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Smiley Smile Stuff => General On Topic Discussions => Topic started by: Shady on November 21, 2008, 04:42:07 PM



Title: Still I Dream Of It
Post by: Shady on November 21, 2008, 04:42:07 PM
Not only Brian's most underated song, but the most underated song of all time IMO.

Up there with 'Strangers In The Night'.


Title: Re: Still I Dream Of It
Post by: grillo on November 21, 2008, 04:58:26 PM
Definitely one of my faves. During that whole era Brian was writing some of his best stuff, at least from a songwriter's perspective. Really, really great chord changes. Sometimes, of course, the lyrics kinda blow, or at least seem silly, but Brian's a pretty silly dude.


Title: Re: Still I Dream Of It
Post by: Shady on November 21, 2008, 05:17:15 PM
I  love the lyrics, there just so..well...Brian  ;D


Title: Re: Still I Dream Of It
Post by: punkinhead on November 21, 2008, 05:27:30 PM
it is certainly a fantastic song....but that demo, man, so much emotion, he had what denny had going for him on POB


Title: Re: Still I Dream Of It
Post by: melissalynn on November 21, 2008, 06:35:17 PM
I love it...certainly one of my favorite songs. Just brilliant.


Title: Re: Still I Dream Of It
Post by: MBE on November 21, 2008, 09:41:18 PM
A very good one. I have heard the demos and two 1977 studio takes and they all are fantastic. While I personally think that Brian's writing from 75-82 was erratic, he could still come up with killers. Oh Lord, and It's Like Heaven are two I think of as being great from that era.


Title: Re: Still I Dream Of It
Post by: phirnis on November 22, 2008, 12:15:06 AM
Always loved this little story from the Smile Shop surrounding Still I Dream Of It:

http://www.thesmileshop.net/index.php/Brian_Is_Back!_(though_he_was_never_gone....really) (http://www.thesmileshop.net/index.php/Brian_Is_Back!_(though_he_was_never_gone....really))


Title: Re: Still I Dream Of It
Post by: MBE on November 22, 2008, 12:50:58 AM
It's as bittersweet story isn't it. Good reading


Title: Re: Still I Dream Of It
Post by: Shane on November 22, 2008, 01:32:56 AM
I think that, despite all the drugs/damage/loss of motivation, Brian really matured as a songwriter in the 1970s.  Especially around the Love You/Adult Child era, he was writing songs of tremendous complex structure.  If Brian only had the drive to see his work to a bigger state of completion during this time, we would have seen much more amazing stuff coming forth.


Title: Re: Still I Dream Of It
Post by: brother john on November 22, 2008, 01:48:54 AM
Not forgetting Its Over Now, from the same era and an equally wonderful track.

Jimmy Nail did a nice (ish) version of SIDoI song on his second Crocodile Shoes LP. Both are songs ripe for a new arrangement, though in a way I don't think Brian's versions could be bettered.


Title: Re: Still I Dream Of It
Post by: Sheriff John Stone on November 22, 2008, 07:35:46 AM
Of all the re-recording and dipping into his back catalogue that Brian has done, it is amazing that he hasn't touched "Still I Dream Of It".


Title: Re: Still I Dream Of It
Post by: Aegir on November 22, 2008, 10:19:10 AM
That's because it's already been officially released on I Just Wasn't Made for These Times.


Title: Re: Still I Dream Of It
Post by: Sheriff John Stone on November 22, 2008, 10:58:06 AM
That's because it's already been officially released on I Just Wasn't Made for These Times.

I'm sorry, Aegir. You must've misunderstood what I posted. I expressed surprise that Brian hasn't RE-RECORDED "Still I Dream Of It" yet, especially with all of the delving into his back catalogue that he has done. You made reference to a Don Was-selected (or whoever selected it) "grainy" demo, not a finished track. Which makes me wonder why they didn't just re-record it; that's what IJWMFTT was all about anyway.

And, if you wanted to "make a point" about "Still I Dream Of It" being released, a better example would've been the boxed-set version....



Title: Re: Still I Dream Of It
Post by: TdHabib on November 22, 2008, 02:09:05 PM
Brian said in an interview at the time IJWMFTT was released that he intended to have Stevie Wonder sing the song, and that he still hoped Stevie would sing it. Personally, I can't hear Mr. Wonder singing it (even though I am a fan of his). He also wanted Sinatra to do "It's Over Now," and THAT I can here, but apparantely (I need confirmation on this) Sinatra declined.


Title: Re: Still I Dream Of It
Post by: MBE on November 22, 2008, 11:16:30 PM
He did redo it in 1986 with Gary Usher as "Still I Dream Of You". Usher didn't like the lyrics so he rewrote them. Considering how terrible cheezy 80's the Usher demos that have surfaced are, it was probably pretty bad. Brian's voice at the time was weak as well.