The Smiley Smile Message Board

We often talk about this or that song (or album, or decade) being okay except for that [production, performance, etc.]. For me, songs like Love & Mercy and Lay Down Burden could have been so much better if they had been approached differently. Explanations available upon request.

So, Beach Boys or Brian Wilson or other associated Beach Boys affiliated entity: what would you give a do-over, and why/how?

Surf's Up. Kick some of the lame songs off the album (STD, Take a Load Off.., Don't Go Near..) and add some tremendous Dennis Wilson songs, like WIBNTLA, 4OJ, Lady, etc. This album has some real gems on it already, why not make it more Sunflower-caliber?

If they'd released a group-led album in 1974 after the success of Endless Summer, it would've been a sure-fire hit, especially considering some of the material from that time period was a LOT better than what came with 15 Big Ones.

Brian Wilson LP (1988)

No synthesizers, using the Wrecking Crew, and done all analog from recording to lacquer cutting.

GOD I would love to hear it that way!  :)

The Beach Boys Love You is so great, so special, so Brian. I love it; loved it from Day 1. You can't change ALL of the vocals because then it wouldn't be Love You. The 1976 vocals are part of what makes it honest. If you remove Love You from that particular period, it ceases to become Love You. That being said, and not to contradict what I just wrote, I would:

1) For the ending tag of "Roller Skating Child", which almost ruins a near perfect song, either have somebody else (Al?) sing it, or have Brian do another take or two.

2) "Good Time" - I like the song, but I still can't believe they included it; it sounds so out of place. Just hearing/realizing how Brian's voice changed takes away from the enjoyment of the song. They should've done an updated 1976 version with another lead vocalist (again Al, who had a shortage of leads on Love You), or just replace the song with another one.

3) Brian's lead vocals on "Solar System" and "Let's Put Our Hearts Together" are, in my opinion, the two worst of Brian's career. But, the songs are great and Brian should sing them. Could I ask for another take or two or three. Listen to the last three notes/words of "Let's Put Our Hearts Together". It was still there...  

I definitely have to agree.
I know it's a small part, but the way he sings "You and I......" at the end is so great.

I remember reading somewhere that an early version of the title track of KTSA was a lot better. I think that the song, as is, is an unsung classic. But I really wish that the duh-duh-duh bass vocal wasn't there, and that the song had a rockier edge to it, like the live version from the Knebworth live album.

Get a better range of voices on Brian's solo stuff. There's a lot of excellent stuff there, but the stacked BW bvs would be better if they were the voices of, oh the BB (with Matt or Jeff). While on the subject of BW - do something about the giodawful production of BW88, Imagination and GIOMH (there are SOME good songs on the latter, after all).

Wish VDP had peeled back the prod on Orange Crate Art (song) and dished up something as compelling as the IJWMFTT doco rendition.

And for some mid-week blasphemy; I think Brian should have softened his bom-ba-bom-ba-boms in the post staccato section vocal interlude on GOK.  I prefer Mike's touch of tenderness as evidenced on Live in London.

If I could change one thing about a Beach Boys record it would be to replace Be True To Your School on Little Deuce Coupe with the single version.

I would have Brian finish Sandy back in '65 (GREAT track) and also record a BB version of Guess I'm Dumb.

Also how was Holy Man never finished?  Some soaring vocals on that and you have a beautiful song.. maybe even Dennis' finest recording.

I think "Solar System" would've been an awesome song for Al at that point. With Marilyn singing on "Let's Put Our Hearts Together", who cares about Brian's voice? You're not getting an all-star performance. I think it works on a personable level.

Also, I think "Hey Little Tomboy" would've been a good replacement for "Good Time". "Tomboy" fits the theme of side 1 like a glove. I still think it's an amazing song. The lyrics are weird, but man, this Love You we're talking about.

I'd have had Mike re-write the whole of Smile.  Give it accessible lyrics, kind of how he spruced up Good Vibrations.  Then you'd have a real groundbreaking, yet accessible work.  That's the album that would have set the world alight.

Cuddle Up needs a much better mix than the released version. Great song, could be so much better with an improved mix.

To have finished and released the aborted 1995 album sessions with Don Was

Speaking of, I'd like it if Brian sang the line "what I'd be" without fast-wrapping it. Accentuate every word as in the classic v-n.

I think both of those songs are just fine. Not sure what could have been done to make them better. Always thought the released Love & Mercy could have included the extra verse that he did a coupla times live back then. Would Pet Sounds have been a little better with the acapella vocal tag on "God Only Knows"? Probably. How 'bout "Hang On To Your Ego" instead of "I Know There's An Answer"? Maybe. Unreleased, alternate takes, alternate mixes, remakes, missed opportunities, etc. Would the Sunflower album have been better with some of the "Reverberation" or "Add Some Music" (or your own select tracks) in the lineup? Why was Breakaway not included on an album before 1974? Why was the extra verse on Rock & Roll Music not included on the released version? Why wasn't "Sandy" finished in 1965, or the alternate released in 1976? Was the alternate "Dance, Dance, Dance" better? How about "Don't Back Down", "Little Honda", "Amusement Parks", "Let Him Run Wild" The various Smile mixes, of which there are so many - and of course a BIG missed opportunity there. "Would "Heroes & Villains" have been a bigger hit if it were mixed better or included the "Cantina" section and "Three Score and Five" lyrics? ? Would Good Vibrations have been even better with Asher's lyrics or just one of the many instrumental outtakes included instead - even the "hum de dum" tag? Alternate "Big Sur" instead of the released version? "We're Together Again" and "San Miguel" before they made the later comps? "I've Got a Friend" finished studio cut anyone? "Carry Me Home" included on Holland? On and on I go dum de doo dah.....

Lotsa coulda woulda shoulda's. Many of them subjective, some not.  I can type 'em up all night but I'm tired.

Dennis going solo staring with a full release of Sound of Free and Lady.

Beach Boys: Do You Wanna Dance....the mix always sounds muddy to me and when I hear some of the outstanding SOT demos it drives me nuts because that is one of the greatest covers any band has ever done. Denny is fantastic and no matter what release I've heard it sounds muddy. Was the latest remaster in 2012 any better????

Brian: Gotta agree the '88 album. Many potentially great songs on that ....if only Brian had his 'Gerschwin' vocals on '88 it would have made a huge difference.

Must respectfully disagree, here.  Student Demonstration Time helped redefine the BB's as finally being able to raise consciousness about public protest by students, n.b. what is going on in Hong Kong right now.  It made them relevant as they regrouped across the US college campuses.  It was fabulous to see them in concert in a college/university setting.  

Don't Go Near the Water is in much the same category, and, the MIC instrumental is one of my favorite tracks.  And my kids would say my "feet are wrinkled like raisins" in the tub when they were little.  Great songs on that album.   Wouldn't change a note.  ;)

"America was stunned on May 4, 1970
When rally turned to riot up at Kent State University
They said the students scared the Guard
Though the troops were battle dressed
Four martyrs earned a new degree
The Bachelor of Bullets
I know we're all fed up with useless wars and racial strife
But next time there's a riot, well, you best stay out of sight

I get what you're trying to say, because students in Hong Kong are all excitedly thinking to themselves "It's Student Demonstration Time!" but the lyrics really don't apply. If it were more relevant, it wouldn't have limited itself to the protests of the time.

There's an alternate universe where Student Demonstration Time was HUGE. Absolutely huge, influential, a surge of lightning that hit youth worldwide and set their hearts aflame with the magical possibilities of... remaining indoors when there's an unruly protest going on. Boy! What a timeless message.

The heading would read: "In the words of Mike Love: 'Let's Student Demonstration!!'"

(http://www.theeastisred.com/images/posters/PIC%2000152.jpg)

Woodstock - without getting into all the obvious differences that distinguish both sets of circumstances, those US students were Baby Boomers of the Great Generation, who never "questioned authority."  And whose fathers had served without questioning the government.  Largely it was shocking on many levels, to parents.  It was generally peaceful protest, having been a college student at the time.  That The Beach Boys, with the formerly nearly exclusive hedonistic themes of girls, surf and cars were delving into these topics which were incapable of being denied at that time, was huge.  They had an "in-house" objector named Carl.

There are fewer built in liberties in Hong Kong, that could be asserted than in the US for protest. I fear for them and applaud their courage.  I doubt they are singing STD.  But it does recall (for me, anyway) a time when there was an attempt to squash protest against a war, where parents could not and would not believe there was not a basis for American involvement.  

And the 60's and 70's protests were on two levels; anti-war and race.  This Hong Kong protest appears to be more liberty-based and has other predicates for protest.

I would love to hear Brian re-do "Do You Have Any Regrets" because,  after hearing Darian's version, Brian could do that song more justice than the awful Island-vibe arrangement it was given.

I would also love to hear Brian re-record "A Day in the Life of a Tree". Just because.

Whatever the message the song contains and its importance, I leave off 'Student Demonstration Time' off my dream Surf's Up album because it's a crummy, annoying song. So is 'Take A Load Off Your Feet'. 'Don't Go Near The Water' is just "meh"; the track I have the hardest time parting with for my dream Surf's Up album is 'Lookin' At Tomorrow', which is okay I guess. But man oh man I want some Dennis songs on that album, I mean bad. Considering the stuff he was creating at the time...damn.

Love You should have a been produced by Charles Lloyd.