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Smiley Smile Stuff => 1960's Beach Boys Albums => Topic started by: Charles LePage @ ComicList on December 26, 2005, 05:37:44 PM



Title: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: Charles LePage @ ComicList on December 26, 2005, 05:37:44 PM
Discuss, review and rate Beach Boys' Party!, released November 1965.

(http://www.smileysmile.net/images/albums/party.gif)


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: the captain on December 26, 2005, 05:40:36 PM
Sorta fun. Nice to hear the guys play some songs they liked.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: Jason on December 26, 2005, 05:49:02 PM
Rollicking fun for all parties involved. A great album.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: the captain on December 26, 2005, 05:50:18 PM
So great you gave it a 3? I think that score earns something more like "good" or "average."


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: Jason on December 26, 2005, 05:52:54 PM
It was more of a 3.5.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: I. Spaceman on December 26, 2005, 06:18:15 PM
The first perfect Beach Boys' album. 5.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: the captain on December 26, 2005, 06:19:02 PM
Oh, now you're just being difficult...


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: I. Spaceman on December 26, 2005, 06:19:50 PM
I wrote a 25-page essay on the album once. It's pure genius, in every way. Sums up the BB's far more than pet Sounds.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: the captain on December 26, 2005, 06:21:04 PM
Sums up the BB's far more than pet Sounds.

You might be right about that. Unfortunately.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: I. Spaceman on December 26, 2005, 06:22:42 PM
Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow is far more poetic than anything Van Dyke Parks ever wrote.
And rock and roll DID go downhill when Buddy Holly died.
There's No Other is the most emotional moment in the BB catalog, for me.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: Matinee Idyll on December 27, 2005, 12:15:15 AM
There's No Other is the most emotional moment in the BB catalog, for me.

Pfft.

'Devoted To You', bitch.

;)


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: Matinee Idyll on December 27, 2005, 04:48:06 AM
These songs are surprisingly well known... Neat song selection, jolly 'atmosphere', though the 'humourous' take on Little Deuce Coupe and I Get Around is pathetic.

3 stars.  Good, innocent fun. The atmosphere "Concert" should have had.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: SurferGirl7 on December 27, 2005, 12:15:54 PM
I felt ripped off when I found out it wasn't a real party. "Devoted To You" without the Party overdub on Hawthorne compilation is soooooooooooooooooo beautiful. Besides that, I feel like the rest of Party is like going to a frat party when your not invited.  :-\



2 1/2 stars.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: Jason on December 27, 2005, 12:19:35 PM
Listen to SOT 10, that's the real party.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: donald on December 27, 2005, 01:23:35 PM
Play it for someone who has only heard Barbara Ann.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: APPLEI on January 04, 2006, 09:50:57 AM
enjoyable from start to finish!


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: Aegir on January 04, 2006, 10:18:53 AM
Yet another album that lost its luster after repeated listenings. I thought I would love a (mostly) cover album by one of my favorite bands, but I was sadly mistaken.

3/5


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: I. Spaceman on January 04, 2006, 01:11:58 PM
That is pretty sad.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: Old Rake on January 05, 2006, 07:31:37 AM
I love the hell out of it. I hate the fact that its not counted as a "proper" album -- people skip over it all the time. I also love most -- MOST -- of the songs on there. Barbara Ann, I can live without. I'm not gonna go as far as Ian and say it "sums up the beach boys" -- it sums up one ASPECT of the Beach Boys, one which would crop up again and again (see also: Smiley Smile, Love You) and which is a lot of fun, generally.

Sort of four stars-ish.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: I. Spaceman on January 05, 2006, 03:14:16 PM
Party is the new SMiLEY, Jon.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: the captain on January 05, 2006, 03:22:35 PM
Party is the new SMiLEY, Jon.

I hope not--I am just not mentally up for a debate today! I listened at work, and decided to stand by my opinion of it, which is that it is certainly a "lesser" Beach Boys album. I like it, but don't love it. I would have liked to see more songs approached from a standpoint more like "Devoted To You" or a few of the others--loose, certainly, but without the joking through the actual songs. The IGA/LDC thing, for example, just doesn't make for much fun listening for me.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: I. Spaceman on January 05, 2006, 03:25:41 PM
There's Brian Wilson and there's the Beach Boys.
SMiLE, Love You and PS are Brian.
SMiLEY, Party and Sunflower are the BB's.
There's No Other is Brian's most emotional vocal.
Papa Oom Mow Mow is pure rock, at it's finest.
Mike and Brian joking and laughing together is my idea of the BB's at their finest, not Brian alone in the studio with hired hands.
That is all.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: the captain on January 05, 2006, 03:27:06 PM
Is there a combined effort, in your opinion?


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: I. Spaceman on January 05, 2006, 03:28:16 PM
Summer Days!


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: Cam Mott on January 05, 2006, 04:27:49 PM
Party! is one hellacious concept for an album.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: analogdemon on January 13, 2006, 01:29:19 PM
I actually think that the version of Tell Me Why on here is better than the Beatles' version.  I love the cover of Hully Gully and Barbara Ann...oh hell the whole album is great!  Four stars!


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: Matinee Idyll on January 13, 2006, 11:33:17 PM
I actually think that the version of Tell Me Why on here is better than the Beatles' version.

I was scared to say it around here through fear of retribution, but yep, it really is.  Bri's falsetto puts it over the finish line...  The instrumentation sounds, hmm, 'looser' too, and fits the song better in a stripped back fashion.

Tops that.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: Compost on January 17, 2006, 02:42:38 PM
3

Some gems and a few turds.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: Joshilyn Hoisington on January 17, 2006, 02:59:47 PM
I think SOT 10 is required listening to truly understand the greatness and, yes, creativity of the album.  Now, I go through everyday wishing in vain that I was either in the Beach Boys or a good friend of the Beach Boys in the 60s, and no album pushes me into the depths of pathetic fantasy than Party.  I actually start believing I AM friends with the Beach Boys when I put it on.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: I. Spaceman on January 17, 2006, 03:00:30 PM
Damn straight. My thoughts/feelings exactly.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: Matinee Idyll on January 17, 2006, 03:47:52 PM
I miss the Dick Rising jokes.

It's all alittle PC for me to actually believe I'm there with the Beach Boys...

3 1/2 stars.  Some very beautiful stuff (the Beatles covers), "There's No Other" and "Devoted to You" particulalars.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: Joshilyn Hoisington on January 17, 2006, 04:17:00 PM
Quote
It's all alittle PC for me to actually believe I'm there with the Beach Boys...

Which is why SOT 10 is essential.  You know that between takes, Carl's discussing how he wants to swear on the album and Brian and Carl talk about how a girl they know is very nice, but oh so fat.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: I. Spaceman on January 17, 2006, 04:21:14 PM
Denny arguing with Mike about the party atmosphere is so great.
And when Carl and Al are recording the guitars for Hide Your Love Away:
Brian: "Why are you guys so SERIOUS?? it's a party, HAVE A BALL!", followed by Carl and Al cracking up. Warms my heart.
Or when Mike says to Al, at the top of Devoted To You, "Play it the way we've come to love it".


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: Jeff Mason on January 17, 2006, 04:21:52 PM
Or you can hear what came just seconds before the "Greenwich Village" comments that open the album -- lots of drug jokes.

SOT 10 is the most fun of the bunch since it is all BB (and Hal) with the tape rolling.  It becomes clear too that while they get along great that Hal has gotten very comfortable with as well.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: Mahalo on January 14, 2008, 05:20:29 PM
I don't like this album. Devoted to you is cool, but it doesn't save the album for me. I don't really like Beatle's tunes no matter who is singing them. The idea of a "Party" album is great, but this doesn't do it for me. What can I say....I like the artwork though.... I give this album a 1.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: Jonas on January 14, 2008, 05:43:22 PM
Really wish they wouldve included Smokey Joe's Cafe...


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: SG7 on January 14, 2008, 05:44:23 PM
Or Laugh At Me...


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: lance on May 01, 2008, 10:38:41 PM
I like the album, though I guess I would like it better with out the fake party. ON the other hand it's INTERESTING that it wasn't really a party as it gives it a sort of concept other than Beach Boys cover a bunch of song acoustically. Such a  concept isn't really necessary in my book, but it does give a bit of insight into Brian's mind.

3/10


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: Ana-Lu on May 11, 2008, 05:42:41 AM
In the 70s, after the popularity of Endless Summer, Capitol and Reprise started issuing the BBs' back catalog, often with different cover art and/or tracks deleted.  Anyway, "Party" was the one album that didn't get reissued during this period.  As a result, I never had a copy.

Finally, it came out in the 80s during the Capitol green label midline era, but by then I wasn't interested.

A few years ago, I found an original in pristine condition for no money.  I still haven't played it, and other than "Barbara Ann," I have no idea what this album sounds like.  I should probably give it a spin one day. 


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: elnombre on May 11, 2008, 06:25:04 AM
An interesting curio at the very least. The Sea Of Tunes version pisses all over the official release.

I wish I had a vinyl copy with the photos and so on, but nevermind.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: Wrightfan on May 13, 2008, 11:46:53 AM
3 out of 5. Some very good covers and a unique concept for an album:

List of songs (From my favorite to least favorite.)
Barbara Ann
Devoted to You
Mountain of Love
Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow
I Should have Known Better
Hully Gully
Alley Oop
Tell Me Why
You've Got to Hide Your Love Away
There's No Other (Like My Baby)
The Times They Are A-Changin'
Medley: I Get Around/Little Deuce Coupe


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: Poprocks on June 13, 2008, 10:09:38 PM
I'll 4 star it.  This album just makes me smile (pun intended).  Nice choice of covers.

And doesn't Brian just look so Brian-ish on the cover?


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: Nicko on February 28, 2010, 04:45:35 AM
I think some fans give this album a hard time simply because it sold more than Brian's experimental music of the period. It's a very good listen though and the vocals on Devoted to You and There's no Other are gorgeous. The Times They are a Changin' is probably the only cover which doesn't fare so well but this collection hangs together better than a lot of the band's previous studio albums.

3 out of 5.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: Don_Zabu on March 26, 2010, 04:23:40 PM
Worth getting just for "Devoted to You".


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: LetHimRun on April 02, 2010, 04:47:07 PM
I gave it a 4. Very good listen throughout. I like most of the songs and even if the party atmosphere was fake, it still is a cool idea/concept especially for the time.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: musicismylife101 on June 27, 2012, 03:51:33 PM
A fun album to listen to. At first i found all the party effects annoying but now I'm used to it. Devoted to You is my favorite track - Brian and Mike sound amazing on it!


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: Dudd on May 28, 2013, 02:25:28 PM
Never could get into it. It's harmless, but there's just not much to it.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: bluesno1fann on September 11, 2013, 10:19:10 PM
While Brian Wilson always wanted to make a party album, this album is still little more than a contractual obligation for Capitol Records, as they wanted another album for the end of 1965. They already had a Christmas album, so they chose this instead. It was recorded quickly and released as Brian was working on his masterpiece, Pet Sounds.
The standouts are "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" and "Barbara Ann". Not much else to say about this album. Don't care for it much.
2 out of 5.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: Ram4 on September 21, 2013, 11:15:10 AM
I like this album.  We tend to play it at the end of the day at work as if the band were hanging around with us and jamming.  Some great songs are on here too.  I would love a release of this album without the Party overdubs added just to hear everything clear like Devoted To You on Hawthorne.  I give it a 4.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: RiC on October 17, 2013, 02:08:37 AM
3/5.

I admit that I have listened this completely only couple times. It's fun and yeah that's pretty much all. Barbara Ann is really weird one... It's so silly little song and it's funny how still nowadays it's like the big encore number in the live shows. It's not that great of a song. I love the cover art and the pics inside!


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: bluesno1fann on November 22, 2013, 02:45:58 PM
The standouts are "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" and "Barbara Ann".
If I'm right, you like the scaled-down version of BA, yes? To me, I enjoy this song in concerts, with more rocking sound & full arrangement (minus "Everybody say yeah" & dancing).

"You've Got to Hide" is good. One of Dennis's impeccable moments.
Yeah, I actually do enjoy the scaled down version, but I do prefer the live electric version.
Despite that, I don't think they should have performed it for so many years.
And I would update the standouts to include "Devoted To You" and "There's No Other"


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: Mr. Wilson on December 10, 2013, 09:08:52 PM
3/5 Its a good LP but not one of my favorites.. I lump this in with Lost + Found + Surfin Safari LP .. Lp's I don't play much..


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: chrs_mrgn on December 25, 2013, 01:10:08 PM
Just curious, I came across this album near mint with photos at my local record shop. What is a good price for this?
I've been trying to build my BB collection and you all know everything here!

It's not one of my favorites but the fact that it has the photos is definitely a plus.

CAT# MAS 2398

Thanks.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: Rob Dean on December 25, 2013, 02:28:46 PM
Just curious, I came across this album near mint with photos at my local record shop. What is a good price for this?
I've been trying to build my BB collection and you all know everything here!

It's not one of my favorites but the fact that it has the photos is definitely a plus.

CAT# MAS 2398

Thanks.

As a guide - There is a Very Good Quality copy on Discogs.com with the photo sheet for a surprising low cost of $7.99 + Shipping AND another in same condition for $50.

Discogs.com I find is a great site for price comparisons


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: Ovi on February 10, 2014, 04:12:37 PM
I'm starting to like this album more and more as time goes by. It isn't a masterpiece or anything (although Devoted To You is heavenly) and I doubt the band and Brian cared much for it, but it's just so much fun. Never fails to put me in a good mood. I can enjoy it any time, any place. 4/5


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: slippingonthrough on April 11, 2014, 10:32:01 PM
Great fun little lp. No bad tracks. That bass is pumping.

4/5 No masterpiece but a great album.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: VanDykeParksAndRec on May 21, 2014, 11:48:52 AM
One of the few BB LP's I own multiple copies of (started with a duo, then stumbled upon a mono gatefold.)   I really dig it, a lot of fun.   Side 1 is far better than side 2 imo, so I usually just play it when I have 15mins or so before leaving my apt.   Favorite tracks are "SHould have Known Better" and "Papa Oo Mow Mow", Brian's vocals in PPOMM reminds me of Dance Dance Dance.


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: KDS on April 13, 2015, 06:40:05 AM
My vote of three might be a little generous.  I would've loved to hear fully realized and arranged versions of some of the covers on this album.  Most notably You've Got to Hide Your Love Away.  That being said, this stripped down covers are still better than the ones that appeared on 15 Big Ones or Summer in Paradise. 

Mike and Brian's vocals on Devoted to You are amazing. 

I like the medley of I Should've Known Better and Tell Me Why. 

It really sounded like Al wanted to do a true version of The Times They Are a Changin without a "party" going on. 

Not a bad album, but I really have to be in a certain mood to listen to it.  I really can't say that about most BB albums from 1962-73. 

Oh, and there's a song called Barbara Ann on the album.  While not a great song, it's a good song, and I don't really get the hate.  I really like the song in concert. 


Title: Re: Beach Boys' Party!
Post by: Lonely Summer on May 02, 2016, 12:38:47 AM
I like Barbara Ann as part of the album, with the various attempts at ending it. Outside of the album, though, I don't need to hear it. My favorites on this album are the Beatles songs, Devoted to You, and Mountain of Love. It's a great album for what it was intended to be. Not on the same exalted level as ASL, BBT and SDSN...but at least it kept Capitol at bay until they could finish PS.