The Smiley Smile Message Board

A very spotty and uneven period but when viewed as a whole, in retrospect, there is much to be culled from those recordings.

Just for fun, as a group project, lets make a Smiley Smiler compiliation of this music.

A few simple guidelines;

1.  It should start with KTSA and end with the last releases preceeding BWPS. 
2.  We can include unreleased material if it fits rule #1.
3.  It can include any solo or outside project releases if it fits rule #1.
4.  Each poster can pick two songs.
5.  When it appears we have exhausted the reasonable choices, as a group, we will sequence the compilation.
6.  We will submit it to management for consideratiion as the next compilation release. 8)

I have some choices in mind but will defer pending the choices you make.

Who will begin?

1.  Getcha Back
2.  Love and Mercy

Somewhere Near Japan (single mix)

Water Builds Up (2nd version)

Melt Away

Rock'n'Roll To The Rescue

Soul Searchin' (Paley sessions)
She's Still a Mystery

I too like SNJ and would definitely want it on the comp.  I don't believe I have heard the single mix.   How is it different than the Still Cruisin version?  Where would one find that?

She's Still a Mystery

I Do Love You

Gettin' in over my head (Paley sessions version)
I sleep alone

This Song Wants To Sleep With You Tonight
Soul Searchin' - Beach Boys version

Keepin' the Summer Alive
Goin' On

Where I Belong

California Saga ( the one intende for S and S)

1. Kokomo (just to change it up, maybe the live version from the Hallmark CD)
2. Lahaina Aloha

I Wish For You and Today from BLW.  I know some don't like "Today" but I think it is quite good.
Those are my 2 choices. 

Stronger guitar, drums and Mike Love vocal.  I have never been able to find it anywhere.  I have only heard it on the SNJ video. Even the single I bought back in 1989 (b/w Kokomo) was the album mix

Youtube.

ditto

California (the 96 acoustic vesion)
Rio Grande

Santa Ana Winds
Heaven

Sail Away
Sunshine (BW)

1. I'll put in another vote for "Somewhere Near Japan."  If most people want to use the Edit (which is how the remixed "single version" people have been referring to is listed as on the label) that's fine.

That Edit is also some 35 seconds shorter than LP version.  It was only issued in the US on two promo-only releases: a double A-sided vinyl 45 (Capitol 7PRO-79841) and a CD single with both the LP version and the Edit (Capitol B-44445).  The only commercial release of SNJ in the US was as a cassingle (with "Kokomo" as the B-side, Capitol 4JM-44475.  The cassingle used the LP version of the song.

2. "Problem Child" - Under the heavy-handed drum track and 80's production there's a terrific, very catchy tune full of great singing.

"Problem Child"? I never knew someone actually liked that song, though I have to admit that Mike's sax solo is top-notch as ever. As a sax player he's always been very underappreciated even among hardcore fans.  :smokin

Version that goes with the video is definitely a remix - kick drum is waaay up compared to the LP track.

Oh, you're absolutely right that the "single versions" is a complete remix: I'm just saying that the labels to the vinyl and CD promo singles containing the track make no reference to it being a remix, only an "Edit" as seen below:

(http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff89/lostjukebox/7bfe_1.jpg)

Problem Child certainly may be an interesting listen once in a while, but on a "best of"...

What are the chances of these *ever* getting a proper release?  I mean, with Capitol releasing a Beach Boys compilation roughly every year, it doesn't seem too impossible to toss include these songs.  Weren't there some legal issues involving the release of these songs? 

Male Ego
In My Car

Both top notch Brian (mid 80s/solo-esq) vocals

1. Lahaina Aloha
2. California Dreamin'

I don't know if you're being serious or not, but just no one is confused, Mike didn't play the sax solo in that song. The only BBs recordings that have Mike's sax on them are the really early songs, like Shut Down, or Shut Down Part 2.

Well, it just amazes me how Mike would pretend to play the sax in some of the group's video clips, that's all.

The issue is managemental/personal, rather than legal.

Be nice if more people voted on this and we could be presented with a list of songs to vote on...

You asked for it.... :P

Love And Mercy (But the live version offa Roxy)
There's So Many

I think we are  still putting out two songs in.    When it appears we are repeating ourselves, we should put the top songs in a poll/vote on the board.

Based on recent comps, I would say a comp of around 30 songs would make a nice release.

After we have decided on the cover art ( :jedi) we can submit the package to the record companies involved  :lol

I'm probably in the minority, but I wouldn't include the solo stuff. I thought it was a BEACH BOYS comp, and there's enough Beach Boys' material to fill a "Best Of" comp. If you want a "solo selections" comp, do a separate one. Just a suggestion...

Good point, but I think solo stuff was put in from the start, so somebody nominate a couple of Mike tracks so he gets a look in.  I've already nominated, but in the interest of sharing the honours, I'd include 10,000 Years, Cool Head and Blondie's Hand on My Shoulder, all of which, I think, qualify as being pre BWPS.

I'm breaking the rules and instead of going for a best of here is what I would include on a comp from 80-96 that shows them off in a decent light creatively. One of the rules is that either it came out as a Beach Boys song or had two or more Beach Boys on it.

Goin' On, Santa Ana Winda, KTSA, Living With A Heartache (single edit), Oh Lord, City Blues, Stevie, Getcha Back, Rock and Roll To The Rescue, California Dreamin 1986 version, Somewhere Near Japan LP version, Crocodile Rock, Soul Searchin, and You're Still A Mystery. If I had to include tracks from SIP I would pick Hot Fun and the title song (original mix).

Yeah! Break the rules, fight the power.

MBE, you like the original mix of Summer in Paradise more than the UK version? The part with Roger McGuinn singing and the 12-string guitar playing is great.

I'm glad you included/recognized this song. I've always found it to be underrated. I liked that Carl was collaborating with another guitar player, it WAS a single which isn't well-known, I thought Carl's performance was excellent, but, most of all, I liked the production. It was a unique sound, one which wasn't found on many if any prior BB albums, and, it was a progressive sound on a mostly retro album.

Speaking of Carl, how about including "Like A Brother" from Beckley/Lamm/Wilson?  Carl doing a tribute to Brian, what's not to love?

Cheers,
Jon Blum

Stephen Desper told me it's his very favorite Beach Boys recording. I didn't really get into it until I bought the tighter 45.

I felt SIP while not a great song gained its strengh from Mike's sincere lead thus I like the original better. 

Much prefer the Live version..

YEAH! Stick it to the man!    (Het, wait a second, I'm the man)   ..........Never mind.  Under no circumstances, should you stick it to the man. 


But back to the ground rules.   My intent was to get a truly best of from the KTSA through the end of the century.   I didn't want to necessarily exclude the unreleased or other/outside  projects such as Paley material or BLW.   But if there is material to exclude, my point is made.  There is a great deal of good material from this period.

Keep the ideas coming.    I'll bet we could all benefit from the input on this thread by using the many good suggestions in making a personal comp to suite our individual tastes.  I'm already considering songs I hadn't previously thought of as worthy for such a comp.  And many of the suggestions are dead on.

As for Mike not getting in any solo material, I'd say that migh be balanced by his many good lead vocals with the Beachboys on the music of this era.  Getcha Back and SNJ come to mind for starters.

Another suggestion (to be shot down ;D)....

I would start the comp AFTER KTSA. Most if not all of the KTSA songs were recorded in 1979 weren't they? I view KTSA more as the END of the era than the beginning - for a comp. The real beginning of the new era was after Carl returned, the sound changed (see BB85), and the real 80's production began to creep in. It doesn't make for a better comp, just a more accurate one. 

You have my permission to leave off the KTSA material when you do your comp. :smokin

My problem with the Living with a Heartache is the backing vocals, not very Beach Boyish at all. Is Bruce the only other BB on there?

Thank you, thank you vurry much... :police:

This Song Wants to Sleep With You Tonight
Marketplace

What about " Chasin' The Sky " from  the UP THE CREEK soundtrack ? I listen to that everyonce in a while on my turntable.  It has  great harmonies on it.

Ted  ;D

I like "Chasin' The Sky"

if pinned down to 2 songs...

somewhere near japan
strange things happen

How 'bout adding a bonus 45 (or mini CD) to the collection...a sort of Mount Vernon & Fairway but with a rap/hiphop theme - it would include Wipeout (Fat boys version) and Smart Girls (BB samples mix)   :p

Spirit of Rock N Roll (80's version)
Rock N Roll To The Rescue

It's Gettin' Late
It's Not Easy Being Me

Somewhere near Japan
Livin with a heartache

Great, great songs

Keepin' The Summer Alive (1980)
Goin' On (1980)
Getcha Back (1985)
Rock 'n' Roll To The Rescue (1986)
California Dreamin' (1986)

Somewhere Near Japan

Strange Things Happen

Al is great on both of these.

Somewhere Near Japan
California Dreaming

Where I Belong
Goin' On

Still A Mystery (the best thing the BBs recorded in the 80s or 90s, and it's not even close....in my top-10 BBs songs, easily)
Somewhere Near Japan (I think the lyrics kind of suck, actually, but Carl and Al more than make up for it with stellar vocals)

Runners Up:
California Dreamin'
Where I Belong (some of my favorite block harmony ever)

To me, this is the best song, hands down, from this period -- +1 million

#2 - "Stevie"

I'd love to hear anything Dennis may have recorded '80-'83 as well.

San Francisco - from OCA
Always been a fav of mine. Got to giddy up, do wah diddy up...

Someone to Love - from Sweet Insanity
Apart from the cornball 'yeah yeah yeahs' after the verse, s'gotta lotta power. There's your rock and roll record.

Rio Grande
You're Still A Mystery

Out of songs that have not been mentioned anywhere in this thread...

East Meets West (mainly for Carl and Brian's bits and the harmony sections)
Don't Let Her Know She's An Angel
Fantasy is Reality/Bells of Madness
Everything I Need
Lay Down Burden

But my actually comp would go something more like this...

Side 1 - Beach Boys Releases
Goin' On
Getcha Back
It's Gettin' Late
Where I Belong
California Dreamin'
Somewhere Near Japan
In My Car
Kokomo
Lahaina Aloha
Caroline, No (Stars & Stripes)

Side 2 - Beach Boys Unreleased / Solo Songs
Stevie
Heaven
Love and Mercy
Melt Away
Rio Grande
Soul Searchin' (Paley)
You're Still a Mystery
Gettin' In Over My Head (Paley)
It's Not Easy Being Me
Lay Down Burden

I kinda like Somewhere Near The Japan... also Problem Child melody is damn catchy.