Favorite unreleased Beach Boys/BW song

[the captain]

Since everyone around here ALWAYS loves to talk about unreleased material (usually so they can note how it's so much better than what was released in its place...), I thought it might be sort of fun to see what everyone's taste in unreleased material is. Here are the rules:

1) the song can't have been released on a proper Beach Boys/Brian Wilson album, meaning that the songs that were officially released on compilations can count as your favorites, if you'd like (Soulful Old Man Sunshine, then, is a legit choice).

2) the song must be finished or close enough that you can really get a good sense of it. A melodic fragment of 13 seconds would not cut it, but things like Been Way Too Long/Can't Wait Too Long would.

3) unreleased versions of songs that were rewritten or otherwise released count (meaning the Sunflower-era Big Sur or Back Home are legit choices).

4) covers are OK .

5) Mike Loves songs are not OK. (kidding)

It would be nice if you'd say something about your choice, too, for those who may not know it. And, of course, what makes it so good. Now get to it.

[Charles LePage @ ComicList]

Black Widow.

[I. Spaceman]

Companion.

[the captain]

Ahem...

It would be nice if you'd say something about your choice, too, for those who may not know it. And, of course, what makes it so good.

[Matinee Idyll]

Oh yeah, Companion is real nice... Not heard Black Widow.

I'll go for "Battle Hymn...", not nearly as bad as everyone said it was.

[I. Spaceman]

I'll go for "Battle Hymn...", not nearly as bad as everyone said it was.

I'm gonna have to e-smack you.

Companion, because it's just groovy, it's Dennis, it's slimy, smarmy, and dead sexy.

[the captain]

I've never heard it.

[Matinee Idyll]

Oh f*** you Ian, give me the boys doing "Hymn" over Elvis' wanky, bombastic "American Trilogy" any day...

We're talking about passion here man, and there ain't no contest.

[I. Spaceman]

OK, you HAVE to be kidding.
American Trilogy is one of the greatest moments in music history. And most passionate.
I KNOW you're kidding.

[Matinee Idyll]

* end e-sarcasm *

[I. Spaceman]

*WHEW!*

Don't scare me like that, dude! 

[monkee knutz]

Only 2 I can come up with- Carry Me Home... If there's any BB song that full of nothing but real heart, soul & REAL feeling it's this one. Flattens me up every time. 2nd place goes to the BB's take on The River Song. How did these 2 never escape the vault to a legit release??

[Matinee Idyll]

Oh hell monkee... Carry Me Home, that's the ticket...

What an incredible song.  Dennis' sung part "Rain's falling down on me, wind is blowing cold..." is one of the most emotive, and visual vocals I've ever heard...  Actually, that shot in Forest Gump, where he's looking up at the night sky in Vietnam, and it's shot from behind him...

I always see that when I hear that song.

[Susan]

Dennis' "Wouldn't It Be Nice (To Live Again)" gets first vote - this is simply jaw-droppingly awesome.  "Companion" would be second...but it would be a distant second.  That's how good WIBN(TLA) is.

[Matinee Idyll]

Susan, where'd you hear it!?  I'd love to 'ear it...

[Joel5001]

It's all about "Stevie".

[Matinee Idyll]

I love the "hold you closer in my dreams" part... that pounding bass and melody is so very Dennis...

[matt-zeus]

I sleep alone - great melody great groove.
Sherry she needs me - great vocals and track
Back Home (Sunflower version) - nice production
Stevie - Great tune
Water builds up - Great tune
We're together again - Lovely
Still I dream of it - classic
You've lost that lovin' feeling - Amazing!
We got love - Nice vocal
Almost Summer (I know its technically released) - Great lost late 70s song, would have fit on MIU
Thats all that spring to mind at the moment, I'm sure there are more. Have not heard many of Brians early 80s songs or the Usher stuff so I can't comment on it.

[Smilin Ed H]

For now, off the top of my head, a 1969/70 to 78 collection, all cleaned up in a double CD package with liner notes by someone who knows what they're talking about:
Carnival
My Solution
Lady
Sound of the Free
San Miguel
Walkin'
Back Home
Big Sur (early version)
Wouldn't It Be Nice (To Live Again)
I Sleep Alone
Fourth of July
Out in the Country
We Got Love
Hard Times (if it exists...)
Carry Me Home
It's New Day
Gold Rush (if it exists...)
Santa Ana Winds (original version)
Lookin' Down the Coast
River Song
California Feelin'
Come to the Sunshine (if it still exists)
Sea Cruise
On Broadway
Sherry, She Needs Me
You've Lost That Loving Feeling
Lines
Winter Symphony


I would buy it. What? You don't hear a hit?  Tough.

[David C.]

Lines / very quirky, very Brian
Life is for the Living / a period song
Can't wait too long / the vocals
Lady / Dennis sounds great on this one
Still I Dream of it / keep wishing Brian would sing this one live

[jazzfascist]

"Companion" appears to be a Carli Munoz composition, of course it's still good. Since it's a kind of latin/fusion thing and not Dennis' usual style, I thought it was a sign, that he was broadening his musical perspective in terms of writing for Bamboo, but it turns out it was written by someone else. Otherwise I would also vote for "Black Widow/Let's Do it Again". If it had been included on "Brian Wilson" instead of "Night Time" it would have been an improvement on that album.

Søren

[carlydenise2]

SOUND OF FREE

[jazzfascist]

"Sound Of Free" is also great, but wasn't that released under the name of "Rumbo". But yeah, the Beach Boys should have used it on "Surfs Up".

Søren

[the captain]

The two finest unreleased BBs track by far, I believe, are the Smile versions of Wind Chimes and Wonderful, released on the GV box.

I really like the Old Man River attempts, I Do, Soulful Old Man Sunshine and the 1970 Big Sur and Back Home, too.

I'd say Still I dream of It, but I don't like the real recording--I'd take the demo any day.

[Susan]

WIBN(TLA) was one of the songs that Alan Boyd brought for us to hear at Busy Doin' Somethin' in 2003.