The Smiley Smile Message Board

The thread concerning "I'll Bet He's Nice" the other day has gotten me thinking.

A few months back, I played a vinyl copy of "Love You" on a Dynaquad system.  There's been some debate as to whether this album was formatted for quad.  But I can say from personal experience this album has a LOT of separation of elements between the four speakers, more than many albums I have that specifically say "quadraphonic" on the cover.

I sat in the middle of the room listening to the music.  All kinds of parts played on primitive synthesizers were happening all around me.  And it suddenly hit me.  The songwriting on this album has the same innovative creative spark that drove Pet Sounds.  Sure, the lyrics are strange and child-like in places.  A song about Johnny Carson and patting a baby on the butt even though it's really your girlfriend but for some reason it's kind of like a baby... yeah, that's all just plain weird.  Sure, many of the synth parts are played on the most dated synthesizers you can imagine.  And yes, an album that is half Beach Boys and half primitive electronica is just an odd concept.

BUT... listen to the songwriting.  Listen to the chord changes, listen to the arrangements.  Soon I started imagining all those little counter-melodies not being played by some dated 1977 synth, but by a member of the Wrecking Crew.  Hey, this part would sound great on the harpsichord.  That bass line would sound awesome on a Danelectro.  Some tympani would be awesome right here.  

Truth is, the same genius is present on this album as on the best of Brian Wilson's work from the 1960s.  It's just the fact that Brian found it easier to flip the switch on an electronic device than to bring in Plas Johnson on triple overtime at one o'clock in the morning to overdub a part.

And this brings me to my next thought.  After the 50th anniversary hoopla of Pet Sounds next year, 2017 would mark the 40th anniversary of Love You.  If Brian still desires to tour at this time, imagine seeing this album being re-arranged and performed in its entirety on REAL instruments by the members of Brian's band.  Now this is something I would pay good moolah to see.  Thoughts anyone?

Never happen because Foskett is Brian's right hand man and Foskett doesn't like it and Brian can't even go out on the road without him...wait, nevermind.

EoL

What's a real instrument as opposed to an instrument that's not "real"?

Anyway, Brian used synthesizers as early as 1970, probably not because he was lazy but because he liked them. I agree the songwriting on Love You is as brilliant as anything he ever did. But why make these songs sound like Pet Sounds? Haven't we all had enough of the faux-PS approach, of the endless pretending a BW record/performance always has to sound like it's '65/'66? Let's appreciate another unique and original style of his simply for what it is.

Play anything that's not mono or binaural through such a setup and you'll get a lot of separation, even the 1960 Chuck Britz "stereo" mixes.

Would LOVE to hear someone re-record some of the Love You tracks w/ a "Wrecking Crew" or 1966 vibe.

Good idea! Maybe I'll have a good at that

Net Sounds 4: "Airplane" as done by Jack Madani. Truly awesome.

Some albums are better than others through Dolby Pro Logic II. Some 10CC albums and Jimi Hendrix's Electric Ladyland are rather mindblowing.

Who would take Marilyn's part in the duet?

Zooey Daschunel (sp)

Hey, I love that no; that's awesomeness of itself

Bigger fan of her sister Emily I take it? 

Why not have Wendy or Carnie sing Mary's part?

I'm a huge fan of Love You and would love to see it toured live in some fashion. Absolutely.   :)

One rather odd question about your post, kind of out of left field but here goes:

I've seen this 'girlfriend' reference regarding I Wanna Pick You Up before and it never fails to puzzle me. When I listen to the song I hear a sweet, certainly kooky but ultimately fairly straightforward ode to the narrator's little daughter. I guess I don't quite get the girlfriend/sexual/etc vibe from it. Is that something people read into it just because of the weird/off-kilter vibe of the song in general, or is there any more to it?

Darian did a cover of "I Wanna Pick You Up" in that style!

Yes and it's nice but boring.

A l'il bit more here:

http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,22580.msg531761.html#msg531761 (http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,22580.msg531761.html#msg531761)

Either Dennis or Brian supplied the baby/girlfriend subtext, at the time of release. So, horse's mouth.

Thanks, very interesting. Also clarifies the roller skating/ice skating puzzler.

Dennis's vocal seems directed at a child not a woman. There's no nudge-nudge-wink-wink in it, although the Middle 8 might be more ironic.

OK, got it now! I'm not sure I'd regard this blurb as definitive but it does answer my question. Thank you Alan & AGD for the input.