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THE BEACH BOYS ANNOUNCE 50TH ANNIVERSARY REUNION, NEW ALBUM AND TOUR

 
Legendary Band’s Golden Anniversary CELEBRATION to Include a New Capitol Album

And Commemorative Catalog Releases, a Major International Tour and More!

 

Hollywood, California – December 16, 2011 – The founding members of The Beach Boys, one of the world’s most legendary bands in popular music history, will reunite for a global 50th Anniversary CELEBRATION in 2012.  Beach Boys Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston, and David Marks will come together for a new studio album and commemorative catalog releases with Capitol/EMI and a 50-date international tour to begin in April with a headlining performance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (“Jazz Fest”) as well as other exciting events to be announced.

 

Brian Wilson says, “This anniversary is special to me because I miss the boys and it will be a thrill for me to make a new record and be on stage with them again.”

 

Mike Love says, "We got together at Capitol Records and re-recorded ‘Do It Again.’  Brian and I wrote that song which went to number 1 in Great Britain, Australia and elsewhere some 44 years ago.  Brian paid me a compliment saying, ‘How can a guy sound that great so many years later?’  Later on, while working out some harmonies on a new song Brian had written, I got a chance to return the compliment.  It was a thrill to be around a piano again with Brian, Alan and Bruce and experience firsthand the brilliance of Cousin Brian's gift for vocal arrangements.  I am very much looking forward to David Marks joining us and thrilling with his surf guitar licks.  Music has been the unifying and harmonizing fact of life in our family since childhood.  It has been a huge blessing that we have been able to share with the world.  Wouldn't It Be Nice to Do It Again?  Absolutely!”

 

Al Jardine says, “The Beach Boys were recently inducted into the California Hall of Fame. From our humble beginnings as brothers, cousins and friends, we have been honored to sing the praises of California, and I'm really excited for our fans to be able to see us again in concert on the world stage, and to celebrate our 50th anniversary together with a new studio album.”

 

Bruce Johnston says, "I will be looking forward to singing Brian Wilson's melodies and Mike Love's lyrics once again in concert with many of the original band members, but imagine what we all could come up with vocally in a recording studio atmosphere under Brian's musical direction."

 

David Marks says, "I'm really looking forward to celebrating this important milestone in The Beach Boys’ history with the other guys, and with Capitol Records - where it all began 50 years ago. It means a lot to me that we can all reunite and pay tribute to the fans who have kept the music alive."

 

The Beach Boys have already recorded several songs for their new album, to be released in 2012 by Capitol/EMI, with more tracks to be recorded before its completion.  The as-yet-untitled album, the first to feature all of the band’s surviving original members in decades, is being produced by Brian Wilson and executive produced by Mike Love. 

 

The Beach Boys and Capitol/EMI have also teamed up for a 50th Anniversary campaign spotlighting the band’s entire catalog, with several new commemorative releases planned for 2012, including a new hits collection and a career-spanning box set.

 

Roger Faxon, CEO of EMI Group commented: “It's no exaggeration to say that The Beach Boys are one of the greatest and most loved bands that the world has ever produced, and true American icons. We are incredibly proud to take this next step with them as our partnership enters its fiftieth year, and I can't wait to see the band back together doing what they do better than anyone else."

 

Colin Finkelstein, COO of EMI Music North America said: "We’re honored to continue Capitol/EMI’s historic partnership with The Beach Boys as they celebrate their fiftieth anniversary.  The Beach Boys bring the best of California’s sun and surf culture to people all over the world with their music, and we're really looking forward to working with the band on the new album and commemorative catalog releases - a real CELEBRATION of fifty years!"

 

Quint Davis, producer/director, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival says, “It’s an honor to present the original Beach Boys reunion at Jazz Fest 2012.  Hosting the greatest artists of our era has always been the primary mission of Jazz Fest, and certainly The Beach Boys are unsurpassed as an iconic American musical and cultural institution. Every spring Jazz Fest is the number-one destination for good vibrations and fun, fun, fun; on April 27th, when The Beach Boys reunite on our biggest stage, it’s going to feel like a thrilling homecoming for everyone lucky enough to be there.  We’re all looking forward to experiencing the magic and the joy.”

 

Founded in Hawthorne, California in 1961, The Beach Boys were originally comprised of the three teenaged Wilson brothers: Brian, Carl and Dennis, their cousin Mike Love, and school friend Al Jardine.  In 1962, neighbor David Marks joined the group for their first wave of hits on Capitol Records, leaving in late 1963, and in 1965, Bruce Johnston joined the band when Brian Wilson retired from touring to focus on writing and producing records for the group.  For five decades, America’s first pop band to reach the 50 year milestone has recorded and performed the music that has become the world’s favorite soundtrack to summer.

 

The Beach Boys signed with Capitol Records in July 1962 and released their first album, Surfin’ Safari, that same year. The album spent 37 weeks on the Billboard chart, launching the young group known for its shimmering vocal harmonies and relaxed California style into international stardom.  The Wilson/Love collaboration resulted in many huge international chart hits, and under Brian Wilson’s musical leadership, the band’s initial surf-rock focus was soon broadened to include other themes, making The Beach Boys America’s preeminent band of the 1960s.

 

In 1966, The Beach Boys were one of the first bands to found its own record label with the launch of Brother Records, Inc. (BRI), with the band’s members as its shareholders and Capitol Records as its distribution partner.  BRI continues to manage The Beach Boys’ intellectual property, including the band’s catalog with Capitol/EMI and other label partners, as well as its name, logos, image and likeness.

 

The Beach Boys continue to hold Billboard / Nielsen SoundScan’s record as the top-selling American band for albums and singles, and they are also the American group with the most Billboard Top 40 chart hits (36).  ‘Sounds Of Summer: The Very Best Of The Beach Boys’ is fast approaching triple-Platinum sales status, and ‘The SMiLE Sessions,’ released to worldwide critical acclaim in November, has been heralded as 2011’s #1 Reissue of the Year by Rolling Stone magazine.

 

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and recipients of The Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement GRAMMY Award, The Beach Boys are an American institution that is iconic around the world.

 

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow :).

Faaaaaack:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tS2orIE2QUQ&feature=digest_fri

http://www.thebeachboys.com/reunion/index.html

video

Is that the unmistakable sounds of The Fosketter singing the flasetto part?  :lol

That actually sounds pretty good

Anyone else notice the "Commemorative Catalog Releases?"
Hope there's some new stuff/stereo mixes.

I am glad to read that David Marks appears to be a full participant in both recording and touring. Does this mean he is now officially a Beach Boy again?

I would think so..

I'm happy for him

Well it's quite an golden age for being an Beach Boys fan isn't it?. New tour, New album, Re-releases too. Glad I'm now working after being out of work for a few months. I will be able to save up to see the tour & the Stone Roses all in the same year :)

That was randum

Does anyone else get the feeling that with reissues planned, "Wouldn't it be Nice to Live Again" has a pretty good chance of finally getting a release?

There they are. Chills.

I can't say how I know but I just found out what the new compilation will be called..

"50 summer greats"

 ::)

Just fainted a little.

AV IT  ;D

Who is the drummer in that video and who is the guy playing guitar with Nick and Scott. (I don't follow Mikes band .)

Wow, this to me seems so unreal. Since I got into the boys in 2005 I wanted a reunion that much and finally we get it and I can't find words or even realize that statement. Someone wake me up, this is a dream!

Sounds very dry and inoffensive. Not sure what to think about it. Probably could have turned out much worse.

Wow. Next year is going to be amazing.

holy santa claus $hit

Great news!! And yes, what a time to be a fan! I've often wondered how lucky I am. All the people who waited years for all the great stuff that has come out over the past 10 years or so, as well as Beatles anthology stuff, i'm relatively new having only followed for 15 years.

The vocals on do it again sound great! Better than i'd ever expected great! Really looking forward to this all!!

Yeah, I was trying to be positive..

Sounds better than expected but nothing near the original

Beautiful...Beautiful.

Trending worldwide on twitter

(http://i39.tinypic.com/jaf3ax.png)

Do it Again sample didn't sound as bad as I thought. Brian in the middle sounds great. His voice is sounding better and better.

"Do It Again" is an incredibly difficult song to cover I think, as the original recording just burst with youthful energy.

Hope it's going to be the only remake they'll do for the upcoming album project.

Is anyone else replaying this thing over and over just to hear those harmonies again?  God I love this band!

Amen on having the thing on repeat. When I see 'em all there it makes me almost lose it.

And just for clarification the sidemen appear to be Scott, John, Nicky and Brett and (by the sounds of it) Jeff.

I have to admit, I'd be curious to hear them take on some of the SMiLE material again, maybe one of the less completed songs like Worms of Dada/Blue Hawaii with the finished BWPS arrangements.  That may be a pipe dream, but it would be cool to hear the Boys do a finished take on this stuff.

I'll also be eager to hear what archival projects are in the pipeline, beyond the obligatory greatest hits collection.  Here's hoping for a successful reunion that wakes the world to the magic of the Beach Boys.

I'm excited beyond belief! I wonder what those special commemorative releases are?  :o Do It Again sounds pretty nice, but that falsetto... Foskett...  :(

All I can say right now is...about damn time.

Please forgive us diehards(or d*ckheads-your call ;)), but with Brian, Al and David on board, it looks like what we finally have here is the real damn thing. Way to go guys! Looking forward to the whole shebang! :woot :woot :woot

Make that an Autotuned Foskett. Really wish they'd tone that down a little, but maybe the average listener won't care.

Also wish there was a little more bass in the mix.

BTW, anyone else notice that Brian sounds very Imagination-like in the bridge? (Not a bad thing necessarily)

It's ridiculous, he sounds like a synth and to boot, it's real loud in the mix! :( I hate to be a debbie downer when we should be celebrating, but I must be!

er, there is so much autotuning on that, isn't there?


But, goshdarn

THE BEACH BOYS ARE BACK! ;D

Great news, I'm very excited to see what they do!

Now onto that video clip: I'm not passing judgement, I'm not second-guessing or critiquing before hearing the finished product, but I am questioning and hoping maybe someone will explain this from a sonic perspective, just as a curious fan who is into recording and such:

Why isolate each band member inside these gobos/baffles to track vocals when these same guys are quite possibly the finest group vocalists in all of rock history, with the best studio blend of vocals we've ever heard? In the same clip there are scenes of them gathered around a single mic, but that looks staged for the cameras while this shot has each of them on a single mic inside a booth...I'm just curious why or what they were doing when this was filmed.

I know this is 2011 and that's how it's done but when there is the finest group of harmony vocalists in the studio I don't get the setup in this shot:
(http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n295/guitarfool2002/bb2011.jpg)

What a great time to Beach Boys fan, the last 10 years have been unbelievable and now look at what we've got to look forward to...

John Cowsill.

Is anyone else replaying this thing over and over just to hear those harmonies again?  God I love this band!

I don't think you're alone.

The Beach Boys are reuniting for their 50th anniversary. They will also be releasing an album of new music, "PET Scan Sounds".

 :lol

From twitter

So is Joe Thomas now out of the picture?  Or was in, but now out? Partly in it?  A co-producer?

I am also intrigued by the stated credits, album being produced by BW, executive producer Mike Love.  Is Mike sort of the project overseer for BRI? Or is it more loosey-goosey and this is just how they decided to divvy up the credits?   (With which I have no quarrel - just curious).

IF you ever want to see a ridiculous set of credits, look at "Free As A Bird" - the name-checks look like they were assembled by a law firm.  Which they probably were.

So...............Brian Wilson - Producer.  Mike Love - Executive Producer.  Shades of the Landy years.........

Separate "cubes" in the studio for each one to do vocals. That's a little different, isn't it?

God bless 'em!! And they included Dave for posterity. Good move. I'm sure they'll have a Dennis and Carl tribute during the concerts. I'm gonna make at least two of them on the West coast!

This is all so exciting! My hope as far as the commemorative releases go is for "Wouldn't It Be Nice T Live Again?" and for the original mono mixes of the albums to finally see release!

Just a though: Ironic, that many people thought this reunion would happen when h3ll freezes over... and its happening in 2012.  :lol

A more authentic reverb and some melodyne would do the trick..

:smokin

Back to the topic.. THE BEACH BOYS ARE BACK INDEED!! Great seeing David there. Mike's swag is up! Can't wait to catch them on the East Coast.

Yes. Two thoughts. One, I actually got chills when I read it. Two, I miss Carl and Dennis.

Yes, YES, YYYYEEEESSSS!!!!!!!! Doin' the Happy Dance! Woohoo!

 :love :happydance :tm :spin :rock

 :thewilsons

Hot damn!

Very cool.  I'm hoping for the best.

What do you all think the stage setup will look like for the tour?  Will Brian be relegated to side stage on piano/keyboard like the early 80's or will he be front and center perched behind a keyboard? 

As far as the album goes, are most of you looking for all new material other than "Do it Again"?  Do you think some of the final tracks with Carl will be revisited?  Personally, I think "You're Still a Mystery" needs to have an official release.  Will any of Mike's unreleased tracks make the cut? 

So many possibilities!

I'm excited!  I hope the tour dates are released soon so that I can begin planning accordingly.

Nice to see a nice mix of everyone's bands in there.

This is unbelievably exciting!!!! I really hope Christian Love and Matt Jardine are involved vocally, but no matter who's involved, this is awesome!!

I kinda wish they had Christian Love in there instead of the Fosketter.

Guess what my 6 year old daughters first concert will be?

I shall most definitely be taking her to see the Beach Boys!!!!!

Fantastic news

Wow, that footage was pretty incredible to see, and the sounds were more pleasant than expected.  I've always been a bit on the fence regarding a reunion, but this has me more excited for it than I thought I would be!

As for why they recorded that way, I think you answered your own question guitarfool - this is 2011 and that's how you record harmony vocals these days.  It's something of a time-saver I'd say, in that you can individually auto-tune each part in post-production and avoid having to make everyone sing it over and over again until nobody has a bum note.  These guys aren't exactly in their 20s anymore, and I doubt they have the patience to stand around a mic and work at getting 4-5 part harmonies perfect.  It's easier to set it up this way, leave with something that's good but with a few rough spots, and fix it later.  Not to mention, you can obviously control the blend much better with a fader for each voice, as opposed to taking the time to adjust where the group is standing, putting tape on the floor, etc.

That being said, I'd rather have them do it the old-fashioned way myself, but modern realities make that somewhat unlikely to happen.

I'd hate to be the band member that didn't make the cut

There was a shot of them all around a mic as well.

But at least, all in their little booths, they are all singing together. Levine had them record their parts separately in '85

The Beach Boys legacy is immortal.  This is amzing!

I feel better knowing that "do it again" isn't done like "Surfin'" or other songs from SIP with a rap beat and heavy guitars to bring it "up to date"..that was the big worry I had when I heard they were re-recording it..so it's great to know it actually has a beach boys sound...

My mouth hung open for a good 10 seconds as I read the headline on Facebook.  I'm ecstatic!  I cannot wait for this. 

Well, if you are an autotune conspiracist, that would be good evidence--they need everything isolated because you can't (well, you can) autotune a group vocal on one track?

 :ahh :ahh :ahh :ahh :listening

Even if this is sacrilege, but I'd like them to finish DYLW, ILTSDD, Holidays, SFC and CIFOTM using the 1966/67 backing tracks and the voice of Chistian Love (besides their own voices).


To avoid getting at each other's throats. ;D

No, the pitch correction theory seems plausible.

Sounds like they used the ProTools denasalator on Mike! :-D

Well to be honest...I wouldn't personally bet that this footage of them in the studio is them actually recording the track we're listening to.  I wouldn't be surprised if they did 1 or 2 run throughs after recording the track at the end of the day solely for this little video.  While this COULD have been the setup for the actual session--could be true---but I'd bet everything about it staged.  Unless, Brian REQUIRES that the lighting in the studio look like a setting sun at the beach---everything about this looks a little phony.

Scott Bennett John who?  Nick Walusko and Brett Simons?

awesome but mike barely sounds like mike there!

Very interesting stuff. Do we know this is actual footage from that actual session? I only ask because I recall that it was specifically mentioned that David Marks was not a part of the “Do It Again” session. But there he is. Did they work in some additional footage of later sessions? Whatever period of time the footage was taken, some of this footage may be partially staged just to get some “at work” footage of the group.

Still very slightly mind blowing to see them together. Let’s really hope the album doesn’t suck. Let’s also hope they play a wide variety of locales around the world that gives the most people a chance to see them, and that tickets aren’t too expensive and are obtainable.

I do think it’s weird but logistically understandable that they are announcing a big reunion several months off, but the Mike/Bruce “Beach Boys” will presumably continue to do their shows in the meantime.

I fail to understand the irrational hatred of Jeffery Foskett around here.

It's not personal, just his voice

I don't mind his voice, Brian sure can't hit those notes anymore.

Same here. I quite like his voice. I've never had a problem with his falsettos.

Agreed.  If it's not going to be Matt jardine, glad it's Foskett. I persoanlly can't take Randell Kirsch, too much Adrian Baker-esque for my taste.  As for the backing musicians, I can make out Nick, John Cowsill on drums, Scott Totten and David Marks on Guitar and Brett Simons on bass. I don't see Foskett in the actual video.  One question, on the vocal iso booths, who is in farthest booth, David Marks? Foskett?

Me too!

Holy f*ck!  YES!!



Replay!

I don't think anyone hates him, but some of us are tired of hearing his voice mixed up front so prominently... Plus Christian just plain has a better Wilson sound (for obvious reasons).

I think thats Scott Bennett on bass. Oh no, wait that is Brett, never mind. I don't know any of Mike's people  so if anyone can clarify that it would be appreciated.

Well as it stands now I'm still more excited about the future archival releases but this is (potentially) good news too! (And certainly historic I reckon, output notwithstanding.) I confess to being a little wary of Mike's executive producer credit but I'm hoping it won't be much else than that... As for the song? Well, pleasant as it is, I'm more curious about their actual original material, shall we say.                     

It’s hard to say how indicative this footage is of who will be on this apparent “new album.” When was this “Do It Again” session? July or so? It could presumably not be the same set of musicians on the new album, and of course, it could be different musicians at different sessions. Brian was apparently cutting backing tracks for the BB album with Joe Thomas in the last few months and using some of Thomas’ session guys. It seemed like the “Do It Again” session just kind of featured elements of their touring bands because they were probably in the midst of touring at that time.  

It will no doubt be interesting to see who makes it onto the album and who is part of the touring band. It’s kind of looking like a hybrid of Mike and Brian’s band. It would be nice to see a few elements from the guys who have been working with Al. Matt Jardine would be my first pick for falsetto parts. It will be interesting to see if Al’s old BB touring band crew like Hinsche, Carter, or Figueroa would fit into any new stuff.

Amazed nobody has mentioned Mike miming electric guitar at 36 secs...

Speechless !!!!  ;D


I just hope Mike executive producing isn't a bad choice (remember Stars & Stripes)

Yeah, I wouldn’t mind if they put the “Do It Again” remake out as a single just to sort of hype up the reunion. But I’d rather not have any remakes on the actual album. These guys haven’t done a Beach Boys album with Brian since 1985 or 89 (depending on your definition), so they should have enough songs built up to not have to do any covers. I wonder also how Brian-centric the album is going to be. Is it going to be all Brian songs (with some Mike lyrics), or will Al or Bruce actually contribute any writing? Maybe hold back that “Waves of Love” track of Al’s for this Beach Boys album to have Carl on it?

I’ve very cautiously excited about “archival” releases. It sounds like we might get another “hits” compilation, maybe literally a 2-CD set with 50 songs. The boxed set sounds like it could be kind of an updated version of the “Good Vibrations” 1993 boxed set. At least that would allow some “rarities” to sneak in maybe. I would tend to doubt we’ll get “deluxe” reissues of every album, but hopefully we’ll get some good substantial stuff, especially some post-60’s stuff.

Never has the phrase "hope for the best, prepare for the worst" seemed more appropriate.

Hasn't Brian said it's all new stuff?

I see people are bellyaching already.  Plenty of time to do that...

Dare we hope for WIBNTLA and CF?  ;D

In this previous thread:

http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,10672.0.html (http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,10672.0.html)

Jon Stebbins reported that David indeed was not present for the session.  I wonder if they held a separate session to finish it that included David or perhaps they doctored the video to include him?

The thread also suggests, though it's never confirmed, that the session didn't go so well and didn't end harmoniously.  I wonder if anything has changed.

It's David Marks. Probably not miming

I’m personally not bellyaching about anything. Brian had said they’re doing new stuff, but I certainly don’t see any reason to rule out the possibility that they might try to include some sort of cover version of something. They’ve done it in the past, both on group and solo albums.

I just hope if they run out of presumably truly “new” material, they mine stuff like “You’re Still a Mystery” before going to remakes of their own stuff.

Well, to Brian, a new recording of "Do It Again" would qualify as "new stuff":  ;)

I thought Eddie Bayer was the session drummer for the "Do It Again" session? If the drummer shown is John Cowsill, I wonder if all of the footage is staged for publicity purposes.

A new box set seems like it would have to have some unreleased material on it, especially if the "hits" will be handled on a separate release.

I never doubted that Mike would request an "executive producer" credit on any new album - we'll just have to wait-and-see how much enthusiasm Brian brings to these sessions. I would hope he'd at least operate at the level of IN THE KEY OF DISNEY.

I consider a reunion to be fairly unnecessary, but if it was going to happen, I'm very happy David is involved.

I don't believe so.

And this press release flatly states that the DIA re-record is part of the album.

Actually, it doesn't. My bad.

Also of note:

Jon's article about BW working on a new BB album said Brian was working on 6-7 tracks. If true, that means he's writing only about half of the reunion record.

Also, the last BB album produced by BW with an ML credit was Stars and Stripes.

As I said: Hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

Dare I say it, but has anyone confirmed that this video is actually from the sessions?  I know plenty of videos made in the studio that are not the real thing.  I bet those shots of them around one mike were simply for the visual effect and to remind us how they used to do it.  Nevertheless, it sounds really good for what it is.  The original material will be another story.  I hope it's a pleasant surprise and I really enjoy it.

I fear that this could be like The Eagles last album.  It had one great, classic sounding song and the rest was modern crap.  The reason that the song (How Long) sounded like classic early Eagles was that it was written back in 1972 and they played it live back then.    

I have never seen The Beach Boys :-[, only Brian's band and I will definitely try to see this tour.  I just hope they play some SMiLE stuff.  Nice to have David Marks involved too.  I am stoked about the catalog releases and even this new box set they mentioned.

Yup.  All the talk about Foskett & autotune is bumming me out a little bit about this.  In theory I'd like to hear what the vocal blend of the five principals actually sound like on their own now, today, in 2011, but the sad thing is that new Beach Boys recordings might not even provide that much.  

Hoping for a Hollywood Bowl gig, though.  Would not miss it for the world.

I don't think the article about working on 6-7 songs tells us anything about how much he's going to write on the album. That's what he was working on at the time, but he could write more stuff, or not use those 6-7 songs. Hope for the best and prepare for the worst is indeed appropriate! :)

My guess is that the footage isn't from the actual sessions but it's meant to be a Music video filmed later and we'll get a complete music video when the cd comes out or just before..of course it's miming on parts because thats how one makes a music video. David may not have been on the original recording but since he's going to be involved with the reuinion they put him in the Music Video. it's probebly as simple as that.

It's also possible we have a mixture of actual footage and staged footage. Would they really call all the backing musicians back weeks or months later just to mime to the song? It's probably a mixture, hence the David Marks footage.

GOTTA release "Wouldn't It Be Nice To Live Again" next year. Just gotta!!

I guess it would depend on if there were cameras at the actual recording sessions or not..if there were then it could be a mixture but if not then they would have to call the backing musicians back to re-enact the studio stuff..but the point I was making is that it's a music video and doesn't have to be from the actual studio sessions..

I just wish that Brian had given us more encouraging signs over the past couple of years.

It's hard not to feel like, once again, the big man is being forced into something that's not quite what he wants to do.

Now, I'm not saying he's dead set against it or anything, and the tour and album could have some really nice moments. But Brian does have a way of telegraphing how he feels about certain projects when he's not in full-on promo mode, and he's sounded less than thrilled about this.

I was thinking "AutoTune" writing my original post but I didn't want to mention it...but yeah, that's what I think was going on there *if* that film was an actual vocal session.

And groups still cut live "group" vocals around a single microphone today, or a stereo x-y or whatever, in the studio, but if you want ultimate control over each voice for tuning and fixing later in the mix, then you do a setup as shown in that clip...if you want that. Or if you're a one-man-band who can't do group vocals. :)

I'm just saying, all those amazing times those guys gathered around a single mic, with perhaps Mike Love apart on his own mic for the deep voice, and nailed it as a group with an impeccable blend and control...they can still do that.

Wondering why they showed film in the same clip of them doing just that, around a single mic, but again that looked staged.

I just hope to god that the new album doesn´t sound anything like "Beach Boys", "Still Cruisin", "Summer in paradise" or "Stars and Stripes"  :(

Argh! Yes! What a great time for me to really get back into my childhood faves! Cannot wait for more details!

I must add though that the promo video does make them all sound a bit "computerised" if that's a word! It seems produced a bit too much, but maybe they have to do that now as they are much, much older!

Brian looks really relaxed and comfortable in the video and he sounds great on the bridge. I dunno how much you can read into that but it certainly seems like he's positive about it despite what he's said in past interviews.

Let's face it, we're lucky if it's going to be as good as the M.I.U. Album both in terms of songwriting and overall production.

Could anybody make a screenshot of the boys all standing around one microphone ?

What about "Imagination" with the BBs on vocals?

Actually, I could kind of go for that ... in 1998, that is ...

I think it would be cool if most of the songs,if not half,or even a couple,or hell even one (lol) have that 60's wall of sound feel we get with the Andy Paley sessions and today/summer days..

 :-D Whahaha... Al is standing on a box in the video :) Couldnt hey have lowered the microphone???

Anyone notice they have Al standing on a box?  :lol

(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r276/pixletwin/ElfJardine.jpg)

Edit: Just noticed GaryO beat me by 8 minutes.  :'(

Al on a box. Haha priceless. Some things never change.

Its Jeffrey Foskett in the last vocal booth.

To be clear; the musicians involved in the session presumably were Brett Simons (bass), Darian Sahanaja (keys), Nick Walusko (guitar), Scott Bennet (keys/guitar?) and Jeff Foskett (vocals) from Brians band, John Cowsill (drums) and Scott Totten (guitar) from Mikes band plus Gary Griffin (keys) who sometimes plays with Brian band live and on record. He used to be in the Beach Boys live band in the 90s I think. I believe David Marks was filmed for this promo video on a later date, I'm not sure he is on the actual track.

I hope more guys from the old days will contribute to recordings in the future (Carli Munoz, Ed Carter, Bobby Figueroa, Matt Jardine!!!, Billy Hinsche!!!)

(Sorry pixletwin!! :))

Some more...Notice two of the "group" shots around the mics are different groups and different microphones:
(http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n295/guitarfool2002/bbstudio4a.jpg)

(http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n295/guitarfool2002/bbstudio4b.jpg)

(http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n295/guitarfool2002/bbstudio4c.jpg)

And Al on the box...I think they do this just to bait the fans who would spot such things :-D:
(http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n295/guitarfool2002/bbstudio4d.jpg)

Thank you very much guitarfool !!

I'm with you on this. I'm hopeful as Brian is producing, I suspect he will do most of the arranging and I'm glad Joe Thomas' name has gone. It could go either way, but if Brian does the producing and arranging I think it'll be better than those. I think Brian's solo work may have proven to the other BBs that he can produce a sound that they'd be happy with. I hope Brian gets some percussion into the mix, that is the "spice" or as Zappa would say it adds the "eyebrows".

To be agonizingly precise, Gary fills in for Darian when Mr. S. is unable (or unwilling) to do shows. I believe Billy Hinsche did the same for a European tour a few years back.

And yeah, for the Disney label records, Gary has also been part of the backing band with Darian.

i just noticed that Mike has his goutee in some shots while others he doesn't..so that means some of the footage could be months after the first footage..(Mikes beard is back..sounds like it could be a song)

I highly doubt Darian was involved in "Do It Again".

I would say the fact that his name is absent from a press release doesn't mean much one way or another.

I very strongly suspect he's still involved, for a number of reasons.

Eddie Bayers definitely played the drums on Do It Again and David wasn't there, which means at least some of this footage is not from that session.

BUT WHATEVER! Why are we getting so nitpicky so early? the Beach Boys are back! I'm half thinking of making the trip to New Orleans just so I can see their debut reunion performance.

Gary was part of the BBs team as far back as MIU I believe. He's with Al from time to time as well. He was before he played with Brian iirc.




Here's hoping for a DVD

Or, for conspiracy theorists, the same day if he brought a razor to the studio and Brian brought a change of shirts. But, yeah, you're probably right

So what are the cities they're playing????????

I just hope they make it to Europe

I have very little faith for this album, but even though I don't expect it to be that great it will probably be their best one since LA

I remember reports within days of the session in July that Cowsill was the drummer. I think Bayers has been drumming on the Joe Thomas sessions, but I think this "Do It Again" session was a seperate "toe in the water" sort of situation. I can't say for sure that Thomas wasn't even there, but I haven't heard any accounts of Joe Thomas being at that session.

folks, this is not just "pretty good"

IT'S GLORIOUS!

 ;D

We All Are!

HOLY MOTHER OF PEARL!

 :3d

Is that Celebration 50 logo supposed to be the new album cover? Uh oh if truw...scarily close to 15 Big Ones.

Given that I don't think much of LA or MIU I'm hoping for their best one since Love You. But I'm a Brian Wilson solo fan so I'm not full of confidence that it will be as good as his solo albums, at least it seems as though it has got new material on it. That's a good sign.

The caption at the start of the video states that the footage is of the band recording DIA for the as yet untitled new album. It could change but i suspect not.

I really hope (and have the feeling) that Brian got inspired by the Gershwin and Disney albums. It's the kind of music that's much closer to his creative beginnings than say that of the Beatles. Goin' back to and working with that timeless, beautiful material might have given him some inspiration for new Wilson-pop.

Not a belly-ache but my fingers are crossed that they somehow involve Dennis and Carl in this.  Even if they don't do the full scale Beatle thing where they remake one of their songs maybe even covering a Dennis or Carl outtake between the five of them. 

At two score and ten
We're gonna do it again
We still can play live
We survived
With the heroes and villians.

Looking forward to 2012!!

Yes, The Smile Sessions was just the beginning.

this news has just made my day.

waking up to this... what a way to start the day!

Key sentences:

"The Beach Boys have already recorded several songs for their new album"

Mike: "We got together at Capitol/EMI and re-recorded Do It Again"

My guess is there have been several sessions with different personnel and the clip was compiled from footage from varying dates/songs/rehearsals/"re-enactments" for the cameras. A perfectly normal and routine way to go about slapping together a "fly on the studio wall" type music video.

We all have reason to be very excited  ;D

I think that's assuming too much. I would assume it's just a logo designed for their anniversary. As the album isn't finished or titled, it would be hard to already have album art. I wouldn't put it past them to call the album "Celebration" or "Beach Boys 50", so you never know. But I take it as an anniversary logo, that's all. I like it much more than just something with surfboards and cars or something.

Free Suggestion to the Beach Boys:

re: the title of your new album:

OCEAN WAY

!!!!!!!!!!

(for reference, see Abbey Road)

That's just tacky. Why not let dead men rest?

To each his own.  I believe there is a way to do it tastefully and obviously a tacky way to go about it.  In my opinion Carl and Dennis should be involved somehow in this anniversary.  The legacy of The Beach Boys is as much theirs as the others.

I'm with you, John.  There has to be a version of Soul Searchin' with Carl and something from Dennis that could be presented tastefully.

Because brothers don't like their brothers to be forgotten. Because Carl and Dennis' souls are a huge part of this band. Jesus...

Did you think Brian's cover of Heaven was tacky? I thought it was a beautiful piece of music and a good hearted gesture. If you feel otherwise, I pity you and wonder how someone so cynical could get anything out of what this band is all about.

He didn't put it on a Beach Boys reunion album, though, did he?

No, because it was a Brian recording with Brian's band. So if he'd recorded it with Mike, Bruce, Al and David and put it on a Beach Boys album, you think it would be tacky? I think it would be paying homage to Carl while drawing attention to his skill as a songwriter and showcasing a great song that not a lot of people have heard.

I've got little to no expectations for the "new" album, but I'll admit that it's pretty cool that they're officially "reuniting" in New Orleans (my neck of the woods). Should be quite an event. I am especially intrigued by the archive releases... a *new* career spanning box... what? I'm not sure how you can improve on the GV box but hopefully some rarities will be coming our way. No matter what happens, it's all icing on the cake following that glorious box that arrived on my doorstep last month!

The Wilson brothers' memory has been honored sufficiently elsewhere. Let's see what The Beach Boys 2012 sounds like without dwelling on Carl's & Dennis' legacy. A simple dedication in the liner notes should suffice.

VERY exciting!  Mike sounds great, as does Brian.  A very nice re-do!!!!  And David there in the video.  AWESOME!!!!! Also playing guitar as well as singing.  if he wasn't at the original session, I hope they had him overdub the guitar solo.

Is it me, did I miss Bruce?  Is Bruce not in the video?  I see someone in a checkered shirt and a hat singing but his face is obscured. (maybe he's in the front row just applauding).
In any event, you never see five Beach Boys together in the video.

Another aspect to it being two video shoots, guys are wearing different shirts.

Autotuned Jeff = death.

Why can't he ever sing a note as it was written instead of f*cking with it in the same way every single time? "DU-UM BE DO-OO RON!" or "I WISH THEY ALL CO-OULD BE CALIFORNIA GIRLS"?

Even besides that, I just can't stand his tone. I've heard people say he sounds just like Brian did in the 60s, which is almost offensive. There are people involved with the band who can do those parts worlds more justice, and they were probably not utilized solely because Jeff is acting as one of Brian's minders. If people want to accuse, say, Christian Love of not singing with any "feeling", we should instead start with Jeff.

That is why people don't like Jeff and are, like me, probably fairly upset that he's gonna be on this.


THIS, too. I bet anything he'd be more tolerable if he wasn't at the very top of the mix on almost every song he's included on.

That all said, I'm excited for the new album, excited for the re-releases, I'm very glad David's there, and I think Mike and Brian sound really good.

I'm also all for a reworking of a Carl and Dennis song. I don't understand those who fault the idea, but that's just me.

I'm amazed that people would actively oppose the inclusion of one of Carl or Dennis' solo songs.

This is a commemoration of what this band *has* achieved. This is a band with a storied past, not a long future. Does 'Celebration' as the title for this campaign not give you a hint? If you oppose Brian paying tribute to his brothers or Mike paying tribute to his cousins if thats what they want to do all I can wonder is who the f*** you think you are.

I have a feeling the new album will, in fact, be titled DO IT AGAIN.

From Rolling Stone:

Jardine also says that the group will present a diverse setlist. "We haven't played together in a long time," he says. "The fans are going to want to hear the hits. But there should also be lesser-known ones that are so important."

The fact that I'm on a Beach Boys fan forum on the day a Beach Boys reunion and new album has been announced to celebrate their half century and some fans are actually admonishing the idea of Dennis and Carl being commemorated/acknowledged beyond liner note dedications blows my mind quite frankly. And makes me sick.

The Jeff hate is getting old, man. Really.

The falsetto is one of the key parts in BB harmony. That's why it's mixed up. It has nothing to do with Jeff personally, and everything to do with how Brian's music works.

You're so obsessed with Jeff -- for reasons I can only begin to imagine -- that you're losing sight of any bigger picture.


We're Beach Boys fans, that's who we are. As a group we always know better than the band or its constituent members.


They are dead and gone. For many years. Nothing would make the album less relevant (than it likely already will be) than pulling back-from-the-dead shtick.

What part of '50th anniversary celebration' is tripping you up? What you'd prefer 'relevance' like Summer In Paradise tried to be relevant to the early 90s? And covering a song your brother wrote is hardly trying to bring them 'back from the dead' any more than the local orchestra is trying to revive Beethoven.

This is a 50th anniversary celebration of the Beach Boys. Unless you think Carl and Dennis' contributions were minimal, I fail to see how the occasion can be properly commemorated without their inclusion and acknowledgement in some small way.

Some above have surmised that perhaps David is "in the video" but not on the track due to the fact I reported he wasn't at the initial "Do It Again" vocal session months ago. But there were multiple sessions, or multiple days of recording and filming. I can confirm David did record multiple guitar tracks for this recording at Brian and Mike's request. I am not exactly sure what order everything came together in...but all the boys are on the track.

1 - permission to be exceedingly smug for about a week...

2 - will those already picking it apart kindly SHUT THE f*ck UP. Don't like the idea, fine, just go away and leave those of us who can to enjoy the prospect.

Let me also take this opportunity to apologize to AGD.  
I'd zinged him (incorrectly) for erroneous reporting as well as not being a diligent journalist
(by not interviewing Brian as to what he was up to in the studio with a possible new BB album.)

Obviously there was a plan, AGD knew that, and he did a splendid job of not letting the cat out of the bag.  
Once again, my apologies Sir!

Some people need to realize that this isn't the rebirth, it's the last hurrah. Join in and enjoy while you can.

that is great news!

I'll second that, its only rock n roll folks.

Awesome!  We have half of the original guitar sound back.  Bravo to Brian and Mike for having David play.  Kind of a no brainer though seeing he's such a great guitar player.

Well put. One thing the Beatles have the BB never had was a nice tidy end to their group-story. It's good to see that the BB are going to let one be written for them as well.

I wanna wade in 2012 right up to my neck.

New album, archive releases, re-union tour…  we all knew it but now we KNOW!   And so GLAD that Dave is on board. Authenticity and integrity!

Darn!

I want suggestions for the name of my new baby, due January 2, please guys! Gender to be confirmed!

So is Jeff wailing over songs I love.


We're talking two of 10-12 songs, here, and I doubt there's much mainstream appeal in "We brought Dennis (aka the guy you likely know as the dude who knew Charlie Manson if you know him at all) back from the dead!" like there was with the Beatles "We brought John motherfuckin' Lennon, world hero, back from the dead!"

Andrew, we're Beach Boys fans. What else do we do besides pick things apart? And complain about Foskett?


This is a very good point. I could go for either the original Soul Searchin' or It's Still a Mystery, I suppose. Dennis seems harder, though ... so much more time has passed.

http://www.billboard.com/news/beach-boys-reunite-for-album-50-date-tour-1005690352.story#/news/beach-boys-reunite-for-album-50-date-tour-1005690352.story

Billboard. there is heaps of press about this!!

I will say, if we're talking a Dennis track, there's potential for the "double-edged sword" element. Imagine "Wouldn't It Be Nice To Live Again?" on the new Beach Boys record, utilizing Dennis' vintage vocal, but the original still being left in the vaults.

Who knows. I do see the likelihood of Carl appearing being much stronger than Dennis.

I'm sure Carl or Dennis' presence will be felt during the performances on stage.  There are some creative opportunities to achieve this like having an image of them on the big screen during a particular song (or section of songs)---most likely "God Only Knows" for Carl and "Forever" for Dennis.  Paul McCartney did that for both George and John during his shows and was a nice way to pay homage to them.  

GRANTED!

 ;D

I'm happy to be around for the last hurrah. I'm afraid next year I will spend the highest amount of money ever for a single concert ticket...

Some people need to change their attitude. :(

This is absolutely fantastic news on all fronts, and then within hours we are picking the whole thing apart. I also lost my best buddy today, my 14 year old dog, Rocky. It was great having a reason to celebrate on such a sad day for me and the wife.

Must buy tickets to this tour! ;D

Sorry to hear about your dog, Doc.  Now he's up in dog heaven with Shannon......

That stinks losing a friend like that, go listen to warmth of the sun :), maybe wrinkles. ;D

Sorry to hear about your dog bro.  Good companions and good music. Stuff it takes to make a life, eh? Hope you get tickets for next year.

Also, despite my crabbiness on this subject in the past, it's soul-warming to see David being part of this. If nothing else, this reunion will hopefully restore him to his rightful place.

Andrew, So..... what's the title of their new album going to be?  You can tell me... Whisper it in my ear..... I won't tell anyone........

 ;D

That's very good. I don't like the way Brian uses saxophone for solos. It sounds very dated. The organ solo for "Soul searchin'" was great and the sax didn't do the song justice. More guitar solos would be cool, especially from Dave who - I assume - will be the lead guitarist for the reunion



Yes. Did you ever cath this (or basically the whole Elvis - The concert event) ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4bfdfFEVBU&feature=fvst (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4bfdfFEVBU&feature=fvst)

There could be something arranged. I don't know what but today there are possibilities.

Shut the f*ck up would be a pretty good title

There's going to be re-packagings, best-ofs, tributes, and retrospectives galore to cover the entirety of the Beach Boys careers, Dennis and Carl included. It would be my preference that this ONE aspect of the "50 Year Celebration", a new Beach Boys 2012 album featuring Brian Wilson at the helm, could just live in the now, not the past. I mean, wouldn't we all just love to see one last great Beach Boys album made before they pack it in? I'm just concerned about the album becoming a maudlin nostalgia trip because they are capable of so much more than that. Of course the only people whose opinions really matter on the subject are the Beach Boys themselves- not mine or yours.

Has there ever in the last 50 years been a better and more satisfying time to be a Beach Boys fan than right now? I think not.

Yes in fact I did see Elvis The Concert (Elvis on the big screen with lead vocal isolated out of the video while his original bad played live on stage) and I thoroughly enjoyed it--mainly because I greatly admire and respect the musicians that played with Elvis.  

Doing something like that for The Beach Boys would be very entertaining but incredibly controversial.  Unfortunately, I think the mass wave of uneasiness from the hardcore fans (and probably by certain members of the band) would sway them not to do this.  I highly doubt they'll go this direction considering this will probably take away from the main focus of the evening.  They might have a mix of pictures and footage on the screens of Carl and Dennis but a full blown performance with either of them might be a little to intrusive for everyone....

The Beach Boys are playing the first weekend of the New Orleans Jazz  & Heritage Festival, April 27th-29th. Just sayin'.

As Bill Cowher used to say, "where would you rather be than right here, right now ?"

I was thinking of just one song. There are several GOK's on video and I guess some Dennis leads as well. But I only wanted to say that there are possibilities and that it has been done and so it is something that has to be taken seriously

Well said by Mr. Cowher, so excitied to be a fan with all this activity. If this all goes to plan, The Beach Boys will go out on top with a redeemed music reputation.

Nothing to lose and everything to gain. It had ended before, now's a chance to end things right.

I dont' think they're going to "end" things,  I think the myke luv phreak sho sircus will continue touring long past the point their physical bodies will be replaced by imagineered anamatronic robots sponsored by Disney.

Oh man, this is such mindblowingly great news. I've seen Brian and Mike & Bruce with their respective bands - the possibility of seeing them together with Al and David is fantastic! Christmas has come early this year!


Yep, it will definately be interesting to see if this turns out to have Brian & Mike writing credits all over it like I suspect it will or if the other guys get some stuff on there.

Hey, Brian and Mike, if you have writer's block and are reading this, cover some songs of the band I'm in, ha ha!  ;D  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4NLSdTfKsg

Andrew- that quote is from Marv Levy, not Bill Cowher...

Will Bruce be on stage or in the audience?

His job is to find a replacement for Brian Wilson in the touring group.

Sorry if somebody has posted this already.  It has the most info of anything I've read:

http://www.thebeachboys.com/reunion/index.html

http://blog.brianwilson.com/news/

I'm liking the new logo!

I've only ever heard Cowher say it.  ;D

Wow, quick work astroray on using the new logo for your member photo  ;)

(http://i654.photobucket.com/albums/uu268/surfriderhi/NewLOGO.jpg)

Fender is hard at work on a "Tandem Bass" for Bruce and Brian to both stand and play at the same time.

Didn't read through all the replies yet, but I agree with those who are hoping that re-makes will be kept to a minimum.  But if they HAD to do some re-makes, I'd love to hear modern takes on California Saga-California and Soulful Old Man Sunshine.

I'm also glad that real instruments are being used!

Elnombre, I am a huge admirer of Carl and Dennis, and I see your point. However, I think you are looking at this far too emotionally. Nobody is saying "Carl and Dennis don't deserve to be remembered!"

The impact that Carl and Dennis had on the Beach Boys sound will forever be felt in every performance the band does and every record they put out. If the group finds a track or two or three (like 'You're Still a Mystery') that fits with the production aesthetic of the new album and includes a Carl and/or Dennis vocal, they should certainly use it and I would be thrilled to have 'one last track' with Carl and Dennis.

Hell, I loved "Free as a Bird" and "Real Love." I wish the Beatles had done more of those types of tracks. However, those new Beatles songs were not meant to work in the context of a new album. If the Beach Boys (and Brian as producer) can't find something with Carl or Dennis that fits into the production aesthetic of the new Beach Boys album, or the songwriting style, they will be serving the product in the best possible way by not arbitrarily shoehorning material into it.

There are a million ways to remember people. Finishing one of their old songs is one way, paying musical homage to them in subtler ways is another option, and doing an onstage tribute and a special remembrance in the liner notes are no-brainers. Witness Christian Love's performance of "God Only Knows" that was posted last week. A performance like that is a great way to remember Carl.

Taking sub-par or out-of-place material and tacking it on to the album is not a good way to remember Dennis and Carl. As fastidious as he was, acting as The Beach Boys' de facto leader and producer for many years, I'm sure Carl would agree if he were alive today. The most important thing is that this Beach Boys album is the best it can be. If that can include Carl and Dennis, I will be very excited. My vote is for "You're Still a Mystery" but I don't know what else they're working with song-wise.

And it looks like Scott Totten is reading this thread right now! Tell us everything!

Also -- do we think Dean Torrence did the logo?

I'm sorry to hear about your dog.  My thoughts are with you drbeachboy.

About the reunion, I gotta say I'm most excited about the prospect of hearing "new" stuff from the '60s and '70s. I don't know if they'll do deluxe editions, but I think if we did get Sunflower and Surf's Up in deluxe packages, I think we would really be in for a treat. A box set sounds somewhat interesting, but I'm not sure if they could top the 1993 box, and do we really need it "updated" with songs from Summer in Paradise and Stars & Stripes? I suppose the box set is where they place new, unreleased songs, but I personally think a compilation containing about 20 to 30 of their top unreleased songs would be tops! I'm so excited to think that its possible I might be hearing songs like "Where Is She", "(Wouldn't It Be Nice) To Live Again" and the 1974 version of "California Feelin'." As long as I get to own copies of those three songs, anything else will just be icing on the cake.

The new studio album? Well, I'm excited for it, but I also can understand that it might not be very good. But I think having Brian on board with his team will ensure that it doesn't become a joke. I think this album will be the first since the L.A. Light Album that shows The Beach Boys as artists, and not surfin' goofs from the '60s.

I gotta admit, one thing really bugs me. And its not Mike Love. It's Bruce talking about singing "Mike Love's lyrics" or whatever. He always has to seem to kiss Mike's ass in these things. I just have this odd feeling that if they Mike & Bruce show did ever end, Bruce's tune would change quite quickly. He seems like a major kiss ass. And I'm not sure if he really brings anything that special to a reunion. I think Brian, Mike, Al and David, would have been fine with me. It's unfortunate the Blondie and Ricky aren't involved, but I'm not surprised. I do hope they get them at some point to do "Sail On Sailor" with them though on this tour.

Ha Ha Ha!!  I count on you guys for all the news.  It's been fun to read everyone say who played on the DO IT AGAIN track we did in May.

Scott

THIS

So how wrong are we?  ;D

Call it what you want, give us a couple of unreleased Dennis Wilson songs we've been waiting on it and a few others we haven't heard and I'll be very happy.

Funny how at :50 in the YouTube video it shows Al standing on some sort of box since I guess Ocean Way doesn't have adjustable microphones?

This...is...beyond words.

I'm so happy for everyone involved, and that I'll finally be able to see all of them in concert forever.  A new studio album! A new box set! I'm hoping they do something like what the Beatles did with their re-releases in 2009, I'd love to be able to buy every album, however unlikely that may be.  In any case...this has been an amazing year to be a fan  ;D

Outstanding news.

The only lame development thus far, is the complaning about Foskett.  He sings great, Brian obviously doesn't mind his voice up in the mix for the falsetto part, and he helps Brian relax.....if you really don't like Jeff, then don't buy the album or go to the concert (but I doubt you'll do that)....

 

You should stick your head round the door of the bloo Andrew, they're out in force there!

I would love to know the backing band on this. I think we can assume that there has to be one. I'll just throw out some predictions.

Mike
Al (rhythm guitar)
David (lead surf guitar)
Bruce (keys)
Brian (keys during the show, bass for encores)

Foskett (guitar and falsetto)
Cowsill (drums and vocals)
Christian Love (guitar and vocals)
Totten (guitar and vocals)
Scott Bennett (keys, vocals)
Darian and / or Gary (might not be Darian's scene, but you need another backing keyboardist)
Ed Carter (bass -- I can dream, right?)
Probyn and Paul Mertens (maybe fantasy here, but I'd love live horns)

As much as I'd love to see more guys like Ed from the classic 70s live lineup (and folks who were in Jardine's band), I don't know how likely that is. But they were a really great ensemble.

I can't see Darian being involved, not sure why but just a feeling. Saying that I think for a Beach Boys tour Billy Hinsche has to be a first call. Like Ed Carter he's kinda like extended family having been part of the band for so long.

Get Blondie, Ricky, Billy H., Carter, Figueroa, Munoz, Kowalski, and/or the Dragon Bros. back and hand the reigns to Jack Reiley...we`re goin` back to Holland!

This is amazing, Brian and David back withe band, a tour and new album, commerative releases, I don't mind admitting that I was welling up whilst reading the press release. This going to be amazing, hope that WIBNTLA, California Feelin' and Carry Me Home are going to be on the new bo set. I'm going to be so broke net year!

so pumped for this..... ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Same here with Beach Boys, Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty all touring next year (and all likely with new records & or retrospective releases to boot) I'm going to be flat broke by year's end. 

Also I will never again doubt anything Al Jardine says - he's the one who (somewhat pre-emptively) first told us about TSS and the reunion, all hail Al!

apart from the inevitable "i guess it would be nice to believe in my shoulder," i really am not excited for a mike love solo album with guest vocals by brian wilson.

sorry, but watching grey-haired men sing about fun in the sun around instantly dated technology with spliced footage of young blondes on the beach sure does make you feel like it's 1991 instead of 2011.

I really hope we'll get a good dosage of live recordings as part of the Celebration 50 packages. Especially some rare tracks,. e.g. "I have a friend", "River Song" and others.

There's been very little discussion about the proposed box set and other archival releases, though as Mark Linett has said, whether they happen is up to EMI's new owner. Anyhow, we recently got a 5-CD "Smile" box, and many other archival releases(official & unofficial) over the years. If there are more archival releases in 2012, I'll buy 'em, but if EMI's new owner says "No", I won't get tormented. Promise.

Think somebody needs to turn down the AutoTune-like effect on Mike's voice.  Otherwise it sounds OK. 

YAY! Here comes the cloud on a sunny day, otherwise known as Phil Cohen! I bet you hope Mike doesn't like Brian's new songs either!

at least in 1991 there was no Summer In Paradise or Summer Of Love yet!  :lol

But wait, I love Summer Of Love  :o

You misunderstand. We've already received more archival product from The Beach Boys than we ever thought we would get. If there's more in 2012, that's the icing on the cake, but it's hardly negative or cloud-like to say that if the 2012 archival product doesn't happen that I won't be tormented. I did say, that if these discs are released, I'll buy 'em.

Actually, I'll be surprised and impressed if all this comes to pass too.

I can think of ways that each and every item mentioned in the press release could fail to materialize. The fact the album is still being recorded fills me with a teensy bit of apprehension, for one thing (as does the fact it includes Mike-Brian co-writes). Is Brian up for a 50-date tour? That's more shows than he has averaged as a solo artist, and these will be higher-profile affairs. And finally, will Cap/EMI spring for the kind of projects we all want to see?

At the very least, I'm sure there will be a new hits compilation. We can agree on that.

Edit:

But I'm being negative.

I am actually happy that this is working out the way it seems to. There is respect for everyone involved, it's not taking an overt fun in the sun direction, and there is new music as part of the package. And David is involved. As long as we have a great band for the live shows, there is also a great deal to be hopeful for. A great deal.

I'll be honest. I'm nervous that it will all happen too. But I'll say I'm confident that the new album and tour will definitely happen. And I'm nearly positive we'll get another hits package.

As far as reissues, I think it would be totally awesome to have all the albums with bonus material. But if not all, I think it would be cool if they at least gave us deluxe versions of some of their best: Today!, Sunflower and Surf's Up. That would be cool.

The box set does kinda seem unlikely, because their is already a comprehensive set out there that is only missing Summer in Paradise and Stars & Stripes. But if they do put it out, I'm sure they will put some interesting previously unreleased tracks on there, although I think I'd prefer previously unreleased stuff on an album by themselves, or added to deluxe versions of the albums, but I'll happy accept whatever they put out!

I would really like a complete albums box, with mono and stereo, and some discs of rarities thrown in there. No one could afford it, but it would be an awesome package. I guess the one issue would be whether to include SIP or S&S ... I mean, if you really tried, you could make a case for those albums with some of the British retakes on the former and some recorded but unreleased stuff on the latter, but that seems like a lot of effort.

I just hope the new album is good. Anything else can (and will) be forgiven if it's even halfway decent.

It's 6am now in the U.K and I've just woken up. The first thing I'm doing right now is checking all of the comments from you all :lol. 2012 is going to be an amazing year for us all. And if as some mad people believe the world will end on 21st dec 2012, then I say let it Smile has be released, Beach Boys are whole again & touring nothing could really top the last few years as a Beach Boys fan ;).

With all due respect I think you are grossly missing the point as to a major part of The Beach Boys appeal.  The Beach Boys are California period.  To this day their image and legacy represents everything that is good and right about the "California Dream" that they basically established from the ground up in the sixties.  Before it all became phony, before we had paparazzi on every corner taking photographs of young starlets of whom they know nothing about other than they should be taking photos of them because it results in big bucks, before the era of crass commercialism and the rise of the new media there was something very real going on in California and this band extolled those virtues and exploitations in song.

The fact that they now have grey hair and wrinkles doesn't make The Beach Boys any less real than they were fifty years ago.  In fact given how times have changed in the past fifty years, you could argue that they are one of the most real deals out there.  They have never professed to do anything else other than represent the lure of California, the surf, the weather, the women all with a grace and style that arguably has never been matched.  I think in a lot of ways that is what keeps us all coming back time and time again to these forty-fifty year old recordings because for many of us they represent something extremely real and honest, qualities that are rare to find in mainstream music today.  The nostalgia, the memories, the harmonies, the emotions are timeless due simply to the fact that the band and their music represents an innocent, unassuming portrayal of a time and a place that whether we lived through it first hand or just vicariously through the music of The Beach Boys is as inviting and genuine now as it was then.

Does anybody want to do a meetup for the show closest to them? I'd love to go back stage and attend a meet and greet or something on this tour.

I'm very excited about the new album. I had no expectations they would ever do one.
So if there is one great song on there, well, that's worth the fifteen bucks to me.

If it turns out to be a great album, well so much the better, but I had zero expectation
so its all gravy, its all super.

Love the video.

Well I think this song sounds pretty fantastic.  I like how it has a 'different' sound, I haven't heard Brian or Mike sound like that, pretty much ever.  Mike kind of sounds like how he sounded on "cool head, warm heart" so maybe that's how he wants to sound in the studio now.  It's very soft and warm sounding, kind of a "friends" vibe.  This has the potential to be a great album.  

As for the autotune, etc. personally I dont' have dog ears enough to hear it, but again... nothing you ever hear, on any song, is authentic.  Even the early songs were done in numerous takes, had effects like reverb splashed all over them, were double tracked by the same person (which isn't natural) etc. so I never understood why people feel it's important that an album track sound like they were all standing in your living room singing it.  Of course they can't reproduce that live, exactly, it's a recording and as such has been manipulated.

Some of the best parts of live performances to me, are the parts that are changed to facilitate playing it live.  Brian's insistance on making the live performances exactly like the album recording isn't as important to me.  I'd much rather hear the band do it a little more raw when they perform live, much like how the boys did in the 70's... in the 70's the Beach Boys weren't afraid to mix things up in concert, play it too fast, sing the melody a bit different, etc.  I think that kind of stuff is interesting.

But  anyways, this is an awesome announcement and I'm really digging this new song.  

Thank you John.  You really get it.  I never understood why people think that just because somebody gets older, they should start acting old.  Here's a hint: Mike Love still likes 20 year olds in bikinis.  He may not be able to do anything about it, but he's still the same guy, literally, that wrote and sang all those songs back then.  Brian to a lesser extent is too.  There's nothing wrong with old men singing about fun in the sun, like John said they're the real deal man, what they're talking about is what everybody feels it's just some don't remember what it's like to be young and in love. 

Andrew you're smug every week, are you just saying you dont' want us to call you out on it this week? lol

i may be in the minority, but I think it would be nice if they recorded a version of "I've Got A Friend". I think Brian singing it in his mid range "mature" voice with a simple piano backing would be quite nice to hear.  :)

See, I just can't go there. And maybe that's why, as much as I'm interested in seeing what the group does in the studio, and excited as I am that they'll be getting some serious attention with the tour, the whole reunion thing has me a bit confounded.

You see, I don't care about California. I just don't. Never been there, never particularly care if I go there. I understand it's important to the music as a concept and a point of reference. But I often like the music in spite of what it's about. And that's why I get on board around the time of "Today," because most songs begin to be about relationships (widely relate-able) as opposed to surfing or SoCal culture.

So the Beach Boys really don't mean anything to me in that cultural context. They mean a lot to me as a parable of rise, fall and redemption, and of vocal harmony mixing with complementary genres. They mean a lot to me as experimental pop music. No other music I've heard gives me quite the same tingle. But it's not because of California.

That would be awesome! Plus a live version with Dennis on lead.

Imagine that you're at a Beach Boys reunion show, and they call for an intermission about an hour into the show. After 15 minutes or so, all of the surviving members of "The Wrecking Crew" and "The Funk Brothers" join the Beach Boys, along with Van Dyke Parks, for an impromptu SMiLE set. Talk about a mindf*ck.  ;D

The Beach Boys are inextricably linked to mid-century modernism and California culture...yes, even their introspective stuff like Today! and Pet Sounds.  Be it about surfing, cars and girls or loneliness and isolation, Brian's music is the sound of Los Angeles.  It's all right if you don't connect to that aspect of the group, but to deny it outright?

The point is: you don't have to love California, you just have to respect how much the boys love California.  To me, I see it as a beautiful thing how they represent where they grew up and what they experienced.

It's like listening to Bob Marley.  He represents the rastafarian life, I don't smoke weed, I don't have dreads, and I never will.  When I hear Bob Marley sing though, I have a deep respect for how much he loved what he was about and where he was from.  It's beautiful and it made his music exponentially better. 

Or hearing Lynyrd Skynyrd sing "Sweet Home Alabama".  I don't want to live in Alabama, don't see anything particularly great about Alabama, but damn I love that song and I love hearing those guys (and girls) be so excited about the place they call home.  It makes the song much better than it would be on it's own. 

Phil, your secret's out - you can't read, can you ? Look at the OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE again, or get someone to read it to you, properly this time. We're getting...

A new hits compilation...

A new career-spanning box set...

Other new commemorative releases.

This isn't if/but/maybe. Like they said about TSS, it's happening. And despite your best (in fact, utterly pathetic) efforts, TSS did happen. Stop pissing on everyone's fire, go over to the Bloo and join in the unison bleating over there.

Like I said, them as can't be positive about this initial news, STFU and go away. We can begin the picking when we have more details.

Preach it brother!!! Beat them haters back!

I want to be smug with everyone's approval, for once.  :-D

It's heartening to know that no matter what I can always come here and see the same old gang, having the same old arguments  :P

I was busy today and didn't really get much of a chance to ruminate on this, though I am really blown away. My mind is turning with all the possibilities. A full on box including every studio album would be really lavish. I probably couldn't afford it, but I'd still find a way, by hook or by crook, to get my hands on one.

I've been saying for a while that I'd like to see an "Alternate" series of reissues. The classic albums with new mixes, tracklistings etc. Rhino did one for T.Rex that I really liked, releasing all the albums with alternate cover arts/titles where all the standard tracks were replaced with demos and alternate versions. I think something like that would be awesome for the BB. An alternate version of 15 Big Ones with a revised tracklist and different mix could be really spectacular. A version of SU without the titletrack (perhaps with the title of Landlocked?) and Dennis' tracks restored? There are so many what ifs and could have beens in BB history a campaign like that could be a huge amount of fun, and could totally revamp how the band is perceived.


Also, Andrew, for just one time in your whole life, I will be ok with you being smug, if that's what you need to get it out of your system.  :P

Great news, great day.

Have at last had. Hance to listen through phones to the vid and have to say that the only individual voices I can discern are Mike's, Brian's and (presumably) Jeff's. Seems to be quite a massed chorus kicking in elsewhere. I hope we get to hear just the five together on the album and not have that special blend swamped out. Okay we'll always be without the tones of Dennis and Carl but that's no reason to over-egg this pudding.



Actually, let ME produce it...

Mr.Doe,

            You seem to be unaware of the Mark Linett/Alan Boyd interviews at a website called "Icon Fetch", where Mr.Linett was asked about future projects, and he did say that the status of such projects depends on EMI's new owners. I remind you that EMI is in a state of limbo at the moment pending European & North American government approval of Universal Music's purchase of EMI's recorded music division. In recent years, the American branch of Universal Music has totally abandoned releasing archival material(other than greatest hits projects with no unreleased material), and when the company's British affiliates do release an archival CD box set, U.S.A. Universal merely imports the British product instead of pressing a U.S.A. edition. Under Universal's ownership, Capitol(if the label continues at all) will be far less supportive of archival CD product. And, be reminded that the 5-CD "Smile Sessions" box didn't chart at all(though the 2-CD edition did chart briefly)
            From my standpoint, whether this archival product materialises at all, is not worth getting tormented over, and certainly not worth another online jousting match with you. We've been there, and done that. I'm willing to believe that the reunion album is going to happen, because it is already in the process of being recorded. As for the archival product, we'll see. Unless the archival product is rush released before the Universal Music purchase of EMI Records becomes finalised, whether these archival projects get released......will entirely be Universal Music's decision.

They should do an essay contest, 500 words on why you want to produce the beach boys, winner gets to produce a new version of Summer In Paradise.

I tell you what would top this amazing news?, AGD & Fishmonk together at one of the concerts nxt year dancing & hugging each other :lol. Surely with everything good that's happened in the Beach Boys world over the last few years everyone will become brothers. Come on AGD & Fishmonk feel the love :lol.

I heard the interview too. Mark and Alan aren't about to jump the gun (unlike Al). They aren't idiots (not that Al is).  The selling of EMI didn't stop Smile.

 So, it's been officially announced so those releases WILL happen.  Mark and Alan , I wager, would answer different to that question today.  Smile has exceeded expectations sales wise.  Pink Floyd, the Who, the Stones are re-mining the gold for $$$$$.  Record companies see the profit.  It's a no brainer. It's obvious that this has been meticulously planned sequence of events.

Just enjoy the ride and hope for those unreleased Dennis songs.

Flag on the play right there - you're wrong. As usual. And, uh, if you're going to try to be patronising & condescending, let me tell you that, as a past master of that arcane art, your attempt is pitiful.

This 50th anniversary program (as announced) didn't suddenly emerge from a recent meeting of the principals: like TSS, I'm betting the whole 50th thing (tour, Smile, new box, new album etc...) has been in the works for months and, as they did with Smile, Capitol wouldn't risk ridicule by announcing something that's not going to happen. Also, remember that Capitol gave the OK to expand TSS from three to five CDs.

And Phil, you should be doing a small jig of joy - for once, something's been announced a goodly way in advance... oh, no, I forgot. Of course, now there's going to be a clampdown on any news (hopefully the ears I've whispered in will do just that, and thereby bug the piss out of you, which was my sole intent*).

Once again, we've had a hugely exciting announcement and you weigh in with with overwhelmingly negative comments. We know you can't think well of anything like this, been there before, and all had a good yuck when every last thing you cast doubt on came to happen. Seriously, go over to the Bloo, I gather there are folk of like mind. Just leave us to enjoy what's happening right now: we'll start dissecting it later, it what we do... but the difference is, we tend to wait until we have the material to hand as opposed to wailing it'll never happen.

[* OK, that's a lie, but if I could I damn well would  ;D]

That's what's great about The Beach Boys and the fan community. To be serious for a second, I've never had much of a feeling of fraternity in my life. I've never really had a particularly close relationship with my own family, I don't have any brothers, and I've always had a habit of being sort of an outsider in life. I think that's what makes the beach boys so great for me, the sort of brotherly love that's in all the music, that makes me feel connected to the rest of the world, like I'm a very small part of that brotherly love that the Beach Boys share with everyone through their music. And that extends to everyone here, I very often feel like Andrew is the biggest lout in the entire world, but if I ever saw him walking down the street, I would take him by the arm and lead him into the nearest bar and buy him drinks until we were were arm in arm drunkenly singing Tears In The Morning.

Phil seems to be an obsessive compulsive denier. With a habit of trying to come across as a knowledgable commentator, when in fact he's just party to the same press releases as the rest of us. Still, it's a free world.

Phil, lighten up and share the moment with the rest of us, at its face value. Let yourself smile! ;)

Late logging on today but great news when I did.

As a big fan of the Brother years and logo I am very impressed with the 50th artwork we have seen and will be wearing that logo on official merchandise as soon as someone makes it available.

Nice job and good luck to all involved in the 50th next year.

Exactly so. Over here in the UK we're lucky because geography allows regular fan gatherings and the sense of community is astonishing: to be in a room with a couple of hundred others knowing they're all as terminally afflicted as you are is close to a healing experience, if only for a few hours (as a sidebar, apparently in person I'm a really nice guy, or so I'm told. Go figure).

That's one reason why the likes of Cohen piss me off so much - the instant negativity. Yes, I'll pick holes in the new product, we all will, 'cause that's what we do, but we'll also celebrate the great bits. Balance, I believe it's called. This is great, great news, so let's celebrate, anticipate, and bitch when the time comes.

I'm skeptical, to say the least!  ;D

OK, just for you I'll carry on being a grinch.  BTW, check your inbox.

Well said, AGD !

Also I would've thought that Universal would only be delighted at the prospect of revenue associated with the Beach Boys' 50th anniversary - archival releases, box sets, reissues, etc. So I'd say that it's more likely than not that we'll see a veritable buzz of BB-related product and activity in 2012...quit with the negativity, bring it on, can't wait (too long  :) ) !!!

This is great news, hoping that the may be at least one song by Mike in the style of "Cool Head,Warm Heart" my favourite of the 3 tracks on Songs From Here & Back.

Also hope that Matt and Christian are with the touring band next year, keep it in the family!
Hell get Justyn in as well!!!

Bring on 2012!

Yes well said Fishmonk, And I like to add that we all have are ups and downs in life. But since joining this board no matter what happens to me I know that their are still some good people in this world. Some of them have been very kind to me esp in giving me the chance to hear the whole of The 5cd Smile Sessions box set  ;D. The fan mixes from some of the guys on here are truely amazing too. We are all very lucky that so many great things are happening in the Beach Boys world :)

Jesus, they just announced the tour & album on my local radio station news (96.4 The Eagle, based in Guildford) !  I just about fell off my chair laughing.  :lol

Andrew your the reason why im on here :lol. I googled your name and it linked me to this board, and because I enjoyed reading your book, then your comments & I had to join.
How about organising a get together for any fans who will see The Beach Boys in London. I would like to meet you and anyone else on this board, swap stories, etc. I've never done any fans meetings before and would love to attend any  ;D.

 Eagle FM these guys have 'The Love Crew' who go out promoting them!! Andrew hope you got your' Love' sticker in the rear window!

Dammit man, where were you in September ? Dude called Wilson played the RFH.  Literally dozens of fans turned up. :lol

For sure, when the London/UK dates are announced, something will be arranged. Hopefully someone's got some smarts and doesn't schedule any London date for either June 2nd to 5th (Diamond Jubilee weekend) or July 27th to August 12th (Olympic Games).

Or when a friend who posts here is getting married.  ;D

Edit: this just popped up on my FB page. The very first Stomp Convention in Exeter, August 11th 1979.

(http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/377496_2790318487925_1557246834_2711231_1917013395_n.jpg)

Standing: Gerard Hubert, Dave Savagar, AGD, Roy Gudge, Mike Grant, Ann-Michelle Bowerman, Max Cripps, Eddy Feiken, Chris Metcalfe, John Porteous, Liz Smith & friend, Jaki Rothery.
Front row: Andrew Bainborough, Trevor Childs, Terry Needham & friend.

Christian can't sing those parts. Period.

I wish I was there Andrew, But I'd lost my job & very nearly was made homeless during the Summer :(. It's been a nightmare year for me during 2011, But thankfully I'm now back on my feet with a new job and still in my rented home thank God :). 2012 is going to be a great year, 200yrs of Charles Dickens birth, Reforming of the Stone Roses, Beach Boys. Bring it on!!! ;D

Also 150th anniversary of Silver Billy Beldham's death !

Are we sure there was only one session for the song? Maybe they made two different attemtps?

Who is he Andrew??

Wikipedia is your friend.  ;D

"William ("Silver Billy") Beldham (5 February 1766, Wrecclesham, near Farnham, Surrey – 20 February 1862, Tilford, Surrey) was an English professional cricketer who is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest batsmen of the sport's underarm era. In 1997, he was selected by John Woodcock of The Times as one of his 100 Greatest Cricketers of All Time." Thank you Wikipedia  ;D

And thank you, me.  :lol

Now, how 'bout dem Beach Boys, eh ?

Wait a minute, is Phil Cohen slamming or naysaying again? I don't have time to read all 11 pages of this thread.
Phil man, chill out be cool,

The knowledge, cleverness and attention to arcane detail, has me impressed with this board. You guys
know everything about every record, concert, you name it. You know all the personal details and history
everything, its flabbergasting.

But what I don't get, presumably, this is a Beach Boy forum, so I assume if someone comes here, they like
the Beach Boys, and the solo albums, and would be delighted about a new studio album! A tour, additional
archival releases! WOW!

So many people were negative about SMiLE coming out, and now people are getting negative about the new
album, the reunion in general, the tour, why ? It makes no sense?


The surviving Beach Boys are all pushing 70, two of the Beach Boys are dead, but the surviving (5) members are making
a new album with new material! Holy Cow!  Listen these guys arguably were in their musical prime between say 1964-73
no one is expecting an album as good as Pet Sounds or SmiLE, but its a gift! Holy Cow! one more album! WOW

Now I can understand if you quibble about, well Joe Thomas is a lousy producer, or a great producer, or Jeff Fosket should be included
or not, or Mike Love was a good lyricist (for the Beach Boys) or just a very lucky guy. I mean discussion is cool, opinions vary, I never heard of
Joe Thomas except for the Imagination album, I thought the album was sort of bloated, but I thought the Title cut, and "She says that she needs me
were great tracks even worthy of the great Beach Boy albums, So yeah discussion is good, but this whole, oh it's not gonna happen, this sucks
this is the same stuff that was said about SMiLE and its one of the great archival releases ever, it came out and its great! Maybe one of the greatest
albums ever made, even though it wasn't quite finished, now you can hear it! Hurrah! Officially all shiny and clean with liner notes and packaging,

I also understand there is the Brian Wilson faction and the Mike Love faction, I don't really see what the debate is about, the only debate would be
this, The Beach Boys were all great singers, and they could all write a decent tune now and then, but the only one who is a genius or great composer
is Brian, the only debate really would be, was Mike Love just lucky to write lyrics to those songs, could anyone off the street have done as well, or is
Love a bit underappreciated, and a bit more talented than he is sometimes given credit for. The other thing would be, was he really that much of a narrow
minded redneck dope who terrorized Brian Wilson, or is he unfairly maligned.

Most of the most iconic legendary groups can't do a reunion, the Beach Boys sort of can, although obviously without Carl Wilson
especially, and his brother to some extent, its not as great as it could have been. This is a great thing, if the album sucks, we haven't lost anything
if it's average or better, its to be cherished one more album from the guys. I much prefer this to a Wilson solo album of covers. I want to hear some
new tunes, I wish one of them good be as great as God Only Knows, or Good Vibrations, I'd say that's almost impossible, but one can hope

Mr Doe I wanna know about the new material!

Better sound here for the new DIA re-recording IMO.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQd1wz3d5nc

Listen to this. Do you hear what I hear ?

The Beach Boys.  ;D

Looking forward to the full song now and video. Now with the announcement we may not have to wait too long.

A Day In the Life of Phil Cohen.

Dawn: "Oh no, the sun rose again, just like it does every day, dammit - always the old stuff... but it's not going to set, you know, I've not heard anything about that."

Breakfast: "This syrup is wrong, it's not sweet enough, my syrup - www.philssyrup - is much better"

On the way to work: "Why did no-one tell me the train would be so crowded at 8.30am on a Tuesday ?  It's a conspiracy to hide the fact that they can't run a railroad, fer god's sake."

At work: "All these people in my office, just like yesterday. Well, it won't last, they won't be here tomorrow, just you wait".

On the way home: "Damn I'm tired - why is that, no-one's telling me anything, it's an outrage."

Dinner: "Well, the steak looks good, but I'll bet it tastes awful."

Sunset: "OK, OK, OK, so the sun set... but it won't rise tomorrow, that sun's in trouble I tell you."

Well Andrew I can be a negative guy too, but I stay usually, within the bounds of reality.

This is the same stuff we heard about SMiLE, oh its a myth, its not coming out bla bla


Is this a gag, are these handful of people like Phil having us on ?


I don't expect Pet Sounds two, or SMiLe, if the new studio album is halfway decent
or has a couple of real gems on there, I say Bravo and thank you!

If its a killer classic album like they did in their prime, well, even better. Either
way its gonna be a bargain at $15 USD or whatever the price tag is!


I want to know, I need to know about the new material, who wrote it, what does it sound like
how many are in the can, will they record just enough, or is there likely to be a lot of extra for
a second album later or bonus tracks later

Just stuck in Soudns of Summer and it occurs, even if Mike insists they play hits, hits, hits, it makes for a faaacking great gig; with those voices an those presences on stage, it's a faaaaaaaacking great gig.

You can't make that sh*t up  :lol

It will be Summer In Paradise Part 2.

 :p

You can't go wrong with those timeless music. And as Al said, the audience will get the hits (along with some lesser known stuff). I just hope they'll play them good.
In fact now that Dave's there I hope they'll even do some surf instrumentals.

Probably somewhere in between M.I.U., Imagination, Paley sessions and SiP might be realistic I think. Hoping Brian's going to contribute at least one or two real "downers". And I really wouldn't mind "Cool Head Warm Heart" being included.

I woke up to "I can hear music" this morning and a very excited radio DJ playing "non stop Beach Boys hits" in celebration of the reunion..

 ;D

Is it just me or does anybody else get the feeling that after all those years of dumb decisions and blown opportunities the guys have really got their sh*t together over the past few years? The Mike and Bruce Show have upped their game big time, Al's stopped tinkering endlessly with his solo effort and finally put it out, Brian is singing better (on record) then he has for decades, the lawsuits have stopped, everyone's on good terms again, The Smile Sessions was a fantastic success and now a reformed classic lineup with a new Brian produced album in the works and live shows promised to celebrate the 50 years anniversary, plus hints of a decent back catalogue reappraisal.
Did they collectively wake up one morning and realise "We're the F*cking Beach Boys and we rock!" or what?

Ummm, think you'll find that the back catalog has been pretty damn well served since 1990.

THE BEACH BOYS ARE BACK!, the quality of this song has my hopes up for a good reunion album and tour. ;D

Well, I hope that they realised through the internet how much they disappointed their fans and that there are people who care about the Beach Boys. The fact that some heavily involved people are reading this message board might have helped too. Just remember that in the first interview Mike talked about the 50th anniversary and a reunion he mentioned an all star concert. All hell broke lose here and soon there wasn't any more talk about it. I do hope that some ideas we have mentioned here got caught up for the celebrations.





I hope Brian's (and the boys') vocals will be as excellent as on BWRG ITKOD and TLOS.

The twofers are great but I'm thinking Deluxe issues a'la what has recently been done with The Kinks back catalog, which blows away the previous versions.

It's such a testament to the greatness of the Beach Boys discography when you get excited about a reunion, a tour, a new album but you really flip out when you hear "reissue campaign""

Reluctlantly, I grant my approval.   Go ahead.  Post a sneering picture of you witha  sheat eating grin, ridiculing my previous assumption that Brian would'nt sign on for a tour.  You can even say "I told you so, na-na-na boo boo" if you'd like :)

Yup.  It's undeniable.  They still have it.  I reallllllly wanna hear the next part, where they go down into the cool stuff.  .....beeennnn soooo lonnnnnngggg........

Yes. I think that each album has deserved to be treated as a single release. I like the two-fers but it kinda takes the importance of the individual albums away imo.

I agree  ;D

So i was fairly nonchalant about this yesterday. But I was in shock. NOW I AM FREAKING OUT  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Oh, and thanks for the heads up on this at the RFH, AGD - I didn't quite believe you at the time  :lol

Amazing...  The full article actually remembered Carl & Dennis.  Guess there wasn't enough space here:

The Beach Boys announce 50th anniversary reunion

December 16, 2011

For years, there have been the Beach Boys, and there has been Brian Wilson, and the two rarely intersected. The pioneering SoCal pop group was so influential to pop that it was, and is, widely regarded as America's answer to the Beatles. But Wilson's involvement with the band waxed and waned over the decades, and more recently his role has been nonexistent while he resurrected such long-delayed projects as "Smile" (which the Beach Boys also revisited this year with the well received box set, "The Smile Sessions) and a solo album "That Lucky Old Sun."

Until now. The band confirmed speculation that all surviving members of the Beach Boys' mid-'60s lineup -- Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and David Marks -- will reunite for the band's 50th anniversary with a world tour and a new album on Capitol in 2012.

Wilson is producing the new album of originals, which is still being recorded. It will top a retrospective series that includes a new greatest-hits collection and a career-spanning box set, while the 50-date world tour (with dates to be announced) begins in April and includes a stop at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. The Beach Boys remain the bestselling American band in the history of Neilsen/Soundscan for albums and singles.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2011/12/beach-boys-announce-50th-anniversary-reunion.html

Many people didn't think it would happen, but you've got to believe!

I wonder what would happen if they tried releasing, as singles, some of their lesser known album tracks or un-released stuff. Would it be likely to make any impact on the charts at all, or could we generate more interest in these songs? I'm thinking TTGA or Till I Die (again), stuff that would make people listen for a bit longer.

People mock me for calling the BBs my favourite band, but I feel that they are missing out on arguably the best music ever made. Open up their catalogue to non-fans and see what the response is!

What a great christmas present! :D

Pretty nice voices, actually.

I wonder if the bikini girls in the Do It Again video were at the sessions or merely cut into the video. :wink

I'd buy the CDs to the pre-1965 albums if the mono versions were included.

I have just read Bakabaka's post about how it's weird that old men will be singing about bikinis etc like they are young again. I understand this point but when I saw them in July it didn't matter to me at all! Mike even made funny 'moves' towards me but as a woman in my 20s I just found it quite funny! I have to say that gig was probably the most fun I've had at a concert and I've been to some good ones! It's all about the music and the 'magic' of the Beach Boys. They still know how to put on a show so I don't care what they sing about!

If they want to tour, write and record again I am all for it. The music world is a much better place with the Beach Boys in it!

Yeah, that pretty much sums it it

Very good !

Wait a second, Phil Cohen (great name by the way, say hi to Chet Morton for me), you're using TSS sales numbers as a reason that they won't release any more archival releases?  In the Rolling Stone article a couple weeks back about deluxe reissues, they mentioned that a similar reissue that moved 10,000 copies a couple of years ago is what started this boom in deluxe reissues.  TSS moved 18,000 of the high price-point set during the first couple of weeks on the market.   So it's sold over 8000 of something that was considered a smash success, before the Christmas shopping season even began. 

I'm going to continue to stand my ground, despite the hostility towards me, and Mr.Doe's latest outburst of ridicule. As for those of you who would like to see each 1960's album expanded to a 2-CD set, be cautioned, that in many cases, the "Disc Two" would be very short.

Obviously, for those albums which had both a stereo & mono mix, "Disc One" could hold both the stereo & mono version quite easily, since many of these albums were 25 to 30 minutes. For those albums which have, until now, only been released in mono, "Disc One" could hold the mono version, plus stereo remixes of whatever songs can be remixed for stereo.

"Disc Two" could hold (originally) unreleased alternate arrangements & unreleased songs(I.E. the bonus tracks that were already released in the two-fer series or on previous archival projects such as "Hawthorne,Ca", "Endless Harmony Soundtrack", "Rarities" etc.), plus some session excerpts(all of which are backing track only, since The Beach Boys didn't add vocals until after satisfactory backing tracks had been achieved), and perhaps related, previously unreleased live concert versions of some of the songs.

Obviously, "Pet Sounds" has already been thoroughly explored, with mono, remixed stereo, remixed surround sound, plus session excerpts & 1960's alternate vocals mixes. And, of course, barring someone coming forward with lost tapes, "Smile" has also been thoroughly explored. Those two albums have been totally strip-mined. So, then we are talking about the following albums:
"Surfin' Safari"
"Surfin' U.S.A."
"Surfer Girl",
"Little Deuce Coupe"
"Shut Down Vol.2"
"All Summer Long"
"Beach Boys Concert"
"Beach Boys Christmas Album"
"The Beach Boys Today"
"Summer Days....and Summer Nights"
"Beach Boys Party"
"Smiley Smile"
"Wild Honey"
"Friends"
"20/20"

It would be quite difficult to even produce a 25 minute "Disc Two" for some of those albums. As for 1970's & 1980's albums, the amount of unreleased songs is much more plentiful, but many of them have no Brian Wilson involvement. In the 1990's, the late Paul Atkinson(ex-Zombies guitarist & then a Capitol executive) said that there were enough unreleased 1970's & 1980's Beach Boys songs to fill a 2-CD set.

As I've said, barring problems getting North American & European government permission for Universal Music's purchase of EMI's recorded music division(EMI's other properties, such as song publishing companies will be bought by Sony & Bertelsmann), a new owner(Universal) is coming in, and their attitude towards archival projects(that involve vault research & mixing expenses)  is much less collector-friendly than EMI. As it stands now, Universal has signed documents of intent to buy EMI, but the purchase is subject to regulatory approval on both sides of the Atlantic. As it stands now, EMI is still in limbo, reposessed and owned by Citicorp.

If you guys get thrills by stomping on me with hate, harassment & ridicule, then go for it. I won't be fazed.

Preach it sister.  I went to a Mike show several years back, I've never seen so many different people having a good time, from babies to grandmas. 

I await the remastered "Rollin' Up To Heaven"/"Teardrops On My Bed (Drip Drop)" single archival release!

remember when Brian said he might not tour again!!!

Wouldn't it be kind of ironic if Brian stopped touring now and writes songs for the Beach Boys while they'll go on tour ?

No, irony would be if Mike stopped touring to write songs whilst Brian went on the road

I take it you're American?  >:D

Some Americans do understand the actual meaning of "ironic."

It _literally_ kills me when people mess it up. Hee hee.

But also note I corrected my spelling mistakes.

Smug English bastard mocks American's misuse of irony, whilst making grammatical errors. Ironic? Not sure.......

It's like rain on your wedding day ...

No. No, it isn't like that at all.

Alanis Morisette was Canadian. 

I may have missed it in the thread somewhere but was there mention of when tour tickets are going to be available?

Not for me to say, really, but I'm guessing it'll be after the shows are booked.

I am also thinking a good deal of thought has gone into this and perhaps Capitol has put someone in charge. Its early days but a rerecording, video to come, well worded press release and talk of reissues. I like the artwork with not a surfboard or bikini featured which hints some effort may be made to highlight the bands non-beach work over the summer hits for once. Capitol may also see potential for a new live album/ concert DVD.

My hope now is for a outsider to be involved in the concert production. The various factions have lifted their games in the presentation of the music live thanks to Brians band who started it. We don't want tacky but a well thought out concert covering more than just the hits could be amazing.

It would be great to see the guys play a big stadium or Madsion Square Garden..

They could easily sell them out

I'll think you'll find said person has already been mentioned as a participant in the project.

They're starting the tour in April and also playing the Jazz fest, or they're opening the tour at the Jazz Fest.
So, which is it? Or will we have to wait before we find out the real dates? 
Myself I don't want to spend $975 each for the Big Chief VIP Experience, unless I KNOW it's their FIRST show.

I hate to be negative, but I live in Los Angeles and it's quite far from New Orleans. Does anyone want to place a bet on whether or not the tour will implode before it reaches the West Coast?

From the official announcement (emphasis for the hard of comprehending mine):

"... a 50-date international tour to begin in April with a headlining performance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival "

Sh*t, even I can understand that, and everyone knows how stupid I am.

Geeeeeeez.  And I thought I was............

Ah, never mind.  ::)

Sorry, my bad, Yoda.
What does "hard of comprehending mine" really mean?

Re-read the release on page 1 and I can't see it?  ???

Sh!t. You are starting to sound like Phil!

The tour actually starts April 1st, with a very exclusive, by invitation only performance, in the auditorium at:
National Council of Negro Women
3720 West 54th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90043-2307
On the corner of 54th and Mullen (off Crenshaw Blvd.)

Site of their Jan. 25th , 1962 "Surf Nite" performance  ( there's a ticket from that show for sale on Ebay)

April 1 gigs are always the best! ;)

Love it! Chet was always the Hardy Boys' No. 1 friend, but poor Phil was probably No. 4, behind Biff Hooper and Tony Prito.

Hey, I remember those guys!!  How would Fenton Hardy and Aunt Gertrude deal with him?

Correction:

It's the Freaking Beach Boys!

aka

The Greatest Band in the World!

About two weeks ago, AGD figured out how to highlight some words in Yellow.  So now he does it as a even more annoying way to sneer at people.

So what he was saying is the "emphasis for the hard of comprehending" was "mine".  I.E. he's the one who emphasized those words, for the hard of comprehending, it wasn't originally emphasized in the original post.

I wouldn't take it personal, it's his style.  If Mother Theresa did that, you'd think "MAN! What a BITCH!"  AGD is no Mother Theresa though... that's actually pretty reserved for him.  Look back a couple pages about how he Booker T and the MG's-ed Phil.  LOL

ha ha
I'll wager that this is NOT the first time AGD has been compared with Mother Theresa!!!

Alright who is Bieber replacing in the group?  ;)

http://www.statesman.com/news/nation/newsmakers-beach-boys-plan-reunion-album-tour-2038571.html

Hearing the DIA snippet, I was amazed at how unmistakably BB it really sounded.  Mike's sounding a lot better than he did in the 80s, and the group blend just sounds vintage.  They still have that magic, and if the new songs are written and arranged with care, this reunion album will be something to really look forward to.

I can only feel good about this, in every way.  With the Smile Sessions finally released in such a great package, the stage is set for a great 50th anniversary celebration.  This is precisely how they should seal and complete their musical legacy.  It's perfect.

I hope they dont hire Carol Kaye to play bass..!! :thud :violin

Is the reunion tour heading to Australia ?

Yes

Thanks Mr May, were the dates mentioned further back in this thread ?

Being a Beach Boys fan just keeps getting better and better doesn't it? I actually feel honored to be a part of a fanbase such as this, I like you guys for a ton of reasons and not just the fact that your mainly crazy people who enjoy "The Beach Boys Love You". ;D Come on everybody let's put our hearts together and hug to take a load off our feet, eh?

Can everyone cut it with the yellow text? It's especially hard for me to read.

Everyone needs to read this post. Now, read it again. Good. Now, follow its advice, goddamnit!

Also, The Beach Boys featuring Brian Wilson and David Marks had better come to Halifax and stop neglecting my love. :(

Happens all the time. It's the tea towel headdress and the saintly demeanour.

Be amazed if they don't - I'm guessing the "worldwide" part of the tour equates to something like:

Australia - Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane
Japan - Tokyo
UK - London, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Manchester
Ireland - Dublin
Holland - Amsterdam
France - Paris
Spain - Madrid
Germany - Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt
Scandinavia - Copenhagen, Helsinki

... minimum.

US would have to be...

LA
Hawaii
NYC
Boston
Chicago
SF
Miami
St. Louis
Dallas
Denver
DC
Seattle
Philly
Mitchell  ;D
Hutchinson
San Diego
New Orleans (confirmed)
Baltimore
Cincinnati
Cleveland
Las Vegas
Phoenix
Kansas City (either one)

Just top of the head guesses.

I wish they'd come to Houston. I would nut if I got to see a reunion show live.

 :-D  :-D  :-D

I'm originally from Kansas, and this is even funnier if you actually know the town.

You can see the house where Murry was born on Google Streetview - looks very run down, but at least it's still there.

Incidentally, I'm assuming this associated recording and video is the reason BW's Scandinavian gigs were pulled?

Not for that song - those sessions were back in late May.

They better come to Pittsburgh. Or Cleveland. If they come to Pittsburgh perhaps we could organize a Smiley Smile meet and greet.  8)  :hat

Maybe the addition of Dave to the footage? What's your best guess Andrew?

I really hope so, but since 1980, the BB have avoided Holland ... lucky enough BW hasn't the last decade.

it is all over the news in Australia. The Daily Telegraph even

I hope that Brian will actually sing background parts when he's not doing lead.

Hoping they go to Norway. Though, I'll only go if they don't do 'Be True to your School' :D

Been doing some basic math (only kind I have). Tour starts April 27th, lasts 50 dates, so the earliest it could finish is June 16th or so... but of course they won't be playing a show every day. Say... five shows a week, so 10 weeks, which brings us up to about July 6th. But don't forget the TV/radio/promo appearances, and maybe five gigs a week is a bit steep. Say four, plus travel for the non-American shows... I'd say, based purely on my unsupported assumptions and counting on my fingers, it'll be done by mid-August - oddly, the date the London Olympics close. Maybe Alan's on to something.  ;D

Of course, the biggest 'if' is my assuming that the tour is going to be uninterrupted. If not, say if it's done in two or more blocks, then forget what I'm theorising and look to it stretching into the fall. But Mike & Bruce do 50-show stints without batting an eyelid, and Brian's no stranger to such a schedule either. Were I a betting man, I'd lay a small sum on the tour being done by the end of August. August 2012, that is.

The other "what if" I'm not considering is a Monkees/Springfield scenario. Don't want to think about that.

He will - Brian LOOOOOOOOOOOOOVES doing bvs.  ;D

The dates will be interesting..

A 50 date world tour, man this is going to be crazy

Oh, they're gonna do it. Only this time Brian will be doing a harmony on Mike's "Wheeeeeeeeen".

Thanks Andrew -

I must admit that I was apprehensive at first... hey, can't even find my post anymore that proves it, and all the better for it too, let it sink away in the troughs of deep cyberspace.

It's an absolutely great prospect. That reunion, a new album, and a career-spanning box set... hopefully tons of rarities will be included.

Amazing.

http://www.facebook.com/alanjardine/posts/265677626823873

Apparently Mike and Bruce plan to squeeze four or five casino gigs in each morning and afternoon before the Beach Boys evening gigs.... ;)

Saw this earlier... Really puzzled about this "sacrificing careers" stuff. Does it mean Postcards has  even delayed yet again, again?

The real casualties of this reunion, Al Jardine's solo record and Mike and Bruce playing a theme park opening

c'mooon texas.  preferably two dates so i have a choice to drive from San Antonio.

So, regarding the album.

This will be the first Beach Boys album to be "Produced by Brian Wilson" since, Love You

Haha!

Lol, agreed, John. If anything, he can get his career back.

I'd like to believe that  :-\

My guess: BWRG and ITKoD are far more Brian Wilson productions than next year's record will ever be.

(Doesn't mean it will be bad, mind you. But until I see someone explicitly denying that Joe Thomas is part of this, I suspect he's still involved.)

I hope they come to Salt Lake City.  :'(

Yes, hence the speech marks, it's always nice to see it in print though, and if it shifts a few more units, what's the harm?

Also the first album to feature David Marks since Little Deuce Coupe in 1963 when he was about 15! :o

Young David was no Gremlin.....

Unless you count that Nascar CD from '98.

I don't.  ;D

Not sure if this is redundant in this conversation, but here is a link to whole session video promo and song:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/42619208/Do%20It%20Again%200707-960x540.mov

Happy Holidays and bless us all, each and every one!

See now if this turns out to be correct i'm gonna have to go to both! Life's hard sometimes  ;D

You know what I've been thiking for a while?  I think the key is Al Jardine.  I think his voice is pretty sweet, always has been, and you can hear it in most of their original songs; he still sounds pretty good, so if you do that type of song with Al's voice in the blend, I think that's the key to getting that Beach Boys 'sound'.  Carl of course was also a HUGE part of the blend, but Al is still wtih us thankfully.

Everybody knows the 'bass' sound on any recording is kind of unidrectional for lack of a better word, it's imitable and you can't easily discern with your ear who's singing a bass note.  Also the falsetto part, although tough to do, can be imitated too, Al & Carl (and Bruce) in my opinion always had the hard lines to sing, the middle part of the harmony is tough to handle and keep straight.  As well known as the boys are for the falsetto, I think the real meat and bones was always the middle harmonies. 

Go ahead.  Ridicule me if you must, lol. 

Billy Hinsche to do the Wipeout rap? :D

Yes.  To this day, I feel even his current background vocals are the best thing he does.  Even when he's 'off' it sounds really cool and interesting to me.  i'd much rather hear him sing backup.  Luckily, I'm positive he will, hell he sings backup on the new song, you can hear him very well in the bridge (singing lead, and in the vocal pad behind it). 

Gotta love Al Jardine.  We're lucky to have such a genuinely nice guy be part of our favorite band, and also I'm glad that hopefully this will get Jardine a bit more respect being part of (and the early voice of) such a huge news story in the music world. 

The 'outtasite !' bit stopped me dead in my tracks !

For them as have not listened, this is the WHOLE SONG !

The video is obviously still in progress (Getty Images stand-in) but a friend of a friend who is in on the legal negotiations of the tour gave me permission to post it. He said it was a couple of months old already, so the final video edit of the promo must be finished by now. But this mix sounds MUCH better than the YouTube clip already...

Nice.  How'd you score this?

Meh I can see them picking their UK dates just in time for my wedding. Dammit! Hoping for May or late July/Aug. Hurry up and announce the dates!

"Nice.  How'd you score this?"


Old high school friends in on the legal aspects of setting up the tour (maybe the NASCAR end of things). Must have been an internal promo, obviously still in progress as of a few months ago. They said it was cool to post. I hope they're right. Too late now, boys...

This demos - once again - what a damn fine bass singer Mike is.

Simply no one can touch what he does on the bottom (all puns intended). Flawless take after take on the SMiLE sessions, and, truth be told,  every SOT box I have - he's on it EVERYTIME. That is some kind of genius too, have to admit.

His particular timbre can't be imitated, and fits that blend so beautifully. I feel it in my gut when I turn it up.

This mix seems to me to be much more satisfying than the Tube clip. Love this production.

Live, spare, on point, with instruments whose sound won't date.

Please let the whole album be something along these lines.

Not too slick, but clean and present and fill up the room with that SOUND!! Live as possible, please.

WOW.  :o


Interestingly, David is nowhere to be seen in this video, which probably means he's an afterthought. I don't care, as long as he ends up being a part of the reunion.

I wasn't ecstatic about the mix used on the Youtube clip. This version is much better! Mike sounds awesome, and you are right, I think he is probably the most consistent vocalist in the group, even at 70 years old!

David's in the video, isn't he?  I just don't think he was there when they did the vocals, or at least the vocals they videotaped. 

I hope they are able to write some new stuff that rocks and has this vibe to it.  I don't want to hear a whole album of deep music, although a few great songs would be nice.  I hope it skews more towards "do it again" and less towards "Desert drive" if you know what I mean. 

If Joe Thomas is responsible for the vocals sounding like that, I say keep Joe Thomas. 

Well then... change the date of your wedding !!  What kind of fan are you, anyway ?  ;D

Many thanks for the video PS, that was superb.  Just played it for my gf who last watched the Boys at their (in my opinion) frankly painful Reagan Foundation show. This was the diametric opposite - lively, fun and right on the money. This IS The Beach Boys. Can't wait to buy tickets! Glad to see Jeff Foskett there too btw.

I expect it'll be New Year before the dates are announced now?

Not this one. He wasn't there for the May sessions. This is patently from then - the YouTube video is from at least two sessions.

Did they sample the drum beat from the original version at the beginning?

I like how enthusiastic Bruce sings the 'Hey Now' part. :D
Oh and Mike's 'Hey Now's  kick ass!

I didn't really get invested into whether they should reunite or not when talk started, but everything coming out this week has really pulled me in. Everything looks like it has been done with care, taste and passion. I hope all parties involved have a wonderful experience and can pass that along to the fans. I am really getting pumped for this!

THIS!

Definitely made me realize how crucial & authentic Bruce's vocals are for the blend.

Mike's lead is just kickass. Listen to that rasp and vibrato in the 1st verse. He owns that vocal.

What a perfect way to start the reunion buzz. They sound GREAT.

Thanks a lot, PS!  But.......

"This account's public links are generating too much traffic and have been temporarily disabled!"

Hey, could one of you guys move over for a second and let me download this thing?  ;D

Wonder why he wasn't there in May.  Possibly they hadn't yet decided to include him?

But he is on the track says Jon.  My question is: why release this whole video "without David" when there is new video "with David".  
Shame, David should have played the guitar solo.

Wow, they really seemed like a band together after all these.

Even more pumped.

I don't think this is what you'd exactly call an 'officially sanctioned release'.  ;D

The "Smile" tape thief at it again.

Hello anyone? THIS?!?  NOW?!? PLEASE!!!

I'm biting my nails now! My fingers are bleeding, I need to hear this!  :'(

I'll mirror it if that's cool with everyone? Don't want to piss off PS since he was the one kind enough to share it, but I do already have it downloaded.

PS please reply!!  :-X

That'd be great of you man  :)

I Re-uped it, check this

http://www.mediafire.com/?idb5zes084d9jll

http://www.mediafire.com/?axrkxlb9cpsze8a

Ah - you beat me.

Thanks man! Big thanks to the guy who originally posted too!  :)

Thanks a lot! Now, to wait for the download to finish: 28 minutes remaining :ahh

The More The Merrier :D

Also, Well, your well, your welcome everyone :D

wow, the full video rocks! The new version is fantastic...

I knew Jeff was the culprit for that annoying falsetto

Good one. These boys have talent. Should make it big....


Mike's bass vocals always has been terrific. He just needs a microphone for himself because as Chuck Britz said, Mike's working very close to it. If he's not close enough you can't hear him very good if at all. But through the years his bass vocal was always intact even when he got so annoingly nasal.

I'm pretty sure they sampled the original DIA intro for this. Why ? To have Dennis on the track ?
All in all, this sounds almost like a hit and although I hate re-recordings I must say that I'll listen to this more than once. If they have new material that sounds as fresh and good as this and release it as a single, they really could get another big one.

And of course it almost brought tears to my eyes seeing the boys back together, standing around one microphone. Man that really is something special right there



EDIT:

BTW, if you stop the video at 2:23 I believe you can see Probyn Gregory and some keyboard player that I don't recognize (maybe G. Griffin ?)

EDIT 2: No, it's Scott Bennet, you see him at 2:40

Both Gary and Scott are in there. Gary is earlier in the vid like you say and then Scott pops up at 2:40

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd9S5KA9lbE (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd9S5KA9lbE)

Hi folks


I'm not certain what the legal status of that video is, to be frank. Not my dropbox account. Better not to post it on YouTube, etc. Please keep it reasonably private here,  entres nous, until I hear otherwise. Looks like an unfinished video cut to me, with Getty Images in place instead of original material. So I don't want some editor to get in trouble. I have no idea what the original source is.

John Cowsill - drums
Brett Simons - bass
Gary Griffin - keyboards
Scott Bennett - keyboards
A. N. Other - sax
Probyn Gregory - French horn, guitar
Nicky Wonder - guitar
Scott Totten - guitar
Jeff Foskett - additional vocals
The Beach Boys - vocals

Is it safe to assume that the "Joe" remark from (what sounds like) Brian, that occurs during the little studio conversation bit at the end, is indeed Joe Thomas....or someone else altogether?

Bit late for that - it was reposted to the Hoff, and on from there (amongst others by me, I freely admit): you said in the original post your friend gave you the OK to go public with it (and yes, here is public), and you didn't state any restrictions whatsoever, so my conscience is clear. I suggest you start doing some fancy thinking.

 :-\

Well, there it is. As I said, he did say it was okay to go public with it, so mine is clear too.

Looks like world peace to me.  :)

Looks like Mertens to me. Check out about 1:28 in the video.

Looks like Brian's band really comes out on top here ... not that it's a contest, but I'm surprised to see Probyn in there. That's two members of Mike's band to six (possibly seven) from Brian's.

So I'll betcha that's your 50th Anniversary touring band in that video (minus Dave of course)!

Hoping that for a tour they find some way to incorporate Ed Carter and Billy Hinsche, they've been around so long I regard them as members of the band.

Also how badass does Mike look when he's walking into the studio at the start of the video! 8) I've been watching it on repeat and every time I see that part i'm like "YES! We're cooking with gas now!"

I watched the Mike/Brian hug in repeat for like a minute.

Wonderful video!  I was never worried about this song...it's got a lot of room to breathe and it's not like a super well known song where it could trump the original version. 

Love it.  Was a little bummed they were re-doing this for the start of the big comeback, but it works so much better than I thought it would.  Thanks for sharing PS!

The video is amazing!!  Thank you PS for sharing!

Beach Boys, please come to Toronto!!!

It never really bothered me when I heard they were re-doing it. I think partly because the theme of the song fits the reunion and also I just wanted to hear what they sounded like together, be that an original song or a remake. You're right though, it exceeded my personal expectations too! Hoping it's only included as a bonus track on the album though, i'm all for it being the "theme song" of the reunion but i'd like the album to be originals.

Mike does look a little gassy doesn't he?   ;)

i dig the Brian/Mike hugshot and Mike lovingly karate chopping Brian's shoulders near the end.

Al-on-a-box cracks me up every time.  :lol

I'm glad they used the original drum intro... it can't be topped. Miss those woodshop sounds at the end though!

sure feels good to be alive right about now. thanks Boys!  8)

(http://i42.tinypic.com/3hd6q.png)

(http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/8104/image30pjzc6yd2.jpg)

MINDS MELTED

 :o

That's it!! That's all we need! Brian is there all right, it's that look!

I'd love if that was purely for our benefit! :D

It actually wouldn't surprise me if Brian asked Al to stand on the box just for old times sake!  :lol

Yup.  I agree.  Easily the coolest, bad-ass part of the video.  He actually looks like a Rock Star, then you see him and Brian hug and he even comes off as a cool guy. 

Say what you want about Mike, but he's Mike.  He's basically the same person he was when he was 18.  Good and Bad. 

Beautiful picture.  When I watch or hear Brian, I always hear or catch little glimses of what he was when he was young, this picture is evidence of it.  He's still in there somewhere.  I hope he stays positive for this reunion and enjoys it for what it's worth to him; this could be very therapeudic for whatever demons he still has in his head. 

What happened to the Monkees at Springfield?

Would like to read Peter Reum's take on all this activity. He's one whose opinion I really respect but he's been quiet or absent since it all kicked off. I'm guessing he's seen the news....?

Ain't it priceless?

Great video, PS!  The guys sound so good!  Been listening non-stop.  Thanks for posting!

I just saw Mike Love hitting Brian Wilson!

And who's questioning Brian in the fade?

OMG it's 1967 all over again!

If Van Dyke Parks were to become the lyricist  that would be an interesting turn of events. :o

It would be great if they created a concept album.

It would be great if they created a concept album.

Is that a hint??
I would love a song in the style of every album

Amen to add something to that I remember a post from the old "SMiLE Shop" where someone mentioned that even if there never was another Beach Boys album or tour, it would be nice if Brian and Mike could reconcile (I believe at the time Brian had mentioned the only contact he had with his cousin was that they exchanged holiday cards) and stop spending this period in their lives in courtrooms.  Hopefully as Mike has mentioned that stuff is all in the past and this could be therapeutic for not only Brian but everyone involved.

Seeing the video and those pictures definitely gets me a bit misty, which is the last thing I expected to happen if/when this day came.  Seeing them all together having fun and working in the studio just seems right, you know? 

Obviously we all hope the resulting music is excellent, but as John said in the post above mine, the true impact of a reunion for these guys is in the mending of past wounds and putting the past aside to make great music like they used to.  It's what they were all born to do, and life is too damn short to waste your twilight years estranged from people you were once so close with.

By the way, the most recent "Do It Again" video(which has the song complete) honestly shows Jeffrey Foskett doing the highest notes. I enjoy the re-make, and double-tracking has effectively concealed Mike Love's present-day hoarseness.

By the way, as for 2012 CD releases, all we know is that some sort of box set, a reunion album & a greatest hits CD will be included. It is never specifically stated that these projects will include remixes, previously unreleased songs/versions or expanded editions of any specific back catalogue albums. My view is, if we get more archival material & remixes, I'm delighted and I'll buy the CD's. But if we don't get more archival material & remixes, I won't be broken-hearted. "The Smile Sessions" was aimed at avid fans. The 2012 release campaign may be intended to introduce the music to a new generation of listeners; people who have little or no Beach Boys music in their collection. "Greatest Hits"-type collections by The Beach Boys sell well. That's why Capitol keeps cranking out hits discs. This group has had more greatest hits albums than The Doors. And that's an incredible statistic!

I hope this is the end of the Brian/Mike feud.  I never thought it would happen but I guess if it worked for Roger Waters/David Gilmour it is possible it might work for Brian and Mike.

It sure is!  8)

Totally agree, some people are going on about wanting Mike to change the way he acts on stage and drop the patter. Why? He's been doing it for 50 years, it's what Mike does so why should he change now. I'm actually looking forward to the chicken dance and his hand gestures during the chorus of Good Vibrations. Everything about this is gonna be swell  ;D

Can't change Mike Love. ;D

I think your point is well taken, Ron.

Here's the deal:

Even after all these years, Brian, Mike, Al and Bruce have a distinct VOCAL CHARISMA, that's present when they are singing together.

There's just something about those voices!

I just saw the video. I haven't felt this happy for ages.

No, not "some sort of box set": the press release wording was very specific, for them as cared to read it properly. It's a career spanning box set. Phil, that means from 1961 to date, and as there's going to be a new GH CD for Joe Q. Public, the clear inference is that said box will be targeted at the likes of us - 1993 rebooted. There was also mention of "other commemorative releases", with the words "possible" or "maybe" conspicuous by their absence. I have a notion what these may be. I hope I'm right.

You're not married, are you Phil ?

You two sound like you're married!

As long as we don't have to listen to the make up sex.

I hope "commemorative" means CF and WIBNTLA.  :angel:

He can never learn not to (be Mike) Love.   :lol

I want a complete box set with each album in a mini-LP reproduction packaging!

Is it my imagination or did Japan get one a few years ago?

Pass the brain bleach, please...

QUOTE OF THE WEEK!! :thumbsup :thumbsup :thumbsup :thumbsup :thumbsup

I believe they did. But it wasn't it just a few albums?  Sunflower, Smiley Smile, Summer Nights?  It wasn't the entire catalog as I recall. 

I've got these japanese Mini-LP sleeve releases:

(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9381125/beach%20boys%20japanese%20slipcase.png) - but never got a box for them.
Bigger size here: http://db.tt/UyLVDG04 (http://db.tt/UyLVDG04)

These are from the 90's though.

My money's on Andrew.  If they actually get into a fist fight, I don't think Andrew would fight fair, he'd end up going for the jugular or something, or tripping Phil over a stack o' tracks or something and kicking him while he's down, lol.   

Of course, all's fair in love and war, though. 

The ideal situation for an obsessive/compulsive music collector, collecting since 1966(who seeks out costly CD/DVD/Vinyl box sets) and has a 1375 watt surround sound home theater, is to be single and be able to spend my disposable income only on myself.....and so I am single(no one to complain about me, my ampilfication and my big speakers when I rock the house down.....though I seldom do: I can only take about 90 minutes of playing the system loudly in a 14" x 14" space)

A box set can be "career spanning" and also contain no(or almost no) rarities or vault material(for example, box sets by Steve Miller Band, Steely Dan, The Moody Blues & Steve Winwood)

And there's a very legitimate question of how much 1960's Beach Boys vault material remains. When the question was posed to Mark Linett(in one of the "Icon Fetch" internet interviews), he slightly evaded answering, and spoke of remixing some previously mono recordings for stereo. Let's not forget that this group was under a harsh 3 albums per year contract; a contract which Mike Love once refered to as "Capitol Punishment". That title was later adopted as title for a 2-CD bootleg of session excerpts from "The Beach Boys Today"

Love to see a stereo "Wild Honey" with bonus tracks.

And we all want all those unreleased Dennis songs.

My money's on AGD too.  He has predicted EVERYTHING going back a year ago; starting with the Smile Sessions.

Holy Crap.  It just dawned on me. AGD is the secret CEO of Brother Records, Inc. (BRI).
He's that guy, shrouded in darkness, behind that big desk with the big cigar.

Ah, right you are.

Or it can be like a mid-90s box by a certain West coast surf band and have close to 30 previously unreleased tracks spread over 4CDs and an entire 5th CD of alternate versions, instrumental tracks and sessions.

You've no idea how glad I am I live on a different continent from you - your relentless pessimism is undoubtedly highly contagious. Never come across anyone else who looks so morbidly on the black side of things. You must lead a most depressing existence.

I don't see it as pessimism, it's just cold hard facts, Andrew.  The coldest, hardest facts findable. The bleaker you anticipate things being, the rosier they seem then they get here.

Phil, I'd guess that Mark gave the question a body-swerve in that manner to avoid getting into a conversation that might have revealed the project and how much work had already been done on that project.

Remember, this is also a band that hasn't catalogued everything yet – remember how the five run-throughs of Surf's Up were found on a Wild Honey-era reel.  Heaven knows how much more stuff like that has been/is waiting to be discovered in this way.

You can't be a Beach Boys fan without harboring hope in your heart.

I'd agree, if Phil subscribed to that doctrine... but over the summer, every time his dire prognostications re: TSS were proven to be wrong (and it was every time), he didn't go "oh goody, so glad I was wrong", but found something else to bitch about. Phil is one of those people who love being unhappy. I really, really do believe that, and if that floats his boat, fine by me... but when he comes around here, pissing on everyone's fire because no-one's telling him anything and generally boring the tits off of us all with his unremitting gloom, then I feel entirely justified in telling him to STFU. Unfortunately, he doesn't, so I guess I'll just have to fly out to Florida and fire-bomb his house, destroying his collection and hi fi equipment: now that would really give him something to bitch about.  ;D

The hell?

Both AGD and PhilCohen make valid points.

The 93 box-set was a model of superiority! The ones Phil mentioned were compiled with the mentality that most music fans had recently trashed/melted/sold/buried away in the basement all their scratched up and warped old vinyl albums because CDs were the new thing and sounded like gold and that was it. Those box sets made people happy that so much of a band's best stuff was available on CD and all in one nice and shiny place.

Humor not your strong suit today ?  :lol

But, Mark Linett claimed years ago that he HAD done an extensive cataloging project. But, I suppose, that, as with the Jimi Hendrix estate, new reels are occasionally being found at recording studios, storage facilities or in private collections. It's not entirely impossible that someday(given the quantity of missing reels) that someone will come forward with more "Smile" tapes. After all, over the past few decades, a few additional Robert Johnson alternate takes have been found. The locating of those outtakes(from the pre-tape era) seemed unlikely too.

For these Beach Boys projects, I hope for the best.  But, given the amount of (non-Smile)Beach Boys outtakes already in circulation officially or unofficially, getting "Smile" was the most important thing. We now have "Smile", and I'm happy about that.

The latest trend in box sets is mining the vaults.  I expects a career spanning set with lots of unreleased stuff.

Generally yes, except for the two nasty speed fluctuations in "Do You Like Worms", and lopping off several (pedal steel) guitar notes at the start of the single version of "Cottonfields".

There may be lots of unreleased 1970's & 1980's Beach Boys studio material, but is it any good? Interestingly , Mike Love(who had far more writing input during that era) is the one who has, historically opposed the release of that material. Even Mike Love must realise that The Beach Boys in the studio without Brian Wilson songs is a lesser entity.

It's different, that's about as far as I can take it. Different doesn't necessarily mean lesser. I love Brian, but I also love just about everything with the Beach Boys name on it. It's always been hard for me to wrap my head around the "unless Brian's heavily involved, it's lesser" mentality. Too much of my fave stuff had little or no Brian involvement.

Is there really THAT much unreleased 70's stuff that no one knows about?

Dennis Wilson

a lesser entity, of course

We don't know, but there's plenty of 1970's & 1980's vault material that has only appeared on bootlegs & with only fair-to-middling cassette quality.

Stuff like It's A New Day, Big Sur (4/4 version) Carry Me Home, Hard Times sure sound pretty darned good to my ears! Also, judging by the Marsland Band/Sands version of Wouldn't It Be Nice To Live Again and the wonderful descriptions by those who have actually heard the BB's version, I'd reckon that one's flat-out stunning.

Start factoring in stuff like the '74 California Feeling and other yet-unheard-by-the-masses tracks (though listed at Bellagio), and I'm sure they'd have no problem at all giving us plenty of good, even excellent material from the 70s if they wanted to (and 60s, too). I have a 1978 phone interview with Brian, somewhere in my collection mess, where he mentions a song called Bowling (also listed at Bellagio), so I'm sure they could pad the set with quirky Love You-esqe ditties, as well, that would appeal to a certain sector of fans.

Hell, I could come up with 20-25 choice, unreleased-as-of-yet or released, but harder to find rarities for a box set that I would classify (or imagine) as good without even breaking a sweat! Then, add alternate or new stereo mixes, rare mono, some live stuff, some vintage Smile mixes that were left of TSS, new recordings, or any other surprises, and I think it could be something that could equal or even surpass the '93 set:



Bless the fact that this band was a recording machine in their heyday:


Sandy She Needs Me (track)
You've Got To Hide Your Love Away (live)
CIFOTM (original Smile mix)
Barnyard (original Smile mix)
The Letter
Mona Kani (track)
Where Is She
My Solution
Wouldn't It Be Nice To Live Again
Walkin'
Back Home (either of the earlier versions)
Big Sur (4/4)
Seasons In The Sun
It's A New Day
Carry Me Home
Hard Times
California Feeling ('74) or any other surviving Guercio sessions
In The Back Of My Mind (remake)
Shake, Rattle & Roll
Mony, Mony
Sea Cruise
It's A Beautiful Day
Runaway

etc., etc... and I'm sure I'm forgetting plenty!


Carnegie Hall '72, the Paramount box set show, live rarities from the 60s, BW Love You demos, solo rarities, backing tracks, more Smile, the aforementioned rare mixes, etc. The possibilities are endless.

I'd love to have the complete Chicago '65 concert

Yes, I agree, even though the group's concert set list hadn't changed much subsequent to the August 1964 Sacramento shows. I'd also like to hear the early, rejected Sacramento show(late 1963?) which was the apparent source for "Johnny B.Goode" & "Long Tall Texan". It has long been established (by bootlegs) that those two songs were not included in the August 1964 Sacramento shows.

Thats the one concert I really want to hear, as it the end of the Brian touring era.

I haven't heard hardly any of the 70's unreleased stuff, and the 70's stuff is about my favorite era of the band (I'm just not that big into boots).  I heard "My Diane" just the other day and almost died. 

I would imagine, just me, that there's a sh*t LOAD of stuff they can still put out.  Even alternate takes are incredibly fascinating. 

I'd LOVE an official live album from the Box-Set tour!

Wow. Yeah. I'd take that exact set. There is a lot of great material on that set, and still, a lot of Brian Wilson material, and overall just a lot of good stuff, so I think in this case Phil is just wrong.

Phil didn't make a statement, he asked a question.

How can you be wrong by asking a question?

It was a rhetorical question.
Therefore it becomes a passive-aggresive statement.

He asks if the unreleased '70s material is any good? I'm going go out on limb and say he probably knows a bit about The Beach Boys unreleased '70s material somewhat due to his obsession with the SMiLE material. I'd just kinda figure somebody that found that thru bootlegs and such would be interested in the '70s material. And he's trying to make it sound as though there is probably nothing good from the '70s or '80s so they should just scrap the whole thing, because that way he can be right.

Actually, sweetdudejim, you and everyone else should learn when you've been beaten.

Phil is right.

Here I am, enjoying Sunflower, Surfs Up, Holland, Carl & The Passions: So Tough, Love You, and to a lesser extent, the other three... For years and years... and Phil Cohen comes along and makes me realize that not only is there little to no good material in the vaults from those years, but that by inference, the albums from the 70s aren't very good at all.

Apparently, the 1970s were not a very productive decade for The Beach Boys. Go figure.

Thank you, Phil, for pointing out the futility of human endeavor time and time again. By the way, those nasty, ear-raping edits from the 1993 box set are now poison to my ears. I burned it in a ceremony earlier today. Next stop: class action suit against Mark Linnet and BRI!

I had thought the speed fluctuations were deliberate and loved them - even after I learned those were tape glitches.

I have yet to hear 70s post-Sunflower outtakes that I like - except Dennis' Carry Me Home, so the one song I haven't heard yet I set hope in is WIBN(TLA). It's just that I don't like most of the 70s music done by anyone.

Just watched the full clip, and I'm just plain flabbergasted!

For a bit of perspective, folks... put this next to the re-recording of "Surfin'".  Which, incidentally, was twenty years ago now.

The road from there to here is nothing short of miraculous!

Cheers,
Jon Blum

No ridicule here.  I think you make a strong case.

Wait a second. I'm not denying the brilliance of the "Sunflower" & "Surf's Up" albums, or that "Holland" has some fine vocals. The uneven(and sometimes bad) stuff comes after the group's 3 year hiatus from releasing studio material(reportedly because Reprise Records wouldn't accept recordings with no Brian Wilson involvement). Brian's voice starts to show damage from substance abuse, the touring members increasingly become an oldies band(particularly after the unexpected success of Capitol's compilations of 1962-65 material), and the group starts recording some particularly bad cover versions(especially the cover versions that didn't get released). With Brian only occasionally participating, the production craftsmanship suffers when he's not there.
                             I'm not saying that there aren't occasional good tracks on the post-1974 albums, but it is obvious that the group's heyday was on the recordings made between 1962 & 1972.

I've seen the Beach Boys (with Carl) twice, in '89 and '91.

I've seen Brian five times.

But to see them together will be magical.

I wonder how it will be staged. Where will Brian be? Behind his keyboard and autocue, but not centre stage I would think. I hope he does a bit of bass playing, now that would be magic. If I take my contact lenses out, it could be 1964.

If I may ask, what are the best books for learning about the unreleased material.

I fall into that camp who believe, the Brian Wilson Beach Boys were superior. I think
its a testament to the rest of them, that when Brian Wilson faltered, the rest of them
had enough talent to start writing some good songs, and of course all of them are/were
great singers,

Having said that, I'd still be interested in collecting all the unreleased material, so I can
get a grasp of what exists, and I have no idea what books to read to even learn about
that material.

Did anyone ever write a Beach Boy book similar to the Beatle Anthology book by Lewishon
that documents all the sessions, and what songs were recorded, and who wrote them etc etc.

any references would be appreciated thank you

The problem is that none of the other guys really had enough time to evolve in the band like Brian had (and he did it in such a hurry that is unbelievable). You automatically had the pressure to bring the Beach Boys back to where they were at their very peak, commercially and artistically, when you became the "leader" of the band.

not a book but a web site. multiple pages. nice quick info of a lot of the stuff out there. after reading these pages try google.....you may get lucky   ;)

 http://www.beachboys.com/raritiesI.html#landlocked2

On this board even a question is wrong  ;D

The Beach Boys may not have a bottomless pit of unreleased songs but the well is far from dry yet. And that's before you take into account all the archived live performances they potentially have at their disposal. I know Mike has mentioned before that he doesn't wish to scrape the bottom of the barrel so it may come down to what is left the band is willing to authorise for release.
A question for AGD is, as the band have been on several labels throughout their career, does that effect what they own rights-wise from their unrealised back catalogue?

But Phil, so you are saying you wouldn't be interested in outtakes from Sunflower, Surf's Up, Carl & The Passions "So Tough", or Holland? Or even some material from the 1974 Caribou sessions?  The 1974 "California Feelin'"? Or possibly material Brian worked on randomly in the "fallow" years, like the re-recording of "In the Back of My Mind"? That all sounds VERY interesting to me. And guess what, even though they did end up having some embarrassing material after 1976, they also had a lot of good, interesting stuff, especially from Brian and Dennis, so I think there is quite a lot that they should still release.

They had three, really. Capitol, Warners and CBS. I believe that all the albums post-Capitol and released under the Brother imprint are actually owned by the band, so rights issues aren't a big deal. They licensed the whole back catalog to Capitol for the early 00s re-releases, for example.

Thanks Wirestone. It really depends on the band then. Despite what Phil may claim, I imagine the record company would be falling over itself to put out more vaults material, especially after The Smile Sessions being such a smash.

2 confirmed German dates so far:

Aug. 3, Berlin, o2 World
Aug. 4, Stuttgart, Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle

Damn! Source?

Yes, I WOULD be interested in outtakes from "Sunflower", "Surf's Up" & "Holland". But outtakes from "15 Big Ones"? I'll pass.

I would love to see a regular, periodic "bootleg series" of the Beach Boys, concerts, vault tracks, rarities, B-sides, similar to what Dylan has done.  There have been MANY outstanding suggestions on this thread alone!

I really think that's the way they should go. Release an album or two of outtakes and so on that we rabid fans will eat up. It's more viable than the deluxe mono/stereo+bonus materials that most reus dream about, and we'll be able to roll our own.

I was thinking, a lot of people have been worried that the new album is going to be Imagination part 2. While Imagaination is by no means at the top of my list of their catalog, I do feel it's a damned sight better than BB85, Still Cruisin' or Summer of Love(haven't heard the country album.) It would not be a terrible way to go out...

Tickets

http://www.o2world-berlin.de/Event/tickets/1530/The-Beach-Boys.html

REAL fans want them all.  It's all part of the fascination and intrigue.  An evolutionary scientist wouldn't skip the Paleozoic Era.

new Beach Boys music is new Beach Boys music. duh.

Evolution is a lie. The world is only 5000 years old. Which means if the history of the world is condensed into a 24 hour clock then the 1960's hasn't happened yet, which means we may still get a finished SMiLE. So lets get kneebound to the God of the desert dwelling misogynists. It's Christmas for gods sake, only three months to go till Jesuses birthday. (I've got him some socks)