After reading all of this, I wonder if they left out the concert dates in the liner dates based on the fact that the release is a Frankenstein's monster of edits, fly-ins, and the like.

TAAAAAKE GOOOOOD CAAAAAREEEE OOOOOOOF YOOOOUUUUR FEEEEEET (pete)


that's about it I s'ppose

not  every post on this board has to be a detailed case study of the topic.

I agree. Shady's comments are some of the most amusing on the board and help make it more fun to visit.

Message boards aren't the place for pedantry.

I think Bruce is right about winning the "noncompetition" (if it even exists) just by having the name The Beach Boys. Most of the people that go to Beach Boys shows know nothing about the band other than maybe a couple hits and that it is easy music to enjoy a cooked dog and a margarita with. Hence "Bands, Brew, and BBQ."

Mike is doing his part to create good BB karma; all he wanted was to sit in a room with Brian and write, and he was snubbed.

If a song doesn't have "fun, fun, fun" and "good vibrations" in its lyric it's not a Beach Boys song, not really.

TWGMTR (Wilson 20). I'd say Brian perhaps came up with the title, and otherwise it's his vocal (and perhaps instrumental) arrangements that flavor a song by other hands.

He said in an interview the title came from Joe Thomas. I think in the Beach Boys' Charlie Rose interview last year?

It's probably true to say that Brian had mostly a "cameo" role on the composition of some songs. His credit on the title track, etc. were probably minimal and were just tacked on to legitimize them as Beach Boys songs -- the reception of the lead off single would have probably been worse if the general public knew it was written by outside songwriters.


I think Brian still can arrange, produce, etc. but he no longer does any of those things prolifically at all anymore. Most of his output in the past decade has been remakes and covers and are the products of collaboration with outside producers, bandmates, etc. I think he probably could be more of a creative force in his own work if he quit trying to make self conscious "Beach Boys music" and just do what pleases him. TYGMTR is a lame album because of how it attempts to conform to everyone's expectations of what the Beach Boys are (fun in the sun, Brian melancholy) rather than be its own uninhibited beast. Most of the best Beach Boys albums are in fact the products of relentless Brian creativity (Pet Sounds, Smile and Smiley Smile, Love You, etc.).

But maybe Brian is just doing what pleases him? I don't know.

eeeeeeeeew

That's my contribution to this thread.

I thought Brian's self indulgence in the studio and lack of direction is what ultimately killed Smile? That's probably what he's referring to.

4 stars

I see it more as a compilations of the band's different songwriters' work rather than as a totally cohesive album -- after all the earliest recording for the album was (unintentionally) done in 1966.  Unlike 20/20, however, pretty much all the tracks are good (with the example of Student Demonstration Time, which almost ruins the album). The non-Brians somehow got their sh*t together.

1. Don't Go Near The Water - 5
Such a fun song. The lyrics are bad, but somehow not to the song's detriment. The arrangement is out of this world; the synths and Brian's piano work are practically Pet Sounds worthy. The tag is Smile worthy.
2. Long Promised Road - 4
BAD LYRICS. Unlike DGNTW, though, they really hurt the song and make it sound heavy handed and stupid. The melody and arrangement is quite amazing, however. Carl really knew how to create a mood through synths, guitars, and electric piano.
3. Take A Load Off Your Feet -4
Stupid, stupid lyrics. Somehow the corniness feels all in good fun, however. I never skip it.
4. Disney Girls (1957) - 4
Forced lyrics. The "fill your hand with kisses and a tootsie roll" is borderline laughable. Like Long Promised Road, the arrangement and strength of melody somehow rescue the song. Brian's falsetto in the bridge is spine-tingling.
5. Student Demonstration Time - 0
I'm giving it a 0 because I never listen to it. If I did I would give it a 1. The music doesn't  rescue of the offensively bad lyrics. What a disaster.
6. Feel Flows - 5
Carl's greatest song. Even moodier and more mystical than Long Promised Road. Carl was apparently a master arranger. I wish he was able to prove it more often.
7. Looking At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song) - 3
Just kind of a folk ditty. Nothing special about it, but the organ and phasey chorus sound of the production make for an interesting atmosphere.
8. A Day In the Life Of A Tree - 4
Jack Reily's voice sucks. The arrangement is also kind of... strange and doesn't sound very fleshed out. I'm giving it a 4 on its creativity and Van Dyke's "trees like me" vocal. That has to be one of the most touching moments in the entire Beach Boys' discography.
9. Til' I Die - 5+
An absolute masterpiece, musically and lyrically. It speaks for itself.
10. Surf's Up - 5
Of course the song is a masterpiece. I think this 71 version is a bit lacking, though. I like Brian's lead more than Carl's and the piano demo section sounds under produced. They could have added more instruments to that section easily.

Overall, an extremely creative album, if a bit disjointed and lacking in sonic cohesiveness. But the Beach Boys were the most disjointed band of all time, so I can't fault them for it. Definitely an essential release, and one of their very best discs.

A good compilation to the cover the early surf and sun songs
Today!
Pet Sounds
The Smile Sessions (I know it's not on the list, but come on)
Smiley Smile
Sunflower
Surf's Up
Love You

I think he would pretty wrinkly because of all his drug abuse... kind of like Keith Richards

I think every song on 20/20 is very good. But the stone cold amazing classics are many: 'Do It Again', 'I Can Hear Music', 'Be With Me', 'I Went To Sleep', 'Time To Get Alone' and the two Smile tracks. And Lady Xoc, isn't 'Be With Me' a wonderful example of somebody in the band other than Brian writing a great song?

I do love the Brian songs on the album (besides the regressive Do It Again), but they are unfortunately surrounded by pap.

Be With Me is a pretty awful song. The choruses are let downs, and the lyrics are very poor and filled with laughable hippie cliches. Dennis's other song on the album is even worse, and may be the very worst Beach Boy song until Mike's Student Demonstration Time.

I don't think any of the other Beach Boys ever approached Wilson in terms of pop songcraft, even by 72-73 when he was contributing almost nothing.  I would honestly sacrifice every song Dennis, Carl, Al, Mike, and Bruce wrote for more Brian songs following Friends. I know that's a controversial opinion, but I'm on this board so I can express my opinions about the music I love.

I think 20/20 is a pretty bad album. It's pretty clear that none of the other Beach Boys knew how to write good, tasteful music other than Brian at this point. That and the fact that there is no cohesion or unity really detracts from the experience.

I just don't like living in a world where Cabin Essence is on the same album as Bluebirds Over the Mountain.

Just listened to the horrendous first track of this album... don't think I'm gonna waste pot on it. 

Wow. It sounds like the greatest book of all time. ¡I would truly like to be the recipient of its insights!

I only like the verses of Be With Me. The choruses sound force and don't really suit the rest of the piece.

1976-1978 is such a fascinating time for the Beach Boys musically.. i really need to order 15 Big Ones/Love You and get into this stuff more

DEAR GOD! THE HORROR! THE HORROR!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYFmdRCIW1U

Ooooohhhh.....  thank god that's not a BB tune...

I think that was the worst thing I ever heard. Adrian Baker must truly be a lost soul.

I really want to hear this (aborted) album. Where can I hear it???

Also, did Still I Dream Of It ever make it past demo stage??

Do You Remember Walter? by the Kinks
 
Soooo amaaaaaaziiiiing

Probably shouldn't be showing my face around here, but:

Oh my god you are so cute!!! 

You have suffered the consequences...

Whenever I have a bad day I watch that notorious video of Adrian Baker singing Don't Worry Baby (in 2002 I think). That or Brian's 1981 Don't Worry Baby.

I own:

Compilations:
Sounds of Summer
The Warmth of the Sun
(want to get Endless Summer and Spirit Of America at some point, if only for historic value)

Studio Albums:
Today/Summer Days two-fer
Pet Sounds stereo and mono 2006 version
The Smile Sessions 2 disc version
Smiley Smile/Wild Honey two-fer
Friends/20/20 two-fer
Sunflower/Surf's Up two-fer

Solo Albums:
Brian Wilson Presents Smile

I would like to get 15 Big Ones/Love You next. I loved what I have heard of Love You and really enjoy the track "Had To Phone Ya" from 15 Big Ones (though I have low expectations for that album)

I don't do a lot of collecting outside of the canonical albums, though I may purchase some sessions bootlegs at some point.

i hope the album he's making with Al is an album of new material. we've had enough remakes from Brian during the past decade.