The Smiley Smile Message Board

Next year, will be the 50th anniversary of the timeless classic, Pet Sounds. Knowing anniversaries are kinda a big thing to the BB (15 Big Ones, 50 Big Ones, 25th Anniv. In Waikiki, C50, ect.) what would you like to see next year for the big celebration?

Personally, a 50th anniversary "Per Sounds Live" tour with Bri, Mike, Al, Bruce, & Dave would be nice, but I don't see it happening. But I have a feeling a BW Pet Sounds tour will happen. A PS box set has been done, so is there anything "new" we could get? What would you personally like to see?

It's a tough one because a 50th anniversary of one of the most popular albums ever is a big deal. Other than Brian, Mike, Al, David and Bruce getting together to tour Pet Sounds (which would be fantastic but seems unlikely), what can they do? Brian has already toured the album with Al, they've already released the Pet Sounds sessions box set and there are already too many releases of the album. Recently we had the 2012 cd release and the mobile fidelity sacd release. Later this year there is a blu ray audio release and analogue productions is releasing a mono/stereo sacd and individual mono & stereo vinyl releases.

 While the 5 of them getting together to tour Pet Sounds seems unlikely, hopefully they can work out something where they can do a few shows together to celebrate. Maybe a mini tour with 10 - 15 dates or something similar. Record the shows and film one or two. At least that would give them new Pet Sounds product to sell.

They can instead go on the 15 Big Ones 40th Anniversary tour or the Stars and Stripes Part 1 20th Anniversary tour.  ;D

It seems like there has been a 50th anniversary for something Beach Boys-related celebrated every year since 2012, so having something for Pet Sounds' 50th at this point may be more rote or expected than something truly special, to be honest. The only thing perhaps left to do would be a release of all the outtakes and sessions in a deluxe set, of course the price point would be pretty high and only a small demographic would probably buy it.

It could be made special coming from the industry rather than marketing, I'd think. As in some honor or distinction beyond marketing the 50th anniversary as a sales tool.

I'd rather see them try something new than keep on rehashing stuff.

A tour wouldn't be good imo because that was already done and released as CD/DVD. Even after that Brian and Al performed it. If The Beach Boys would get together and do it, that might hit a point but I don't think that will happen and even then...no! Just create something new, something worthwhile.
This "50 years of..." thing has been overdone tastelessly (in good Beach Boys tradition) just as soon as the band broke up (probably they would've done it anyway). 50 years of Fun,Fun,Fun, 50 years of California Girls, 50 years of wtf... Fact is: nobody cares outside of some Beach Boys fans. If they keep on doing their separate things please don't try to play the complete album. No matter how great it would be, if Mike&Bruce would do it they would just be regarded as following what Brian already did more than ten years ago. If Brian would do it it'd certainly get some cool attention and reviews but still it would be repitition. You can already go out and buy/watch him performing the album in it's entirety plus a making-of of the album. It's been done. We even have a podcast of the four surviving Beach Boys who were part of Pet Sounds talking about the tracks. There's just nothing left to do that would be new.

In terms of releases etc. I really don't think there is anything new they could do as well. The Pet Sounds Session is a definitive statement and could be newly advertised. Maybe they could correct a few of the flaws of the stereo version if some tapes have been found in the meantime.


I know that not everyone will agree with me and that's fine of course. This is just my opinion. Put a new sticker on the Pet Sounds Sessions and advertise that. The live shows of course can sprinkle their setlists with some of the non-hit songs as they have done already. But personally I get sick as h3ll from this whole "50 years of..."-crap.

Mike said in that recent interview that they're doing "50 Years of Good Vibrations" next year, which seems silly on multiple levels. I could muse on the missed opportunity (that old Beach Boys chestnut) and also how or if I suspect the Boys may be pulling the wool over our eyes again.... but more importantly, this got me thinking, what the hell is Mike going to do a "50th anniversary of" following 1966? As cool as "50 years of Wild Honey" would be, is he really going to do that? I guess in 2018 we could get (50 years of Doin' It Again"... except that already was basically the theme of C50. The mind boggles!

A BW/Al tour would be great if they did it with no opening act and had plenty of room for other songs and kept the setlist lively. Hard to resist and a lot more significant than "50 Years of Fun, Fun, Fun."

  50th Anniversary of SUMMER IN PARADISE.

1. pet sounds sessions vol2
2. paul mccartney re-imagines pet sounds
3. pet sounds- the new duets and rap remixes ...lol  :lol

What I want is every track for each song released so I can mix my own versions of Pet Sounds.

The educational value in releasing something like that for Brian Wilson productions would be immense

PET SOUNDS SESSIONS 50th Anniversary Deluxe Box Set

• Expanded Box Set with 1 or 2 more discs of additional sessions
• Revamped hardcover book of the sessionography and booklet
• Flat transfer of original mono master tape vinyl pressing
• Replica singles for "Wouldn't It Be Nice"/"God Only Knows", "Caroline No"/"Summer Means New Love", "Good Vibrations"/"Let's Go Away For Awhile"

Think Deluxe SMILE SESSIONS box but PET SOUNDS, basically.

I think it has been reissued this year, prob to cash in on L&M.  The fact that the Bluray audio version that was due out this year has been put back until the anniversary (according to David Beard) suggests the cupboard is bare.

But then the best way to celebrate Pet Sounds is perhaps simply to help more people discover it. "3 for the price of 2" offer or something… ;)

Yes! That would be cool. .... especially if it also comes with a poster, because my walls are lacking some Beach Boys :P.

I would also love to hear some more isolated string sessions. The one for "Don't Talk" is so lovely.

I cannot think of a worse idea.

I love this idea.

A CD set could be released with LP faksimiles of the Pet Sounds album and the GV single.

How about the ultimate Pet Sounds sessionography?

Agreed.  How many times have they rereleased that album to begin with?  There's really not much else they can do with it.

I want this idea.

I'd rather see them do deluxe editions of other albums. I don't know how much else Pet Sounds can be given the deluxe treatment; we know of all of the recordings. There aren't much in the way of revelations. Whereas you have the 50th anniversary copyright extension releases which bring out some actual new music and some pretty cool finds. What else is really left to be discovered from the Pet Sounds sessions?

I'm waiting for 50 Years of Wild Honey. Or perhaps an expanded Smiley Smile.

I think the closest we'll ever get to that would be if the band releases a 50th anniversary package in 2017. Might be one for the CD burners.

A splendid idea!

lol.... ;D

How about a release of the C&TP  mix of PS as part of the set too?

I know some news and film have used a unique single tracked version of WIBN, and I'd loved to hear a full version of it, but I don't think it exists.

Stars & Stripes Vol. 2: Pet Sounds Goes Country !

Seriously, pretty much the only thing left is, as someone has previously suggested, is a DVD with all the existing discrete tracks (vocal & instrumental) and virtual 4- and 8-track mixers so we can  remix away to our hearts content. I'd spring $100-$150 for that puppy.

I would love a 'boxed set' type zip file (official ) of digital multitracks of the catalog so we can mix to our hearts content.  I think that's the wave of the future,  and a release as such would be ace.

I'm surprised it hasn't happened already.

It's not a different mix, just a better mastering & pressing.

I can't get over the thought that Brian and Chuck did that to haphazard perfection back in 1966! :)

Although I hope this will never happen (oh God please don't let it happen!!) I'm pretty sure that it would be one of the first things thought of from certain sites. Re-record (or perform on stage) the whole Pet Sounds album with guest artists, not necessarily country acts though.

That would be like the ultimate fan release.  To hear all the multi-tracks and have multiple takes of the same songs.  I would spend most of my 2016 happily immersed, yet again, in PET SOUNDS.

Part of the reason I want a LOVE & MERCY soundtrack/score release so badly is because all of the awesome multi-track stems used in the score.

Bring it, Capitol!

 :happydance

I'd be just as happy with the one for Made in California

Surely, Bri recorded some piano demos for PS, I wonder if any of those are in the vaults? I would die if I could hear te original piano demo for WIBN & GOK, that would be an awesome thing to release for the 50th Anniversary. 

I'm pretty sure I said in 2012 prior to the London shows that the group should do PS live at least once while there. Not really for commercial reasons but just to kind of round things off. That BBC2 radio concert would have been perfect.

all I ask for is a stereo mix of "Hang On To Your Ego"!  ;D

I say skip it and release a Smiley boxset next year which also includes SMiLE rarites that didnt make the first boxset. As well as a tour of that album.

I agree, Pet Sounds has been as rereleased and studied and wrote about as any album possibly could be. Theres really nothing more to offer at this point. I do like the idea of a do-it-yourself mixer but I dont see that happening. And the album that REALLY needs a release like that is SMiLE, but with unfettered access to every session, every Psych Sound skit, every Smiley session, and possibly every BWPS session to really be 100% effective. Maybe a website where people who bought the service can freely upload and download their mixes? Thatd be my dream come true.

Word.

What does C50 mean?

This was the initial logo for the 50th Anniversary:

(http://rabbitsblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/the_beach_boys_50.jpg)

... and in true SS fashion it was shortened to C50. I think I might have done that. If not I sure as hell used it a lot.  ;D

holy sh*t is that tacky

No. ;D

If we could get the unedited session tapes released, that would be excellent - even if they're only offered in a download-only format.  I've always wondered how the IKTAA fade evolved into its final form.

From a new Billboard article on Brian’s Pet Sounds Tour:

“Capitol/UMe's Pet Sounds 50th Anniversary Edition will be released in June, including a 4CD/Blu-ray Audio collectors edition presented in a hardbound book, featuring the remastered original album in stereo and mono, plus new hi res instrumental and 5.1 surround mixes, as well as session outtakes, alternate mixes, previously unreleased live recordings and hi res stereo and mono mixes; a 2CD and digital deluxe edition pairing the remastered album in stereo and mono with highlights from the collectors edition's additional tracks; a remastered, 180-gram LP editions of the album in mono and stereo with faithfully replicated original artwork.”

http://www.billboard.com/articles/business/7263743/brian-wilson-pet-sounds-tour

Wasn't that on Made in USA?

Many thanks for sharing.

The book format sounds great, the contents an intriguing great.

I may well have to pass on the vinyl as my Pet Sounds Vinyl Warehouseman is threatening to strike for more pay.

A 50th Anniversary release was expected, so I can't complain. But it still sounds like it could be largely a rehash of the "Pet Sounds Sessions" boxed set, with the high-rez disc thrown in, and some (hopefully new) live tracks

If it's 4 CDs *plus* the Blu-ray, and they were carrying over the contents from the PS Sessions set, there wouldn't be a great deal of room left on those four discs. They could combine the mono and stereo onto one disc. Then they'd have three discs left and two or two and a half discs worth of "PS Sessions" box material to put on there. So that may sounds about right; we may get 1/2 or 2/3 of one disc's worth of new material. I wonder if they'll at least dig in the vaults for interesting live takes we haven't heard. Did they ever capture Carl's version of "Don't Talk" on multitrack in the 70s?

Thanks for that Big Daddy - it will be worth it just for the extra sessions and the outtakes! 

Yahoo!  :thewilsons

I just read the same article and figured I'd come on here to post it, but you beat me to it Big Daddy!

I have to say that I'm unsure why this set even excites me as I can't imagine that there is much at all that is both unreleased and somewhat exciting. And since I posted in another thread about the same topic, I'll put the same basic post (minus a change or two) here...


What "previously released" material could they even put on such a set?

There are no unique single mixes, are there? I do not think so. I suppose as far as stuff that wasn't on The Pet Sounds Sessions set, you could add the mono mix of "Trombone Dixie" that was on the first Pet Sounds CD reissue, but that's not exactly the sorta thing that'll get people opening there wallets to grab $129.99. I suppose they could do another new stereo mix of the album, an "alternate" mix if you will, to the "official" stereo mix of 1996. Maybe there were some more piano demos out there, a la "Don't Talk"? I personally doubt it, as you'd think they'd have been used before now. Could you rope in "Stella by Starlight" or "How Deep Is the Ocean"? I guess, but are they even considered "Beach Boys" tunes?

The only other things, and some would probably think this to be horrible, but maybe have Tony Asher write new lyrics to "Let's Go Away for a While", "Pet Sounds" and "Trombone Dixie" and have Brian and Al do some new vocals, like how "Summer Means New Love" was remodeled into "Somewhere Quiet." I personally think that'd be cool, but I definitely could understand it would be anathema to a lot of people here.

I wouldn't be against putting vocals on Pet Sounds instrumentals to make new tracks ala Somewhere Quiet. 

But, I don't think this release would be the best place for them.

I'd rather have them on a Brian Wilson album since, like Somewhere Quiet, it would essentially be a Brian Wilson song. 

I'd dare Capitol to include a Pet Sounds cut or two on this 50th anniv. edition in DUOPHONIC stereo - just for laughs.  It is the way many of us heard it originally

It's clearly stated that the previously unreleased material comprises live versions.

I guess this means that any stand-alone hires Bluray audio disc release is off the cards?

So that means the only previously unreleased material is the live stuff? I suppose the article could lead one to believe that. But I'd be somewhat surprised if there was nothing unreleased from the original sessions on the set. Whether that previously unreleased material would be worthwhile is a different question though.

And about the live stuff, what are we talking about. Live material from the Pet Sounds era? I suppose that'd be somewhat interesting, but not really. And not really that important to the story of the Pet Sounds era unless they just wanna show what the band was doing while Brian was in the studio.

Anyways, if it's not that, it's probably gonna be performances of Pet Sounds tracks throughout the years. But really how many of the songs were even done by The Beach Boys? You've got "Wouldn't It Be Nice", "Sloop John B." and "God Only Knows" from nearly every era. You've got "Caroline No" from the '70s and also from the '90s."I Just Wasn't Made For These Times" and "Pet Sounds" from 2012.  "I'm Waiting For The Day" from 1974 or 1975 with Billy Hinsche on lead right? I suppose if you stretch the definition of The Beach Boys you could have a Mike and Bruce "Here Today" but I couldn't see it.

So regardless, it'll be interesting to see what it is they are releasing.

Billboard's story reported on The Second Disc. No further detail but some background to previous reissues provided:

http://theseconddisc.com/2016/03/18/wouldnt-nice-pet-sounds-50th-anniversary-celebrated-june-multiple-editions-including-4-cdblu-ray-box-set/

Where did the "Don't Talk" piano demo come from?

I remember that the box set compilers explained that there were a lack of session tapes of the studio version of that song, but that it was fortunate that an unrelated piano demo surfaced. What's the story behind that?

Am I right to assume that if there were any other demos floating around, that they would have been dug up in the same batch as the "Don't Talk" piano demo?

And if there's anything else that needs releasing with regards to Pet Sounds... it's STEMS! More stems please! Vocal overdubs or individual instrument parts! I will shell out bucks for that. Not sure if it's worth buying for a few live tracks.

I think I'm done with buying Pet Sounds. There's practically no way of justifying buying it again in any format. Not done with listening to it though and looking forward to seeing Brian perform it (again) in Glasgow.

Wouldn't an all stems version make it worth buying though? Where all available isolated tracks for all songs are presented? I totally agree with what you are saying though.

I hope one day soon, Capitol is convinced to release isolated stems for all BB records. That's got to be truly the last big untapped resource they can monetize off of old albums like this.

I kinda like the idea – I guess you mean so people can make their own mixes an such. But isn't a further extension of that to sell a box set containing three different bass guitars, cellos, keyboards, 12-string guitars, drums, kettle drums, a French horn and a Theremin so we can recreate those stems?

I love hearing the sessions and the outtakes but I also love the way Brian and Chuck mixed it…

Yeah, the original mixes are amazing. But stems are not just for fans making their own mixes necessarily, but also for people to be able to better dissect and appreciate the discrete elements... without necessarily even trying to make some new mix or remix out of them. When the tracks are pulled apart, so many unknown gems and layers hidden for decades can then be discovered.

I've heard some stems by various bands that have been leaked out (as a result of the Rock Band game having made the individual stems available within the game), and let me tell you, it can be absolutely revelatory to just hear individual parts that have been there all along, but that you never noticed or appreciated until hearing them individually. The Beach Boys surely have TONS upon TONS of incredible bits of beauty that we've never even realized have been underneath our noses the entire time. Releasing stems could make this possible.

It would be foolish for record companies not to exploit this revenue stream.

I wonder if the live tracks will be the Michigan 1966 concerts. This would cover the copyright extension release for the year.

That's what I assume it will be.

I'm curious if they'll try to include career-spanning live takes of the songs. "You Still Believe In Me" from 1973 or 1993, Don't Talk from '74, etc. Michigan '66 probably seems more plausible.

From the article:

"The 2016 tour will be the first time Pet Sounds will be played in its entirety on stage in 17 years. When Pet Sounds was released in 1966, "We didn't play it on stage," Wilson says, describing the record as, "an album that started out with 'Wouldn't It Be Nice' and just went from there."

***
Was the Winter 2007 Pet Sounds tour just my imagination then?

And didn't it get played once or twice more recently, I think maybe during the Jeff Beck tour?

Oh yeah! I forgot about that!

Not to mention the Pet Sounds tours of 2000 in the US and the UK tours of 2002, which resulted in a live CD and DVD. I'm *pretty* sure 2002 isn't seventeen years ago...

He's kind of right. The touring BB never did much Pet Sounds. They played the big 3 songs, and sprinkled in a few more in the early 70's. From 74-93, no other Pet Sounds songs other than the big 3 and maybe Caroline No as a one off a couple of times  were played until 1993 , then dropped again until circa 2000 when BW toured it. Even today, M and B only rarely throw in another Pet Sounds song.

I'm sure the article is just looking to the one full-blown PS tour in the US in 2000 and ignoring the subsequent international legs and shorter US excursions (2006/2007 amounted to about 9 shows, and they did PS twice I believe on the 2013 tour). "First time in 17 years!" sounds better. I suppose "first extensive US PS tour in 17 years" would be technically accurate.

...yes, except 2000 was 16 years ago.

If they're already ignoring a UK tour and 11 subsequent US shows, I can't imagine being one year off on the math being the headline as far inaccuracy. But it's all nit-picks.

Multi track releases would be great but it's not like nowadays where each instrument is on a separate track of it's own and you can just listen to that part.  The way Pet Sounds was recorded would mean a lot of 'bleed' from other instruments.  You might just end up with something marginally more educational than the Brilliant stereo mix which did allow hidden elements to 'breathe'.

True, but there are at least some hidden gems that, if compiled, could certainly amount to a sizable amount of "new" content that could entice hardcores to buy the umpteenth reissue. For example, there have got to be numerous different passes of vocal takes for many songs... for example, take the Wouldn't It Be Nice version on the Pet Sounds Session set that is just the backing track + the backing vocals only.

Right there, using those same elements, Capitol could also release the isolated backing vocals only (by themselves, sans backing track), and various overdubs of parts of backing vocals for each song. It may get into minutia, but I think there's an audience for it, especially if they could market a few dozen unreleased snippets/portions of tracks. That, to me, is much more marketable than some live versions of songs.

The Smile vocals montage was so amazing on The Smile Sessions, but it seemed to be just a tease of what's really out there on the tapes. Similarly, the fully acapella versions of Pet Sounds songs were super great to hear on the Pet Sounds Session set, but those acapella tracks could be dissected further by peeling the layers apart on a future release.

The best example of this might be the Please Let Me Wonder backing vocals only track, which is floating around on boots and I believe is on Youtube. It's beyond heavenly. More of this stuff, please Capitol. Money will happily be extracted from our wallets for this.

I haven't listened to the whole Pet Sounds box set I own in years.      an entire box set for one single LP.    nor the other issues such as the "gold " CD  nor paid too much attention to nuances on more recent reissues on various comps such as MIC or other touched up releases of individual tracs.    I don' t think I would be interested in any more releases unless they were truly eye opening jaw dropping recordings.

ah yes! coming soon! for something completely fresh, Capitol are releasing Pet Sounds on vinyl again, both mono and stereo on separate releases.
 but this version is the 'stereo' version.  I see they have slightly adjusted the cover artwork to replicate what an original 'stereo' may have been.  who's buying it?  https://www.jbhifi.com.au/music/Whats-Hot/rock-pop/pet-sounds-50th-anniversary-stereo-180gm-vinyl-reissue/948397/

At risk of duplicating past discussion, yet...

I spent yesterday afternoon listening to Be My Baby multiple times (like the big guy)...in preparation for listening to Pet Sounds
this morning.  Hey! It's a pretty good album!

But seriously...I have a question. Can anybody point to lines/phrases in the album where Al Jardine is up front?  He doesn't have
a lead, of course. Is that him with the "bah bah bah" in the DOK bridge? ( I imagine it is Brian sounding like Al.)  Any help would be
appreciated. In summary:

1:  I'm surprised that Al, with a recent number-one single under his belt, did not feature more.

2: I wish that he had been the lead on Here Today.  (or is he in there?)

 

That's DOK, as in Deus Only Knows.

I believe he did lead in I Know There's an Answer

Oh how I love that capital is now all about Pet Sounds. Not back then but now. Bunch of goats...

On "I Know There's an Answer", Mike does the first line of each verse, Al does the rest of the verse lines, and Brian does the chorus. Al's only lead part on the album, and a good example of how Al under certain circumstance could do the best "Brian impression" despite not being related.

Emily and Hey Jude:  Yes...thank you. Of course there is that. And Al is so good there. And so like Brian. Amazing.

Fingers crossed for a Best of the Beach Boys box set released three months after this one!

Sounds of Summer limited edition vinyl was released in the UK on May 6th!  ;D

What stores sell the deluxe edition?