Title: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: Rocky Raccoon on January 08, 2018, 07:13:00 AM One of the band’s strangest yet most ambitious albums, their last studio effort with Blondie Chaplin and Ricky Fataar, and the end of that fascinating transitional era before the Endless Summer nostalgia hit. Beautifully produced by Carl Wilson, it’s one of my all-time favorites.
Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: KDS on January 08, 2018, 08:03:39 AM One of the band’s strangest yet most ambitious albums, their last studio effort with Blondie Chaplin and Ricky Fataar, and the end of that fascinating transitional era before the Endless Summer nostalgia hit. Beautifully produced by Carl Wilson, it’s one of my all-time favorites. Great album. For my money, the last great album with the name "The Beach Boys" on it. Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: rab2591 on January 08, 2018, 08:16:46 AM I would love for there to be a good sized book written about this album. Between Brian ditching the actual country of Holland sessions, to how the individual songs came about, a travelogue of what Carl and the gang did in their time off in Holland, how the new members (Blondie and Rickie) fit into the band, Van Dyke saving the album with SOS, etc.
Heck, maybe this can turn into Bill Pohlad’s Love and Mercy II ;D I’ll be sure to play this album today. Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: Pacific Ocean Blue on January 08, 2018, 09:03:21 AM Great album, very random but I always felt like Full Sail from the LA Light Album sounds like a 'Holland'y" type song
Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: Wata on January 08, 2018, 09:08:48 AM I'm surprised how Holland is highly rated in English-spoken BB communities, in contrast with its poor reputation here in Japan.
Before I get to BB forums and all other BB sites written in English, all I read about the album was, "have a few highlights" at best, at worst "a dull throwaway album". With such reputation, Holland was one of the last BB albums I gave the first listen. I liked it, but influenced by its reputation, I wasn't very sure it's great. Still, I'm not keen on calling Holland a great album, but my appreciation on the album grows as I listen to it time to time. Very much look forward to 2023 copyright protection release, and hope that would probably promote the re-appreciation of the album over here. Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: Rocker on January 08, 2018, 09:14:13 AM I would love for there to be a good sized book written about this album. Between Brian ditching the actual country of Holland sessions, to how the individual songs came about, a travelogue of what Carl and the gang did in their time off in Holland, how the new members (Blondie and Rickie) fit into the band, Van Dyke saving the album with SOS, etc. Heck, maybe this can turn into Bill Pohlad’s Love and Mercy II ;D I’ll be sure to play this album today. For a start, try this thread: http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,6862.0.html Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: 13thBB on January 08, 2018, 10:39:28 AM I'm surprised how Holland is highly rated in English-spoken BB communities, in contrast with its poor reputation here in Japan. Before I get to BB forums and all other BB sites written in English, all I read about the album was, "have a few highlights" at best, at worst "a dull throwaway album". With such reputation, Holland was one of the last BB albums I gave the first listen. I liked it, but influenced by its reputation, I wasn't very sure it's great. Still, I'm not keen on calling Holland a great album, but my appreciation on the album grows as I listen to it time to time. Very much look forward to 2023 copyright protection release, and hope that would probably promote the re-appreciation of the album over here. Dull and a throwaway sounds about right. Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: ♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇 on January 08, 2018, 12:06:17 PM Holland is still one of my favorites, and the last time I could honestly say I dug every song on the album
Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: MyDrKnowsItKeepsMeCalm on January 08, 2018, 12:24:24 PM I would love for there to be a good sized book written about this album. Between Brian ditching the actual country of Holland sessions, to how the individual songs came about, a travelogue of what Carl and the gang did in their time off in Holland, how the new members (Blondie and Rickie) fit into the band, Van Dyke saving the album with SOS, etc. Are there any lengthy pieces written about Holland at all? I'd love to know especially about the genesis and development of songs like Steamboat and Big Sur, which don't really sound like any others in their catalogue. Though the personal stuff would be fun too. Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: rab2591 on January 08, 2018, 12:53:57 PM I would love for there to be a good sized book written about this album. Between Brian ditching the actual country of Holland sessions, to how the individual songs came about, a travelogue of what Carl and the gang did in their time off in Holland, how the new members (Blondie and Rickie) fit into the band, Van Dyke saving the album with SOS, etc. Are there any lengthy pieces written about Holland at all? I'd love to know especially about the genesis and development of songs like Steamboat and Big Sur, which don't really sound like any others in their catalogue. Though the personal stuff would be fun too. Rocker linked a pretty cool thread above (thanks Rocker!) - in it is a documentary about the making of Holland, though it isn’t in English (Smile Holland did a great translation of some of it), but the interviews with Blondie and Jack Reilly are in English. Jack Reilly is the spitting image of John Candy in Cool Runnings in this documentary, I’m not even kidding - which oddly enough was a movie about relocating a group of guys from their warm and sunny home to a cold/northern location to do something great. In all the books I’ve read about The Beach Boys, the Holland sessions seem to always be quickly gone over. Carlin’s book did a good job of going over it (but it is still too short of a section). Long Promised Road has a good few pages devoted to it, but it’s mostly the same information as other books...though it has a funny recollection of Mike, during a concert, making fun of ‘Fairy Tale Music’ to which someone in the crowd yelled “I think it’s bitchin’!” and the yelled statement was met with applause. It seems like such an incredibly odd time for the band - one thing that stands out to me is Brian’s obsession with Randy Newman’s ‘Sail Away’ album...he listened to this album countless times I guess, but he then is influenced to make Fairy Tale Music? Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: Billgoodman on January 08, 2018, 01:47:20 PM I would love for there to be a good sized book written about this album. Between Brian ditching the actual country of Holland sessions, to how the individual songs came about, a travelogue of what Carl and the gang did in their time off in Holland, how the new members (Blondie and Rickie) fit into the band, Van Dyke saving the album with SOS, etc. Heck, maybe this can turn into Bill Pohlad’s Love and Mercy II ;D I’ll be sure to play this album today. I've been thinking about writing that book for years. Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: Rocky Raccoon on January 08, 2018, 01:57:42 PM I would love for there to be a good sized book written about this album. Between Brian ditching the actual country of Holland sessions, to how the individual songs came about, a travelogue of what Carl and the gang did in their time off in Holland, how the new members (Blondie and Rickie) fit into the band, Van Dyke saving the album with SOS, etc. Heck, maybe this can turn into Bill Pohlad’s Love and Mercy II ;D I’ll be sure to play this album today. I've been thinking about writing that book for years. It’s a shame that Jack Rieley passed on a few years back. He would probably be the best source for that story. Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: rab2591 on January 08, 2018, 02:16:06 PM I would love for there to be a good sized book written about this album. Between Brian ditching the actual country of Holland sessions, to how the individual songs came about, a travelogue of what Carl and the gang did in their time off in Holland, how the new members (Blondie and Rickie) fit into the band, Van Dyke saving the album with SOS, etc. Heck, maybe this can turn into Bill Pohlad’s Love and Mercy II ;D I’ll be sure to play this album today. I've been thinking about writing that book for years. If you do, know you have one definite buyer already! It’s such a crazy premise: building a studio, flying in recording equipment, houses and cars bought for the band. The musical leader of the band so uninterested in the sessions that he drinks all the time and eventually crashes his car into a telephone pole. Two African rock musicians add their flair to the album. I would read the hell out of that book. Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: Billgoodman on January 08, 2018, 02:19:30 PM I would love for there to be a good sized book written about this album. Between Brian ditching the actual country of Holland sessions, to how the individual songs came about, a travelogue of what Carl and the gang did in their time off in Holland, how the new members (Blondie and Rickie) fit into the band, Van Dyke saving the album with SOS, etc. Heck, maybe this can turn into Bill Pohlad’s Love and Mercy II ;D I’ll be sure to play this album today. I've been thinking about writing that book for years. It’s a shame that Jack Rieley passed on a few years back. He would probably be the best source for that story. I came as close as being his friend on Facebook, but he was already in and out of the hospital in those days. He had such a profound influence on the Beach Boys. Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: Gabo on January 08, 2018, 02:32:08 PM I would love for there to be a good sized book written about this album. Between Brian ditching the actual country of Holland sessions, to how the individual songs came about, a travelogue of what Carl and the gang did in their time off in Holland, how the new members (Blondie and Rickie) fit into the band, Van Dyke saving the album with SOS, etc. Heck, maybe this can turn into Bill Pohlad’s Love and Mercy II ;D I’ll be sure to play this album today. I've been thinking about writing that book for years. If you do, know you have one definite buyer already! It’s such a crazy premise: building a studio, flying in recording equipment, houses and cars bought for the band. The musical leader of the band so uninterested in the sessions that he drinks all the time and eventually crashes his car into a telephone pole. Two African rock musicians add their flair to the album. I would read the hell out of that book. I wonder why they spent so much to make Holland. Did they believe moving abroad would somehow give them a hit? I have often thought about what the band's finances must have been like in the early 1970s when their last hit was years behind them. Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: B.E. on January 08, 2018, 02:37:34 PM ... It’s such a crazy premise: building a studio, flying in recording equipment, houses and cars bought for the band. The musical leader of the band so uninterested in the sessions that he drinks all the time and eventually crashes his car into a telephone pole. Two African rock musicians add their flair to the album. I would read the hell out of that book. And then the guy who set it all in motion quits on the band to stay in Holland! -or something like that... Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: JK on January 08, 2018, 02:40:17 PM Rocker linked a pretty cool thread above (thanks Rocker!) - in it is a documentary about the making of Holland, though it isn’t in English (Smile Holland did a great translation of some of it), but the interviews with Blondie and Jack Reilly are in English. SMiLE-Holland translated all the Dutch spoken in the show. What a labour of love! http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,6862.msg110316.html#msg110316 Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: SMiLE-addict on January 08, 2018, 03:30:36 PM Happy birthday Holland!
Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: c-man on January 08, 2018, 04:35:48 PM One of the band’s strangest yet most ambitious albums, their last studio effort with Blondie Chaplin and Ricky Fataar, and the end of that fascinating transitional era before the Endless Summer nostalgia hit. Beautifully produced by Carl Wilson, it’s one of my all-time favorites. A big thumbs up to that! :hat Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: c-man on January 08, 2018, 04:37:59 PM ...Between Brian ditching the actual country of Holland sessions... Ah, you must be basing that assumption on the otherwise-great Tom Petty-penned liner notes to the 2000 Brother Records twofer reissue? Or do you mean, once he got there, he more-or-less ditched the group sessions (preferring to work alone at night on the Fairytale)? 'Cause he was DEFINITELY there in Holland when the others were! :) Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: rab2591 on January 08, 2018, 04:50:23 PM ...Between Brian ditching the actual country of Holland sessions... Ah, you must be basing that assumption on the otherwise-great Tom Petty-penned liner notes to the 2000 Brother Records twofer reissue? Or do you mean, once he got there, he more-or-less ditched the group sessions (preferring to work alone at night on the Fairytale)? 'Cause he was DEFINITELY there in Holland when the others were! :) Haha yeah I worded that rather poorly, I meant he ditched the sessions once he was there. Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: Custom Machine on January 08, 2018, 05:25:47 PM One of the band’s strangest yet most ambitious albums, their last studio effort with Blondie Chaplin and Ricky Fataar, and the end of that fascinating transitional era before the Endless Summer nostalgia hit. Beautifully produced by Carl Wilson, it’s one of my all-time favorites. When I picked up the Holland LP 45 years ago today I would have been quite dismayed if I would have known that this would be the last Beach Boys studio album that would fall under the dual umbrellas of both progressive and hip. I was ecstatic 18 months later when Endless Summer shot to the top of the charts, due to the increased popularity and recognition it provided my favorite band, but again would have been very dismayed at that time had I known its effect on the Beach Boys concert setlists. (One nice bonus of Endless Summer's success was that the out of print Capitol albums Wild Honey & 20/20 and Friends & Smiley Smile were rereleased, as two-fers, followed the next year by Good Vibrations-Best of The Beach Boys featuring some great stuff from '66 thru '71.) The subsequent release of 15 Big Ones in '76 and Love You in '77 were truly WTF moments for me. Yes, some nice stuff on both albums, but a whole lot of poorly sung junkers as well. And I couldn't believe the state of Brian's voice. During the long three and a half year wait from Holland to 15 Big Ones, I was under the mistaken impression that the reason the Beach Boys had not released a new studio album was because resident genius Brian Wilson was working on some incredible new music, waiting to get it just right before releasing it. I guess the Brian's bizarre spoken passages on Holland's 7 inch bonus EP Mount Vernon and Fairway should have served as a clue to his state of mind, although it fit well under the definition of eccentric. Plus I'd spoken to Brian and Marilyn after the April 1973 Hollywood Palladium concert and he seemed absolutely fine - quite conversant and in a very good mood. Brian did not attend the November 1973 Long Beach Arena concert, but after the concert Marilyn told me Brian was at Danny Hutton's working on new music, so I figured all was good. For quite a few years after it's release Holland was the main BB album that people who weren't all that much into the Beach Boys told me they liked. Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: KDS on January 08, 2018, 06:09:38 PM I think Holland is the Beach Boys most successful foray into 1970s rock. Unlike Sunflower and Surf's Up, Holland featured longer songs with some very good instrumental solos (Steamboat, Leaving This Town) which is absent on most BB material. One cant help but wonder what would've become of The Beach Boys had they stayed on this path.
Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: Don Malcolm on January 08, 2018, 08:26:31 PM Bought it the day it came out...never regretted it!
In the doc Jack talks about an upright piano that became a significant anchor for the sound on many of the tracks. You can hear that on "Steamboat," "Trader," "Leaving Town," "Only With You," "Funky Pretty." Who was playing the piano on those tracks? Carl and Dennis seem to get the credit from what I've seen. Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: Jay on January 08, 2018, 09:24:39 PM I would love for there to be a good sized book written about this album. Between Brian ditching the actual country of Holland sessions, to how the individual songs came about, a travelogue of what Carl and the gang did in their time off in Holland, how the new members (Blondie and Rickie) fit into the band, Van Dyke saving the album with SOS, etc. Heck, maybe this can turn into Bill Pohlad’s Love and Mercy II ;D I’ll be sure to play this album today. I've been thinking about writing that book for years. If you do, know you have one definite buyer already! It’s such a crazy premise: building a studio, flying in recording equipment, houses and cars bought for the band. The musical leader of the band so uninterested in the sessions that he drinks all the time and eventually crashes his car into a telephone pole. Two African rock musicians add their flair to the album. I would read the hell out of that book. Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: Rick5150 on January 09, 2018, 03:28:15 AM I think Holland is the Beach Boys most successful foray into 1970s rock. Unlike Sunflower and Surf's Up, Holland featured longer songs with some very good instrumental solos (Steamboat, Leaving This Town) which is absent on most BB material. One cant help but wonder what would've become of The Beach Boys had they stayed on this path. For me, most of the lengthier solos and interludes are unwelcome on a Beach Boys album. I like the Steamboat solo as it really fits the song well, but Leaving This Town is way to long and rambling for me. Otherwise, the Holland album is killer though. Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: c-man on January 09, 2018, 04:20:12 AM Bought it the day it came out...never regretted it! In the doc Jack talks about an upright piano that became a significant anchor for the sound on many of the tracks. You can hear that on "Steamboat," "Trader," "Leaving Town," "Only With You," "Funky Pretty." Who was playing the piano on those tracks? Carl and Dennis seem to get the credit from what I've seen. Without knowing with absolute certainty, I would say you're right - except for "Funky Pretty", which was almost certainly Brian. A contemporaneous article indicated Brian, Carl, and Ricky played all the instruments on that one, with Brian playing the drums because Ricky stayed "home" with a cold that day (evidently he overdubbed something else - the conga, maybe? - at a later date). Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: KDS on January 09, 2018, 06:13:52 AM I think Holland is the Beach Boys most successful foray into 1970s rock. Unlike Sunflower and Surf's Up, Holland featured longer songs with some very good instrumental solos (Steamboat, Leaving This Town) which is absent on most BB material. One cant help but wonder what would've become of The Beach Boys had they stayed on this path. For me, most of the lengthier solos and interludes are unwelcome on a Beach Boys album. I like the Steamboat solo as it really fits the song well, but Leaving This Town is way to long and rambling for me. Otherwise, the Holland album is killer though. I'm fine with it because other 60s artists where stretching their legs musically in the 1970s, The Who for example. I honestly think, had they continued more in this vein, they'd ultimately be more respected today than they are now. But, in the short term, 15 Big Ones sold a lot of albums, and the Beach Boys had some big hits with some lackluster covers that didn't stand the test of time nearly as well as Holland. Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: Rocker on January 09, 2018, 09:16:27 AM Bought it the day it came out...never regretted it! In the doc Jack talks about an upright piano that became a significant anchor for the sound on many of the tracks. You can hear that on "Steamboat," "Trader," "Leaving Town," "Only With You," "Funky Pretty." Who was playing the piano on those tracks? Carl and Dennis seem to get the credit from what I've seen. Without knowing with absolute certainty, I would say you're right - except for "Funky Pretty", which was almost certainly Brian. A contemporaneous article indicated Brian, Carl, and Ricky played all the instruments on that one, with Brian playing the drums because Ricky stayed "home" with a cold that day (evidently he overdubbed something else - the conga, maybe? - at a later date). FWIW, Brian's Facebook account posted this yesterday: On this day in 1973, the Beach Boys released their classic album, "Holland." Brian's "Sail On, Sailor" became an FM staple and Al Jardine's "California Saga" is a perennial favorite. The complex "Funky Pretty" featured Brian on all instruments (drums, percussion, synthesizer, piano). The album peaked at #36 on the US Billboard Albums Chart. Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: bsten on January 09, 2018, 01:02:29 PM Has there been an explanation why they left out "We got love" and not for instance "Leaving this town" or "Steamboat"? Not releasing the stunningly beautiful "We got love" must be one of their biggest mistakes ever, imo...
Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: Billgoodman on January 09, 2018, 01:57:05 PM Carry Me Home would have been nice too (even if it wasn't intended for Holland)
Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: rab2591 on January 09, 2018, 02:04:14 PM “We Got Love” seems like such a wasted opportunity for a song on Holland. That intro holds so much promise...It goes from some awesome unknown genre of country/rock to gospel and stays gospel the rest of the song. And none of that intro piano or great guitar noodling is heard in the rest of the song.
The intro sounds like a song that deserves to be the opening to the album - it sounds like a new day, a new era for The Beach Boys (sounds very much like River Song), then the song unfortunately turns into what sounds like ‘Unleash the Love’. It’s not that I dislike the song, I think Blondie’s lead is great, and I do enjoy some gospel, but it doesn’t fit on Holland at all, imo. Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: rab2591 on January 09, 2018, 02:12:00 PM How is this for creepy? Listening to “We Got Love” on Apple Music, and these are the lyrics they supply:
Quote I will be by your side Because I love you Forever can you also your love can We going out to Date will Bruce you have to stay away from your wife Becaues I loved him everymore? can you make a other song for me I want to hear to Surfer Girls and Darln’ Because I loved to Hear your voies ok? can we will going to see movie I want to see Beach boys please I need you married to me Because you have too. Amanda Miller Well.....I don’t think these are the lyrics to “We Got Love”? Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: B.E. on January 09, 2018, 02:25:11 PM How is this for creepy? Listening to We Got Love on Apple Music, and these are the lyrics they supply: Quote I will be by your side Because I love you Forever can you also your love can We going out to Date will Bruce you have to stay away from your wife Becaues I loved him everymore? can you make a other song for me I want to hear to Surfer Girls and Darln Because I loved to Hear your voies ok? can we will going to see movie I want to see Beach boys please I need you married to me Because you have too. Amanda Miller Well.....I dont think these are the lyrics to We Got Love? Looks like those weird, incoherent youtube comments that are left on every other Beach Boys video... what's up with that? Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: rab2591 on January 09, 2018, 02:46:51 PM How is this for creepy? Listening to “We Got Love” on Apple Music, and these are the lyrics they supply: Quote I will be by your side Because I love you Forever can you also your love can We going out to Date will Bruce you have to stay away from your wife Becaues I loved him everymore? can you make a other song for me I want to hear to Surfer Girls and Darln’ Because I loved to Hear your voies ok? can we will going to see movie I want to see Beach boys please I need you married to me Because you have too. Amanda Miller Well.....I don’t think these are the lyrics to “We Got Love”? Looks like those weird, incoherent youtube comments that are left on every other Beach Boys video... what's up with that? Hmmm, makes no sense why they’d become lyrics on a streaming site! Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: Dave in KC on January 09, 2018, 03:37:33 PM Has there been an explanation why they left out "We got love" and not for instance "Leaving this town" or "Steamboat"? Not releasing the stunningly beautiful "We got love" must be one of their biggest mistake ever, imo... Leaving Steamboat off or replacing it would have been a terrible mistake I believe. Definitely not WGL in its place. Holland is the album that helped set me free from living with my parents after college graduation. Pushed me to take my first professional full-time job a thousand miles away. Best thing that ever happened to me. Holland was there every night after work on a lonely old night. Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: KDS on January 09, 2018, 07:41:31 PM Has there been an explanation why they left out "We got love" and not for instance "Leaving this town" or "Steamboat"? Not releasing the stunningly beautiful "We got love" must be one of their biggest mistakes ever, imo... If I had to ditch a Holland track in favor of We Got Love, it would be Funky Pretty. I think Funky Pretty sounds very out of place. Its not a bad song, but also not nearly as good as the preceeding eight, or We Got Love. Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: The LEGENDARY OSD on January 09, 2018, 08:07:37 PM Has there been an explanation why they left out "We got love" and not for instance "Leaving this town" or "Steamboat"? Not releasing the stunningly beautiful "We got love" must be one of their biggest mistakes ever, imo... If I had to ditch a Holland track in favor of We Got Love, it would be Funky Pretty. I think Funky Pretty sounds very out of place. Its not a bad song, but also not nearly as good as the preceeding eight, or We Got Love. Nope. FP has that Holland vibe running through it. The one song on the album that has never seemed to fit is Only With You. Good song, but doesn't flow with the rest of the LP. Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: c-man on January 09, 2018, 08:16:32 PM Has there been an explanation why they left out "We got love" and not for instance "Leaving this town" or "Steamboat"? Not releasing the stunningly beautiful "We got love" must be one of their biggest mistakes ever, imo... If I had to ditch a Holland track in favor of We Got Love, it would be Funky Pretty. I think Funky Pretty sounds very out of place. Its not a bad song, but also not nearly as good as the preceeding eight, or We Got Love. Nope. FP has that Holland vibe running through it. The one song on the album that has never seemed to fit is Only With You, the only love song on the LP. Hmmm...never thought about it, but you're right..."OWY" is indeed the only love song on the album! "FP" kinda comes close, since it's a guy singing about his girl...but not TO her, the way he does in "OWY". The other songs are about various topics, but NOT romance! Interesting...even the Fairy Tale has no romance themes whatsoever. That said though, "OWY" fits on Holland perfectly for me...in fact, every song on the whole album does. Holland as a whole has got it's very own, stately vibe...much the same as "Pet Sounds" or "Love You" have their own vibes. Or "Wild Honey" and "Friends". All those LPs do. "Smiley Smile", even. To a lesser degree, "Sunflower" and "Surf's Up" do as well. Even "20/20" to a very lesser extent. Only "So Tough" really doesn't. But the Holland vibe...I mean, even when I first heard it, at age 14, about 5 years after it's release...it just has this very special, stately vibe. Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: KDS on January 09, 2018, 08:26:17 PM Has there been an explanation why they left out "We got love" and not for instance "Leaving this town" or "Steamboat"? Not releasing the stunningly beautiful "We got love" must be one of their biggest mistakes ever, imo... If I had to ditch a Holland track in favor of We Got Love, it would be Funky Pretty. I think Funky Pretty sounds very out of place. Its not a bad song, but also not nearly as good as the preceeding eight, or We Got Love. Nope. FP has that Holland vibe running through it. The one song on the album that has never seemed to fit is Only With You. Good song, but doesn't flow with the rest of the LP. I think Only With You fits better musically than FP. Though, I think Dennis shouldve sang it. Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: The LEGENDARY OSD on January 09, 2018, 09:14:17 PM Has there been an explanation why they left out "We got love" and not for instance "Leaving this town" or "Steamboat"? Not releasing the stunningly beautiful "We got love" must be one of their biggest mistakes ever, imo... If I had to ditch a Holland track in favor of We Got Love, it would be Funky Pretty. I think Funky Pretty sounds very out of place. Its not a bad song, but also not nearly as good as the preceeding eight, or We Got Love. Nope. FP has that Holland vibe running through it. The one song on the album that has never seemed to fit is Only With You. Good song, but doesn't flow with the rest of the LP. I think Only With You fits better musically than FP. Though, I think Dennis shouldve sang it. the weary middle break in Leaving followed by the witchy, moody FP. The far out Mt. Vernon with it's unfinished snippets can only leave you not wanting this erie journey to ever end. Only with you is fine but just not on this album. Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: Hickory Violet Part IV on January 09, 2018, 10:46:01 PM Usually I'm one to detach emotion from music and just listen analytically, but I don't spin Holland often because it puts me in a depressed mood. Something about those songs, the sound, and even the cover bring me right down.
I like the songs, Mike's line at the end of Funky Pretty is one of the best contrapunctal melodies they did. But something about it makes me feel despondent. Only Beach Boys album (in my collection) to do that Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: Rick5150 on January 10, 2018, 02:29:28 AM Usually I'm one to detach emotion from music and just listen analytically, but I don't spin Holland often because it puts me in a depressed mood. Something about those songs, the sound, and even the cover bring me right down. I like the songs, Mike's line at the end of Funky Pretty is one of the best contrapunctal melodies they did. But something about it makes me feel despondent. Only Beach Boys album (in my collection) to do that SiP does that to me. But it's a Love thing. Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: KDS on January 10, 2018, 05:11:02 AM Has there been an explanation why they left out "We got love" and not for instance "Leaving this town" or "Steamboat"? Not releasing the stunningly beautiful "We got love" must be one of their biggest mistakes ever, imo... If I had to ditch a Holland track in favor of We Got Love, it would be Funky Pretty. I think Funky Pretty sounds very out of place. Its not a bad song, but also not nearly as good as the preceeding eight, or We Got Love. Nope. FP has that Holland vibe running through it. The one song on the album that has never seemed to fit is Only With You. Good song, but doesn't flow with the rest of the LP. I think Only With You fits better musically than FP. Though, I think Dennis shouldve sang it. the weary middle break in Leaving followed by the witchy, moody FP. The far out Mt. Vernon with it's unfinished snippets can only leave you not wanting this erie journey to ever end. Only with you is fine but just not on this album. I don't really think I'm missing anything. Just in my opinion, the first eight songs on Holland sound like they belong together where FP sounds like an outlier. Why is it on Beach Boys forums when you say you're not into a song or album, that somehow means "you're missing something"? I don't even consider Mt Vernon part of the album proper. I think the Beach Boys were right to keep that as a separate EP. Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: JK on January 10, 2018, 06:02:27 AM For me, most of the lengthier solos and interludes are unwelcome on a Beach Boys album. I like the Steamboat solo as it really fits the song well, but Leaving This Town is way to long and rambling for me. I have to disagree. For me, the two extended instrumental workouts in a BB song (in "Leaving This Town" and "Feel Flows") are absolutely stunning. Both play out over a repeating pattern (one-bar and two-bar respectively) introduced for that purpose only. Kudos to Ricky and Carl (and Charles). Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: D409 on January 10, 2018, 06:43:53 AM A couple of posters on this thread have been asking if there's been a good book about Holland. I remembered the Shelley Benoit booklet that I first read in Kingsley Abbott's Back To The Beach compendium, and found a link to it here :
http://troun.tripod.com/holland.html Should tell you quite a lot about the making of Holland - not everything, but fills in several gaps ! Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: phirnis on January 10, 2018, 07:29:18 AM Holland is one of those rare albums where everything seems to fit. Only with You, Funky Pretty, the fairy tale - all great stuff, I wouldn't want to miss any of it!
There are two things that I find particularly interesting about this album: 1. how they managed to fuse the rootsy/The Band-like sound of So Tough with an increased use of synthesizers; 2. the way the group vocals were mixed and produced on this one - I think 'more ambient' is what Tom Petty called it in the twofer booklet. It sounds gorgeous! Of all the 'true group albums' they did after Friends, this is the one I like best. I think this is where they found their definite 70s sound. Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: KDS on January 10, 2018, 07:30:31 AM Holland is one of those rare albums where everything seems to fit. Only with You, Funky Pretty, the fairy tale - all great stuff, I wouldn't want to miss any of it! There are two things that I find particularly interesting about this album: 1. how they managed to fuse the rootsy/The Band-like sound of So Tough with an increased use of synthesizers; 2. the way the group vocals were mixed and produced on this one - I think 'more ambient' is what Tom Petty called it in the twofer booklet. It sounds gorgeous! Of all the 'true group albums' they did after Friends, this is the one I like best. I think this is where they found their definite 70s sound. I agree that this is the definitive 70s Beach Boys sounds, and it's a pity it only exists on one album. Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: rab2591 on January 10, 2018, 07:34:48 AM A couple of posters on this thread have been asking if there's been a good book about Holland. I remembered the Shelley Benoit booklet that I first read in Kingsley Abbott's Back To The Beach compendium, and found a link to it here : http://troun.tripod.com/holland.html Should tell you quite a lot about the making of Holland - not everything, but fills in several gaps ! Bookmarked. Thank you for this! Title: Re: Holland was released 45 years ago today. Post by: Rocker on January 10, 2018, 08:07:53 AM A couple of posters on this thread have been asking if there's been a good book about Holland. I remembered the Shelley Benoit booklet that I first read in Kingsley Abbott's Back To The Beach compendium, and found a link to it here : http://troun.tripod.com/holland.html Yeah, I remember that. Thanks for the link! Kingsley Abbott's anthology was my first source for deeper information about the band. Really a great book. |