Beach Boys geeks are truly a humorless lot.

There's a difference between "expanded" and "abridged."  I received my promo copy of the Capitol, and they got it exactly right.  Just like holding the Fun Fun Fun/Dance Dance Dance twofer in my hands.  And because it's abridged, we're not stuck listening to extra music we don't need to hear.

Save your money and buy his Columbia album with THE GREAT GABOR SZABO on guitar.

AP (Los Angeles): As an homage to Beach Boys "twofer" reissues from the 1970s, Capitol records will issue a limited edition, 2 LP vinyl version of Dennis Wilson's "Pacific Ocean Blue" and "Bambu," featuring 70s cover graphics, poor vinyl pressings, and two songs deleted from each LP, sources report.

"We strongly feel that Dennis, as an artist of uncompromising vision and integrity, is fully deserving of the same shoddy treatment that the Beach Boys, Sinatra and others received in the 70s," said Capitol Vice President Creed Vander Mark. "Therefore, we have pressed these LPs on substandard vinyl and hacked two songs off of each album."

Vander Mark is particularly proud of the sleeve design. "The double album cover features a purple border, 70s Euro-style graphics, and random, inappropriate photos of Dennis - many of which depict him from a completely different era."

"We are really excited about the vinyl we used," he continued.  "We had to break into a locked file cabinet to find the exact formula that was used for LPs during the energy crisis of the 70s.  We even made sure to melt down defective LPs that had been shipped back and added them to the new vinyl compound, with chunks of the labels ground up along with the melted vinyl."

Capitol executives had a difficult time reaching consensus on a record label design, however.  "One contingent was really gung-ho for the yellow label with "Capitol" in orange typeface.  Eventually, we went with the red/orange label, with olive typeface, the same one used on 'Endless Summer.'"

As an incentive for vinyl buyers, the double album will be priced at only $9.99.  "Two for the price of one.  That was the only way we could unload this ancient crap during the 70s," Vander Mark said. 

Plans are underway to issue the abridged version of "Pacific Ocean Blue" and "Bambu" on 8-track, according to an internal Capitol memo.

Antonio Carlos Jobim?

Cole Porter?

Bob Dorough?

Serge Gainsbourg?

Jimmy Webb?

Michel Legrand?

Milton Nascimento?

I hate it when rednecks compile lists of anything other than the top rednecks.  How embarrassing for the compilers...

Too bad the 10" album was phased out by the time of the Beach Boys.  Nearly all their 12" LPs would have made GREAT ten inchers.  This is one of them for sure.

I've had the Surfin' USA album since 1976, and listening to it recently, I just now got the joke with "Noble Surfer" (No bull - ain't joshin'...)

Those kids sure got away with a lot during that conservative era (Dick Rising, etc.).

While certain singers may be more expressive when singing solo, it doesn't mean they are good group singers.   Sure, Dennis is a great, soulful, expressive solo singer, but as a group singer, he doesn't hold a candle to Al. 

That said, I'd rather hear Dennis in the group than Bruce, who doesn't blend at all.

The fact of Beatles getting more airplay than anyone else certainly does not really mean a thing in this debate...

I was responding to Kookadams, regarding the concept of filler being equated to non-hits.

I just don't understand what constitutes "filler". Seems to me from what everyone is saying that "filler" is the songs on the album that weren't hit singles, and if that's so then the Beatles did have a lot of it.

Curiously, the Beatles have more album tracks regularly played on oldies radio than any other artist of the rock era.  That's not a reflection of my taste - I could go for the rest of my life without ever hearing a Beatles song again - it is simply a fact.  Album tracks like "Things We Said Today," "I'll Be Back" and several others still get substantial airplay.

What constitutes filler?  In the most extreme cases, stuff like Bull Session, Fave Recording Sessions, Cassius Love, etc.   Even their biggest fans skip over this stuff. 

I hear you.  As for my contributions to this topic, I was simply addressing the issue of filler.  Whether one artist is better than another is of course subjective; whether an artist has issued tracks like "Our Favorite Recording Sessions" or "Bull Session with the Big Daddy" is not subjective.

The "skits" were really the only filler the BBs had. Stuff that's commonly called "filler" like Denny's Drums, South Bay Surfer, the surf instrumentals on Surfin' USA, I actually LIKE. On Surfer Girl, Brian was already doing a majority of originals on a record when the Beatles were still in half covers/half originals mode. Brian was already using string sections, harp, organ, vibes, and harpsichord when the Beatles were still into just guitar/bass/drums/harmonica/piano. BB harmonies, even without double tracking, could beat the snot out of Beatles harmonies. Hell, Brian was doing double tracking of voices on Surfin' USA in 1963, while the Beatles wouldn't attempt that kind of stuff until songs like Nowhere Man and Paperback writer a full 2 years later. Although I like Sgt. Pepper, I think Pet Sounds is 100 times better. The Beatles never really had in their music the "personal" vibe or emotional honesty that Brian conveyed. The only reason the Beatles get all sorts of credit and the Beach Boys are left by the wayside is because the Beatles (and just about every British group from that time-don't get me wrong, I like British invasion rock) got their asses kissed by the media, and because the BBs never made any attempts at updating their cheesy striped-shirt image.

I agree with everything you wrote.  Still, it doesn't change the fact that the Beatles' albums are overall fairly consistent while the the Beach Boys albums are filled with brilliant tunes alongside some really unlistenable crap.  I defy anyone to prove otherwise.

In the 70s, after the popularity of Endless Summer, Capitol and Reprise started issuing the BBs' back catalog, often with different cover art and/or tracks deleted.  Anyway, "Party" was the one album that didn't get reissued during this period.  As a result, I never had a copy.

Finally, it came out in the 80s during the Capitol green label midline era, but by then I wasn't interested.

A few years ago, I found an original in pristine condition for no money.  I still haven't played it, and other than "Barbara Ann," I have no idea what this album sounds like.  I should probably give it a spin one day. 

Why didn't they fix the egregious guitar flub during the fade of "Keep an Eye on Summer?"

I think it's healthy that on a site dedicated to the Beach Boys that we can be honest and address both strengths and weaknesses, and place the group in broader contexts.  It would be really boring if all of our tastes and interests were limited to the Beach Boys, and all we did was post about how great they are over and over again.

As for the Beatles comparison, regardless of advantages and disadvantages that either group had - and regardless of personal taste -  Beatles albums simply do not contain the filler that Beach Boys albums do.  We all understand that Capitol was trying to milk the cash cow and that they put enormous pressure on Brian Wilson.  The fact that he was able to do what he did is a testament to his abilities, and sure, he would have made more consistent albums under other circumstances.  But that's not how things worked out, and you can't blame us for programming out unlistenable tracks that were the result.

I've always liked the LA '66 Sunset Strip look, as epitomized by the Standells and Byrds:  Moptop hair, striped collarless shirt (or turtleneck), tight white jeans, big ass black leather belt, and Beatle boots.

Yeah, Paul's having a real tough time on deciding if he wants to make millions or not.   

Remastering the Beatles' catalog and including mono/stereo/US and UK mixes would make Paul a lot more money than the Let it Be film, which even some of their biggest fans might avoid.  Paul wants to make money, but he's also very controlling of the Beatles' brand and reputation. 

Gotcha.  A friend of mine was in (a very white) high school between 1962 and 1966, coinciding with both the Beach Boys rise in popularity and the British invasion.  He said that while a few of the more daring kids adopted a Beatles/Stones look, that most kids went for the Beach Boys look circa 1964.

Most of Side 2 is really good.

Most of Side 1 isn't.

\
I was scratching my head, thinking, well, that cover isn't as iconic as "Rubber Soul," but damn if it doesn't capture the mid-'60s decadence vibe pretty darn well. Mods out on a yacht in the Newport Beach Bay.

The 1965 Beach Boys are mod???

It's interesting to compare his two Christmas messages on the Christmas CD, one from 1964 and the other from 1977 IIRC.  The difference is pretty dramatic, and sad.  I think his age is around 33 by the time of the second one, but he sounds like he's 80.  Hard livin' catches up.

The duophonic records sound especially bad if you hit the mono button.  The two channels were out of phase, and it sounded like it was coming out of a phone booth.

Even though there are technical issues with Capitol duophonic, some titles sounded better than others.  I kind of like my duophonic copy of Pet Sounds.

The mono version of this album blows the stereo away.  It was really a rip off that they used the stereo mix for the CD.

Believe it or not, there was a time when "Surfin' Safari" was the ONLY pre-Pet Sounds 60s BB album in print (not counting compilations).  It was a post-Endless Summer reissue with nothing but the track titles on the center of the back.  I filled up the (wide) back margins with Rat Fink stickers on my copy.

I had "Endless Summer" and then bought this.  I thought every Beach Boys record I would buy would be as great as "Endless Summer."  After spinning it I thought this album sucked and I was only 10 years old.  I can't even imagine what I'd think of it now.

Still, I understand they were kids doing the best record they could.  That's fine, but it doesn't mean I want to be subjected to it.

The track "East West" totally sounds like it's from the soundtrack of an American International  exploitation flick about teenagers on Sunset Strip.  Which is a supreme compliment, by the way.