New Beach Boys 2012 Remasters!

[Sheriff John Stone]

50 Big Ones was based on the average setlist they played at the Reunion Celebration gigs, so no Breakaway.

So, they BWPS'd it.

Okay Mr Stone, we all know that you dislike BWPS but what in the name of interplanetary Giraffe tennis is your comment supposed to mean?

They sequenced the album based on the sequence of the live performance.

[Rocky Raccoon]

Not really.  While many of the songs on 50 Big Ones were played on the tour, they were not played in that order and there are some songs featured on the album that were not played live.

[EgoHanger1966]

I went to Best Buy on my break today to see if they had Surfer Girl. Turns out they had every remaster BUT that one. The thing that astounded me though was that Best Buy has their own Al Jardine section with Postcard From California for $9.99! I thought I was in the twilight zone or something. They also had Gershwin and Disney.

[runnersdialzero]

50 Big Ones was based on the average setlist they played at the Reunion Celebration gigs, so no Breakaway.

Thanks. Wish they had included it regardless.

Ideally, it should have been part of the setlist.

[runnersdialzero]

I went to Best Buy on my break today to see if they had Surfer Girl. Turns out they had every remaster BUT that one. The thing that astounded me though was that Best Buy has their own Al Jardine section with Postcard From California for $9.99! I thought I was in the twilight zone or something. They also had Gershwin and Disney.

The one I went to had all but Summer Days I saw the Gershwin and Disney albums, too, although I didn't even think to check if there was an Al Jardine section. 

[mrralan]

What's the difference between the Heroes And Villains single version found on the Hawthorne, CA set and the one on the new remastered Smiley Smile?

[lee]

Consider yourselves lucky. I searched the Best Buy inventory online and none of the stores in my area carry any of the reissues. Luckily a FYE is nearby and they have them for $13.99 each (not as cheap as best buy) so I bought four of them.

[runnersdialzero]

What's the difference between the Heroes And Villains single version found on the Hawthorne, CA set and the one on the new remastered Smiley Smile?

The Hawthorne one sounds terrible and this one sounds much less terrible.

I'm actually about to make a post concerning the 2012 stereo "Heroes", among other things.

[send me a picture and i'll tell you]

My local Best Buy didn't have a thing except 50 Big Ones and TWGMTR. 

See how times change?-- "That damn Best Buy just had a million copies of the new Beach Boys album!" would have felt different to say a year or two ago...

[mrralan]

What's the difference between the Heroes And Villains single version found on the Hawthorne, CA set and the one on the new remastered Smiley Smile?

The Hawthorne one sounds terrible and this one sounds much less terrible.

I'm actually about to make a post concerning the 2012 stereo "Heroes", among other things.

What is wrong with the Hawthorne mix?  It sounds brighter to me.  Are there any differences such as additional instruments in the single vs the album?

[runnersdialzero]

What is wrong with the Hawthorne mix?  It sounds brighter to me.  Are there any differences such as additional instruments in the single vs the album?

It's way too bright and compressed, for me. "Bright" isn't a bad thing, but that one is way too bright. The percussion in the chorus grates badly.

And yeah, any engineer/producer/etc with respect for themself uses Pro Tools

Can't say I agree, but hay.

[EgoHanger1966]

Can't say I agree, but hay.

Hay is for horses.
Al Jardine is for lovers.

[The Shift]

50 Big Ones was based on the average setlist they played at the Reunion Celebration gigs, so no Breakaway.

Seems logical… until you consider the inclusion of Surf's Up on disc 2.

[ontor pertawst]

Al Jardine is for lovers.

Holy CafePress, Batman! (slams gloved fist into hand)

[Heysaboda]

I've been getting deep into Smiley Smile since the new edition came out and just have to say, this is a work of freakin' genius!

The writing.  The singing.  The playing.  The VERY strange weirdness of it all!

I really "get" Smiley Smile now and with all respect to Carl Wilson, this album IS a home run!  Or maybe a bases clearing double!

It really is the first "alternative pop" record.

I am finally starting to understand its internal logic.

It's "alt music" before its time.

No, it's not SMiLe, but...... WOW

It's not just great; it's insanely great!

Lovely and Scary!!!

My Two Cents.

[hypehat]

Al Jardine is for lovers.

The title of the now-inevitable Al Jardine 'standards' album.

[EgoHanger1966]

Al Jardine Reimagines Jolson.

[sockittome]

What's the difference between the Heroes And Villains single version found on the Hawthorne, CA set and the one on the new remastered Smiley Smile?

The Hawthorne one sounds terrible and this one sounds much less terrible.

I'm actually about to make a post concerning the 2012 stereo "Heroes", among other things.

What is wrong with the Hawthorne mix?  It sounds brighter to me.  Are there any differences such as additional instruments in the single vs the album?

I did a comparison yesterday and the 2012 stereo mix is a lot truer to the original Smiley release.  The Hawthorne mix uses the ascending bass on the chorus from the SMiLE sessions, which was actually single sustained organ notes on the Smiley version.  The Hawthorne version has lots of reverb throughout, whereas the Smiley version just had bits of reverb here and there (most notably on "healthy wealthy and wise...").  The most annoying part of the Hawthorne mix for me is where there are some sections that sound very duophonic to me.  In addition, on the choruses the "bicycle rider" keyboard part sounds artificially doubled to me. 

The whole thing was a great effort at the time, but it never sounded quite right to me. 

[37!ws]

What is wrong with the Hawthorne mix?  It sounds brighter to me.  Are there any differences such as additional instruments in the single vs the album?

I don't think there are any additional instruments, but there are some noticeable thingies with the Hawthorne mix:

- Extra reverb
- It sounds like two tapes were synched, and they're noticeably out of sync when the first chorus comes in.
- The Baldwin organ is VERY potted down.

[wilojarston]

I've just spent some time A/B-ing some of the newer two-fer remasters with these 2012 reissues, and for me these are definitely a mixed bag.  I think the stereo mixes are done very well, and truly open up each track in a way that's quite revealing.  I'm enjoying listening to these new mixes, especially on Smiley Smile.  However, I think there are issues with the mastering of all the tracks on these new reissues.  Comparing mono versions of the songs with the most recent reissues they don't sound as full and fresh to me, like the master tapes have offered what they could years ago and don't have any punch left.  In particular I hear the low mids and low end in general lacking on these, which is a shame.  I believe the stereo mixes also are suffering from this mastering problem.

[Amazing Larry]

I've just spent some time A/B-ing some of the newer two-fer remasters with these 2012 reissues, and for me these are definitely a mixed bag.  I think the stereo mixes are done very well, and truly open up each track in a way that's quite revealing.  I'm enjoying listening to these new mixes, especially on Smiley Smile.  However, I think there are issues with the mastering of all the tracks on these new reissues.  Comparing mono versions of the songs with the most recent reissues they don't sound as full and fresh to me, like the master tapes have offered what they could years ago and don't have any punch left.  In particular I hear the low mids and low end in general lacking on these, which is a shame.  I believe the stereo mixes also are suffering from this mastering problem.

I agree. When I get my cd's I'm gonna rip 'em to WAVS, re-EQ them, and burn them to a cd-r.

[The Heartical Don]

I've been getting deep into Smiley Smile since the new edition came out and just have to say, this is a work of freakin' genius!

The writing.  The singing.  The playing.  The VERY strange weirdness of it all!

I really "get" Smiley Smile now and with all respect to Carl Wilson, this album IS a home run!  Or maybe a bases clearing double!

It really is the first "alternative pop" record.

I am finally starting to understand its internal logic.

It's "alt music" before its time.

No, it's not SMiLe, but...... WOW

It's not just great; it's insanely great!

Lovely and Scary!!!

My Two Cents.

Couldn't agree more. It's a work of art. Done purely on the instincts of the moment, and in pretty bad circumstances, I guess. That made it what it is: great. And your remark on it being alt.music before the term was invented is spot on.

[The Shift]

Reviews of the discs over at The Seond Disc:

http://theseconddisc.com/2012/10/16/review-the-beach-boys-remasters-part-two-the-album-by-album-guide/#comment-18818

A familiar name just doesn't seem to be too happy about them (see comments at foot of reviews)!

[runnersdialzero]

Reviews of the discs over at The Seond Disc:

http://theseconddisc.com/2012/10/16/review-the-beach-boys-remasters-part-two-the-album-by-album-guide/#comment-18818

A familiar name just doesn't seem to be too happy about them (see comments at foot of reviews)!

Wasn't the rumor about Mike blocking a bunch of sh*t, particularly Brian Wilson songs, from being released on Made In California basically debunked and said not to be true? As I said elsewhere, who the f*** is gonna be the main songwriter on a Beach Boys box set if not Brian? Makes no sense.

[Jim V.]

Reviews of the discs over at The Seond Disc:

http://theseconddisc.com/2012/10/16/review-the-beach-boys-remasters-part-two-the-album-by-album-guide/#comment-18818

A familiar name just doesn't seem to be too happy about them (see comments at foot of reviews)!

Wasn't the rumor about Mike blocking a bunch of sh*t, particularly Brian Wilson songs, from being released on Made In California basically debunked and said not to be true? As I said elsewhere, who the f*** is gonna be the main songwriter on a Beach Boys box set if not Brian? Makes no sense.

It wasn't really debunked per se, but I did point out that the poster who started this rumor was a guy on the Hoff board named "fifthbeatle" or something. You know, the poster formerly known as "VintageMusic", so I wouldn't put too much credence into what that goofball says. I find it pretty hard to believe that he would be trusted with any confidential information.