My family knows me too well  

Wow, I am impressed with all of your great presents!

Happy holidays everyone!

I feel like I scored this Christmas.

I got a:
Sunflower LP
In Concert LP
The TAMI Show DVD
Vintage t-shirt iron on with Surf's Up cover figure on it
A sketchbook made out of an old copy of Best of Beach Boys Vol 1
Two packs of Beach Boys cards - which is more exciting to me than it might sound because I've been looking for these around town since they came out and could never find them.
And a Beach Boys trading card with Brian Wilson "concert gear" on it - some black velvety material

I was also lucky enough to get a Christmas bonus from my work which I blew on:
The Made in California box set (I never even listened to this on Spotify, so I have been in heaven all week listening to all the new stuff and reading the book)
Sealed Bruce Johnston LP (from a long-ago cut-out bin)
The Honeys Ecstasy LP
Big Beat 1963 Album Download

Dylan + BBs
Blood on the Stack-o-Tracks

Drove an hour from my in-laws in Paducah, Ky

I admire your dedication! Also, I used your above and beyond effort to downplay my own obsessiveness in the eyes of my wife. Thanks!

The record sounds great and Isn't It Time (Single Version) sounds way better on vinyl compared to all of the internet versions I've heard. I didn't think the autotune seemed as bad. I think it was a fun idea to put their first and most recent singles on the same release. Fifty years pass with the flip of a record! Going off of this record alone, you would be convinced the Boys aged with extreme grace.

I finally made it to Target this weekend and got my copy of the 7" single/t-shirt pack. Such a relief since I had previously been unable to find the 45 at a brick and mortar store. I had been curious reading previous posts what the set looked like in the box so I thought I'd post a picture.



And here's the endcap display.




There were a lot of cool sets there. If I had more money, I might have bought the Dylan, Cash, and Beatles' "Hello Goodbye" sets. It's such a trip to see 45s at Target!

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It is pretty bad, but I don't think it's right to rank an album you haven't heard.
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You're right, it is unfair to rank it. I admit it. I'm just doing an educated guess since I like all the other albums so much (to varying levels of course) and don't have anything else I want to put in the bottom five. I'm not actually even saying it's bad. My ranking is therefore totally un-pure. But I stick by it!

I love even most of their so-called crummy albums (especially Party and 15BO). So this is hard to pinpoint but I can definitely throw these down:

1. Stars and Stripes (shudder)
2. Summer in Paradise (okay I haven't heard this, I'm just assuming I would rate it low based on general consensus. Meanwhile I am keeping my eye out for a copy to buy.).
3. Beach Boys '85 (don't mind the dated production, just think too many of the songs are dull)
4. Still Cruisin' (not enough new songs, plus meh productions. Love the Fat Boys song though!)
5. Surfin' Safari (too many novelty type songs, but obviously has some amazing songs too)

What a great deal. Where did you get your haul? Online? I always want to find records in person, not online, but I have trouble finding any thing great in my area.

I'm glad you posted. If we can't share our nerdy excitement over some lucky find/deal here, where else are we to turn to? Not enough of my facebook friends give enough of a sh*t for me post something like that there (which actually doesn't stop me from posting endless Beach Boys links).

That was a pretty good collection of '70s and 80s BB LPs. It's kind of sad someone is parting with it. I wonder what happened. Are they dead? Do they no longer like the BBs? Are they moving onto CDs or mp3s only? Are they so broke they have to sell their possessions? (These are rhetorical questions if that's not obvious...)

My first time seeing The Beach Boys. I was on the upper lawn section with my gf (tall blonde wearing a white sailors cap and Hawaiian shirt. I was very disappointed in the sound last night. VERY thin, almost no bass, and the vocals were barely audible for most of the 2nd set (couldn't hear Brian at all on Do You Wanna Dance). Super bummed there were no Carl/Dennis tributes. This was something I was looking forward to the most. Brian sounded really great and was moving around just fine. The audience was a bit unresponsive until the middle of the 2nd set when about 85% of the crowd stood up for the rest of the show. Too many people yelling out for Kokomo.

Darlin' sounded amazing. Was hoping to hear Our Prayer and This Whole World, but I'm not going to dwell on it. All in all, I couldn't stop smiling throughout the entire show. If they tour again with Brian though, I will travel wherever to see them at a better venue than this one.
<img src="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=723509744087&set=a.570269374017.2082194.57600205&type=1&theater"

Have to agree on the sound!  David played all the leads and sometimes it was mixed too low.  Which he mentioned to me backstage, "Could you even hear me?".

Yeah, Mike did one of his crazy "Rock and roll Hall of Fame style rants" against the Oregon Ducks for 5 minutes that did not go down well with the crowd and stopped the momentum of the show.  The band seemed befuddled. Started an anti-Mike chant of "Go Ducks".  Not his best intro of "Be True to Your School".

Yeah!! Also, Dave started playing the guitar intro for Fun Fun Fun, but the band actually started playing Do You Wanna Dance. Seemed like the set list got mixed up a bit. The band definitely seemed awkward as Mike was ranting on and on.

I actually really liked Mike's rant. Unlike the RnR Hall of Fame speech this one wasn't arrogant or clueless. I was actually complaining about the Kevin Love controversy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Love) before the show. Fans were angry he didn't go to the same college as his dad and left obscene messages on his phone, made fun of his family (including Mike), and threw garbage at Kevin during the dame. As a quasi Eugenian (lived there five years, now I just visit family) I think it's embarrassing that one of Mike's big Eugene memories is of this game. He said it was the "worst sportsmanship" that he'd ever seen and apologized for venting.

Don't get me wrong, it definitely slowed down the momentum of the show, but I thought it was pretty cool that he risked provoking the audience like that. He also seemed genuinely proud of his nephew, bringing him up a few times. He mentioned that Kevin was paid 62 million to move to Minnesota and play with the Timberwolves. Mike said he "would live in an igloo at the North Pole for that kind of money." He also mentioned that Kevin is on the Olympics team.

There was also a pro-Duck moment when Mike proudly introduced brother Stan to the audience and bragged about Stan's super successful Ducks career. Stan stood up and flashed the Ducks/vagina sign (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/18/sports/ncaafootball/american-sign-language-program-attracts-oregon-football-players.html?_r=1) at the audience and everyone gave him a big cheer/flashed it back.

Mike was way less smarmy than I thought he would be – I've never seen him, only BW, live.

I really thought David Marks was amazing during the show. Loved his guitar, especially during Sail on Sailor and Pet Sounds. Also enjoyed his vocals on "Getcha Back." It really made me hope he'll be more present when/if they do a new album. DM was blazing away during Surfin' Safari and Mike called him the King of the Surf Guitar, and described one lead as the "original sh!t."

Also, kind of humorously, I was commended for my fandom. While I was using the restroom during intermission some guy from 15 feet or so behind us came up to my Dad to say he was impressed by my enthusiasm (for someone young I guess?) and that I seemed intelligent. I was taking notes the whole time...I guess my Dad raised me right!

Darlin' was fantastic!  No video wall so no tributes, but a great show nonetheless.  I swear I was the only guy dancing in the place...luckily the folks behind me didn't seem to mind.  I have videos and photos to post later...

Yeah I was very impressed with Darian' vocals and the band was rockin'. I'm a lazy concert goer and was sitting on the front of the upper lawn. I definitely danced for fourteen of the songs though--you weren't the only one!

Brian introduced Darlin' and Darian and said the song was dedicated to Bob Hanes (EDIT: who died a couple years ago and had friends in front of me). I don't know if people know him but the local paper wrote a Beach Boys article and he was one of the fans mentioned. I haven't finished reading it.

Bud, I am glad you have photos and videos - can't wait to see them!

There was zero multimedia. Maybe a Cuthbert expert can explain why. Are the tributes on youtube? I'll have to look them up. I am so lazy when it comes to watching internet videos. Thanks for the tip.

No Our Prayer ?? 

Nope. It would have been amazing but didn't happen. My Dad was hoping for Disney Girls (which they played) and Surfin' (which they did not). The latter song he remembers coming out when he was a kid in SoCal.

No DW or CW reference or tribute.

WAT.

I was pretty disappointed. I was looking forward to the emotional tributes and to hearing Forever. Brian sang God Only Knows and did a very good job. A stronger vocal than many of his performances tonight. It seemed like the Cuthbert didn't have a built in drop down screen for projection, but I couldn't help but think they could have gotten around this. Everything was otherwise awesome so I am trying not to dwell on this disappointed part but...It seemed like they did the tributes at almost every show, right? Maybe I haven't read all other 49 closely enough...

The filler is what makes them so special.  Most band's filler is bad. [...] There's something so regular joe about them.  They may not be poetry, but they're so honest and unfiltered.

You've put it very well. Even most of the "bad" stuff the Beach Boys have done has a real appeal. It's unpretentious and sometimes naive. The only songs I skip now and then are some of the talking ones just cause they get tedious after a while, but I love tracks like Bugged at My Old Man or even Denny's Drums.

Amazing show. 47 song set list. No DW or CW reference or tribute.

Do It Again
Little Honda
Catch a Wave
Hawaii
Don't Back Down
Surfin Safari (first big rise from crowd)
Surfer Girl
Getcha Back
Wendy
Then I Kissed Her
Please Let Me Wonder
Come Go with Me
Why Do Fools Fall in Love
When I Grow Up (to Be a Man)
Kiss Me, Baby
Isn't It Time
Disney Girls
Good Timin'
California Saga 
Be True to Your School
Don't Worry Baby
Little Deuce Coupe
409
Shut Down
I Get Around

Intermission:
Pet Sounds
Add Some Music to Your Day
Heroes and Villains
I Just Wasn't Made for These Times
Sloop John B
Wouldn't It Be Nice
All This Is That
That's Why God Made the Radio
Sail On Sailor
Darlin' (Great version with Darian on lead)
In My Room
God Only Knows
Good Vibrations
California Girls
All Summer Long
Help Me Rhonda
Rock and Roll Music
Barbara Ann
Surfin USA

Encore:
Kokomo
Do You Wanna Dance?
Fun Fun Fun


Anyhow, we had some nice treats. Maureen Love and Stan Love were in attendance. There was a lot of Kevin Love references. I hope to post more tomorrow.

I felt lucky to be there and just wish I could see them again soon.

Don't Worry Baby > All Summer Long LP

All Summer Long LP > Shut Down Vol. 2 LP

 

Totally agreed! Had to vote for ASL. SDV2 ends with such a whimper. It's sad after all of the many highlights on that album. At the rate they were putting out albums though, I hardly blame them for the filler. Plus it's fun to have "bad" music to complain about. I made some top 10 BB albums lists for friends and it just crushed me to leave out Don't Worry Baby, but its parent album doesn't pass muster.

Around my neck of the woods we have:
Super Diamond (Neil Diamond tribute)
Mandonna (male Madonna tribute)
Hell's Belles (female AC/DC tribute)

There's also the fictional Police tribute band from Scranton, PA "Scrantonicity" (as seen on the Office).

I really want to check out Super Diamond, I heard they were great. And I'd love to find a good Ramones tribute band to go and see.

Thankfully, it seems pretty unanimous that the Monkees should be included and that the RnR Hall of Fame is kind of a joke. I completely agree. They are one of my top ten bands. The organizers are total snobs regarding the Monkees. But I love the idea of a museum and would still like them to be included so I can have a place to visit and check out their memorabilia. Micky's handwritten lyrics to Shorty Blackwell?? I'm there!

I'm going to this show tonight with my dad. Our first concert together ever--and that's in 32 years! 50th show on their 50th anniversary? It sounds like a lucky night--I'm hoping for 50 songs as they have sometimes done. The oldies station in town is playing all Beach Boys all day to celebrate their arrival and anniversary. I'll be wearing my black Brian Wilson shirt, from the Smile tour.

I actually have the Japan cd...but I recently saw this on vinyl for 15$ and was wondering if it was worth alot and how good it sounded.

I haven't heard the Japanese CD but the record really does sound good. Clear, warm, and full of space (especially GV) -not that I am that much of an audiophile. I don't have the ears of some of our fellow board members and I never listen on good headphones. Of course, I usually think vinyl sounds better. The record isn't too valuable. It's lowest price is $15 on amazon. I found mine for $4 bucks at junk store with tons of records.

What started it was probably a month ago while watching my favorite t.v. show, "Mad Men" and hearing the Beach Boys singing...I didn't recognize the song but it captured me as well as the remarkable episode so I got online and found out it was "I just wasn't made for these times"

It's gratifying to hear these sort of soundtrack appearances can make new (or remake old) fans. Sometimes I wonder.

I figured this might've been some bomb of a song, but later I go on youtube to listen to some BB songs and I see this one, "Surf's Up" (thinking it was one of the beach romp types) and click on it....I was not expecting to be so moved and tears welling up behind my eyes.  This song touched me deeply...it's just beautiful...I keep playing it over & over.

"Surf's Up" is certainly amazing. Depending on the day, it's often my favorite BB song. Thanks for sharing your story of being so moved.

Btw, I also like those 2 songs mentioned in your post. They're groovy! Anyway, Welcome!

Those are great, guilty pleasures! I'd love to see more BB fans who like rap, though I'm sure there are plenty. Thanks for the welcome!

I can't stop laughing at this!

THE BABY SUITE:
6. Baby Blue
7. Shortenin' Bread
8. Hey Little Tomboy

I had to grit my teeth and vote for MIU. LA is technically "better" but there are too many lows and boring parts. (I'm looking at you, Carl). I put on MIU way more often than LA because it is more consistently enjoyable. The dearth of Dennis on MIU is made up for by Brian's presence and their awesome team-up "My Diane" my favorite song on the TWOFER. Then again, LA is a way more mature album that doesn't have the Boys acting awkwardly like adolescents... I also prefer the production on MIU, it has a funky, cheesy '70s quality that is way more gratifying to me then the LA slickness foretelling the '80s. This would probably be the most difficult TWOFER poll for me to decide on.

Also, Sumahama rules!

I just bought this record the other weekend. I think it's really good and am surprised the Beach Boys disowned it--or maybe I'm not. It's kind of weird that it has 13 songs and SEVEN of them are covers. And this came out when virtually no Beach Boys rarities had been released--think of all the amazing stuff that came out after this via the twofers, the GV box set, Endless Harmony etc. According to Brad Elliott 's website, Capital let him loose in the vaults -- this was the best he could find? The whole tracklist seems rather random and hodgepodge. I doubt the average fan was clamoring for "You're Welcome" to be compiled on an album--though I love it of course.

Of the currently exclusive stuff: the alt. version of IWMTLH sounds like an unfinished and unsuccessful experiment--the acappella insert is awkwardly shoe-horned in. Still it is somehow compelling. It's just great to hear those classic voices in new arrangements. The alternate mix of BOTM is totally "balls out"--excuse the expression. I actually think I prefer this version to the 20/20 one which I never fully fell in love with. The alternate GB sounds great and is real treat. I like the fact that only some of the vocals are on it. It sounds extra eerie and spacey that way. And it sounds great on vinyl.

I love the live version of "All I Want to Do." Mike does a really great job and it seriously rocks out. I'd love to see more live versions of deep cuts like this released some day.

The record sleeve has good liner notes from Elliott on one side--and a nice montage with dozens of tiny photos of the Boys on the other side. The album cover, front and back is atrocious--though I won't deny the cover star looks good. I think the moron on the beach is supposed to me ogling her but his line of sight is totally in the wrong direction. I guess he's looking at some even hotter babe off camera. The back cover has a bunch of floating images and visual non-sequiters.

Overall though, still a very good album. It was such a treat to finally get this.