The Smiley Smile Message Board

Discuss, review and rate Good Vibrations - Thirty Years Of The Beach Boys, released November 1993.

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

I'm not a fan of greatest hits albums, but there was so much unreleased music on these discs, I think this is essential. The Smile stuff, the Sunflower-era stuff, the Dennis stuff, the 70s Adult Child stuff...very good.

How Funky Pretty and Then I Kissed Her made it on there and Feel Flows and Farmer's Daughter did not, I'll never know.
But it's still the best box set ever.

Finally, an honest and reasonably unbiased distillation of the group's legacy as the finest American pop group. 5 stars all the way.

All fans must own this.

Gotta be a marketing standpoint... always leave off a few to keep the cash flowing in from other purchases!
To equate: notice A Little Bit Me & Girl I Knew Somewhere were left off the Monkees Headquarters remaster.
DW Washburn & It's Nice B With You- left off Birds Bees Remaster. Keeps the cash flowing and makes you buy other stuff.

I can't believe they left off essential Denny tracks- River Song, etc. Especially since River Song was on 10 Years Of Harmony.
Glad Punchline made the box set, tho!

This really is the best compiled career spanning box set I know of.  It is perhaps the cornerstone of any good BB collection.

This is what introduced me to the Beach Boys, after listening to Surfin' which was my favorite BBoys song at the time. I recieved it as a holiday present when I was in 7th grade.

Does anyone know why the 'Hereos and Villians (backing track)" is only :47 seconds? Is there a full version of the Beach Boys H&V anywhere? (pm if you can send it to me) I have the BWPS 2004 version I got from iTunes but I want to hear the whole backing track to The Beach Boys' version of Heroes & Villians.

Thanks!

I'd guess because it was all so pieced together from separate pieces and segments, with tracks being used for different things at different times. (Not like now, when you have unlimited tracks, and simply having a no-vocals, or vocals-only mix is simple, and just a matter of muting or soloing certain tracks.) This is absolutely a guess, though.

Some bootlegs have some of the backing tracks for various fragments of Heroes and Villains. I dunno why some of those weren't used on the box set, they could've made a compound mix of the various backing track fragments for that disc 5 track.

The acetate used for that H&V Instro is that short. It first appeared on the Vigotone SMiLE boot.

this box set made my days and nights worthwhile circa 1993-94. i'm a wimp.
Primo Box:
loved the pic's and "its over now" and "still i dream" and "baby blue" and
"the night was so young" all hit my top ten chart late 93 early 94.
made me cry.
long promised road shouldve hit the top 40. looking glass & gilbertosullivan?
 pulleeze

4th of july made me cry and burn my american flag.
no wonder they took it off surfs Up, too much environmentalism & radical revolutionary lp if they put it on.
4th of july AND Student demon time???
think about tit
the Beach Boys never wanted to be tooooo serious mind you.

Not a day goes by that I don't.

Yeah, it's a bit of a poser. The selection criteria were as follows:

1. Top 40 hits

2. Recognised classic album tracks and single 'misses'

3. The unreleased stuff then to hand, trying not to duplicate the bonus tracks from the 2fers.

4. Tracks collated from the wishes of the fans (this included some of the unreleased stuff).

Brian had the final power of veto, resulting in the absence of "Let Him Run Wild" (he hated his voical) and "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow" (never considered - I'm reliably informed that it took some time to persuade Brian to allow ANY Smile meterial to be included). "Soulful Ol' Man Sunshine" was asembled for the box only to be handed the black spot by Carl because he flubbed two words.

Well, all things considered, they did a bang-up job, the most representative non-complete box set I have ever heard.

Damn near perfect. A+

The glory-hole of releases.  5

I'm sensing a theme here, Compost.

I was having an indepth discussion about "Rusty Trombones" the other day - the logistics of them - and I guess my mind hasn't left the gutter.

Simply the best compilation of the Beach Boys material. I wish they put Let Him Run Wild on though. I don't understand why Brian thinks his vocals were bad.

Ever heard the old saying "the artist is overly critical of his best work?"

True, although I think he should've been a little more critical of "Don't Back Down" and not Let Him Run Wild. I hate when brian sings the word "Guts" in that song. 

For those who can afford it, the absolute best intro to the band.  For most fans, they would never need to buy another album.  But most who give this a good listen probably would anyway...   ;D

I love that part. It showcases some power in his falsetto that doesn't usually pop up in the Boys' music.

it's because he doesn't like sounding "like a fairy" or being "considered a chick"

Probably the career spanning boxed set on the market.  The only other one I can think of that is even close might be Dylan's Bootleg Series Vol. 1-3 with all the outtakes and unreleased gems from his career.  The inclusion of the Smile stuff is a nice gift and some of the later outtakes are awesome!  5!!

I think this set was histroically important. First off it restored the groups rep artistically and secondally it led to their best tour in 13 years and their last worthy one period. Now I hate the vocals only and music only stuff, not enough Dennis and why oh why do they put tracks out of order. Some good stuff though

I think the first disc would of benefited with a better selection from "Today!" such as "Kiss Me Baby" or "In The back of my mind".

Although thats a minor flaw in a brilliantly composed box set thats a treat to listen to for newcomers and longterm fans.

I love the flow of the 3rd disc. It really works well as an album, rather than just a colletion of songs...

I  agree Today got the short shirft. I guess a set like this is too subjective to be perfect

A very strong 5.

When I bought this in 1993 (it was first-ever credit card purchase! I just had to have it), I had never heard a Smile bootleg, so it was my first intro to those previously unreleased Smile recordings. For including that material alone, the box set was incredibly important and absolutely thrilling to be able to own.

The fact that so much of the rest of the music (particularly on Disc 3) is so wonderful is an amazing bonus. As is the fact that the early material on Disc 1 is in mono, which makes it a nice companion to the largely stereo two-fers.

Members,

Years ago I picked up this japanese cd box set titled "The Beach Boys...The Capitol Years"...7 cds...with theme titled cds..."Summertime U.S.A.", "California Dream", "Sunshine Music",
"Changes", "Timeless", "Break Away", and "The Brian Wilson Productions".

123 songs. Insert book with some interesting black and white photos like ""Early Summer 1962 UCLA fraternity"..."November 1st 1963, YMCA Day Hollywood Bowl ".

The label say of the song audio......

"Mono" "Stereo" "Electronically"

The OBI says "91-5-22" among other stuff

Does anyone else have this box set ? 

Thanks, Mike

I have it on vinyl from 1980. Good set much more in depth then Good Vibrations because it's only Capitol recordings. Only 2-3 essential songs missing.

It's a damn good box set, but there's some average material included at the expense of far superior stuff! Just as an example:
'Slip On Through' shoulda been included in place of 'Add Some Music..' or 'Our sweet Love' from Sunflower
There's much better Landlocked material out there than dopey stuff like 'Games Two Can Play'. Where was 'Lady'?
In fact, the whole box set is very heavily Brian biased, which is of course appropriate in the years 1961 - 1968, but from then on other band members, in particular Dennis, where producing work as good as him, often superior. Where are Dennis' 20/20, C&TP and Holland tracks for example? 'Carry Me Home' would've been much prefered to an instrumental version of Mt Vernon, no? Where was 'Wouldn't It Be Nice To Live Again'? Surely an unreleased track more worthy of inclusion than 'HELP is on the Way'...? The set could've highlighted the band's strengths more than it does if u ask me... Still, as I say, damn good set!

Well you have to remember that the record company was trying to sell their product and it was designed to be for casual fans (who just love the hits) and hardcore fans (ie: such as the SMiLE stuff). So thats why a song like Add Some Music was chosen over songs like Slip On Through. I agree about Lady, even if it is a DW solo record, it would have been nice to have some rarities like that. I do agree with you though that Dennis wasn't represented perhaps as well as he shouldve been. But that doesnt surprise me, he rarely is.

Good reply. I was expecting to recieve something argumentative from someone, but you're quite correct in everything u say...

From what you usually write, am I right in guessing that you are a big Dennis Wilson fan? I do think though that most people agree (in terms of fans) that Dennis is rarely represented fairly in collections like this one, its just clear to see. But I suppose I can sort of understand on typical "Greatest Hits" collections because Dennis didn't exactly have any major hits, but I can't understand why he wasn't represented more fairly on this box set. Because if they had put more rarities along with the hits then maby people would have heard the more obscure songs and thought, "gee I thought I knew all the Beach Boys good songs" and then they would maby go and buy some of the CD's." Ahwell, I suppose they usually sell pretty well anyway and thats obviously all the record company cares about...

Yeh, the way I see it is Brian was the most talented, interesting member of the group from 1961 to 1967-68, but from then on I'd say it was Dennis who was the most talented, interesting member by far! I've noticed a lot of people just refuse to even suggest that Brian was ever anything other than Beach Boy numero uno, but aside from one or two great tracks a year it really was Dennis producing the goods post-Friends. Whenever I compile compilations of BB stuff to introduce friends to the groups more experimental, less well-known material, I always fill the CDs with Denny tracks (Slip On Through, Lady, 4th Of July, Celebrate The News, Baby Blue) and they're always blown away! Then I play 'em POB and Bamboo and, wow... They don't generally seem quite as impressed by the likes of 'HELP is on the way' and 'Games Two Can Play'.

I disagree about songs like Games so I would extend Brian was in his prime though 1970, but starting from 68 Dennis was right up there with him. In fact as far as Brian goes I would say through the Spring sessions maybe even the 1974 Caribou he was still doing great stuff. He was doing much less from 71-74 but it was still good. Dennis from 68-78 was as good as Brian and begining with the 15 Big Ones sessions Dennis was much better. I still fail to see how anyone could like Love You so much, I mean P.O.B. is just so much better. Adult Child had some nuggets by Brian but it isn't sustained the whole album. Dennis was just so good until his sad decline took over.

Yeh, but even during his sad decline Dennis was still coming up with gems like 'He's A Bum'. Brian however, once declining, started churning out really substandard stuff! Thankfully he recovered from his decline, but his song-writing genius never did. And i'm I'm sorry, but ''Games Two Can Play' is Brian in his prime? It's a nice, hummable catchy tune, with rather bad lyrics - is that really considered the best that the man who gave us 'Caroline No' and 'Wonderful' was expected to deliver? Sure, tracks such as 'Til I die', 'This Whole World' and 'Mt Vernon' would see his true genius reappearing, but in between he was knocking out more average songs than good ones. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge Brian Wilson fan, seen him live more times than I care to mention, and I like the BB period 1966-67 more than any other in their career, but when people start claiming that 'I Just Got My Pay' is our man at the top of his game... Please! I enjoy these songs, but compare 'em to those his younger brother was producing around the same time ('Lady', 'San Miguel', '4th of July', 'It's About Time') and the argument pretty much ends there! Why debate it? Just listen!

I don't know I just like those songs, they were different to what Dennis was doing, less serious perhaps, but still fun. Once Brian's voice went I had more trouble enjoying his material, but I like that they aren't heavy songs. He had always mixed in the silly and the serious. Til I Die, This Whole World, Breakaway, All I Wanna Do, they are all weighty but even during 66-67 nobody can say that a song like Vega-tables is exactly profound. Lighthearted songs are no less enjoyable to my ears. Something like I Just Got My Pay is cool for it's harmonies and production, the words are secondary. Got to Know The Woman had dumb words too but I like it all the same. Now when you get to Roller Skating Child, Hey Little Tomboy, I Wanna Pick You Up, Love Is A Woman, etc then I agree that Brian was in a deep decline, but l happen think Brian was still in his prime at least creatively in the early 70's. You are of course entitled to disagree. Dennis alone didn't try to sound remotely like Brian so to me which I commend him for. I like his stuff as much as you do, and we all know you like Dennis the best. I just fail to see why you feel the need to put him above the others to prove his greatness.

I only put him above the others in the period when he was better. I enjoy 'Games..' for the same reasons you do, they're fun and catchy as hell, but i just think Dennis' songs are, to my ears at least, just obviously better - not just more intelligent, heavy etc. Just better! Better melodies for starters.. As I say, i genuinely think he was better than any other memeber during this particular period and rate him above the other members for that reason solely. That, and he was much cooler too. :-D

You aren't alone Thomas. I feel the exact same way.

For my tastes I would amend that to say that when Brian was "ON" (ie A Day In The Life Of A Tree, Till I Die) his work surpassed everyone.

A Day In The Life Of A Tree is a personal fave - but better than 'Feel Flows'? Better than 'Carry Me Home'? What..really? 'Til I Die' is one of the best songs the band ever created however, that's pretty much set in stone.. And THIS version is the killer, not the 'Endless Harmony' remix

If Dennis Wilson was Dennis Jones nobody would care about his music....a lot of people put out quote unquote better stuff than Brian during this time peiod, but Brian Wilson is the man, no matter what we say, no matter what time period.....his stuff is just ssssooo much more curious than anyone else's....."in the morning I'm the Mr. Business man..."!! :rock :rock

GV, 30 years....5

who gave this a zero???

A wanker.

Obviously somebody who rated Looking Back With Love, Summer In Paradise etc... a 5.


I agree with you on that thomasogg. He was the coolest member of the band, but probably also the most foolish. Denny when he was not crazy and was in his prime is the epitome of cool if you ask me.

Who handed out that 'zero'? I have a gun. And I can go through walls.

Which of the SMiLE tracks on here uses an original mix, not the mark linnet mix?   ???

Interesting. It depends on your criteria. From the standpoint of compositional complexity, "A Day in the Life of a Tree" is pretty much objectively better than "Feel Flows". Now, "Feel Flows" has a more hip vibe, some interesting sounds, and it is a catchy, creative song, and I could see why some people like it better. But "A Day in the Life of a Tree" is like a musical or something. I could so easily imagine it as a play. It has multiple sections and Brian's superior understanding of harmony and counterpoint (in comparison to Carl) just creates a fuller musical experience than Carl's song. Brian's song is practically a world in and of itself. Listening to a song by Carl, Al, or Mike after listening to this makes me realize how empty their compositions can seem in comparison. This isn't a knock on them, it's just that they were doing music in the BBs idiom, which was originally Brian's creation, so it makes the differences in their talents obvious. There weren't many pop groups that had a writer like Brian, though.

Well, the Cantina version of Heroes and Villains on there is a vintage February 1967 Brian mix. Cabinessence and Our Prayer were mixed by Carl and Dennis with Steve Desper assisting based on original test mixes Brian had made in November and December of 1966. Wind Chimes is a Mark Linett mix based on Brian's original 1966 rough edit, but cleaned up to remove dead space between changing sections. Do You Like Worms is a Mark Linett mix based on Brian's original 1966 rough edit. The rest are all Mark Linett's own mixes.

The fact remains that nothing from Smile ever received a final mix by Brian himself, and all that exists are test edits and rough mixes strewn across any number of compilation reels or acetates.

I'm happy that this finally afforded "H.E.L.P. Is On The Way" an official release.  I first discovered that song via this boxed set and was thrown by it at first, but having traced its sad life over the course of several scrapped albums, it's actually grown to be one of my favorite BB's songs.  ("Santa's On His Way" seems like absolute shite to me now, though...)

Besides, who ever expected an official release of "Do You Like Worms"??

[koff] There's a November 1966 BW mono mix for the track to "CIFTTM" - was nearly on Endless Harmony - that sounds pretty final to me.  ;D

no kidding? dang...wonder why it's not floating around?    ;)

Overall, I feel that, while everything in the box, and about it, is fantastic, I really don't like the mix of 'Vegatables' from the SMiLE tracks. Everything just seems so unbalanced, and the ending is all over the place. I do, however, really enjoy the live version of 'Be True To Your School' on disc 5, if anything just for the Beach Boys trying to be cheerleaders!  ;D

But overall, a very recommended box, with a definite 5.

  They used a mix of "Cotton Fields" that had less of the pedal steel intro. That annoyed me in 1993 and still does today.

I was going to say the same thing - did they accidentally cut it off or is the reason unknown?

According to Linett/Boyd, it's like that on the master.

I'm honestly surprised they released Little Surfer Girl on this, being that it's just a snippet.

But i'm glad they did, as it's beautiful - one of the highlights of the first CD! Pity we couldn't have had more similar session snippets.

Is this box set still available? and I don't mean online

Then what do you mean?

Btw, if you want a closer look at the set itself, I've done a video review of the box, here's part one:

http://youtu.be/fGg0o5qgHO4

I mean is the box set still avaliable for sale physically? Or I can only get online like on Itunes?

I got one for 20 bucks on Ebay.

I managed to purchase this set about a year after its release and I absolutely fell in love with it.  Just for interest sake though, I was browsing through the comments left by reviewers on amazon.com and I'm surprised by the amount of people who put the whole box set down on account of the overall sound quality.  I have to say, I've always enjoyed how the music sounds on the set. 

This is what box sets are all about and for me this is desert island pic all the way.. So essential  that I couldn't bear to be without it..    5/5   :tm :tm

This is a great boxset.........if you don't already own every BB album.

I know The Beach Boys aren't the only guilty party here, but these boxsets are designed by record companies to make hardcore fans shell out some money for a set made up of mostly stuff they already own just to get the unreleased tracks.

That being said, at least this set is much more affordable than MIC, and has a good mix of hits, album tracks, and unreleased stuff.  I'm sure the Smile tracks were mind blowing at the time. 

Overall, I'd give it a 4/5. 

It annoys the hell out of me that the Holland tracks come before the CATP tracks. Why?!


And what is with Europe's obsession with Tears in the Morning, Sumahama, and disco HCTN? They made it onto the Europe-exclusive 6th disc of the boxset, they made it onto the European version of The Best of the Brother Years, and they made it to the Europe exclusive Sounds of Summer Platinum Collection, even though they're exactly the opposite of great hits!

I read an article about the box in Goldmine, David Leaf said they decided to put the Holland tracks before the CATP stuff because they believed it was stronger material.
I think the box does a good job at covering the 60's and 70's, but it's like the 80's didn't exist. Surely they could have made room for Where I Belong, Somewhere Near Japan, It's Gettin' Late, California Dreamin' or Rock 'n' Roll to the Rescue. And there must be a few outtakes or rare tracks from that decade.

Nothing's perfect but this is pretty darn close to that particular condition.

When I got this for a birthday present in 2003 or '04 I hadn't heard a semiquaver of unofficial Smile tracks, so that alone was worth the effort of removing the wrapping paper.

One of many other high points is the longer fade on "Don't Back Down" (long live mono).     
 
Disc 5 is much like poking around in an attic full of surprises.

"Lotsa good stuff", to quote the late Paul Williams in his ecstatic review "I Believe You Anyway"...

5/5