The Smiley Smile Message Board

OK, blatant attention-getting subject there, but it is the point of my post. Please take this in the right spirit, which is not judgmental at all, but in fun. We're all to a certain extent Beach Boys/Brian Wilson/music geeks here--I think our very presence on a message board dedicated to those things proves that to some extent. So we're none of us innocent.

But do you ever read posts here and just wonder--even quickly, to yourself--"who the f--- cares about that?"

I can tell you that while I could go on forever about the actual musical questions, and take some interest in the amateur psychologist family dynamics debates, as soon as the threads turn to what version of what product was released where and when, or which sessions happened where on what day, I ask myself those questions. It is of no interest to me whether the first pressing of some single misspelled Capitol as Capital. (And yes, I made that up, so if you're into such things, don't ask me for more information.) Any sort of collector's paraphernalia just means nothing to me. Scheduling is similarly uninteresting to me (except on those occasions when I want to use the fruits of someone else's labor, in which case I'm thrilled someone cares enough to do the work).

At what point(s) do you tune out and think, "what a bunch of nerds!"?

When people still argue about what could have been on SMiLE... b.o.r.i.n.g.  ::)

For me it's often session talk that sends me into la-la land.  I'm not really interested in how it went together...i'm interested in the final product.  And go easy on the different - but not substantially different - versions, won't you?

I am not too interested in exactly where Al was on Saturday, December 12th 1967; nor am I particularly interested in reading about someone hiccupping during the session for "Do You Like Worms."

 What I am interested in: learning who played what on what; the relationship of the Beach Boys to each others; analyses of Beach Boys music; reviews of the albums. Learning about officially unreleased songs I haven't heard yet.

 Also, I like that their are Beach Boys fans that are a)more into the minutiae than me; b) that exist at all, since I don't know any others in "real life."

 Whatever floats whoever's boat.

The THREAD, baby!

I'd say "/thread" now but there are just so many topics that just reek of nerdiness (nerdocity?).

The constant "ZOMG WUT COULD DA LAST BEACH BOYZ ALBUM HAVE BEEN LIKE?!?!?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111111" threads. Minutiae can be a drag. Too much focus on the bullshit around the band rather than the music can really suck. And the talks about Brian's sex life with Melinda. Of course, some of these topics sometimes still matter to me, depends on the mood I'm in. Brian has poops (or fucks? I mean, he was always such a pooper, and he's quite a twice-daily f*cker!) and I have moods.

While Luther deserves some chips for coming out with a bold statement (har har har, political incorrectness on the interweb) he's undoubtedly in the minority of Beach Boys fans.

I would like to say one thing to everyone on this board regarding this topic, and I remind myself every day -

IT'S ABOUT THE MUSIC.

well, hell...... if you don't want to have to stomach "a bunch of nerds" discussing Beach Boys related minutia, I wouldn't suggest hanging around a BEACH BOYS MESSAGE BOARD!!!!!!!!

So,  you don't like the SOT session sets?  I like listening to that stuff, at least once, and more than once if it has an interesting sound to it (like hearing vocal-only or instrumental-track only).  I like hearing and knowing how the music was put together, both listening to Brian in the studio and reading about how it was done.  But as for knowing each date for each session, who was there, the union contracts, etc, no, that doesn't interest me that much.  I also like different versions, but only if they sound good. 

It is painful to me to listen to 8 takes of the same two lines of something.  No, i don't really care for the SOT sessions sets, except the discs that are complete "alternate" albums.  THOSE are cool.  The sessions for them...not so much.

I'm somewhat obsessed with the Beach Boys. And 'in real life' I know just one person (who I don't even see that much) who is familiar with the Beach Boys beyond the hits. So to be able to go on a forum and be able to discuss even the most obscure outtakes and stuff like that, is a relief.

Exactly!

 "Also, I like that their are Beach Boys fans that are a)more into the minutiae than me; b) that exist at all, since I don't know any others in "real life." -this sums up exactly how i feel. ha.

Except I'm sure you wouldn't misspell "there".  ::) :)

I'm interested in the who -played-what stuff most. Not interested particularly in the people themselves, or rather the scandal. I like to read about what happened when someone met one of them, that's always fun (By the way, didn't mention it, but I met Mike, Bruce and Dave last Saturday. All were pretty nice, but Dave was the most laid-back and friendly!)

But the "scandal" sh*t? Bleh. I even held off joining up here for the longest time because of a dude called something like "theponymuse"-somethingsomething. God, he was an annoying bastard. Just a horrible, carrion circling vulture, who couldn't write, had no wit, and was only obsessed with some of the dumbest crap from the scandal sheet books, always bringing them up, even in album discussions. I wanted to throttle that guy. When I checked back awhile later, he'd gone.
He took that annoying crap to the extreme.

Ah, theeponymuseudonym. That takes me back haha.

I think the scandals are also interesting. Only adds to the legend. Of course I don't know how much of what's in a book like "Heroes and Villains" is true, but normally people only live such lives in soap operas...

Of course people who come here aren't interested in 'just the music'. In that case, they could just check AGD / Ian / c-man's websites from time to time to know what's been dissected lately and it would be good enough.

I always come back to check the extremes that some fans will go to validate their beliefs that some Beach Boy(s) are to blame for whatever went wrong. I think it's fascinating.

 :deadhorse 

I'm new here, so I'll address this group as you.  I can tell you, they argue on the Stones board whether it was Brian Jones who played piano on Ruby Tuesday or not (I say no, it's Jack Nitzsche) so it's the same sh*t elsewhere.  You are not unique in that sense.

Though I apologize for singling any particular thread here out, the one about the shoes was pretty ridiculous (although Brian WAS fond of those boat sneakers!)  :P

I don't much care for the alternate histories and "what ifs", for things that never happened. I can also do without the scandals.

But overall, I enjoy the discussion here and find a lot of it very informative.

The only session tapes that interest me are from "Today!" through "Friends." Otherwise, completed unreleased songs only, and of course, the singles and albums-proper.

There's too much else out there that compells me to go that deep into the Beach Boys anymore. But I'm glad I had that period of obsession, because I met a lot of great people and got to work on some cool things, and hear a ton of amazing music. I think now, with some time, I've grown to appreciate it all on a much more mellow level. Though I might be that last masocist that still enjoys a good "Smile" argument. "Smile" will always be the lifeblood that keeps me coming back.

The more obscure the minutia, the more I like it.  The more fact based the discussion, the more I find it interesting.  How technically the music was created - great.  How the mindset of the creators and what was going on in their lives affected the music - great.  Who pissed in whose Coke and started a fistfight - like that stuff too.  It's all part of the tapestry of life we call the Beach Boys saga.

A good book detailing the Beach Boys (rather than just Brian's) history up to the present day has yet to be written, and I would buy it in a second. 

I often turn my gaze back on myself and ask "am I obsessed with this stuff?" or "if this (insert some random unreleased song) was recorded/done by anyone else other than Brian/Beach Boys, would I care? Do I only like it because my musical heroe (s) were involved?"  So, I try to be critical and not just like something because it is done by my favorite group.

But I do find the tiniest details so fascinating.  Like, when I first heard the Brian in Holland tape: not worth a listen really, but  I have it saved under my "Beach Boys rarities" folder and often listen to it. Why? I guess, the tiniest details about my musical heroe just intrigue me but I try to be level headed and not get into weirdo fan headspace.  But I do want to know, for example, what was Brian like in Holland. Tell me stories, Show me unreleased pics, let me hear some unreleased music...It is all just fascinating to me...LOL

What is this "Brian in Holland" recording you speak of?

[koff] Alan [koff]  ;D

didn't know Alan had a quirky tick "and then it goes...and then it goes...and then it goes..." ::)

Who the f--- cares.... about solo albums! I don't.

I just don't care. They are ALL boooorrrrrrrring. I'm not talking about the ones back in the late 70's/early 80's (although other than POB, they weren't too hot), but the ones that are bantered about now. And this is why:

1. None of the surviving Beach Boys - including Brian Wilson - have enough quality material to fill an entire solo album. They have one or two excellent songs, a couple of good songs, and a bunch of filler. All of Brian's solo albums fall into this category.

2. None of the surviving Beach Boys - including Al Jardine - have an appealing enough voice to carry an entire album. Next to the arrangements/contributions from the Wrecking Crew, I feel the versatility of the group to disperse the lead vocals 4 or 5 ways is the most underrated or least discussed important ingredient in the success of The Beach Boys. I don't want to hear an entire album of lead vocals from ANY of the surviving Beach Boys.

3. None of the surviving Beach Boys has anything to say - artistically or musically - that they even need to record a solo album. Brian has been a caricature of himself. Or has tried to be. Same with Mike. And, according to those snippets from Al's impending release, he's parodying himself. Going back to POB again, Dennis had something to say - he made an artistic and EMOTIONAL statement, something Brian used to do and I'm not sure the others are capable of doing. Bruce, I used to think could offer something interesting. His Beach Boys' contributions were always a little more sophisticated than the other members (except maybe Dennis), but Bruce has been TALKING about a solo project for, what, 15 years now?

As I mentioned, I heard Al's short clips - I'm not that interested. I heard the solo stuff Mike has been shopping around. I can see why it hasn't been picked up. Getting In Over My Head was the first Beach Boy-related album I had to turn off before it was over. In 2008, Brian Wilson does not have a recording contract. I haven't heard the compilation that David Marks put out. And I'll continue to READ about all of the groovy stuff that Bruce has recorded.

See how ALL OF MY POSTS come back to a new Beach Boys album? Just take the BEST from the individual members, and....well, you've read it all before. Too many times. Now it's time for someone to counter by saying that they don't give a f--- about a new Beach Boys' album. :police:

I know it might be a silly notion, but anyone think Robert Hunter could produce a good set of lyrics for Brian? I'm just idly wondering...

Question for Sherriff.............does TLOS have a lot of fillers and just a few goodies? because I happen to disagree

As do I...Brian's solo output has been inconsistent, but TLOS certainly has something to say artistically and musically.  I would argue that BW '88 does as well.

punkinhead, I'll try to give you a totally honest answer. I downloaded a live version of TLOS, listened to it one time, my hard drive crashed, and I lost it. So, my answer is based on just one listen. I don't like to review an "album" after just one listen, that's not fair, but here it goes, and it's very "general"....

I thought it was the best batch of Brian Wilson solo songs he ever assembled, but that ain't sayin' much. I don't remember a lot of the specifics, but I did like "Midnight's Another Day". The songs appeared to be a little more complex arrangement-wise than most of Brian's solo stuff. Of course I liked "Been Way Too Long". I'm not crazy about narratives, and, maybe I'm wrong, but did the "presentation" get a little weaker toward the end? I don't remember. I don't care for Brian's solo lead vocals, that's no secret. And I felt some of the new songs (some of the songs were "resurrected", right?) sound like somebody else wrote 'em. I think it would be better with The Beach Boys' voices on it! I had to get that in there :police:

I have two questions for you, punkinhead. Are there any record companies negotiating with Brian to sign him/it? Is he performing TLOS live in concert on his upcoming tour?

1) i have no idea, i'm really at the end of the food chain
2) unfortunatly not, because "we americans only know the greatest hits and nothing artistic"

The 1994-96 Wilson/Paley tapes seemed to be honest and hit me on a gut level. Other than that, I agree... "Pacific Ocean Blue" is the one. And half of Brian's 1988 album stands up artistically... especially "Melt Away." I'm not interested in any other solo material by the Beach Boys.

"Morpheus, why has thou forsaken me?"

Wouldn't these questions imply that commercial success is required for artistic success? To be honest, I don't care if he plays it more here or if it's released on a label (as opposed to independently) because he could put it out anyway on his own dime and it would be the same quality. Maybe it would do all right, realistically it wouldn't. I don't care either way about that. It is his best solo work (not counting Smile), at least assuming they don't kill it in the recording and producing stages.

I agree with some of you that the session trivia can drag.  This is obsessive in the way some peoople keep baseball statistics.   Put me right to sleep.    What I enjoy, and I don't think I'm alone here, is the lore of the characters and the music.

**It is his best solo work (not counting Smile), at least assuming they don't kill it in the recording and producing stages.**

I hope he sings it beautifully and with a lot of passion. Not slurred and sounding like he's half asleep. The whole thing sounds great except the lyrics to one of the numbers near the end, with all those ridiculous "surfer girl" lyrics. The last VDP-written spoken passage has a lot of soul... I love that.

What bores me are those who continue to think that there is something salvagable from the surviving members to record another album or a reunion tour.  I'd like to think that the Beach Boys (as a band) ended when Carl passed away. 

Fixed, with blueboardian ideas of political correctness removed for truthful effect and a reminder that we all should take off our rose-coloured glasses.

Who the f--- cares?   :violin

But could it be argued, in fact...

Who the f--- cares about who the f--- cares?

 I like the Beach Boys.  :rock  :lol ... not that anyone cares.


Good point Mr. Real Beach Boy.

Hey Luther,

I don't give a F... about what your sick of.

If you're not interested, then don't read it.

someone had to say it!

I hope you're smiling or joking when you say:


because I tried to be clear when I started the thread with:

I have to admit i like reading + discussing anything about BB.. Im In deep for concert recordings + videos + unreleased stuff.. But ill admit i own the SOT stuff but dont listen that much except the Pet + Smile stuff.. Hearing the same song over + over slowly changing gets boring after awhile.... Completed studio recordings is different.. I am so taken by BB ..In the early 70"s when i found out BW wore bowling shoes like tennis shoes.. I went down + got me a pair myself.. How weird is that..LOL...????...!!!!!!!!!!11 ::).. :lol

I went through a lot of those BB stages - a beard, Adidas warmup suits and sneakers, Hawaiian shirt, and turban. Just kidding about the turban, but I did look for a pair of those white pants that Dennis wore for the cover of Pacific Ocean Blue....

I had a bowling shoe like pair of shoes in the early 70's.  They were WAY comfortable.  Don't know why they didn't catch on or come back into fashion.

Do any of you remember how the old Indian character in Americathon earned his fortune?

Who the f*** cares ?

I the f*** care.  ;D

Undoubtedly to several more magnitudes of detail than is good for me, or strictly necessary, but my credo has always been that Brian's music is so important that it demands to be documented accurately. And if that means crossing swords with people who were there but have faulty memories, so be it. I'm interested in the facts, not my ego.

Errrr... OK, my ego is not averse to a gentle massage now and then. 8)

Thanks for saving us having to say it...
;-)

Actually, for all of us who can pass on this or that aspect, it's critical that people like you pay attention to all the details.  All kinds of us are needed.