Would the remaining BB ever get together to record for the 50th anniversery?

[Matt Bielewicz]

Kudos to punkinhead for taking time to think out how some incomplete oldies might be revived - that list is creatively imagined, and done with some vigour and artistic spirit, like the vintage performances on the 1993 'Box Set Tour', it might be great. But personally, I think something like this much-mooted reunion will never happen, and to be honest, I hope it doesn't. I have strong feelings about it. So forgive the essay that follows. It's something I've been wanting to get off my chest for a while...

Certain intense BB fans often say things like: "Here are Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine and Bruce Johnston - they used to work together in a band called The Beach Boys. They're still alive, so if we put them together again, THEY CAN BE THE BEACH BOYS AGAIN". But the reality is different. For one thing, there's far too much history between these people. Mike, Al and Bruce can never look up to Brian's compositional and production skills in quite the way they did in 1965, say, when the band was near the height of its success, reach, and commercial power, because of all the stuff that came afterwards that disappointed them so much. And Brian has all that terrible history with Mike.

You can put (some of) the same people back together, but you can't put the clock back to the way things were. To take a specific example, you can't recreate, say, the atmosphere of creativity that came about between Brian and Mike the night after JFK was assassinated, where a confident, clear-headed Brian, whose talents were blooming and whose loving relationship with his wife Marilyn was a big influence on his life and work at the time, repaired to his office with his childhood friend and cousin Mike, and, with the two of them feeling a strong urge to make some kind of artistic statement by way of reaction to the killing, came up with The Warmth Of The Sun, sparking off each other and encouraging each other creatively.

The two people in that scenario share the same names with the Mike Love and Brian Wilson of today, but there almost all of the similarities cease. Almost everything else is different, down to the smallest details. Brian isn't the same. His skills, vocally and musically, aren't the same as they were (note that I'm not making any relative judgements here about HOW they're different - that debate belongs elsewhere). But consider other, more minor aspects of that songwriting session. Brian doesn't have an 'office' any more, where he goes to plan regular attacks on the pop charts. Marilyn Wilson, Brian's love for her, and the effect which that had on his state of mind and the romantic feel of his early-to-mid-60s compositions, is part of history, not current reality. Nor is Mike the same - for example, he knew nothing about TM in 1963, so we didn't get any of that influence in The Warmth Of The Sun, whereas in more recent years he has more often tried to reflect that influence in his lyrics (come to that, it's a good while since Mike wrote ANY lyrics for a project that reached the public domain...).

These people have all moved on, and they've gone in different creative directions. The genie is out of the bottle, and won't go back. And that's BEFORE you even begin to consider the fact that Carl and Dennis would be missing, or that hardly any of the surviving members sing anything like they used to.

It was hard enough in 1975, for 15 Big Ones, trying to pretend that The Beach Boys could be forced back into the mould where Brian ruled the roost, cracked the whip in the studio and the other guys just played and sang along, as it had been 10 years earlier. It's now another 36 years later still, and over a quarter of a century since anything approximating the band of 1961 to 1966 released any new recorded material. That's a long, long time. Far longer that they *haven't* been creatively active together than the time that they WERE, in fact.

So I don't think it will fly. There are all these reasons against it, and the only pros are, ' hey, cool, it would be THE BEACH BOYS again!'. But as I've said here - it wouldn't. Not really.

There's another point to make. While close fans on here might say 'Brian Wilson was a member of The Beach Boys, and they used to sing the songs he wrote... *therefore*, any work he did later as a solo artist could still become Beach Boys material... if you just get the other Beach Boys to sing on it'. There are all kinds of emotional and artistic barriers to this. Whatever we might think of it, Brian created Water Builds Up, say, on his own, later, by and for himself, and not for The Beach Boys. He probably doesn't want Mike Love singing on it — in fact, in 2011, he probably doesn't even want to still think about that track even for *himself*. Brian has moved on too, even from the 1990 version of himself. And again, that's before you even start to consider whether Mike, Al and Bruce would feel comfortable working on a track of Brian's that never came out officially on an album that was twice rejected for being uncommercial. Similar arguments hold for old Al, Bruce or Mike material. Is it right to have Bruce and Al sing Mike's lyrics on a track of Dennis's like 10,000 Years? That would probably never have happened in 1975-77, when all of the original participants were still alive and creatively active, so why should it now? Just because it *can* be done, doesn't mean it *should*...

'Über-fans' sometimes forget that these kind of real-world artistic objections occur, because they still think of the individuals who were in the band as Beach Boys, and expect that the former band members also see themselves in the same way, prepared to swap songwriting ideas and songs for the greater good of the band, as they might once have done in 1969, 1970, or 1975. Over a third of a century ago...

PERHAPS all of these objections could be rudely thrust aside if someone offered the former members of The Beach Boys enough money to tour or record. But even if that happened (unlikely in itself with the current financial climate and state of the music business), and they all agreed solely for the money, that wouldn't invalidate any of the points made here, or make such a reunion any more of a good idea. It would just mean that all those good reasons why a reunion shouldn't happen were being ignored.

In my opinion, the best way to see and hear the Beach Boys in 2011... is on old films, records and CDs. In other words, in the past tense. In many ways, I think this is the ONLY way to see and hear the band we think of when we hear the name The Beach Boys.

Sad, perhaps, but a part of life, just like birth, growth, and death.

Having said all of that, I could still be proved wrong. I felt exactly the same way about Brian Wilson going on the road in the late 90s, and right up until the week before SMiLE debuted live in 2004, I thought it was impossible for the Brian of 2004 to add anything new of worth to the SMiLE canon. I'm glad to admit I was totally wrong about that, and I could be wrong about this.

But still... just imagine... the lights go down... a greying, paunchy Mike Love (looking, as someone memorably described him on another BB-related board recently, like Emperor Palpatine) lumbers out on stage into a spotlight, clad in bright foil and a garish head-dress, and croaks out the opening lines of "Hotter" "Song Of The Whale" or "I Write The Songs"...

S-s-hudder.

[SurfRiderHawaii]

Bad idea.  The BB are done as a recording act.  Mike's stuff since MIU has been a parody of the BB hay-day/'Do It Again". Ever since MIU "Kona Coast".  And I hate to say it, but Brian's new music has gone the same way.  He's lost his voice.  TLOS was trying to be another 'Smile' (had some good music I admit) but the Gershwin album is just doing Gershwin Smilized.  I can't even listen to it.

The Jeff produced "King for a Day" by Micky Dolenz is so much a better listen.  (Maybe the BB could pull off Brian's 'Rock and Roll' album; doing covers ala "King for a Day")

We'd all be much happier and better off if they emptied the vaults of all the good stuff in there.

The BB's recording at about 70 years of age without Carl and Dennis is like Paul and Ringo doing a Beatles album today.

Let's just enjoy the 'Smile Sessions', enjoy whatever else we get from the vaults, hope for a one off reunion concert celebration with all 5 guys left, and thank god for one of the greatest bands of all time!

[punkinhead]

punkinhead's list is interesting and well thought out, but certain suggestions on that list bring up another issue:

Already on the list we have the core group - Mike, Brian, and Al. Then we have Bruce who is as much a part of it as anyone. Then we see a mention of Brian's band recording Mona Kani. Then we see Blondie's name mentioned, even though he was only briefly a member...can we get a Ricky Fataar track too? What about Mike's backing band with some very good players? How about Al's son Matt, he was a Beach Boy on tour for years? What if Al asks if Wendy and Carnie can join in since they were in " BB's Family And Friends"? And what about David Marks, one of the original Beach Boys, I'd say he's more deserving of a spot on the reunion album than some of the names mentioned above. Who engineers the whole thing if we work with old tapes: Mark Linett who has done remarkable work with both the Beach Boys' archives and Brian's solo material, or Stephen Desper who was an integral part of the band's recorded sound for a time, and has recently worked with Al Jardine? Who will remix and rework the old tapes? Where are some of the long-gone touring members, like Daryl Dragon and others?

If the band's history weren't so confusing and filled with so many detours and U-turns, the prospect of a reunion might be an easier project to develop. But seriously, as soon as the name Blondie is mentioned, it opens up a new can of worms. I can't imagine the mass appeal for such a project if we include members who were only short-term members, and dueling backing bands from Brian and Mike (and possibly Al).

i honestly woulda had more to mention through personal, but as I was typing this out originally, it was during my prep period at school, and then I never was able to get back online....I really wanted to add that I'd like the best of Brian's and Mike's groups to be used as a backing/tour group; let alone the best from former years of tour members: Billy Hinshie, Ed Carter, Bobby Fig, etc,,,,,those I cant think of being that i'm a little stoned and too tired from workin 2 jobs, i'll try later tomorow.

[punkinhead]

Kudos to punkinhead for taking time to think out how some incomplete oldies might be revived - that list is creatively imagined, and done with some vigour and artistic spirit, like the vintage performances on the 1993 'Box Set Tour', it might be great. But personally, I think something like this much-mooted reunion will never happen, and to be honest, I hope it doesn't. I have strong feelings about it. So forgive the essay that follows. It's something I've been wanting to get off my chest for a while...

Certain intense BB fans often say things like: "Here are Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine and Bruce Johnston - they used to work together in a band called The Beach Boys. They're still alive, so if we put them together again, THEY CAN BE THE BEACH BOYS AGAIN". But the reality is different. For one thing, there's far too much history between these people. Mike, Al and Bruce can never look up to Brian's compositional and production skills in quite the way they did in 1965, say, when the band was near the height of its success, reach, and commercial power, because of all the stuff that came afterwards that disappointed them so much. And Brian has all that terrible history with Mike.

You can put (some of) the same people back together, but you can't put the clock back to the way things were. To take a specific example, you can't recreate, say, the atmosphere of creativity that came about between Brian and Mike the night after JFK was assassinated, where a confident, clear-headed Brian, whose talents were blooming and whose loving relationship with his wife Marilyn was a big influence on his life and work at the time, repaired to his office with his childhood friend and cousin Mike, and, with the two of them feeling a strong urge to make some kind of artistic statement by way of reaction to the killing, came up with The Warmth Of The Sun, sparking off each other and encouraging each other creatively.

The two people in that scenario share the same names with the Mike Love and Brian Wilson of today, but there almost all of the similarities cease. Almost everything else is different, down to the smallest details. Brian isn't the same. His skills, vocally and musically, aren't the same as they were (note that I'm not making any relative judgements here about HOW they're different - that debate belongs elsewhere). But consider other, more minor aspects of that songwriting session. Brian doesn't have an 'office' any more, where he goes to plan regular attacks on the pop charts. Marilyn Wilson, Brian's love for her, and the effect which that had on his state of mind and the romantic feel of his early-to-mid-60s compositions, is part of history, not current reality. Nor is Mike the same - for example, he knew nothing about TM in 1963, so we didn't get any of that influence in The Warmth Of The Sun, whereas in more recent years he has more often tried to reflect that influence in his lyrics (come to that, it's a good while since Mike wrote ANY lyrics for a project that reached the public domain...).

These people have all moved on, and they've gone in different creative directions. The genie is out of the bottle, and won't go back. And that's BEFORE you even begin to consider the fact that Carl and Dennis would be missing, or that hardly any of the surviving members sing anything like they used to.

It was hard enough in 1975, for 15 Big Ones, trying to pretend that The Beach Boys could be forced back into the mould where Brian ruled the roost, cracked the whip in the studio and the other guys just played and sang along, as it had been 10 years earlier. It's now another 36 years later still, and over a quarter of a century since anything approximating the band of 1961 to 1966 released any new recorded material. That's a long, long time. Far longer that they *haven't* been creatively active together than the time that they WERE, in fact.

So I don't think it will fly. There are all these reasons against it, and the only pros are, ' hey, cool, it would be THE BEACH BOYS again!'. But as I've said here - it wouldn't. Not really.

There's another point to make. While close fans on here might say 'Brian Wilson was a member of The Beach Boys, and they used to sing the songs he wrote... *therefore*, any work he did later as a solo artist could still become Beach Boys material... if you just get the other Beach Boys to sing on it'. There are all kinds of emotional and artistic barriers to this. Whatever we might think of it, Brian created Water Builds Up, say, on his own, later, by and for himself, and not for The Beach Boys. He probably doesn't want Mike Love singing on it — in fact, in 2011, he probably doesn't even want to still think about that track even for *himself*. Brian has moved on too, even from the 1990 version of himself. And again, that's before you even start to consider whether Mike, Al and Bruce would feel comfortable working on a track of Brian's that never came out officially on an album that was twice rejected for being uncommercial. Similar arguments hold for old Al, Bruce or Mike material. Is it right to have Bruce and Al sing Mike's lyrics on a track of Dennis's like 10,000 Years? That would probably never have happened in 1975-77, when all of the original participants were still alive and creatively active, so why should it now? Just because it *can* be done, doesn't mean it *should*...

'Über-fans' sometimes forget that these kind of real-world artistic objections occur, because they still think of the individuals who were in the band as Beach Boys, and expect that the former band members also see themselves in the same way, prepared to swap songwriting ideas and songs for the greater good of the band, as they might once have done in 1969, 1970, or 1975. Over a third of a century ago...

PERHAPS all of these objections could be rudely thrust aside if someone offered the former members of The Beach Boys enough money to tour or record. But even if that happened (unlikely in itself with the current financial climate and state of the music business), and they all agreed solely for the money, that wouldn't invalidate any of the points made here, or make such a reunion any more of a good idea. It would just mean that all those good reasons why a reunion shouldn't happen were being ignored.

In my opinion, the best way to see and hear the Beach Boys in 2011... is on old films, records and CDs. In other words, in the past tense. In many ways, I think this is the ONLY way to see and hear the band we think of when we hear the name The Beach Boys.

Sad, perhaps, but a part of life, just like birth, growth, and death.

Having said all of that, I could still be proved wrong. I felt exactly the same way about Brian Wilson going on the road in the late 90s, and right up until the week before SMiLE debuted live in 2004, I thought it was impossible for the Brian of 2004 to add anything new of worth to the SMiLE canon. I'm glad to admit I was totally wrong about that, and I could be wrong about this.

But still... just imagine... the lights go down... a greying, paunchy Mike Love (looking, as someone memorably described him on another BB-related board recently, like Emperor Palpatine) lumbers out on stage into a spotlight, clad in bright foil and a garish head-dress, and croaks out the opening lines of "Hotter" "Song Of The Whale" or "I Write The Songs"...

S-s-hudder.

i can't tell if your kudos is sarcastic or not (either way, I'm not hurt  )...I'm always thinking about all these songs, released or not that should be re-done or just released as is....I had another list written out of stuff I'd like to have the BB perform live or re-record like Brian did with the IJWMFTT project...like songs that weren't up to par back in the day or nowadays....and maybe have vocals on those songs that weren't ever sung by the likes of Brian singing on LA or KTSA album material.  I'd like a new cut of Girl don't Tell Me that Al has performed in recent years, I love the drums they added to it...I'll try to come up with a list of re-recordings i'd prefer.

[punkinhead]

Songs I could see being redone for a tour or release (much like BW's IJWMFTT):

-Let Him Run Wild (Jeff F on falsetto)
-You're Still a Mystery
-Keepin' the Summer Alive (performed live/Bruce on lead)
-Back Home (medley with Sunflower version/15 Big Ones version) (played live)
-Summertime Blues (Dave on lead) (played live)
-River Song (Brian on lead)
-Hawaii/Kona Coast (performed as medley) (Brian on chorus/Mike on verses)
-Desert Drive (performed live with Mike on lead)
-Cool Head, Warm Heart (performed live)
-Strange Things Happen (performed live/Al on lead)
-We're Together Again (each member sharing a lead vocal like Funky Pretty)
-Goin' On (performed live)
-Honkin' Down the Highway (performed live/Al on lead)
-California Feeling (rare cut with Carl on lead with remaining BB)
-Everyone's in Love with You (using Mike's track from Unleash the Love and add the other guy's vocals)
-Lay Down Burden (played live with all the remaining guys vocals)
-Summer Means New Love (Brian/Mike's band plays) (played live)
-Where We are (finished recording with Carl's vocals left intact, add vocals and instrumentation where needed)
-Island Girl (performed live/Al on lead)
-You Need a Mess of Help (played live)
-Hot Fun in the Summertime (re-recorded, closer to the original)
-Car Crazy Cutie/Pamela Jean (made into a medley) (played live)
-10,000 Years (DW's track/Mike's lyrics, remaining BB sing)
-Believe in Yourself (added vocals from Al, Bruce, Mike)
-California (performed live)
-Our Team (updated version performed live)
-Some of Your Love/Mike Come back to LA (sang in chorus as a joke) (played live)
-How can We still Be Dancing (Mike on lead) (played live)
-Make it Big (performed live)
-Let Us Go On This Way (played live/Brian and Mike share lead)
-Almost Summer (performed live/Al on lead vocals)
-Santa Ana Winds (re-recorded/played live, no spoken intro, harmonica solo Paul M)
-PT Cruiser (Mike/Brian/Bruce/David vocals added) (performed live as well)
-Endless Harmony (use the KTSA track with Carl's vocals and add Bruce/Mike/Brian/Dave to the original track)
-Good Timin' (with Brian singing lead/played live/recorded in studio as well)
-Had to Phone Ya (performed live)
-Friends (performed live)
-One For the Boys (Performed live)
-Marcella (performed live)
-Heaven
-Lady Lynda/Liberty (whatever 'L' word Al is fixed on now)
-I'll Bet He's Nice
-Anything For You (performed live/Mike on lead)
-Getcha Back (re-record to sound "updated")
-Farewell My Friend (performed live with Denny's vocals played as lead and then the backing band playing the track and the rest of the guys singing backing vocals)
-Let's go to Heaven in My Car (played live/shared lead with Brian/Mike)
-Girl Don't Tell Me (performed live the way Al's band played it on his live album)
-It's OK (performed live/re-recorded "updated")
-Salt Lake City (re-recorded by just the original BB, that's right, Mike on sax!) (performed live)
-Lines (re-recorded with Carl's vocals kept on track)
-Daybreak (performed live)
-Rockin' All over the World (performed live)
-South America (performed live/Brian & Mike share lead vocals)
-The Night was So Young (performed live)
-Oh Darling (re-recorded, updated into a more "Brian-esq")
-Ruby Baby (performed live)
-That Same Song (re-recorded/update version & played live)

I know, I'll keep dreaming

[punkinhead]

Songs I could see being redone for a tour or release (much like BW's IJWMFTT):

-Let Him Run Wild (Jeff F on falsetto)
-You're Still a Mystery
-Keepin' the Summer Alive (performed live/Bruce on lead)
-Back Home (medley with Sunflower version/15 Big Ones version) (played live)
-Summertime Blues (Dave on lead) (played live)
-River Song (Brian on lead)
-Hawaii/Kona Coast (performed as medley) (Brian on chorus/Mike on verses)
-Desert Drive (performed live with Mike on lead)
-Cool Head, Warm Heart (performed live)
-Strange Things Happen (performed live/Al on lead)
-We're Together Again (each member sharing a lead vocal like Funky Pretty)
-Goin' On (performed live)
-Honkin' Down the Highway (performed live/Al on lead)
-California Feeling (rare cut with Carl on lead with remaining BB)
-Everyone's in Love with You (using Mike's track from Unleash the Love and add the other guy's vocals)
-Lay Down Burden (played live with all the remaining guys vocals)
-Summer Means New Love (Brian/Mike's band plays) (played live)
-Where We are (finished recording with Carl's vocals left intact, add vocals and instrumentation where needed)
-Island Girl (performed live/Al on lead)
-You Need a Mess of Help (played live)
-Hot Fun in the Summertime (re-recorded, closer to the original)
-Car Crazy Cutie/Pamela Jean (made into a medley) (played live)
-10,000 Years (DW's track/Mike's lyrics, remaining BB sing)
-Believe in Yourself (added vocals from Al, Bruce, Mike)
-California (performed live)
-Our Team (updated version performed live)
-Some of Your Love/Mike Come back to LA (sang in chorus as a joke) (played live)
-How can We still Be Dancing (Mike on lead) (played live)
-Make it Big (performed live)
-Let Us Go On This Way (played live/Brian and Mike share lead)
-Almost Summer (performed live/Al on lead vocals)
-Santa Ana Winds (re-recorded/played live, no spoken intro, harmonica solo Paul M)
-PT Cruiser (Mike/Brian/Bruce/David vocals added) (performed live as well)
-Endless Harmony (use the KTSA track with Carl's vocals and add Bruce/Mike/Brian/Dave to the original track)
-Good Timin' (with Brian singing lead/played live/recorded in studio as well)
-Had to Phone Ya (performed live)
-Friends (performed live)
-One For the Boys (Performed live)
-Marcella (performed live)
-Heaven
-Lady Lynda/Liberty (whatever 'L' word Al is fixed on now)
-I'll Bet He's Nice
-Anything For You (performed live/Mike on lead)
-Getcha Back (re-record to sound "updated")
-Farewell My Friend (performed live with Denny's vocals played as lead and then the backing band playing the track and the rest of the guys singing backing vocals)
-Let's go to Heaven in My Car (played live/shared lead with Brian/Mike)
-Girl Don't Tell Me (performed live the way Al's band played it on his live album)
-It's OK (performed live/re-recorded "updated")
-Salt Lake City (re-recorded by just the original BB, that's right, Mike on sax!) (performed live)
-Lines (re-recorded with Carl's vocals kept on track)
-Daybreak (performed live)
-Rockin' All over the World (performed live)
-South America (performed live/Brian & Mike share lead vocals)
-The Night was So Young (performed live)
-Oh Darling (re-recorded, updated into a more "Brian-esq")
-Ruby Baby (performed live)
-That Same Song (re-recorded/update version & played live)

I know, I'll keep dreaming

Was it too much?
I know it would be if I added my other list of songs that I posted earlier in the thread

[urbanite]

I think you're onto something, a Mike Love lead on How Can We Still Be Dancing and some other Beach Boys vocals thrown in on this tune, would make it very appealing.

[punkinhead]

I think you're onto something, a Mike Love lead on How Can We Still Be Dancing and some other Beach Boys vocals thrown in on this tune, would make it very appealing.

Why thank you, I would like to rethink/edit my tracklisting and add/change some of the lead vocals and if they're appropriate for just playing live and/or to record/re-record....any input through replies or P.M is more than welcome; concerning the vocals or tracks: leads, adding/subtracting tracks, what songs/ideas actually sound plausible.



and I wanna start out these list of songs by saying they're just ideas and suggestions...not a setlist per-say, being that I know it'd be merely impossible, but it's just ideas I've had floating around to incorporate as much material from each Beach Boy throughout their whole career as a group and their career as solo artists in respect as tributes (Carl/Denny) and incorporating the surviving Beach Boys into other solo material, which is most obviously a fantasy.

[punkinhead]

Finishing tracks or tracks played live

Possible instrumentals recorded or played live:
-The Beginning Of The End (as a Gary Usher tribute played live)
-Side Two
-Chopsticks Boogie/Boogie Woodie *medley* (as a jam)
-Moni Kani-Brian's band could play it!
-Shortenin' Bread- could go many ways, possibly played as a jam, but more than likely as a sing-along but I'd love a SB riff medley with the likes of the original from Adult Child/LA, Metal Beach, and top off with Fantasy is Reality.
-After the Game/Summer Means New Love- Somehow I could see these two songs getting on very well with each other, idk, they have the same kind of vibe, anyone else hear this? Brian's and Mike's band would sound great with Al and David sharing guitar parts; in my opinion prolly the best way to showcase a great instrumental.
Mrs. O'Leary's Cow/Fall Breaks---hell, if they wanna mix em together and throw some woodblock percussion, I wouldn't complain....get the fire hats out and the backup bands can do their best while the guys (Bruce/Brian/Mike/Al) harmonize their parts with Taylor Mills and Jeff Foskett and whoever wants to join in.
-Diamond Head- a Hawaii Suite would be kinda nice too, add In Blue Hawaii in there, I'd love it...the Beach Boys music flows together so well...from instrumental to dream pop/psychedelic. 

[punkinhead]

Songs that could possibly be re-recorded or re-arranged with original recordings with added new overdubs where needed.
(I am aware that some of these could be considered blasphemy to overdub something new, so please forgive in those areas and I'll make corrections where needed)

-You're Still a Mystery (desperately needs released and could be played live), keep the same tune and update the track, that Pet Sounds-esq guitar part is perfect!
-God Did It-Brian on lead, Mike on bass vocal...re-recorded in a vibe like TLOS style/Walking Down the Path-gospel style
-Chain Reaction of Love-Brian and Mike share lead/bass vocal love....imagine what Brian's/Al's/Mike's band could do with that backing track!
-10,000 Years (DW's track/Mike's lyrics, remaining BB sing), again, maybe blasphemy.
-Carry Me Home- keep Denny's original vocals, have Blondie re-cut his vocals with the remaining Beach Boys.
-San Miguel (from Denny's Bambu trial track) and add the original SM lyrics to it. (or this may just need to be left alone and released on a rarity package)
-I'm Broke- Somehow, I hear Al doing a great job on the lead vocals for this.
-Soul Searchin'- Combine the original track from the Paley sessions and Brian's track from GIOMH (mostly just Carl's vocals, the track from GIOMH, turning down Brian's vocals but still make it like a duet and add Mike/Al/Bruce's voices to the song)
-It's trying to Say-with Denny's vocals and the current guy's vocals (or this may just need to be left alone and released on a rarity package)
-Proud Mary- Perhaps Brian wants to hold this for his "rock and roll album" but I think the guys could really re-make a killer version, and something more upbeat than his version with Paley and really play up the Shortenin' Bread riff.
-Slightly American Music- Redo and have each Beach Boy singing about the different eras, Al at the beginning, Brian singing about "even the Beatles couldn't build the wall (of sound)," then Mike on the last verse.

The New California Saga   (no particular order):

-Looking Down the Coast (didn't Al do this for Postcard, I don't know because I dont own it), re-record it with Mike and Brian.
-California-Al's version heard on the Endless Harmony documentary.
-Santa Ana Winds- either release the original from late 70s that's far superior to the KTSA version or re-record it with the surviving Beach Boys, no big backing band, just the guys, Dave on guitar, add Al on Banjo, Ricky on drums, Brian on piano/harmonica, and Mike on backing vocals....and NO SPOKEN INTRO! ....could perform live, add Brian on vocals and Paul M. on harmonica.
-California Feeling- for re-recording, use Carl's version from late 70s (Light Album) era as a basis, keep Carl's vocals and have Brian double his vocals for lead. Al/Bruce/Mike adding their harmonies...could be perfect!  But also, release for a rarity package, bring us the original from pre-15 Big Ones.
-Don't Fight the Sea-perhaps use Al's recording, I can't remember who is all on that record that was released on the Postcard album...whomever is not on there...add those surviving members on
-Big Sur-Mike should re-record his original cut from the early 70s....as much as Mike loves to re-record things (especially for his solo stuff that goes nowhere), you'd think he woulda re-recorded Big Sur again after Holland for a solo project or something...If anything, it'd be the best track for Unleash the Love.

-More to come-

[punkinhead]

any feedback?

I didn't wanna continue on if no one cared.

[Wylson]

punkinhead

I think its cool to think about this kind of stuff, i do it all the time. I've come to the conclusion though that really it's just dreaming - not sure how old you are, but I've never experienced the release of a new Beach Boys album and have never seen the proper Beach Boys in concert (well 7 at the time of S&S...) - so the idea of the guys coming together and being the Beach Boys is really like a dream for me, and others do. Sometimes I don't think that the older guys and girls on the board can quite appreciate that - it must be easier to say 'they've given us more than they needed to' when you've lived through it.

My fantasy is a new album, stripped down production with organs, and acoustic guitars (Friends style), lower and rougher but warm vocals from the guys with help from family - tasteful album art, Brian Wilson in the producers chair...

But, these guys are really old and I just don't feel that the energy is there for an ambitious project, and in honesty I doubt that the ability is there these days. I don't really buy into the 'no carl + no dennis = no Beach Boys" thing - I don't think that in itself is insurmountable. If you had put Brian, Mike, Al, Bruce, David together in 1975 or even 1995 - I think you could reasonably expect a proper Beach Boys album or concert - to have the magic. But these guys now aged 70? They just don't have the energy, I think.

The absolute best we can hope for, is a couple of 'hits' concerts, and maybe a DVD. As for all this talk of 'which band' - can anyone really see these guys putting together a new band of 'all the talents'. It just seems that Brian's band would be the only way to go. Beyond that - if  you could get some BBs backing vocals onto a Brian song, that might be feasible. But embarking upon revising old material, writing new material together, recordindg albums, just can't see it. And believe me, that makes me really sad that I won't ever experience that (but still grateful to be able to go through all the old recordings, and see Brian and the touring Beach Boys!)

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

All they'd need was the right producer.

Won't happen though, and that makes me sad.

[Wylson]

Rick Rubin (although the mooted CSN/Rubin project hasn't materialised yet - that should be a good indicator of what he can do with a harmony group!)

[punkinhead]

punkinhead

I think its cool to think about this kind of stuff, i do it all the time. I've come to the conclusion though that really it's just dreaming - not sure how old you are, but I've never experienced the release of a new Beach Boys album and have never seen the proper Beach Boys in concert (well 7 at the time of S&S...) - so the idea of the guys coming together and being the Beach Boys is really like a dream for me, and others do. Sometimes I don't think that the older guys and girls on the board can quite appreciate that - it must be easier to say 'they've given us more than they needed to' when you've lived through it.

My fantasy is a new album, stripped down production with organs, and acoustic guitars (Friends style), lower and rougher but warm vocals from the guys with help from family - tasteful album art, Brian Wilson in the producers chair...

But, these guys are really old and I just don't feel that the energy is there for an ambitious project, and in honesty I doubt that the ability is there these days. I don't really buy into the 'no carl + no dennis = no Beach Boys" thing - I don't think that in itself is insurmountable. If you had put Brian, Mike, Al, Bruce, David together in 1975 or even 1995 - I think you could reasonably expect a proper Beach Boys album or concert - to have the magic. But these guys now aged 70? They just don't have the energy, I think.

The absolute best we can hope for, is a couple of 'hits' concerts, and maybe a DVD. As for all this talk of 'which band' - can anyone really see these guys putting together a new band of 'all the talents'. It just seems that Brian's band would be the only way to go. Beyond that - if  you could get some BBs backing vocals onto a Brian song, that might be feasible. But embarking upon revising old material, writing new material together, recordindg albums, just can't see it. And believe me, that makes me really sad that I won't ever experience that (but still grateful to be able to go through all the old recordings, and see Brian and the touring Beach Boys!)

I'm 26 and have been a BB/BW fan for 12 years....but i'm a Scif-fi/imagination/Dallas/fantasy-fan, so you can see why I'm a dreamy-eyed kinda guy when it comes to these kinda things.

[Jim V.]

punkinhead

I think its cool to think about this kind of stuff, i do it all the time. I've come to the conclusion though that really it's just dreaming - not sure how old you are, but I've never experienced the release of a new Beach Boys album and have never seen the proper Beach Boys in concert (well 7 at the time of S&S...) - so the idea of the guys coming together and being the Beach Boys is really like a dream for me, and others do. Sometimes I don't think that the older guys and girls on the board can quite appreciate that - it must be easier to say 'they've given us more than they needed to' when you've lived through it.

My fantasy is a new album, stripped down production with organs, and acoustic guitars (Friends style), lower and rougher but warm vocals from the guys with help from family - tasteful album art, Brian Wilson in the producers chair...

But, these guys are really old and I just don't feel that the energy is there for an ambitious project, and in honesty I doubt that the ability is there these days. I don't really buy into the 'no carl + no dennis = no Beach Boys" thing - I don't think that in itself is insurmountable. If you had put Brian, Mike, Al, Bruce, David together in 1975 or even 1995 - I think you could reasonably expect a proper Beach Boys album or concert - to have the magic. But these guys now aged 70? They just don't have the energy, I think.

The absolute best we can hope for, is a couple of 'hits' concerts, and maybe a DVD. As for all this talk of 'which band' - can anyone really see these guys putting together a new band of 'all the talents'. It just seems that Brian's band would be the only way to go. Beyond that - if  you could get some BBs backing vocals onto a Brian song, that might be feasible. But embarking upon revising old material, writing new material together, recordindg albums, just can't see it. And believe me, that makes me really sad that I won't ever experience that (but still grateful to be able to go through all the old recordings, and see Brian and the touring Beach Boys!)

On one hand, I agree with you, littlepad. I don't think there is gonna be any re-visiting random old songs from their solo careers. And I highly doubt that beyond SMiLE they will be revisiting any old material. My hope is maybe we get one album's worth of unreleased material topped off with 2 or 3 new songs. I think the guys still have it easily within themselves to give us 3 great new Beach Boys songs. Have Brian come up with a song, and he can work with Mike, Alan, and Bruce, and I'd think we get something cool. Sure people will say "why not David?" but lets be honest, the other guys probably don't consider him as much of a Beach Boys as themselves. He left the band in the '60s. Brian and Al left in the '90s (and are also part of BRI). There is a bit of a difference.Ricky and Blondie would be awesome too, but I just don't see it happening. Have Brian, Mike, Al, and Bruce do some Beach Boys recording, have a few concerts, with Blondie and Ricky on "Sail On Sailor" and "Wild Honey", and feature David on "Surfin' USA" and everybody can go home happy.

Also, they are not too old at all. Neither is McCartney, Mick or Keef, or any of these guys. They all still tour and do quite a bit of recording.

[Myk Luhv]

Albini should (co-)produce the BBs.

[hypehat]

f***, not Rick Rubin. Either Jason Pierce (Spiritualized), Mike Mogis or Todd Rundgren.

[WaxOn]

foder, not Rick Rubin. Either Jason Pierce (Spiritualized), Mike Mogis or Todd Rundgren.

Ok - you WAY piqued my interest.
Now, Mike Mogis sort of makes sense in a folksy way. Todd is well, Todd. I'm guessing inclusion from faithful and deface the music, maybe XTC's skylarking?  But Jason Pierce is waaaaay out there (although he and Brian could probably swap stories). So please, elaborate!

I don't mean to sound sarcastic - as you've mentioned some favorite artists here.

I WAS thinking of saying something sarcastic about them picking somebody like Santi Gold or will.i.am to try to get some street cred and move to an "urban" sound. Mike would make a fantastic rapper. I think a big gold chain and a rapper hat would look great with a hibiscus luau shirt and flip-flops.

But I won't.

[hypehat]

foder, not Rick Rubin. Either Jason Pierce (Spiritualized), Mike Mogis or Todd Rundgren.

Ok - you WAY piqued my interest.
Now, Mike Mogis sort of makes sense in a folksy way. Todd is well, Todd. I'm guessing inclusion from faithful and deface the music, maybe XTC's skylarking?  But Jason Pierce is waaaaay out there (although he and Brian could probably swap stories). So please, elaborate!

I don't mean to sound sarcastic - as you've mentioned some favorite artists here.

I WAS thinking of saying something sarcastic about them picking somebody like Santi Gold or will.i.am to try to get some street cred and move to an "urban" sound. Mike would make a fantastic rapper. I think a big gold chain and a rapper hat would look great with a hibiscus luau shirt and flip-flops.

But I won't.

Have you heard Songs In A&E? The production on that would really suit The Beach Boys, if they were going for a modernish reimagining of their 70's sound. I wasn't quite suggesting Jason gets the phase pedals out..... Although that record needs to be made by somebody  

Mogis is in the same ball-park, I suppose, kinda thinking of people who can get that really full acoustic sound.

I don't know about Todd nowadays, but his 'classic' productions have such range he's a good choice for anybody, really because he is so versatile.

This is on another thread, but besides the reunion talk it's a good interview as well! Brian is clearly cheering up over here.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/news/20110516_brianwilson.shtml?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

[WaxOn]

Have you heard Songs In A&E? The production on that would really suit The Beach Boys, if they were going for a modernish reimagining of their 70's sound. I wasn't quite suggesting Jason gets the phase pedals out..... Although that record needs to be made by somebody  

Mogis is in the same ball-park, I suppose, kinda thinking of people who can get that really full acoustic sound.

I don't know about Todd nowadays, but his 'classic' productions have such range he's a good choice for anybody, really because he is so versatile.

This is on another thread, but besides the reunion talk it's a good interview as well! Brian is clearly cheering up over here.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/news/20110516_brianwilson.shtml?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed

Yeah, I have Songs in A&E - Laser Guided and Ladies & Gentlemen still my faves. But it still seems rather spacey and heavily orchestrated. Then I think "I Got a Fire" and "Soul on Fire" and "Sitting on Fire" and Brian going Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! 

Todd is fer sher a musical chameleon when he wants to be. But he also rules the booth with an iron fist. And, "the New Cars" new stuff sure sounded like he wished he had Utopia back.

Mogis makes me think of something in the vein of Sunflower could easily happen - I think he' be the most laid back in the studio of the three.

I think Brian talking about the possible reunion and "zany guys" being code for "I don't know if I want to have that sort of pressure". He's gotten through the last decade with a bunch of caring guys who knew just how far and when they could push - and has basically had his hand held through the process. I think a real album with a real producer and a "crazy" band ready to throw ashtrays or tofu or whatever is something he's not ready to deal with.

But, I hope I'm wrong!

[Mike's Beard]

The thought of the guys doing experimental, progressively produced music at 70 is just absurd but I'd hate to see them just rehash the formula from MIU onwards either. What I'd love to see is just Brian (or Bruce if Bri's ability has deteriorated that much) at a piano with the other guys harmonising, playing a stripped down run through of their favourite songs from their career plus a couple of new songs recorded in the same vein. I think this approach would be great artistically plus as a bonus there'd be no need for Stamos.

[punkinhead]

The thought of the guys doing experimental, progressively produced music at 70 is just absurd but I'd hate to see them just rehash the formula from MIU onwards either. What I'd love to see is just Brian (or Bruce if Bri's ability has deteriorated that much) at a piano with the other guys harmonising, playing a stripped down run through of their favourite songs from their career plus a couple of new songs recorded in the same vein. I think this approach would be great artistically plus as a bonus there'd be no need for Stamos.

Something like what happen on the 'hotel tapes' from the late 80s or early 90s with Brian, Bruce, Jeff F, and John Stamos....something where Brian keeps going from song to song from his entire catalog, released or unreleased...and keep goin back to Rhapsody in Blue/Shortenin' Bread riffs   

[tansen]

We'd all be much happier and better off if they emptied the vaults of all the good stuff in there.

The BB's recording at about 70 years of age without Carl and Dennis is like Paul and Ringo doing a Beatles album today.

Let's just enjoy the 'Smile Sessions', enjoy whatever else we get from the vaults, hope for a one off reunion concert celebration with all 5 guys left, and thank god for one of the greatest bands of all time!

I think you nailed it man. Why would we want a bunch of 60+ year old singers singing songs that would be much more beneficial having released remastered (or even remixed where multitracks are available) in their original forms? I think we would be much better off with the release of Landlocked, the unreleased 76 material, even Paley sessions or 'Landylocked', etc.

I mean, sure it's a nice nostalgic idea, and if their voices were still pristine, then yeah, it could have definitely worked. But one of the things at least I love about the original Beach Boys is the singing and the quality of the vocals. Now, when that important factor is gone (sure, they can sing, but nowhere close to how they used to sing), to me, it's a no thanks.

To the vaults!

[punkinhead]

We'd all be much happier and better off if they emptied the vaults of all the good stuff in there.

The BB's recording at about 70 years of age without Carl and Dennis is like Paul and Ringo doing a Beatles album today.

Let's just enjoy the 'Smile Sessions', enjoy whatever else we get from the vaults, hope for a one off reunion concert celebration with all 5 guys left, and thank god for one of the greatest bands of all time!

I think you nailed it man. Why would we want a bunch of 60+ year old singers singing songs that would be much more beneficial having released remastered (or even remixed where multitracks are available) in their original forms? I think we would be much better off with the release of Landlocked, the unreleased 76 material, even Paley sessions or 'Landylocked', etc.

I mean, sure it's a nice nostalgic idea, and if their voices were still pristine, then yeah, it could have definitely worked. But one of the things at least I love about the original Beach Boys is the singing and the quality of the vocals. Now, when that important factor is gone (sure, they can sing, but nowhere close to how they used to sing), to me, it's a no thanks.

To the vaults!

Isn't Landylocked and the Paley Sessions the same thing?