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Smiley Smile Stuff => General On Topic Discussions => Topic started by: CenturyDeprived on June 02, 2015, 09:42:52 AM



Title: BB members imitating songwriting/production styles of each other + other artists
Post by: CenturyDeprived on June 02, 2015, 09:42:52 AM
There are a number of examples of this, but I'm most curious of which BB members' songs actually sound like they could have been written by another BB member.

Listening to San Miguel recently made me realize how this song could maybe be mistaken for a Brian-penned tune, even though it has some touches specific to late-60s Denny productions. It also sounds like Denny was specifically aping a Phil Spector sound in parts.

There are a number of other examples of other members' songs which almost (though not quite) sound like they could have been written by Brian... there are also probably a few late 70s Carl and Denny songs where the two mens' songwriting styles could be confused with one another.  What other examples can you all think of?



Title: Re: BB members imitating songwriting/production styles of each other + other artists
Post by: NateRuvin on June 02, 2015, 10:21:37 AM
I think the arrangement of All I Wanna Do sounded like Strawberry Fields Forever by The Beatles. I'm not sure, but All I Wanna Do was probably produced in a team of Brian, Mike, and Carl. All I Wanna Do is actually my favorite song of all time. The lyrics are beautiful, the melody is incredibly catchy, the arrangement is filled with psychedelic organs and synthesizers, and Mr. Positivity's vocals are top notch. Probably Mike's best vocal, next to Big Sur.


Title: Re: BB members imitating songwriting/production styles of each other + other artists
Post by: SBonilla on June 02, 2015, 10:45:40 AM

Listening to San Miguel recently... sounds like Denny was specifically aping a Phil Spector sound in parts.


Why? Because of the marimba, the castanets, the bullfight trumpet? Nah. Dennis' Latin vibe was Mexican. Phil's was Puerto Rican.

It's likely that Dennis was writing about San Miguel (a surf spot) on the Baja California coast. The song owes much more to Lonely Bull than it does Spanish Harlem.

The basic track and vocals make for a straight ahead rocker. Not Phil Spector or Brian Wilson.

And aping?  Really.


Title: Re: BB members imitating songwriting/production styles of each other + other artists
Post by: CenturyDeprived on June 02, 2015, 11:49:03 AM

Listening to San Miguel recently... sounds like Denny was specifically aping a Phil Spector sound in parts.


Why? Because of the marimba, the castanets, the bullfight trumpet? Nah. Dennis' Latin vibe was Mexican. Phil's was Puerto Rican.

It's likely that Dennis was writing about San Miguel (a surf spot) on the Baja California coast. The song owes much more to Lonely Bull than it does Spanish Harlem.

The basic track and vocals make for a straight ahead rocker. Not Phil Spector or Brian Wilson.

And aping?  Really.


I guess I shouldn't have used the term "aping", as it could imply a negative connotation, and I did not mean anything negative by it. I love love love San Miguel, and think it's criminally underrated and unknown. I think the slightly murky, yet beautiful production and vibe (not just the castanets) reminds me of Spector's productions.


Title: Re: BB members imitating songwriting/production styles of each other + other artists
Post by: SBonilla on June 02, 2015, 01:40:50 PM

Listening to San Miguel recently... sounds like Denny was specifically aping a Phil Spector sound in parts.


Why? Because of the marimba, the castanets, the bullfight trumpet? Nah. Dennis' Latin vibe was Mexican. Phil's was Puerto Rican.

It's likely that Dennis was writing about San Miguel (a surf spot) on the Baja California coast. The song owes much more to Lonely Bull than it does Spanish Harlem.

The basic track and vocals make for a straight ahead rocker. Not Phil Spector or Brian Wilson.

And aping?  Really.


I guess I shouldn't have used the term "aping", as it could imply a negative connotation, and I did not mean anything negative by it. I love love love San Miguel, and think it's criminally underrated and unknown. I think the slightly murky, yet beautiful production and vibe (not just the castanets) reminds me of Spector's productions.
[/quote
I can see the thickness of the track being Spectorish. I never associated the production of the song with Spector because of the lyrics.
Spector's productions mostly had the boy/girl teenage drama thing going on. San Miguel doesn't; it's free spirited. Dennis is asking a buddy to come along to hang and party down in Baja.  There is no girl (well, there might be back home). They'll be "looking for the ladies of love." And, doing it on the cheap!

Now that I think of it, San Miguel is very much a Beach Boys song. It's Surfin' Safari without the honeys or the curfew.

And, I love it, too. The psychedelic trumpet break is a great climax that leads us to the cruising-down-the-highway fade. Cerveza and 'shrooms.