so what's the story on Gettin In Over My Head

[Runaways]

so, i haven't gotten this album, mostly cause i keep hearing bad things about it.  But in 30 second clips it doesn't soound bad at all.  More appealing than BW88 and Imagination to me.  the instrumentation all sounds good to me.  

now, i've heard that brian wasn't into it at all, and that it's been practically disowned.  Is there a reason why?  Did Brian really not have much to do with it?  I dunno, sounds like there's some solid hooks in there, even the harmonies sound nice.  if he wasn't into it, seems like a big waste of some songs with potential.

[Shane]

I think a lot of fans are jaded because most of the album is made up of older, unreleased songs that were re-recorded.  Supposedly, in many cases, the original versions were better.  However, for someone who had not previously heard the original recordings to compare, the album does stand up on it's own.

[Andrew G. Doe]

so, i haven't gotten this album, mostly cause i keep hearing bad things about it.  But in 30 second clips it doesn't soound bad at all.  More appealing than BW88 and Imagination to me.  the instrumentation all sounds good to me.  

now, i've heard that brian wasn't into it at all, and that it's been practically disowned.  Is there a reason why?  Did Brian really not have much to do with it?  I dunno, sounds like there's some solid hooks in there, even the harmonies sound nice.  if he wasn't into it, seems like a big waste of some songs with potential.

1. Brian's vocal performance is, to be kind, disinterested on the new recordings. Some of his bvs are truly lamentable.

2. The best tracks were all recorded at least six months (and in one case closer to ten years) earlier.

3. The mix could be a lot better (and I reiterate, from what I've been told, not Mark's fault)

4. The track selection was... interesting

5. Overall, it sucks.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Works good if you listen to it more of an "official bootleg" . As an album, it sucks.  Collection of previously unreleased song, it's alright.

"The flowers diiiiiiiieeeeeeddddd" on Fairy Tale is quite possibly the worst note I've heard by anybody anywhere.

[absinthe_boy]

If you're expecting or hoping for a coherent album like Pet Sounds, then you'll be sorely disappointed. If you take it as a collection of (mostly good) songs written over a 15 year period and which had previously gone without release then you probably won't be disappointed.

AGD is correct that Brian has lost interest by the time some of the vocals were recorded....that goes for leads and backing. He's excited about and interested in some tracks....and couldn't care less about others. And we know Brian will simply not give a good performance if he's not into it.

I wouldn't say "overall it sucks" but it's a 6/10 record....it has some nice songs on it for sure but its not great. There are moments when you'll think "Hey, that is really nice" and moments when you will think "Oh god, how could Brian have let that be released?"

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Forgot to say this earlier, but still better than Speed Turtle!

[rogerlancelot]

I really enjoyed the cd when it came out. It was the soundtrack to my summer of 2004. However when BWPS came out it was kind of easy to forget.

I still will take it over Imagination any day! And I never want to hear Sweet Insanity EVER again!

[phirnis]

I don't think I prefer GIOMH over Imagination. The abysmal nature of Joe Thomas' production is hard to ignore but at least it was kind of an ambitious project and Brian's overall vocal performance was quite remarkable. That said, I hardly ever listen to either record. Sometimes I do and after a couple of minutes I put on Today or Love You instead.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

I used to despise Imagination until I recently came across an alternate mix of the album. I have no idea where it came from or who did it, but IMHO is much better than the released version (despite being obviously unfinished). There were actually some really cool parts buried in the mix on many tracks...I think "overproduced" is a good description...

[MBE]

I have the 2 LP set. The first LP has a few good songs like Desert Drive and City Blues. Most of it is medicore. The production is better then on his 80's and 90's work. More natural. That's about the only good thing I can say. 4/10

[rogerlancelot]

I only really like 3 songs from Imagination: "She Says That She Needs Me", "Lay Down Burden" and "Happy Days". I have no problem with the production actually, I just find the bulk of songs underwhelming.

GIOMH on the other hand is full of quirky songs like "Saturday Morning In The City", "Rainbow Eyes", "The Waltz", etc. It's been a while since I've listened to it (since the summer it came out actually) but I remember playing it over and over. Maybe I would have a change of heart if I heard it now. I still prefer the Paley sessions over both of those albums.

GIOMH gets a lot of bad criticism which I think is unfair. Surely it's better than Going Pubic or First Love for instance???

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

GIOMH gets a lot of bad criticism which I think is unfair. Surely it's better than Going Pubic or First Love for instance???

Nothing beats Going Pubic, esp. when you're wife is hot like mine. ^_^

[Nicko]

GIOMH gets a lot of bad criticism which I think is unfair. Surely it's better than Going Public or First Love for instance???

No, I really don't think so. I would say that the latter of those albums is comfortably superior.

The problems with GIOMH:

1, Mostly juvenile and dire lyrics.
2, Some of the worst vocals ever recorded by a Beach Boy.
3, The mix.
4, Almost all old songs.
5, The sequencing.
6, The horrible feeling that Brian was pushed into the studio to record and couldn't wait to get out.

4 out of 10 and that certainly isn't harsh imo.

[filledeplage]

If you're expecting or hoping for a coherent album like Pet Sounds, then you'll be sorely disappointed. If you take it as a collection of (mostly good) songs written over a 15 year period and which had previously gone without release then you probably won't be disappointed.

AGD is correct that Brian has lost interest by the time some of the vocals were recorded....that goes for leads and backing. He's excited about and interested in some tracks....and couldn't care less about others. And we know Brian will simply not give a good performance if he's not into it.

I wouldn't say "overall it sucks" but it's a 6/10 record....it has some nice songs on it for sure but its not great. There are moments when you'll think "Hey, that is really nice" and moments when you will think "Oh god, how could Brian have let that be released?"

I think it is kind of a neat little collection...in fact, I would love to see the Beach Boys cover " How Could We Still Be Dancin'?" - it is a real rocker...and begs the question "Why do we really still love this music?" - And the answer might be because it still "sings to us" and it is so "in your face" to that world who much maligned rock and roll as the music of the Devil himself.  I could see Mike Love doing real justice to this song, as much as "Rock and Roll Music!"

It is awesome to once again hear the voice of Carl...on Soul Searchin' - the first time I heard the cut, I got a chill from the great one who sings "from heaven" - and "Fairy Tale" - does  anyone even wonder if Brian is singing to a woman's perspective...even though, we still make up half the planet! ("reverse the curse" - reminds me of a 'certain' baseball team who did that in 2004)
It is a given that most of the posters here are men, so why not step back and look at it from our perspective...what would appeal to a woman's psyche? 

"Don't Let Her Know She's and Angel" and "The Waltz" - are pretty much in the same category...and while the 6/10 assessment is pretty dead on, it is not bad song writing.  This is another one where I did not hear much promo, not unlike Brian's Gershwin...and it seems they did not use much, if anything, in the live context. 

But, before all you guys are so harsh with it, why not ask a woman what she thinks?  I think the lyrics of "The Waltz" are hilarious but also, not far from the 1960's mentality was, with the "angora sweaters, two steps forward and one step right back to your youth" and, for Van Dyke Parks, more "concrete"  than his "columnated ruins domino."  It seems that during that time there were a lot of back-to-back releases from Brian.  Every song is not a block-buster but it might have had some stuff that is just personally-reflective for Brian.     

[punkinhead]

so, i haven't gotten this album, mostly cause i keep hearing bad things about it.  But in 30 second clips it doesn't soound bad at all.  More appealing than BW88 and Imagination to me.  the instrumentation all sounds good to me.  

now, i've heard that brian wasn't into it at all, and that it's been practically disowned.  Is there a reason why?  Did Brian really not have much to do with it?  I dunno, sounds like there's some solid hooks in there, even the harmonies sound nice.  if he wasn't into it, seems like a big waste of some songs with potential.

1. Brian's vocal performance is, to be kind, disinterested on the new recordings. Some of his bvs are truly lamentable.

2. The best tracks were all recorded at least six months (and in one case closer to ten years) earlier.

3. The mix could be a lot better (and I reiterate, from what I've been told, not Mark's fault)

4. The track selection was... interesting

5. Overall, it sucks.

what tracks do you refer to?

[summerinparadise.flac]

I'll take the 80's and 90's AOR production over the garbage on GIOMH anyday.

[Wirestone]

what tracks do you refer to?

Desert Drive was recorded in an earlier session (2002, I think). The title track comes from 98 or so, immediately after the Imagination sessions. The tracks for both Soul Searchin and SMITC (and much of the backing vocals for the latter) come from 94-95.

[absinthe_boy]

  This is another one where I did not hear much promo, not unlike Brian's Gershwin...and it seems they did not use much, if anything, in the live context. 

GIOMH was promoted somewhat by default, as when it was released everybody concerned was also looking forward to SMiLE which had already been performed live to great acclaim and many headlines.

Brian appeared on numerous TV shows, perhaps not specifically to promote GIOMH but it was usually mentioned. He was just in the media spotlight a lot because of SMiLE.....GIOMH sales will have benefitted from that.

But, before all you guys are so harsh with it, why not ask a woman what she thinks?  I think the lyrics of "The Waltz" are hilarious but also, not far from the 1960's mentality was, with the "angora sweaters, two steps forward and one step right back to your youth" and, for Van Dyke Parks, more "concrete"  than his "columnated ruins domino."  It seems that during that time there were a lot of back-to-back releases from Brian.  Every song is not a block-buster but it might have had some stuff that is just personally-reflective for Brian.     

Many of Brian's songs might be considered to be tapping into his feminine side. That might make it easier for a woman to take them the way they're intended, or to listen to songs about deep feelings without cringing. Personally I am in touch with my feelings anyway.

Soul Searchin' and GIOMH were performed on the SMiLE tour, I doubt anything else has been...wait a minute I think Desert Drive was at some concerts.

[rogerlancelot]

"City Blues" was also performed on the same tour but it wasn't as strong without Clapton on guitar.

[Smilin Ed H]

City Blues, too.

[Smilin Ed H]

You beat me!

[Wirestone]

They also performed "How Could We Still Be Dancin" at a couple of shows.

Brian has performed more songs from GIOMH on his solo tours than from BW88.

[Andrew G. Doe]

They also performed "How Could We Still Be Dancin" at a couple of shows.

Brian has performed more songs from GIOMH on his solo tours than from BW88.

Of course - it was the current release on the 2nd 2004 tour.

[hypehat]

Desert Drive stayed til 2005, at least, cos I remember seeing him play it in Brighton that year!

AGD, I've been meaning to ask - were you at that show?

[the captain]

Before one of the GIOMH tunes in the Glasgow BWPS show--really early March '04, I guess--he introduced one of the tunes as being from his next album along the lines of "..which will be coming out on my next album, in ... actually, I don't know when it's coming out." The audience laughed. Obviously, this being a fucking Smile show. One of my favorite BW concert moments.