I can't play a single song from the box. The few songs that are playable are only linked to other, earlier releases of the same material.

(And I hate that copyright loophole. There are so many versions of the Surfin' Safari album on Spotify that you'll get dizzy.  )

Thanks for bumping this thread, Don. Can't believe I missed this one. Just got this and I'm listening now. This is incredible work! "Holidays" is beyond great.  seltaeb, you are a true Melodyne wizard! I really hope Alan and/or Mark will have an opportunity to hear this...

Ah, now I hear what you mean...

The mp3 file that Cliff so graciously put up is faulty for some reason. There's something weird going on with the stereo image, which is most noticeable on stuff that's not centered (the piano, audience, etc.).

However, listening to the MSN stream, there is a very minor wobble or vibrato to the piano for some reason.

On the Carnegie Hall 1972 CD, you clearly hear digital NR going on, but that's another type of artifact and have nothing to do with the stuff above. Seems like people used NR and then put this material onto cassette because the NR artifacts are underneath the tape hiss.

Anyway, good song. Can' wait for the box. Weetabox.

This is great. I remember first hearing this on Goodbye Surfing, Hello God! and thought the quality was pretty good, although a bit hissy. Then I heard it in upgraded quality on Carnegie Hall 1972 and thought it couldn't sound better. And now this... Very well recorded and mixed.

BTW, the original MSN link doesn't have that weird effect/artifact on the piano. I guess something went wrong during capturing or encoding...

The Shift.

Already said; but where the hell has this been for all this time??!?!?!

This is actually a very strong track. Lovely Brian voice in the style he would later sing 'Awake'. This def on my playlist asap.
Is this the first instance of Brian using a moog synthesizer as a central instrument. Do we know who played the instruments?

I think that's the Baldwin bass pedals that you're hearing.
Also, I'd imagine Brian did everything.

I'm willing to bet that's Brian on drums.

Amazing discovery, by the way. This song is ace. Love the sound of the recording.

Hehe, I noticed that too. Sound quality isn't the best. I wonder why?

These won't be taken from master tapes, liekly dub discs pressed for playing elsewhere. Similar releases, such as the Kinks at the BBC, have a similar quality.

And now I know why The Beatles At The BBC sounds so bad and more than likely, why it's out of print.   

The Beatles at the BBC will be re-released in September.  And it doesn't sound that bad, considering the Beeb didn't keep any of the masters (apart from one or two, IIRC)...

http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,15495.0.html
This thread should answer some questions.

Ah, thanks a lot for the link. Strange how I could miss that one...

What about those strings on "Winter Symphony"? That's definitely a Chamberlin, Mellotron, Optigan organ or something...

An ARP String Ensemble, IIRC

You're probably right. I just thought it sounded a bit too "wobbly" for an ARP/Solina, but it would fit in with the equipment used during 15BO/Love You era.

Moon Dawg again

What did I just tell you? 

I'm hijacking this thread for a minute.

Apparently there are two (or more?) versions of the original Vigotone "Smile" CD. What's this all about? What are the differences?

If you're talking about the Smile Vigo 110/111 2-CD set, I don't know of different ones. Same with VT-163, Heroes & Vibrations. If you're talking about vinyl, then yes, there were 3 or 4 different ones.

Thanks for the input. Yes, I was referring to the Vigotone Smile CD. I've read that there are two different versions, but they seem to have identical track listings, so I'm not sure what's up with that. Better sound? Seems strange.

The Shift, once again.

Don't vote for Moon Dawg. It's cool.

Sounds great, but it seems to be entirely in mono (or very, very, very narrow stereo). 

Incidentally, here's something Cusack posted on his Twitter recently:



"Listen to this glorious music like a waking dream"

Is he playing that 45 without an adapter? Probably sounds pretty far out, man.

Thumbs up for the song, the video and the Flying V uke!

Half-assed cover + half-assed song = a complete ass? 

In all seriousness, that was a pretty good cover. 

Blimey - my 6-year old thread resurrected.
Can I go back to 2007 please? 

Hope you don't mind me bumping your thread, but this is such an important topic. 

[is]

Also, there is obviously a Mellotron or a Chamberlin on "Country Air". This is clearly heard in the stereo mix of the song. Plus, someone is playing a few stray notes on it at the start of the take so you can hear it in isolation. If that isn't a tape-based keyboard instrument, I'll eat this entire forum. Without salt.

I'm hijacking this thread for a minute.

Apparently there are two (or more?) versions of the original Vigotone "Smile" CD. What's this all about? What are the differences?

What about those strings on "Winter Symphony"? That's definitely a Chamberlin, Mellotron, Optigan organ or something...

["Once In My life"]

I was flicking through old magazines the other day and came across a rather fun interview with Ralf Hütter and Florian Schneider of Kraftwerk. This one is from a 1976 issue of Rock & Folk:


[About The Beach Boys as a source of inspiration:]

"Yes, in their songs they managed to concentrate a maximum of fundamental ideas. In 100 years from now, when people will want to know what California was like in the 60s, they only had to listen a single by the Beach Boys."

Did you go to some concerts during your trip in the States? Did you see the Beach Boys live?

Ralf Hütter: Yes, we have seen them in a big stadium. It was gorgeous, like a rebirth. There's a wonderful and very poignant song in their last album, "Once In My life". I'd like to dare to say once in my life what Brian Wilson says in that song...

Where does your passion for the Beach Boys come from?

Ralf Hütter: The intelligence of their thoughts regarding american reality put onto records.

Florian Schneider: When we reached California and Hollywood, we were able to say: yes, it's exactly like that, like in the songs of the Beach Boys.

I would like to see the unique songs from the 1983 "Rarities" album re-issued. It's not exactly awesome stuff, but it would be nice to see that butt ugly album made redundant.

It's a toss-up between "Summertime Blues" (good song, uninspired cover) and "The Shift" (just bland), so I think I'll go with...

The Shift.

I have nothing to add right now, but would like to point out what a great thread this was/is. It shouldn't be forgotten! 

I see that the box is now listed as being released on August 21 on a couple of websites...  

It's most likely wrong, I guess.