Thread for various insignificant questions that don't deserve their own thread!

[modestmaus]

What Beach Boys songs have (melodic) humming in them? Off the top of my head I know "Little Honda" and "Vegetables"/"Vega-Tables" have that sort of thing going in them. And no, the 'hum-de-dum' stuff in "Good Vibrations" does not count. haha.

[Jay]

Little Honda?  Where?

[Andrew G. Doe]

How frequently, if at all, was Chuck Britz interviewed in-depth about engineering the group? Are these online anywhere I could easily read them?

Used to be a series of interviews (or one long one just sliced up) with Chuck on YouTube, by a Dutch fan in 1993. Fascinating to hear him talk although, as with so many of that era, his recall isn't 100%.

Just checked the links - all dead.  

[modestmaus]

Little Honda?  Where?

The background vocals on the verses (particularly noticeable on the 2nd verse, imo). It fits the motorbike theme of the song to have motor-like humming in the background but at the same time it's done in a way that fits the rhythm of the song, so yeah, really clever & I love it a lot. Certainly more subtle than the more 'up front' humming on Vegetables, so you really have to listen for it (more noticeable with a pair of headphones than over the speakers)

[Alex]

What Beach Boys songs have (melodic) humming in them? Off the top of my head I know "Little Honda" and "Vegetables"/"Vega-Tables" have that sort of thing going in them. And no, the 'hum-de-dum' stuff in "Good Vibrations" does not count. haha.

Country Air

[hypehat]

What exactly prevented First Love from being released back in 1978? Were the legal troubles that far back?

I thought it was just no-one wanted to touch it with a bargepole. Which may be unfair, but if I as a label exec was presented with Daybreak Over The Ocean as a six minute epic, I'd have probably passed too. I haven't given it much attention either way, but my Beach Boys masochism isn't strong at the moment so I'm not going to jam out to First Love

[Andrew G. Doe]

My understanding is that in the early 80s, First Love - which BTW isn't at all bad - was revamped (remixed, partly re-recorded) in an attempt to get it out there, which is why two distinctly different versions exist. However, there's some kind of legal hassle with the backers of that project (who I think I once read, or was told, were German... but I might be imagining that) thus it's not been released in either form. Country Love remains unreleased because, simply, it sucks. As for his 'new' album, I have no idea why that's not been released.

[hypehat]

I'm now imagining some Back To The Future esque scenario where Mike is chased around a car park by some Germans in a camper van as they try to seize the mastertapes.

Thanks for clearing that up!

[punkinhead]

I was reading Mike's little biography in the Wikipedia page and it said that first love had some tracks that were later given to BeachBoys albums which I thought was kind of odd I think maybe only Sumahama would be in that category


Anyone know what that's referring to?

[punkinhead]

First love is like the Christmas tree from the Charlie Brown special it just needs a little love to make it nice.   

[punkinhead]

What Beach Boys songs have (melodic) humming in them? Off the top of my head I know "Little Honda" and "Vegetables"/"Vega-Tables" have that sort of thing going in them. And no, the 'hum-de-dum' stuff in "Good Vibrations" does not count. haha.

Little pad?

[smile-holland]

What Beach Boys songs have (melodic) humming in them? Off the top of my head I know "Little Honda" and "Vegetables"/"Vega-Tables" have that sort of thing going in them. And no, the 'hum-de-dum' stuff in "Good Vibrations" does not count. haha.

Country Air

Heroes And Villains (Sunny Down Snuff part)

[Andrew G. Doe]

I was reading Mike's little biography in the Wikipedia page and it said that first love had some tracks that were later given to BeachBoys albums which I thought was kind of odd I think maybe only Sumahama would be in that category


Anyone know what that's referring to?

"Daybreak" and "Brian's Back".

[Disney Boy (1985)]

Andrew, quick query: I'm about to buy your 'Guide to the Beach Boys' book online. Which is the more recent, updated edition? The one with the blue cover or the one with the colour group photo? Many thanks!

[Andrew G. Doe]

b/w group pic in striped shirts - 1997, 37,000 words, give or take...

blue cover - 2004, 54,000 words, more or less...

color group shot - there isn't one.

Just out of interest, how much are they going for ?

[Disney Boy (1985)]

Blue cover edition purchased. It was £19. Looking forward to reading it!

[punkinhead]

I was reading Mike's little biography in the Wikipedia page and it said that first love had some tracks that were later given to BeachBoys albums which I thought was kind of odd I think maybe only Sumahama would be in that category


Anyone know what that's referring to?

"Daybreak" and "Brian's Back".

What's odd is the wiki reference I was referring to was the big WIKI BB History book, which I bought mine before TWGMTR was ever thought of...So really, all they meant was Brian's Back...for a rarities album.

And maybe referring to First Love being re-recorded for Celebration II?

[Andrew G. Doe]

Blue cover edition purchased. It was £19. Looking forward to reading it!

Bargain ! I've not seen it for less that £35 for many years.

[Steve Mayo]

wow..i must have gotten a steal on it. after the fire one of the first books i rebought was the 2004 edition...still has the price sticker on it for $6.95. i feel a little better now....

[Rich Panteluk]

I have several copies of the updated com guide book.  I'm a weirdo who buys multiples of many BB/BW items.  Tis a sickness that I can't find a cure to says the wife.  Great book (although my tastes differ with some of AGD's reviews, it is a wonderful and handy resource).  They were all under $10.  Maybe I should throw 'em on ebay and try to get the SOTs I am missing with the cash...

[punkinhead]

Mr. Doe, are you going to do a 3rd update? There's quite a bit of solo stuff and greatest hits/slight rarities package to catch up on.

I'm sure its a pain in the neck, but I would kill to have a spotlight opportunity such as yours to write my opinions and found information about the wonderful music that has came out in the past 10 years or so.

And I think I asked you this before, but all the info you have on the Bellagio site, what were your sources for all the unreleased information?
Also, can you publish any of that information in a book? Not me, but you, as AGD, can you publish a book about those songs and albums and write about them without some legal shananigins?

[Andrew G. Doe]

It's up to my publishers to ask me for a 3rd update (likelihood - remote), but I do plan to put a section on 10452 for updates and corrections.

My sources for the unreleased material are published sources - you'd be amazed what's out there: copyright organizations such as BMI have a wealth of info - 'collectors' tapes, the artists involved, studio documentation, other sources and when all that fails, I just make it up. As for circumventing lawsuits, the liberal use of "reportedly", "I understand", "I'm led to believe" and "allegedly" can be immensely helpful.

[Jay]

Prior to participating in the C50 tour, Did Brian ever "quit" the beach boys? It seems like he was around less and less starting somewhere around  the early 1990's. Actually, going by Eric Aniversario's(I hope I spelled that right) website, it appears that Brian's beach boy's activity diminished quite a bit after Dennis died.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Check out the Gigs & Sessions section on 10452, which details, where possible, Brian's presence at all shows since 1961 (yes, he was skipping shows as early as 1963). His last show with the band before the 2012 Grammys was September 8th 1996 in Chicago. Prior to that, his presence was increasingly sporadic. Here's a rundown from 1980:

1980     77   61
1981   112   all
1982   142   69
1983   124   44
1984   106     2
1985     97     4
1986   108     2
1987   147   18
1988   144   11
1989   109      7
1990   107     9
1991   116     0
1992     81     0
1993   104     0
1994      69   0
1995     96     4
1996     70     3

[AndrewHickey]

It's up to my publishers to ask me for a 3rd update (likelihood - remote), but I do plan to put a section on 10452 for updates and corrections.

Assuming you own the copyright, have you considered self-publishing? It costs nothing to stick it up on Kindle, Lulu and Smashwords, and there's obviously a demand for it.