"I've been laying on my back, like a freight train off a track"

Does this seem to indicate Al was hit by a train while laying on the railroad tracks? Was he tied up? Inebriated? Too short to climb back up on the platform?

What is the information on 'Why' included on the MiC box set? Was it planned for an album? What year was it composed? Who plays on it?

All I know about "Why" is that it was composed and recorded in November of 1977 during the M.I.U. sessions. No vocals were ever cut, I doubt lyrics were even written for it either. I always assumed that "Why" was a placeholder title anyways!

I certainly would, I've always liked "Strange Things Happen" and "Still Surfin'"!

I was hoping he'd share his track listing of his "Brian-Approved" SMiLE, has he ever expanded on this in the past? Fantastic podcast BTW!

Thank you guys.  I'm feeling a bit better,  waiting to fund out something

We've all been worried sick, so glad to hear back from you!

Or is it "By God"? 

But seriously, listen to the A Cappella version, it's definitely "bygone".

Love at the end how they mention there might be a 1968 package next year.  Ya-hooo!!!

Keeping my fingers, toes, and eyeballs crossed!

Excellent podcast BTW. Though I'm a little surprised Linett and Boyd didn't address the "How She Boogalooed It" controversy surrounding the switch to mono halfway through. I'm aware that the tape for the organ overdub wasn't available, but couldn't they have just included an alternate full-stereo mix of the track without the organ? I'll admit that it's not that big of a deal though, and I'm greatly looking forward to any future archival releases from the dynamic duo of Beach Boys archivists!

Someone created a version of the BB version of GV similar to Brian Wilson's Smile version with both the hum-de-dums and the band singing "gotta keep those lovin'..."  To me that is the definitive one.

I think I've got that same version on my version of SMiLE here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L_kCJ2T-XI

Why does there have to be a competition between Justin Bieber and the Beach Boys anyway?  Why does it matter?

Because apparently it's 2010 again.

Does anyone know why Little Red Book wasnt released on this set! I think it would have made a great addition!


Fingures crossed for a friends album just as good as Sunshine Tomorrow!!!

That was (apparently) recorded during the sessions for Friends. It's debated that it was either recorded in February of 1967 or early 1968, but the tapes for the track were found packaged together with other Friends-era songs.

My dad told me he heard "Almost Summer" being played on the radio a few days ago. Props the the DJ for digging out such an obscure track!

I happened to find myself listening to the groups' cover of "Calendar Girl" today, and I've come to realize that it's actually a whole lot better than I realized. Needless to say, I'm a little obsessed with it right now. A stellar Brian Wilson production that is long overdue for an official release!

I agree! I absolutely love their version of "Calendar Girl." It definitely sounds like a Brian Wilson production, but I do remember there being talk of a "Brian version" and a "Bruce version" so, I'm interested what the widely circulated version is. I'm assuming it's Brian's because of the basic sound (and also that electronic bass he was using in the '70s).

The Brian-produced version is the one that circulates. The Bruce production, cut during the LA (Light Album) sessions, is apparently a disappointment compared to the earlier version. Not too surprising I'd say!

During the instrumental version of "Wonderful", when it gets to the freak-out/party section (from 1:13 to 1:50), has anyone else noticed that part of "Heroes and Villains" fits perfectly over it?

https://youtu.be/biUIN_x8jT4?t=1m11s

I thought I was the only person to ever notice that lol

One track I've been listening to a lot is the alternate "Whispering Winds" section of Wind Chimes. Such a breathtakingly beautiful piece by the group!

I happened to find myself listening to the groups' cover of "Calendar Girl" today, and I've come to realize that it's actually a whole lot better than I realized. Needless to say, I'm a little obsessed with it right now. A stellar Brian Wilson production that is long overdue for an official release!

Stephen, forgive me if you've already talked about this, but while re-watching the Contender Songs study video, I noticed that you skipped over any discussion on the track "When Girls Get Together". Being one of my favorite tracks from the group from this era, I was curious as to what the recording process for this track was. Also, apparently the track was going to appear on the group's last album for Capitol, but only as an instrumental. Why did they consider releasing an unfinished track to the public? Or was the track originally intended as an instrumental, only to be given lyrics after the last Capitol album was scrapped. While a beautiful track IMO, I can definitely understand why the boys scrapped it for Sunflower. I feel like it's just such a radically-different song compared to the rest of the tracks on the album. I'd assume that the group wouldn't want to risk including a song like "When Girls Get Together" on their first - and most important album for Reprise Records.

All You Need is Love, I can't stand this song, probably my least favorite Beatles song ever, right alongside Hello Goodbye.

Bash on Mike all you want, but I feel like the people who call him talentless are taking it a bit too far...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBFsJk6PWu0

Ever notice that Carl always wore those dark sunglasses when he was in something really embarrassing such as this? (ex. "Problem Child" music video, "Crocodile Rock" promo, etc). Can't say I don't blame him!

[October 2013] I dreamt that Brian had bitten 8000 people.

Don't suck with the formula!

Hell, Mike would have skipped out on his ninth wedding if it meant a chance to perform at the concert for George!

I've also heard another version of the "way too long, can't wait too long baby" chant, featuring an additional vocal overdub by Brian singing something like, "baby you know, I can't wait forever". Here's to hoping for more of this amazing song on a possible 1968 collection

Hello Goodbye

[1967:ST]

The Session Highlights from "Aren't You Glad" on 1967:ST----strewth! Mr E wasn't joking about getting very psyched!  

Man, those taped piano strings? Easily makes it sound like a SMiLE outtake, especially the early versions of "I Love to Say Dada". We were wrong, Brian was definitely still at the top of his game during the Wild Honey sessions. Only after his hospital visit in mid-68 did he start losing focus with the Beach Boys.

1967 version of Here Comes The Night

Brian's "Oooooooooo" at the end of the chorus is really the ass kicker.

With the new stereo remix, this has shot up to be my favorite track off of Wild Honey, just amazing.

Technically not a Beach Boys song, but holy hell, I've been obsessed recently with "Don't Run Away" by Bruce and Terry. A Beach Boys version would have kicked ass, it doesn't help that Terry's lead during the bridge already sounds a lot like Brian! This could have fit on Pet Sounds, easily.

Seriously, I don't think George ever brought up his "deep, spiritual" friendship with him like Mike does in every single interview nowadays.

Does anybody else think that the MiC version of Country Air sounds better than the Sunshine Tomorrow version? The vocals are mixed better in the MiC version, in my opinion.

I prefer the older stereo mixes of both Country Air and Let the Wind Blow.