I was re-reading the Kingsley Abbot "Back to the Beach" book and I came across an interview w/ Brian in the 80s (maybe it was the excerpt from the "Wilson Project") but it mentioned that Brian was planning on working on something called the "Life's Sweet." Obviously that's a misspelling of "Life Suite" but has anyone heard anything about this otherwise? I wonder if any of those songs on TWGMTR were written in that period.

I'll find the exact citation later on as I don't have the book on me and I couldn't find any other threads about this.

[Seems like it could go on foreverLong as we can all stay together]

^^ I agree and I thought of that too.
Read the lyrics to "Spring Vacation" w/ the C50 tour in mind haha

"Driving around living the dream
I'm crusin' the town, diggin' the scene
I'm not gonna stress, not gonna worry
Doing our best, no need to hurry
Lookin' ahead with anticipation
Making each day a new celebration
Seems like it could go on forever
Long as we can all stay together
We use to get around
Get up and hit up
All the hot spots in town
Spring Vacation
Good vibrations
Summer weather
We're back together
Easy money, ain't life funny"

No way it could've been a hit. LOVE the song but there's almost no drums or steady beat, the subject matter is kind of strange as is the arrangement. If they went for a more RnB feel with a strong groove then maybe. That record doesn't have anything that would be single-worthy though it's still in my Top 5 of their LPs.

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

AP News report on the 2004 SMiLE LP.

Lots of Brian stuff I've never seen before.

Didn't Brian recently mention in one of his fan-based Q&A's that the white Baldwin organ is still in the Beach Boys' storage somewhere.

I watched the BBs entire set from backstage two weeks ago and Bruce is definitely playing.
Not sure why he chooses that 1980s Yamaha DX-sounding patch but his job seems to be mostly supporting the vocals and having a great time as their main keys player does the heavy lifting. Nothing wrong with that as Bruce does a great job either way.

Incredibly nice guy and very much enjoyed spending time w/ him and the band.
"Disney Girls," as always, is a highlight of the set for me.

In every interview she's been a part of recently, her voice has been extremely shaky for some reason. I doubt it's nerves but it's very noticeable.

Cannot wait for part 2!!

Criticizing Lizik for using a five-string bass is ridiculous. McCartney used a 5-string bass on his 89/90 tour and nobody died. I think McCartney only stopped using his Rickenbacker or that Wal 5-string bass regularly in concerts because they are much heavier than a semi-hollow Hofner.

It’s about the player much more than the instrument. I was fascinated hearing the stories of early Cream reunion rehearsals in 2005, where they initially tried hauling out all the gear (Bruce’s Gibson bass, Clapton’s ES-335, Marshall stacks, etc.) they had used in the late 60’s. After trying to use that stuff, they just decided instead to use whatever instruments they preferred in the modern day. Ultimately, it’s about the player, and then they use whatever *they* feel most comfortable using. It’s not always perfect; I would have preferred to see Clapton bust out a Les Paul or something with humbuckers on some of those Cream songs. But if he is more comfortable playing his Strat, then that’s how it has to be.

I can't stand 5-string basses. Bob's a fantastic musician (obviously) but as a bassist myself, 5-string basses are tasteless and somewhat overkill.
There are NO Beach Boys songs that require a low B-note, etc. That's what piano is for!
To me, it's almost the equivalent to someone playing a Van Halen-style tapping solo over Fun Fun Fun.

Nothing against Bob - he's a fantastic player but he's more of an RnB guy in general.
I miss Brett Simons a lot as I think he played more like the original recordings (picked bass w/ a lot of palm muting).

PS. McCartney with a 5-string was equally embarrassing as his mullet and bad sweaters throughout the late 80s/90s. Just a terrible instrument.

Brian Eichenberg of M&B's band is killing it on bass and is playing what looks like a vintage white P-Bass just like Brian did in the 60s.

I was at this show. In fact, I played in the opening band and hung with all of the BBs and Tony post-show.
Fantastic group of guys and Tony is one of the funniest people I've ever met. I believe he was in town for a meeting with the BBs - not sure what for - I didn't ask.

This was a GREAT interview! Who else has ever asked him about Smart Girls??

Brian has some pretty bizarre stock answers. Check out the one about "sampling"

What thread was this from?
Would love to see it.

That's funny. It's definitely not Brian singing the "I'll give you shelter" part. He IS singing the lead "Woah oh oh ohs" immediately after the falsetto bit in question and it's obvious how different the two voices are in contrast.

Apparently she's on Twitter @1Mahalo if anyone cares to Tweet at her and see if she'd be interested in visiting the board.
I'm guessing it's her because of her tweet a while back to Brian's acct.

@BrianWilsonLive Congrats, it could not have happen to a nicer guy. I know Carnie and Wendy are proud of you , Congrats
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It's a either a harmonium or a backwards harpsichord.
I'm gonna go with harmonium pumped at a weird rate.

Some great stuff and interesting arrangements on this one.

Definitely a jazz/bossa influence on most of the tracks and almost no reverb or tape delay effects.

Fidelity-wise, it sounds better than both Wild Honey and Smiley Smile too.
I wonder if this had more to do with less overdubs degrading the tape itself, which was common in that era.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but were any of the 20/20 songs recorded during whatever is considered the Friends sessions?
I always associate "I Went to Sleep" and "We're Together Again" with Friends because of the gentle laid-back vibe and the instrument/arrangement choices.

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

Here's video from last week of the band doing "This Whole World"
Sounds great! Those xylophone parts are complicated!

Also, since we should occasionally reiterate and state the obvious that will likely never happen, the band and BRI need to open up the vaults and do deluxe editions of their albums, and/or an archival online release program to get this stuff out.

I appreciate how the teams working on various BB projects have put as much “new” stuff on the various releases as they possible could, and I’ll be happy to buy another piecemeal collection of scattered interesting tracks. But we need deluxe editions of at least some key albums so we don’t have to see scattered vocals-only tracks and the like, but instead just have a multi-disc set for stuff like “Sunflower” that provides the original album, a vocals-only mix of the album, a backing tracks-only mix of the album, and of course the myriad of outtakes, alternates, etc. It’s the *perfect* way to present it.

At this point, the label should just release it digitally and it'd cost them almost NOTHING compared to the huge production costs of manufacturing physical records, if that's what they're worried about.

Here's a list of what's commercially available for "vocals only"

From Keep An Eye on Summer (digital-only release)

Fun Fun Fun
Don't Worry Baby
In the Parkin' Lot
Keep an Eye on Summer
Wendy
I Get Around
In the Parking Lot
Girls on the Beach
All Summer Long
She Knows Me Too Well
Don't Hurt My Little Sister
When I Grow Up
Dance Dance Dance

From the Good Vibes boxset
California Girls

Pet Sounds Sessions has the entire LP a capella

From the Smile Sessions
Backing Vocals Montage

From Made in California
Pom Pom Play Girl (vocal session highlights)
Can't Wait Too Long
I Believe in Miracles (vocal section)
Old Man River (sections)
Slip on Through
This Whole World
Our Sweet Love
Forever

And while these aren't commercially available - they are on YouTube and Brother Records hasn't taken them down.

Farmer's Daughter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ssk3wlkibgk

Help Me Rhonda
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-vOHb6rT7c

Till I Die
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18feWenkIYA

Please Let Me Wonder
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1rd9I_Wk6I

Kiss Me Baby
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJHyp3Bp3lE

Breakaway
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1M6080WczY

Cottonfields
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Thm2b8XBGwY

Add Some Music
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2SZRDUaFRc

Sail on Sailor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2BG0cw3sVU

I hadn't seen this before - at least not that much of it. Carl and Dennis during a european tour. Carl is in Bremen, Germany, Dennis on a train (could also be Germany):


Dennis & Carl Wilson Promotion Clip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEu5iT4-2_o

This is great! Would love to see the whole thing. Dennis is pretty funny.

I'm not sure the rest of the band loves that album. I know Bruce has criticized the album art more than a few times and in the 2nd "Brian Wilson Songwriter" DVDs, he dismisses the album as a whole.

Noises and Oddities in Beach Boys Recordings
http://www.surfermoon.com/essays/noises.html
[/quote]
-from Please Let Me Wonder

" 2:26 Carl says "I love you" it is intentional, but I don't like it"
[/quote]

It's actually Brian saying the "I love you." Give it another few listens. I always thought it was Carl too.

This is great! Love the crowd goading him into not lip synching it. Cool dance moves too haha

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVN-gzE11Yc

Anyone heard this? Again..

Wow never heard this. Is Brian singing any of the leads? It sounds like he's taking the lead to "Add Some Music" but forgets the words.
Must have been pretty weird to have him on stage in 1970 when he was still "with it" and not sing any leads.

I'm pretty sure the starting point of "Busy Doin' Nothing" is the East Gate in Bel Air.