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680598 Posts in 27600 Topics by 4068 Members - Latest Member: Dae Lims March 28, 2024, 07:08:35 PM
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1  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: New Brian music this Friday ? on: November 19, 2021, 01:03:34 PM
Interesting old album, this.  The CD arrived today and, as I'd avoided listening to any of the advance teasers, it was my first exposure to any of it.  It's unlike most other albums of piano music I own, not just because of the overdubbing of parts in different registers (which is certainly striking: I'd call these versions "reductions" rather than "arrangements") or the recorded sound of the piano (very roomy with middle frequencies prominent; it sounds like it may not have been the world's most expensive piano, even if it maybe actually was), but also the performances.  BW's piano playing is simple, unshowy and unaffected, but also careful and precise; it reminds me of a child nervously but capably navigating his way through a piano exam.  It's not a virtuoso showpiece, but I'm sure that there are lots of pianists out there who could record virtuoso showpiece versions of these songs, and it's not clear that it would be any more interesting if they did.

What the album does do is showcase the songs as compositions, and it does this extremely effectively.  One of my favourite aspects of BW as composer, one of the things about his music that always grabbed me and which has turned me into the sort of fan-for-life that might post on a website like this, is his remarkable chord progressions that are unlike those of any pop songwriters of his time or since.  And this record is extremely forthright in presenting those chord progressions, always in interesting voicings, in a way that anyone who is mesmerised by the songwriting of peak-era BW is going to find rich and inviting.  And the starkness of the presentation is sometimes moving, haunting even.  I like it!  Which wasn't guaranteed; I'm the sort of fan who tends towards "tough love" rather than lapping everything up, and I broadly hated most of No Pier Pressure (though kept it to myself at the time as things were getting pretty feisty on here).  But I think that this is one of his strongest solo projects in years.

Highlights (after one listen): "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times", "Sketches of Smile" (the glimpses of "Our Prayer" especially; what a stunning piece of piano music that turns out to be), "'Til I Die", "Mt Vernon Farewell" (which was spellbinding straight out of the gate; I sat up the moment it started).  The songs that are less rich compositionally are perhaps less revelatory but still charming.  I do sort of wish he'd held back on the slightly heavy-handed oom-pah-pah waltzism on "Friends" and gone for the full-on Satie pastiche that rab2591 has suggested though.  If I were a better pianist I'd record one myself.

Observations from the sleeve: the album is dedicated to Don Randi.  Must confess my first thought was "Oh!  I don't remember hearing that he'd died."  I'll save you looking it up: he hasn't.  Also, "Wouldn't It Be Nice" is credited to Wilson and Love and that's an abomination of a disgrace, even on an instrumental performance that preserves nothing of Asher's perfect lyrics.

(Irrelevant to thread but inspired to mention it anyway, as I very rarely log in these days: going to see Charles Lloyd in concert tomorrow night!  Very excited, truly one of the greats.)
2  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Dennis Wilson article in \ on: October 23, 2021, 03:15:06 AM
Quote from: Stanley Shapiro
I didn’t like his suggestion that Dennis was a reincarnation of ‘Wagner’ … an anti-Semitic Nazi who was sympathetic to Hitler in WW2.

Wagner was certainly antisemitic and held extremely problematic political and social views, but "Nazi who was sympathetic to Hitler in WW2" is a bit of a reach given that he died in 1883.
3  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Has Ricky Fataar had any solo releases on: February 04, 2020, 06:53:11 AM
Hello! I collect the extended family tree, and I am always on the look-out for more stuff. Has Ricky had any solo releases? Maybe in South Africa? Or has he always drummed for others?

I actually caught him live once, drumming for Bonnie Raitt.

Y'know, I've never really thought about this, but I think the closest would be his contributions to The Rutles in 1978 (and I suppose their "Archeaology" release from '96 or so, though I've yet to acquire that), although the recently-passed Neil Innes wrote those songs. Ricky played guitar, bass, sitar, and had one or two lead vocals in there.

He was also one half of the somewhat more obscure Rutles spin-off Dirk & Stig, who recorded this single:
https://www.discogs.com/Dirk-Stig-Ging-Gang-Goolie/release/2459737

(I've also seen him with Bonnie Raitt.  Clearly quite a popular means of Fataar-spotting.)
4  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Holy Man Record Store Day on: April 21, 2019, 02:25:23 AM
Never a fan of Queen, I expected to despise this but surprised myself by mostly enjoying it quite a lot, nonsensical guitar solo and all, until it reached the godforsaken ending which sounds like it comes from a Cliff Richard Christmas song.
5  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: 1968 On Tour Set now available in U.K. on: January 27, 2019, 11:40:29 PM
Please post confirmation that it is indeed now for sale on the UK site. I had asked Capitol to look into the issue and want to make sure the problem has been fixed.

Thanks

Confirmed sighting with audible samples on Amazon UK.  (It's more expensive than in the States; £45.89 compared to $56.49 which converts to £42.87.  I blame Brexit.)
6  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Smiley Smile Message Board Milestone - And General Words Of Thanks on: December 22, 2018, 03:36:49 AM
But I'm proud to say I didn't pay a dime for them and got them for free online. My principle is, if certain names are attached and others left off of any project related to the Beach Boys, I don't give them a dime or a penny of my money. Best money I never spent.

It is becoming so incredibly difficult to get the corporate support that enables these highly specialized niche oriented projects to happen at all. Proudly stating that you won't pay a dime for a project because I acknowledged AGD for historical research in the special thanks isn't just a matter of availing yourself of the YouTube option. It feels more like a sort of boycott.  And this time it hurts a little, because (as you may have noticed), there is no promotion for this year's stack of tracks. We're hoping and praying that people who appreciate the hard work that goes into these projects will support that work by buying copies/downloads and proving to Universal Music that there is a market for this kind of Beach Boys archival collection.

The attention and feedback you all have given over the years has been inspiring. As for the stuff between the message boards and whatever it is we stepped in that made you decide to not actually purchase our latest work.... I don't know what to say to that. I hope you'll change your mind, because we need all the help we can get out here.

Thank you very much for all of your dedication and hard work, Alan.  I'll admit I hadn't got around to purchasing this set yet but if the above is true then I have no excuses.  Consider it sold.

I appreciate the hard work, Alan, both you and Mark have been a Godsend to the fans and your persistence in getting this material out and love for the material itself...we're blessed to have you where you are, doing what you do! I'd never, ever suggest anything less.

I understand where it would hurt, but I would ask in return that you also understand how bad things were on a personal level between Doe and people I call my friends (and me, too), to where they were being lied about and trashed by a guy using his status as a "historian" to behave that way. And that hurt them, and me too to see what was going on behind the shroud of "insider" Beach Boys circles. There are lines one simply does not cross on basic human decency levels, and in some of these cases, lines were crossed which to this day there have been no apologies or even admissions that things should not have been said or done.

I understand where you're coming from, gf, but I'm a bit bemused that this is the moral line in the sand that you're drawing when we're talking about a collection that contains songs written by three different murderers.
7  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Everyone back together for a Beach Boys Q&A for Sirius XM? on: August 01, 2018, 01:21:10 AM


Stars and Stripes vol. 2
8  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Was Back in the USSR the 1st Beach Boys parody? on: July 26, 2018, 04:19:49 PM
Is there an earlier example of that type of back-and-forth "feud" between artists, where they'd be busting each others' balls with released material making fun of each other?

Happened all the time in, for instance, calypso music.  There were even duets between rival artists attacking each other!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHkoYHqlkfY
9  Smiley Smile Stuff / Polls / Re: The Definite Smiley Smile Message Board's Song Ranking - Ranking Process on: July 24, 2018, 04:06:11 PM
Don't comment other people's lists and/or engage in a discussion.

This seems a terribly depressing stipulation to make on a discussion board.
10  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Was Back in the USSR the 1st Beach Boys parody? on: July 24, 2018, 04:04:18 PM
Here, from 4:52 to 5:13: "Little Deuce Coupe". "Brown Shoes Don't Make It" was recorded in 1967.     

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZLWD75KKGA


Amazing. I had no idea of this!

... and actually identified as such in the sheet music (arranged for piano by Mother of Invention Ian Underwood):

11  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: 1968: The Beach Boys vs. The Beatles on: January 30, 2018, 01:03:53 PM
Revolution 9 is better than half of Friends. Just saying...

I love you, man.
12  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Can \ on: January 10, 2018, 02:12:10 PM
If I were Mike, I'd remix the damn thing, even if it had to be for my own money.

What the world needs is definitely another remix.  They should keep remixing and re-releasing the album until one sticks!
13  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Most cringeworthy screenshot from any BBs music video? on: January 10, 2018, 01:49:05 PM
Here’s a heartwarming moment from Rock & Roll to the Rescue.



#MeToo
14  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: VDP on Twitter on: November 03, 2017, 04:03:03 PM
Oddly enough,  I hadn't tried to slog through discover America

Aw, come on man, you're better than this.  It's a fabulous album and it has Little Feat on it.  I promise you there's no slogging involved.

I think that VDP is extensively misunderstood.
15  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Beach Boys bring down the roof in OK! on: October 24, 2017, 01:36:25 AM



I'd like to ask Brian Sharp if he thinks there was pitch correction on NPP.
16  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: What are some great books detailing the recording of Pet Sounds and Smile? on: October 09, 2017, 09:46:45 AM

One thing in particular puts me off that book, namely the report on p154 about a song called "Ben's Prayer".

I couldn't believe my eyes when I read that. Talk about classless.

But that's a thing that happened.  Why shouldn't a book mention it?

But it does more than mention it----for Priore it's the keynote moment of the evening, "prompting the New York City crowd to scream with delight".

Classless.

Well, maybe it really was the evening's most memorable moment!  It certainly generated a lot of interest for a silly joke song; enough that it's been mentioned on here a few times.  Even some Mike Love fans were entertained!  Trigger warning:

I'm not saying Taylor Mills doesn't have "talent". But she seems out of place on BWPS.

My reference to Ben Vaughn's "Mike Love" song was a joke. I've actually never heard the song, but I met Ben in '87 and he described the lyrics to me. A friend of mine supposedly has a tape of the Folk City BW tribute where Ben performed that song, but I've never heard it.

It's hysterical... very funny.

I don't think it's an unreasonable event to reference in the context of illustrating the relative public perceptions of Wilson and Love in the mid-'80s.
17  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: What are some great books detailing the recording of Pet Sounds and Smile? on: October 07, 2017, 11:22:15 AM
What about the book that Domenic Priore did?? I always thought that was good book.

One thing in particular puts me off that book, namely the report on p154 about a song called "Ben's Prayer":

https://books.google.nl/books?id=b-fjAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT187&lpg=PT187&dq=%22tide+had+turned+against+the+beach+boys+inc+and%22&source=bl&ots=70aRudIatY&sig=-23rEoS7891JCI5-CjEY3imVY4A&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjZ5_Xltt7WAhVELhoKHfXpAWIQ6AEIJjAA#v=onepage&q=%22tide%20had%20turned%20against%20the%20beach%20boys%20inc%20and%22&f=false

I couldn't believe my eyes when I read that. Talk about classless.

But that's a thing that happened.  Why shouldn't a book mention it?
18  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Mike Love - Unleash the Love - Due November 17 - w/ 2nd Disc of BB Remakes on: October 04, 2017, 04:24:17 PM
Also, who is the "AJR" featured on Darlin'?

Al Jardine's Replacement
19  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Let's compile a 12 track \ on: September 22, 2017, 02:19:00 PM
I think that mine would probably just be "Passing Friend" 12 times over.  If you disagree, try listening to it twelve times in a row and see how happy you are at the end.
20  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Let's compile a 12 track \ on: September 22, 2017, 02:17:53 PM

Wonderful [Smiley Smile Ver.]


I agree.  The two versions, to me, are like night and day. 

I also agree.  But then again, I have an enormous amount of fun at night.
21  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: What does Mike want? on: July 11, 2017, 04:12:28 AM

My humble guess to what he wants is to be regarded in the same light and creative level as Brian Wilson which, if true, pretty much puts the theory that he is a sick man, to bed. He's to a point where jealousy and an insane inferiority complex intermingle and nothing displays it better than the pervasive actions than he exhibits.In spite of all the perks of being a member of an amazing band (not M&B) along with the money was not nearly enough for this individual. He obviously needs to be on top of the heap with the same amount of accolades that Brian has deservedly received, incredible as that may sound! All in all, I'd say he was a very insecure, psychologically sick man.

For all of his many regrettable actions and shortcomings, literally nothing he has done or said over the last 50-something years has suggested this.  In fact, all evidence points to the opposite.  He clearly worships Brian, and has spent his entire musical career putting Brian and Brian's creativity over. 

Well, without getting into the debate of who might be sick, there were things like this that seem to offer an insight of sorts:

Quote
People say the Beatles were John Lennon. What is Paul McCartney? Chopped liver?
(from https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2013/jul/04/beach-boys-mike-love-interview)
22  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Mike Love \ on: July 11, 2017, 04:03:28 AM
Yes, Bruce did well when I saw him, particularly on "Disney Girls" (and "THWFOP").


"Their Hearts Were Full Of...  Protein"?

Yes, of course----Protein! LOL



Printemps Smiley

Rite!
23  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: \ on: July 11, 2017, 04:02:35 AM
Aren't You Glad would have sounded a whole lot better without Brian's falsetto, it doesn't fit.

The theremin opening on Wild Honey is unique, but some other type of instrumental opening would have been better.

Just two of the many available ways of being completely wrong, there.
24  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Mike Love \ on: July 10, 2017, 09:52:47 AM
Yes, Bruce did well when I saw him, particularly on "Disney Girls" (and "THWFOP").

"Their Hearts Were Full Of...  Protein"?
25  Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: The Beach Boys Wild Honey(Sunshine Tomorrow) 2CD Set? on: May 30, 2017, 03:35:11 PM
Then I suppose 2020 might be kinda quiet

If only there were a Beach Boys album crying out for a bit of renewed attention in such a year!
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