The Smiley Smile Message Board

Was watching Joshilyn's new Danelectro video and remembered I used to use a Dano 6-string bass along with a string-type regular bass, and realized I don't think I ever shared this here on Smiley Smile (maybe I thought the Manson angle was controversial?) --

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrxUc-CU5ic

This started back in 2011 when I had the idea to cover the entire Manson LIE LP in a way that was similar to how it might have sounded if the BB were involved ... my group only did 3 of the songs ("Look At Your Game Girl", "Home Is Where You're Happy", and "Eyes of the Dreamer") and put them out on a regular Magic Hero record, which came out in 2012.

Lemme know what you guys think!

Sounds really great.  Was that done on the Sunset Sound deck?

Thanks - nope, this predates that deck coming to me. This was cut on a 1970s Teac 80-8 8-track, but mixed to a later ‘60s Ampex 440-mono machine. I did cut one record on the Sunset Sound 8-track, but eventually sold it to a friend who runs a studio in San Diego, where it is still in use. It blew smoke one day and became increasingly difficult to maintain and transport  as I was moving around a lot.

Also worth noting on the Manson cover is an RMI Rock-is-Chord (that was my fav organ, but no longer own it either). It’s heard most prominently in the bridge, and also doubling the flute lines  on the intro and out too.

Well, it's a great sounding track.  I'm pretty envious of your access to these great sounding units, over the years.

It's a great concept too, and good execution.  I love these what ifs.  I think that the kind of whimsy and imagination it takes to do that kind of thing is sorely missing from the mindset of popular musicians.  There's so much freedom in constructing what-ifs within set contexts.

I agree the 'what-if' scenarios can really get creative things moving. I once read someone offering songwriting advice: "Pretend you have been hired to write Beyonce's next single". I know from my own experience that such a project might not sound like Beyonce's next hit, but you're out of your element and thinking in a different way, so the results are likely to be more interesting. Necessity is the mother of invention too -- limitations tend to be inspiring.

One thing that is not inspiring is this section of the board...

Oops. Perhaps some of us need shaking up before we actually get round to commenting!

DL, I've listened to it a few times now. Manson's version has an air of "home is where you're happy if you know what's good for you". Yours is pure sunshine pop. (I don't hear Manson in this at all.) The Rock-Si-Chord sounds most effective! I know it mainly from Terry Riley's use of it on "A Rainbow In Curved Air" but I see it was used a lot back then.

This is most enlightening (the bits that have survived): http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,15840.0.html

Thanks for sharing! (Sorry I took so long to comment.)

Ah forgot about that thread - thanks for your comments too.

To be fair, I rarely come to this section of the board myself ...

So that's actually an interesting question -- if, in some alternate universe, Manson was produced by the Beach Boys in some way, whose aesthetic would have won out in the end?

Probably Manson unless Brian were producing IMO

Agreed. Brian would never have given him that much rope (terrible choice of words). Oh, and belated happy birthday!

ha THANKS

 8) I enjoyed that, really quirky. Nice sound as well, can tell it was recorded on analogue.

Thanks!