The Smiley Smile Message Board

Does anyone know why we only got half a concert (nine songs) on the album "Songs From Here and Back"? Was it to make room for the three new songs? Even then, we could have gotten more live songs, a CD runs to 80 minutes.

I have no idea why it is 3/4 live versions and 1/4 new material, maybe Hallmark wanted to follow in the great tradition of nonsensical Beach Boys compilations?

... and of those live tracks, two are from 1974, the rest from 1989. Never say The BB aren't consistent in their lunacy.  ;D

Andrew - This CD was offered by Hallmark Cards, if you made a minimum greeting card purchase, then you could buy the CD for a reasonable cost.   It was a Father's Day promotion, and had Spirit of Rock and Roll (Brian Wilson,) Cool Head, Warm Heart (Mike Love,) and PT Cruiser, (Al Jardine.)  It was sort of a teaser mix.  Not a bad little CD for short money with "recognizable" songs for the newbie, and a few new "treats" from the other three, as solos.  It is not a bad play.  Cool Head, Warm Heart is a neat song. 

I wonder how much control Hallmark had in the mini compilation.  They were trying to become more "upscale" - diversifying their store, from primarily greeting cards.  But Hallmark was "holding the cards" as it were because you could not buy it anywhere else, at the time.  For them, it was a Father's Day promo, but for this "Mother" - it was a must-have!

 

I know - I was in the US when it was 'released'. The 'sales' figures for Northern Delaware must have been impressive first day out.  ;D It was only available from Hallmark Gold Crown stores, and you could buy it on its own as well. I won't say how many my friend and I acquired, but his wife thought we were joking when we told her.  ::)

yep, May 2006, I remember it very well. Our first holiday in the US. We had just left California and when we arrived in Las Vegas I spotted a Hallmark store and suddenly had the urge to buy a few cards. Wasn't easy to find 9 that were actually worth buying (Hallmark and I clearly don't share the same taste...  ;D  )

"I wonder how much control Hallmark had in the mini compilation."

They selected the Jardine track, although he played the acoustic version of California/California Saga for them...

"Cool Head, Warm Heart" is my favorite of the three new songs, and I was thrilled to see my Mike sing it live. There are two earlier recordings of "Spirit of Rock'n'Roll", one with guest vocals by Bob Dylan - that one is better than the re-recording for the Hallmark album. But really, all three are great. First time I heard that song was Brian live on the 25th anniversary TV special, filmed in Hawaii.

I should know this, but honestly don't remember. Did The Beach Boys actually record the vocal parts used in the special? Is there an actual Beach Boys studio version of that song in the vaults?

As is very obvious, just about all the audio on the 25th Anniversary special is either post-dubbed or lip synched to pre-recorded tracks: check out the gig/sessions for 1986/87 on Bellagio 10452 (http://www.esquarterly.com/bellagio/) for further details.

Thanks Andrew! It puzzles me that they did not go back into the studio and record Spirit ...  for a single release, considering that it was not used for BW88.