New review of "That's Why God Made the Radio"

[Ron]

Brian's idea... right?

[Danimalist]

Peter: If you haven't already, it's worth it to take a look at the otherwise unpublished in-depth interview with Joe by the Newsweek writer. It rather changed my perspective on the record.

http://andrewromano.tumblr.com/joethomasbeachboys

At least according to Joe (and Brian's interviews over the past couple of years back up some of this), Think About the Days, Isn't It Time, Bill and Sue, Shelter, and From There to Back Again are all newly written. In the case of Isn't it Time, written in February-March of this year, even.

Thanks Wirestone! Fascinating details. Most of all, it just left me with the impression that JT is a good guy.

[adamghost]

Peter: If you haven't already, it's worth it to take a look at the otherwise unpublished in-depth interview with Joe by the Newsweek writer. It rather changed my perspective on the record.

http://andrewromano.tumblr.com/joethomasbeachboys

At least according to Joe (and Brian's interviews over the past couple of years back up some of this), Think About the Days, Isn't It Time, Bill and Sue, Shelter, and From There to Back Again are all newly written. In the case of Isn't it Time, written in February-March of this year, even.

Thanks Wirestone! Fascinating details. Most of all, it just left me with the impression that JT is a good guy.

I'm biting my tongue so hard right now I think it may come off.

[Danimalist]

Duplicate deleted.

[pacarlin]

Just read it. That's kind of a weird interview, to me. For one thing, I can't understand how Joe would think that "Lay Down Burden" and "Spring Break" (or whatever the other song is) were related, or that the upbeat fun-n-sun sounding song could possibly have been intended for the sentiments in 'LDB.' Similarly, I'm having a hard time figuring out how these all-but-written songs ended up requiring two or three other co-writers to polish off a few lines. What exactly was Jim 'Eye of the Tiger' Peterik's role? I wish the guy had asked more follow-up questions along those lines.

The whole thing's kind of mysterious to me. Maybe it's better this way. Sometimes you really don't want to know how they make the sausage.

[Danimalist]

Peter: If you haven't already, it's worth it to take a look at the otherwise unpublished in-depth interview with Joe by the Newsweek writer. It rather changed my perspective on the record.

http://andrewromano.tumblr.com/joethomasbeachboys

At least according to Joe (and Brian's interviews over the past couple of years back up some of this), Think About the Days, Isn't It Time, Bill and Sue, Shelter, and From There to Back Again are all newly written. In the case of Isn't it Time, written in February-March of this year, even.

Thanks Wirestone! Fascinating details. Most of all, it just left me with the impression that JT is a good guy.

I'm biting my tongue so hard right now I think it may come off.

Don't bite it on my account, AGH. Give us the dirt!

[adamghost]

/deleted

[Jaco]

That website http://www.gearchange.org/ got me thinking & doing a little research


Beach Boys modulations (update)


modulation after the bridge:
Barbie 1961?
Surfer Girl 1961
A Young Man Is Gone / Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring 1963
I Get Around 1964
Girls On The Beach 1964 (modulates in the 2nd line of last verse, after the bridge)
Dance Dance Dance 1965 (alt version without modulating exists)
Bluebirds Over The Mountain 1968 (modulates in the middle of the guitar solo)
The Nearest Faraway Place 1968
Deirdre 1970
Disney Girls 1971
Susie Cincinati 1976
That's Why God Made the Radio 2012

Modulation between chorus and verse or vice versa:
Tears In The Morning 1970
Lady Lynda 1979
School Day (Ring Ring Goes The Bell) 1980
California Calling 1985
I Do Love You 1985
Lay Down Burden 1998

Modulation before the tag:
Be True To Your School 1963 single version (lp version has no modulation)
No-Go Showboat 1963
Pom-Pom Play Girl 1964
Keep An Eye On Summer 1964
Little Old Lady From Pasadena 1964 live
Santa Claus is Comin' To Town 1964 (last verse)
When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) 1965
Getcha Back 1985
Your Imagination 1998
Don't Let Her Know She's An Angel 2004 (during the tag)

[Jonathan Blum]

Just read it. That's kind of a weird interview, to me. For one thing, I can't understand how Joe would think that "Lay Down Burden" and "Spring Break" (or whatever the other song is) were related, or that the upbeat fun-n-sun sounding song could possibly have been intended for the sentiments in 'LDB.'

The original "Lay Down Burden" he described was an upbeat gospel number meant for Carl to sing.  After Carl died, they used the phrase as the title for a completely different song with very different sentiments!

Similarly, I'm having a hard time figuring out how these all-but-written songs ended up requiring two or three other co-writers to polish off a few lines. What exactly was Jim 'Eye of the Tiger' Peterik's role?

Peterik's credited on two songs -- TWGMTR, which Thomas said came out of him, Wilson, Peterik, and Millas working out and recording a demo together after a Cubs game back in about '99; and "Isn't It Time", where apparently the bass-and-ukulele groove is something Peterik and Millas worked out.

Cheers,
Jon Blum

[seltaeb1012002]

Modulation before the tag:
Be True To Your School 1963 single version (lp version has no modulation)

Speaking of, I really wish they'd bring this back in the live show. That's probably my favorite moment in an early Beach Boys record.

[Zach95]

Peter: If you haven't already, it's worth it to take a look at the otherwise unpublished in-depth interview with Joe by the Newsweek writer. It rather changed my perspective on the record.

http://andrewromano.tumblr.com/joethomasbeachboys

At least according to Joe (and Brian's interviews over the past couple of years back up some of this), Think About the Days, Isn't It Time, Bill and Sue, Shelter, and From There to Back Again are all newly written. In the case of Isn't it Time, written in February-March of this year, even.

Thanks Wirestone! Fascinating details. Most of all, it just left me with the impression that JT is a good guy.

I'm biting my tongue so hard right now I think it may come off.

I'm genuinely interested in what you wish to say.

[Autotune]

I didn't realize Joe came up with the key change in the title track, I heard it was Brian. 

I think the account given is that Brian came up with the song's general chord changes -- Peter is speaking specifically about the 80's style key change that kicks things up a notch at the end of the bridge. It's known more generally as the truck driver's gear change.

http://www.gearchange.org/

Brian was so freakin' ingenious that he gearchanged for the choruses of Don't Back Down and then came back for the verses in the most unexpected yet elegant manner.

I'm a big fan of gearchange myself.

[Wirestone]

Just read it. That's kind of a weird interview, to me. For one thing, I can't understand how Joe would think that "Lay Down Burden" and "Spring Break" (or whatever the other song is) were related, or that the upbeat fun-n-sun sounding song could possibly have been intended for the sentiments in 'LDB.' Similarly, I'm having a hard time figuring out how these all-but-written songs ended up requiring two or three other co-writers to polish off a few lines. What exactly was Jim 'Eye of the Tiger' Peterik's role? I wish the guy had asked more follow-up questions along those lines.

The whole thing's kind of mysterious to me. Maybe it's better this way. Sometimes you really don't want to know how they make the sausage.

I don't think any of it is that complicated. Quick answers:

1.) The Lay Down Burden thing was explained much better here: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/may/24/the-beach-boys-are-making-radio-waves/

Joe on Spring Vacation: "It had several different names to it. At one time it was called 'Lay Down Your Burden,' the title of which we ended up stealing from ourselves and turning into a ballad called 'Lay Down Burden' on Brian's solo record. But the original piece was kind of an up-tempo, gospel-y kind of thing that finally ended up on the new album as 'Spring Vacation.' "

2.) As for the Peterik and Millas credits, they're only on two songs. That VCStar article has accounts of the origins of each of the tunes:

TWGMTR: "Wilson had dreamed up the title at dinner one night in Chicago in the late '90s after attending a White Sox game with Thomas, Survivor rocker Jim Peterik and recording engineer Larry Millas. After the meal, the foursome raced over to Peterik's home studio and, with Wilson pounding out a little boogie-woogie rhythm on the piano, they laid down a rough demo."

Isn't It Time: "Peterik and Millas hit upon the song's foot-stomp rhythm and Love came up with a bass line underneath it. Then Love wrote the verses, Wilson penned the chorus and it all came together in the studio."

Translation (to me): In the first case, the guys basically wrote the song around Brian's title and a few of his chord changes. In the second, they came up with the song's four-chord riff (which is basically repeated throughout the entire tune), and Mike and Brian wrote their sections on top of it.

Edit: I notice that Jon Blum beat me to all of this. Apologies!

[the professor]

I am beginning to sound deranged so won't of of you conjurers please put the ear to'the guitar work and tell us what's Daves?

I am ever impressed with the precision of this type of close analysis of modulation, as well, so thank you.

[Jonathan Blum]

Edit: I notice that Jon Blum beat me to all of this. Apologies!

Yeah, but you did it better.  I'm always a sucker for properly cited sources!

Cheers,
Jon Blum

[AndrewHickey]

I am beginning to sound deranged so won't of of you conjurers please put the ear to'the guitar work and tell us what's Daves?

I am ever impressed with the precision of this type of close analysis of modulation, as well, so thank you.

I think people aren't answering because there's no sensible way to tell who played what as far as guitar parts go. The lead parts on the songs where Skunk Baxter is credited are almost certainly him, because they sound like him, but as for the rest, most of us have only really heard David playing in one style -- surf -- which isn't really in evidence on the album. On top of that, the parts are the kind of part that could literally be played by anyone and would sound identical. The guitarists are playing written parts -- usually very simple ones -- with little or no room for personal stylistic expression.

David could be playing almost every guitar part, or he could not actually be in the finished mixes at all, and there's no way to tell just by listening, without recourse to session recordings or the like.

Interesting to note that Mike came up with his own bass vocal part on Isn't It Time. That's actually my favourite thing on the entire album...

[Autotune]

Just read it. That's kind of a weird interview, to me. For one thing, I can't understand how Joe would think that "Lay Down Burden" and "Spring Break" (or whatever the other song is) were related, or that the upbeat fun-n-sun sounding song could possibly have been intended for the sentiments in 'LDB.' Similarly, I'm having a hard time figuring out how these all-but-written songs ended up requiring two or three other co-writers to polish off a few lines. What exactly was Jim 'Eye of the Tiger' Peterik's role? I wish the guy had asked more follow-up questions along those lines.

The whole thing's kind of mysterious to me. Maybe it's better this way. Sometimes you really don't want to know how they make the sausage.

I don't think any of it is that complicated. Quick answers:

1.) The Lay Down Burden thing was explained much better here: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/may/24/the-beach-boys-are-making-radio-waves/

Joe on Spring Vacation: "It had several different names to it. At one time it was called 'Lay Down Your Burden,' the title of which we ended up stealing from ourselves and turning into a ballad called 'Lay Down Burden' on Brian's solo record. But the original piece was kind of an up-tempo, gospel-y kind of thing that finally ended up on the new album as 'Spring Vacation.' "

Sing the words "lay down burden" to the chorus of SV. Sounds great!

[the professor]

I am beginning to sound deranged so won't of of you conjurers please put the ear to'the guitar work and tell us what's Daves?

I am ever impressed with the precision of this type of close analysis of modulation, as well, so thank you.

I think people aren't answering because there's no sensible way to tell who played what as far as guitar parts go. The lead parts on the songs where Skunk Baxter is credited are almost certainly him, because they sound like him, but as for the rest, most of us have only really heard David playing in one style -- surf -- which isn't really in evidence on the album. On top of that, the parts are the kind of part that could literally be played by anyone and would sound identical. The guitarists are playing written parts -- usually very simple ones -- with little or no room for personal stylistic expression.

David could be playing almost every guitar part, or he could not actually be in the finished mixes at all, and there's no way to tell just by listening, without recourse to session recordings or the like.

Interesting to note that Mike came up with his own bass vocal part on Isn't It Time. That's actually my favourite thing on the entire album...

thanks, Andrew. I fear you are correct. We'll have to have Dave or perhaps one day Dave's historian, sit down and chart each lick.  Based on live shows, Dave plays the picking guitar part in that 3-time (theme from a summer place) style right from the top of the title track.  He may play that understated bluesy solo in BIM, followed by some rigorous Carl-style strumming to energize the chorus.  Whatever he played--and he did say in that AL/Dave radio interview that he had freedom to lay down what he wished--I hope is brought him and the band satisfaction. I certainly hope it is he who plays those gentle, lulling, contemplative parts between the tragic vocal of Summer's Gone.  If they did not reserve that spot for the Lost Beach Boy, then they have no sense of history.

[AndrewHickey]

thanks, Andrew. I fear you are correct. We'll have to have Dave or perhaps one day Dave's historian, sit down and chart each lick.  Based on live shows, Dave plays the picking guitar part in that 3-time (theme from a summer place) style right from the top of the title track.  He may play that understated bluesy solo in BIM, followed by some rigorous Carl-style strumming to energize the chorus.  Whatever he played--and he did say in that AL/Dave radio interview that he had freedom to lay down what he wished--I hope is brought him and the band satisfaction. I certainly hope it is he who plays those gentle, lulling, contemplative parts between the tragic vocal of Summer's Gone.  If they did not reserve that spot for the Lost Beach Boy, then they have no sense of history.

I very much doubt it's him playing the solo on Beaches In Mind. One thing we do know about David's playing is that he never uses any pedals, just goes straight into the amplifier (or, one presumes, DI into the board for some of this), and that isn't a clean enough sound. I think that's Baxter playing.

I do agree with the rest of what you say, though.