I was a Bum, I told a Lie....

[matt-zeus]

I thought 'Dancing the night away' was done aound this time too, the backing track sounds similar to the rest of the stuff and Carl sings at the end.

[Rocker]

I thought 'Dancing the night away' was done aound this time too, the backing track sounds similar to the rest of the stuff and Carl sings at the end.

Sounds like Carl and Mike (maybe also Al and Bruce) doing a fantastic vocal arrangement. That "somewhere near Malibu" knock me out everytime I hear it. Awesome. Wish they would have finished it. I'd like to see the video of the sessions to that song.

BTW did Matt Jardine join them in the studio ?

[c-man]

I thought 'Dancing the night away' was done aound this time too, the backing track sounds similar to the rest of the stuff and Carl sings at the end.

Sounds like Carl and Mike (maybe also Al and Bruce) doing a fantastic vocal arrangement. That "somewhere near Malibu" knock me out everytime I hear it. Awesome. Wish they would have finished it. I'd like to see the video of the sessions to that song.

BTW did Matt Jardine join them in the studio ?

"Dancing The Night Away" was recorded earlier in '95, without Al or Bruce.  It's reportedly Brian, Carl (on guitar as well as vocals), Mike, both Paley Brothers (drums, bass), and I think Michael Andreas on sax. 

Yes, Matt is on "Soul Searchin'" and "Still A Mystery".

[Rocker]

I thought 'Dancing the night away' was done aound this time too, the backing track sounds similar to the rest of the stuff and Carl sings at the end.

Sounds like Carl and Mike (maybe also Al and Bruce) doing a fantastic vocal arrangement. That "somewhere near Malibu" knock me out everytime I hear it. Awesome. Wish they would have finished it. I'd like to see the video of the sessions to that song.

BTW did Matt Jardine join them in the studio ?

"Dancing The Night Away" was recorded earlier in '95, without Al or Bruce.  It's reportedly Brian, Carl (on guitar as well as vocals), Mike, both Paley Brothers (drums, bass), and I think Michael Andreas on sax. 

Yes, Matt is on "Soul Searchin'" and "Still A Mystery".

Cool, thanks for that.
As I said, that "Somewhere near Malibu" just blows my mind. Awesome stuff !!
If anybody has the video to the sessions, please upload it to youtube...

[southbay]

nm

[NightHider]

Thanks for the responses! 

Was there ever any band comments or official explanation around this timereferencing why the work/album was never completed(as if any self respecting BB fan needs an explanation as to why something didn't work out!!)  Was the album tentatively titled?

[c-man]

Thanks for the responses! 

Was there ever any band comments or official explanation around this timereferencing why the work/album was never completed(as if any self respecting BB fan needs an explanation as to why something didn't work out!!)  Was the album tentatively titled?

I don't think it got that far.  The most I saw any BB comment on it was Bruce, in the pages of ESQ in '97.  He said Richard Branson was ready to sign them to his new V2 label, but wanted Brian & Mike writing the songs together.  According to Bruce, Brian's people wanted him to do a solo album first, and in the meantime, the Virgin deal evaporated.  There's also an issue of Uncut from '98 that focuses on Brian's "Imagination" album, and deals a bit with behind-the-scenes-stuff (like the guy from High Llamas being considered as producer of a new BBs album).  One thing I've heard is Carl didn't like the outcome of the two Don Was cuts "Soul Searchin'" and "Still A Mystery" (actually coproductions of Brian, Andy, and Don), but its important to remember that the versions we hear today are "composites" of earlier Brian/Andy backing tracks and the BBs vocals from the Was sessions...if he'd heard the "Soul Searchin'" that WE all hear today, I think Carl might've been pleased...to me, that song's a smash, and could've brought the Boys a lot of airplay and VH1 exposure if there'd been a video.  Just imagine Carl miming it as he walks down a street in the rain. 

[No. Fourteen]

So there were Was-produced backing tracks for SS and YSAM?  Do we know who participated (session players, etc.)?  Are they in "circulation"?

It really is a shame that Wilson-Paley stuff didn't get released, with the Beach Boys or without (setting aside the GIOMH versions).

[Andrew G. Doe]

Thanks for the responses! 

Was there ever any band comments or official explanation around this timereferencing why the work/album was never completed(as if any self respecting BB fan needs an explanation as to why something didn't work out!!)  Was the album tentatively titled?

I don't think it got that far.  The most I saw any BB comment on it was Bruce, in the pages of ESQ in '97.  He said Richard Branson was ready to sign them to his new V2 label, but wanted Brian & Mike writing the songs together.  According to Bruce, Brian's people wanted him to do a solo album first, and in the meantime, the Virgin deal evaporated.  There's also an issue of Uncut from '98 that focuses on Brian's "Imagination" album, and deals a bit with behind-the-scenes-stuff (like the guy from High Llamas being considered as producer of a new BBs album).  One thing I've heard is Carl didn't like the outcome of the two Don Was cuts "Soul Searchin'" and "Still A Mystery" (actually coproductions of Brian, Andy, and Don), but its important to remember that the versions we hear today are "composites" of earlier Brian/Andy backing tracks and the BBs vocals from the Was sessions...if he'd heard the "Soul Searchin'" that WE all hear today, I think Carl might've been pleased...to me, that song's a smash, and could've brought the Boys a lot of airplay and VH1 exposure if there'd been a video.  Just imagine Carl miming it as he walks down a street in the rain. 

Reportedly, the pivotal moment came during the bv session for "Dancin' The Night Away": there was a disagreement, Carl left the session... and that was it.

[Alan Boyd]

I think the Beach Boys' vocal sessions for "Soul Searchin'" (November 1995) occurred some months after they were working on the "Baywatch Nights" tune. 

[Andrew G. Doe]

Apparently I've been fed a bum steer, then. 

[c-man]

So there were Was-produced backing tracks for SS and YSAM?  Do we know who participated (session players, etc.)?  Are they in "circulation"?

It really is a shame that Wilson-Paley stuff didn't get released, with the Beach Boys or without (setting aside the GIOMH versions).

There was a picture in Billboard from the Was-produced backing track session...I've got it somewhere, but haven't looked at it in years.  The players were basically the same ones who appear on the soundtrack for "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times".  I remember Paley was in the photo, along with (I think) Was and his engineer Rick Pekkonen (I'm sure I'm off on the last name), plus guitarists Waddy Wachtel and Mark Goldenberg (if I remember correctly), Benmont Tench, and I think the bassist was Bob Glaub.  Keltner was named but not pictured.  And no, these tracks are not in circulation.  Although I wonder if the organ solo from "SS" was salvaged...it's so Tench-like...

[c-man]

I think the Beach Boys' vocal sessions for "Soul Searchin'" (November 1995) occurred some months after they were working on the "Baywatch Nights" tune. 

There was an article in (I wanna say) "Entertainment" magazine from around April of '95 in which Brian and Mike talk about the session for "Baywatch Nights".  Brian says something like "When Carl put on the guitar, it tore the roof off the place!" (typical Brian hyperbole).  "Entertainment Tonight" (the TV show) also ran a spot on "Brian and Mike - together again" that April (I remember it was April, cause my niece was just born).  They were playing the song on a piano.

As for "Soul Searchin'" and "Still A Mystery", again there's a great description in ESQ of that session by the lucky, lucky Cindy Lee Berryhill, who was in the neighborhood and took a chance that there'd be some Beach Boys-related activity at Ocean Way that night.  Damn fine reading.

[matt-zeus]

Does anyone know who the players on the Paley sessions were? In the sleevenotes of GIOMH it gives the players on the album and there are a few names in there who are not in Brians current band (And obviously SS and SMITC originate from the mid 90s), but i've never been sure.
Is it any of the wrecking crew?
Is it Brian and Paley doing most of it?
Is it any of Brians current band?
The mysteries of the Beach Boys world continue.....(For me at least!)

[c-man]

Does anyone know who the players on the Paley sessions were? In the sleevenotes of GIOMH it gives the players on the album and there are a few names in there who are not in Brians current band (And obviously SS and SMITC originate from the mid 90s), but i've never been sure.
Is it any of the wrecking crew?
Is it Brian and Paley doing most of it?
Is it any of Brians current band?
The mysteries of the Beach Boys world continue.....(For me at least!)

The instrumentalists on the Wilson-Paley sessions were primarily Wilson and Paley (especially Paley).  They got some help from people like Andy's brother Jonathan, Tommy Morgan (from the Wrecking Crew) on harmonica, and probably a couple of others I can't think of at the moment.  Gayle Leavant did some harp.  But nobody from Brian's eventual touring band.

[matt-zeus]

Does anyone know who the players on the Paley sessions were? In the sleevenotes of GIOMH it gives the players on the album and there are a few names in there who are not in Brians current band (And obviously SS and SMITC originate from the mid 90s), but i've never been sure.
Is it any of the wrecking crew?
Is it Brian and Paley doing most of it?
Is it any of Brians current band?
The mysteries of the Beach Boys world continue.....(For me at least!)

The instrumentalists on the Wilson-Paley sessions were primarily Wilson and Paley (especially Paley).  They got some help from people like Andy's brother Jonathan, Tommy Morgan (from the Wrecking Crew) on harmonica, and probably a couple of others I can't think of at the moment.  Gayle Leavant did some harp.  But nobody from Brian's eventual touring band.

Thanks. I love the sound on it, it's very energetic and fresh sounding, much more than any of the studio work afterwards (including BWPS).

[Wilsonista]

Apparently I've been fed a bum steer, then. 

*koff koff* That's what I had been saying for months! *koff koff*

[Wilsonista]

I think the Beach Boys' vocal sessions for "Soul Searchin'" (November 1995) occurred some months after they were working on the "Baywatch Nights" tune. 

There was an article in (I wanna say) "Entertainment" magazine from around April of '95 in which Brian and Mike talk about the session for "Baywatch Nights".  Brian says something like "When Carl put on the guitar, it tore the roof off the place!" (typical Brian hyperbole).  "Entertainment Tonight" (the TV show) also ran a spot on "Brian and Mike - together again" that April (I remember it was April, cause my niece was just born).  They were playing the song on a piano.

As for "Soul Searchin'" and "Still A Mystery", again there's a great description in ESQ of that session by the lucky, lucky Cindy Lee Berryhill, who was in the neighborhood and took a chance that there'd be some Beach Boys-related activity at Ocean Way that night.  Damn fine reading.

Thank you  Craig and Alan for setting the timeline straight.  I do remember reading CLB's account of the session in ESQ. My favorite quote: a sarcastic jab from Brian directed toward Mike that went something like "Mike, do you need your Maharishi robe to sing this song?" (This was after Mike had levied a couple of doozies toward Brian including one about not being paid any lawsuit money).

[Andrew G. Doe]

Apparently I've been fed a bum steer, then. 

*koff koff* That's what I had been saying for months! *koff koff*

I'd see the doctor about that cough iffn I were you. 

[NightHider]

So let's talk about Sweet Insanity which shortly followed the Paley sessions(I believe?).  Anything here we haven't heard on GIOMH or things unreleased, different or worthwhile?

[c-man]

So let's talk about Sweet Insanity which shortly followed the Paley sessions(I believe?).  Anything here we haven't heard on GIOMH or things unreleased, different or worthwhile?

"Sweet Insanity" actually PRECEDED the Paley sessions by roughly 5 years.  Plenty of otherwise unreleased stuff.  General consensus (OK, not really...just my opinion) is there are some strong melodies, great Brian vocals (lead & harmony), saccarine Landy-manipulated production (in places), and anti-Wilson family Landy-manipulated (or penned) lyrics.  Still (again in my opinion) it has a few great Brian songs, including one of my all-time faves, "Water Builds Up".  As an added plus, you get a cameo Bob Dylan vocal on one song (which is so bad, one clueless reviewer actually mistook it for Landy himself!).  And, in my opinion, the three songs that were re-recorded for "GIOMH" sound MUCH better on "Sweet Insanity".

[HeyJude]

So there were Was-produced backing tracks for SS and YSAM?  Do we know who participated (session players, etc.)?  Are they in "circulation"?

It really is a shame that Wilson-Paley stuff didn't get released, with the Beach Boys or without (setting aside the GIOMH versions).

There was a picture in Billboard from the Was-produced backing track session...I've got it somewhere, but haven't looked at it in years.  The players were basically the same ones who appear on the soundtrack for "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times".  I remember Paley was in the photo, along with (I think) Was and his engineer Rick Pekkonen (I'm sure I'm off on the last name), plus guitarists Waddy Wachtel and Mark Goldenberg (if I remember correctly), Benmont Tench, and I think the bassist was Bob Glaub.  Keltner was named but not pictured.  And no, these tracks are not in circulation.  Although I wonder if the organ solo from "SS" was salvaged...it's so Tench-like...

I had always thought that while the BB version of "Soul Searchin'" that we've always heard has the Was vocals on top of the Paley backing track, that "You're Still A Mystery" on the other hand features the Was-produced backing track, or at least some elements of the backing track produced by Was. I had heard about the paste job they did afterward for "Soul Searchin'", but I had never heard that they did the same to "You're Still a Mystery." That guitar riff that runs through it sounds like something Was would produce, but some of the other elements sounds a bit sparse like some of the Paley-produced stuff.

I've also always wondered about the Brian track "This Song Wants to Sleep With You Tonight." It was written by Brian and Paley, and presumably cut during the Paley sessions. But it appeared on the European "Do It Again" single and was marked as having been produced by Don Was and Brian Wilson. I can hear the Was backing vocalists on the song, so Was did do some amount of work on the song. So I wonder whether "This Song Wants to Sleep...." was a case of Was overdubbing onto the Paley recording, or if it was a completely new Was-produced recording. The track doesn't have the same sound as the other "IJWMFTT" soundtrack songs (apart from Was' backing vocalists), so I would guess it wasn't recorded at the "IJWMFTT" sessions.

As far as I can tell, the version of "This Song Wants...." that appears on various "Paley Sessions" compilations is just the commercially-released version, or at least the same mix as what was commercially released.

I remember an interview with Paley where he said that the original plan for the "IJWMFTT" documentary was for it be in black and white, and then near the end it would switch to color and have Brian performing "This Song Wants to Sleep With You Tonight." Too bad that never happened, although it's interesting that they got the song out as an obscure b-side. I also remember in that same interview that Paley commented that the BB's were so good at recording vocals that he felt the BB's could have cut all the vocals for all the stuff he had done with Brian in two days. He also praised Al Jardine's singing in particular.

Regarding comments about the Paley/Was BB sessions, Al Jardine was asked about it briefly during a 2000 interview. Most of that interview was printed in an issue of "Goldmine", but the bit where he talks about the Paley/Was sessions was cut out but later showed up in a different edit of the interview in another magazine, something like "Record Collector." I think Al indicated it was Carl's dissatisfaction with the material that stopped the sessions from continuing. As I recall, Al said he liked the material. But I'm going off of memory, because I only actually have the Goldmine version of the interview.

[matt-zeus]

If you got the best tracks off Sweet Insanity and the Paley sessions you would have a solid gold album! - sort of what they tried to do with GIOMH, but they chose the wrong tracks!

[Andrew G. Doe]

If you got the best tracks off Sweet Insanity and the Paley sessions you would have a solid gold album! - sort of what they tried to do with GIOMH, but they chose the wrong tracks!

And the wrong executive producer.

[Rocker]

@HeyJude:

I believe Paley, Brian and Danny Hutton are singing on "This song wants to sleep with you tonight".
And was the plan really to play this song in a colour-segment of IJWMFTT? I thought it was during "Love&Mercy". Actually L&M has a moment in the recording which would be perfect for a change between b&w and colour.