Underrated BB-Related Songs

[rogerlancelot]

[...the 45 version definitely should have been used there.

Is the 45 version the one on Get the Boot that plays after the interview with Carl?

No - that's the 'hot' and as-yet unreleased version. Or so I've been told by people who have heard it. 

That's not the mix on Brother Years?

[donald]

In the past, I would have mentioned "Your Summer Dream", but I think it has gotten a lot more attention amongst the big fans in the past decade or so, but among the general public, I'd definitely say it's underrated.

As for songs that are underrated among fans, I'd propose:

"She's Just Out To Get You" - A spirited Mike Love lead vocal, among his best, and some very catchy background parts.

"The Girl From New York City" - Mike had some amazing lead vocals on the early hits, but he doesn't sound any more into what he is singing than he does on this song.  A lot of people say it's a weak opening song for SDASN, but I beg to differ.  It really would not have fit anywhere else on the album than the beginning.

"Love Surrounds Me" - LA Light Album version.  An appropriately gruff lead vocal from Dennis on top of a contemporary, tastefully synth-heavy track.  The last 45 seconds or so take me to another place and remind me why I'm a fan.

"Givin You Up" - COuld have been a hit single, if it was given the chance.  Same thing for "One More Night Alone".

"Here She Comes" - Funky and cool, and not at all what a BB fan would have expected in 1972.  Which is part of what makes it so great!

Haven't read the whole thread but "One More Night Alone" has to be among the top 3 in my book.   Carl at his solo best IMHO.  And a Billy H. peened tune to boot!
Is ther anyone who hasn't really listened to this?  Really listened...on a good system....payed attention to Carl's vocals?  If you have not, you are missing something very special.

[the captain]

Keeping in mind that obviously diverse BBs fans have diverse favorites, overall, I'd say that the only really underrated BB-related songs among people in places such as this are the hit singles. And the underrated songs among the more casual listening public are all of the non-singles. Sound too easy? Well, I stand behind it (at least at the moment).

[donald]

Someone mentioned "I Wish For You".  I think that the whole Like A Brother album is under-rated, both among the fans and the general public.  Great stuff.

Eric, we are obviously from the same branch of the Carl Wilson fan club.  I even like TODAY.  A powerful tune and a great anthem for living for the day ahead as the gift that it is.  Life going on either with us or without us.  I know the song was co written but it hit me hard hearing it for the 1st time after Carl's death.  As did I wish for you.

[Andrew G. Doe]

[...the 45 version definitely should have been used there.

Is the 45 version the one on Get the Boot that plays after the interview with Carl?

No - that's the 'hot' and as-yet unreleased version. Or so I've been told by people who have heard it. 

That's not the mix on Brother Years?

The mix on The Brother Years is the 45 mix. The version referred to above has yet to be released.

[grillo]

Andrew, in your book I thought  you said the 45 mix for R&RM was too degraded to be used? What's the story on it being on the Brother Years? Safety Copy?

[Eric Aniversario]

Someone mentioned "I Wish For You".  I think that the whole Like A Brother album is under-rated, both among the fans and the general public.  Great stuff.

Eric, we are obviously from the same branch of the Carl Wilson fan club.  I even like TODAY.  A powerful tune and a great anthem for living for the day ahead as the gift that it is.  Life going on either with us or without us.  I know the song was co written but it hit me hard hearing it for the 1st time after Carl's death.  As did I wish for you.

I love "Today"...I remember buying "Like A Brother" from Tower Records the day it came out, going down to my car, putting on my headphones, and popping it my portable CD player, and hearing it for the first time, knowing that this would probably be the last "new" music from Carl.  What a bittersweet moment that was...I was happy that it was finally released, but sad that it was likely that no new Carl music would ever be released again.  I played the CD all the time at home...my roommate actually would request "Today"...he found it inspiring and catchy.  My personal favorite from the album was "They're Only Words".

[Synth Wash]

"Rock And Roll Music (Single Mix)"  - This mix has that Love You farting bass synth that is either not present or inaudible on the more common album mix, which boosts the song IMO. Sure, the song is kind of dumb (in comparison to something like "Good Vibrations"), but it's that catchy kind of dumb that you know could have only come from the mind of Brian. Take, for example, those organ stabs during the chorus. They're kind of ridiculous in a way, but who else besides Brian would think of doing that? I love it. While the song was a hit, not many BB fans are big on it.

I agree wholeheartedly!!!  15 Big Ones is the worst BB album, in my opinion, but I LOVE the single mixes of RNRM and It's OK...they are regular staples on my in-car compilations...I always get embarrassed when my friends hear the album version of RNRM.  I quickly forward to the next song or ANY other song...my friend summed it up..."I hate this song!  Why are the background vocals so loud?"  It's an embarrassment on Sounds Of Summer...the 45 version definitely should have been used there.

Are these two single mixes available on CD? I haven't seen them on any of the new compilations.

[Synth Wash]

"He Came Down" - A fun gospel style song that I think gets some undue hatred because it's about TM. "I belieeeeevee it (in my soul)!" Any time Mike says "yeah" in his deep bass voice a song gets a +1 automatically with me.
"Funky Pretty" - I like this song a lot more than "Sail On Sailor".
"Rock And Roll Music (Single Mix)"  - This mix has that Love You farting bass synth that is either not present or inaudible on the more common album mix, which boosts the song IMO. Sure, the song is kind of dumb (in comparison to something like "Good Vibrations"), but it's that catchy kind of dumb that you know could have only come from the mind of Brian. Take, for example, those organ stabs during the chorus. They're kind of ridiculous in a way, but who else besides Brian would think of doing that? I love it. While the song was a hit, not many BB fans are big on it.
"Airplane" - An interesting, spacey arrangement with a cute lyrical concept. Love the falsettos from Brian and the demented "I need God as my guide..." bit, and the outro is such a pleasant surprise.
"No Go Showboat" - Magic.
"He's A Doll" - A rocking Honeys song. Great production from Brian.
"I Went to Sleep" - One of the best things Brian ever did. It should be considered one of his classics in my opinion.
Brian's songs on BB85 and a few others: You know, I don't think that those songs are classics, but they're not that bad IMO. I find them enjoyable in moderation.

Also, I second "Melt Away". The ending is like "Til I Die" pt. 2.

Speaking of Funky Pretty, how many hooks can one song have? Most only have one or two. On FP I count at least five.

The verses:
1.A Pisces lady loves romance....

Pre-choruses:
2.'Cause it's a silent night in the sea

Chorus:
3.The queen in Copenhagee....

Tag:
4.I still remember Funky Pretty...
5.Someone say why, someone say why...

Seems like a less talented song writer would try to get four or five songs out the hooks in this one. This song always surprises me when I forget about and then listen again and remember how great it is.

[Dunderhead]

Honestly I think Friends could have been a better album than Pet Sounds. It comes close really, with the inclusion of I Went to Sleep and Time to Get Alone from 20/20 and maybe something like Let the Wind Blow from Wild Honey it could have been the best Beach Boys album.
To me Wake the World may be my favorite track. Friends and Meant for You are great. Passing By is a great instrumental, Little Bird is one of Dennis' best songs. Time to Get Alone has some of my favorite harmonies of any Beach Boys track, when it breaks into the chorus it's heavenly.

Other than that, I think Leaving this Town from Holland is really underloved.

[variable2]

"He Came Down" - A fun gospel style song that I think gets some undue hatred because it's about TM. "I belieeeeevee it (in my soul)!" Any time Mike says "yeah" in his deep bass voice a song gets a +1 automatically with me.
"Funky Pretty" - I like this song a lot more than "Sail On Sailor".
"Rock And Roll Music (Single Mix)"  - This mix has that Love You farting bass synth that is either not present or inaudible on the more common album mix, which boosts the song IMO. Sure, the song is kind of dumb (in comparison to something like "Good Vibrations"), but it's that catchy kind of dumb that you know could have only come from the mind of Brian. Take, for example, those organ stabs during the chorus. They're kind of ridiculous in a way, but who else besides Brian would think of doing that? I love it. While the song was a hit, not many BB fans are big on it.
"Airplane" - An interesting, spacey arrangement with a cute lyrical concept. Love the falsettos from Brian and the demented "I need God as my guide..." bit, and the outro is such a pleasant surprise.
"No Go Showboat" - Magic.
"He's A Doll" - A rocking Honeys song. Great production from Brian.
"I Went to Sleep" - One of the best things Brian ever did. It should be considered one of his classics in my opinion.
Brian's songs on BB85 and a few others: You know, I don't think that those songs are classics, but they're not that bad IMO. I find them enjoyable in moderation.

Also, I second "Melt Away". The ending is like "Til I Die" pt. 2.

Speaking of Funky Pretty, how many hooks can one song have? Most only have one or two. On FP I count at least five.

The verses:
1.A Pisces lady loves romance....

Pre-choruses:
2.'Cause it's a silent night in the sea

Chorus:
3.The queen in Copenhagee....

Tag:
4.I still remember Funky Pretty...
5.Someone say why, someone say why...

Seems like a less talented song writer would try to get four or five songs out the hooks in this one. This song always surprises me when I forget about and then listen again and remember how great it is.

Really interesting post.  Makes me want to listen to the song in a whole new way.

[Sheriff John Stone]

Seems like a less talented song writer would try to get four or five songs out the hooks in this one. This song always surprises me when I forget about and then listen again and remember how great it is.

I think you hit on a key word: talented. I posted something (I think it might've even been in this thread) that Brian was composing some amazing things in the 1968-1974 time period. There's so many little pieces in his songs ranging from "I Went To Sleep" to "This Whole World" to "A Day In The Life Of A Tree" to "You Need A Mess Of Help To Stand Alone" to "Mount Vernon And Fairway" to even "Child Of Winter". HE STILL HAD HIS TALENT. It separated him from other songwriters. People just didn't write things like that. You could even extend it to "Had To Phone Ya" to parts of The Beach Boys Love You. I'll stop there....

[Andrew G. Doe]

Andrew, in your book I thought  you said the 45 mix for R&RM was too degraded to be used? What's the story on it being on the Brother Years? Safety Copy?

That's in version #1, and is what Mark Linett told me when I interviewed him just after the box came out (I have it on tape). The 45 mix on GH3 is the original master, not a copy.

[Andrew G. Doe]

"Rock And Roll Music (Single Mix)"  - This mix has that Love You farting bass synth that is either not present or inaudible on the more common album mix, which boosts the song IMO. Sure, the song is kind of dumb (in comparison to something like "Good Vibrations"), but it's that catchy kind of dumb that you know could have only come from the mind of Brian. Take, for example, those organ stabs during the chorus. They're kind of ridiculous in a way, but who else besides Brian would think of doing that? I love it. While the song was a hit, not many BB fans are big on it.

I agree wholeheartedly!!!  15 Big Ones is the worst BB album, in my opinion, but I LOVE the single mixes of RNRM and It's OK...they are regular staples on my in-car compilations...I always get embarrassed when my friends hear the album version of RNRM.  I quickly forward to the next song or ANY other song...my friend summed it up..."I hate this song!  Why are the background vocals so loud?"  It's an embarrassment on Sounds Of Summer...the 45 version definitely should have been used there.

Are these two single mixes available on CD? I haven't seen them on any of the new compilations.

Both single versions - the 45 of "It's OK" isn't a remix, just sped up about 2% - have been available on CD since the release of Best Of The Brother Years.

[Eric Aniversario]

Andrew, in your book I thought  you said the 45 mix for R&RM was too degraded to be used? What's the story on it being on the Brother Years? Safety Copy?

That's in version #1, and is what Mark Linett told me when I interviewed him just after the box came out (I have it on tape). The 45 mix on GH3 is the original master, not a copy.

Do you know why it wasn't used for Sounds Of Summer?  That awful album version sticks out like a sore thumb on that compilation...what an embarrassment!

[Synth Wash]

Heading for Haiti this morning for a week, and AGD's Complete Guide is going with me!

[Paulos]

I forgot to mention Girls On The Beach in my list, absolute heaven and it may be sacrelige to say this but I think it's better than its musical cousin Surfer Girl. Dennis' line 'the sun in her hair, the warmth of the air' is so heartfelt it gives me goose pimples every time.

[Meade]

Here is my list:

Farmer's Daughter (great early Brian falsetto)
The Lonely Sea
Don't Back Down
Lana
We'll Run Away
Why Do Fools Fall in Love? (This is a really driving cover imo)
Hushabye (some of the best Brian/Mike trade offs)
Our Car Club (a lot of fun)
I Do (Brian's song for another group, recorded with the beach boys)
Don't Hurt My Little Sister
Girl Don't Tell Me  (very Beatles-esque)
Then I Kissed Her
Country Air
Wake the World
Time to Get Alone
Anna Lee, The Healer
Little Bird (Great Dennis song)
I Went to Sleep

[Meade]

Here's a few more too... so much of what I like about this band is that their best material is often all those underrated hidden gems.

Slip on Through (Dennis is really underrated all around)
Got to Know the Woman
Deirdre
At My Window
All This is That
Cuddle Up
Steamboat
Marcella
Roller Skating Child (Just a really fun tune)
Mona (The majority of "Love You" actually)
The Night Was So Young
I'll Bet He's Nice
Pitter Patter (Love this little song)
Baby Blue (Beautiful Dennis track)
My Diane
Oh Darlin'

[Meade]

(damn double post)

[metstotop333]

By album, because there's no way I could do this otherwise (beginning with All Summer Long, since that's--embarrassingly--where my BB collection starts):

Kiss Me Baby
The Girl from New York City
Amusement Parks USA
She's Goin' Bald
Aren't You Glad?
Everything on side 1 of Friends
Be with Me
I Went to Sleep
Cool, Cool Water
A Day in the Life of a Tree
You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone
Here She Comes
Cuddle Up
Steamboat
Big Sur (but the album version!)
Funky Pretty
It's OK
Susie Cincinnati
Roller Skating Child
I'll Bet He's Nice
Airplane
Wontcha Come Out Tonight?
Pitter Patter
Angel Come Home
Love Surrounds Me
Sumahama
and, yes, Shortenin' Bread

Phew.  I love this band so much.

[Sheriff John Stone]

Amusement Parks USA

"Let's take your car and mess around at the park all day". Yeah!

Welcome to the board. A Mets fan, huh?

[Shady]

Sumahama


Phew.  I love this band so much.

Another fan, nice.

[Mike's Beard]

My pick would be the SS version of "Windchimes".  I actually prefer this over the more polished Smile versions floating around.  Mainly because of the tag I admit.  The singing is pure nirvana.

[TheLazenby]

UGH.  I HATE the Smiley version of "Wind Chimes".  (Whoever was working those clanky wind chimes managed to fail here AND in "Fall Breaks"!)  That song was not meant to be some lifeless stoner song!  Where's the launch into the "doo doo doo" section?!

Also, in my opinion, odd to see "She's Goin' Bald" on someone's list, but to each their own - I like "He Gives Speeches", but I guess it doesn't have the quirky goofiness of the final product.  (I do like to sing the "sha-na-na" bit, with increasing pitch.  Try it!)