Met them all several times, especially Carl, Brian and Al. Dennis and Mike a couple of times each. Carl, Brian, Al and Dennis were quite engaging and actually got to have  what I would call real conversations. Meeting Mike was a different experience which helped mold my initial dislike for him. I could feel a definitely cold chill emanating from him like "who in the hell are you?" type of thing. No smile, very few words and caught him looking me over and never really opening up. I can somewhat identify what Al was saying when stating that he never really knew Mike Love. Of course now, he's the most polarizing figures the world of music has ever witnessed. And by the way, No one could be further away from being the " Beach Boys" than Mike Love is. Anyone with half a brain should realize that The Beach Boys were OVER with the unfortunate passing of Carl and Dennis. Brian and Al have totally moved on beyond what used to be leaving Mike Love in the dusty old past with his travelling jukebox. Have fun sitting at home Mike and hope it drives you crazy not being on the road.

Your description of the time you met Mike seems to jive with what I always figured it would be like meeting him. It kinda seems like he views meeting every serious Beach Boys fan as a red alert, shields up kind of situation. But maybe I’m wrong. I’ve never met the guy.

I don’t know why I didn’t mention Al before, I’d like to meet him too. Same with David. Seem like nice guys. My bad. Some might say I’m crazy because I’m such a big fan but I have no interest in meeting Mike or Bruce. I’m beyond thankful for their contributions to the band but Mike seems consistent in his disdain and Bruce is unpredictable. I have nothing to really say to them and they wouldn’t have much of anything to say to me.

I’ve said it before but will say it again. As much as I love their music, I have no interest in meeting them. 

I would. Well, Brian anyway. Would Carl and Dennis were still around.

Indeed. It was like the return of the 1978 tour with the group struggling to keep from falling apart or killing each other. Any semblance of brotherhood and all for one spirit completely came undone when Carl passed. That just tells you how important he was to the band carrying on together for so long. Take away the mortar and the wall falls down. That they were ever able to patch it back up, for a while anyway, in 2012, post-Carl, was amazing. I suspect (read: it’s very likely) that the marketing prospects alone had Mike’s eyes fall in place like a slot machine, all dollar signs.

As someone who has fond memories of being a kid during the 8-bit era of video games, this is just wonderful. Love You makes an easier transition to an 8-bit chip tune because of it’s more stripped down, primarily led by synthesizer and rudimentary drums. Plus, the 8-bit recreation of the album cover, which was already pixelated, is spot on. Now I want an NES-style Beach Boys video game with this as the soundtrack to it.
I think 8-bit recreations of Friends and Wild Honey would work just as well. Thanks for posting that.

Probably like a number of other songs he was involved with the sessions from this era, Brian would’ve lost interest after a while, handing the duties over to Carl, while he moved on to something else. Or, who knows, maybe he was more focused and tuned in than that whilst recording it. The vocal tag arrangement has his fingerprints all over it.

I’ve been away until very recently, so apologies for resuscitating an old thread. Here are more t-shirt designs by me, using customink.com as before. Hope you like.

Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow - front


back


Sunflower - front


back


Keepin’ It Clean With Al Jardine (apologies to dellydel who thought of it first) - front


back



More to come. Soon.

I don’t find it slow at all, myself. Definitely a ‘70s Beach Boys favorite and it dukes it out with ‘All This Is That’ for the best track on Carl & The Passions.

Interesting as always to see differing opinions - sometimes wildly different. I wouldn’t have Surfer Girl, Shut Down Volume 2 or the Christmas Album at the top like that. No matter the greatness of the highlights on SG and SDV2, the filler tracks really bring them down for me, especially the latter. And I’ve never really loved the Christmas Album. Instead I would absolutely have Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!), Wild Honey, Sunflower, Holland and Love You at the top alongside Pet Sounds, Today, Friends, and I guess Smile, if I counted it. My favorites.
I’d also put Summer In Paradise down in the dregs with Still Cruisin’. The absolute nadir. I also commented on your video (I’m wildsmiley) about Stars & Stripes. I don’t think of it as a Beach Boys album.

Anyway, nice job.

About ‘Mount Vernon & Fairway (A Fairy Tale)’ on Holland - this was mainly Brian’s baby, where he was at at the time, it’s meant to be it’s own piece separate from the album, which is how it was originally released, as an EP addition to the original vinyl release in 1973. Don’t think of it along with the Holland album, it’s its own thing.

And I’m 100% with that Love You’s cover would make a great pillow.

I never count Stars & Stripes as a legitimate Beach Boys album. They may be on it vocally, but it’s not their album. As it’s a tribute album, none of them sing lead and it of course doesn’t feature any new songs.

Based on the tracksheet notes from that other thread, I'm assuming each part refers to:

7 - tag MARCELLA = Mike coda response
11 - ONE ARM first chorus = Al and Carl chorus lead
12 - ONE ARM 2nd chorus = Dennis and Carl chorus response
13 - Mike Du Be Du Be Du Be = Mike chorus bass vocal
15 - Al extra = doobie doobie doo
16 - Mike and Al = Mike coda lead with Al's harmony
17 - Carl and Jack = Marcella hey / hey Marcella

I was listening to the song with my ear close to the speaker, and this sounds about right. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I noticed Al’s “shoobie doobie doo” part and now I’ve finally noticed Mike’s “du be du be” part which seems to underline Al’s bit. Man, one has to just appreciate the beautiful intricacy of these vocal parts, and that by 1972 that it wasn’t always Brian arranging them, but all the guys. There never has been a vocal group that can come close to The Beach Boys and there will likely never be any.

Question though: Blondie is heard during the chorus (sounds like him anyway), but I guess he’s absent from the tag?

I agree, it sounds like curtains being drawn. It doesn’t really sound like blinds being raised.

I don’t know. It kinda looks like it’s an insert. Possibly the original ‘66 back cover with the original track listing is under it. My uneducated guess.

Favorite: Pet Sounds

Least Favorite: Summer In Paradise

Overrated: I don’t know, but I’m leaning towards SMiLE. It’s astonishingly brilliant and I adore it, but it’s been built up like the second coming of Christ here. It’s not better than Pet Sounds. Nothing is.

Underrated: That depends. I’d normally say Sunflower or Wild Honey, but among us hardcore fans here, I’d say LA Light Album. It’s decidedly not a really great album but it more than has it’s moments. ‘Baby Blue’ and ‘Good Timin’’ are about as good as anything on one of their more celebrated albums.

TWGMTR. No matter my enjoyment of five BB85 tracks, it’s still only five. Unlike that one, TWGMTR is mostly a great album.

(‘Where I Belong’ is better the anything on TWGMTR, though.)

I would’ve put this in general on-topic discussions but it didn’t feel right there somehow.

20 years ago this month (meaning April, this is a little late), I discovered a little album called Pet Sounds. It proceeded to change my life forever. I was 19 almost 20, moving back home to Colorado from dreary Washington stare after several months. I was so homesick. Until I got an apartment I crashed with a friend of mine and his mom up in the mountains. I went rummaging through some of the CDs they had and came across the 1990 CD remaster of Pet Sounds, apparently belonging to my friend’s brother. Curious about it (I had heard a couple things about it before. But The Beach Boys? I thought) I put it on and was immediately transfixed by the gorgeous sounds of ‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice’, remembering that I heard it before as a child. I kept going and the rest of the album just threw me for a loop, I had never heard anything like this before, nothing more beautiful and complex and different. I kept playing the album over and over and over for 3 months straight, I must’ve drove my friend crazy with it. But I was obsessed. The fascinating sounds and the feels. I had to know more. The liner notes were very insightful, I read them multiple times. Then I bought the CD of Endless Summer and enjoyed basking in the warmth and joy of the music. I now had a new favorite band. Later than year I discovered so much more thanks to the outstanding 1993 Good Vibrations box set. I was changed irrevocably by this gorgeous and unforgettable music.

I’m 39 almost 40 now and Pet Sounds has remained my favorite album of all time since that day. And The Beach Boys my favorite band. And ‘Wouldn’t It Be Nice’ my very favorite song in the universe. I’m glad to share my love for this band here, all thanks to Brian Wilson’s masterpiece arriving in my life and the exact right time.

Just wanted to share with you all.

How about a little drama, a little humor and a little music -

This scene is from my third favorite film and I think it’s my favorite movie scene ever, with my favorite actress too:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=yfuRGVgwpug&t=1s

Though the film it comes from is a talkie, this scene is a brilliant exercise in silent comedy:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VKTT-sy0aLg

I love classic musicals. Here is the queen of musicals, the greatest entertainer ever, doing what she did best:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=q7d0NRewzW4

I put together an album made up of the better songs from three albums, MIU, LA and KTSA. I posted the front and back covers I did for it a couple of years ago. It’s called Good Timin’ (sorry for the large size of images):

It’s a record.

Al sings the first verse, i.e. “Life supporting waves of bliss...”

Mike sings the second, “Golden auras glow around you...”

I always thought it was Mike on both verses. I’ll be damned.

(is afraid get in this conversation about ‘Caroline, No’ because he prefers the sped up version on the album)

L.A. Light Album would be a damn solid album if it weren't for 'Here Comes the Night' and 'Sumahama'.

Circa 1977, some of the guys wore those matching jackets:



Carl isn't signing on for the jackets in this photo, though his jumpsuit isn't his most flattering look either.

Dennis is the only one in this picture that doesn't look like a dork.

Some of those jackets resurfaced years later at auction apparently:

I WANT THAT JACKET. Somebody should make replicas.

You're a madman chewy. A madman. But i like that! I like that.

'Let The Wind Blow' b/w 'Aren't You Glad'. Double a side.

'Respect', Aretha Franklin. Otis' original is really great but man Sister Re went places with it. I'd also say that about her cover of Elton John's 'Border Song'.

'See You in September' by The Happenings is a big improvement over The Tempos' original.

The Beach Boys' version of 'Hushabye' is way better than the original by The Mystics.

Dunno if it quite counts since it's a standard but The Four Seasons take on 'I Got You Under My Skin' is my favorite, even over Sinatra's.