long Promised Road
3. Lady
4. Disney Girls
5. Wouldn't It Be Nice To Live Again

6. Feel Flows
7. Lookin At Tomorrow
8. A Day In The Life Of A Tree
9. Til I Die
10. 4th Of July
11. Surf's Up

To me this all (feel) flows beautifully... What an album this would've been! As it is, Surf's Up is still in my all time top five.

[Disney Boy (1985)]

Hmmm, I may just try that SJS although I do like the way 4th of July closes out side one of my mix. I put WIBNTLA at the end of the album as I know that is what Dennis wanted to do until the very unfortunate falling out with Carl (as mentioned by Sound Of Free) which led to Dennis removing both 4th of July and WIBNTLA from the listing.

I don't think I can praise 4th of July highly enough, I still can't believe that it sat in the archives until the Good Vibrations boxset - it's definately in my top five favourite BB songs, the piano and flute outro is incredibly beautiful and the shimmering strings in the verses are out of this world.

I completely agree re 4th Of July - another of those songs that, had Brian written it, would be regularly praised to the skies!

[bcdam]

Glad to see there are a few people around here who actually enjoy the "Vega-table" esque production of TALOYF. The only track I would replace is "Student Demonstration Time". Since I've never heard WIBNTLA, I can't add it. My listing would be:

SIDE A:
1) Don't Go Near The Water
2) Long Promised Road
3) Take A Load Off Your Feet
4) Disney Girls
5) Big Sur (harmony version)
6) Lady

SIDE B:
1) Feel Flows
2) Lookin' At Tomorrow
3) 4th of July
4) A Day in the Life of a Tree
5) Til I Die
6) Surf's Up

[Jeff]

A lot of people seem to want Lady on the album.  According to Brad Elliott (I know, not a popular figure these days), that track would not have been on Surf's Up.  This is a 2001 post of his:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Actually, "Lady" was never planned for inclusion on SURF'S UP.  The song had
been scheduled to be on ADD SOME MUSIC (the original version of what became
SUNFLOWER) a year-and-a-half earlier, so by the time of SURF'S UP, it was
"old hat" to the BBs.  Btw, it was dropped from SUNFLOWER when Warner Bros.
requested a "stronger" album than that originally submitted.  "Lady" was one
of about a half-dozen songs that got the ax.

The Dennis tracks that were written and recorded for SURF'S UP were "Fourth
Of July" and "Wouldn't It Be Nice To Live Again."  According to Rieley a
couple of years ago, the inclusion of Dennis' songs would have weighted the
album too heavily in the direction of the Wilson side of the group (as
opposed to the Love/Jardine/Johnston faction), and that was a political
no-no.  Jack said Dennis voluntarily took his songs out of the running,
realizing the potential damage that could be done if he pushed for their
inclusion.  Of course, his fallback plan was to include them on the solo
album he was working on at the time, but the album never happened and the
world was deprived of hearing them (still is, in the case of "Live Again").


Surf's up!
Brad

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Cabinessenceking]

A lot of people seem to want Lady on the album.  According to Brad Elliott (I know, not a popular figure these days), that track would not have been on Surf's Up.  This is a 2001 post of his:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Actually, "Lady" was never planned for inclusion on SURF'S UP.  The song had
been scheduled to be on ADD SOME MUSIC (the original version of what became
SUNFLOWER) a year-and-a-half earlier, so by the time of SURF'S UP, it was
"old hat" to the BBs.  Btw, it was dropped from SUNFLOWER when Warner Bros.
requested a "stronger" album than that originally submitted.  "Lady" was one
of about a half-dozen songs that got the ax.

The Dennis tracks that were written and recorded for SURF'S UP were "Fourth
Of July" and "Wouldn't It Be Nice To Live Again."  According to Rieley a
couple of years ago, the inclusion of Dennis' songs would have weighted the
album too heavily in the direction of the Wilson side of the group (as
opposed to the Love/Jardine/Johnston faction), and that was a political
no-no.  Jack said Dennis voluntarily took his songs out of the running,
realizing the potential damage that could be done if he pushed for their
inclusion.  Of course, his fallback plan was to include them on the solo
album he was working on at the time, but the album never happened and the
world was deprived of hearing them (still is, in the case of "Live Again").


Surf's up!
Brad

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Incredible that this album was mutated from excellent to good by infighting between Carl and Dennis and the need to give some song credit to the ML/BJ/AJ faction by including the obnoxiously pointless and out-of-place Disney Girls,  the close-to-sickening SDT (why don't people destroy ML for this trash?) and a couple of decent Sunflower outtakes by AJ.

I start to understand Jack Rieley saying that  'they blew it (smile), they continue to blow it (SU, CATP, 15BO)' damn dem BB never were made to dominate music.

[Jeff]

Incredible that this album was mutated from excellent to good by infighting between Carl and Dennis and the need to give some song credit to the ML/BJ/AJ faction by including the obnoxiously pointless and out-of-place Disney Girls,  the close-to-sickening SDT (why don't people destroy ML for this trash?) and a couple of decent Sunflower outtakes by AJ.

I start to understand Jack Rieley saying that  'they blew it (smile), they continue to blow it (SU, CATP, 15BO)' damn dem BB never were made to dominate music.

No doubt.  The group made so many poor choices ... but the Surf's Up lineup certainly ranks right up there.

I do like the lineup you posted starting with 4th of July.  That would've been an amazing album.

[Disney Boy (1985)]

This is another great Beach Boys "what ifs." With Rieley getting the Boys back into the spotlight and with Surf's Up the song creating interest, this got up to No. 29. It it had been a truly great album, it could have given them a really big comeback with progressive songs instead of the coneback with oldies that would come with Endless Summer.

They needed a great album, and didn't quite get there. If Smiley Smile was "a bunt instead of a grand slam," then Surf's Up was a double, with the runners being left and second and third. Adding 4th of July and WIBNTLA would have given them the great album.

It's really sad when you think of how Dennis and Carl tried to fight the oldies trend in the mid-late 70s that it was a disagreement between Dennis and Carl that might have cost them their best chance to reestablish themselves as a viable, progressive group.

You say they needed a great album but 'didn't quite get it', but of course two years later they did - Holland, which seems to be where all Rieley's plans and ambitions for the group finally came together, is one of the most perfect, coherent and mature albums they ever released. But perhaps by this point the moment had passed... 

[onkster]

I like to stick HELP in in place of Feet. Same kinda thing, but, I think, a better track. Funky and fun, and fits the earth/eco/health themes.

[bcdam]

I've always sequenced (in my head) my dream Surf's Up album thus:

1. Dont Go Near The Water
2. Long Promised Road
3. Lady
4. Disney Girls
5. Wouldn't It Be Nice To Live Again

6. Feel Flows
7. Lookin At Tomorrow
8. A Day In The Life Of A Tree
9. Til I Die
10. 4th Of July
11. Surf's Up

To me this all (feel) flows beautifully... What an album this would've been! As it is, Surf's Up is still in my all time top five.

Just listened to your creatively done sequencing of SU. Now what can I say? It's beautiful! Really perfect flow! However, I agree with you in the last sentence.

Have you guys heard WIBNTLA? Be interested to know how it fits sonically between DG and FF...

[Summertime Blooz]

Long Promised Road & 4th of July are too similar to be on the same album. Long Promised Road is really a longer better 4th of July.

[pixletwin]

Long Promised Road & 4th of July are too similar to be on the same album. Long Promised Road is really a longer better 4th of July.

Interesting... How would you say they are similar? I don't hear any similarities at all myself.

[lee]

I never knew there was a disagreement/argument during this period between Carl and Dennis. Can anyone fill me in?