Just a quick aside too, relative to that emoticon of beating a dead horse...

For all the talk and hopes and dreams of "Mike and Bruce" being involved in something like this, I'd suggest a quick revisit and review of the history of where and how a track like this came from. This was one of those that sprung up in the aftermath of Mike not wanting to continue the C50 reunion activities, and instead choosing to keep tourin' with his own band for the foreseeable future as of Fall 2012. Brian is on the record saying he was working on songs for "The Beach Boys" on a follow-up project to TWGMTR, but Mike instead walked away. Brian-Al-David went ahead doing shows, connected with Jeff Beck, played shows with him...and were also in the studio working up original songs and ideas that included "Run James Run" in part influenced by Jeff Beck's love of classic cars and hot-rods. Some of those songs would ostensibly have been on that hypothetical "next" Beach Boys original album, but instead Mike balked, walked, and took Bruce with him for another run of touring.

So forgive my not being as thrilled to hope Mike and Bruce somehow got or even will get involved in something like this track...because they would have been involved in tracks similar to this if not this very track (if it were a concept being considered in 2012) had Mike not made his decisions and got exactly what he wanted, which is to return to his licensed version of the Beach Boys on the road playing shows. His decision was made. Now he has Mark McGrath to collaborate with on 50 year old BB remakes instead of original songs that would be right up his alley.

I get what you are saying guitarfool, and I think nearly everybody does. And I agree that Mike has been a major piece of sh*t. And no, this isn't Brian's fault for a freakin' millisecond, but I don't think it's freaking nuts for some of us to wish that Mike Love and Brian Wilson were singing together on a new Brian Wilson car song. Regardless of all the bullshit. I think that for this kind of music they are a great combo. Throw away the other nonsense. I honestly can't stand it when certain posters say "let's keep it to just the music" but in this instance that's simply all it is to me. It's a shame that they are both alive and in good shape but that one of them f***ed that up. It's a shame, but I don't think people should be looked down upon because they wouldn't mind hearing a blend of Brian, Al, Blondie, Mike and Bruce. Do I think Brian will ever work with Mike again? Doubtful (and rightly so). But we can still hope and not be talked down to for hoping.

Overall it's pleasant, but....

I remember it originally being talked about with an Al Jardine lead. And by golly I think it woulda raised this song a notch with Al doing the quicker verses with Brian doing his thing on the choruses. I think Brian sounds beautiful on those parts but I feel like the faster verses just aren't in his wheelhouse anymore for new songs. I think it really the Al/Brian effect really woulda worked quite well for this one, kinda like the early Beach Boys Mike/Brian duets. But alas, this is for a Brian Wilson solo career anthology and they wanted more Brian maybe. So, it is what it is.

[BWPS]

In computer there is bunch of songs "Demos & Outtakes by Brian Wilson". SSD Track 10.You see, the songs I like 1. sung by by smb. else ("Out in the Country", "London's A Lonely Town") 2. feature young voice ("Beginning of the End") 3. feature 2 vocals ("Elbow 64"). It'd be bad move to add these to new BW comp. I stand by SSD. Btw, "It's Not Easy Being Me" is really boring. What do you like about it?

You mentioned in a previous post that you "dislike the melancholic type songs", and "It's Not Easy Being Me" is arguably as melancholic and self-loathing/self-pitying as it can get, so it makes sense you wouldn't like it.

To me, I think the song has some strong chord changes, and nice shift in the bridge section. The whole thing does riff perhaps a bit too much on "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times", and while I think his melancholic stuff is some of the best stuff he's done (how one could be a huge BW fan while not liking "melancholic" stuff escapes me, but however this stuff speaks to listeners is fine by me), "It's Not Easy Being Me", just in terms of its title, does sound a bit too directly self-pitying. I like that Brian doesn't go around in every interview and volunteer unprompted that "you don't know how hard it is to be me!", so perhaps that's why the song hasn't rushed to the top of the list of songs to take a new look at.

Yeah I think that interestingly as Brian's people play the tortured genius card you really don't see much of the "poor me" type material from Brian, and it think that's the case because for the most part (as much as Mike might disagree) it's really Brian that brings a lot of positivity out in his material. Not much of the so-called whining at all. From BWPS through No Pier Pressure (including TWGMTR) there is a nice chunk of melancholy material, but nothing self pitying. Stuff about growing older and looking back ("From There To Back Again", "Summer's Gone", etc) but nothing like "It's Not Easy Being Me." Besides just a few songs in the vein, I don't think that's the way Brian rolls.

[Ecstacy]

There was talk about The Honeys album being re-released with extra track including Snowflakes some years ago but the project seems to have fallen by the wayside.

Anyone know what happened to that?

Never heard about this. Did you ever hear anything else about it? Also, was it a Honeys album or a Spring album project? Since the first true Honeys albums didn't get released until the 1980s, the first being 1983's Ecstacy which had no BW or BB involvement and then more importantly 1986's It's Like Heaven which included stuff like "Do Ya", "Had to Phone Ya" and the title track which were originally recorded and presumably intended for Spring.

[Surfers' Pajama Party]

I sure hope Bruce is alright. Surfers' Pajama Party is awesome, and despite his all around general douchiness he's made some nice contributions to music. So hopefully all is well. Wishing him a quick recovery.

  What a gracious get well wish.

Oh well. I think he's a douchenozzle. But I also think he's a talented guy who has made some nice music. And while I hope that he stays in good health, I don't think he's the greatest man who ever lived. I think he's been very disrespectful to those who make his lifestyle possible and ergo, I don't think he deserves to be sainted.

However, I hope he sticks around for a long, long time.

[Playback]

So I listened again, and though it's not one of my favorite BW tunes I gotta say "Some Sweet Day" is growing on me. I'll be glad to have a copy of it when Playback is released.

[Surfers' Pajama Party]

I sure hope Bruce is alright. Surfers' Pajama Party is awesome, and despite his all around general douchiness he's made some nice contributions to music. So hopefully all is well. Wishing him a quick recovery.

I'd guess very few Beatles fans have ever heard it. It wasn't ever really properly released, was it (whatever that means anymore)?

It actually was released this year on a compilation that I can't be bothered to look up right now.

And I would know, since I bought the digital track!



...and yeah...I know! Don't give me too much grief guys!!

[GIOMH]

So I must admit, I'm not blown away by this new tune. I don't think I had ever heard it via bootleg, but perhaps I did at some point. Regardless, I have to say that I'm not the hugest fan of the Paley sessions, though I do think that "You're Still A Mystery" is a classic, and though it's not from the 1990s sessions, "Meet Me In My Dreams Tonight" might just be my favorite solo Brian Wilson tune (unless you're counting "Caroline No"). I think that "Baywatch Nights" could've been incredibly great if it was finished, but even in it's unfinished state it's still beautiful with great vocals from both Carl and the group. I'd also like to say "Soul Searchin'" is pretty great as well, though I can really only take The Beach Boys version, since Brian's bridge vocal on the GIOMH version is....yuck.

But back to this one, maybe it'll grow on me. I like that they left the mid '90s vocal on there, cuz it's great to listen through all the different Brian voices we've heard over the years. Though next to his 15 Big Ones and GIOMH voices, this is probably one of his least commercial sounds, so I can understand why he replaced his vocal on "You're Still A Mystery."

Interesting how Blondie mentions doing "Sail on, Sailor" at Brian's house, even though I'm pretty sure it's said that it was done at Village Recorders. Stephen Desper did mention that he did a version (presumably at Brian's house) that sounded suspiciously similar.

Now it is interesting to note that Blondie didn't mention Brian performing on this version, but it makes you wonder.

[That Lucky Old Sun]

I expect that ultimately this board will have more people in favorite of That Lucky Old Sun, but for me the choice is easily That's Why God Made The Radio. I think it's easily Brian's best set of songs since his debut solo album. And it doesn't hurt to have the different sound colorings that the voices of Mike, Al and Bruce give the material.

What a great article!

[Brian Wilson]

Seeing all six guys on stage, with Dennis holding it together and Brian in good (physical) shape, it's so strange to see that they're teetering on the edge of things looking up, and also teetering on the edge of things crashing and burning. I guess we got a little bit of both as the decade progressed.

It's just kinda surreal in a way. Seeing Dennis there, Brian looking in better shape. Only two years later we have "Getcha Back." Only five years later we have the Brian Wilson album and "Love and Mercy" and "Kokomo." It just gets the mind going: where would Dennis fit into all that? I have to admit I can't imagine Dennis as part of the group that they became after he passed away. And I'm not one for much of the "what if?" stuff, but one has to wonder how Denny would fit in The Beach Boys world through the '80s and beyond. I think that honestly might be a decent idea for a thread topic.

Mind if I PM you rather than clutter up thread here?

I'd much appreciate it! That way we can get back to the BB on here.

No, I'm saying petty, empty rhetoric makes our argument look weak, not theirs and yes, that has all sorts of dangerous effects.

I absolutely agree Shake Man.

However, lately I have been making a point to take back "snowflake" and I know, maybe in a way it's sinking to their level, but all I know is last year, the whole "when they go low, we go high" thing was shown to be a lovely thought, be still leaves us in the dust. So I feel like you can't keep bringing a knife to a gun fight.

And yes, I know, this has f***-all to do with The Beach Boys.

I don't agree with that assessment, though. The "high" argument, which did exist, was for the most part excluded from the mainstream and most people still believed they were caught between two status quo establishment figures. What was actually remarkable last year, for me, is how receptive people actually are to genuine, left-wing antiestablishment positions that weren't dumbed down. So as far as I'm concerned, the fight we have to have to fight harder to get the most reasonable, rational argument heard even more. But the way to make them heard more is to not preach to the choir but to build connections with others who could potentially be receptive to these ideas. And that's not going to happen when we resort to the same tactics that they use on the right.

I truly hope you're right Shake. But I also just don't know if a country that could elect Donald Trump has the smarts to do what's right for themselves. And I also really don't have any hope that there is much of a chance that there will be any group out there on a larger platform than Bernie making a real push for real solutions. The media doesn't care about that kind of thing, and the other side will use buzz words to scare people who may have been willing to give reason a chance. The American people, and really, the whole world has had a long time to figure this out, yet Mr. Shake, even after all this time, we hardly make a dent.

No, I'm saying petty, empty rhetoric makes our argument look weak, not theirs and yes, that has all sorts of dangerous effects.

I absolutely agree Shake Man.

However, lately I have been making a point to take back "snowflake" and I know, maybe in a way it's sinking to their level, but all I know is last year, the whole "when they go low, we go high" thing was shown to be a lovely thought, be still leaves us in the dust. So I feel like you can't keep bringing a knife to a gun fight.

And yes, I know, this has f***-all to do with The Beach Boys.

A few more thoughts about our friends "kreen" while we are at it.

I have a feeling he is so into "tellin' it like it is" and Trump and what not because he (or she? I don't know what kreen is) probably is a rich kid who has mommy and daddy paying all his bills while he trolls around on the internett praising his dear leader and talking about "punk" while his "punk prez" and his lackeys keep daddies taxes low.

.
Personally, I think this attitude drives people further into the arms of powerful right-wing extremists.

So you're saying we should handle these "snowflakes" with kid gloves?

It's pretty rich that it would be the words coming from someone like me driving a pour tortured soul like kreen into extremism, as I'm sure he's spent time before likely making fun of "snowflakes" with "safe spaces." Yet it's little old him (or her) who we need to tip-toe around.

A few more thoughts about our friends "kreen" while we are at it.

I have a feeling he is so into "tellin' it like it is" and Trump and what not because he (or she? I don't know what kreen is) probably is a rich kid who has mommy and daddy paying all his bills while he trolls around on the internet praising his dear leader and talking about "punk" while his "punk prez" and his lackeys keep daddies taxes low.

Hey everybody! Guess what? Kreen also thinks "grabbin' em by the pu$$y" is punk as well!

Which shows he's basically a piece of sh*t!

[work]

Also kind of embarrassing is how the guys are about to sprain something straining to excessively laugh at the President's joke. Really Bruce, was it really *that* funny?

Bruce was laughing at the fact that somebody would actually having to work for success instead of being adopted into a rich family and then "volunteering" himself into a super famous group.

So why wasn't Mike or Bruce there?

Previous obligations.

Ah yes, Mike and Bruce's little-known leaner, two-man "Beach Boys" show....

They both just play tambourine I guess.

Let's be honest, the dude is no punk. He is a joke. As I said, I like him as a singer, but he's a joke. And he's about as far from punk as one could be. He's a money hungry, commercially-minded guy who hob-nobs with establishmentarians like Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. I won't mention Trump cuz he's just a joke.

So why wasn't Mike or Bruce there?

Previous obligations.

[Landlocked]

1969 sessions may well be even more interesting, though.

Maybe around the turn of the decade, we can get a legit release of "Landlocked"

Since AGD is no longer here, I'll be the guy that points out that there was never a project entitled Landlocked.

[Smiley Smile/Wild Honey]

Definitely a great idea Jeff.

However, if the absence of this, I guess my definitive version of both with be the versions on Smiley Smile/Wild Honey for "Can't Wait Too Long" and Friends/ 20/20 for "Old Folks At Home/Ol' Man River."

[favorably]

the weird post favorably comparing Trump's rally operations to BB tours of the past

Favorably? Now you're putting words into Mr Desper's mouth. Logistically, okay, but favorably??

It was pretty obvious that dude was fired up that his candidate was putting on some big rallies and found a decent way of connecting it to The Beach Boys.

Now before you ask how I know who he supported, I'll just say this. I've seen him complain on this board about "not being able to start a business" til we saw how the 2012 election turned out or something like that and then of course the video he posted where a guy sang a hateful, bigoted song about undocumented immigrants to the tune of "Surfin' U.S.A." So I think it's pretty clear where Mr. Desper's head is at. And that's cool. He's a private citizen. And it doesn't take away from his sterling work on 20/20, Sunflower and Surf's Up.