I've seen a few posters here talk about mixing Smile Sessions tracks, but has anybody here tried mixing Smile Sessions with BWPS tracks?  I'm interested to see how this would work out sonically.  Just for fun I made a mix of SS Heroes & Villains with its counterpart on BWPS-- simple splicing here and there, using the BWPS version as the primary track and swapping the BWPS "I've been in this town so long..." solo part for the stereo SS part, etc.  Sounds pretty ok to my ears.  I wonder what other splicing others might have done between these two albums.

Ahhhh but Al was covered in mud at the Saturday gig!

(AGD's concern for detail is catching BTW)

The tracks they got stuck at on Saturday are flanked on both sides by muddy alkali.

Speaking of nitpicky. The story implies they got stuck on the Saturday when it was just Al at the location. Did they get stuck on the Sunday also?

The getting stuck incident I mention in the story happened on Saturday.  That was on the railroad tracks about 1 mile from the actual Saltair site.  Only Al was present with Bill Hesterman and his sons for that incident, which almost made them late for the gig.

During my conversations with the Hesterman boys, they didn't mention their dad and the rest of the Boys getting stuck on Sunday (although the picture implies such).  It would be very difficult not to get stuck in that area, though.

That's weird, because there's even a website for the Lagoon (park). How can people up there not know what the "Lagoon" is?

http://www.lagoonpark.com/

Well, I didn't mean to take the thread so far off in this direction, but to answer your question, people here are very aware of what Lagoon is.  It's like Utah's Knott's Berry Farm.  My point is that it is simply called "Lagoon" (or Lagoon Park).  Referring to it as "the Lagoon" here would be like me referring to Knott's Berry Farm as "The Knott's Berry Farm" or something.  Or like my mom saying she saw something in "the email" or that my brother has "the autism."  It works for the song lyric, and I don't fault people for thinking it's called "the Lagoon" based on that lyric.  It's not something that bugs me, really.  The park is simply not referred to that way-- officially, historically, colloquially (here), or otherwise.

Exactly. Since most folks nowadays, all over the world, would find out about the place through the reference in this song, I think it fair to say that the lyric counts as a "colloquial reference". Nice photos and research work on this thread. Always been interested in Saltair through the usage in one of my favorite films, Carnival Of Souls.

Carnival of Souls is awesome.  Too bad the old structure burned down because it really was quite the place. 

I'll concede on the colloquial use of "the Lagoon" based on the lyric, but if you came to Utah and asked directions to "the Lagoon," you'd probably get some chuckles.

When I listen It's always sounded to me like they're saying "the lagoon". What does everyone else hear?

I definitely hear "the Lagoon," but I always assumed the "the" was inserted for purposes of lyrical/rhythmic flow.

Sorry-the article suggests that it was Al's idea to go there-the photographer wanted to take some shots and Al directed them there as a cool location to take photos.

Nice.  Our stories jibe, then.  Love when that happens!

The photos were taken on Sunday June 16 1968-day after they played the Lagoon. Too bad the photographer didn't take pics of them at the gig.

Not to be nit-picky, but Lagoon has never been called (officially or colloquially) "The Lagoon."  And I agree, it's too bad we don't have photos of the gig.  According to my sources, Al would have had been a bit muddy from the initial trip to Saltair earlier that afternoon.

What are they doing?

Looks to me like they're digging out.  Hesterman is in the forefront wedging something under the tire and the guy in the khakis (the Fabulous writer, perhaps?) is doing the same thing on the other side.  The Boys are obviously not being of much help:)  That's dry alkali lake bed that can get very muddy in spots.  I certainly wouldn't have driven out there.  Not sure about the role of the large beam in all of this, although I can almost guarantee that it's sitting out there today exactly where they left it.

Saltair June 5, 1950  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saltair,_Utah

Not sure I follow.  What is significant about that date?

I'm guessing it's when the photo was taken ? 

Got it.  The photo doesn't appear in my browser, hence my confusion.  I only saw it when I checked the boards on my phone last night.

The magazine sent a photographer to shoot them and the pics were done specifically for Fabulous 208.

Great info, Ian, but it raises a few questions.  The fact that a British mag shot these photos specifically for an issue implies that the shoot was planned prior to the day before it took place.  According to my sources, the initial Saturday trip wasn't planned, and it wasn't decided until at least Saturday night that the boys would go out the next day for a photo shoot at Saltair.  I suppose it's possible that the Fabulous photog was in SLC for a planned photo session somewhere else, but plans were changed Saturday night once Al told the guys about his day at Saltair.  Unless you have evidence to the contrary, I don't believe the photo shoot was originally planned for Saltair.

The session took place in June 1968-the day after the BBs had appeared at the Lagoon-as will be detailed in my upcoming book with Jon Stebbins.

Well that clears up the date question I had!

I've seen those group shots in various publications over the years (in addition to the SOT release). Always thought the pictures were taken somewhere in Mexico. Also thought the guy in the middle was of Mexican or Spanish descent. Now we finally know his name - Bill Hesterman, who was a Deacon at the Morman church.

Yep, Saltair just outside of Salt Lake City.  Hesterman was actually a Mormon Bishop (deacon is a few steps below).  A Bishop actually leads a congregation of several hundred.  If he looks a bit uncomfortable in that photo, it might be because he skipped church to drive the Boys out for the photo shoot.  

Another thing...

I first chanced upon the photos from the Saltair shoot a few years ago and seem to remember there being more/different shots than I've posted.  Does the Preiss book say who the photog was?  And are there more from that shoot somewhere?  I think the wooden bench/platform thing they're standing on in one of those pics was still kicking around at the site until a few years ago.  And those same pile-ons are still there today.

Saltair June 5, 1950  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saltair,_Utah

Not sure I follow.  What is significant about that date?

Lots of good stuff on my website about Saltair, by the way.  It was actually the Saltair angle that led me to the Beach Boys, and from that I've become obsessed with the band.  Always liked them, but it was this story that sparked my real love.

But, but, that's old news! Let's see the dirt!! 

Working on it!

I was actually hesitant to post a link to that blog post here because I'm a Beach Boys novice and y'all are seasoned experts who probably heard the story before I was born.

Hey Clint, do you know where I might obtain a copy of the Beach Boys promo 45 called "Salt Lake City/Amusement Parks U.S.A."? Do you have a copy or know anyone who does? I'm looking for one for my collection.

I know somebody who I'm pretty sure owns it, but I highly doubt he'd be willing to part with it.

maybe ask Clint Thomsen if he has a copy

I actually am Clint Thomsen.  And no, I don't have a copy:)

If anybody is interested, you can get a taste of what I'm working on at

http://bonnevillemariner.wordpress.com/2012/06/14/the-story-behind-those-beach-boys-photos-at-saltair/

I fully expect that this post contains inaccuracies (at least when it comes to Al/BB history).  I did the best I could, based on the info I had at the time.  I welcome corrections.

Hey everybody, long time lurker, first time poster.

I'm working on documenting some of the lesser known history on the BB connection with (former) Salt Lake City radio station KNAK.  I noticed that the Unsurpassed Masters, Vol. 12 (1965) boot contains a radio spot for KNAK.  This may be a dumb question, but please forgive a newbie:  Is there any way to legitimately purchase this particular track?