The Smiley Smile Message Board

What does everyone feel is their favorite studio version of Surf's Up?  There have been many released...

I'd have to pick the un-f*cked-with (or so I think?) 1966 piano demo version from the 1993 Box Set. It just feels the most pure and proper version to me.  

Were any recorded portion(s) of the the Leonard Bernstein TV version ever grafted onto one of the future Frankensteined-versions of the song? And how was the Leonard Bernstein TV version recorded? One overhead boom mic for vocals and another mic for the piano?

I'm sure this has been done before, but it's the f*cked-with 1971 album version for me----hands down.

I dislike Carl's overdubs in the 1971 version. Particularly the organ.

Of the officially released versions, Surf's Up from TSS is my favorite.

However my all time favorite version is the bruiteaur mix of the 1966 recording with the 2004 BWPS version.

https://youtu.be/XVENkH7s1eQ

The TSS version.

Never heard that. It's beautiful. Thanks for posting!

My favorite version is the one from fall 1967. It's sublime... should have tacked that onto the end of the "Wild Honey" LP rather than "Mama Says."

I lived with the '71 version for so long before hearing any other that it's got to be that version.

My favorites are the 71 version, and don't criticize me---
But I love the BWPS version.

Thanks for posting that. Super cool, alternate reality stuff.

how'd they even do this?! howd they get the instrumental from bwps?

magic

That's incredible!

This might be now be my favorite too.

Surf's Up 1971 is the tops for me. Carl's delivery is right on the money, and the "Child" coda, overseen by Brian in his py-jim-jams is the very pinnacle of this group's multifarious vocal achievements.

I love the two (actually three) Brian solo versions - the one cut for the Bernstein doc, the one cut immediately after, and the Wild Honey era version.

The bootleg version live in Holland with Carl singing lead is ethereal; hope this gets an official release one day in deserved high quality.

My favourite cover is still that by Stephen Newcombe… is he still posting here? Lurking? His version captures the spirit of the piece, to my mind; magnifies some of it for wider understanding even.

The TSS disc 1 version, while fascinating, just doesn't have the same punch and integrity as Carl's definitive 71 version - how could it? One was finished 45 years after the original sessions began, the other just 5 years after.

Way I see it (shoot me down, please do…) is that those 71 sessions for the "Child"' coda were, effectively, the final recording sessions for the 66/67 Smile we all mourn. Hmmm…

I created a custom edit (now lost again, with the rest of my Smile).  I used the first half of the Purple Chick version, the second half from the released version, and the ending WITHOUT the "children's song" part.  It wasn't there when Brian wrote it so I don't want it on my version.  

The "Surf's Up" LP version for me; sublime vocal by Carl. Thankfully they had the foresight to complete the track in '71. The centre channel extraction from the 5.1 mix on the Endless Harmony DVD is illuminating.

  The 1971 version, hands down.

Surf's Up was Brian's baby all the way... he's the one who should be singing it.

I pick the TSS version with the Wild Honey outtake in second place.

Oh man that's great! Love hearing Al's vocal nice and loud at the end.

Yup, that is stellar. The BW solo vocal seems to work so much better with the BWPS backing track and the coda's wonderful! Assume some of that came from the Endless Harmony 5.1 mix?

My preference is the 1971 version with Carl on lead for the first half. Then the Wild Honey era version.

Wow, this is a 100% different tone than any version I've heard before....so good

That is beautiful. The two lost bits of Smile I regret not hearing most are the original lead vocals for Worms, and the strings for Surf's Up. This is great.

My favorite version is from the album of the same name.

And for those of you have not heard/seen it, and I may be addressing no one, I really enjoy this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKx6t8T9iwY

That's amazing!  Thank you for sharing that.  Pay attention at 1:31 as the young Brian is actually harmonizing with himself nearly 40 years later.

That is sensational. That said,  I remain a sucker for the 1971 version...

Absolutely phenomenal. Wanted to add my "thanks" for posting this!

That was extraordinary! Thanks!  Bravo!

Love Brian's solo from 1966!

And Carl on Surf's Up...

But I cannot find a live version of Carl on lead...any leads?   ;)

I'm sticking with the touched up 1971 album version.  That's the version I feel in love with, and still my favorite. 

I don't think anything's topped Anne Wallace's mix of the '66 demo with the Part 1 backing track and the '71 coda...  That was the moment when the song crystallized for me.

Cheers,
Jon Blum

https://youtube.com/watch?v=q8bTemM60hg

Just listened...phenomenal!

Carl does real justice to that song!

You're a doll!

Thanks for finding that...

A frosty for you... :beer

Boston Commons, Boston, MA - August 23, 1972

Beach Boys present:
Mike Love
Dennis Wilson
Carl Wilson
Ricky Fataar
Blondie Chaplin
Al Jardine

Backup band included:
Charles Lloyd
Billy Hinsche
Daryl Dragon
Toni Tenille
Boston Philharmonic Orchestra (after intermission)

SETLIST:
01 Marcella
02 Wouldn't it be nice
03 Long promised road
04 Here she comes
05 Heroes and villains
06 Only with you
07 Wild Honey (Blondie on lead)
08 Surfin' U.S.A.
09 Student demonstration time
-Intermission-
10 God only knows
11 Let the wind blow
12 Cuddle up
13 Wonderful / Don't worry Bill
14 Surf's up
15 Do it again
16 Sloop John B.
17 Good vibrations
-Encore-
18 I get around
19 Fun, fun, fun
20 Jumpin' Jack Flash

I'll take any of the 1966-67 Brian Wilson sung versions over any of them. The composer singing the song when it was still brand new and full of potential. That's the real deal, and hearing them in succession up to the Fall 1967 version that appeared on the Smile session box is overwhelming when put into context. The potential and energy takes on a melancholy feeling as well by the time that last recording was done in '67.

GF - Is there a recording of this show? (I was there!)  ;)  Boston Common!

A few rarities...Cuddle Up, Let The Wind Blow, (EH has Wonderful/Don't Worry Bill) Here She Comes, Only With You, Long Promised Road...SDT (it charted in Boston!) (Here is where I put on my flack jacket!)  :lol

There are recordings of it.

OK  ~ but, are they "available?"

Maybe on iTunes?

No iTunes, but search the web and find things like this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj2TZ9_Cki0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gj2TZ9_Cki0)

Thanks! Too bad it was an outdoor show.

Would have been outstanding at Boston Symphony Hall with the Boston Philharmonic. 

And wonder if they had a live recording of this that could have gone on POB?

Maybe MIC 2?  ;)

Thanks, again!  :beer

Mine would have to be from TSS, disc three. That being the "Surf's Up: Piano Demo-Master Take". It's just out of this world like the CBS News special, 1967 which blew everyone away. :)

I really liked the combo of the '66 demo with the BWPS backing, though I prefer the '71 "Child" tag to the BWPS tag - may have to try making my own Frankensmile version  :-D

Go for it!  :lol :lol

Related question: Has the stereo version of Surf's Up from Side 4 of the vinyl in the Smile Sessions Box Set been released on CD anywhere? I just got the MiC set in the mail and found from the track listing that it appears stereo versions from Side 4 of the vinyl for Vega-Tables and Wind Chimes made it on. I find it odd that some of the stereo versions on Side 4 of the vinyl didn't make it on to the CDs in the Smile Sessions Box Set and that the Surf's Up on Side 4 in particular didn't make it on the MiC box.

I agree with those who feel Brian ought to be singing this classic.

So for me, it's the TSS version all the way.

The Mono is of course glorious, but "Surf's Up" works really, really well in Stereo, I think.  So that's usually the version I spin.

Full disclosure time: It did take me a while to get over the way the lyric "Domino" slightly lags (well, not "lags," exactly) versus every other version of the song.  It works, it just took me some time to get used to the effect.

Now I just cherish that version.

-------------------------

But this "Bruiteur Mix"?  Boy, that's really something!  Me likey. :D  I'd like to ask if anyone who has a lossless copy of this 1966/2004 mix, and would be willing to share, might post a link.

As it's a fan mix, I think it's in the realm of what is allowable here.  If not, please disregard with my apologies in advance.

Same for me.

Has anyone heard the Millennium Smile one? I really like that one.

A far higher quality version of a live Surfs Up exists and is in circulation than that one.

I'm with Jonathan ... its the Anne Wallace mix for me.

I asked in the "Revisiting the catalog" thread, where I discussed losing my digital collection (again) but got no response.  So speaking of "Surf's Up",  can anyone tell me where to look for a copy of "Surf's Up" WITHOUT the "children's song" tag?  I'm pretty sure I got it from Youtube before so if someone could give me a hint of what to type into the search bar I should be OK.

I'm pretty sure there's an instrumental version on a limited edition promo cd for Beautiful Dreamer

maybe you can use this from CFM??
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZQIq4qv_8c
 

For me, this will always be the ultimate version of "Surf's Up", the boot - "SMiLE (Millennium Edition)" . The majesty of the music itself, which starts this version, gives me goose bumps every time I hear it. Then the vocal sections, sweet Jesus!

IMO, the greatest song ever written!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T11JxsBn2tI