The Smiley Smile Message Board

I have been listening to the 1993 box set and have been hooked on listening to the 1967 Hawaii "rehearsal" version of the song. Which version do you guys think is better, the studio version from 1963 or the Hawaii version?

Two different animals. Take them as such.

I'm just hooked on the 1967 version because it sounds like a sad swan-song to the golden era of The Beach Boys.

The Lei'd In Hawaii bootleg "rehearsal" version imo (not the box set version, although that's noice, too).

That 67 rehearsal from the boxset is friggin' wonderful. Their voices actually sound better on that track than the album version!

Are you talking about the Surfer Girl (rehearsal) recorded on 09/11/67 at Wally Heider's studio in Hollywood?

And you're comparing it to the 1963 studio version?  Well.......I like the 1961 version myself.  Just kidding.  :)  

The binaural '63 studio version of Surfer Girl sounds damn good to me.  But yeah, the 1967 version is excellent too!

The track I'm talking about is the last track on disk 5 of the box set which they sing the normal lyrics unlike the boot of the one at Wally Heider's studio. The Harmony and smooth singing (Even from Mike!) is so beautiful to hear.

I like the other "rehearsal" version where Brian sings "I used to take you" on the bridge.  Both 1967 versions are very nice, but I agree that they shouldn't be compared to the studio version.

I love the 1963 studio version the most, I was just blown away by the 1967 version when I listened to the box set and wanted to see what other people thought about it.

Yes @ the "I used to take you" version.

And hay, I don't even curr - I like it more than the album version. Mono, stereo, binaural (you like this version, Mikie? esplain plz), demo, whatevz.

Yeah I love the "I used to take you" version as well - it gives the song a sad undertone not dissimilar to "Caroline, No."  All versions are brilliant, and the one I prefer depends on my mood I suppose.

Explain what. From the Endless Harmony CD. It sounds good to me. 'Nuff said.

I prefer the TAMI show version just because that show is like The Beach Boys in complete god-mode. Brian's bass playing is mindblowing. On Surfer Girl he plays so effortlessly almost teasing us with it. And Dennis is THE BEST on that show. I don't care for all this talk about whether Dennis had technical skill like whoever else. He was himself, it is enough. He played with the perfect sort of enthusiasm that surely kicked Brian & Carl's butts into gear and kept them lively. Carl & Al's guitars from what can be heard in the muddy billion panty wettened horny teenage girl audience sound incredible, just so crisp and cool. Brian is a better bass player than piano player. Isn't it strange?

I like a 1977 live version(Seattle?) where Brian improvises a "doo wop" style melody during his solo. ;D

I agree. Their voices, singing and blend was on top during that time. The original is a classic and I just was listening to it, fascinated by the clarity of Brian's falsetto in the beginning. Awesome ! But as mentioned above, they were even better in '67 after having been in professional practice for so long

Personally I like the 1973 In Concert version best I think (right next to the original studio recording, that is). It sounds so lush and there's a beautiful sense of melancholy to it lacking from most other renditions I've heard.