The Smiley Smile Message Board

I've been fiddling around trying to make a solid (and realistic) tracklist for L.A. Ofc with the band politics at that time it's hard to say what could've been done or how much Dennis would've contributed.
As for my reconstruction I would bet on something in the order of:

Side A:
Good Timin'
Constant Companion
Angel Come Home
Goin' South
Sumahama
Love Surrounds Me

Side B:
California Feeling
Full Sail (or Lady Lynda, tho I prefer Full Sail...)
Santa Ana Winds
Baby Blue
All Alone
Shortenin' Bread (or perhaps Rollin' Up To Heaven '74)
Mexico


I think the lack of HCNT would boost the albums chances, perhaps propelling it to the top 20 in the UK and maybe top 40 in the US (with some luck).

I know Lady Lynda was a big success in the UK and perhaps that could be substituted for one of the other songs on UK releases of the album. The US version would not suffer the loss of LL I believe, and without the utter badness which is 12min HCTN it woulda succeeded more there. Given their close friendship with top charters Fleetwood Mac, they might've been promoted more and word circulated that a pretty good Beach Boys album was out.

I included CalFeelin for the reason that it fits perfectly in the theme of the album, as does Santa Ana Winds (the early version!) and I personally find it a very strong track (hoping better quality version is imminent!)

Anyway enough of my thoughts, what do you envision?

Fun idea.  As much as I love L.A., there is certainly room for improvement.  Here's my go at it:

Side 1:
1. Good Timin'
2. Lady Lynda
3. Angel Come Home
4. Full Sail
5. Sumahama

Side 2:
1. Santa Ana Winds
2. Love Surrounds Me
3. Baby Blue
4. Goin' South
5. Endless Harmony

I think Shortenin' Bread is fun, but I kept it off to try to keep the album as "light" as possible.  I'm sure Bruce could have finished Endless Harmony prior to Keepin' The Summer Alive if he had to.  I think the versions of Santa Ana Winds and EH that are on KTSA would fit nicely on L.A.

Good Timin'
Angel Come Home
Love Surrounds Me
Baby Blue
It's Not Too Late

All Alone
Morning Christmas
Winter Symphony
Lookin' Down the Coast
California Feelin'

I realize it's kind of a mishmash of tracks what with the Christmas ones, but I feel these are the best tracks from roughly this era that weren't found anywhere else.

I'm afraid mine plays fast and loose with the timescale

01.  It's a Beautiful Day (recorded just after, I know)
02.  Don't Fight the Sea (it was started around this time)
03.  Down the Coastline/Song of the Whale
04.  Santa Ana Winds (I'd quite happily have the lyrics of the second released version and the rougher production of the earlier version...)
05.  Full Sail
06.  California Feeling
07.  Country Pie
08.  Good Timin'
09.  Love Surrounds Me
10.  Baby Blue
11.  Angel Come Home
12.  She's Just Out To Get You

(http://i45.tinypic.com/2ecdjpi.jpg)

(http://i45.tinypic.com/svties.jpg)

Just add more Dennis Bambu - instant massively improved album!! Personally i think this tracklisting is fantastic and it flows beautifully - sequence it yourselves and see:

SIDE ONE:
1. Good Timin' (Why would anyone want to lose this as an opening track?)
2. It's Not Too Late (I prefer the more under-stated bootleg version, but it's a great track whichever take you're listening too)
3. Full Sail
4. Angel Come Home
5. Califonia Feelin'
6. Lady Lynda
7. Love Surrounds Me

SIDE TWO:
8. Santa Ana Winds (vastly superior bootleg version, complete with '1,2,3' countdown - nice way to open side 2)
9. Sumahara
10. Baby Blue
11. Companion (with fading 'african drumming' intro/outro)
12. Goin' South
13. (I Found Myself In A) Wild Situation (with the 'big erection' punchline ending - ahh come on, what a way to end an album!! The BB's needed to be releasing material that attracted attention at this point - and you know what: we'd all now be talking about what a fantastic, filthy and funny ending L.A. Light Album had if they had done it - Fact!)

One of the most frustrating things about the BB's is that time and time again they had the opportunity to release albums such as the one above and instead they released some watered-down compromise instead.

I considered Wild Situation for mine, but never that boot version with the 'big erection' vocal take. Haha I love it, that would be ingenious if they had done it and woulda certainly raised some eyebrows ^^
Mike Love would ofc NEVER allowed it, but then again Dennis would not give a f***.

Glad you agree  :) That above is a five star album right there.

Might they not have missed out on some airplay if they'd gone down that road? Plus I'm sure Dennis would've nixed it - turns an emotional song into a novelty record, or a joke with a punchline.

Here is THE PERFECT tracklisting:

Good Timing
Lady Lynda
Full Sail
Love Surrounds Me
Sumahama

Here Comes The Night
Baby Blue
Goin South
Shortnin Bread

With that lineup you have one of the Beach Boys strongest albums.

Sumahama is an abominiation. I'd take a 19 minute version of HCTN over 5 seconds of Sumahama any day.

I don't mind it, but would have preferred not to have the Japanese lyrics.  There were better songs that Mike could've taken from First Love...

You'd keep Here Comes the Disco but ditch Angel Come Home?

1. California Feelin'
2. Looking Down the Coast
3. Sumahama
4. Still I Dream of It
5. Love Remember Me
6. Winter Symphony
7. Baby Blue
8. Good Timin'
9. Viggie
10.It's Over Now

Whoah - you're getting into my alternate version of MIU there!

I'd have no prob with the inclusion of HCTN 45rpm mix… recall thinking at the time that it would have made more sense to include the abbreviated version and to put the longer one out as a 12" single.  Leaves a bit of space to fill…

I'd keep every song and replace "Shortenin' Bread" with an earlier, Brian-produced rendition. Also, I'd add "Calendar Girl", "California Feelin'" and "Lookin' Down the Coast", probably even "Brian's Back".

Damn!I knew I'd forgotten something! Yes, slide Angel Comes Home back in it's rightful spot and LEAVE Here Comes The Night where it is.

Side A:
Good Timin'
Constant Companion
It's a beautiful day (edited version. I think it's a tad long)
Lady Lynda
Angel Come Home
Sumahama

Side B:
Here comes the night (3 minute version)
Baby Blue
Endless Harmony
Love Surrounds Me
Drip Drop


I'm pretty pleased with that, even though I cheated a bit. by including It's a beautiful day and endless harmony. The first four tracks on side one all sound like potential hits, which is great on a record imo...lots of strong tracks in a row. Resisted the urge to include too much Bamboo material...but as the precedent had been set with Baby Blue and Love Surrounds Me, why not Companion too. Did drop the two boring Carl tracks. I'd much rather listen to Sumahama which is at least brilliantly tasteless. It's a bit of an asshole move to include 'Drip Drop', but it kind of tells it like it is RE: where Brian was at during this time, kind of like the dodgy tracks on madcap laughs by Syd Barrett. Shortenin bread on the original is hideous, so is dropped...Bruce should never be asked to mix material that attempts to rock, but the 'other' version wouldn't have fit.

Interestingly enough (nerd alert), the album version is longer than the 12" (only by 20 secs or so) maybe due to space on a"12 @ 45rpm; and the only way to get the complete version out was on a 33 rpm (I am guessing).

I agree tho', the single version would have allowed some options (and more arguments :lol).

This is a somewhat revised post I had about L.A. a few months ago along with my dream tracklisting. Here goes...

I'm of the opinion that L.A. (Light Album) was the true "art" follow up to Holland, in that it had all of the members contributing their best material on hand to try to make both a commercial and artistic statement. Basically what a true, grown-up follow up to Holland should've been. I know this is kinda random, but I've kinda thought maybe that L.A. was The Beach Boys attempt at doing something like Fleetwood Mac's Rumours. You know, something slick and catchy, yet still "mature" and creative. I think Brian and Dennis both came up with the goods as far as the material they contributed, with "Good Timin'", "California Feelin'", "Love Surrounds Me", and "Baby Blue" all being great songs in my opinion. If Carl had a few more gems it woulda helped though, as I feel "Angel Come Home" was his only really great song on the album. Al's "Lady Lynda" was nice too, and while I don't like "Sumahama", at least Mike gave it a good try, though I'd have prefered "Daybreak".  And while most probably wouldn't agree with me, I think Bruce's idea of opening the album with "Do You Like Worms" and closing it with "Can't Wait Too Long" woulda been great. Imagine this album:

1. "Do You Like Worms" (Bruce wanted to open the album with this)
2. "Good Timin'"
3. "Lady Lynda"
4. "Angel Come Home"
5. "Love Surrounds Me"
6. "Sumahama
7. "Calendar Girl"
8. "California Feelin'"
9. "Baby Blue"
10. "Can't Wait Too Long" (Bruce wanted to close with this)

I was looking through some old CDRs that I did and my original alt version of LA was
1.  It's a Beautiful Day
2.  California Feeling
3.  Down the Coastline/Song of the Whale
4.  Santa Ana Winds
5.  Full Sail
6.  Sumahama
7.  Good Timin
8.  Thank You Baby
9.  Baby Blue
10. Love Surrounds Me
11. Angel Come Home
12. Go And Get That Girl

And my alt MIU:

1.  Woncha Come Out Tonight
2.  Pitter Patter
3.  River Song
4.  Winter Symphony
5.  Pacific Ocean Blues
6.  Winds of Change
7.  Sherry, She Needs Me
8.  I Write the Songs
9.  My Diane
10. Sweet Sunday Kinda Love
11. Lines
12. How's About A Little Bit of Your Sweet Lovin'

I used the two DW songs on the basis that POB had been offered up for 15 BO and River Song had been sung at BB shows - and it's safe to say that neither would be on my MIU today because they both firmly belong on POB. I'd also have to get rid of I Write the Songs for a similar reason (although I do actually like the song...), so I'll have to come back to you on this. As for the version of LA, I prefer my latest one posted earlier.

I think the LA issue is so contentious because it is the last good BB album until TWGMTR, but it could've been better and we all have different ideas about what 'better' is!

You think Wontcha Come Out Tonight makes a better opening track than River Song and you'd stick Pacific Ocean Blues alongside the toilet-stain that is Winds Of Change? What'd poor Dennis every do to deserve that?

Man, everyone's tracklists look so damn interesting!  There's a lot to play with from this period.  And I get the hunch side projects siphoned a lot of passion, spirit and time away from the Beach Boys during this period.  I love L.A. but there's NO ESCAPING they weren't "all in."  They were in the prime of their life.   :'(  No longer were they wide-eyed kids... but they were still young, however, they had aged and gained perspective.  My favorite era of the band...

I don't think I have a lot of these odds n' ends that you guys are dropping in... but I'm playing what I have, in my mind, and everyone's list sound fascinating.  So much potential.


I'm not afraid to admit that the MIU/LA twofer from 2000 is my favorite of the twofers -- for whatever reason.  Much of what I love about it is probably what's NOT there, but the idea of what could have been.  "Wind of Change" is not a toilet stain, DisneyBoy!!!   :lol  It's a beautiful song!!!  (BTW, I like your list a lot too)  But I think Winds of Change fits nice into this tracklist.  It's one of the most beautiful songs they ever did.  Good job Smilin' Ed!!  A fantastic compilation!!!

EDIT:  Playing it now.  Real nice...  :'(

1-good timing
2-lady lynda
3-full sail
4-angel come home
5-love surrounds me
6-here comes the night-45 version
7-shortin bread

side-2
1-constent companion
2-california feeling
3-santa ana winds
4-don t fight the sea
5-goin south
6-baby blue
7-wild situtiation

I thought Woncha was a decent punchy opening - and I didn't want to waste the Dennis songs up front because along with Winter Symphony and My Diane, they are the best songs on the 'album'.  As for your opinion about Winds of Change: each to his own.  Generally speaking, I don't like MIU.  I do need to look at this one again and try it without the POB tracks.

Interesting to see ppl's ideal or alternative tracklists for L.A, but would they perform better. Is there any allternative scenario where L.A could possibly succeed?

Considering the fact that Good Timin' was the group's best single since, arguably, Do It Again, I don't see any scenario where L.A. would have been a hit album.

Here's how it REALLY should have been.
DA (Disco Album) no space between the songs
side A.
1.here comes the night/do you like worms  (short intro ) :30
2.good vibrations (Disco remake) 7:00
3.I write the songs(Disco remake) 5:00
4.surfin disco (Rewrite of "Surfin" with a disco beat.) 8:00
5.here comes the night (album version) 12:00
6.Here comes the night (instrumental mix) 12:00

side B.
1.here comes the night (Single version) 3:30
2.she's got rythym (disco remix) 6:00
3.viggie (Disco version) 10:00
4.here comes the night (Original version from the 60's remixed) 1:30
5.shortening bread (Disco version) 15:00
6. can't wait too long (Disco version) :20
7.been way too long (disco version) 2:00
8.here comes the night (vocal only outro) :30

Produced by Bruce Johnston and Brian Wilson

Well, I gave it a go to make MIU more palatable (to me):

(http://i50.tinypic.com/fc80n.jpg)

Woncha Come Out Tonight
That Same Song (the version with the Gospel choir)
Go and Get That Girl
Pitter Patter
Winter Symphony
Winds of Change

My Diane
Lines
Sweet Sunday Kinda Love
Sumahama
Tug of Love
Still I Dream of It

It's a mess of styles, but what they hey?

It was their best single since 'It's Okay' imo. It's a great song, but not obvious 'killer 45' material, given that it's a mid tempo ballad.

That aside, it's more interesting to ask 'how would LA's reputation have fared' given a track shuffle', rather than 'how would it have sold', because there are so many variables that dictate whether a record is a hit or not that are nothing to do with the quality of the material. Just ask 'Sunflower'. Besides, it probably sold pretty good anyway, given that Lady Lynda made number six here in the UK.

Surfer Girl is a midtempo ballad as well. Good Timin' taps right into that spirit, as Dennis Wilson noted.

This would have worked great.

Again, like Surf's Up, CATP, and MIU before it, I don't think any tracks needed to be deleted or swapped from L.A. Light Album to make it better, just add a couple of more to the album.

The Beach Boys went from 15 tracks on 15 Big Ones, to 14 tracks on Love You, to 12 tracks on M.I.U., to 10 tracks on L.A. Light Album. Why? You had 6 songwriters in the group at that time!

L.A. Light Album was in no way a concept album that needed a certain type of song on there to fit a theme. I mean, that album is all over the place. Hey, keep 'em all on there, and simply fill in where there was a shortage - i.e. Brian Wilson songs. They couldn't come up with 2 more BW songs that were in the can? Look at all those Adult Child and M.I.U. outtakes just sitting there. What were they saving those for?

It's interesting but "It's A Beautiful Day" was actually the B Side of the "Sumahama" single released in September 1979. It must've been close to being recorded by the release of L.A. Light Album; maybe a couple of months?  Side B would've opened much stronger with "It's A Beautiful Day" followed by "Here Comes The Night'.  

L.A. is two minutes longer than 15 Big Ones, with five less tracks.

Sure, but that one exception doesn't really have any bearing on what I said. The vast majority of their hits were uptempo, and the vast majority of hits in general are uptempo, or at least danceable. Cool Cool Water for example is an AWESOME track, but it's a dreadful single.

that attrocious HCTN take so much time! it's almost a miracle that they could include such a long version of that monstrosity and the only nadir point of the album, which otherwise was not too bad. especially compared to the preceeding MIU

Yeah, it's almost unanimous that "Here Comes The Night" was too long, possibly sacrificing at least two other songs. So, putting my money where my mouth is. No subtracting, just adding...

L.A. (Light Album)

1. Good Timin'
2. Lady Lynda
3. Love Surrounds Me
4. Full Sail
5. Sumahama
6. Angel Come Home

7. Here Comes The Night (edit)
8. Baby Blue
9. Shortenin' Bread (alternate take)
10. Winter Symphony
11. Goin' South
12. California Feelin'

I always liked "Angel Come Home" AFTER "Sumahama". And, I like the cold/warm, traveling, ending up in California ending! :police:

What's the best currently 'out there' version of California Calling? As I recall I've only ever heard the Brian version that was on that hits comp, and wasn't impressed...need to revisit it

I guess Ian is pretty much right here. I think they just kida blew it commercially with Love You and M.I.U. and so no matter what they did they weren't gonna have a big album hit in 1979. I do think that "Good Timin'" shoulda been the lead single to the band's follow up to Holland. It was mature yet easily identifiable as The Beach Boys, coming after stuff like Endless Summer and Spirit Of America. I think they kinda blew it by having their comeback single be the dorky dad-rock of "Rock And Roll Music".

I completely disagree with you, and I think it was a great choice as a single. I'm sure most here would agree with me.

Haha- we don't have to agree, you know, it's fine for two people to have different opinions. I think you're utterly wrong, and that's fine. ;)

but, to play along with your method of debate, I'm pretty sure 10 million Elvis fans woudl agree with ME. ;)  :lol

Al's version of 'California Feeling' on Postcard is magic

OK, mate, you can use as many smilies as you want, but I'm gonna speak up for my band and declare Good Timin' to be an incredible piece of work.

Seconded

Right on man. Lately "Good Timin'" has been my favorite BB song. Just so pretty.

After many long hours of tinkering, the trackllst I finally settled on:

01. Rainbows (2:53)
02. Lady Lynda (3:59)
03. Skatetown U.S.A. (2:12)
04. Lookin' Down the Coast (3:14)
05. Angel Come Home (3:41)
06. Brian's Back (4:10)
07. Love Surrounds Me (3:38)
08. Sumahama (4:28)
09. Country Pie (3:14)
10. Baby Blue (3:18)
11. Brand New Old Friends (7:13)

Total runtime: 41:53

YES!

So you put no Brian Wilson material on this album?

In my alternate universe I used "Good Timin'" on my "15 Big Ones" tracklist and "Shortenin' Bread" appears on the "Adult/Child" record.

You're not my mate, you're an internet bellend who can't understand a simple point. The Beach Boys aren't 'your band', ffs...and it just goes to show you haven't grasped what I said, because if you had, you'd realise that my opinion isn't insulting, in any way.

I'll try again. Whilst Good Timin' is a fantastic song (or 'piece of work' if you like), I don't think it's a great single, in the way that say, Good Vibrations is. Great song/Great single. Not the same thing. Don't give a f*** whether you agree or not. The world thrives on differing opinions. You can't 'disprove' my opinion by making tenuous claims relating to Surfer Girl, or by saying that you reckon everyone will disagree with me. It's an opinion.

I used smileys because I think that your way of ramming home your opinion (AGAIN) is hilarious. 'and everyone else thinks so, so nah'. LOL. Pathetic

Happy New Year… blimey…

This would have be HOT!  ;D

(http://i49.tinypic.com/2urnvnl.jpg) :lol :lol :lol

This.  +1,000

Maybe the band was concerned -- perhaps embarrassed -- with all the crazy Brian songs.  Denny, Mike and Carl especially were branching out as writers and solo artists.  But still.  I've never understood the lack of Brian material on L.A.  This was in the middle of the "Brian's back" era!  Sure he was writing songs about "Solar Systems" and "Lines" but... he was cranking out all sorts of stuff.  Odd but awesome.

I remember reading in the highly suspect Steven Gaines "Heroes and Villains" book that the Beach Boys had a very hard time with the label (Warner?) excepting this album.  They hated it.  They rejected the album several times, I think.  Does anyone know what track line-ups were originally submitted and rejected?

IIRC, I think the label was VERY concerned with the band's image/marketability at the time.  Understandable.  Perhaps that is what resulted in the albums lack of direction.

???




EDIT:  I also remember reading that the Dennis material was siphoned away from him.  To your point Sheriff -- WTF?!  They had 5 excellent song writers, six if you include Bruce -- and one of them (Brian) was one of the greatest song writers of all time.  And they had to siphon off material from Dennis' solo project to get to 10 acceptable tracks?!!!?!?!!?!  Are you kidding me!?!  WTF.

This just doesn't make any sense.  None.

Heroes And Villains is one of the least suspect books on The Beach Boys.

L.A. (Light Album) was/is so perplexing. It was the band's first album with their new record company, and coming off the very Brian-involved previous three albums (thus having him "back"), you would think everything possible would be done to feature Brian. And, yes, I do understand that Brian was experiencing some serious mental health problems around that time, including being institutionalized.

To some extent, they did go out of their way to include Brian material; "Good Timin" was already in the can, and 'Here Comes The Night" was a re-creation. But, why "Shortenin' Bread"? L.A. (Light Album) was supposed to be their "adult" album, a non-fun in the sun effort. I think somebody on this board referred to it as their Rumours. And, they CLOSED the album with "Shortenin' Bread!?

There had to be a better compromise. I can actually understand why songs like "Still I Dream Of It" or "It's Over Now" would be bypassed. With the nature/vibe of Carl's and Dennis's songs on L.A., they were in danger of releasing one of the biggest "downer" albums ever! But, why not include a couple more positive, upbeat Brian songs. With some lyrical tweaking (or not), "Winter Symphony" would've been great. Or "California Feelin". I mean, didn't Brian ALWAYS have some songs in process? Were "Go And Get That Girl" and "How's About A Little Bit Of Your Love" his? What else was around, I'm not sure...Maybe a better cover song?

The Beach Boys led the league in having albums rejected - Sunflower, Surf's Up, Holland, In Concert, etc. It's hard to believe L.A. (Light Album), after much back and forth, was eventually accepted. I would've sent it back so fast and demanded two more Brian Wilson songs. :police:

I thought I heard otherwise.  Regardless, I love it.  It covers so much, is super fun to read.... and spares nothing.  All the crazy dysfunction and low-down dirt.  I read it all the time on the potty.   ;D

The execs at Warners must have had very "different" expectations...
"Yeah, yeah, yeah... They're over the hill and Brian's a 300lb mess... I know.  But it's the Beach Boys!!  How bad could it be?"


(http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/282/d/a/free_icon__music_notes_by_shiningenjeru-d4cai4k.gif)
Mama's little baby loves shortenin', shortenin'.
(http://www.ultimus.com/Portals/54405/images/confused_man_w_laptop-resized-600.png)

 ;D