The Smiley Smile Message Board

Good name for a topic, huh?  It may be a little misleading… :)

So I have a friend who adores the BBs, but really only knows the old stuff.  Nothing past the 90s, really.  I know, old story.  So I’m trying to make the best damn mix of post 90s BBs evah!   I know, old story.  And I’m doing my best to base it off of Pet Sounds… that is… a melancholy song where a melancholy song goes, a peppy song where a peppy song goes, 13 tracks, 2 instrumentals, and a song about being on a boat right in the middle.  At first I was gonna try matching, say,  a Carl lead with another Carl lead, etc, but that proved impossible.  I’m also trying to pick songs that are at least a little bit artistically ambitious, and whenever goshdarn possible, a song that has that Pet Sounds feel, rare as those might be (like, say, You’re Still a Mystery)

Rules:  It's gotta be stuff post 90s.  I know, this being the BBs a lot of their "new" stuff had their genesis way back when, but still, if it was at least party recorded post 90s, and released post 90s, then it's ok. 

Rule 2: a little cheating is allowed, since there aren’t THAT MANY straight up Beach Boys songs from the 90s onward.  So I’m using one song from Summer in Paradise, if only to give Mike a presence in this mix.  I’m using Don’t Fight The Sea, which is technically a Beach Boys release,  and technically pretty recent.  I’m using Waves of Love, which isn’t a BBs song, but close enough.  I’m even borrowing Brian and Andy Paley’s In My Moondreams, because it’s a good enough analog for Pet Sounds (the song).  I know what you’re thinking, I’m separating Pacific Coast Highway from Summer’s Gone?!  And I’m putting In My Moondreams in between?!  You know, it kinda works.  A little levity before the final sad song.

So Al is very well represented here, as is Brian.  Carl also pops up a bunch.  Mike, not so much, but that’s his own damn fault  :)  Whatcha guys think?  Comments, opinions, angry words?  What would YOUR “Pet Sounds 2” mix be?  Am I forgetting any great, overlooked post-90s gems?  I’m still missing a song.  Suggestions? 

Here is my playlist, as well as how they relate to Pet Sounds... or how they totally don't relate.


1.   Waves of Love  //  Wouldn’t it be Nice – this is tough.  Impossible to find anything that opens with the same burst of sunshine as Wouldn’t it Be Nice.  I know some people hate Waves of Love, but it is kind of a burst of sunshine, so..

2.   You’re Still a Mystery // You Still Believe In My – artsy, contemplative, slow, Brian lead, decent match.

3.   Isn’t it Time // That’s Not Me - lots of Mike in both.

4.   SONG MISSING // Don’t Talk – hmmmm, any suggestions?

5.   Lahaina Aloha // I’m Waiting for the Day -

6.   Think About The Days // Let’s go away for a while – contemplative, slow, instrumental.  Well, Think About the Days isn’t instrumental, but it is wordless, so…  Best match I could

7.   Don’t Fight the Sea // Sloop John B. – big Al involvement, and everyone is on a boat and unhappy.  Perfect match! 

8.   Soul Searchin // God Only Knows – a big beautiful Carl song.  Decent match. 

9.   Shelter // I Know There’s An Answer -  these feel ever so slightly similar to me.

10.   From There to Back Again //  Here Today – I guess this totally doesn't match, but by now I’m committed to ending with the three “life suite” songs.  Altho I suppose I could combine From Here to Back Again with Pacific Coast, as they flow into each other, and add another song here?

11.   Pacific Coast Highway // I Just wasn’t Made For These Times – Brian being  sad, Brian being sad, decent match.

12.   In My Moondreams // Pet Sounds -  fun bouncy Hawaiin-ish instrumental, good peppy song before the sad ending.

13.   Summer’s Gone // Caroline No – perfect match, no need to say more.


Do your worst!

Could you not expand to include 80s too? I always thought Stevie was extremely Pet Sounds compositionally.

Just my own 2 cents: I think it may be more of a disservice to make the comp as related to Pet Sounds in any way than it would be to just make the comp of "new" songs and let them stand on their own merits, and if the person digs them or dislikes them, that's their call. If you put this 90's stuff...or even the 70's-era material in large part...next to Pet Sounds and assume a line can be drawn connecting them, the non-PS music will fall short based mostly on the fact that PS is such a massive work.

Just my 2 cents again, make the comp of the 90's era stuff you enjoy most or that touches you the most, tell them or list the reasons why the music matters to you, and give it to your friend with no "Pet Sounds" strings attached.  :)

Get into calling things "Pet Sounds 2", you're getting into "Rocky - The Musical" territory.  ;D

I would definitely include "Everything I Need" (Jeff Foskett/Brian duet version) and "This Isn't Love" from Brian's live album, two post-Pet Sounds Wilson/Asher compositions.

Yeah, scratch Waves of Love and sub with Rock and Roll to the Rescue!

Yes. The end is beautiful.

Well, I was gonna call it Citizen Kane 2, but that might've sounded pretentious  ;D

Ok, I wasn't really gonna name this thing Pet Sounds 2, that was just to get people to look at this thread... which totally didn't work!  Anyways, I've been listening to this mix the last couple weeks, and I gotta say, it holds together very well!  This is my final track listing... I think....

1.   Waves of Love 
2.   You’re Still a Mystery
3.   This Could Be The Night
4.   Isn't it Time
5.   Lahaina Aloha
6.   Think About The Days
7.   Don’t Fight the Sea
8.   Soul Searchin'
9.   Shelter
10.   From There to Back Again
11.   Pacific Coast Highway
12.   In My Moondreams
13.   Summer’s Gone

I even messed with some tracks a little bit, extended the ocean sounds at the end of Don't Fight the Sea, fixed some weird sounds at the end of This Could Be the Night, adjusted the volume for a bunch of the songs so they'll all play well together.  I particularly like having In My Moondreams stuck in between Pacific Coast Highway and Summer's Gone.  I surprisingly works.  Well for me anyways!

And I'm gonna call the CD...............................................  The Beach Men.  I even made a drawing for it! 

(http://dellydel.com/brianwilson/the%20beach%20men/beach_men.jpg)

What do you guys think???  I hope Bruce doesn't get electrocuted, adjusting his mic while on a boat...

Dellydel, I always enjoy your art and I especially like your take on David!

Be sure to use the album version of Isn't It Time!!

Also, I'd ditch Shelter which really isn't a very good song. I'd include Think About The Days as one of the instrumental tracks, because it's gorgeous.

This Isn't Love would be great.  Anyone know where I can find that track?

What Love Can Do oughta be there… brian solo, but one of his very best and up there with any if the Beach Boys' own output over the last 35 years.

delly

nice piece of art.  But why is ronald reagan in the boat?

My take, including some solo stuff:

1. Morning Beat (has a mystical opening, followed by jaunty rock 'n' roll - even has a slower section)
2. Gettin' In Over My Head
3. Cool Head, Warm Heat (all Mike)
4. Pacific Coast Highway
5. Good Kind of Love (works for me, with tempo similarities and lyrics about lost love)
6. Can't Wait Too Long
7. Desert Drive (exotic locale)
8. Soul Searchin'
9. Shelter
10. California Role
11. Strange World (same lyrical idea)
12. In My Moondreams
13. Summer's Gone

I love your artwork way more than the concept. Seriously, that's a fantastic drawing!

Don't call it "Pet Sounds 2" - it is a huge disservice to both the comp and Pet Sounds.

 HOW ABOUT CALLING IT SOUL ARCH! That's a surf move. And you can have a young Mike Love in the back jumping the shark doing a soul arch. On the boat, the rest of the group is forming an arch to frame Mike. Carl looks confused and Dennis is chilling with his "orange juice".

Say, is Al trying to fight the sea (sickness)?  ;D

Interesting idea!


You're right, that totally doesn't match. Another suggestion please!



You're right, perfect match.

I like "Waves Of Love" as WIBN, if you mean the saxophone version. And there is seriously no other possible contender for being the IJWMFTT of "Pet Sounds 2" than "It's Not Easy Being Me". IMHO, if you don't use that, the whole enterprise is futile.

Thanks for the replies and suggestions all!  I'll track down the ones I'm not super familiar with!   ;D   

Unfortunately, some songs are just not in "finished" quality, so I don't think they would fit in super well.  Like, It's Not Easy Being Me really is a perfect analog for IJWMFTT, but I can't find any version that sounds really great.  Also, Brain is doing his kinda-crazy voice for some of it  :)

Who is Ronald Reagan, Brian????  Hehe, well, Bruce kinda turned into a Kennedy, so it's appropriate.    :lol

Roger, I had a feeling the drawing would be way more liked than this concept.   :-D

Mr. Cohen, thanks for the playlist, I'll put it together and see how it plays!  But I'm purposely avoiding pulling songs from That Lucky Old Sun because...  oh, I dunno, cuz I feel like I'm pulling some gems from unlikely places, but I think TLOS is a masterpiece from beginning to end, there's no need to highlight songs from it, I might as well just hand over the full CD to my friend and say LISTEN TO ALL OF IT IT'S GREAT!

Boy that was an overload of smiley faces eh. 

What about Kokomo???

When/where was the Foskett/Brian version released?

The easiest way to find it is on Jeff ' s album Stars In the Sand.

Just play the Sunflower album and skip "At My Window".

It must be post 90's!

"Just play the Sunflower album and skip "At My Window"."


Oh no I loooooooove At My Window!    ;D

I'm gonna start another weird mix cd thread about this someday, but lemme just say, "At My Window" is the centerpiece of my Beach Boys VS Ween MIX CD!!!!  (any WEEN fans out there?)

1. Your Imagination - Bright opening awash in wonderful harmonies.
2. This Isn't Love - Too good to be true, and yet...
3. Everything I Need  - trying to define yourself and your love.
4. The First Time - Romantic and slow.
5. She Says That She Needs Me - almost inverse from IWFTD; soft verses, louder choruses. Still dynamic.
6. Think About The Days - Loveliness.
7. Don't Fight The Sea - Boat-related and the one song here not written by Brian.
8. Soul Searchin' - Carl goodness.
9. Oxygen To The Brain - Hang on to your ego, I know there's an answer, I'm living life again.
10. Where Has Love Been - Another song concerned with love vanishing.
11. Midnight's Another Day - A searching, uncertain song. Perfect.
12. In My Moondreams - very 'Pet Sounds'.
13. Summer's Gone - Sad, beautiful ending.

Great drawing! Really great. Is Brian eating a steak?

OK, new idea. How about the same concept, except drawing from everything they ever did (and solo tracks too, if you like. After all the original Pet Sounds has "Caroline, No").

Pet Sounds 2

1. When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)
2. Friends
3. All I Wanna Do (Mike sings sweet)
4. Wind Chimes (similar mood)
5. Let Him Run Wild (similar theme)
6. Summer Means New Love
7. Cottonfields

1. Forever
2. Trader
3. Aren't You Glad
4. Surf's Up
5. Diamond Head
6. Summer's Gone

(http://dellydel.com/brianwilson/the%20beach%20men/beach_men.jpg)

How could I overlook that great, great drawing?!? I can't believe I posted in this thread before without noticing it. How about a color version? That should have been the TWGMTR cover! :)

Hah thanks Micha!  I'm working (very very slowly) on the color version!  Maybe it'll be done by xmas!  It's gonna be awesome.  :)