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A few ponderings about this unreleased album...

How close was it to getting a release? Is the reported tracklisting anything like close to final?

Was Brian serious when writing Life is for the Living? And was Carl serious when he sang it? Did they really think it would be included on an album (it sounds like a joke to me)?

What would the reaction have been if the album had been released? Both from hardcore fans and the record buying public.

Probably depends on what you mean by "serious." If you mean did they fail to see humor in it, then no. Brian was a funny guy, and clearly he would have seen that this is a funny song. It's not without precedent, with HELP is On the Way as a humor-health forerunner. But if you mean "serious" as in trying to do a good job? I'd say yes ... and I'd say they did it. I think it's a great song. Pop music need not be without humor. The guy who wrote A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall is one of the funniest guys in the business.

The album was close enough to being released for David Leaf's Pet Sounds 'zine to do a track-by-track review in late 1977: I gather a master was prepared (June 27th 1977) and handed in to Reprise. The band were going to perform tracks from it on the aborted 1977 UK tour. The prevailing wisdom is that Reprise rejected it, and that also a faction of the band hated the 'Big Band' styled cuts.

No sh*t? Never heard that before. Do we know what tracks? I can't imagine the band zipping through "Tomboy," or "Lines" with or without Macca.

Adult/Child is a strange beast indeed. Totally inconsistent, all over the place, but Brian's best work has always been like that. Of course, songs like H.E.L.P. Is On The Way and Games Two Can Play stick out like sore thumbs if only for the production values alone, not to mention Brian suddenly reclaiming his sweet voice!

Hey Little Tomboy on Adult/Child is SOMEWHAT preferable to the MIU version if only for the different mix and the lack of the little snare drum intro...it at least FEELS more like a Brian song and production that way. Of course, the middle-eight bit is tasteless as hell.

The big band tracks are pretty great.

The On Broadway cover is dire.

The Love You-esque tracks (Everybody Wants To Live, Lines, It's Trying To Say) are great fun.

Shortenin' Bread is the best version out there.

I love Adult/Child, I think that "It's Over Now," is one of the most beautiful, most well-constructed melodically songs Brian has written. However, although I really like "Still I Dream of It" as a song, I think the demo version is superior in it's emotion. Almost make sure you hear "It's Over Now" at the proper speed.

I really love Baseball/It's Trying To Say and Everyone Wants To Live. Those are among the best of the 70s for me.

It's hard for me to believe that the group thought Adult/Child would get released. It's not that the songs are terrible - although very goofy at times, a lot of the songs are pretty good. It's just that they sound like demos, or partially finished songs. Love You, for seeming so simple, actually had some pretty dense arrangements. Here, we have a piano, a synthesized bass, and the occasional organ or drum making up most of the songs, except for the big band tracks. The background vocals on "Hey Little Tomboy" are rougher than anything on Love You. Slowing down "It's Over Now" was a mistake, too, and makes Carl sound ridiculous. No way was this going to sell.

I had thought "It's Over Now" being slowed down was an error that was never really fixed?

Either way, it sounds a thousand times better at the right speed.

i honestly have a hard time believing Lines and Everybody wants to Live are finished...i mean, what kind of production do they compare to of that era? Same with It's trying to Say

"Everyone wants to live" to my is one of the great lost treasures from the 70s.

Me too. I love it. Although, Brian high voice that's on the verge of being shrill sticks out like a sore thumb during the chorus.

i really wanna hear "it's over now" at original speed.

suggestions on how to achieve?

It actually makes me quite sad to think that the band (or some of them at least) wanted the album released. As other posters have said, it doesn't hang together cohesively at all, sounds massively underproduced and would have been completely uncommercial. For numerous reasons, Carl had probably lost confidence and some interest by this point.

Still I Dream of It is a good song, despite some dodgy lyrics, and should have been released in some form at the time. I like It's Trying to Say and Games Two Can Play (although the latter is obviously out of place). Lines is cute as well (but has no production values) and It's Over Now isn't bad either but the rest...

The horrible talking on Hey Little Tomboy makes this significantly worse than the released version.

The lyrics to Everybody Wants to Live are abysmal and the song is repetitive and goes nowhere.

The covers are average on the whole.

H.E.L.P. should have been forgotten about by the band by this point.

And Life is for the Living...terrible lyrics and I'm not surprised this hasn't been released officially yet. Carl's vocals indicate he probably wasn't taking it seriously but if any of the band were planning for this to be the opening track on the album then it shows how messed up they were.

Here's an idea:

Wouldn't it be great if for the BBs 50th Anniversary, they took the best tracks from Adult/Child and added a few more new ones, or suitable covers, (I like On Broadway) and made an organ/synthesizer/big band concept album (vaguely) about their own trials and tribulations of being the Beach Boys over the past 50 years? (in the way that Rumours was about Fleetwood Mac's relationships).

Each surviving band member could have his own 'suite' of songs, etc...

Get Lindsay Buckingham on added instrumental duties. Jim O'Rourke to produce it. Get Four Tet to make a remix album.

It would be amazing to behold, and probably have musical/artistic merit as well as the kudos needed for Pitchfork et al to get off on it.

If I were God, you'd see this breaking story on the headline news tonight.

Strange. For one reason or another I am happy that you aren't God.

IIRC Jim O'Rourke doesn't even like The Beach Boys.

I always thought it wasn't released because Mike and Al weren't on it enough (vocally), thus the inclusion of On Broadway, HELP is on the Way, etc. But after Love You, it was like the Boys had cameo appearances on albums; for instance on MIU: Carl's only lead on Sweet Sunday Kinda Love and Dennis' only lead on My Diane...and on LA: Mike's only lead on Sumahama and Al's only lead on Lady Lynda

I own this album as a BB completist but I can only listen to a handfull of tracks without wanting to cut my eardrums out. Awful, awful stuff mosty, and not even long enough so they tack on a couple of 1970 rejects that hadn't a prayer of getting on "Sunflower" or "Surf's Up" to pad it out. Wasn't Mike's reaction to listening to it "What the foda#!!?!!!" or something like that. Have to agree with him there, however his and Al's abysmal Xmas album was no better!!

was there an album art made up for it?

The only one I seen was with Brian- shirtless with fire helmet from Smile era.

I remember I saw one on the Internet once. It was a cartoon of a family during a BBQ (looked like it was supposed to be drawn "50's style.")

Edit: http://www.loudbassoon.com/images/records/landlocked.jpg

There we go

I think that AGD once said that there was a "mock up" cover made. Whatever that means.

I love A/C, too, although I like the demo of "It's Over Now" better than the version here. Also, I think Brian's deep, hoarse vocals fit much better on this album (and on 15BO) than on Love You.

I'm pretty sure that its just a bootleggers design/

I love  Adult/Child ,but it would have tanked if it was released.  There was an interview with Carnie years back (likely from Endless Harmony or American Band)  in which she said her Dad  would  write these songs and one was about a cigarette.
It always made me wonder about the opening line of "Everyone wants to live". "The cigarette when you put it the water goes psssst , but  the truth is you shouldn't laugh,  if you start laughing you're just a coward."                                   

 The song doesn't make much sense ,but I like it.

the song doesnt make much sense to me either...but I think it was on the IJWMFTT doc.

I imagine that this is literally a scene that played out many times in Brian's life at the time.  Can't you just picture a slightly out of it Brian flicking a cigarette butt into the toilet and home and, then for no reason, laughing hysterically at it?  If you want to look deeper, you could also theorize that Brian possibly heard a voice saying he was a coward, as didn't he reference a similar sentiment on the Larry King interview?  Either way, the ridiculous opening put me off the song for years, until one day I discovered a fine little song actually followed.  Love the descending synth bass line, the chugging drums and those sky high harmonies on the chorus.  And plus, I now love the "cigarette" part, especially the "phhhst!"...who else writes songs like this?  It's gotta be Brian.  :hat

I've also really liked Lines, even thought the ending sounds unfinished.  It's such a tasty, brief little ditty that I can't help but love it.  Also some of the chorus have that weird "sinister" sounds that pops up in Brian's songs from time to time.  I'd say that Lines in the "Johnny Carson" of the Adult Child; both have normal everyday lyrics that are paired with dark chord progressions.  In fact, Love You and Adult Child are brother and sister records, if you know what I mean.

What's that mean?  Brian friggin a cigarette in the toilet and home     ???

TIME TO TURN INTO A GIIIIIIIIIIIIIRRRLL

Oops, that should have read "flippin' a cigarette in the toilet at home."  This is what happens when I post without proof reading!

I was gonna say! "Fuckin' a cigarette in the toilet at home?"

I guess at least it was at home and not in a public can. That Brian Wilson, I heard he was crazy...but I had NO idea!  :lol

I've unintentionally taken this thread in a completely disturbing direction!  :lol

I was thinking about Adult/Child lately and while many fans seem to think of the album as tremendously weird it came to my mind that for BW it was probably quite a natural thing to do at the time. Maybe he had heard "A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night" (or just some Sinatra for that matter) and really felt inspired. It does seem like a great departure for the band that did "Surfin' USA". Most of Holland, however, didn't sound like "Little Deuce Coupe" either.

anyone have any info on this record i bought recently?

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4886747927_d28f759eb9.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4102/4886747957_150444a61a_z.jpg)

on back: tracklisting

"This album is almost 100% Brian with help from Carl. Recorded in early 1977 this ablum (a typo on the back cover) features many previously unreleased tunes including: 'Life is For the Living', 'Deep Purple', 'Everybody Want's to Live', 'Lines', 'Baseball', and 'Still I Dream of it'.
As in the past, many tunes scheduled for this L.P. were slated for other albums, some released, others never seeing the light of day. A version of 'Shortenin Bread' appeared  on the Light Album. 'Help is on the Way' was originally picked for The New Album and Landlocked. The remaining songs on this album are familiar to the collector.
This album was Long overdue"

That's a vinyl pressing of one of the tape copies of the album that went around in the late 1970s. Granted, I've heard at least four different permutations of this album as sourced from these late 1970s cassettes - one with all tracks at the correct speed, one with several tracks (Deep Purple, It's Over Now, Shortenin' Bread, Lines, On Broadway) running sharp, one with band count-ins on Hey Little Tomboy and It's Trying To Say, even one with different vocals on Lines and Still I Dream Of It.

Those cassettes are a small goldmine that seem to have been forgotten...

http://www.esquarterly.com/bellagio/unreleased.html (http://www.esquarterly.com/bellagio/unreleased.html)

"Hey Little Tomboy" is one of the worst songs the Beach Boys ever did and it has absolutely no redeeming qualities. It is terrible musically and too sexist and heteronormative to simply ignore -- this goes for both the unreleased version from this album (with the completely tasteless talking sections) and the released cut.

Most boy/girl pop music is just as sexist and heteronormative, it's just dressed up in a more agreeable way.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI0UT3Ix5jk&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI0UT3Ix5jk&feature=related)

Around the late 70's and early 80's, there were cassette tapes flying around in trading circles. The contents of these cassettes were later made available on vinyl bootlegs, right around 1985. These bootlegs of course preceeded CD's.  The albums included 'Landlocked', 'New Album', 'Adult Child', 'California Feeling', 'Christmas Album' (1977), 'Made In USA', 'Brian Loves You', and three or four 'SMiLE' 'releases'. There was also a second 'Adult Child' vinyl bootleg album that came out, different cover than above. There was a Honey's box set and Dennis' 'Bamboo' album. And the 'Hawthorne Hotshots' EP, and numerous bootleg singles. And three or four live albums on vinyl.

"The Beach Boys Collector's Series" on vinyl. Those were the days......

Yeah, I know. The fact that Brian didn't even bother to make his sexism and heteronormativity "agreeable" though is why it's terrible; it's the difference between "Hey Little Tomboy" and, say, "The Little Girl I Once Knew" -- I find the former way more actively offensive than the latter.

And then there's the pig snorting sounds on the "New Album" version. 

Sounds about right for these working-class boys~ :lol

I had never heard the pig snorting mix of "Hey Little Tomboy" until today: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsJOM1sDXlU  

I always thought that the other unreleased version didn't sound like something that they would actually try to release. At least this has some kind of synth sound on it and some whistling. I think the pig snorts were actually a good addition. It makes it more obvious that it's a joke. Plus, isn't that what SMiLE was supposed to sound like, if we're going by the An American Band movie? Animal noises and dinner table noises over piano tracks?

It is more actively offensive than "The Little Girl I Once Knew", no doubt about it, mostly perhaps because in 1965 Brian was moving towards overall sophistication, while his mid-seventies output was more about roughness and directness, so it's a different approach I guess. Personally I like "Hey Little Tomboy" a lot, even though I sometimes wonder why the group decided to put it on the M.I.U. Album...

The pig snorts have nothing to do with The Beach Boys - they were added by someone for their website a few years ago.

I hate 'Tomboy'. It's bloody disgusting. I hate Mike's vocals. I hate Brian's vocal. I hate the lyrics. I hate the voiceovers. I hate the instruments when there are no voiceovers. I hate the harmonies. I even hate Carl's vocal. I don't even hate 'Kokomo' as much as I hate this song.

Adult/Child on the whole, however, I love. Everybody Wants To Live is my top pick. Or It's Over Now. Brian's piano demos of that are heartbreaking.

Lazy Lizzie is a better song than Hey Little Tomboy.  It's a little less perverted anyway......

Any idea why?  Conjures images of the BBs standing in a circle in a mud pit, encouraging a pig to try on women's clothes.     

the ADULT CHILD version of "hey little tomboy" is bitchin !

If you saw the site where it was featured with the snorts, you'd understand.

Why do I get the distinct feeling that I'll be seeing this image in my dreams tonight?

             :o :o :o

thanks for the info guys, i really appreciate it :)

Any idea why?  Conjures images of the BBs standing in a circle in a mud pit, encouraging a pig to try on women's clothes.     
[/quote]

I had a dream like that once.

Now I'm curious.... what exactly was the deal with this website that added the snorts?

(And also - the remix on 'Adult Child: Millennium Edition' has the snorts.)

As I recall, it's devoted to what they perceive as sexist tunes.

So, Purple Chick, if you're reading this, when are you gonna put together an ultimate version of A/C? With corrected speeds, mock-up cover, etc?

Come on, man! Come back! It's been (way) too long!

Well, I would hate to see anyone fall on hard times -- but if Mike needed the money, maybe then they'd release a two-disc ultimate edition of Adult Child.  I think the cover art should have girls in bikinis, no less, on the beach, but with... sweat bands, and  a blender... flicken cigarettes ... but not laughing... no, no.  Cuz then they'd be cowards.


"Adult Child" is written in almost a Smiley Smile font, but in a more 70s style -- like the Star Wars font.


And photoshop a nice pic of Denny sailing on Harmony ... 70s Brian on the beach, in  a lounge chair wearing a bathrobe, watching a TV in the sand...watching baseball.... and 1965 Mike is hitting on the girls in bikinis, and they like him cuz he's not the Mike on the cover of Sunflower yet -- and frankly Mike added all that in the contract.  Al's either romancing Linda, or sick that day.  Carl's not on the front, conspicuously...cuz didn't he produce the album?  If so, then he's on the back cover lookin fit, in black and white.  If not then he can hold an electric guitar on the beach or looking wind swept out into the ocean to the horizon.

 :afro  Man, I love this album!  I have no idea what would be on the second disc.  Maybe a fresh mix.

So hang on minute, the pig snorts are not on the original multi-track.   So would it be right to assume it has circulated on any boots without them?

I wish I could hear.  :(

Never heard of Youtube ?  ;D

Hey Little Tomboy (original) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6XFAArsbnE)