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I suppose I find it amusing that Al sang a song with a drug lyric subtext, and had no idea while doing so.
Does anyone know the story about how he found out?
Did someone outside of the band tell him years later that "junk" has multiple meanings?

I don't know the answer to your question, but I do think Al Jardine takes the prize as Most Prudish Rock and Roll Musician

Wikipedia states:

"When The Beach Boys started performing it in concert, Alan Jardine was unaware of the many drug references until someone told him about them, at which point he refused to sing it live (in later years, his stance apparently eased somewhat)."

Does anyone know where the reference of his stance easing came from?

I saw the BB in 1990 and they performed the song at costa mesa ca.. So Al learned about the drug references after summer 1990.. Id like to know more about this song also.

Didn't Mike write a lot of the lyrics? Which were certainly not drug related. I think it's a stretch to say it's a drug song despite the origins and background story.

The original version, "Fairy Tale Girl", was written by Papa John Phillips about his daughter Mackenzie's honeymoon experiences on Guam. She married her dealer, and after a while both cash and drugs ran out, which is why Phillips got a frantic phone call at stupid-o-clock in the morning, begging him to send cash, or drugs, or both. When he asked where she was, the reply was "somewhere near Japan". I'm told the original version had something like 20-odd verses. Phillip's version is on the CD Many Mamas, Many Papas, along with the original version of "Kokomo".

As for the lyrics of the BB version not being drug-related... really ? Regard (emphasis mine):

Late last night I got an S. O. S.
The fairy tale girl's in deep in distress
She says I don't know where I am
But it's near Japan

My engine's all burned out
My crew has all bailed out
I don't know where I am
But it's somewhere near Japan

And she said
"Rescue me"
I'm somewhere in the
China Sea
I think I'm sinkin' fast
This call is probably my last
I'm throwin' out a life line
And I'm doin' it for old time's sake
Though I know you're gonna break my heart
One more time

Late last night I got an S. O. S.
The fairy tale girl's in deep in distress
She says I don't know where I am
But it's near Japan

My engine's all burned out
My crew has all bailed out
I don't know where I am
But it's somewhere near Japan

And she said "thank you dear"
I think she sounded quite sincere
And when she turned to go
She said "I crave adventure don't you know"

And now she's driftin' on some Chinese junk
Her world is spinning and her hope has sunk
So I close my eyes
And I'm somewhere near Japan
The spinning stopped and the world stood still
I broke her fall and I always will
Strung out in no man's land
Somewhere near Japan

Rescue me

Here's the Phillips version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRR9Za258Bw (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRR9Za258Bw)

On the other hand... The Beach Boys played the song in Memphis on August 25, 1990, and Alan was not present (Matt sang HMR, and, as might be expected with his genes, messed up the lyrics).  Alan's absence was probably a coincidence, but, who knows??? (There's no mention in "The Beach Boys In Concert" book.)

Good thing Mike changed the lyrics. Referring to the BB version, if anything, it's a anti-drug song.

Pro or anti, there are unquestionable drug references.

According to the Bellagio site it was September 9, 1990.  The Pacific Amphitheater in Costa Mesa and I was there as well.  They also did Island Girl with Alan taking Carl's lead vocals (although Carl was present).  I also saw them in November in Las Vegas at Ceasars Palace and both songs had been dropped from the set, not really surprising though for a casino show.

Love the song, one of the best later day BB songs! Al might be a bit up-tight but "He's keepin it clean"!

Yea your right that was the only time I saw them play those 2 songs live.. Yea I went every summer from 1983 thru 1992 to the pacific amp to see BB,,Memories !

Thank you for delving into my mind and forming my interpretation of the lyrics.  ;D A great example of what you are legendary for!  ;D ;D (I am tweeting I am on a bus)

Try and give Mike a compliment...... Mike is a lot of things but he isn't a writer of pro-drug lyrics, in MY opinion.

I love the song and great job by Mike and Bruce making this great tune. And Mike, at his best, turning Philips drug lyrics into an anti-drug, cry for help story. Wow, I am still able to think for myself.  ;D

You stated:


They are, very obviously. End of discussion.  ;D

Again, please do not interpret lyrics for me. One of the joys of songs and music is that lyrics resonate differently for different people. But next time I bump into Mike I will ask him if some of his his lyrics were meant to be pro-drug cause you said so.

I know that is a very hard concept for people who think they know it all.  ;D

Like bookies don't comprehend the damage gambling does to peoples lives.  ;D

As you recently posted, don't like mine, don't read them. Don't respond to them. Skip me please. End of discussion. Now, I have to go back to tweeting that I am on a bus.  ;D

I read it/hear it as a guy whose heart is breaking over his girl's (in Phillips' case, his daughter's) problems, in this case specifically drugs. It's not condemning her, or saying "yeah, let's all get wasted, stoned, blasted, etc". I guess Al's interpretation of those lyrics must be very different from mine.

Exactly my thoughts.

Yeah, but the lyrics do include some very knowing winks towards all things drugs... I mean come on, tripping on some Chinese junk. I think it is more of a love song than a drug song, but the references are loud and clear.

There is an interview (Goldmine?) in which Al states that he wasn't the one who objected to the song.

As for the drug references, bearing in mind what Papa John was allegedly doing, I would've thought that was a minor issue... (so to speak).

Some years ago I asked this exact very same question to one of the Beach Boys.
He was surprised to hear about this and confirmed that Al has no issues at all with SNJ, but one song Al really didn't want to perform was "Summer in Paradise".

Then we had ice cream.

Shoulda had a candy bar - then you could have had World Peace !  ;D

live 1990 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5Ad2p1p388

This is certainly a strange exchange...ORR says the BB lyrics are not drug related...


But then he says that they are...


To which AGD replies that no matter how you slice it, there are drug references...


Just when I think they both agree, ORR takes offense to what AGD has stated...


So, AGD tries to explain...


Once again ORR takes offense (why?), and accuses AGD of saying something that he never said, and throws in some strange comments about gambling and bookies(?)...


So Lonely Summer chimes in and says that he thinks the song does have drug references...


To which ORR agrees ? ?  ???  :thud


ORR, you make no sense here.

I suppose maybe there’s a hang-up on what constitutes a “drug reference” in the eyes of a given person. Is it any wording, metaphorical or literal, that contains wording that can be interpreted as something to do with drugs? For some, perhaps it needs to be more literal, or specifically “pro-drugs” or something.

Some of those lyrics seem to be obvious puns, like “Chinese junk.” I mean, the lyrics aren’t “she was smoking crack in Japan.” They are written as puns or whatever you want to call it so that technically you can argue each of the drug references are referring to other things.

The much more interesting question to me is the one posed at the beginning of the thread: Did Al really actually refuse to sing the song, and if so, why? Did he really sing it in the studio and at some live shows not thinking there were any drug references? That seems a bit far-fetched to me. I’m doubting that Al knew nothing of the references, and then was tipped off, and then called a band meeting where he banned the song from the setlist and/or refused to sing the lyrics. As with most “new album” material, “Somewhere Near Japan” didn’t last long in the setlist most likely because they simply refused to keep much in the setlist beyond  the meat-and-potatoes numbers, especially by the 90’s. By the 1980’s, and the 1970’s for that matter, “new” songs almost always dropped off the setlist quickly. The only time something usually survived was when it was a hit. “Come Go With Me”, if we want to call that a “new” song, was fairly regularly in the setlist after being a minor hit in 1981. “Kokomo” is obvious. But what else? “Good Timin’” was dropped after 1980, briefly returning in 1982. “Goin’ On?” Dropped during 1980, along with everything else off KTSA other than “School Days”, which lasted another year or two. All the ’85 album stuff? Dropped quickly in 1985 other than “Getcha Back”, which survived another year or two. All the “Still Cruisin’” stuff didn’t last long, other than the title track which survived for a bit. I guess the “Summer in Paradise” title track stayed around awhile.

Quite baffling that someone would take the time to do such a lengthy post by post analysis of my 2nd rate posts. Lost Art, I apologize that my  train of thought was"lost" on you.  ;D

I know this isn't the point of the thread, but what an awesome, awesome, awesome song and recording. Although this isn't saying much, it's clearly the last great thing they did until That's Why God Made the Radio.

I totally agree.. I avoided this album like the plague for a long time until I recently came to this board and saw people praise this song left and right. I was shocked at how amazing this song really is. Even that guitar part in the beginning is so sublime, although I've heard people call it "cheesy", as well as the production. The production on this song is MILES ahead of anything on BB '85 as far as I'm concerned. I'm really surprised this wasn't a hit..

Gotta say I love "Still Cruisin'" the song too. A bit cheesy but catchy as hell and great harmonies. I don't think that album is anywhere near as bad as people say it is (except Wipe Out).

+1.

I love the Still Cruisin' album.  Much prefer it to BB '85 (which I sorta kinda like anyway).

In My Car, Make it Big... pretty much the whole thing (sans Wipeout) is pretty rad in a totally 80s kind of way. I mean, I actually like The Fat Boys, but I don't want to hear them on a BB LP in the middle of other non-jokey songs.

The harmonies in Island Girl (when the lyric "Island Girrrl" is sung by the band) give me the chills, because they *really* sound near-identical to BB '60s harmonies to my ears. I can't think of many BB songs post early 70s that have that "special" BB harmony sound.

She wasn't tripping, she was drifting...

Before I get taken to task again, yes drug references.  Not positive ones. Been a long time since I listened to the song all the way thru. Here are the BB version lyrics.

Late last night I got an S. O. S.
The fairy tale girl's in deep in distress
She says I don't know where I am
But it's near Japan

My engine's all burned out
My crew has all bailed out
I don't know where I am
But it's somewhere near Japan

And she said
"Rescue me"
I'm somewhere in the
China Sea
I think I'm sinkin' fast
This call is probably my last
I'm throwin' out a life line
And I'm doin' it for old time's sake
Though I know you're gonna break my heart
One more time

Late last night I got an S. O. S.
The fairy tale girl's in deep in distress
She says I don't know where I am
But it's near Japan

My engine's all burned out
My crew has all bailed out
I don't know where I am
But it's somewhere near Japan

And she said "thank you dear"
I think she sounded quite sincere
And when she turned to go
She said "I crave adventure don't you know"

And now she's driftin' on some Chinese junk
Her world is spinning and her hope has sunk
So I close my eyes
And somewhere near Japan
The spinning stopped and the world stood still
I broke her fall and I always will
Strung out in no man's land
Somewhere near Japan
Rescue me

That's because that intro was Brian, Carl and Al.

Yep, and that intro rules - but I'm referring more to the harmonies that come in at around 0:44 with the repeated lyric "Island Girrrl" (which I assume is the whole band including Brian, Carl, Al, Mike, and Bruce?) Even other recordings from the preceding 15-20 years (the ones that have Brian in them too) don't quite seem to have that quite same level of BB harmony magic (to my ears). Maybe it's just the word "girl" being sung that's so reminiscent of that lyric/phrasing on older BB songs like Surfer Girl. Either way, it's just an amazing part.

Brian's only on the intro and the outro - his (sparse) vocal contributions to this and "Make It Big" were added at the last moment, as was "In My Car", which Bruce described to me as "a big surprise".

Yep, and that intro rules - but I'm referring more to the harmonies that come in at around 0:44 with the repeated lyric "Island Girrrl" (which I assume is the whole band including Brian, Carl, Al, Mike, and Bruce?) Even other recordings from the preceding 15-20 years (the ones that have Brian in them too) don't quite seem to have that quite same level of BB harmony magic (to my ears). Maybe it's just the word "girl" being sung that's so reminiscent of that lyric/phrasing on older BB songs like Surfer Girl. Either way, it's just an amazing part.
[/quote]


Yup that's what struck me about some of those songs. I know exactly what you mean about Island Girl. That does feel like a pure BB harmony sound on the entirety of that song and I love Carl's vocal.. Same with "Still Cruisin".. "Somewhere.." has a great blend and trade off between vocalists as well. It's a shame Summer in Paradise and nothing else really came of them after this, because there's a lot of potential going on these songs.

Much much more than the BB 85 production debacle. Good songs on there I'll admit, but people tend to look at this as the bottom of the barrel garbage material when the best material on it is better than just about anything on KTSA or BB 85 easily.

I like "In My Car" quite a bit too. Has a bit of a spacy quirky 80s sound and Brian's voice sounds pretty damn good on it.

I think In My Car has to be the best Brian-penned Beach Boys song of that entire decade (not that there are many to choose from). Or maybe 2nd to Goin' On. I think In My Car is a really underrated track, with very Brian-esque unexpected changes. There was an awesome Youtube video of Brian performing (rehearsing) In My Car at some sort of odd Landy-fied home surroundings, with some of Landy's minions around him. Last I checked, the video was still there on Youtube, but with muted audio as to comply with a copyright claim :(

Was In My Car written for a commercial or something similar, and then it wound up being on the Still Crusin' record as a last-minute afterthought?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBpJjAppTP0

My favorite version of "In My Car" is the one Brian "performed" on the 1989 Endless Summer TV series. It always reminded me a late 1970's Sparks arrangement, something Ron Mael would come up with.

When it first came out, I liked the Still Cruisin' version, but it's kinda worn off a little bit; I don't care for the shoutiness and the production.

Thanks. Nicer vocal here from Bruce than on the studio version.

That's odd, because SIP was in the setlist for several years - unlike most other new material in the 80's/90's.

Yeah, well it sounded nothing like that at the actual concert...

That live version by Brian isn't nearly as overproduced as the album version. This was back when everyone wanted those Phil Collins Exedrin Headache Number 9 drums on their records. The drums were so loud, made it hard to me to tell who was singing lead on what part.

I'm glad they added Brian to "Make It Big" and "Island Girl". He really adds so much of that special something to those songs. Obviously these aren't primo Beach Boys songs, but "Make It Big" is a classic '80s pop song, and "Island Girl" is a nice little tune from Al.

I've really grown to like "In My Car" after all these years. I guess maybe I thought it was super '80s cheese, but it is a really nice uptempo song. And I like that Brian sings in a bit of a higher register.

But I have to ask, Andrew, what did Bruce mean by a "surprise"? Like a pleasant surprise? Or surprised by how bad it was? Or just that Brian gave them a song?

Judging by his expression and tone of voice, a mixture of both.

Interesting discussion, but those who insist on drug references (esp. Mr. Doe) are totally misguided. And here's why: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junk_(ship)
As you see from that article, "junk" is a water mean of travel (Chinese, keep in mind). So, considering the full line goes "And now she's drifting on some Chinese junk", the said definition fits right into the context. Don't know about other words, but I always thought the song has nothing to do with drugs. Still think so.

Re Summer In Paradise: I think Al dislikes it either because of bad memories (since those were times when he & Mike didn't talk well) or really corny self-referential lyrics. Just a hunch.

Some were near Japan, but most people were not.

I thought Chines junk was a reference to an old Chinese boat. Could have sworn ive heard that phrase In a movie.. It never occurred to me it was a drug phrase cause I didn't think the BB would go for that.. And I am aware of the high quality heroin from china...  So whatever that all means..

A junk is indeed an old Chinese boat. It's also a slang term for drugs in general, ergo Chinese junk can also refer to opium or heroin. The intentional use of the phrase "strung out" shortly thereafter reinforces the drug inference.

Also, let us not forget the song's origin.   ;D

I can't believe there is an argument over this. John Phillips was a really good songwriter, and he was also a heavy drug user. Here he's using drug slang to color the story and give it depth in a wink-and-a-nod kind of way. The song is really clever, lyrically.

I think the very obvious references tend to escape the following people:

1 - those whose first language isn't English...
2 - those who don't understand (or claim not to... ;) ) drug slang...
3 - those whose general knowledge doesn't extend to Chinese maritime history 101...
4 - those who plain don't want to understand because I made the original point re: drug references in the song.  ;D

I'd agree with you, were it not for the fact that the overt drug references in the BB version are absent in the original recording of "Fairy Tale Girl" (which does, however, refer to flying in "inner space"). Now, I was told that Papa John's original version was some 20 verses long, so could be that they're in the verses he didn't record, but that the BB saw... however, to claim that as a fact would be spurious in the extreme, not to mention implying knowledge that I simply don't possess (granted, others here may do that now and then, but that's on their consciences). But, fact is, whoever penned those lyrics, the drug inferences are plain as a pikestaff.

There is no such nickname for a heroin specifically called "Chinese Junk" other than it being a general reference to heroin made in a specific place. Like heroin from the UK called 'British Junk' or heroin from Canada 'Canadian Junk'.

Called Junk, yes. Called Smack, yes. There is a  variety called 'China White'. There are opiums called Chinese Tobacco, Chinese Molasses.

More info: http://thecyn.com/heroin-rehab/street-names/

But 'Chinese Junk', no specific street drug by that name. Certainly is a clever pun, drug reference. No positive drug references in the song in my opinion.

But if you google 'Chinese Junk', you'll just get a bunch of boat refernces.

I'd not heard the phrase 'Chinese Junk' before, although I had heard about "some Indonesian junk that's goin' 'round" :p

Which, oddly enough, is exactly what I said - "A junk is indeed an old Chinese boat. It's also a slang term for drugs in general, ergo Chinese junk can also refer to opium or heroin." So, you're upbraiding me for, uh, saying exactly what you're saying.  ;D

Oh, also...


So... now it's "Certainly is a clever pun, drug reference." In ORR World, black can be white !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-M9Ymvgd0A (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-M9Ymvgd0A)

I'm living on a Chinese rocks, all my good things are in hock.

So good I can claim that point 1 applies to me. ;D I admit I hadn't gotten the drug references before.

Wow, chill AGD. Bad weekend? I had your back dude.  ;D 

In my meaningless opinion, it isn't a "drug" song from the BB version, but a person in trouble, rescue song.  You could take it either way, just like "Puff the Magic Dragon", which is still debated to this day. Phillips lyrics probably had drug references. But I am sure Mr. Love wouldn't have that intent. He is all about spirituality, Fun, Fun, Fun and clean living.  ;D

Me wonders why you continually have to quote me and argue with me?????  I am flattered you put my opinion in such high regard but rather think the 'board' is as 'bored' with it as I am!  :shrug :brow :shrug

This probably tells you far more about me than is wise, but the first time I heard the song, back in 1989, I went "oh my* - do they know what they're singing about ?".

(* - or something like that...)

Isn’t that the point of writing a clever pun? The normal usage of “Chinese Junk” is clear. To construct the pun, you need to take the reference you’re trying to make (in this case “junk” being slang for drugs) and put a descriptor on it. It does not cease being a pun because the adjective added to the term makes the entire term not technically a slang word. This is not a difficult thing to deconstruct; we’re not even in “over and over the crow cries” territory here folks. Dude is talking about his daughter (or whoever) being overseas, and in one variation of the analysis of the pun, she is partaking in drugs sourced from China, or “Chinese Junk.” It doesn’t mean “Chinese Junk” is a drug term like “Acapulco Gold” or something. It’s like “Humboldt Weed” or “Bay Area Acid” or whatever.

Is “SNJ” a “drug song?” Whether to label the song in that fashion is totally subjective. Are the drug references pro or anti? Who knows? Generally speaking, they paint a negative picture of the situation I suppose. The song doesn’t reference being on “junk” as if it made everything better. But any drug reference can be interpreted as “pro” if you think the song is painting a romantic picture of drug usage.

But the argument here has shifted, because there are unequivocally drug *references* in the song.

This is a good point to make. For any fans out there that are upset about the prospect of your beloved Beach Boys concocting some epic drug ode, it’s totally plausible that while some or all of the BB’s saw the individual drug puns or references, they didn’t see that as a primary facet of the song. In other words, in true “Spinal Tap” fashion, the BB’s may not have been aware of how much of a “drug song” the track could have been interpreted as being.

I'm far more upset to learn of this aspect of our beloved AGD's past, so late in the day. He never offered me any…   :'(

IIRC, Papa John's version doesn't even have a bridge section, right?

These lyrics are all for a bridge that sounds quite different from the rest of the song -- I'd always assumed it was the one section where the BBs contributed stuff ...

Also, Mike and Terry get a credit on this tune (as expected), but so does Bruce ... how did he feel about all of this? Or was he strung out on some Chinese junk at the time (from all of his healthy living) ...

Not to derail this thread, as often happens, but does anyone know where a high or at least good quality version of the single version can be found?

The video has been uploaded to youtube, very thankfully, but the audio is very wanting.

I read about the song before actually hearing it and knowing it was about Papa John's daughter made the drug references very clear to me from the first listen.

Also props to Mike and Melcher for crafting a great song out of what was originally a fairly horrible tune. 

How did SNJ and Kokomo end up with the Beach Boys?  Does anyone know the story behind that?

So Mike + Terry  were responsible for bringing this song to BB..?? The song has 4-5 writing credits so im not sure.  And when I heard this song 1st time in 1989 I thought it was a made up tale adrift at sea on a Chinese junk.. Their lost at sea.. Only thing is the phrase strung out near Japan.. Clearly a drug reference..  Ive always really enjoyed this song  everything about it..  Clearly innovative and I like the long version. No matter what the song is about its a keeper..

Rollin' numbers, rock an' rollin'... got my BEACH BOYS records out ;)


My video must be hiding then: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGVK9zTYIlU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGVK9zTYIlU)

Many thanks for posting and uploading it in the first place!!

Is "strung out" another clever veiled drug reference pun? I think the bands Strung Out or Strung Out Strings wouldn't appreciate the association.   Strungoutstrings.com Just being facetious of course.  :3d

But a song with drug references does not make it a pro drug. There can be anti-drug songs in popular rock that are artistic. Neil Young's "Needle and the Damage Done" and "Tonight's the Night" (which is much about Neil's roadie Bruce Berry, ironically Jan Berry's brother).

I never said it was a Pro or anti drug song.. I always thought it was tale of being lost at sea..  And the phrase STRUNG OUT  Is a drug phrase. It means to be on a bender + addicted..  Time for rehab.. ! Jails Institutions Death.

Oh, I know Mr. Wilson. Didn't mean to infer you had. Sorry. I was just combining comments in ref to some other posts which inferred some of the references could be positive ones. As I said, I was being facetious about "strung out".

To be further so, as an ex Navy man, I can tell you there are nautical references to "strung out". The main sail on a Chinese Junk can be said to be "strung out". Ships or boats in a flotilla can be said to be "strung out" in formation.

I wonder if Paul and Mary thought they were singing about pot or a magical dragon?

No problem I wasn't upset.. As far as Puff The Magic dragon goes.. I have no idea.. Hope not I thought it was a fairytale song..

"Didn't Mike write a lot of the lyrics? Which were certainly not drug related!"

I believe this to be true.  I doubt the lyrics MIKE wrote were drug related - mr. positivity?  Mr. girl-boy relatability?  No Way!  Were there lyrics included in the song that were and are drug related?  Sure.

Hell, I'm tediously clean in such departments, and even I raised an eyebrow when I caught that line!

I already knew about Papa John and his daughter having problems in that area, though...

Cheers,
Jon Blum

Wow.  I can't tell if some of the people in this thread are being purposely obtuse, having a laugh, or are really just that dense.   ???

:smokin

Is that cat listening to Somewhere near Japan..?

You guys are making Mike out to be an innocent school girl.  ::)  He may not have ever used anything stronger than pot, but I guaran-damn-tee you that Mike knows what the word "junk" could mean. He's not stupid.

True -  he hung around and worked with acknowledged drug users/abusers for a good few years. Unless you're Cliff Richard, you work in the music bizz, you know what's happening.

Or apparently Alan Jardine.  The one part of this story that has never made sense to me is that he could spend thirty years in a band with the Wilson brothers and somehow not pick up on the drug references until someone else alerted him to them.  And it can't be that he just wasn't paying attention--the part he sings has some of the most overtly drug-related lyrics in the song!

That the Beach Boys contained both Dennis Wilson and Al Jardine is just yet another of the glorious contradictions that makes the Beach Boys such a fascinating band...

And, of course, the word "junk" also gives us "junkie," which surely everyone knows.

My question still stands, though -- what on Earth did Bruce contribute to this song? And the bridge is certainly perplexing -- it's where all the drug references are, yet it's not on Papa John's version (found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRR9Za258Bw).

Also: Al sang it live at least once. Sounded good, too (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5Ad2p1p388)

There is the possibility that it's in the 20+ verse version that John Phillips wrote; if not, I would imagine that the only one of the other three writers to come up with that would be Terry Melcher.  Even if Mike and Bruce signed off on it, I can hardly imagine either of them writing something like that.  But this is totally speculative.

As I mentioned above, there is an interview with Al in which he states that he didn't object to singing it; in fact, he may have said that he wasn't the BB who objected to it.  Wish I could find it. No doubt it's probably referenced on this board a couple of dozen times.

Purely speculative, but maybe it was Carl who objected to it? He didn't have a writing credit on it (Mike and Bruce did) and by that time, didn't he not want to talk about his drug days at all?

So, 4 pages on something that isn't even the case. How apt for this board

I'll also throw in that maybe one of the members either a. Didn't like the guitar style (Craig Fall's) of the song or b. Didn't think they could pull it off live.

Ed Carter did an OK job here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5Ad2p1p388 But it really doesn't sound up to snuff with the recording.

Fact of the matter really is they performed SNJ and Island Girl both about as long as they performed any " new"  latter day songs that weren't hits, which was the better part of a full summer. Probably not a conspiracy to be found, just the lack of reason to keep playing it.

I'm surprised Mike and Bruce haven't played i know they have several times but not recently.

What do you mean by "a mixture of both"? I asked either if it was a pleasant surprise, a surprise in how bad it was, or just the fact that  he gave them a song. That adds up to three, meaning the answer "both" wouldn't make sense as I don't see how it could be both a pleasant surprise and bad. However, excuse me if I possibly misunderstood what you wrote. I just hope you can clarify.

Can't speak for Bruce, but my impression was that, while the band were pleased to get a song, any song, from Brian, they weren't doing backflips about what they got. I can dig that.

I don't know; "In My Car" may not be Brian's greatest song, but compared to most of what the band was releasing at the time, I'm not sure they had much to complain about.

I can understand why they they didn't think it was the greatest thing ever.  But I gotta say I find it amusing that the guy whose most recent work at the time was "Happy Endings" had the balls to say that "In My Car" wasn't up to snuff. But then again, it's probably reasonable to think that Bruce would expect better out of Brian then he would of himself. I gotta say though, despite the somewhat goofy lyrics, it's actually a pretty good song. Of course there was a few better songs on Brian's first solo album that coulda been held back for a new Beach Boys project, but who knows what the politics were at the time...

Actually that gets me thinking. Around the time of getting the Still Cruisin' album together, what did the group want? It seems as though Mike just wanted it to be a collection of songs in movies, but I wonder if he really wanted to include songs that were over 20 years old. At the same time, even though "Kokomo" was the biggest selling point, as it was the new hit single, they probably knew that a new Brian Wilson song would enhance the "credibility" factor (how much or how little credibility they had at the time is another story). And if I remember correctly, from either the Landy-ized autobiography or from a Brian interview, Brian did offer to produce an album for The Beach Boys in the late '80s and they weren't interested. So would it be accurate to say, at least from like '88 to '92 or so, that having "new or previously unreleased Brian Wilson songs" wasn't as big of a deal for the group as it was from '62 to '85, or even from the 1995 reunion sessions and on through today. These days, there's no way a new Beach Boys album would even come close to happening unless Brian is front and center, or at least pretty far up front.

Anyways, back to my point. Even if Brian came up to the guys with "Melt Away", "Meet Me In My Dreams" and "Walkin' the Line" and offered to record them as Beach Boys songs, would they have cared? Or were they, even pre-"Kokomo" just over it?

Well, working with Brian in those days meant working with Landy and his goons, so I can understand the band not exactly doing backflips over it. If it was as simple as just getting some great songs from Brian, then I'm sure the guys - especially Carl - would have been "stoked".

I think the fact it came very late to the album (hence the almost token vocals by Alan & Carl in the chorus) may have somewhat colored everyone's opinion. Not as much as the Landy factor, of course...

So if it came very late, was there another track that was going to be on the album?  Maybe they would have included Happy Endings or Chasin' The Sky?

Did all of Brian's vocal additions to the the other songs happen after he gave them In My Car?

And he sang "This is the worst trip I've ever been on"  :smokin

I think "In My Car"  is maybe Brian's best "fun" song released to date since Love You material like "Roller Skating Child", etc.

By "fun", I mean singing about a not-very-serious subject, as opposed to a more emotional heartfelt type of song. Lyrics aside (and I don't really mind IMC's lyrics), it's compositionally really strong and has some classic BW unexpected-yet-super-rad harmonies/melodic changes.

It's kinda sorta killer. I've always *liked* it, but recently it's grown on me even more, and I think I'll vote it to be amongst one of BW's most criminally underrated post Love You tracks. And I dig the production, never mind the haters.

Whoever was grumbling/whining about it in the band really had nothing legit to complain about!
:)

I concur that its reception by the band was probably colored by the fact that it came in at the last moment, the timing of which itself may have been another Landy ploy at using BW material as bait/leverage. After recently reading The Wilson Project, the insane lunacy of Landy's late 80s political BB tactics emerged in such a putrid light that I'd never even thought possible prior to reading the book.

Also, the fact that we fortunately get Carl + Al (though I can't seem to pick out Al in the song?) makes this song a peek into what the Brian Wilson album would have sounded like had we gotten actual BB vocals on them.

This might help:

http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,5525.msg81382.html#msg81382 (http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,5525.msg81382.html#msg81382)

Thanks, metal flake paint. I hope someday, a "close up" of every line and backing vocal from every album can be completed by some kind soul!

Err...isn't the link part of a larger section dedicated to just that?

The Vocal Credits thread doesn't go that closeup into detail for every line in every song. That would be like Desper-level study videos  worth of vocal info, line by line, for every song. One can dream.

There are certain songs here and there in the thread that get the deluxe treatment, but most don't go line-by-line. That would be one helluva project.

What's "[Omnes]" mean?  I mean, I can figure out WHAT it means from the context but why use that word?

It comes from the root "omni", meaning "all". (As in omniscient, omnipotent, etc.)

As for why... I have no idea. Sounds fancy?

Because occasionally I like to parade my erudition for the benefit of those not blessed with an equivalent depth and breadth of general knowledge.   It gives me a sense of tremendous well being. :)

Works for me!  :-D

With all this talk about the Still Cruisin' album, it occurs to me this is probably the only BB album on which two different songs both have an identical lyrical sentence "still cruisin' after all of these years" (in the songs "Still Cruisin'" + "In My Car").  Maybe this can be a good trivia question for some future mega-nerd BB board game.

Did Brian put that line in his song because he knew it was going on that album?

That's a good question, and if the line itself was lifted from the song "Still Cruisin'", I'm almost surprised that the Lovester hasn't claimed a piece of songwriting credit for "In My Car"... As crazy as it sounds, I'm serious. That would be using similar 6-words logic to his credit claim for "Wouldn't It Be Nice."

Brian should then get a credit on Kona Coast, since it borrows the melody and lyrics of Hawaii.

YES: both songs being such Mega-sellers, it's a wonder this hasn't transpired

Safe to assume that if IMC had been a big hit, then we'd have seen a ML cowriting credit claim for it in the lawsuit? :)

I think it's Paul Simon who should be calling the lawyers!

He sued to get writing credit on the following Mega-sellers:

Chug-A-Lug
Noble Surfer
Do You Remember ?
Drive In
Santa's Beard
Amusement Parks USA

What 6 words did he claim credit for on WIBN?

"Good night my baby
Sleep tight my baby"

Actually, eight words, if only six different ones.  ;D

                                GREED :shrug

Never heard about this before. So does Mike get a credit on this one now? Are there any other songs that are still in dispute?

Any song Mike isn't currently credited for is still in dispute, just not in court. Yet.

You've really not looked at the credits on any BB comp or copy of Pet Sounds you've bought since the mid-90s, have you ?

Nor to like 84% of the topic threads on this message board.

Didn't know where to post it, so forgive. Been listening to Love You & on track 6 it dawned on me that the line "Take it one little inch at a time now/'Til we're feelin' fine now" refers clearly to taking drugs. Is it a coincidence that Al's again given a task to sing trippy lyrics (1st was "...safety zone..." in Pet Sounds album)?

I always thought the 'inch' line was a clear reference to sex.

But just think about it, for a minute, that when people take drugs, they insert the needle little-by-little, right? Not fast, or it would be an overdose. And after, they start feeling fine. Idk, I think this theory makes perfect sense.

No.  The "speed" at which one injects themselves has nothing to do with potentially overdosing.

One slides the needle into a satisfactory vein (as long as you've a new, sharp needle, it's like a hot knife through butter, no "little-by-little" about it), pulls back on the stopper to confirm that you're in (if the part of the syringe filled with the dope is then flooded with blood, you're good), and then one pushes it all in.  As long as one finds a workable vein, the process is a very fast one, indeed.

Incidentally, I'm actually reminded more of this specific phenomena during "Hey Jude" ("let it out and let it in"), but I digress.

Yes, I was guilty of making some very poor choices during my teen years.

I think the line is actually "takin' one little inch at a time now," and it refers to gradually working his way up the young woman's skirt.

I have listened to Love You and "Honkin' Down The Highway" literally hundreds of times since I purchased the album the day it came out in 1977. Not one time did I ever relate the lyric "take it one little inch at a time now, 'til we're feeling fine now..." as a drug reference. Never. Ever. Not one time.

Because Brian never commented on the line (and rarely the song for that matter), I guess it's a matter of opinion, but....First, I never gave Brian that much credit, I mean writing a lyric that clever, with a double meaning, at that time/condition in his life. Second, I'm not sure Dr. Landy would've allowed it, if he even figured it out; Landy was making Brian walk the straight and narrow in mid/late 1976. And, third, I just assumed it was Brian being his innocent and lyrically simple self, using cliches and old-fashioned terms to describe a boy/girl relationship.

And you think it it "refers clearly to drugs"? A Love You song? Wow...

I always thought of it more as a "just the tip" kind of thing. That Al Jardine is a dirty, dirty man.  :lol

Wow, I didn't expect to get such a detailed & informative response. Thank you, Generation42! Glad to know you has quit this thing once & for all.
Mystery officially solved.

Agree wholeheartedly. It's a metaphorical inch - Brian means taking it one stage at a time. Whether its the relationship or the seduction is moot… but I never took it to mean his knob or a needle.

For many many years I did not associate the line with any sexual references.  Until someone bought it up on a BB message board in the early naughties.

Can't think of it as anything but a naughty jape now, and reminds me of Al's "I've been taking it for years" joke from Brian's birthday party footage  '76/77 (that which got used in EH doc).

I'll take the former. The idea of Al going vulgar doesn't sound appealing, he's a kind chap.