The Smiley Smile Message Board

I haven't been able to find a track list for this one, but it's due out from Famous Flames:
(http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0297/3305/products/BEFORE_THE_BEACH_BOYS_1024x1024.jpg?v=1392053190)

from http://fingertipsrecords.com/products/before-the-beach-boys-50-songs-that-inspired-and-iinvented-surf-music-california-soul-and-sunshine-pop

A comprehensive collection that maps the fusion of rock ‘n’ roll rhythm and close harmony vocals that would create the unique Beach Boys’ sound. Featuring a wealth of material that not only inspired the writing of Brian Wilson but songs that The Beach Boys would cover over their formative albums.

 Bringing together the seminal rumble of Chuck Berry’s rock ‘n’ roll groove and the sweet tones of The Four Freshmen and The Hi-Lo’s alongside classic doo wop 45s and the seminal phrasings that would create the ultimate surf instrumentals. Plus the inspirational sounds of George Gershwin that first excited a pre teen Wilson and would become the subject of his 2011 sessions that re-imagined the composer’s writing

Including the original versions of a host of rock ‘n’ roll gems that underpinned The Beach Boys’ early sound and became the backbone of their ’15 Big Ones’ album. Remastered from the original sound sources by the music-loving purists at Famous Flames.


NOt really sure how this comp will flow, with such disparate influences and sounds.

you can find the track list here:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Before-Beach-Boys-Inspired-California/dp/B00IJJO0ZU/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1397485825&sr=8-4&keywords=before+the+beach+boys

What? No Stephen Foster?

Unacceptable, therefore.

Don't recall them covering anything by Paul Anka...  ::)

You don't think it at least inspired Don't Talk (Put Your Head on my Shoulder?

I had never heard that version of Misirlou. Is that the original?

The original surf version is by Dick Dale.
The song itself is actually a Greecian folk song.

There are several songs on there that The Beach Boys never covered. And it's a hit song from Brian's musically formative years that's pretty close to the type of ballads that he would eventually start writing himself (in fact, a cover of this song would've fitted perfectly on side B of Today!). So it's not that illogical that it's on this compilation.

My point being, it's slap in the middle of all the songs they did cover. Compilers have evidently not heard Brian's song but just assumed from the very similar title that it was a cover. Bad show.

To give the compilers the benefit of the doubt I'd side with shelter on this one.. I mean, there are numerous compilations out there that were compiled similarly. For the time being let's assume that more thought & care went into this one than just assuming a similar title means it's the original recording. :P

And we're giving them the benefit why? When you play the song it's simply the original recording( not covered by the BBs), smack dab in the middle of many other originals that the BBs DID cover. So I don't see any latitude here, only a bogus insert

I don't get it. There are lots of other tunes on this compilation which the BBs didn't cover either. It seems to be a deliberate part of the compilation concept - to mix stuff they did cover directly and stuff that might have influenced them. Like I said, it's like that on many "roots of..."-compilations.

Uh... really ?

Tracks 1-15 - influences

Tracks 16-50 (excluding 30 &. 38) - covers, granted one unreleased. Yes, I know about track 18.  ;D

So what`s the explanation for number 30?

Andrew, am I making this up or is there some interview in which Brian enthuses about the incidental music in Laurel and Hardy's Hal Roach films?

Not a clue.  ;D

Well, apparently the compilers did know that:
- Rhapsody In Blue and Ivory Tower were early favorites of Brian
- Surfer Girl was inspired by When You Wish Upon A Star
- The Beach Boys had a song based on Riot In Cell Block #9
- Even though it was never released, The Beach Boys recorded a cover of Deep Purple

Of course you don't have to be a hardcore Beach Boys fan to know these things, but I think it's reasonable to give them the benefit of the doubt.

I don't know if this is what you are thinking of, but this is the Brian Wilson quote on "The Beau Hunks Play the Original Little Rascals Music" (which is mostly the same Leroy Shield themes as used in the L&H shorts):

"I loved it.  It was most nostalgic and it triggered off a very beautiful sentimental chord in my soul."

Thank you. :)








P.S.
Although it was purported for a long time that "Surfer Girl" was in part inspired by "When You Wish...", Brian apparently denied it in a recent Q&A on his Facebook page:



Of course that doesn't mean it wasn't inspired by "When You Wish...". It's just the latest first-hand statement on the case, by Brian "Always Truthful And Straight in Interviews" Wilson. ^-^

The compilers know a few basics on the Beach Boys, so they should be allowed to further muddy the waters of Beach Boys history with songs that most likely have NOTHING at all to do with their creative output? 
 I think not.   They screwed up.
Maybe they got their GOOD info from this board, will see all this  and re-work it before release. 

Maybe that was it. Thanks.

They also recorded the song during the Party! sessions.

.. and played it live in concert. :)

No Surf Mozart??

It might explain the use of the name Laughing Gravy... 

I don't know about Brian but Jan Berry was a Laurel & Hardy fanatic. He used the "cuckoo theme" not only in the song "Laurel & Hardy" on Carnival Of Sound but also as the intro to "Surfin' hearse".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neiQmUI_nK8

This explains the use of the name Laughing Gravy. ;=)