The Smiley Smile Message Board

Just got, from an Australian friend (many thanks Tony Wales) a sampler for the forthcoming Sydney Festival, and it includes "MAD".

Which is magnificent - hearing it on CD as opposed to streaming from the Bloo reveals unsuspected toning and colorations, and the intricacy of Brian's bv stacks is just amazing. This may just be the best new thing he's done since "'Til I Die". No, dammit, it IS.

And it still brings tears to my eyes.

High praise indeed.  Makes me look forward to an official release of the entire suite.

Sounds great :)

2 questions:
1. is this version the exact same as the one that was streaming on BW.com but in better quality?
2. what are the odds that the final studio version will be as stripped-down as this, or will the usual track-muddling go on to obscure what could be a great album?

When this was posted on the blueboard, Brian (or whoever it was) came on to see what we all thought and said it was just a demo. I posted something like, "Keep it like this!" and he said, "Maybe I will." And others agreed with me, I think.  Not that it would necessarily have much influence, but I hope he decides to keep it the way it is. It's the easiest thing for him to do, so maybe he will.   :-D

Does anyone know the exact date when this CD was released?

I must have listened to the complete LOS suite for about 20 times now from start to finish. Can't wait for the CD.

Wow that was quick!! Those planes fly fast between Sydney and London these days - no wonder you Poms are taking all of our best footballers these days!!  ;)

I have to agree with Andrew how great MAD sound on CD - much greater depth of sound - the piano is lush and the harmonies soar - there is a intimate breathlessness to Brian's vocals - very nice.

FYI folks - this is not an easy CD to get so it may end up being a rare one - only available from 4 retail outlets in Sydney and to get it you have to purchase a CD of one of the Sydney Festival artists (in Andrew's case my brother got the new Paul Kelly CD for Christmas - and I got a Bjork CD for myself). 

I was very surprised MAD was the track included on the sampler CD.

Oh yeah - HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

1 - yes, exact same recording, but sounds so much better

2 - i'd imagine the 2008 studio version will be more lush and polished. However, i have a feeling that some of the demos will be included: I put this idea to Melinda at the final RFH gig (she was sitting behind me) and she seemed receptive.

3 - thanks again Tony (btw, some of the other music on the CD isn't too shabby either)

Well, I hope that Brian does not try to do too much more to MAD. It captures an essence that would be ruined if he tries to add lush background washes, more instruments, etc. It's the closest thing we have to "Brian unplugged" (except "Awake") and I hope he allows it to stay that way.

Unplugged? How many Brians (and Scotts) can we hear in there? I know it starts with a piano and one voice, but quite a few overdubbed vocals come in during the first verse already. Then the aux. percussion, french horn, several more voices, organ...

I'd expect it will be arranged much as it was in the live performances. It was pretty similar, but with some additional tasteful strings, horns and bass.

Didn't I say it's the "closest" thing we have to Brian unplugged?" Closest may still be far away, but still "closest."

"Walking Down the Path of Life" probably has that demo beat in that regard.

Maybe you should have read my post correctly before attempting to jump all over me because you misunderstood.

I did.

"I'm Bugged At My Ol' Man"...

Love You demos...

Almost the entire Wild Honey and Friends albums...

the early 80s demos

IJWMFTT soundtrack...

That made me LOL.

Could Their Hearts Were Full of Spring be considered unplugged?

What about Devoted to you from the Hawthrone, CA compilation?

What about the entire Beach Boys' Party album?

Well, thank you, Luther. I sure hope that post made you feel fulfilled somehow.

I only expressed a feeling, and Luther had to make me pay for it. For what reason, I don't know.

Once again, my feelings about these message boards is confirmed. Why are you people who consider themselves intense Beach Boy fans such a**holes?

MDH aside, most of you seem to fit that description. Don't worry, I won't be back. I'm sorry that my fanbois ramblings upset you all so badly.

I'll continue to enjoy Brian's music on my own, as i have since 1961.

Man don't be so sensitive. I can't see what anybody did wrong? How did you "pay" for anything? Luther was just saying his "feelings" too. He FELT that it wasn't that "unplugged" so he was just expressing his OPINION (isn't that only what he and everyone else, including you, can do?). Message boards are to discuss and debate opinions, feelings & facts etc..

If that is what you consider and "a**hole" then I feel really sorry for you. Just because someone disagrees doesn't mean you have to get so upset over it. And then after those few posts nobody was trying to disprove you to make you feel bad they were just trying to think of things that Brian/Beach Boys have done that sound "unplugged". That is what happens on message boards. Somebody brings up a point and then that might lead onto something totally different and at times people are going to disagree which is part of life, not everyone is going to agree with you, like it or not.

It's very simple - the folk here tend to be people who know their stuff, thus making as definitive and erroneous a statement as you did regarding Brian's closest approach to the unplugged format is going to generate a response.

You any kin to Bobby California ?  :)

All this childishness...this is like kindergarten. Anybody up for some milk and cookies? I have this sudden urge to start coloring...

:lol

Not only does every message board have its a-holes but it also has its overly sensitive posters.

I didn't see anything that one would find offensive in anyones post. If you don't have skin thick enough to stand correction, perhaps this isn't the place for you... (ahhhh... I fondly remembers multiple smack downs John's Definitive Vocal Thread).  :lol

To be fair, I am an asshole.

hey, as long as you didnt earn or invite it...

WTF is 'unplugged' anyway? Its just a meaningless marketing phrase to make people think they're getting something special made just for them. 'Unplugged' is now just another way of saying 'live'. It might have meant something different the first few times but its a pretty pointless phrase now.  :hat

Happy New Year!  :-D ::)

The History of Unplugged:

The idea was originally acoustic, as if there were some particular skill that made playing an acoustic guitar and piano better than playing an electric guitar and keyboard. In the 80s, when Bon Jovi did its "unplugged" "Wanted Dead or Alive" at some damn show or another, it was at the peak of the saturated distortion guitar solos, whammy bar tricks, programmed beats and synths, etc., so it was mostly just different to that generation. Then of course Clapton did his MTV Unplugged, had the huge hits with those versions of "Layla" and "Tears in Heaven," and the word pissed me off for another decade and a half. Next thing you know you're watching Poison f*** up "Talk Dirty To Me" and wondering what's wrong with the world. The end.

Hm.  My band only plugs in its microphone.  We really ARE unplugged!!!

Lately i have been plugging in my new Martin bass. But when i'm on guitarrone, we are - as i said - completely unplugged.

And guys, it IS harder to play cleanly on acoustic than it is on electric.

Martin makes basses? I didn't even realize that. (PS, I learned on a late-50s Martin dreadnought. It was my dad's. It kicked ass.)

Sure, it's more difficult to play runs or complex lines. But when you consider the era and styles most affected by MTV's "Unplugged," it was mostly bands playing power chords or open chords. But it was more the novelty of the sound and instruments than anything else.

Yep.

And it was the hair bands who sucked the most on MTV Unplugged. The acts that predated the late 80's, by and large did far superior MTV Unpluggeds like Eric Clapton (a great record in a sea of Clapton mediocrity),  McCartney,  and REM.

Listened to Clapton's I don't like hits from as they were way overplayed but I like much of the blues on it. I like his Yardbirds stuff best. Paul and Dylan both made fine Unplugged albums though Dylan really just played a regular set.

I forgot about Bob.  Yeah, his set was good too.  Nirvana's was another standout too.

A surprising amount of major performers appeared on Unplugged. You can add Bruce Springsteen, Plant & Page, and Aerosmith to that list. And, recently, MTV has been airing the old Kiss Unplugged, which, actually wasn't that bad.

No kidding. Honestly, the Unplugged album was my favorite Nirvana album (followed closely by Incesticide).

You're all bringing back terrible memories. f*** YOU, '90s!

Actually, I don't mind Unplugged as an idea. What I hated was that 1) it was a novelty, which makes no sense to me, and 2) it was a must-have novelty, with everyone releasing an Unplugged album just like everyone released a concert album and a greatest hits collection. Really, worst of all was the novelty aspect. Oooh, acoustic guitars! Big fucking deal. When your music sucks, it sucks regardless of how stripped down it is. (Again, I'm talking to you, Poison.)

Yeah, I agree with a lot of that, Luther. Unplugged was a convenient way of killing 5 birds with one stone. Do an Unplugged and you:

1. did a TV show
2. recorded a "live" album
3. released a "greatest hits" album with new versions
4. got free advertising for that album
5. marketed a video (in some cases)

I never found the acoustic versions as fulfilling as the original electric versions. The only ones that were almost as satisfying were the ballads, and many of the original ballads had an acoustic feel anyway.

The best part (for me) of Unplugged was the intimate stage setting and presentation, which you didn't get in arenas and stadiums in front of thousands of people on a gigantic stage. You could almost see the wrinkles and touches of gray!

It did, however, give rise to one of the best album titles ever.

Kermit Unpigged

Luther, Martin makes fucking beautiful basses.  They are a new addition to the catalog, tho...just in the last few years.  Completely unplugged, they make a pretty solid amount of noise, but of course they are meant to be run through an amp.

I play the BC-15E (http://www.mandoweb.com/15-6725.jpg) which has on-board Fishman electronics and a wonderful rich, warm sound whether it's plugged in or not.

And it matches my D-15.

I like "Mr. Soul" from Neil Young Unplugged. Completely different than the Buffalo Springfield version.