[Disney]

Oh wow... heard the tracks from the soundtrack................................one-take style vocals from Brian instead of the professional leads of the Gerswhin or Disney records.... no one wants to tell him that he needs to do another take... sloppy and full of slurring... he even at his age could do so much better... 

Yeah I mean I get why people want the "raw" thing and that it's cool to hear Brian so engaged. But for my money, some of his most affecting recent leads are on Disney, That's Why God Made the Radio and No Pier Pressure.

Overall I like the new album, but yeah, just my two cents.

[Carl and the Passions]

I wasn't aware that Love You was "futzed with" in the name of being "commercial" -- whatever Carl did in the hopes of making that record more commercial, he very clearly didn't succeed! (Full disclosure: Love You is one of my favorite albums by anyone, not just the BBs)

Yeah I mean I'm sure c-man or a number of other posters might know better but basically I think Carl was crediting as something like "mixdown producer" or something like that. So he probably just cleaned up the mixes or something. I'm not sure he overdubbed any vocals or instruments or anything, but perhaps somebody else knows. And yeah, as you said, this just wasn't a very commercial record, though I must say that a lot of the music is very catchy nonetheless.

Perhaps there's a way to recreate the "hot" mix of FP as part of what gets released in the next retro-compilation...I mean, really, what does anyone have to lose at this point by giving that a whirl?

I mean, maybe Blondie has been reminded of this mix with work likely ongoing for what we assume will be next year's release of some type of collection covering the Beach Boys Carl and the Passions / Holland era? So maybe he's heard that mix recently if it still exists. Or maybe there will be a "faders up" mix of "Funky Pretty" a la the "2012 mix" of "Rock And Roll Music" that featured on Made In California.

[Love You]

It's revelatory that Brian was so involved in the making of the Holland album. My previous impression was that he was very reluctant participant and channeled most of his focus towards Mt Vernon.

That was my impression as well, nice to hear otherwise. That really is one of my favorite Beach Boys albums - I mean it doesn’t get much better than Steamboat.

That interview was great - a lot of solid questions. Brian’s mix of SOS Funky Pretty sounds fascinating!

You know I've never been one to subscribe to the oh-so-romantic theory that The Beach Boys as an entity stifled a lot of Brian's creativity over the years. At least not at the level where he was truly impeded from making the music that he wanted.

However, I do think some of his music may have been futzed with after he was done with it to make it more "commercial." We definitely know that happened with Carl's work on Love You after Brian was finished with. And now we seem to have the same situation with "Funky Pretty." Perhaps the mix that Blondie describes was honestly ridiculous and would've come off horribly on vinyl. But more likely it probably woulda been awesomely nuts (in a good way). And isn't something like that what we love to hear from Brian?

Now I should clarify that I don't think things were done without Brian's knowledge to his recordings. But that maybe having the second guessing and tinkering going on after he had finished something might've got to be a bit of pain for him.

Honestly a bit surprised that Mike’s group has top billing, considered Nesmith and Dolenz are performing together. I’d think that pairing has more cachet than Love and Johnston. Guess not. Of course if it was the reunited Beach Boys that’s a different story. But as the photo shows, it’s Mike and his gang of dudes.

Also count me as surprised Nesmith is doing this. I’m also surprised he’s been doing this Monkees thing at all recently.  

[KTSA]

The only reason I assume that Matthews added the kick drum during the KTSA sessions was that he said as much in a recent issue of ESQ. So maybe he’s wrong and added it to another song. Who knows?

[Sunflower]

Hey, so admittedly I don't know much about "When Girls Get Together." I know Brian and Mike co-wrote it. I know that it was recorded during the Sunflower sessions I know that Bruce was the person who pushed to have it on Keepin' The Summer Alive. And that according to that one Nick Kent interview, Brian wasn't exactly pleased by this decision.

I know this isn't a popular track around.....well, anywhere. In my opinion it's near the bottom of the Wilson/Love team's work. But nonetheless, it's our favorite group and so we obsess about goofy stuff like this.

Anyways, I figured when I saw that the song was getting a "2020 mix" for. Feel Flows I assumed we'd probably get an approximation of what the guys were going for when they originally recorded this. On the new mix, the filter or whatever is taken off of Mike's voice and it also seems like Mike's voice is reduced in the mix. You know ol' Brucie loves him some Mike, and seemingly raised his buddy's voice in the mix! I kid, I kid).

One thing though that seems odd to me is that the loud kick drum that Scott Matthews added to the track during the Keepin' The Summer Alive sessions still seems to be there. I woulda thought for historical accuracy they woulda lost that on this mix. Somewhat incongruous with the idea of this collection in my opinion.

Anyways, anybody have any opinion on any of the above? Or has anybody's opinion of this track been raised since the release of Feel Flows? Let's hear what you have to say!

[At My Piano]

Oh man. This sounds absolutely wonderful (the idea for this album). And so does the recording of "God Only Knows" as well.

At My Piano? Bring it on. Sure, I'd love to hear a new vocal album from Brian with Al and Blondie, but I really like this idea and can't wait to hear the album!

[Oh Brother]

Dear Brother

I thought that one was saved for the SIP sessions set 

No. That one will be called Oh Brother.

[Love You]

anyone else really digging "its natural" ?, It has a really cool feel to it with the keyboards, I am very curious to see how the finish song would have sounded.

Absolutely. As I said in another thread, it sound kinda like a proto-Love You with the sound of the keys, the synth bass and the heavy, loud drums. Nice little song David Sandler had right there. Truly too bad him and Brian didn't work together more. Perhaps there is more left in the vaults from their time working together.

[Love You]

So, "It's Natural" is awesome and I wish it woulda been finished. I really like "Won't You Tell Me" and "Sweet And Bitter" is growing on me. If the drums and the synth bass were indeed from '71, then by gosh, it sounds kinda proto-Love You, doesn't it? Interesting that David Sandler and Don Goldberg had their songs produced by Brian Wilson and had lead vocals from Mike Love. Kinda crazy and awesome for both guys. And then you have Brian working with Murry again. It makes me wonder...

Was Brian searching for a collaborator for new Beach Boys material? Was he kinda just throwing a bunch of sh*t against the wall and seeing what stuck? I mean, certainly we never saw a Goldberg collaboration even talked about until when, 2013? Sandler we knew of cuz of the Spring album and his co-writing credit on "Sweet Mountain" and "Shyin' Away" which hinted at something more. I just wonder whether he was lending a hand to these aspiring songwriters or perhaps hoping they could supply The Beach Boys with hit singles, which were coming harder to come by. Perhaps it's a bit of both.

I mean, you also saw Brian "co-writing" with Tandyn Almer, Ray Kennedy, and others, but my assumption was that was kinda borne out of being in the same "party scene" for lack of a better term.

And why Brian worked with Murry on "Break Away" and "Won't You Tell Me"? Regardless of what kind of man Murry was, I think it just comes down to Brian's love of his father and the hopeful goodwill that could be generated between them by working together. And in my opinion, both co-writes are pretty great songs.

O also, is that really Brian taking the lead at the beginning of the alternate version of “Don’t Go Near The Water”? The part about how the water “killed” his dad. Weirdly crazily awesome.

Anyone know via the book who wrote It's Natural and when? Very interesting tune.

Wilson/Sandler

I think that answers when as well

Actually no Brian on that one. Just David.

Anyone know via the book who wrote It's Natural and when? Very interesting tune.

David Sandler. I know that off the top of my head from reading the liner notes.

While we are on this, does anybody know who the liner notes credit as the writer(s) of “Carnival” and “Seasons In The Sun” respectively?

[Feel Flows]

I must say, I feel a bit conflicted about the "Sail On Sailor" demo. Apparently Brian was in a bad place when he recorded this, and I'm not sure if I will feel like an intruder of this does indeed get released. Perhaps Howie could put my mind at ease. The vibe around that one for years has always been one of a pretty emotional, sad part of Brian's story. Hearing it exists and actually has a real performance from Brian is really something though.

As far as what Howie wished he had found, but hadn't, it's almost kinda crazy that instead of coming up with a wishlist he actually listed off actual tracks. Once again demonstrating how much great material is still lurking in the vaults, even after we get Feel Flows in a few weeks.

While we are at it though, anybody have anything that they think might not actually be in the vaults but have hopes for to be found? I think my choices of now would be the supposed medley of "Baby I Need Your Lovin'" with "Gimme Some Lovin'" that Brian and David Sandler did in '72 (?), "Come to the Sunshine" from '75 and "Just an Imitation" from '74. I'm not sure either the medley nor the Van Dyke Parks cover are in the vaults, while my suspicion on "Just an Imitation" is that while it was definitely composed by Brian, it may never have been recorded in any form. Regardless, judging by Howie's continued excitement about what's left in the vault, I'm excited about the possibility of more new Beach Boys releases.

Before you posted that was Croz, that was my guess, just 'cause....I don't know. Just had a feeling. Also been on a bit of Byrds kick lately so Crosby musta been embedded in my brain.

[Pet Sounds]

I miss Carl, but 2.0 might be the best of these.

Yeah, 2.0 is pretty great. Though I like the "original saxophone version" as well, that came out on the CD released in 2012. Not to be confused with the CD-R that was released through Amazon in 2010. Hah.

Anyways, I gotta say it's almost kinda cute and endearing in the way that Al (and his buddy Larry Dvoskin) have continually tinkered with this song and it's various permutations. I remember Larry at one point calling "Waves of Love" his and Al's "Pet Sounds" or something like that in an interview. And you just can't help but kinda smile at that kinda thing.

Now what I will say would be amusing is if The Beach Boys did actually happen to release a new album next year, and Mr. Alan Jardine finally got his wish to get it on said album, with yet another new recording and mix.

[TLOS]

I keep hearing about this “All Day” part of an early TLOS. I was definitely part of The Beach Boys fan community at the time of the concerts and the album. But I have no memory of “All Day” at least as far as TLOS is concerned. Maybe the SMiLE “All Day” yes, but not this one. Can anyone help me out here?

Wow. So yet another tweaked version of “Waves of Love.” This is getting insane. How many versions have now been officially released? Five?

[Brian Wilson]

I never got the hatred toward In My Car . It not as bad as most of SIP and Carl and Al sound great .

That song would have been so amazing if it was recorded in the 60s/early 70s. It's so catchy

I admit i can't really imagine it in late '60s/early '70s vibe, but regardless I too have a soft spot for "In My Car." I think the lyrics aren't terribly obtrusive, and it's great to hear Carl and Al on a late '80s Brian tune. Kind of a peak into what the Brian Wilson album coulda been if it were instead a Beach Boys album.

And to Julian, seems like you are just getting into the whole Beach Boys scene. You have a lot of cool stuff in front of you if that's the case!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK60SsCN7UE

Where on earth did that come from???  

Missed it ... it's been taken down already,  damn.

.

Whatever you guys are talking about, could you share with the rest of us, please?? Did we all miss something incredible?

Your right guitarfool. And next year has to be the year we see it I’d have to assume? If not next year, I can’t see when. Honestly in retrospect it is kinda crazy that there wasn’t any kind of true, big time documentary film made for The Beach Boys 50th anniversary. That was probably when it really shoulda been unveiled.

[GIOMH]

Some non-album bonus tracks have been aired, but not for instance the obscure digital "In My Room" bonus track from GIOMH.

You sure you mean “In My Room” as the bonus track for GIOMH? Wasn’t the bonus track actually “Don’t Worry Baby”? And if I recall, didn’t it feature Wendy Wilson? And while we are at it, I can’t remember the last time I heard that track. Does anybody have access to it? I don’t think it’s on YouTube.

Anybody who has heard Celebration material on the station, how does it sound? Vinyl sourced? Cuz as far as I know, only "Almost Summer" has made a digital appearance, on a pretty rare compilation CD.

[Made In California]

In fairness, I think it has been acknowledged that "Some of Your Love" was a literal re-write of "Mike Come Back to LA." In that particular case, I don't think they just accidentally wrote a similar song. They were taking the old song and retooling it.

Conversely, the same wasn't said of "Summer of Love", which also borrows that same riff/melody line.

Of course, all of these stem from a riff even older, heard on "Child of Winter" from 1974, and I recall another song or two in their catalog that can be argued are also similar, but they're slipping my mind at the moment.

Alternate version of "It's OK" from the Made In California set. The little riff right at the beginning.

[More Blood, More Tracks]

That’s a pretty odd choice to promote the set ... a 15 Big Ones-era live track w the horns, etc? Not ‘69-‘71 era, and not really one of their better live performances or periods for live shows either IMO.

I kinda like the idea of having the live tracks over the years included. Honestly I was kinda hoping Dylan's More Blood, More Tracks set was gonna use live tracks on that one to demonstrate how the songs have changed over the years on stage.

I will say though, the inclusion of a live 1976 version of "Back Home" is odd. I get that "Back Home" was recorded during the Sunflower sessions, hence it's inclusion. However, while the 1963 version and the 15 Big Ones version are very similar, the Sunflower era version is quite different, perhaps due to the creative mind of one Alan Jardine. Now granted, this Sunflower era version does have the wailing "back home, I spent my summer" part, and that definitely does tie it closer to the 1976 live version. But still, altogether a peculiar choice, and one that would of course fit better on a 15 Big Ones set. Either way though, it's cool, and I'm glad to be getting the track on the new set.