Name One Song You'd Wish The BBs Should Have Covered

[The Heartical Don]

'Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon'

Best thing the Diamond Geezer ever wrote. Spanish-style verse, and full melodic release in the chorus. Carl could've done that verse, in his most soulful style, and the full group kicking in on the chorus.

Heavenly. In fact, in my view of Heaven, St. Peter hands out a real 45 at the Gate to everyone interested.

[Eric Aniversario]

"I'm Into Something Good"

The bonus track on TLOS got me thinking...what if the Beach Boys had covered that on the Love You album?  That would've been cool.

or

"Sailing"

with Carl on lead with some new background harmonies.

[Andrew G. Doe]

"Everything That Touches You"

[buddhahat]

I mentioned this in another post but: This Could Be The Night by The Modern Folk Quartet. For anyone unfamiliar with it, it's basically Phil Spector's attempt to produce a Beach Boys style record and it's fabulous. Whether the boys could've topped the original is questionable as Spector's production is incredibe, but vocally I'd have loved to have heard them give it a try.

Conversely I would give my right arm to hear some of Spector's girl groups singing tracks (or the whole of) Pet Sounds, plus Spector producing it.

[The Heartical Don]

I mentioned this in another post but: This Could Be The Night by The Modern Folk Quartet. For anyone unfamiliar with it, it's basically Phil Spector's attempt to produce a Beach Boys style record and it's fabulous. Whether the boys could've topped the original is questionable as Spector's production is incredibe, but vocally I'd have loved to have heard them give it a try.

Conversely I would give my right arm to hear some of Spector's girl groups singing tracks (or the whole of) Pet Sounds, plus Spector producing it.

Lovely call. TCBTN was done by Brian Wilson (I have it on '21 Little Ones', or rather, I don't have it on that one that I don't have either); but that is too thin, soundwise. The Boys could have done it in a gorgeous way. However, Spector's steel guitar trickery can't be surpassed, IMHO. BTW, I have a cover of TCBTN on a Spector tribute album, 'Bionic Gold', produced by Jon Tiven, on some super-rare indie label. It's a great, great album, and one Vince Whirlwind, aged 17 then, does TCBTN. I fell in love with it when I was 19 myself, and it never left me since. The rhythm is changed considerably (slowed down), and all kinds of spanish guitar and mandolin sounds adorn this thing of beauty. It realizes the lyrical content of the song in full: the musings of a boy/man who's expecting his first sexual encounter with a girl he's been dating for some time. As far as I know, the LP never reached CD status.

Hmmm... imagine the Ronettes doing 'That's Not Me'.... my current fave is 'When I Saw You' by them. Stunning. Uplifting. The lot.

[mtaber]

"Saturday Night at the Movies" by the Drifters.

Andrew - the Association song?

[Andrew G. Doe]

"Saturday Night at the Movies" by the Drifters.

Andrew - the Association song?

Sure. :-)

[buddhahat]

I mentioned this in another post but: This Could Be The Night by The Modern Folk Quartet. For anyone unfamiliar with it, it's basically Phil Spector's attempt to produce a Beach Boys style record and it's fabulous. Whether the boys could've topped the original is questionable as Spector's production is incredibe, but vocally I'd have loved to have heard them give it a try.

Conversely I would give my right arm to hear some of Spector's girl groups singing tracks (or the whole of) Pet Sounds, plus Spector producing it.

Lovely call. TCBTN was done by Brian Wilson (I have it on '21 Little Ones', or rather, I don't have it on that one that I don't have either); but that is too thin, soundwise. The Boys could have done it in a gorgeous way. However, Spector's steel guitar trickery can't be surpassed, IMHO. BTW, I have a cover of TCBTN on a Spector tribute album, 'Bionic Gold', produced by Jon Tiven, on some super-rare indie label. It's a great, great album, and one Vince Whirlwind, aged 17 then, does TCBTN. I fell in love with it when I was 19 myself, and it never left me since. The rhythm is changed considerably (slowed down), and all kinds of spanish guitar and mandolin sounds adorn this thing of beauty. It realizes the lyrical content of the song in full: the musings of a boy/man who's expecting his first sexual encounter with a girl he's been dating for some time. As far as I know, the LP never reached CD status.

Hmmm... imagine the Ronettes doing 'That's Not Me'.... my current fave is 'When I Saw You' by them. Stunning. Uplifting. The lot.

I only heard the BW version recently  and it made me smile. Obviously not a patch on the original but fun to hear.

The indie version you mention sounds very interesting. Will have to seek out this Bionic Gold (sounds like some super strength pot)!

I have overlooked When I saw You - will have to give it a listen. My current fave is Do I Love You. You can't beat the voice of Ronnie Spector or Darlene Love. I recently stumbled on the following clip of Darlene Love performing Christmas on Letterman - unbelievable that she still has that voice. Literally bought a tear to my eye!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ7iyRJrFg8

[The Heartical Don]

Thank you mr Hat sir! -

that Darlene Love thing is so good... and Do I Love You is another gem. In fact, when I got older, I got more of an ear for the more understated material of Spector.

[buddhahat]

Thank you mr Hat sir! -

that Darlene Love thing is so good... and Do I Love You is another gem. In fact, when I got older, I got more of an ear for the more understated material of Spector.

btw if you haven't read it I can highly recommend Tearing Down the Wall of Sound by Mick Brown. A fascinating look at Spector's tragic life.

[The Heartical Don]

Thank you mr Hat sir! -

that Darlene Love thing is so good... and Do I Love You is another gem. In fact, when I got older, I got more of an ear for the more understated material of Spector.

btw if you haven't read it I can highly recommend Tearing Down the Wall of Sound by Mick Brown. A fascinating look at Spector's tragic life.

Will investigate!

[Smilin Ed H]

Wishin' You Were Here with Dennis on lead

[punkinhead]

Nowhere Man

[Mike's Beard]

Laugh all you want but I think an 'in their prime' Beach Boys could have done an amazing cover of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight". Mike would have owned the "owhima, owhima, owhima" part.

[Menace Wilson]

How about Bacharach's "Alfie", sung by Brian in "Still I Dream of It" style.

[Myk Luhv]

I think they could've done a beautiful version of Ian & Sylvia's "Four Strong Winds".

I also have occasionally figured they could do a good job with some of the stuff on The Modern Lovers' sole album: "Someone I Care About" or "Pablo Picasso"!

[willy]

(Wish they'd finished 'Come To The Sunshine'.)

— A BBs version of VDP's 'Clang of The Yankee Reaper' would be a stonker.

— It's A Beautiful Day's 'White Bird'.

— Led Zeppelin's 'Thank You'.

[shelter]

— A BBs version of VDP's 'Clang of The Yankee Reaper' would be a stonker.

That's one of my all-time favorite songs by anyone. But to be perfectly honest, I can't really see it working as a BB song... Who do you think should take the lead here?

My suggestion: Here, There and Everywhere.

[shelter]

Or how about this one: Birds And Bees by Warm Sounds... My second favorite song of all time, right after God Only Knows.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SE2YQMndU6g

[willy]

— A BBs version of VDP's 'Clang of The Yankee Reaper' would be a stonker.

That's one of my all-time favorite songs by anyone. But to be perfectly honest, I can't really see it working as a BB song... Who do you think should take the lead here?

Just a thought... but with 'Love You'-era farting Moogs or 'L.A.' lush strings.. )

(Each member takes a line like 'Add Some Music' —) The sun never set on the empire
Prince Albert came in a can
If you expire before you retire
And end up an "also-ran"
It's fine time to drink tea from China
Do drop a line
Let me know I am fine

(Band harmonies —) Sun in the moonlight, in the moonlight

(Brian's raw yearning voice  —) Gone, just like I said
The good old days are dead
Better get it through your head
As you harken to
The clang of The Yankee Reaper
(Mike —) It's like I said
The good old days are dead
As you harken to
The clang of the Yankee Reaper

(Each member takes a line —) Out in the rude wild abandon
The Shah of Iran bought the plan
Seen with the Queen he was all smiles
He just bailed out the British Isles
It's time to drink tea from fine china
Just think of him when your light
Starts to dim

(Band harmonies —) Sun in the moonlight, in the moonlight

(Dennis —) Gone, just like I said
The good old days are dead
Better get it through your head
As you harken to
The clang of The Yankee Reaper
(Al —) It's like I said
The good old days are dead
As you harken to
The clang of the Yankee Reaper

(Massed harmonies —) Harken to the clang of the Yankee Reaper
The good old days are dead
As you harken to clang of the Yankee Reaper...

[the captain]

Buddy Holly's "Words of Love" if done in the mid-60s, a full, lush production. Those gorgeous 2-part harmonies could have been fleshed out in true Wilsonian splendor. Or for you Brits, Canadians, and Aussies, splendour.

[hypehat]

Any of the Spectorheads here think that the cover of 'Then I Kissed Her' is seriously weak in the production stakes?

[Austin]

Any of the Spectorheads here think that the cover of 'Then I Kissed Her' is seriously weak in the production stakes?

I thought the stereo remix on The Warmth of the Sun helped quite a bit. That said, "Then He Kissed Me" is still more grand to these ears.

[Beach Head]

I'll name two:


B.J. Thomas' "Rock And Roll Lullaby"

It was rumored for many years that The Beach Boys did the backing vocals, so why not make it a reality?


Elton John's "Take Me Down To The Ocean"

The B-side of "Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)." Could there be more perfect lyrics for The Beach Boys?

[Mike's Beard]

Buddy Holly's "Words of Love" if done in the mid-60s, a full, lush production. Those gorgeous 2-part harmonies could have been fleshed out in true Wilsonian splendor. Or for you Brits, Canadians, and Aussies, splendour.

I reckon they would have made a really good job with this one.  What I love about this thread is that with every suggestion I find myself running the existing version through my head and imagine what the BB's would do with it.