["Brian's Jam"]

I mean really, at least to this major fan, I think you could really do an interesting package on '74 alone. Using the best available info, what is nearly sure is that these tracks could be used on a 1974 themed set:

"Brian's Jam"
"Good Timin'": a mix only the work that was done in '74 would probably be easy, right?
"Brian's Tune"
"Honeycomb": I'd assume the instrumental is releasable, as I see on this thread Marilyn's vocal isn't available, and was recorded a bit later anyways
"Battle Hymn of the Republic"
"Lucy Jones": the song was released on a Stephen Kalinich album, but I think it'd fit the bill for a '74 set
"California Feelin'" (demo - alternate take)

And I think there is a reasonable chance that there are tapes available to release these (but really who knows?):

"Dr. Tom": apparently an Alan Jardine re-working of "Tom Dooley"
"Good Timin'": version from April
"Ding Dang": this was recorded in June, not sure we know if this is the Love You version or something different

And maybe some Carl and Ricky demos?

And then there's this Dennis stuff (but who owns these, can Brother release them or are they property of Sony due to the fact that these tracks are close to, but not quite Pacific Ocean Blue sessions):

"Dennis' Symphony"
"String Bass Song": early version of "Rainbows"
"My Love Lives On: is this the version from Made In California?
"Long Road"

If a decent chunk of this is available and releasable, I think it'd make an interesting set for the big time Beach Boys fan. Also I wouldn't doubt that there is material around that isn't listed here.

It's nice to hear that Brian was there in his own way for his friend.

And Andy really did seem like an absolutely wonderful guy. I feel blessed to to have heard just some of the wonderful work that he did with Brian. And I don't want to make it about us, the listener, but hopefully at some point, more of the Brian/Paley stuff gets released. They did some great work together and it deserves more attention in my opinion.

So Al's song is a tribute to Brian and Dennis? But not Carl?

Carl hadn't passed when it was written in tribute to Denny and Brian.

Sounds like Jenny Clover is spots, more than Waves of Love to me. A nice little tune, but I'm not sure would have been able to sing in that range at times during the song w/o some sort of altered assistance.

"Wish I could have you back again" = "I'm running on the waves of love"

Same melody.

Arrangement wise "Wish" does sound like "Jenny Clover."

It's no coincidence that all three of these songs are Dvoskin "collaborations."

And I say "so what?"
How many times have the Beach Boys, including Brian...especially Brian...recycled old melodies?
I like this song. Maybe love it.
Thankful Al is still blessing us with new music.

I'd like to think I've mellowed over the years. And I'll say I agree with you on not caring about a recycled melody, especially as none of the above were hit songs. And yes, Brian has definitely recycled many melodies. Also I'm super happy any of the guys are putting out new music.

However, you really think the production on this is good?

So I posted this on the other board first, but of course I'd be interested to add in here...
For me at least it seems that perhaps Mr. Dvoskin perhaps was listening to some indie music, perhaps like Panda Bear/Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, and the like. And then having heard that crazy echoey, reverbed-out vocal stylings, tried to do the same on production with this song of his and Al's. Or maybe they just recorded his voice like crap, which would make zero sense as Al has a top level recording studio at his fingertips.

Now the problem with this is that this style of song does not call for this kind of vocal effect AT ALL in my humble opinion. A drier vocal would worked so much better. Of course that wouldn't stop it from sounding like "Waves of Love" or "Jenny Clover" or whatever, but that honestly doesn't bother me. It a song is good, it's good, no matter what it sounds like.

Having said that, does the fact that this reminds one of those songs tell us something about why Alan hasn't put out much solo material? Perhaps it does. I'm not saying the cupboard is bare, but do we really think he has all that much relatively original music to share? He's definitely nowhere near the productivity of Brian, but I'd even say as a songwriter, Mike Love, Carl and surely Dennis probably have much bigger catalogs of worthy unreleased original songs (not covers or re-recordings). Only my opinion of course.

These are both not coincidentally positions that Mike Love himself has tended to take. It's then not surprising that a lot of people who come to those conclusions tend to be apologists for Mike and/or more sympathetic to Mike. And it's not even necessarily about Mike. And that's where personal politics come into it sometimes, with "fans" who are very conservative socially and politically.

Interesting to openly state something I have detected quite a bit in the last decade plus. That a lot of the Mike apologists tend to be the more conservative side of the political spectrum. But then you have "Mike apologists" like Cam Mott and AGD, who as far as I can tell, wouldn't be caught dead being associated with the conservative movement. So, it's tough but I definitely know what you mean. Good observation.

I dunno. Does Rusty Anderson know all the songs on "Press to Play?" Maybe not.

I know Rusty Anderson is one of the guys in McCartney's band, can't remember which one though. But funny story...

I vaguely remember reading once something along these lines: Paul and band were rehearsing and broke into a little thing called "Check My Machine" and the guys were excited and wanted Paul to pursue it, not knowing that the song was a b-side in 1980!

I read on Facebook that Al is supposedly working with Brian and Mike.

From whom? Where? A reliable source?

I’d love to think he’d put out a new album or EP or even a new single with a song he hasn’t released before. But I can’t see it. Nonetheless, my guess is that if it is a new album I’d expect it to have “Waves of Love”, “PT Cruiser”, “Loop de Loop” and maybe a version of “A California Saga” or something. And a new version of “Help Me Rhonda”? Probably.

I’m kidding. But yeah, at this point in time I feel we’d be lucky to hear his “Islands in the Sun” (which would be hilarious if it were based on “Islands in the Stream”) or “My Plane Leaves Tomorrow” (which Al apparently doesn’t even sing lead on).

So according to the new Beach Boys book, Brian mentions Just An Imitation again which means it may still exist afterall???

Pretty sure that quote is pulled from his 2016 autobiography, so I wouldn't get too excited about it.

Then again, I can now listen to the 1975 version of "In The Back Of My Mind", the 1974 demo of "California Feelin'" and "Where Is She" whenever I feel like it. And even in like, say, 2010, I don't know if I'd believed it. So maybe there really is a recording of "Just An Imitation" and it'll be released!

Oh, that was so heartening to read.

Hey also, does anybody have anything like a scan of the track listing and track info from the zine itself? Or something of that nature?

[Playback]

Prior to the new recordings for the LPR soundtrack, was Brian's most recent recording "Run James Run" for the "Playback" release?

Vocally, I guess you could say so. Though keep in mind only the verse lyrics were recorded in 2017 (?) for Playback, the backing track and the rest of the vocals were recorded years earlier for No Pier Pressure with an Al lead.

But Brian's most recent recordings besides Long Promised Road would actually be his instrumental album, 2021's At My Piano.

You son of a gun! Well, anybody who does, lemme know!

So yeah, just like in the thread title? Does anybody have this? Is so, anybody willing to part with it. Would love to have it in my collection, and I don't know where else to ask.

[Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE]

Great thread rab. I too feel very lucky to know Brian is still with us, and it's also amazing to think about all the wonderful work he's done since Melinda came on the scene in a big way. Sure, not everything is to everybody's taste, but just the fact that we got Brian on tour and enjoying it, some really great solo songs, both Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE and The SMiLE Sessions, the That's Why God Made The Radio album and the 2012 reunion tour, and a lot of other great stuff, it's just amazing. He's done some of my favorite vocals during this era, straight up. Something like his cover of Buddy Holly's "Listen to Me," beautiful.

I just hope he's in a good place now. I hope he's enjoying his life with his family and friends. He's given us a lot.  Do I hope that we hear a bit more from him? Sure I do. But if not, and he just wants to relax, fine with me.

Thank you to all who've worked to make Brian's life better and all those who've shown him love.

So, it is what it is. But first, isn’t this a Beach Boys song and not a Mike Love song, in this guise?

And secondly, isn’t this an unreleased recording owned by BRI? Why is the guy who makes videos for Mike making music videos for bootlegs?

I'm sad to hear about this. You will be missed Jeff. Thank you for your voice and your talents.

I gotta say that "What I Really Want For Christmas" is just such a great Brian Wilson composition.  Just a remarkable tune. That's it.

I think the difference with all this is that "Now and Then" seems like it has been a passion project of Paul's, whereas I highly doubt any of The Beach Boys are pining to add anything to "Lonely Days" or "It's Natural" or whatever. But if they wanted to, shoot, I'm all in.

I will point out as others have, this kinda thing is what Al does, although usually not to this extent. He re-recorded "Cotton Fields" of course and he re-recorded the lead vocal of "Loop de Loop" nearly 30 years after his original falsetto vocal on there. Not to mention how long it took him to get his first solo studio album out. But a funny one people forget is the CD release of "PT Cruiser" in '02 or '03 or whenever. I'm pretty there was a version for the a cappella and the track, but I think there were a few remixes as well. No offense to Al, but who on earth needs however many remixes of "PT Cruiser"?

Don't forget about his absolute need to re-edit Beaks of Eagles on the Sail on Sailor box set (and the entire California Saga medley being repeated on the last disc just to showcase that one pretty inconsequential edit).

And I guess it never changed that much but also the fact that Susie Cincinnati appeared on the B-side of three different singles throughout the 70s (though I'm also guessing it was Al's decision to remix it for the Made in California set).

Wasn’t the 1970 b-side mix different from the 15 Big Ones mix as well? And I think it was the b-side of “Child of Winter” before that? Was that the same mix as the version on the b-side of “Add Some Music to Your Day”?

[A Postcard from California]

This. Is. Absolutely. Insane.

Let me say it, I love Al Jardine. Seems like one of the most wonderful people in the rock n' roll game. Seems like a great family man, a great band member, a great friend to Brian. But what he's been up to with this song is just crazy. Especially this last one. It's a slight remix of the 2.0 version with some obvious "remix" moves added on.

So where are we now with this?

A Postcard from California CD version (released 2012): has the saxophone and Carl mixed out a little bit on the chorus. Sounds to me to be more of a standard studio recording. Honestly, despite Carl being mixed lower, I think this is the best version out there.

A Postcard from California download version (released 2012): this one has a more of an ambient "live" sound in my opinion, with Carl mixed much higher and the organ playing a kind of obvious "Help Me Rhonda" type riff.

Alternative take (released 2012): this is a slightly alternate version of the aforementioned download version. I can't really remember the difference and it seems I don't have a copy of this anywhere. This version was only made available on the 2012 Japanese version of Postcard.

A Postcard from California "West Coast version" (released 2022): this is another version/mix of the download version. I'm pretty sure this was made available on iTunes, Spotify and the like when the Postcard album was reissued on CD in 2022. Is this version (which is still available online in the aforementioned places) the same version that is on the '22 CD? Anybody know?

"Waves of Love 2.0": this was released as both a CD single and on online single. This was considered the "East Coast version" cuz it had elements re-recorded apparently by Al's collaborator Larry Dvoskin.

"Waves of Love 3.0 Ocean Mix": I don't even know. I think there is some organ that I don't hear on the original "saxophone" version or the 2.0 mix, but maybe I'm wrong. I don't know.

I will point out as others have, this kinda thing is what Al does, although usually not to this extent. He re-recorded "Cotton Fields" of course and he re-recorded the lead vocal of "Loop de Loop" nearly 30 years after his original falsetto vocal on there. Not to mention how long it took him to get his first solo studio album out. But a funny one people forget is the CD release of "PT Cruiser" in '02 or '03 or whenever. I'm pretty there was a version for the a cappella and the track, but I think there were a few remixes as well. No offense to Al, but who on earth needs however many remixes of "PT Cruiser"?

By that logic, "I Want to Hold Your Hand" would have had the same effect on The Beatles, who, as The Beach Boys did with "Be True to Your School" after about a year, completely abandoned it concertwise. (And yeah, they brought it back, but only after they became a mostly-oldies act.)

Eh, I don't think "I Want to Hold Your Hand" is anywhere near "Be True to Your School" in the dorkiness sweepstakes. "I Want to Hold Your Hand" is sweet and charming and innocent. Not embarrassing at all in my opinion. On the other hand,  "Be True to Your School" just speaks for itself.

Something I do find interesting is that however Brian felt about it later on (and lets note, he has never included in his solo act as far as I can tell) he felt strongly enough in '63 to record not just one, but two versions. So this wasn't just some toss-off tune.

[Look! Listen! Vibrate! Smile!]

So I was thinkin' about how much I've never been able to dig "Be True to Your School" and why it bothers me so much and then it got me to thinkin' about whether perhaps this song alone has been to blame for some people seeing the guys as unhip and/or "square" over the years. It also surprises me sometimes that "Barbara Ann" is singled out as the song that could perhaps be left off a Mike, Brian or Al setlist while this song escapes notice. Now I know we all have very different tastes and what I like, might not be liked by the next guy.

Now is the part where I imagine if I posted this on the other board, it would get an immediate response from filledaplage saying how "times were different" in '63 and stuff about JFK and Vietnam and a bunch of stuff that would only tangentially be connected to the topic at hand which reminds me why I've enjoyed this board so much more over the years, haha.

But truly back on subject, that brings to mind an interview with Frank Zappa that was included in Look! Listen! Vibrate! Smile! in which Zappa say, "...because they've been fed all this garbage for so long. The Beach Boys, "Be True to Your School," and all that. They don't' wanna be true to their school, they want the truth!"

Now maybe he was just going after "Be True to Your School" but regardless I feel like he basically singles out that "Be True to Your School" is a representation of the whole Beach Boys scene, and it ringing false, perhaps.

But even regardless of Zappa, do any of you guys and gals think that this song plays and outsize role in the whole "dorky Beach Boys" perception? Am I overrating the importance of this one or am i overdoing it? And even by saying this, I still think most real music fans love the group and would stand up them.

Anyways, I will say that I've really been able to enjoy the song. I can get myself in the mood to listen to and really enjoy something really kinda corny like "Make It Big" or "Problem Child." Same goes for some of those very naive '50s songs or even some of earlier Four Seasons stuff. But for some reason  "Be True to Your School" is just a bridge too far for me. Maybe someday I'll be able to appreciate even just one of the versions of the song.

[Unleash The Love]

A band called AJR was featured on the channel, choosing a few of their favorite Beach Boys songs with some between-song commentary. Never heard of them and the show itself was way too short but it's nice to hear some actual DJ programming on the channel, which normally seems to just be the catalog on shuffle. They picked Sloop John B, Wouldn't It Be Nice, and Surfers Rule and then ended with their own version of Darlin' which sounded pretty good, reminded me of Nate Ruess's version from the Brian Wilson and Friends concert DVD.

So if it's the same version (and I suspect it is), the AJR version of "Darlin'" was actually released on Mike Love's Unleash The Love album. And now don't quote me on this, but I feel like I remember seeing that Mike actually does feature on that track vocally or instrumentally, which makes its inclusion on his album a bit odd.