I'm flabbergasted that the management have the audacity to continue with the 'last ever' nonsense.  If they want to play the complete Pet Sounds at every concert I'd be happy but please do not tell me I've been to 3 separate last performances and then come around for another go the next year.  It's taking the P...

It was clear to me that BW has had enough of it himself with the awful lyric mangling and what seems to be a Dylan/Sinatra approach to not singing some of the songs.

I went to the Palladium, Southend and Royal Albert Hall last year (Brilliant apart from Southend!) so I guess they won't appear at those venues again in order to honour the 'last ever' publicity.  They haven't performed Pet Sounds at my local pub yet so I'm waiting for that day(sic) but unless I cave in (again) that will be the next last time I pay lots of money to see yet another 'last ever' concert.

Why can't we have a Sunflower or Friends or Love You or Holland or Today special?

I must say that I really enjoyed myself last night.

- I know it's stated a lot but Al can REALLY belt it out still, its ridiculous how he sounds just as good as he did 40 years ago.
- Matt Jardine is an incredible addition to the band, and for me personally.. a big improvement on Foskett's whinier, bellowing falsetto. (IMO)
- Brian seemed to be having fun and looked really relaxed at different moments throughout.
- Al's performance of Help Me Rhonda was the clear favourite of the night, everyone was dancing their asses off for that one!
- As it should be, God Only Knows got a huge ovation.
- Paul Von Merten's stole the show on numerous occasions.
- The crowd gave a most British rendition of Happy Birthday for Nikki Wonder.
- Funky Pretty! Wow! Talk about deep cuts!
- Blondie was an absolute rock star on stage. That version of Wild Honey could have gone on forever as far as I was concerned.
- This was one of the most respectful audiences I remember witnessing at a Live Show for a major act. Everyone was so supportive of Brian and the band. Every song got huge applause.
- It should be pretty obvious, but the Palladium is an absolutely beautiful venue.
- I would have liked to see some more songs post-Holland, besides Love & Mercy there's a solid gap of 42 years between songs!
- Brian's voice isn't as good as it was a few years ago, but the way he's going I could honestly see him doing this for another 10 years if he wanted to. (Although if anyone deserves a rest from touring, it should be him)
- It was lovely to see some gems like Wake The World and Add Some Music get played, I wish we could have heard Honkin' Down The Highway though!
- Brian's sense of humour came out tonight, and there were some unintentionally quite funny moments. One example is when they introduced the band one by one to audience applause, and then Brian ends up coming out at the same time as Al Jardine anyway.
- Matt's lead on Don't Worry Baby was perfect.
- Despite his vocal vulnerability, Brian still has a good mid range when needed, such as on Good Vibrations.
- Although i'm fortunate to get to see the band in the US in July, I really hope this isn't the last time they come to the UK. I'd love a SMiLE tour, but a part of me would just love a new album tour. (Especially with Joe Thomas out of the picture)

All in all, an excellent night.



I took a video of God Only Knows too, not amazing quality, but I had to capture part of that experience for myself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=on0mBEz5TTE&feature=youtu.be

Thanks for the review - thought I'd quote it again as that seems to fill the pages up on this site.  Really envious that you got "Please let me wonder" and "Cottonfields" - we definitely got short changed on Friday.

Also great that you squeezed in a London review despite the obvious and deliberate blocking of this topic over the last week or more.  It's been very difficult to appreciate what happened on a key part of the tour until your note appeared.

Cheerio

Palladium first night the band went from 'Add Some Music' straight into 'Do It Again'.

Two great songs that Al could have sung 'Then I Kissed her' and/or 'Cottonfields' - it hurts that we missed both!

As said before - earlier on 'Little Honda' replaced 'Girl Don't Tell Me'.

The concert started quite late - it seemed like they didn't get everyone away from the concessions or the bar until well after 20:15.  We could see all the band waiting in the wings for a good ten minutes or more - did they run out of time?

I haven't posted on this board for ages - a couple too many knowalls for my sensitive nature - but I do enjoy all of AGD's posts!

Anyway having watched this study video (I've also seen all the others as and when they were released) I am compelled to say what an absolute pleasure and privilege it is to have listened to this music in the best presentation I've ever heard it.  First off I'm reminded how great Sunflower was when it came out in 1970 - every single track is a delight and we lucky Brits also got Cottonfields as a bonus.

My other half also bought the album when it came out and Forever is a favourite of hers.  She was transfixed by the vocal mix and final version - so many subtle sounds being released from what by comparison is quite muddy in some of the CD versions we've had to date.

This has to be listened to properly - the speaker set up really does produce sounds that literally jump out of the normal stereo landscape.  Cool Cool Water has a really weird ghost that comes out on the far right when I listen to it - almost like someone playing it in the next room.

Thank you Stephen for producing and sharing this and I can't wait for parts 2 & 3.

I absolutely adore SJB but it always spoils my enjoyment of PS.  It's a cover with completely archaic lyrics and is out of place in my opinion.

If there had to be an orphaned single then better SJB than TLGIOK but obviously time had moved on and that could have felt just as out of place on PS.  If only GV could have been included - but it wasn't.

My own preference is to leave SJB in the running order but as the backing track from the Sessions box set.  Obviously PS then has too many instrumentals but it sounds great to me.

Another alternative that keeps PS with SJB is to just listen to my own version of Remember the Poo.  It's got all the PS tracks but with SJB (backing track only) along with the Asher GV and bonus track TLGIOK (bonus tracks are essential these days).

Given the reasons for whether SJB, LGIOK or GV should have been on PS an equally valid question is "Should Good Vibrations have been left off Smiley Smile in favour of George Fell Into His French Horn?"

Ooh - That puts shivers down my back.  It just reminds me how much everyone lost 14 years ago. Can it really be that long ago. An angels voice for certain.

Stop bashing the Brits and don't forget the UK includes Northern Ireland 'bout ya' - we English feel an empathy with them all.

As to no English dates - what a mistake that would be.  Is it because the 'Beach Boys' only like playing the awful 'Hammersmith whoever the sponsor is this week' as opposed to Brian's 2nd home - the RFH.

I've been to the Bowl - what a venue! - shame about the sound given that it's open air.  I saw the Beach Boys in Esher a few years ago - too much rain.  I saw them in Hyde Park 2001 when we weren't even allowed to dance in the aisles. Saw them at Hammersmith in 68 but it's gone down hill ever since.

The 50th is the 50th - it would be great to see the individual members all in the same place but I reckon we get more overall by seeing then whenever wherever whatever.

PS - Al Jardine get your bottom over here (It's all bottoms with you Yanks!).

The first Pet Sounds I had, I downloaded from Napster and the entire album was one track, no skipping.

Firstly - Napster was for those who didn't like paying for music.
Secondly - Pet Sounds on low quality MP3 is just.... Oh Dear!

Weakest song on Pet Sounds - Sloop John B - Great Song but it doesn't work on that album at any level
Weakest song on Smile - Fire/Mrs O'Leary's Cow - Far too discordant - hard to sing along to

Too many books to choose from and unfortunately a lot of them repeat the same old stuff.  The Gaines book was one of the first I got and is a good read. It's warts and all but has some really good contributors.  Note to Hypehat - that's at least 2 copies in NX!

Otherwise search out copies of these 2

The Beach Boys and the California Myth by David Leaf - Published originally in 1978 it tends to sell expensively now
but is a unique view of mostly Brian's world.

Look! Listen! Vibrate! SMiLE! by Dominic Priore - This a photo heavy book charting the times around SMiLE's inception. Dominic Priore is a 60s enthusiast who contributed a lot to the SMiLE myth.

And of course every library should have
Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys, The Complete Guide to their Music by AGD & John Tobler

I reckon Bruce doesn't post here because too many people would disagree with his recollections of how it actually was.

Anyway how could anyone disagree with the one Beach Boy who says Pet Sounds shouldn't have had 'Sloop John B' on it!

Don't you suppose he knows more about it than you do?  He was there; he sang on that particular song, for instance.  When was the last time you and Brian Wilson went and had a steak together?  Bruce and Brian are probably out bowling together right now.

Bruce probably posts on BBB because he's old and set in his ways, and that's the board he's signed up to and can remember the password to.  Nothing more, nothing less.

The rough and tough atmosphere here or anywhere else wouldn't keep him away, you think he hasn't heard it all before?  Do you honestly think you guys are the first to make fun of his white shorts?  His hot-ass girlfriends probably never made fun of them.  He probably comforts himself from all the hatred with

A. his beautiful wife
B. his beautiful family
C. his beautiful bank account
D. his beautiful music
E. his beautiful talent
F. his beautiful life
G. his beautiful fans


It's delusional and narcissistic to think that this message board is too 'tough' for someone like him to handle. 

Bruce is on record saying that 'Sloop John B' is a great song but shouldn't have been on Pet Sounds. That is an example of where he's prepared to say what he thinks without falling out with anyone else in the band.

I posted a message that says that Bruce tells it like it was and that's why BBB members enjoy his posts on their board.  Equally they like to ask sensible polite questions. At times this board has too many rude responders who also seem unable to read properly.

I reckon Bruce doesn't post here because too many people would disagree with his recollections of how it actually was.

Anyway how could anyone disagree with the one Beach Boy who says Pet Sounds shouldn't have had 'Sloop John B' on it!

Pet Sounds has only one weak track and that's blessed Sloop John B.  It would have fitted fine on 'Remember the Zoo'  but we should all curse Capitol for putting it on Pet Sounds and for Brian bottling out on his finest work. It's almost like he had to do something silly to avoid being seen as too far up his own wotsit. The Tony Asher 'Good Vibrations' or 'The Little Girl I Once Knew' sound so much better in that mix.  Alternatively he could have simply put the dub version of 'God Only Knows' as a lead in to the best track on the album!

Smile's weakest track is hard to choose. We still only have bits and pieces to listen to. For me Brian's music is essentially vocal and harmonic so Fire is a good choice for least easy to listen to. The finished songs are sublime eg Surf's Up, H&V, Wonderful, Wind Chimes etc etc.

[Not Enough Yet!]

How many Pet Sounds issues out there? - what an easy answer - Not Enough Yet!

Hi All,

It's either God Only Knows (Mono) or God Only Knows (Stereo) or God Only Knows (Backing Track) or God Only Knows (Brian lead) or God Only Knows (Lounge Mix) or God Only Knows (Acapella ending) or God Only Knows (Sung by Carl when I first saw the BBs live) or God Only Knows (sung by Brian when I first saw him live) or God Only Knows (BW last night 1st RFH tour)

Only balance I think it's God Only Knows any old how!

Cheers

Thanks for the comments and replies.

Fascinating to hear that shrink was in common use in 60s USA - over here we only started using it for wrapping our sandwiches after they stopped selling stuff in brown paper bags.

As to UK sellers going to the shelves for the vinyl LP - well I guess that we had too many light fingered types around at the time (and still do).

Regarding those 2 albums - I cherish my tatty, well worn and over played original 1966 mono copy far more because of the memories attached to it.  A 'brand new' copy would be great but not as valuable to me.

Happy holidays!

Newbie again,

Christmas comes early the closer you get to Greenwich - starts in November these days!

Cheers and a Happy New Year!

Hi Newbie here,

I've just seen someone selling a Mono Pet Sounds LP & a Duophonic Pet Sounds LP, both original 1966 copies for only (sic) $4,000 the pair.  They are making a really big deal about the quality of the shrink wrap, which apparently is superb.  With just 6 hours to go I'm obviously dashing round to my bank manager for a loan and if he says no I'll try one of the payday loan companies, failing that I'll sell my car.

Sarcasm over - what I really want to know is when did US copies of albums get shrink wrapped?  In the UK albums were sold as were for years after 1966.  If anything shrink wrap seemed to be used at first on remainders and bargain basement only. 

The Capitol Beach Boys US album covers I have are printed cardboard with matt paper fronts pasted on, so did shrink wrap get used early on to protect the packaging?

Oh and by the way - Merry Christmas!!!

Hi Newbie here - My Pet Sounds obsession started when I bought my first copy of the album in 1966 and it's still going strong.

I've got the following Pet Sounds LPs

PS UK Mono
PS UK Stereo

PS US Mono
PS US Duophonic
PS US Stereo

PS South African
PS New Zealand
PS Yugoslavian
PS Turkish
PS German
PS Taiwanese (Red Vinyl)
PS Taiwanese (Orange Vinyl)
PS Dutch (Beach Boys Story Vol 3)

PS Japanese Red Vinyl
PS Japanese Promo
PS Japanese Mono
PS Japanese Stereo

PS & Smiley Smile (Double LP)
PS & Carl & the Passions (Double LP)
PS & Carl & the Passions Promo (Double LP)

PS Later Capitol Reissue
PS Warners Brown Cover Reissue
PS Fame Reissue
PS World Record Club version

PS Capitol Vaults
PS 40th Anniversary (Mono & Stereo)
PS 180+ Analogue Pressing
PS EMI 100 Collection
PS Simply Vinyl

PS UK stereo with signed cover (all except Bruce!)
PS Brother Ltd Edition Framed Gold LP & Cover

I've also got far too many CDs, Tapes, Cassettes, Minidiscs, Bootlegs, Sessions, setlists, DVDs, books, tee shirts etc etc etc.  The most unique thing I have is a handmade light box with the Pet Sounds cover on the front - it's like a lead window but is made with some form of acrylic paintwork.

I've not counted the duplicates of which there aren't too many except I do have 2 Jugoslavian copies for some reason.  My favorite LP is all of them but I love the alternative lyrics included in one of the Taiwanese versions.

When I tell people about this small collection sometimes they ask me if the 'foreign' versions are in English or native tongue and it's interesting to see how long I can have them on! It's probably when I say the NZ version is sung in New Zealand English and the SA version is sung in Africaans that they catch on.

Best Pet Sounds Memory - It's tough cos it's either seeing Brian and his band at the Hollywood Bowl in 2000 where my wife and I also met Tony Asher or the last night at the RFH in 2002 which really was a stunning night and probably was the band's best ever performance (imo!).