How many non-album singles did the Beach Boys have by the end of '66? (rerecordings don't count). I guess there was a recent example with Little Girl I Once Knew...

RIP. He seemed like a really fun guy and his role in the Smile era will never be forgotten.

My LP of Surfer Girl (Capitol T1981) says Little Surfer Girl on the spine and "Little Surfer Girl" under SIDE ONE on the back... Is this normal?

This is awesome stuff.

About 10 years ago Al's sweater and that send away ad came up... Somebody made a "vectorized" image that a friend of mine was able to turn into a screen for screen printing... I've got a couple shirts (bad quality shirts, sadly) and canvasses with it hanging on my wall. It's a pretty nifty design!

I always wonder why Presenting The Fabulous Ronettes gets almost zero acknowledgements despite it being essentially a prototypical Pet Sounds.

THIS.

I had the exact same reaction when I heard it. What an utterly fantastic album and definitely a blueprint for Pet Sounds. Has Brian ever commented specifically on this album?

Hearing the track for You've Lost that Lovin' Feeling was also an eye-opener in terms of its obvious influence on I Just Wasn't Made for These Times.


I'd say that Brian's work on non-Beach Boys music was more Spector-influenced at first... The Honeys and Girl Group stuff. Even Guess I'm Dumb is more complex than much of what he was doing with the Beach Boys at the time. Much of Today! has pretty sparse-sounding tracks compared to Spector's dense ones, which is why some don't sound as good in the stereo mixes (imo), whereas the ones on Summer Days (and Summer Nights!!) are where he's really taken off with the Wall of Sound. That sparseness contributes to the delicacy that  he has compared to the power/anger of Spector. That said, you can definitely see the techniques being learned and applied as he progresses.

It's interesting how Phil kept going with River Deep, Mountain High and Brian started to pare it back with SMiLE (vocal acrobatics not withstanding).

The BBs set is great. Not quite legendary but it does show how GOOD they were live.

The other artist I really enjoy (on the DVD) is Lesley Gore. Fantastic songs and performance.

I'd love to hear more demos of the BW Jan & Dean songs! (well, any demos, really...)

I've only had a chance to listen to the first half or so... The standout so far is the Gonna Hustle You demo... Are there any credits for that one? Did Jan Berry have a hand in it?

The I Do demo is also a cut above, thanks to the vocal arrangement compared to the others.

I like hearing the progression in Brian's backing track production/arrangement as well.

I was gonna say that this thread shows me how utterly irrelevant my fandom has been...

That said, is anyone actually interested in talking about the music on this thing? Or is it all old hat?

I haven't had a chance to listen to it much but I've liked what I've heard so far. I'm grateful for those who shared their collections and worked to make it happen.

Got mine in Canada from Xbox music....

Is there an in-depth analysis of Dennis's songs anywhere? I'd be interested to see how his "melodic invention" and use of chords, etc. compares to Brian and others. I'm no musicologist or anything but he does have a distinct style. I'd say his singing and delivery add a dimension of emotion (or whatever you want to call it) that elevates his songs.

Looks cool! I haven't heard that stuff so I welcome its release.

Ask about Carol Kaye's bass playing. 

Great stuff, Guitarfool. I was somewhat familiar with the Dolenz story but the new details were very welcome.


The Beach Boys were also PA pioneers!

What did they do that was so momentous in Pennsylvania?

I assume you're joking, but regarding Public Address, i.e., concert sound systems, I have heard that the Beach Boys were the first band to have their own rig rather than rely on that of the venue.

Great stuff, Guitarfool. I was somewhat familiar with the Dolenz story but the new details were very welcome.

I know there are many pre-moog "synths", such as Hugh LeCaine's Electronic Sackbut... Obviously theremins existed well before the Beach Boys, which is why I used the term "synth" but the distinction between the ribbon controller and, say, an oscillator is kind of blurred compared to a full-blown synth, as you've pointed out.

Very neat subject, anyway. Advances in technology in the 60s.

The Beach Boys were also PA pioneers!

My memory was that the ribbon controller actually was key to the development of the full blown Moog synth. Guitarfool is the expert on this one but yes, I'm thinking specifically of their role as a major league band bringing synths/electronic music to live performance. Those October '66 Michigan shows could be important in that regard.

I know the Moog ribbon synth story has been discussed before but was Mike a groundbreaking figure in live electronic music?

Just wanted to say that despite the liberties taken, it's great that this song was released. What a cool performance by Brian. I'd love to know more about the circumstances that led to its creation. The same goes for Sherry. They may be ragged but they're magic.

[Not to question your expertise, AGD, but are you sure the "Sherry" track was recorded before the "Sandy" one?]

Not to question your expertise, AGD, but are you sure the "Sherry" track was recorded before the "Sandy" one?

You're questioning two 1965 AFM sheets and c-mans research, not my (alleged) expertise.  

Your expertise here would lie in knowing where the facts have been laid out. That's very interesting, thanks!

Not to question your expertise, AGD, but are you sure the "Sherry" track was recorded before the "Sandy" one? It seems to be more Summer Days-like whereas Sandy is more Today-like (even if both were done in the Summer Days period, as you say. The Sherry track has to be one of BW's best. Love the delicate intro and the blasting chorus. I have always loved this song upon first hearing it.

I would argue that a completed song produced by Brian during the Smile period was very pertinent to the box. I'm grateful for its inclusion.

Further proof of the Genius of Brian Wilson. Love it.

Great news!

You've been a fantastic person for all the years I've "known" you on this board and I greatly appreciate all of the work you've put in to sharing your wisdom and memories. I look forward to whatever else you have in store for us!

Have you heard the new vocals-only mixes of Slip on Through, Our Sweet Love and This Whole World on the Beach Boys' new boxed set, Made In California? I'm sure they're on YouTube by now...

Stephen has commented on that extensively somewhere... Either his book or his thread, but basically it comes down to closed-minded music biz folk.

I presume the DYWD stereo problems are due to it being an "extraction" mix, but I will not confirm or verify that assertion.