"Why Do Fools" Handclaps

[LeeDempsey]

I had the chance to hear the new stereo remix of "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" over the weekend.  Wow!!!  Phil Spector ain't got nothin' on Brian Wilson.  The instrumental intro is going to knock the socks off of even diehard Beach Boys fans!  It makes me wonder if Brian intended to put a spoken verse at the beginning, like some of Spector's records, but never completed it.

It made me pull out the single and LP versions of "Why Do Fools."  One thing I never noticed was that the album version has handclaps over the last 30 seconds or so that the single version doesn't.  The stereo remix doesn't have the handclaps, so I would have to assume that they were added as it was mixed to mono for the LP, and therefore the handclaps aren't on the multitrack.  Mark or Alan, care to comment?

Lee

[LeeDempsey]

As a coda to my last post, I seem to recall an interview with Chuck Girard of the Castells, where he said that he participated in the overdub of handclaps on "Why Do Fools."

Lee

[JeffRetro]

Pulling out the SHUT DOWN VOL. 2 CD and the "single" version from the COMPLETE U.S. SINGLES box I find these to be the same mix (with the "single" version recreated by grafting on a copy of the "Hmmm" section following the acapella break onto the intro as was done on the actual 1964 single version) with handclaps coming in after the "Hmmm's" at a low volume and being pushed up when the castanets and all come in for the final verse and tag.

But pulling out the actual single reveals louder handclaps starting during the instrumental break and continuing through the rest of the song (except for the acapella break and the "hmmm" section).  There must have been two different mixdowns then, with different sets of handclapping, one for the single, one for the LP.

Also on the 45 the edit between the intro and the rest of the song is slightly off beat, which isn't the case on the "single" version on the box set (or THE WARMTH OF THE SUN).

[The Heartical Don]

where can I find that new stereo remix?

[SloopJohnB]

On the "Summer Love Songs" compilation, coming to a store near you in less than a week 

[The Heartical Don]

On the "Summer Love Songs" compilation, coming to a store near you in less than a week 

Thank you!

[Wrightfan]

Damn...

Is it next Tuesday yet? Between this, Don't Worry baby, Fallin' In Love, and others I can't wait.

[dogear]

Hi Lee, greetings from Germany, Gerhard

[Wrightfan]

The stereo remix doesn't have the handclaps, so I would have to assume that they were added as it was mixed to mono for the LP.

It seems that's always what they did (it's the same for All Dressed up for School as well)

[LeeDempsey]

On the "Summer Love Songs" compilation, coming to a store near you in less than a week 

Yeah, ESQ received an advance review copy, which is where I heard it.  I wasn't trying to brag; I was just that excited about it.  And after 30 years of collecting every morsel of Beach Boys / Brian Wilson that I can get my hands on, it takes a lot to excite me!

Lee

[Wrightfan]

On the "Summer Love Songs" compilation, coming to a store near you in less than a week 

Yeah, ESQ received an advance review copy, which is where I heard it.  I wasn't trying to brag; I was just that excited about it.  And after 30 years of collecting every morsel of Beach Boys / Brian Wilson that I can get my hands on, it takes a lot to excite me!

Lee

How are the other new tracks?

[SloopJohnB]

On the "Summer Love Songs" compilation, coming to a store near you in less than a week 

Yeah, ESQ received an advance review copy, which is where I heard it.  I wasn't trying to brag; I was just that excited about it.  And after 30 years of collecting every morsel of Beach Boys / Brian Wilson that I can get my hands on, it takes a lot to excite me!

Lee

How are the other new tracks?

They're good too! The new stereo mixes are a definite improvement (especially "Don't Worry Baby") and this new version of Dennis' "Lady", with its string intro, is nothing short of amazing.

[Andrew G. Doe]

I'm not thrilled with the remix of "Time To Get Alone" - yes, it's much cleaner, but the wonderful, magical reverberation on "deep and wide" is sorely missed.

[SloopJohnB]

I'm not thrilled with the remix of "Time To Get Alone" - yes, it's much cleaner, but the wonderful, magical reverberation on "deep and wide" is sorely missed.

On second thought, I wholeheartedly agree with that! I've just compared the new mix (which I had only heard on a crappy mp3 player until now) to the original mix and... Yes, that "magical" thing is gone. Oh well. The disc is worth buying for WDFFIL and Lady anyway

[Chris Brown]

I'm not thrilled with the remix of "Time To Get Alone" - yes, it's much cleaner, but the wonderful, magical reverberation on "deep and wide" is sorely missed.

They got rid of that?  Seriously?

[Jonas]

It's there for the most part, but the 20/20 mix sounds much bigger. It seems that specific track is mixed much louder and wider than on the new stereo mix (which feels buried in the mix). I'm gonna have to agree, that part definitely lacks the oomph thats in the original.