Lorren -

As an improvisor in the style pioneered by Del Close, I'm also very interested in any experiences with him you'd care to share. Are you aware of Brian and Del ever crossing paths? I remember being amazed the first time I heard about Brian being a fan.

I gotta be honest, knowing the intelligence of this board (not to mention the people who complain about never getting the chance to "interview" the Beach Boys and/or get their questions answered and use that as an excuse for some really poor behavior) I was embarrassed at the level of questions.

Thousands of words traded about the history and politics of this band, posters complaining over who knows what, and why this or that happened -- and it all ends up 6th grader "how come you made that shorter?" and, yes, food preferences.

Jeez, maybe you should have actually asked a question rather than just waiting until after and complaining about the one's other people asked.

I asked the "6th grader" question because I love that new version of the track and wanted to prompt him to talk about it in anyway I could. I thought about other questions as well (What sort of talking did you originally intend to have in the quiet spaces on Love to Say Dada? What was the original intention for the "doot-doot-doot Heroes & Villains" chants (B-Side of the single? Auditioning choruses for the A-Side?) but I figured he's probably sick of SMiLE questions so I asked something about Friends.

Also, someone not having a lot of posts here doesn't mean they don't read everybody else's. It does probably mean that they don't get involved in all the arguments around here though.

My question was from yesterday as well.

I'm incredibly honored that he picked my question, and happy to know the info: that he edited "Meant For You" just cause he liked it that way rather than cause he was pressured by the rest of the group or something. It was a very small and easy question that I doubt would have come up in any "real" interview so I feel really lucky to have that answered.

I'm also really glad that we showed off so much love for Friends & Wild Honey here.

One of my favorite tracks on the Made in California box set was the extended version of "Meant For You" from the wonderful Friends album - it featured the lyrics about ponies and their mothers and puppy dogs and their brothers - do you recall anything about why that part was cut out for the original release?

Such a peaceful and loving song! Thanks!

1) One of my favorite tracks on the Made in California box set was the extended version of "Meant For You" from the great Friends album featuring the lyrics about ponies and their mothers and puppy dogs and their brothers, do you recall anything about why that was cut?

2) What was the intent for the multiple versions of Old Man River that were recorded during the Friends era?

Glad to see you're back posting, Lorren.

I'm curious what years you were around for so we can better focus our questions for you. Did your time within Brian's scene extend to the Wild Honey or Friends time period at the Bellagio house (those years have always been hard to get much info on)?

Excited to have you around Brian! Welcome!

Has anyone done a solid mix of the Wonderful lead vocal with the April track/bg vocals?

EDIT: While I'm at it, anyone know a good mix of Fire with the Fall Breaks vocals AND the Fire Crackling SFX?

Thanks!

I don't know specific albums by them so well, but probably something from The Free Design? They're the only other group I could imagine performing Meant For You (Alternate Version).

Surprised to see tastemakers like Pitchfork and FACTMag run the story on their sites today as well. Not everyday/month/year that Brian graces their news feeds.

A funky cat up in the mountains somewhere singing to a chick by a fireplace

Feels
- an album of short pieces that don't add up to songs with Brian playing solo at the piano.

Wilson sings Newman
- In line with Brian's "reimagine" series, Brian Wilson plays his favorite Randy Newman compositions. Title tips its hat to Harry Nilsson.

"Big Band Album"
- Brian's seemed awfully excited about his singing lately, and maybe it would be a good time to revisit the Big Band sound he was eye-ing in the Adult/Child days. With new orchestra-backed recordings of "Still I Dream of It", "It's Over Now", maybe some big band remakes of other appropriate Beach Boys/Brian songs ("The Night Was So Young"), and a few covers.

I went looking for a good Dub Version of Pet Sounds recently.  This was what I found.

https://soundcloud.com/the-assessor-1/sets/pet-sounds-in-dub/

Any fan edit where one can hear this?:

the Barnyard section of the demo fits right over the top of the "False Barnyard" track

deleted.

My first dance with my wife at our wedding was to "All I Wanna Do".

I'm looking for Beach Boys' recordings that feature Brian multi-tracking himself.

Examples off the top of my head:

Happy Birthday Four Freshmen
Vegetables [Ballad Insert]
Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulders) [Unused Background Vocals]

What else is there?

"[Brian is] already thinking about the album he wants to record after he finishes the current one. 'I would like to do a rock 'n' roll album, the Phil Spector type of rock 'n' roll,' he says. 'I'm interested in doing a rock 'n' roll album, something that would make people clap and be happy.'"

You don't say, Brian.  

I hope if you come in 20 minutes late to this movie the first thing you hear is, "Come in, Mr. Spector". Mind gangster payback.

Couple more sessions I love:

- The horse dialog in Pet Sounds Sessions - Dog Barking Session [outtakes]

- All the different takes on Smile Sessions - Heroes & Villains: I'm in Great Shape. I think the master take is actually my least favorite!

- Smile Sessions - Wonderful [Take 3], the vocal version on the second half of it is my favorite version of the song.

TSS

Meant For You (Alternate Mix)

I can't believe how many people have problems with ponies and puppies. I legit love the lyrics. What fitting images to have with the loving beauty of the track.

Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
All I Wanna Do
Johnny Carson
My Diane
From There To Back Again