The Smiley Smile Message Board

Especially the version on In Concert, I think it might be one of the most underrated Beach Boys songs and it shows that had Fataar and Chaplin stayed with the group longer, they really could have done some great things.  The chord progression sort of reminds me of Pink Floyd's "The Great Gig in the Sky."  It's really a beautiful song and Blondie did a great job singing it.

The In Concert version also sustains that beautiful tag that fades out all too soon on the album version. In Concert was one of first BB's albums, for some reason, and I always really liked it!

Leaving This Town...Fabulous epic song, one of my favorites, on the Concert album...

Rhonda, Sail On, Sailor, You Still Believe in Me, Don't Worry Baby...ordered beautifully...

Every song a winner!

It truly is epic, the In Concert version is pretty heavy and the band has never sounded cooler. The live performance of We Got Love is also stellar and you can't help but lament it's absence on Holland. As mentioned if Blondie and Ricky stayed on board throughout the seventies we may have been sparred the audio vomit that is 15 Big Ones, M.I.U. Album and LA.

I love the middle section, esp. the In Concert version.

In Concert is just a great album all around.... :rock

Did Bruce Johnston contribute to the tag on the album fade out?, I always thought I heard his voice on that.  :-\

I don't think Bruce was on Holland.

but I COMPLETELY, COMPLETELY agree that Leaving This Town is epic! Leaving This Town (especially the live version) is my favorite Beach Boys song of the moment actually. I might hold up a "PLAY LEAVING THIS TOWN" sign when I go to the reunion shows, that's how serious I am about loving this song.

Leaving This Town and Loving This Song are actually pretty similar, it's almost like it was destiny!

Leaving This Town
Loving This Song

SEE? I wish I had a band that were influenced only by this song. All our songs would be inferior attempts to replicate the glory and feeling of wonder and amazement of Leaving This Town.

Actually, per Bruce's own admission the only BB album he wasn't on was MIU. I wish I could remember which song he was on on Holland, though!

Sounds like him on the tag to me too...always has.

I had the In Concert version on a mix CD on my local pub jukebox 10 years ago.  Once someone asked if it was Ocean Colour Scene.

Let's not forget Carl's now timeless and immortal singing on "Let The Wind Blow" off of In Concert.

Truly In Concert is one of THE Best live LP's ever recorded.

And did you strike them dead with the fury of a thousand suns?

The live verision of WGL is far superior to the studio version, which was pretty limp and rightly ditched from Holland, IMHO.

Does anyone besides me think this song (and Funky Pretty as well, for that matter) is dreadful?

Nope! Both are better live on the In Concert album, but neither are dreadful.

He's on California.

^ That's it....thanks!

Not me.

God, the Don't Worry Baby on there is cosmic.

I have always had a special place in my heart for You Still Believe In Me. And that includes Dennis' speaking after the song.

Maybe not a popular opinion to have but I almost prefer the live version of Funky Pretty over the studio version.

Not quite. But damn near.

That's one thing I found frustrating about the In Concert album, it's a double record and there are no Dennis Wilson compositions or any songs with Dennis on lead, seems blasphemous considering the great material he wrote around the time of CATP and Holland. The bits of Dennis speaking to the crowd between songs makes me want to hear more of him and there was a performance during those 72/73 concerts of Help Me Rhonda with Dennis on lead, makes you wonder why it wasn't included.  :-\

Especially since Dennis is the only Beach Boy on the front cover. I never understood it, either.

During this time period I saw the band at least 4 -5 times and Dennis did You Are So Beautiful each show. Was not surprised when it turned up on the Knebworth album, but by then it was too late. You guys are right., Dennis is sorely missing from this album.
On a side note, during this period, 1973 in specific, I did witness a remarkable occurrence at a show in Saint Louis. After a song, Carl knocked Ricky in the face with the neck of his guitar. It was bad. The band left the stage for 10 minutes. Out comes Dennis all alone and sits at the piano and does Forever. I knew I was witnessing something remarkable. By the end of the song the rest of the band, minus Ricky, was out there to help the great Dennis Wilson finish his classic song. Whatta think of that!

Wow, I envy you Dave getting to witness The Boys during their peak years as professional performers. As for poor Ricky getting whacked by Carl, I guess that was a grand slam rather than a bunt! sorry I couldn't resist.  :-D

I'm assuming that hit wasn't intentional?! How amazing it would have been to witness Dennis coming out and playing Forever by himself. Would love to see some videos of that.

Considering the year, I doubt any videos exist. Unless the band shot their own, and the cameras would have been turned off during the incident. I mean Dennis came out , IN THE DARK of the stage, no spotlight, and just sat down and started the song. The board people were a tad slow on getting the volume up when Dennis pulled his trick out of his hat.