The Association

[markcharles75]

Sad news about Larry. Nice interview below gives a perspective of his amazing career

http://popcultureaddict.com/interviews/larryramos/

[SurfRiderHawaii]

RIP Larry. Aloha man.

[Gabo]

RIP Larry 

The Association were a big part of my childhood.

[lostbeachboy]

I will be going to see them tomorrow at turning stone casino in verona, ny. Anybody out there going?

[JK]

I will be going to see them tomorrow at turning stone casino in verona, ny. Anybody out there going?

Doesn't seem like it, lbb. Hope you enjoy the show. They made some gorgeous records... 

[Zesterz]

Current line up is terrific.

[Lee Marshall]

Yes the Association were versatile, talented, and lasted much longer as a recording group than many realize.  Enjoy what should be a terrific show.  Doubtful that they'll perform Barefoot Gentleman but I'd be pumped if they did.

[lostbeachboy]

This year marks the 50th Anniversary of The Association. I Saw them in 2008 along with Gary Puckett, Peter Noone and The Happenings. That was a really fun show. This time it was just them. They will be doing another Happy Together Tour this year with The Cowsills, Mark Lindsay, Flo & Eddie & The Buckinghams. I will not be attending those shows. Next month I will be seeing Mr. Love and Mr. Johnston yet again.
With the Association down to 2 founding members Jim Yester and Jules Alexander the band still plays great and sounds strong. Russ Giguere retired last year and Larry Ramos passed away last year. The group opened with Windy and went on to play the hits: Never My Love, Everything That Touches You, Cherish etc.. They did something that I was not happy with, which was play a few songs cover songs. Wouldnt It Be Nice, I Heard It Through The Grapevine, My Girl... They have enough hits, great album tracks to fill out the whole hour and a half. So that was a little disappointing. As always I'm the youngest person to attend these kind of shows, which I do enjoy that fact. I talked to them after the show for a minute, really nice guys. Totally underrated as musicians and a band. So everybody check out the 2 disc anthology set, you won't be disappointed.

[markcharles75]

Well Birthday Morning is one of the most beautiful songs ever. What a creation. Stunningly beautiful.

[dombanzai]

Did The Beach Boys ever tour or play on the same gigs as The Association? What a great prospect that would have been.

I'm really into The Association at the moment – what a terrific band they were. Great songs, great harmonies, perfection abounded. Along Comes Mary, Time For Livin, Like Always, Come On In, Never My Love, Hear In Here, Forty Times, Windy, the list goes on... Timeless classics.

[Julia]

Absolutely love them. My favorite soft rock vocal group after the Beach Boys. Their Greatest Hits comp is among my favorites ever and as far as their studio albums, my favorite is Birthday. I have a ton of history with those, they were the soundtrack to many a car trip along with the Beach Boys and Beatles when I was a kid. When I was really getting into Pet Sounds, I'd take a break and listen to Association's greatest hits and Rubber Soul (not because it inspired Brian--I independently thought it was the Beatles' best album before I read that story) and MJ's Off the Wall. That was a great soundtrack to a great summer.

I do think it's funny they tried to do a harder rock song and it still sounds like the softest thing in the world though (Six Man Band).

[JK]

I do think it's funny they tried to do a harder rock song and it still sounds like the softest thing in the world though (Six Man Band).

I had to hear this for myself. Yes, those gorgeous harmonies completely soften the blow of "the Wrecking Crew just doing its damage", as one YT commenter puts it.

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

Thanks for the heads up, J. (Ooohh, it's quiet on board these days.)

[Julia]

I do think it's funny they tried to do a harder rock song and it still sounds like the softest thing in the world though (Six Man Band).

I had to hear this for myself. Yes, those gorgeous harmonies completely soften the blow of "the Wrecking Crew just doing its damage", as one YT commenter puts it.

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

Thanks for the heads up, J. (Ooohh, it's quiet on board these days.)

I think the board is dead, it's just a matter of time. Im glad I could be one of the people making the last round of contributions but it is sad. The other board, while getting daily activity, seems to be pretty dead too compared to the glory days.

[JK]

(Ooohh, it's quiet on board these days.)

I think the board is dead, it's just a matter of time. Im glad I could be one of the people making the last round of contributions but it is sad. The other board, while getting daily activity, seems to be pretty dead too compared to the glory days.

Well if it is doomed, J, you've certainly given it the most magnificent of farewell flourishes! I've got your round of (SMiLE) contributions bookmarked across the road. It should be much better known, for as long as that thread's around...

The "other board" is quiet, to be sure, but not dead. Same goes for the "other other board". I know the Dutch Beach Boys community operates on Facebook. Maybe this is a general tendency -- the socials have a lot to answer for.

Stay well out there, my friend.

[Julia]

(Ooohh, it's quiet on board these days.)

I think the board is dead, it's just a matter of time. Im glad I could be one of the people making the last round of contributions but it is sad. The other board, while getting daily activity, seems to be pretty dead too compared to the glory days.

Well if it is doomed, J, you've certainly given it the most magnificent of farewell flourishes! I've got your round of (SMiLE) contributions bookmarked across the road. It should be much better known, for as long as that thread's around...

The "other board" is quiet, to be sure, but not dead. Same goes for the "other other board". I know the Dutch Beach Boys community operates on Facebook. Maybe this is a general tendency -- the socials have a lot to answer for.

Stay well out there, my friend.

You too, Old Sport!
Is the "other other board" Steve Hoffman? In any case I think the best online BB community these days (and probably for a long time) has got to be the subreddit. For better or worse it's less focused on the loud personalities of individual posters and more of a topics-oriented platform. The tradeoff is you don't know people but then it means interpersonal drama doesn't get in the way. While I have tremendous respect for *some* of the SMiLE scholars who've come before me, Cam Mott's name comes to mind and David Leaf, I do think sometimes the old guard gets in their own way with the endless circle-jerk. They allowed some bad faith actors to poison the well of discourse for too long unchallenged (not formally anyway) and insert themselves into the story too often for my liking. For example, like half of Leaf's new book is about the bootlegging scene in the 80s-90s and fan reactions to BWPS instead of actual insider info or unique insight into the music, when it's really not that interesting to anyone else. Priore's LLVS and 2005 book are like half-full of fan essays telling us the same stories of "when I first heard PS/CG/GV I was blown away...." and it gets really old to sift through. Long story short I think we're passed due for a new generation that isn't hung up on their nostalgic memories of hissy sixth-gen cassette recordings and ill-informed fan theories they refuse to let go of.