The Smiley Smile Message Board

Smiley Smile Stuff => General On Topic Discussions => Topic started by: earcandy on February 18, 2006, 06:38:01 PM



Title: Beach Boys mention in Geoff Emerick's new book...
Post by: earcandy on February 18, 2006, 06:38:01 PM
I just got an advance copy of Geoff Emerick's HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE: My Life Recording the Music of The Beatles and there are two Beach Boys mentions.  And yes, the do both happen to be during the recording of Sgt. Pepper!

1. Paul kept insisting on playing a certain Beach Boys disc in the studio on his personal record player so that the engineers could see the sound he wanted to get!
You might ask:

Was it "Good Vibrations"?

Was it ANY Smile track?

NOPE! It was the Pet Sounds album. Pure and simple. (There-you've got it from the horses mouth! Someone who was there, not hearsay!)

P.S. What I didn't find? Well...
There were no instances found of trans-Atlantic calls from Brian Wilson during the recording session ("Paul? Telephone...It's Brian again, he's got another Smile track he wants you to hear...") or Derek Taylor bursting through the studio doors with a devilish grin on his face, holding several reel-to-reel canisters under his arm ("Lads! You've just GOT to hear these tapes!").  ;)


Title: Re: Beach Boys mention in Geoff Emerick's new book...
Post by: Joshilyn Hoisington on February 18, 2006, 06:41:02 PM
Is there a 2.?


Title: Re: Beach Boys mention in Geoff Emerick's new book...
Post by: earcandy on February 18, 2006, 06:51:57 PM
Is there a 2.?

DOH! Sorry...here 'tis:

2. Paul wanted the backing vocals to sound like The Beach Boys on "Lovely Rita". (again, no mention of any Smile tracks)


Title: Re: Beach Boys mention in Geoff Emerick's new book...
Post by: Reverend Joshua Sloane on February 18, 2006, 07:35:27 PM
Fascinating stuff.

Does it mention if any of the other Beatles had such a strong interest as Paul did with Pet Sounds? I've read what has been said before, but neither John's nor George's songs show any influence, whereas Paul's have an obvious hint.


Title: Re: Beach Boys mention in Geoff Emerick's new book...
Post by: earcandy on February 18, 2006, 08:24:02 PM
Fascinating stuff.

Does it mention if any of the other Beatles had such a strong interest as Paul did with Pet Sounds? I've read what has been said before, but neither John's nor George's songs show any influence, whereas Paul's have an obvious hint.

No, I only found Paul's love of the album mentioned (even did a quick search through the index to check).


Title: Re: Beach Boys mention in Geoff Emerick's new book...
Post by: c-man on February 18, 2006, 09:06:55 PM
Fascinating stuff.

Does it mention if any of the other Beatles had such a strong interest as Paul did with Pet Sounds? I've read what has been said before, but neither John's nor George's songs show any influence, whereas Paul's have an obvious hint.

Has anyone here ever read Pete Shotten's book?  He says John was not much of a Beach Boys fan, unlike Paul and George.  However, one BBs song John was evidently familar with was "Lonely Sea", of all things, as he reportedly fooled around with a solo version of this at the "Get Back" sessions.

C-Man


Title: Re: Beach Boys mention in Geoff Emerick's new book...
Post by: earcandy on February 18, 2006, 09:21:11 PM
Fascinating stuff.

Does it mention if any of the other Beatles had such a strong interest as Paul did with Pet Sounds? I've read what has been said before, but neither John's nor George's songs show any influence, whereas Paul's have an obvious hint.

Has anyone here ever read Pete Shotten's book?  He says John was not much of a Beach Boys fan, unlike Paul and George.  However, one BBs song John was evidently familar with was "Lonely Sea", of all things, as he reportedly fooled around with a solo version of this at the "Get Back" sessions.

C-Man

There is the cool section in Pete Shotton's book where he tells what Lennon was listening to around his house in Weybridge around 1966-67. No mention of the Beach Boys in the records he played at home.


Title: Re: Beach Boys mention in Geoff Emerick's new book...
Post by: Surfer Joe on February 18, 2006, 09:38:24 PM
However, one BBs song John was evidently familar with was "Lonely Sea", of all things, as he reportedly fooled around with a solo version of this at the "Get Back" sessions.

C-Man

Uh-oh...here we go...


Title: Re: Beach Boys mention in Geoff Emerick's new book...
Post by: runalot on February 18, 2006, 09:57:55 PM
earcandy -

Thanks for the info. What about the rest of the book? Does it say anything new about its main subject? Is it work picking up?


Title: Re: Beach Boys mention in Geoff Emerick's new book...
Post by: Andrew G. Doe on February 19, 2006, 02:45:19 AM
However, one BBs song John was evidently familar with was "Lonely Sea", of all things, as he reportedly fooled around with a solo version of this at the "Get Back" sessions.

C-Man

Uh-oh...here we go...

No. He. Didn't.

Friend of mine listened to all the relevant outtakes, to veryify this (yes, he is totally insane). At one point, in the middle of an extended noodle, John hits on a chord progression that "LS" has in common with roughly a gazillion other songs. Now, had Lennon sung the lyric over it, then I'd say there was reasonable evidence. But he didn't.


Title: Re: Beach Boys mention in Geoff Emerick's new book...
Post by: earcandy on February 19, 2006, 05:46:05 AM
earcandy -

Thanks for the info. What about the rest of the book? Does it say anything new about its main subject? Is it work picking up?

Definitely! It doesn't just rehash the same old stories - actually having new stuff.  Plus, it is balanced so it will please the recording buffs as well as Beatles fans.


Title: Re: Beach Boys mention in Geoff Emerick's new book...
Post by: c-man on February 19, 2006, 06:34:35 AM
However, one BBs song John was evidently familar with was "Lonely Sea", of all things, as he reportedly fooled around with a solo version of this at the "Get Back" sessions.

C-Man

Uh-oh...here we go...

No. He. Didn't.

Friend of mine listened to all the relevant outtakes, to veryify this (yes, he is totally insane). At one point, in the middle of an extended noodle, John hits on a chord progression that "LS" has in common with roughly a gazillion other songs. Now, had Lennon sung the lyric over it, then I'd say there was reasonable evidence. But he didn't.

Hmm.  Well, that's why I said "reportedly"...'cause it was reported in Sulpy and Schweighardt's "Get Back" book.  Not wanting to lose what's left of my sanity, I haven't yet listened to all of those sessions.  Although reading that entire book in one weekend brought me periously close...

C-Man


Title: Re: Beach Boys mention in Geoff Emerick's new book...
Post by: earcandy on February 19, 2006, 07:39:49 AM

Hmm.  Well, that's why I said "reportedly"...'cause it was reported in Sulpy and Schweighardt's "Get Back" book.  Not wanting to lose what's left of my sanity, I haven't yet listened to all of those sessions.  Although reading that entire book in one weekend brought me periously close...

C-Man

For a session that was "such a downer", the "Get Back" period is probably the most documented of the Fabs - at least recording wise.  I've been collecting "Get Back" stuff since the '70s and it still amazes me that "new" stuff surfaces that I haven't heard.  Recently downloaded a new collection (via bit torrent-Man, love that technology!) and most of it was stuff I hadn't heard before.  Sure, it went on ad nauseum with re-take after re-take of songs...but in between all these takes were where the interesting stuff happened. When one member would suddenly go into a completely different song (original or cover).  I imagine this happened from sheer boredom!  I mean, how many takes can you do of say, "Dig A Pony" without going insane?


Title: Re: Beach Boys mention in Geoff Emerick's new book...
Post by: c-man on February 19, 2006, 08:03:39 AM

...but in between all these takes were where the interesting stuff happened. When one member would suddenly go into a completely different song (original or cover).  I imagine this happened from sheer boredom!  I mean, how many takes can you do of say, "Dig A Pony" without going insane?

I like the Peter Sellers visit.   And when George and Ringo are talking about what they watched on TV the night before.

C-Man


Title: Re: Beach Boys mention in Geoff Emerick's new book...
Post by: Daniel S. on February 19, 2006, 11:59:24 AM
What did they watch?