The Smiley Smile Message Board

So, "Do it Again" is the first Beach Boys track in many, many years. How does it bode for the 2012 album?

Will there be more remakes on the album?
Will there be some introspective material, I.E. "In The Back of My Mind," "'Til I Die," "Caroline, No," "Please Let Me Wonder"?
Will there be Love-You-esque weirdness?
Will there be more sun and fun type tunes, a la Summer in Paradise or Beach Boys 85?

Production-wise, it seems like a move away from the sound of Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin and In The Key Of Disney. This is a clean, slick, modern sounding song. Pitch correction. Not a lot of reverb; the sound is very dry and up-front. The style fits for "Do It Again," without a doubt, and almost brings to mind the version on I Just Wasn't Made For These Times in 1995 (but much better and more inventive).

In terms of the soundstage and instrument separation, but not the slickness, it reminds me of Friends or Holland rather than Sunflower or Wild Honey.

What will the rest of the material be like? Will there be a large proportion of Brian-written tunes on the album? Mike is certainly collaborating with Brian. Will there be songs based on demos that we have heard before? I'd almost be willing to put money on it.

I also would imagine that Al and Bruce will want to get some songs on this bad boy.

The main things I am hoping for are good songs (no more remakes!) and good production. Does anybody have any clue about the songs they are working on? Hell, post anonymously if you need to, we'd all love to know any nuggets of info.

Short and sweet: I'm not on the remakes bandwagon either but their plan is their plan and to quote Charles Dickens "my unhallowed hands shall not disturb it, or the Country's done for".

That being said the one song that probably suited the group and this project best that is still in the archives is "California Feelin'" and Brian already recorded that with The Mints for that greatest hits package.  "You're Still A Mystery"?  We can only hope.

I wouldn't mind at all if the entire record had the feel of an late sixties-early seventies Beach Boys record.  I know that is a lot of ground to cover but if they come even close to those two songs they did back in 1995 ("Soul Searchin'" and "You're Still A Mystery") I think we'll have a pleasant surprise awaiting us in a few months.  

Have you even listened to BB '85? It's an album of contemporary pop songs, with one "sun and fun" song, and one slightly-retro-styled love song.

From reading some of the threads I think a lot of people are contracting a case of premature panic concerning the sound of this record comparing it to records that are almost thirty years old themselves and created during an era when most sixties artists struggled to create art in line with their previous output. 

Just my two cents.

1.I hope not
2.I hope so
3.that would be cool on a song or two but not the whole cd
4.probably

I'm expecting at least 1 or 2 more remakes.

In fact, I'll call it right now. Rhonda & Warmth Of The Sun.*

*this is based on absolutely no evidence. just a hunch.

I'm not that familiar with the last two or three Beach Boy albums
so with that said.

I am not expecting a complex album like That Lucky Old Sun with
Beach Boy vocals on top of it, nice as that would be.

I am expecting, an album of songs that sound like Do It Again
Desert Drive, Soul Searchin, and things like that, simpler
more direct songs, with a  couple of nice ballads and a couple
of old style rockers

Of course I have no idea and am not an expert. I base this on
obervations of their current vocal abilities at age 70, and the types
of songs they have written on more recent albums. Lyrically
it may not be surf and cars, on more than a few tunes, but
I want to say, the Beach Boys, and Brian Wilson solo, have been
very good about posting things while the project is in progress,
so I am dying to hear one of the new originals or at least a snippet
but I think Do It Again, gives us some idea where they are going
with the project.

I'm staying positive  but I'm really not expecting something earth shattering.  It's possible sure, but I think we'll end up with the bare minimum.  They'll just whip something up so they can go out on tour.  I hope Brian can come up with something special and doesn't just phone it in.  Either way...I'm happy all this is happening...them together on stage is all I care about.

I just hope they finally record Mike loves unreleased song titled "When" ..here's a video of it..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2qE61E0i7s

Que sera, sera-what will be , will be. Yup, real sure 'bout that. :)

NO MORE HELP ME RHONDA REMAKES! NO! NEVER! THERE ARE WAYYYYYY TOO MANY OF THEM!

I would be satisfied with an album that included FINALLY realized BB harmony versions (Mike.Al,Brian, Bruce and carefully selected others such as Matt, Jeffrey, and Christian) of Do It Again, California Feeling, Soul Searchin, Desert Drive, a couple of nice new MIKE/BRIAN compositions, Don't Fight the Sea, and some sweet solos from each of the key players to include a nice Bruce vocal, and maybe a couple of instrumentals by Brian/Bruce and co\writers. something like that.     

DO NOT want to hear flown in vocals or guitars by Clapton, Macca, or any of the other usual suspects.  No Stevie Wonder covers on this one.  I WANT ALL BEACH BOYS!!!!

You got me - I was off the mark with BB85 being a "fun and sun" album. It is, however, a poppy, contemporary album, which is the directon that this reunion album seems to be taking.

I agree with those who say that we should be happy the group is back together and we should not pick the reunion apart too much. It is fun to speculate, though, and that's what we do here on Smiley Smile.

This album won't have Elton John and McCartney and people like that on it.

Danny Hutton and Van Dyke Parks. I would be doubtful about that too.
Of course I have no inside information. But logic dictates they will do
a rather simple poppy album, with some vintage style harmonies,

I am thinking of fairly recent songs like, "Forever she is my surfer girl" and
"Desert Drive" and "Soul Searchin" and I picture them perhaps writing some
new tunes in that vein and plucking a couple from the archives, that would
allow them to perhaps include one or two Carl Wilson vocal parts., built around
some new backing tracks and harmonies, maybe two or three or four, new
Wilson/Love Collaborations, one song each from Johnston and Jardine, something
along those lines.

Total speculation on my part. I really am excited, I never thought it would happen,
and I didin't think it would be exciting or authentic without Carl Wilson, but now that
it's happening, I'm excited as hell

I hope they post one new original song on video much as they let this Do IT Again video
slip out for the fans,

I really appreciate their letting the fans get some crumbs while we wait, I really do.
I think thats nice of them, and most bands wouldn't do that for people. Very cool of them.

I'm not huge on redoing previously released songs, although I think "Do It Again" sounds awesome.

However, I think maybe a Beach Boys version of "Love & Mercy" might be cool. But that's about it from Brian's previously released solo catalog.

And I think they could probably give "Cool Head, Warm Heart" a go. It was released on Songs From Here and Back or whatever, but I think it's probably the best song Mike has ever done without Brian.

It would be so cool if Brian made an all over the place album like "That Lucky Old Sun", with lots of different styles like he used to back in the day.

Personally, I think once again we will see the Beach Boys bow down to Brian's musical whims like they always have.  And that's a good thing.  I wouldnt' mind Mike and Al writing some stuff, but I'd put my money on Brian basically calling all the shots like he always has.

When it comes right down to it, Mike/Al/Bruce have always let Brian handle the studio, when he was willing to handle the studio.  I would be ecstatic if he does a weird, "Love You" type album but with better vocals.  I think he's completely capable of it, and he showed hints of it on "TLOS" (Oxygen to the Brain, Goin' Home, etc.) and has kind of kept his quirky side even on the last two albums (Plenty of Nothin', the unabashedly crazy wall of Brian Rhapsody in Blue; the instrumental/weird Whistle while you Work, etc.). 

Seeing that the tour starts in April, is it realistic to expect the album BEFORE of AFTER the tour?

I don't know if they could sing something like Rhapsody in Blue, at this point in their lives.
Which essentially would be like delving into SMiLE type of esoterica. I don't see them doing
that.

Hey I just learned something today totally out of left field on an unrelated topic, so you
never know whats going to happen, who would have thought there would be Smile 2004
TLOS or The SMiLE sessions, who knows whats gonna happen, the best indication is Do It Again
which indicates a pleasant but sort of safe album. Can they  try and be cutting edge at 70?
do they want to ? Or just turn in a very well excecuted album with good safe songs like
forever surfer girl, soul searchin and Desert drive, thats my guess, oh whew I'm exhausted
time to go to work

I don't mean they are going to recut those songs, I mean new songs written in that sort of vein
poppy, safe, somewhat in the style of the early Beach Boys


Its all about the songs he comes up with, and the excecution, I know they will get it recorded and
arranged properly, but what are the tunes gonna be like ? Just three of four really good songs, and
the whole legacy can turn upward on a dime. To the younger public less familiar with them I mean of course.

We older folks and fans already know how great they are.

Split the baby and say the album will be out midway through the tour. 

It would be nice if bruce's Brand New Old Friend will be on 2012 album!!

I'll bet it comes out in June for the start of  Summer. Just feels logical. Then the retrospective box set will come out in November like TSS did in time for Christmas gift giving.

I hope Brian suddenly remembers "Oh Lord" from his unreleased back catalogue and finally has the group record it properly.  ;D

Of course I'm hoping for some great new songs, but just the idea of Brian, Mike, Al, Bruce and David in the studio together, recording new material is already enough for me. Even if we're getting Stars & Stripes Vol. 2, a 60 minute disco remake of Shortenin' Bread or twelve attempts to rewrite Kokomo, I will be happy with the album.

"Don't Fight the Sea" would be a shoo-in. I know it's already available on Al's album and some would argue that its inclusion would mean deleting another song...

...But I don't think the CD will be 80 minutes long anyway, so why not add it to the tracklisting? It's a solid track, and obviously it has some great vocals by Carl. The only thing that could prevent its inclusion would be legal stuff.

Hoping the re-recordings are kept to a minimum. "Do It Again" was a nice choice for obvious reasons, but I don't see why it'd need to go beyond that.

I doubt there'll be any attempts to be "cutting edge". No need to at this point in their career, and while I'm sure there'll be plenty of safer surf rock-esque songs, I'd expect a few more introspective tracks, as they're still fairly well known for that, too.

By God, please no re-makes, guest stars or "looking back"-songs a la "Summer in paradise" or "Brian's back" !!!!

Questions 2 & 3: I'd like to see/hear that.
Question 4: If they are good like "It's ok" I guess it's ok (yes, pun intended) but no nostalgic stuff that obviously tries to sound like another song from way back. It's got to be original and authentic, that's all I ask

Agreed, Rocker. I think that so much of what makes the group different and innovative is Brian's songwriting. The group can get pretty far out there with a fairly structurally standard song like "Wouldn't It Be Nice," "Message Man," or "Melt Away" because Brian's chordal and harmonic ideas are truly unique. Hopefully the new material will reflect that.

Imagine the band re-recorded "Kokomo" for this album? And "Santa's Goin' to Kokomo (Reprise)" towards the end of the album to bring that arty SMiLe factor to it.

Seriously though, judging by Brian's attitude since the 80s - scratch that, since the 60s - I would imagine that he sees this as his opportunity for a big hit. He and Mike are probably collaborating with that in mind for at least a few songs.

Seriously

I think the Beach Boys, and those advising them are by now well aware of their legacy and contribution to popular music. Whilst I don't for a second think we're going to get Pet Sounds Vol II, I can see us getting something artistic, tasteful and retrospective. By retrospective I mean a tip of the hat to the various era's of the Beach Boys career.

I think there are enough people around them to help them learn from past mistakes, and therein lies my only concern. Will there be too many fingers in the pie?

If any  of the fingers belong to Joe Thomas, there will definitely be too many

That's why I hope the lead single of the album will be something new and not Do It Again. Of course I guess we all know it eventually will be DIA but I'd rather a new tune that sounds like a hit. Brian is capable of that, see "Good kind of love" for example.

My own hope is for "Do It Again" to be a bonus track and NOT part of the regular release OR a single

Dito. Or the B-side to a new song

I'd want that too but it all depends on what they churn out in the studio.  If they have enough stuff to create a full album...they can add DIA as a bonus.  But if they're not coming up with enough material...they'll be relying on DIA to fill out the album...maybe even start it off as the first cut.

The remade DIA is boring

Well honestly...I think DIA is a pretty good insight to what we can expect with any more new or remade material from the band.  I personally think DIA is sufficient and gets a B- effort from me...I'm thinking the rest of the (soon to be written/recorded) album will fall along the same lines.

They could pad out a dozen or so new tracks with vintage unreleased tracks like "Brian Farted Into George's French Horn".