According to TOKENHIPPIE, commenting on the Vegetables single on 45cat.com (23rd Sep 2014) https://www.45cat.com/record/ww261, "Brian [Wilson] produced both sides and he is Laughing Gravy the one who wrote the B side". Looking forward to hearing this jaunty instrumental in better quality than the currently available YouTube upload.

I'm pretty sure that the b-side (at least) was produced & arranged by Joe Osborne & Larry Knechtel; they're even credited with such on the label. I imagine they probably wrote it too.

As an avowed never-use-Amazon-er, I've always found SpeedyHen to be super-reliable, and almost as cheap. Looks as if they pay their tax bill too! They have the set available for pre-order at under £85 right now, with free UK shipping. Though I'm making no promises.

This reminded me that I once saw a 45 of Good Vibrations from 66 that listed Brian as the sole songwriter, and sent me searching - I found this one, but given I'm in Australia, it might have been from somewhere else.

https://www.discogs.com/The-Beach-Boys-Good-Vibrations/release/2209447

The UK pressing was also credited to solely Brian

https://www.discogs.com/The-Beach-Boys-Good-Vibrations/release/4509359

This link might be useful too, though again, it doesn't give a definitive pressing date for the Wilson/Love credit (though label layout & perimeter text would certainly narrow it down to pre-1968)

http://www.beachboys45.nl/USA-Regular-Capitol-64.htm

The Wilson/Love credit Fun Fun Fun certainly looks like a 1964 pressing; the "arranged by" credit varies in font size depending on the pressing plant.

Also, there were actually no finished Smile covers ever prepared. There were almost 500,000 slicks manufactured (and subsequently buried), but as far as I'm aware there was never a final version of the rear cover printed, although there are a few mock-ups kicking around. So there would have been nothing on  which to paste the Smiley image, sadly.

Just so I understand the meaning of the word "slick"... does a slick imply that it was a printed artwork paper that was affixed to a cardboard LP cover? Or is it just the outer paper without it having been affixed to a cardboard sleeve?

Secondly, what do we know about these slicks being "buried"? How much of that is conjecture and assumption versus actual fact that we know?

While it has been over 50 years, part of me wonders if there couldn't be a project much like the angry video game nerd guy who was actually able to figure out where many thousands of defunct Atari ET video games were buried!  They were actually dug up after tremendous amount of research.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/08/881-e-t-cartridges-buried-in-new-mexico-desert-sell-for-107930-15/%3famp=1

 I think the odds of that happening here are extremely slim but it does make me wonder if it's even remotely possible to find out where they were buried and if any still exist in a landfill (I realize of course that paper degrades much faster than plastic cartridges, but one still wonders).

A "slick" is the paper artwork before it's been glued to the cardboard structure that forms the basis for the cover. One slick for the front, one for the back (which, for Capitol covers, folds over the spine & the upper/lower seams). As the rear slick was never mass-produced, there are no finished covers. It's a shame, but it's one less thing to spend a fortune on (and having spent a fortune on an original slick some time ago, that comes as some relief).

I first read (in a piece written by AGD that appeared in the UK Stomp fanzine circa 1985) that 99.99% of the slicks & booklets were sent to landfill. I assume this was taken from Capitol memos that may well be reproduced in LLVS. I will dig it out later if I get the chance. I understand they were sent to a facility in Scranton, if you want to start digging, though I don't know if they were shredded &/or pulped beforehand.

Reminds me a bit of this story too:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-55658942

I guess Capitol might have included the (also pulped) "Smile" booklet in the Smiley package, although as that includes lyrics/titles for Surf's Up, CabinEssence and other songs not included on Smiley, that might just have added to the confusion.

Also, there were actually no finished Smile covers ever prepared. There were almost 500,000 slicks manufactured (and subsequently buried), but as far as I'm aware there was never a final version of the rear cover printed, although there are a few mock-ups kicking around. So there would have been nothing on  which to paste the Smiley image, sadly.

Still on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6570o9dAr4Q

And now gone from youtube too!

Edit: now here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KZcSn-Ybjw

The DJ mentions that the kenny and the cadets record was going for "thousands of dollars"....i googled it and found this, it looks like its worth 100 or 200 now according to this:
https://www.popsike.com/KENNY-and-the-CADETS-BARBIE-RARE-EARLY-BEACH-BOYS-45-ON-RANDY-RECORDS-NM-BEAUTY/252043422135.html

was it really worth "thousands" back in the 70s? or was he exaggerating?

great interview tho. Interesting that he said that "Brian loves you" was approved by the other guys as a title....Of course it was changed, but i didnt know they all approved it originally

"Thousands" may be exaggerating a little, but it's always been a "high ticket" item amongst collectors. The link you posted is actually an auction of a repro/boot copy. The most recent legit copies sold -on ebay- went for $611
https://www.popsike.com/Kenny-and-The-Cadets-Barbie-RARE-1962-Brian-WilsonBeach-Boys-45rpm-Excellent/292394494452.html
and $1000
https://www.popsike.com/BEACH-BOY-related-Kenny-The-Cadets-45-Randy-Records-NM/292287174017.html
I believe there are around 100 copies of this 45, though there are fewer than 20 of the coloured vinyl pressing, which actually *does* sell for thousands
https://www.popsike.com/RARE-EARLY-BEACH-BOYS-45-Kenny-Cadets-on-Randy-422/200353713965.html

And, yes, fantastic interview, thank you for posting!

Now the lead story in The Guardian's culture section.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/feb/04/brian-wilson-boycotts-beach-boys-hunting-convention-concert

The interesting thing about that Getty images TOTP photo is that you can see cables emerging from both Al's & Carl's guitars, which makes me think that this might have been a live vocal/partial instrumentation performance to a prerecorded backing track. It wasn't uncommon to hide amplifiers away from tv performance spaces back then, in order to help with audio isolation (and also maybe because amps aren't particularly attractive things to look at on tv).

 I've just checked Keith Badman's book: "18th november: Top of the Pops live vocal over new backing track "Tears In The Morning" broadcast colour Nov 19th". I know that book isn't 100% reliable, but either way we'll probably never really know, as this episode of TOTP was erased many years ago. Breaks your heart, doesn't it?

PS: yes, generally bands only played one title on the show, although there are exceptions (there was a short lived "album spot" circa 1970, during which bands played 2-3 selections from their latest LP).

Al *did* (and maybe still does; more on that in a moment) have a nice '56 Les Paul that he played mostly in the early 70s (it appears as I recall at least as late as 1976 on stage).



In 2013 there was a weird slightly cryptic report from Al saying his '56 Les Paul was "missing" (the blurb put out certainly made it sound like he was trying to say it was stolen without actually saying the word "stolen") and was looking for it back. I never heard if he ever managed to get it back.

Why on earth is Mike holding an accordion?

I believe this photo is taken from a tv appearance to promote Tears In The Morning, hence Bruce on lead vocal mic. There's quite a prominent accordion section in the recording, and getting Mike to mime the part was probably easier & cheaper than getting a session guy in.
Also (pedant) I think it's actually a concertina Mike is (not) playing.

Shellac is quite a noisy (almost inherently noisy) sound carrier, so I don't think it would sound better than a well-kept 45. It's not a record I listen to often, mainly as neither of my turntables has a 78 speed option (also it would require swapping to a mono cartridge etc).

There are a few folks round here that make my collection look pretty part-time, but thanks for your comments!

I have one. Bought it around 25 years ago, along with an Indian Beatles 78, from an ad in Record Collector. Cost me £50 (the Beatles 78 was £100). I've never seen another since - that's my copy on the Starline website.

Yes, thanks so much for the reply, Mike. Fascinating information, and I too would be interested in hearing the pre-Jeff versions of the other titles you mention.

Thanks for the link.
The Soul Music programme is always a great listen. I don't think I've made it through a single edition without choking back tears at some point. And they're all archived on the BBC iplayer. Particular favourites are "The Way You Look Tonight" https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b077gd5b
and Mr Blue Sky https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06pttqp
But they're all worth hearing.

Wow, many thanks for the translation. I've had a copy of this 45 for years, and have long wondered what the liner notes refer to (I think I posted a request for a translation on the old Smile Shop board, to no avail). I always assumed that "the bronze statuette" might have been a reference to the old Brother Records logo, so it's nice to have that cleared up.

Some interesting bits & bobs, for sure, but those estimates seem pretty high to me. $20,000 for two slides? $9,000 for a single negative? Also, how can GWS be so sure that the photos are "never before seen"? I suppose if they are Mike's (or Milton's) own personal photos/negs that might indicate some level of "exclusivity".... There's also no indication that the items are being sold with copyright, so even if you win it, what do you do with it?

Direct link http://www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature/whats-on/2016/brian-wilson-a-life/

Recently paid £300 for a Rumbo French pic sleeve. I think that's the most I've paid for a Beach Boys-related record (recently, at least). If Shane or Sheriff John Stone want to sell their Kenny & The Cadets 45s, I'd be keen to make a reasonable offer. Feel free to PM.

Yeah, I've had issues with this guy before; even in this listing he has contradictory facts. Here's another:

·       THE ALBUM IS GUARANTEED TO COME WITH ITS ORIGINAL INSERT / LYRICS SHEET
·       ORIGINAL GATEFOLD COVER, MADE OF THICK CARDBOARD (AMERICAN STYLE)   (SORRY, INSERT NOT INCLUDED)

Yet somehow his auctions always get top dollar. What gives?

Stephen, while we're on the subject of Sunflower, I have in my collection this 10-inch Artisan Sound acetate of "Slip On Through":


Based a listening test I'm pretty sure that side 1 is the final stereo mix that appears on the album and also on the 45 (Brother/Reprise 0924), however Side 2 is a MONO mix (you can see that the word "STEREO" on the left side of the label has been blacked out, and the word "Mono" typed in on the right).  Unlike some DJ 45's which had a stereo version of the "plug" song on one side for FM radio and a mono version of the same song on the other side for AM radio, the DJ 45 of "Slip On Through" only had the stereo version; "This Whole World" (also in stereo) was on the flip side.  So as far as I know this mono mix was never used -- at least in the U.S.

Do you recall creating a dedicated mono mix of "Slip On Through," perhaps for AM radio purposes?

Thanks,

Lee

#
Interesting. I have a US promo copy of Slip On Through, and both sides are mono mixes. I can't immediately tell whether they're fold-downs or dedicated mono mixes, but they are both definitely mono.

I don't know how long this has been public knowledge, but I see that Brian has been announced as playing the Primavera festival in Barcelona 1-5 June. Bodes well for further UK/European dates this summer.

Pretty good line-up all round, in fact. http://lineup.primaverasound.es/2016
 

Wow, amazing thread, thanks so much.

One additional piece of info I might add: I have a 1967 Japanese picture sleeve for Heroes & Villains/You're Welcome, and amongst the Japanese character set, the sleevenotes make reference to "Surf's Up", "Wonderful", "Do You Like Worms", "Wind Chimes", ""Vege-tables" (sic) and "Cabin Essence", as well as something called "The Bronze Statuette" (I assume this refers to the Brother Records logo). If I post a scan of the notes, is there anyone here who would be willing & able to translate the same? Or is there an online tool which could achieve this? I assume the notes are a rehash of material we already have, but you never know....

Oh yes, love this album. Seriously one of the all-time greats.