The Smiley Smile Message Board

Always wanted to start a thread on this tune...

So, whadya think? Is it one of Brian's more classic melodies of the late 90s-now or an overblown piece of adult contemporary?

I'm in the former category, especially considering it was one of Brian's last collaborations with Tony Asher...bittersweet. I can't stand Jeff Foskett's version though, and the booted version of Brian's actual production (before Joe Thomas messed it up....um I mean overdubbed additional elements) is much better because Brian does a good job singing most of the lead himself (in a younger sounding voice than usual). Still, I get a little lump in my throat everytime I hear the version on The Wilsons

Brian's own production of this song is classic BW to these ears. Could've been quite a good Beach Boys tune as well, with Mike perhaps doing some bass vocals here and there (just love his nineties Still A Mystery voice!).

I've never managed to listen to the Wilsons album for more than 30 seconds. This is easily the most forgettable album in Beach Boys history, even more so than Going Public.

I consider THE WILSONS a very pleasant album. It suffers from "flavor of the moment" trip-hop pretentions in the production (not to mention blatant "Alanis Morrisette" vocalisms), but I think it was an ambitious work for Carnie and Wendy and  stands head-and-shoulders above the MOR ho-hum of Wilson Phillips. "Monday Without You" is a great pop single with a fun backing vocal from Brian and the cover of "'Til I Die" really comes alive at the end with a surprisingly joyous vocal arrangement.

As for "Everything I Need", the song is excellent (I think "This Isn't Love" is even better) and is as close to the PET SOUNDS vibe as Brian has ever gotten since '66 (that's not to say it's a better song than everything that came later, but Asher helped him recapture a certain feeling that Brian abandoned after their 60s collaboration). The overdubs courtesy of Joe Thomas go a long way to ruin the experience, but I still enjoy the recording. It's a song I'd like to hear Brian do live.

My favorite version is by Micheal Parks, it mixes well with the other tunes he chose from love you and that era

Love this tune, asked Jason about it but it seems that info is limited. The 'scratch' version (for lack of a better term) is my favorite by far, the Wilsons cut isnt bad, either but I love the production of the former.

I didn't enjoy Jeff's version too much but quite enjoyed The Wilson's version though when I hear it can't help but long for what the song could have been as it's a great tune but the production is somewhat off putting - particularly that horrible nylon guitar that is also prominent on Lay Down Burden (the Roxy version of this I prefer).

That said, I wasn't aware that Brian recorded an earlier version of the song but would love to hear it ;).

Might be off-base on this, but I think I recall reading that Jeff's version uses the original basic track & bvs.

I agree that this version is great, aside from a few production niggles, his album is one of the best cover albums for reinterpretation and enjoyability. 'Everything I need' is a good song, it's a pity it wasn't on 'Imagination'.

Not a big fan of Everything I Need. Not just the production, but the whole song. I know it's a sin to say that, but I'm being honest. I don't think the melody approaches anything on Pet Sounds. The melody, to my untrained ears, sounds very "adult contempo." The Joe Thomas production and Carnie and Wendy's smooth voices only add to that. I haven't heard Brian's original production, but I have heard the Parkes version and am still not a big fan.

Years ago I heard Brian's original version (you could  hear Hal Blaine's and Carol Kaye's contributions much easier than you could on the released version). The feel was very similar, IIRC, to I Just Wasn't Made For These Times right down to the percussion hook, which made it less "AC". Supposedly Jeff Foskett's version was based on Brian's original version

Could very well be--but IMHO it features one of Brian's worst vocals of recent years, the few lines he takes in the 2004 sound like he's doing the "one take and a steak" thing...