The Smiley Smile Message Board

Pet Sounds. Stereo.


 :tm

Wild Honey! Without Mama Says though.

bruce's 1976 bbc radio interview on "my top twelve". i find it interesting.

this made me laugh  :-D

Heavily into both Holland and TWGMTR right now.

Just got 'Today!' on vinyl.

Cranked ‘Do You Wanna Dance’ right up. There's some moments on there where there's so much stuff swirling around it's phenomenal!

Listening to the TWGMTR suite a lot. I couldn't be more happy with that. It's almost perfect.

Still Cruisin, I love it..

Don't judge  ;D

There are some good songs on that album!

Listening to various mixes I compiled myself. They're broken down as follows:

Vol. 1: 1961-1965
Vol. 2: 1966-1969
Vol. 3: 1970-1974
Vol. 4: 1976-1989
Vol. 5: 1991-TWGMTR
Vol. 6: The best of the solo careers

Still knee deep in SMiLE.  Been here for twelve or thirteen years.

Today's choice is Holland

(http://www.albumartexchange.com/gallery/images/public/be/beachb-wildho_09.jpg)
I downloaded it recently and it's turning into one of my favorites. I also downloaded Friends but I'm having mixed reactions on it.

Mixed reaction to Friends, eh Johnston? Hmmm???

Friends

"e author=Johnston65 link=topic=14060.msg310068#msg310068 date=1344612990]
(http://www.albumartexchange.com/gallery/images/public/be/beachb-wildho_09.jpg)
I downloaded it recently and it's turning into one of my favorites. I also downloaded Friends but I'm having mixed reactions on it.
[/quote]"


Just keep listening. It will pull you in.

Your first exposure to Friends?  Or are you referencing the quality of the download?

I'm assuming it's the former.

Friends is a little weird.  From a "dark period" which began with Smiley and ended (sorta) with the more dynamic Sunflower.  I place the albums: Smiley Smile, Wild Honey, Friends and 20/20 in this period.  Very small, dark sounding albums.  If I may say, they're among the favorites of many fans.  Honest, low-key and natural.  To me, they're very sublime.  The work of a starving artist or recluse -- introducing an aesthetic of creative suffering -- which had not been associated with the Beach Boys.

They also became essential and dear to fans because, sans-SMiLE, they were all we had to go on and scour through for clues regarding Brian's lost masterpiece.

SMiLE Sessions, Disc 1.  H&V Sections.

Nicccceee..

I play that disc quite often. What a joy

No it's a CD quality download, just the songs are not really resonating with me on Friends. I love all the other albums from this "dark period" on the other hand.

Not surprised. You didn't have that much to do on "Friends", did you Bruce?

 ;D

At work: "Smiley Smile" new Japan remaster.

At home:  Hawthorne, Disc 2

It's a grower. Give it another listen and then put it on the shelf for a month or two. It will call back to you when you're ready.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vAICnFZA6I

IT'S GOOD

"Friends" took me a whiiiiiile to warm up to.  A long while.  Couldn't get into it at first so I just put it aside and then one day, went back to it and things began to click.  Love it when that happens.

Friends is perfect for a lazy day, or late at night when you want something to listen to before you go to bed. There may not be as many standouts as on Sunflower or a similar album (although I would beg to differ), it's a wonderful, unified listen. Not that it's perfect, because I don't think there's a perfect BB album in the canon, but it captures the Beach Boys at that time in their career, and it has loads of Brian. I could probably write a whole essay on how Friends is more of a 'concept album' than Pet Sounds or SMiLE, but I won't.

I've also had the experience of Friends growing on me. I thought the title track was an earsore when I listened to greatest hits playlists and the album seemed cartoony to me. Now it's one of the most versatile listens for me.


I find myself always getting into Pacific Ocean Blue at the end of the summer. But I don't like to listen to it anywhere but the car.  At home and at the office I've been listening to Country Air on repeat and Holland.

Friends has grown on me as well. The first time I heard it, I thought it was amazing. Now, I think it is one of the most amazing albums ever made.

Haha! I just realized my nickname is coincidentally connected to The Beach Boys.  :lol

I guess you all can just call me Bruce from now on.  ;)

Hmmm....  It's been a looong time...but I think Friends hit me pretty quickly.  The one/two punch opening -- Meant for You/Friends.  Something spiritual there.  A wave.  A sermon.  Washes me clean.  The album goes around, but never loses it's vibe.  Strong stuff.

Listening to it now!  :smokin


Smiley Smile took me for a ride though.  Freaked me out, made me mad!  :lol  I thought they were punking me!  Now it's very important to me.

Brian- Friends & Love You
Al-MIU (lovin his production) & Holland)
Bruce-Goin' Pubic & BB 85
Mike- Country Love (contemplating)
Dave- Surfin' USA (appreciate his guitar licks)

Totally.

That's the album with "I Write The Songs That Make The Whole World Itch", right?

Friends is my favorite Beach boys album at this point, it's fun to hear of somebody just beginning to explore it!

Lately I've been digging through everything pre-Pet Sounds... man, I used to just write off all of this stuff, but now listening to quality files with my new Grados, I'm stunned at how much classic music there is.   :o

I think it's also kind of a matter of letting go of the "cool factor" that used to blur my musical taste.  The best of this stuff, like any of the BB's best music, is just Brian and the guys being themselves!

I've really be into re-examining their post-Smile output.  Holland has gotten some heavy rotation as has BB85.

GOOD CALL!

Well said!  I've spent many a nice saturday morning cranking albums like little deuce coupe, all summer long.  Pure clean fun.  The boys just being themselves,...that's exactly right!

Didn't Bruce once say he's listened to the Bruce Johnston Story (parts 1&2) before? It's quite a collection, wish it was released in some way.

1. TWGMTR - as its still "fresh" and I find something new each listen.
2. Greatest hits Vol. 3, Best of the Brother Years - like the mix at the moment
3. Warmth of the Sun/Sounds of Summer - I always have these in my car to listen to some BB tunes when the urge strikes (and I don't mind if these get dinged at all, unlike my "stay at home collection").
At the moment, other than TWGMTR, not listening to albums but rather the compilations for the mix.

2 spins of Wild Honey (unfortunately simply vinyl, can't wait to get one cut from analog) followed by friends. I'm no longer in a bad mood. The six beers don't hurt, either..
Damn that original friends Capitol vinyl sounds good!

Munich '72 - what a set list and so much energy. The live Beach Boys at their best.

Summer In Paradise...

Feel free to attack me  ;D

Have had TWGMTR (CD & vinyl) on heavy rotation since release, recently punctuated by the new Pet Sounds & Smiley mono/stereo mixes. Also had the Lost & Found set from a few years back – love the fresh and raw feel of many of those tracks. also Sunflower and Surf's Up on vinyl.

Love You, Smiley Smile, and Friends.  Put those on a playlist and hit Random Play.  Sweet insanity indeed.

This is a good antidote to having heard too much of the new album.  Like having something a little salty after eating a dish of ice cream.

Holland LP

 :ninja :jedi

A slightly altered TWGMTR

Heavy Rotation Right Now:

1.  "In Concert"  (Solid collection, though I prefer boots from that era.)
2.  "Summer Love Songs"  (I really enjoy this mix of songs an the sound is pretty sharp too.)
3.  "Concert/Live in London 69" 2-fer  ("Concert" is energetic enough, but I much prefer "London 69")
4.  "Made in U.S.A."  (Just picked up my first copy of this one to get R&R to the Rescue.  Decent collection.)
5.  "Isn't It Time"  (the iTunes single.  Really like SOS and California Girls.  I'm less keen on DIA- way too much post-production.)

Listening to Summer Days and Summer Nights on repeat as I read C-Man's excellent session notes for that album.

Mike, Bruce, and Dave (and Adrian Baker :( ) Salute Nascar!!!  :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol

Today! 2012 Remaster

Summer Days 2012 Remaster

YouTube - Beach Boys TV!

On a cheap Walmart streamer!

Gaumont Palace - 1971 - some real gems!

Cottonfields, Country Air!

Can't beat it!  ;)

Cherry, Cherry Coupe on infinite repeat.

Thats a hard song to sing along with. ;D

Pet Sounds.  It's a cool ocean wave that helps wash away stress at work.  I'm a high school English teacher...while I love my job and my students, the work does get overwhelming - physically, mentally, emotionally.  PS always, always, always helps.

I've been getting into the 40th anniversary stereo mix again since getting some incredible beyerdynamic earphones recently as a birthday present. They are crazily expensive for earphones but it's worth it as they really bring the 2006 mix to life. It always sounded too trebly to me before, so I'd convinced myself that the Hoffman mono mix was the only one I could listen to.

Is there a consensus on a definintive stereo mix for PS? I'm unsure of the differences between the different releases. Does the new remaster trump the 40th anniversary one?

I hear ya. During a particularly stressful episode a few years back I found Pet Sounds incredibly comforting. It really surprised me as I was always skeptical of people who gushed about its soothing properties. I guess it makes sense as he was writing the music to sooth himself in many ways.

Haven't heard the new remaster but the MoFi SACD (released last year I think?) is pretty sweet.

Thanks. Don't you need special equipment to make that one worthwhile though, or will the differences be apparent on standard equipment?

Even the redbook layer (standard cd) sounds better than any of the previous issues I've heard.

How does it sound better - better clarity or what exactly? Thanks for the info.

Beth Orton - I Wasn't Born To Follow


Oh, what Beach Boys am I listening to? I'm not. But I am looking at pictures of John Stamos.



With an erection.



Not him, me.



Well, not anymore.


Still looking at pics of him, just without my erection.


I need tissue.

yep.