The Smiley Smile Message Board

Smiley Smile Stuff => General On Topic Discussions => Topic started by: Fun Is In on January 04, 2011, 09:08:42 PM



Title: Clambake and Beach Boys
Post by: Fun Is In on January 04, 2011, 09:08:42 PM
Listening to the radio this afternoon I heard an excerpt of the Elvis Presley song "Clambake" that includes a modified shortnin' bread (mama's little baby loves clambake, clambake" etc which got me to thinking about Brian Wilson.

Next song up? I Know There's an Answer     chance alone?

Next song up? Time to Get Alond (alt version)   not chance alone!

Next song up? "When Grover Cleveland Walked Among Us" by Fish Karma.

Good to hear such great music on the broadcast radio. A community radio program by local musician Al Perry who declared the Beach Boys his favorite band after these songs played.


Title: Re: Clambake and Beach Boys
Post by: Rocker on January 05, 2011, 06:09:37 AM


Good to hear such great music on the broadcast radio.

Interesting, though "Clambake" is not great by any means. One of the worst songs (and movies) Presley ever did. The short "Clambake reprise" on the soundtrack is nice though, as well as some other songs from it.
I wondered many times if Brian has heard it and what he thinks about that "Shortnin' bread"-melody. It's also interesting to note that the horn sounds on Elvis' "Speedway" from a year later than Clambake sound very, very much like what Brian used in 2004 for "City blues".


Title: Re: Clambake and Beach Boys
Post by: Fun Is In on January 05, 2011, 10:43:41 AM
Ah, you caught me being sloppy w/ words. I only meant to include the BB songs among the greatness.
Clambake is mid-period Elvis schlock. Fish Karma is out too unless you like songs reminiscent of Dylan on amphetamimes.

The list of uses of Shortnin' Bread at Wikipedia is interesting if incomplete.


Title: Re: Clambake and Beach Boys
Post by: Fun Is In on January 05, 2011, 11:45:09 AM
Now today's unexpected delight came this afternoon in a bookstore where GOK was playing.


Title: Re: Clambake and Beach Boys
Post by: Rocker on February 19, 2011, 04:49:08 AM
I thought this might be interesting to some people. It's Elvis' '67 song "Speedway" the titel of his movie with Nany Sinatra. As mentioned in this thread, Brian's "City blues" uses horn riffs that sound very reminiscent of "Speedway". Take a listen and let me know what you think:

http://rutube.ru/tracks/31618.html?v=ed07163298b01f972258223f6604d137 (http://rutube.ru/tracks/31618.html?v=ed07163298b01f972258223f6604d137)


Title: Re: Clambake and Beach Boys
Post by: Roger Ryan on February 21, 2011, 05:06:14 AM
The horn arrangement is somewhat similar, but I feel Brian's arrangement on "City Blues" is inspired more by Raymond Scott.