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Would 1989's album Still Crusin' have been an even bigger success if it had contained all-new/recent material?

Which songs would you replace the three 60's tracks with?

Maybe…
California Dreamin
Rock N Roll To The Rescue
Love And Mercy (Why not, it's a BW classic)

This is the best I can do, it's actually alright...

1. Still Crusin'
2. Somewhere Near Japan
3. Island Girl
4. In My Car
5. Kokomo
6. Wipe Out
7. Make It Big
8. Happy Endings
9. California Dreamin'
10. Rock'N'Roll To The Rescue

-Bonus Tracks-

11. Problem Child
12. Crocodile Rock
13. Don't Fight The Sea

Is DFTS from this era?

I'd go with

1. Still Cruisin'
2. SNJ
3. Island Girl
4. In My Car
5. Kokomo
6. Wipe Out
7. Make it Big
8. Melt Away
9. California Dreamin
10. L&M (With the Boys on bv)

I'd keep the seven originals from the album and add in Rock and Roll to the Rescue, California Dreamin', and Happy Endings (I'd add Chasin' the Sky but it might be a bit far back...unless we're going for a Keepin' the Summer Alive-esque hodgepodge with five-plus year old tracks). I couldn't imagine taking anything from Brian's first LP. Maybe I'd add The Spirit of Rock and Roll or Let's Do It Again.

It would have done better if it had come out while Kokomo was on the charts. Dump the oldies and include a few of the recent singles; or at least some recent live versions of the classics. "Chasin' the Sky", "Happy Endings", "Lady Liberty"...

I think without the oldies, Still Cruisin would receive more recognition as an actual Beach Boys album instead of the cash grab / compilation that it really is. 

Maybe one day, it'll be re-released with more tracks from that era, but I'm not holding my breath.  Especially since the main reason the album was released in the first place was to capitalize on the success of Kokomo.  And Kokomo is available on just about every BB greatest hits compilation to be released since. 

I think the group began recording Don't Fight The Sea sometime in the 70's, but it wasn't actually finished, until Alan polished it up for his solo album in 2010. The group probably could've finished it in the late 80's around the time of Still Cruisin', but I think it works better as a solo Al Jardine song. It kind've reminds me of Al's Lookin' At Tomorrow from the Surf's Up album.

The band did considerable work on Don't Fight the Sea in the late 1980s; apparently that's when Brian, Carl, and Bruce's vocals were recorded. Michael's were recorded on tour (I think Scott Totten mentioned that but I'm not sure) and Al must have recorded the vocal new for the album. It doesn't sound like his late 80s voice.

It would have been a better album absolutely.  I'm not sure how much more it would have sold, though.  It sold completely on the back of Kokomo's success and of its presence on that album, it was absolutely huge at that time.  To be honest, for the casual fan the ability to get Kokomo and 3 classics on the same album may have been a bigger sales draw. Additionally, I don't think you could have had a stronger single than SNJ, which did not garner any success (although had that been the first single, rather than Still Cruisin', with the stronger corporate push...)

Does such a thing exist studio or live or is it a fantasy?

Wipeout would have to be dropped too. I actually like The Fat Boys, I owned their album Crushin' when I was a kid - but that track doesn't belong on anything masquerading as a proper BB album.

That's the thing: is Still Crusin' masquerading as a proper album? It almost wants to be (even though it's a comp), it's sorta almost in that 20/20 type of mode (80s style), but then it abandons that idea and goes off a cliff entirely with Wipeout and the oldies. So, so, so odd.

Add Spirit of RNR too.

Still waiting for Still Cruisin/Summer in Paradise 2fer.

AGD did his best to give diplomatic, not overly gushing, but still praiseworthy liner notes to the KTSA/BB85 2-fer. It would be amazing to see someone pull that off for the  Still Cruisin/Summer in Paradise 2-fer. I like a chunk of the songs on both albums as guilty pleasures, but to publicly in liner notes write good stuff about SIP would be challenging (and humorous to read) at best.

The author would simply have to spend the bulk of the space praising Carl's vocals, as well as...well, Al's vocals.

Fantasy

Question...would it have sold better with all new material?

see reply # 9.

You don't have to offer critiques of songs, good or bad, to write informative liner notes.

If BRI ever wants someone to write the Still Crusin' / SIP notes, I officially volunteer my services.

I can't wait to hear your liner notes on "summer of love" ;)

I would just write about its origins with the "Mike Come Back to L.A." chant, moving to "Some of Your Love" and then the present song. I'd point out that BW attempted a rap song at roughly the same time, and that the group had experimented with the form alongside the Fat Boys. Add in the connection to the Simpsons, and you have a perfectly interesting little nugget, without a word on the quality (or lack of same) in the song.

For sure, it's definitely possible to write about an album or track without critiquing it. The Gary Usher book is one of the most fascinating out there, and the music they did during that time is pretty weak.

Some interesting stuff was going down in the late 80's and early 90's. Some good liner notes could easily be written.

This is very true. Carl is so ridiculously out of sight awesome, vocally speaking, on all of his stuff from the 80s/early 90s, even the biggest turds are elevated sooo much with his voice. Al too.

I wonder; could Kokomo have been the hit it was with anyone else singing the Carl parts? I think it's one of Mike's best leads, but Carl really brings it over the top. Would it have hit #1 with a 1988 Al, Bruce, or Brian singing the Carl parts? I'm not sure it would have.

I doubt it.  Carl's vocal is so strong on the chorus chant (Aruba, Jamaica) as well. He's just all over that song.

I'd buy it.

Agreed. Carl makes it. I cannot get into any live version without Carl present, all due respect to Jeff.

  Brian's "Let's Go to Heaven in My Car", from one of the POLICE ACADEMY films, fits the concept. I'd go for "The Spirit of Rock & Roll" and "Oh Lord", the outtake from the eponymous 85 LP. These three would give the record a Brian-centric conclusion.

  "Rock & Roll to the Rescue" and "California Dreamin"?  As CD bonus tracks today, fine, but in 1989 they'd just been on MADE IN USA and been moderate hit singles. It would have turned me off at the time.

 I love Little Richard, and like some of Bruce's work, but "Happy Endings" was not fit for release on the album...not like that would have stopped them from putting it on had the tune been popular.

 Hard to say if  STILL CRUISIN' would have sold better or worse, but it would have made more aesthetic sense for sure. And "Kokomo" would still have been the big draw.

Does anyone know if Lets Go to Heaven in My Car and In My Car were written around the same time?  I always liked Let's Go to Heaven.  By far the best part of Police Academy 4. 

I dunno about "In My Car," but "Let's Go To Heaven In My Car" was written (and recorded) during those two years when Brian worked with Gary Usher on what was supposed to be Brian's first solo album.

Gotcha,
 
While the song itself might not be as strong, I actually like the production of Lets Go to Heaven better than anything on the actual BW88 album.

"Let's Go to Heaven in My Car" is on that short list of weird 80's BB-related songs that have epically embarrassing 80's guitar solos, along with "East Meets West" and to a slightly lesser degree, "Chasin' the Sky."

At least the Gary Moore stuff on "Maybe I Don't Know" was more bluesy and whatnot.

What I want to know is,  during the 1980s, did Carl or Al ever attempt to do that type of guitar sound with they themselves  playing? Either in the studio or live?  It always struck me as weird that a band with two guitar players did not feature them on studio guitar parts during this time.  Was it because they didn't have enough time or were feeling lazy about trying to learn how to play this new vaguely hair metal esque soloing style?

I would guess it just wasn't their style as guitar players. Took me a few spins to get into "Let's Go to Heaven' because of the metal guitar and loud drums, but I came to love it. I was a young guy in the 80's, hearing 80's AOR and CHR radio constantly, so the 80's production sound probably doesn't bother me as much as it does those who grew up in the 60's. It sure sounds dated now, though.

Wasn't easy, as the material was, in the main, significantly lacking. Basically, the thought of how much I was being paid kept me going.