The Smiley Smile Message Board

I'm a 20 Beach Boys veteran, although I'm ashamed to admit I'm in my 40s. I missed listening to them on a steady basis in the 70s and 80s thanks to the anti-Beach Boys stigma that was so pervasive in my home town and grade school. So silly of me! So many years to make up for!

Anyway, I couldn't find a thread devoted exclusively to this song, so I figure I'd start one.

I love "The Sound of Free," and don't know much about it. Perhaps someone here can shed some light, whether it be fact or myth (hopefully clarifying one from the other!). Why wasn't it released in the States? Why has it yet to be officially released on CD anywhere? (Is that still the case?) Who owns it? Etc?

I e-mailed Daryl Dragon the other day, on the off, off chance that he had the master of it or knew its fate. He responded immediately (swell guy!), but confirmed that he's also in the dark on this one.

Like so much post-Pet Sounds Beach Boys music, I'm stumped by this song's place in the scheme of things. To me, it's an immediately gratifying and very clearly a great single. Maybe not a hit--OK, def. not a hit--but certainly as strong as anything on Sunflower, and since the 45 label says its the property of Brother Records and it's co-written by Mike, it seems like it'd be welcome company on a BBs compilation or box set.

It's one of those head-scratchers, at least for me. Mostly, I'm just bummed out that I can only hear it in compromised quality (I'm not a collector of 45s).

And so for my first-ever thread, I toss this out to you guys!

In a perfect world, if the albums were all reissued as single LPs with bonus tracks, the Sound of Free/Lady single would have made for two awesome bonus tracks on a Sunflower reissue.

As far as the Rumbo single not being released in the States, it's logical to say that the fact that the Add Some Music To Your Day single only managing the top 70 and the Sunflower album hovering at #151 did not seem to indicate much interest in a solo single of Dennis', no matter how good. Of course, it didn't chart anywhere else, so your guess is as good as mine there. It should still be owned by Brother.

I was thinking about Sound Of Free last night, wondering if I'm ever going to hear a good quality version of it. I found an mp3 a while back but it's all crackly and stuff. I could always try and find the actual single, but I don't have a turntable.

It definitely should see a remastered release but I doubt it.

Those numbers always shock me, just how low they went. I shouldn't be shocked, but I just hate getting so cynical that I'd hear a fact like that and say, "Yeah, well what do you expect? That's the way consumerism is." I'm just glad they followed their own paths.

We do that, don't we? Think about this kind of stuff. Last night, in bed with the wife, she's reading People and says, "Wow. 1983? Mila Kunis was born in 1983? She's only 28?!" And since I was mid-thought about Dennis, I said, "It's all relative. You're thinking, 'She's only 28!' and I'm thinking, 'Wow, Dennis has been dead for 28 years?!'"

I've been wondering what the various labels have in store for the 50th Anniversary (beyond the Smile box). Is there a thread that speculates what we can expect/hope for?

I thought that the DW/Rumbo release was someting like testing the waters for a solo album (being a Dennis Wilson / Daryl Dragon collaboration). For long I thought it was released in Europe only (UK, Ireland, Netherlands and France, the last 2 with a PS), but since recently I know Australian and New Zealand copies exist as well.

A new mix of "Lady" was released on something recently; darned if I remember what it was, though. I know there are strings over the intro.

BTW, there's a really good-sounding copy of both songs on one of the Dumb Angel Rarities..."Dutch imports"....

Gorgeous song. Note the early version of 'River Song' in the middle.

That would be the Summer Love Songs conp from 2009. Called Fallin' In Love on this one btw.
Lady/Fallin'In Love was also released on a Super Furry Animals compiled "Under The Influence - A Collection of Musical Influences & Inspirations" released in 2005.
(wikipedia is your best friend: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_(Dennis_Wilson_song) )

That was a tough single to come up with for the collection.

I have yet to hear a good, clear version of 'Sound of Free'.  It's always sounded muddled to me. It begs for a re-mix/re-master. Maybe a result of too much ping-ponging of tracks back and forth. Did Desper produce that? Was that recorded at Brian's home studio or in the Heider mobile truck?

Guess it didn't quite make the cut for "Hawthorne, Ca.", but at least "Lady" (Fallin' In Love) did.

All this talk of "Sound of Free" got me to thinking about another Dennis Wilson classic from that era: "4th of July." What a killer track. I see on Allmusic.com that it's been released on some random comps since the 1993 box set. Has anyone ever heard these comps? Has this song been remastered in this century (although I must admit, I've never taken any issue with the mixing or mastering of the tracks on that box set)?

Wow. I missed that detail regarding that comp. Admittedly, I like that song--but don't love it. Y'know: LOVE it. Still, hearing a pristine mix may make a fan out of me.

It also makes the omission of "Sound of Free" even more vexing since if they have the master of "Falling in Love" and include it on a recent comp, then they probably have everything they need to release the A-side. But as Mikie pointed out, it is pretty muddled sounding. Sounds like the tape is saturated with overdubs, God bless 'em.

I thought we determined there was a New Zealand release, but NO Australian one.

I guess the release of "Lady" (a.k.a. Fallin' in love) was due to the big success of the re-release of "Pacific Ocean Blue". But since Summer Love Songs didn't sell the way P.O.B. or Sounds Of Summer did, I fear they won't go that direction. Maybe another boxset (Dennis solo or Beach Boys) will contain Sound Of Free. I hope so, it's a cool song.

"Sound of Free" sounds good playing from my 45.  One of my better collectibles.

Oops, should have checked my inventory-list first. You're right bgas, New Zealand only

This should have been on Surf's Up, instead of Mike's Student Demonstration Time!

Every source I've ever heard - be it vinyl 45, vinyl album, CD, FLAC, .Wav, or Mp3 - the song still sounds somewhat muddled. I'm sure all of the sources on bootlegs over the years came from needle drops off an original single somewhere.

The issue is in the mixing/mastering of the song. I think "Lady (Fallin' In Love") was cleaned up for the Hawthorne CD, or they had access to the original or safety copy of the master.

They had access to the multi-track of "Fallin' In Love" for the Summer Love Songs CD. I don't know if they have the multi-track for "Sound Of Free". It would be great if they did.

EDITED BY MODERATOR: Don't even think of trying this again.

Speaking for myself, I don't think it's cool to use quoting to  add something to someone else's post that they didn't say.

Just a note, I've edited runnersdialzero's comment as well as part of bgas' post to remove a bastardized quote. Nothing else was touched here.

Gotta agree, it would be great to hear a properly done remix of Sound of Free.  I've always wondered why both Lady and Sound of Free suffered from such lackluster sound quality on their original 45 rpm single release.  Anyone know the recording details of these songs?

It is muddled.  I should have said it sounds a lot better from my turn table/stereo than transfer to AIF/WAV/MP3.  Definitely needs a remix/remaster for digital release!!!!

I still think a two CD set of Dennis BB/Brother stuff - released and unreleased, would be a good seller!

Absolutely!

Great song. I want an early Dennis collection on vinyl! At least 3 LP's like POB

one of my only vinyl collecting regrets is that i did not take up the offer for me to trade my bamboo bootleg lp for a copy of the dennis wilson/rumbo 45. if i'd only known the bambu re-release would make my bamboo lp somewhat obsolete (different mixes at least i guess!). that being said, anyone looking to sell/trade a dennis wilson/rumbo 45 do feel free to contact me! ;)

WOW!! 
You've got enough $$ for the Rumbo 45 AND the Smile Sessions? you are one lucky sonofagun!!

I'll think about it. I'm more of a completest than a collector.   The only thing I've gone out and collected is the original 'Stack-o-tracks'.  As to DW and Rumbo, Must do some research as to it's value.  anybody know?

Not exactly; but then what version of Rumbo do you have?  ( France, UK, Dutch, Irish, New Zealand)

Just to clarify - I thought a completest is a collector. You know, you try to collect pretty much everything so your collection is complete, or at least close to complete. To be a completest, you have to be a collector first, right? And you say you're a completest, so to the best of my knowledge, to do that (at least in the Beach Boys collector world) requires a whole lot more than searching down "Stack-o-Tracks"! There's a lot of BB collectibles that require "going out" to find, and they usually aren't in used record stores in your area. And, at least to me, the Dennis/Rumbo single is rare so it's one of the last things to try to get to complete the collection kind of late in the game after coming up with all of the original albums and singles. I guess if you just happened to come across the DW/Rumbo single casually at a record swap or record store instead of Ebay or mail order through Goldmine/Discoveries/Record Collector record auctions (even in the early 70's), then you're pretty damn lucky!

Just asking. I'm a little curious that "Stack-oTracks" was the only record you had to "go out" for. Didn't you have to "go out" for the Dennis/Rumbo single too?

I thought 'Stack-O-Tracks' was a collectible as I paid $100 at the time.  Dennis Wilson/Rumbo - Picked it up for $5 at the Capitol Records Vinyl swap meet back in the day. 

And I picked it up cause I had never heard it.  I buy boots cause I long to hear everything the BB have recorded.  It's all about he music, not the money.  The way I see it, a Collector buys rare stuff (ie: collectible), completest wants every song.  I have every single Beatles solo album.  I'd used to buy all their solo singles so I could hear the non-LP B-sides.  Couldn't give a hoot if they were of value.

As to which version I have, good question.  I'm in Hawaii at the moment but my music collection (ha, got me) is at my house in Oregon.

Depending on how long ago you bought it, SOT could very well have been a "collectible". Heck, it still is. It's simply a fact that the internet has mad more original copies available, more easily, which has lowered the "value" as a collectible. Unfortunately; at least in my mind, because I also "paid alot for that muffler".

You paid 'alot' for it, eh Bgas? 

Hey, you know I luvya man!  So every time I type "a lot" I go back and remove the space to prove it!

"Luvya" is two words. Bgas.   Love (or luv) you (ya). Two words.

Surfrider, I absconded with a few rare Beach Boys and Beatle things myself at the Capitol Records swap meet back in the 70's. Then they moved to the Pasadena Rose Bowl and I went there a couple of times, but it wasn't quite the same. Use to get to the Capitol Records parking lot at three or four in the morning to try to beat the other collectors to the good stuff!! That parking lot was the same spot that the Shut Down II cover was shot and I hear it was also above the recording studio (or sound chamber), which was underground.  It's funny, collectors started getting there earlier and earlier in the morning for the monthly swap meet - sellers would pull up in their vans and open the backs of trucks or their car trunks and sell stuff. Those were the days! Lotta fun.

Yeah, those were the days!  And you never knew who else might be wandering around that swap meet.  My one and only sighting of Rodney Bingenheimer.

It sure has! I think I saw it going in the $60 range a few years back.

Personally, I think 'alot' should be made an official word!  i love to use it.

ok.  I've been listening to this track on replay lately.  Is it me, or is Brian present on the falsetto line of this at 1.36 onwards for a bit.
it sounds too much like his 'sunflower' voice.  I am wondering if there is any or much documentation to this session that someone can
lead me too?  It's too Brian for me.  Please correct me  :-\

I think it's Carl, could be Brian, but it's definitely not you. :wink

The mono single version of Sound of Free is on Made in California.

Isn't the mono single version the only version? When I hear "single version" I tend to think that implies there is also a different released version, is there is another mix of this song available?

It's always sounded like Carl to me, but Brian could be there as a third voice.

The impression I've had is that no other version or tape is extant. I would guess they would have done a stereo remix if the multitracks were available. In fact, weren't there some questions as to whether even the actual master tape for the mono mix has survived, and questions about whether all the versions we've heard have been "needledrops?"

I've seen one, and one only, clipping that said Carl & Brian sere doing the bvs. Contemporary UK review.

Correct. There's a stereo remix of the other side of the single on Summer Love Songs but there's only one version of "Sound Of Free".

Good info! Was Sound of Free (and perhaps the flip Lady) played on the radio in the UK? Did the song enjoy any chart success?

Here in the US i was completely unaware of the existence of this single until Sound of Free was played on the 1976 radio special "The Best Summers of Our Lives". Didn't hear the flip side Lady 'till it appeared on a bootleg.

It appears that EMI " might" have been contemplating issuing the record in 1974 as The Beach Boys( based on this acetate shown at the Starline site) 
I have no idea why/ why tit didn't come to pass... 
 
http://www.beachboys45.nl/UK-SOLO-DW.htm

If that had been in a hit in '74, with Denny acquiring a hit under his belt not long before the Brian's Back era, who knows how subsequent BB history might have played out...

Very interesting info. Wonder whatever happened to the Sound of Free master and multitracks. The audio quality (mainly the EQ and thin sound) on the released single of Sound of Free has alway sounded subpar to me, while Lady sounds more like a demo than a finished product. The lackluster sound quality of the released single is surprising to me, as I'm virtually certain Stephen Desper engineered Sound of Free, and his work during the Add Some Music / Sunflower era is superb, so I'm assuming the issue took place when the EMI engineers EQ'd the track for release as a single. 

Also wonder what the acetate bgas posted the link to sounds like. If the owner is someone this board (eg, bgas or Lee D.) I'd love to know if the acetate sounds different from the single released in the UK December 1970.

I have a demo of Sound of Free and looking at it this morning, the date 4/12/70 is clearly printed on the label. I knew it was released on Dennis' birthday but I was surprised that the actual date was shown. I don't buy many singles but most of the others just seem to show the year.

If it's different from the other variations shown at the Starline site, it would be neat if you could send them scans so everyone could see it! 
http://www.beachboys45.nl/UK-SOLO-DW.htm  ( main site:  http://www.beachboys45.nl/     email:  info@beachboys45.nl   )

Pretty much all promo/A label singles from the mid sixties in the UK have the exact release date on them. A boon to researchers !

How many demos do you know that feature a strings overdub?

I can see how someone would say "Lady" sounds a bit demo-ish, especially the original mix (or even the booted stereo mix that appears on various "Landlocked" reel boots). Mostly the very beginning of the song, with the rhythm box and very dry, up-front Dennis vocal has that vibe. Before the strings come in, it *does* sounds somewhat like a studio demo. Once the strings come in, that kind of covers everything up enough to sound like a conventional finished recording.

I do almost wonder if the drum machine on Lady and Til I Die was originally intended to be a placeholder, that would be re-recorded with real live actual drums, played by a human drummer, and that this final step never got done... or that it was eventually determined that the drum machine sounded cool enough to not need replacing.

For the record, I dig the drum machine on both songs.  A different flavor, and fascinating to hear the BB utilizing that sound; an interesting transitional era in music technology.

 

Not much difference except for a big A across the centre of the label but nice to have that date.

Edited to add that I scanned and emailed to the above mentioned address.

I think Desper was/is a genius mixer, and that Dennis' first lines are bone dry is just perfect. The emotions raw in your face, and then, when he first sings "Lady", the reverb expands and transcends the whole thing. When I first heard Linett's mix, I thought: "Oh no, what did he do? Reverb on Dennis' first lines?!? That's not how it's supposed to be!" Nothing demo-ish to me there. Deliberate molding of a piece of art.

I think the fact that a real live actual snare drum, played by a human drummer (or at least a human - I'm thinking Brian or Carl) was overdubbed onto the last third or so of "Til I Die", is indication that they determined it was a cool enough sound to not need replacing.