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Title: I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s? Post by: NatureShowInStereo on April 24, 2013, 02:26:34 AM Has this ever been discussed? It's something I had never really given much thought to before. Like BWPS, but with no BW Band and Landy at the helm of production. And Landy obviously wouldn't call up VDP for help in the given situation. Oh man, the horror of the thought...
I feel like it would be like Rio Grande... Can you imagine an 80s Barnyard with echoey electronic drums? Title: Re: I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s? Post by: Nicko1234 on April 24, 2013, 02:52:36 AM Daddy's Little Girl gives a hint as to how it could have been.
Argh, I just listened to this song again. An abomination. Title: Re: I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s? Post by: Iron Horse-Apples on April 24, 2013, 04:16:00 AM With new lyrics by Landy and the Surf Nazis. The songs would have to be renamed of course.
Do You Like Prozac Gene's Favourite Vegatable You Are My Retirement Fund Mrs O Landy's Cash Cow Heroes And Mike Title: Re: I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s? Post by: LostArt on April 24, 2013, 04:30:38 AM I feel like it would be like Rio Grande... Can you imagine an 80s Barnyard with echoey electronic drums? I think you are right. I'm one of the few folks around here who doesn't rate Rio Grande all that highly. I like parts of it, especially that 6/8 bit with the lovely harmonies, but as a whole, the piece seems contrived...forced...artificial. Wasn't the whole idea sort of pushed on Brian from Lenny Waronker? Or have I got it wrong? Title: Re: I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s? Post by: The Love of Johnston on April 24, 2013, 04:36:05 AM I really don't think this was even possible, irregardless of how much control landy had over brian IMO.
Title: Re: I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s? Post by: BergenWhitesMoustache on April 24, 2013, 05:11:58 AM I think it would have been better. Probably done with a lighter touch
I hate, hate, hate, hate the sequencing on the 'finished Smile'. The running of the tracks into each other blows, the 'fly ins' blow. The mastering sucks. The crossfades suck. Suspect in '88 they'd have been more inclined to just mix what was there, do a couple of blunt edits like on the '93 set and be done with it. If Brian had called Carl and Al in to do a couple of leads here and there, that could have worked... Title: Re: I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s? Post by: SMiLE Brian on April 24, 2013, 05:26:52 AM I think Landy was going to add 1980s overdubs to the original tapes. Which would be really odd with 1960s Brian singing with 1980s Brian.
Title: Re: I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s? Post by: RangeRoverA1 on April 24, 2013, 05:37:17 AM Daddy's Little Girl gives a hint as to how it could have been. It's good to these ears. Musical likeness with TLGIOK.Argh, I just listened to this song again. An abomination. Title: Re: I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s? Post by: MBE on April 24, 2013, 06:51:49 AM It would have been very pathetic if the rumors of Landy's plans are true.
Title: Re: I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s? Post by: Shady on April 24, 2013, 07:31:05 AM My god this would have been awful.
Especially with Brian's voice around this time, not saying it was bad but it wouldn't have suited those smile songs. Title: Re: I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s? Post by: EgoHanger1966 on April 24, 2013, 07:34:17 AM WIND CHIMES ARE DELIGHT CHIMES THEY'RE STARLIGHT CHIMES AND THEY'RE THE RIGHT CHIMES FOR ME.
Something like that. Title: Re: I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s? Post by: hypehat on April 24, 2013, 07:37:09 AM Yeah, this would have sucked ass.
Title: Re: I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s? Post by: rab2591 on April 24, 2013, 07:46:01 AM WIND CHIMES ARE DELIGHT CHIMES THEY'RE STARLIGHT CHIMES AND THEY'RE THE RIGHT CHIMES FOR ME. Something like that. :lol :lol Title: Re: I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s? Post by: Nicko1234 on April 24, 2013, 08:03:54 AM I immensely like that song! There's sth. magical about the arrangements, even reminds me of TLGIOK. Just saying. Each to their own. :) Brian's voice is painful to listen to for me. Title: Re: I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s? Post by: The Shift on April 24, 2013, 08:12:29 AM "water water water waaaterrrr… boils up, water boils over`.`'
Title: Re: I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s? Post by: Cabinessenceking on April 24, 2013, 11:14:52 AM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sz0SnpN_O00
Title: Re: I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s? Post by: Generation42 on April 24, 2013, 11:46:33 AM I really don't think this was even possible, irregardless of how much control landy had over brian IMO. I'm sorry, but did you just say "irregardless"?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StJ-OK4jiSY (http://www.diregiovani.it/codimmagine/20114/formato/ImageGalleryPreview/griffin%201.jpg) Okay, now that that's out of the way, welcome to the forum. ;D Title: Re: I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s? Post by: Crow on April 24, 2013, 12:33:51 PM I think it would have been better. Probably done with a lighter touch
I hate, hate, hate, hate the sequencing on the 'finished Smile'. The running of the tracks into each other blows, the 'fly ins' blow. The mastering sucks. The crossfades suck. Suspect in '88 they'd have been more inclined to just mix what was there, do a couple of blunt edits like on the '93 set and be done with it. If Brian had called Carl and Al in to do a couple of leads here and there, that could have worked... I really agree. I do not like the sequencing. I really feel SMiLE would have ended with Surf's up, Side two started with GV, and it would not have been three parts. It would have had less songs, etc.... Title: Re: I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s? Post by: Lonely Summer on April 25, 2013, 12:12:15 AM I think it would have been better. Probably done with a lighter touch It would have been a 30 minute album. It was 1967, after all. Nobody except Dylan made 50 minute albums back then. Cut out crap like Cabinessence, Wonderful and Wind Chimes and you've got.....oh, let's face it, it was all mediocre junk. Brian's real peak was with Fun, Fun, Fun, I Get Around, and Little Deuce Coupe.I hate, hate, hate, hate the sequencing on the 'finished Smile'. The running of the tracks into each other blows, the 'fly ins' blow. The mastering sucks. The crossfades suck. Suspect in '88 they'd have been more inclined to just mix what was there, do a couple of blunt edits like on the '93 set and be done with it. If Brian had called Carl and Al in to do a couple of leads here and there, that could have worked... I really agree. I do not like the sequencing. I really feel SMiLE would have ended with Surf's up, Side two started with GV, and it would not have been three parts. It would have had less songs, etc.... Title: Re: I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s? Post by: Iron Horse-Apples on April 25, 2013, 12:15:02 AM Ah, see, I thought Surfin' Safari was his creative peak, it was all downhill from there.
Title: Re: I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s? Post by: cablegeddon on April 25, 2013, 02:26:37 AM IMO Brian was a better singer "under" Landy, he was a better composer under Landy...but they obviously worked with a S***-producer for the self-titled.
So for me it all depends on who would have produced it. With the right producer and band leader it could have been a better product than the 2004-05 album. Title: Re: I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s? Post by: Iron Horse-Apples on April 25, 2013, 03:13:41 AM IMO Brian was a better singer "under" Landy, he was a better composer under Landy...but they obviously worked with a S***-producer for the self-titled. So for me it all depends on who would have produced it. With the right producer and band leader it could have been a better product than the 2004-05 album. So let me get this straight. Are you saying Brian didn't come into his own as a singer and composer until he was under Landy? Please tell me I'm misunderstanding you here, because the idea that someone could actually think this makes me feel like the accepted physical laws of the universe are breaking down. Title: Re: I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s? Post by: cablegeddon on April 25, 2013, 03:16:12 AM IMO Brian was a better singer "under" Landy, he was a better composer under Landy...but they obviously worked with a S***-producer for the self-titled. So for me it all depends on who would have produced it. With the right producer and band leader it could have been a better product than the 2004-05 album. So let me get this straight. Are you saying Brian didn't come into his own as a singer and composer until he was under Landy? Please tell me I'm misunderstanding you here, because the idea that someone could actually think this makes me feel like the accepted physical laws of the universe are breaking down. Title: Re: I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s? Post by: Iron Horse-Apples on April 25, 2013, 03:34:07 AM IMO Brian was a better singer "under" Landy, he was a better composer under Landy...but they obviously worked with a S***-producer for the self-titled. So for me it all depends on who would have produced it. With the right producer and band leader it could have been a better product than the 2004-05 album. So let me get this straight. Are you saying Brian didn't come into his own as a singer and composer until he was under Landy? Please tell me I'm misunderstanding you here, because the idea that someone could actually think this makes me feel like the accepted physical laws of the universe are breaking down. I'm not sure about that. He probably seemed worse after Landy went because of the damage Landy did with mis-prescribed drugs. As far as I'm concerned, this is as bad as it gets http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-K-n5op9nI (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-K-n5op9nI) Title: Re: I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s? Post by: Smilin Ed H on April 25, 2013, 05:19:36 AM It would've been awful and the same people who hate BWPS would've found something irksome about that too. No-one's SMiLE is as good as the one in their head. Probably not even Brian's.
If SMiLE had been released in the 60s, it would've been done and there would've been none of this 'hate, hate, hate' stuff. Except there would've. Look at the way people still bitch about the inclusion of Sloop John B oPet Sounds despite the fact that, lo and behold, it was meant to be on there. Title: Re: I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s? Post by: BergenWhitesMoustache on April 25, 2013, 07:32:26 AM It would've been awful and the same people who hate BWPS would've found something irksome about that too. No-one's SMiLE is as good as the one in their head. Probably not even Brian's. If SMiLE had been released in the 60s, it would've been done and there would've been none of this 'hate, hate, hate' stuff. Except there would've. Look at the way people still bitch about the inclusion of Sloop John B oPet Sounds despite the fact that, lo and behold, it was meant to be on there. I dunno...I'd like to clarify that I'm generally against after the fact quibbling...up til LA Light album I enjoy EVERYTHING they did. Just think the sequencing on TSS is particularly heavy handed and the pitch shifted fly-ins and stuff? So unsubtle. Dunno. It seemed like a pretty easy task to me- compile the best versions of songs we'd already heard, stick 'child is father of the man' on there, even though it was just BVs...start side one with Our Prayer/Heroes and side two with GV end with surfs up. Make each side 20 or under minutes. Title: Re: I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s? Post by: hypehat on April 25, 2013, 08:02:33 AM If Mark and Alan did that there'd always be the question of that sequences' 'legitimacy' - like it or not, the BWPS sequence that TSS mostly follows is the only one one BW and VDP have signed off on for that material. And you'd have to leave a lot of things off to make it 20 minutes a side! I certainly wouldn't be happy about that.
I do think you have a point about the fly-ins though. Mostly unnecessary, but what are you gonna do? The only one that actively annoys is the 'whispering wind' section. IMO Brian was a better singer "under" Landy, he was a better composer under Landy...but they obviously worked with a S***-producer for the self-titled. You mean... Eugene Landy? The reports from everyone else who worked on the record (you know, hacks like Lenny Waronker and Russ Titleman) seem to suggest that any production choice that sounded good on the finished product was done without Landy knowing. There were big rows about Landy producing Brian, as Landy was a talentless buffoon. And he got his way in the end, with Sweet Insanity. Now THAT'S a crappily produced record. Title: Re: I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s? Post by: Matt Bielewicz on April 25, 2013, 08:49:15 AM To return to the question in the original thread title:
"I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s?" Isn't there a guy goes by the name of 'egon spengler' on this board? 'Cause I think his original Ghostbusting namesake had a quote that answers this question perfectly. "...it would be bad." I love that quote. Spengler says "Don't cross the streams", Venkmann asks "Why?", and you just think we're gonna get this huge, technobabble explanation from Spengler. Instead, it's just "...it would be bad." Anyway, to return to the matter in question... ach, can you imagine? 'Surf's Up' with the production values of 'He Couldn't Get His Poor Old Body To Move'? 'Wonderful' sounding like 'Don't Let Her Know She's An Angel'? "Nooooooooooooo...!!!!!!!!!!!!" [wakes up bolt upright in bed, bathed in sweat] "AAAarrrrgggghhhh!!!!! Whew, woah... [breathing begins to slow] ...OK, OK. [Sees SMiLE Sessions box set on the shelf on the other side of the room] It's OK, it's OK. It's just a dream. Just a dream..." [sees gold Sweet Insanity bootleg lying on the floor] "Aaaaaarrrrghhhhh!!!!!!!!!" Title: Re: I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s? Post by: Mike's Beard on April 25, 2013, 11:00:58 AM Landy and Smile = Oil and Water. It would have been a mess.
Title: Re: I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s? Post by: Mujan, 8@$+@Rc| of a Blue Wizard on April 01, 2014, 12:43:09 PM I think it would have been better. Probably done with a lighter touch I hate, hate, hate, hate the sequencing on the 'finished Smile'. The running of the tracks into each other blows, the 'fly ins' blow. The mastering sucks. The crossfades suck. Suspect in '88 they'd have been more inclined to just mix what was there, do a couple of blunt edits like on the '93 set and be done with it. If Brian had called Carl and Al in to do a couple of leads here and there, that could have worked... I disagree that it would've been better, but I also hate TSS/BWPS sequence and I was beginning to feel like the only one so, thanks for that. Title: Re: I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s? Post by: Lonely Summer on April 01, 2014, 03:20:02 PM I think it would have been better. Probably done with a lighter touch I hate, hate, hate, hate the sequencing on the 'finished Smile'. The running of the tracks into each other blows, the 'fly ins' blow. The mastering sucks. The crossfades suck. Suspect in '88 they'd have been more inclined to just mix what was there, do a couple of blunt edits like on the '93 set and be done with it. If Brian had called Carl and Al in to do a couple of leads here and there, that could have worked... I disagree that it would've been better, but I also hate TSS/BWPS sequence and I was beginning to feel like the only one so, thanks for that. Title: Re: I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s? Post by: Mujan, 8@$+@Rc| of a Blue Wizard on April 01, 2014, 04:22:19 PM I think it would have been better. Probably done with a lighter touch I hate, hate, hate, hate the sequencing on the 'finished Smile'. The running of the tracks into each other blows, the 'fly ins' blow. The mastering sucks. The crossfades suck. Suspect in '88 they'd have been more inclined to just mix what was there, do a couple of blunt edits like on the '93 set and be done with it. If Brian had called Carl and Al in to do a couple of leads here and there, that could have worked... I disagree that it would've been better, but I also hate TSS/BWPS sequence and I was beginning to feel like the only one so, thanks for that. I'm actually very happy with my purchase of the boxset. It's right up there with the ol' Super Nintendo as the most precious thing I own. I *do* have 3 major complaints tho: 1-No involvement from VDP? Absolutely inexcusable. 2-I feel a whole Disc of GV sessions was a repetitive, indulgent waste. After 5 or 6 highlights I think we get the idea. I wouldve preferred more sessions of the other tracks, some "pseudo-SMiLE" songs like Can't Wait Too Long, Little Red Book and the Smiley songs. 3-the BWPS sequence which sounds awful listening the whole way through, includes various fragmentary songs that slow things down (and should've been cut), ruins Surf's Up by having Vega-Tables come after, ruins Workshop by not placing it after Fire, lumps a bunch of unrelated tracks together as the elements...and overall tries to turn SMiLE into something it isn't (a three movement symphony.) This order isn't historically accurate, isn't creative, isn't musically pleasing and just straight up doesn't work. I'd almost prefer another disc of sessions instead of this haphazard mess being passed off as SMiLE forever more. Title: Re: I was thinking, what if Landy made Brian finish SMiLE in the late 80s? Post by: Magic Transistor Radio on April 01, 2014, 09:26:07 PM Ah, see, I thought Surfin' Safari was his creative peak, it was all downhill from there. I think that he peaked with Marilyn until the 70s, when he stopped peaking. |