50th Anniversary live double CD up for pre-order on Amazon

[Rocker]

How amazing and pure was that unplugged Rolling Stone performance?

Yeah, that one is fantastic!! Would love to hear more of it. But it wasn't that "pure" either, for completness.

Well, I was simply referring to the fact that one could easily enjoy each of the core BBs voices distinctly, cleanly and "purely" in the mix. A throwback to the early days. Like a comfortable glove. Mike center. Brian center-left. Bruce left. Al right.

Absolutely. I'm totally with you on that. Those three songs we got from that show were probably the best official live footage of C50 and still blow my mind. Also whatever was done was done tastefully. I'd like to know what else was played. There was an audience so I guess it wasn't just for three songs (minus the solo in Surfin' USA).



EDIT:

I'm still not sure if DIA is the same version as on the NPR recordings, but "Surfin' USA" seems to be the same recording (listen for Mike's laughing around "planing our route")

[GuyO]

Got the CD today. Why does Heroes & Villains sound so awful? I have a hunch it's because it has Brian vocals fromBWPS flown in...

[Cabinessenceking]

This bit of Don't back Down is also just pure Robo-Mike, especially 'feeeet' and 'not my boys'

Don;t Back Down [Snippett]: http://soundcloud.com/moar-freddie/dont-back-down-live-snippett

Oh, man.

Is there anyone here who thinks that's acceptable?  Does anyone enjoy that?

No.

It's utterly disgusting and those responsible should not hold an executive position for anything related to music in the future.

[Dave Modny]

Absolutely. I'm totally with you on that. Those three songs we got from that show were probably the best official live footage of C50 and still blow my mind. Also whatever was done was done tastefully. I'd like to know what else was played. There was an audience so I guess it wasn't just for three songs (minus the solo in Surfin' USA).

All I can say is that...I'd be all over that like a fly to you-know-what if anything else ever surfaced...lol. If there were ever a performance that left the listener wanting more, I'd say that one certainly qualified! What we got was short....but oh so sweet.

[Wirestone]

Got the CD today. Why does Heroes & Villains sound so awful? I have a hunch it's because it has Brian vocals fromBWPS flown in...

I would doubt that very strongly. Different record companies, different owners of the recordings, different mixer/engineer teams.

[GuyO]

True.  I am quite confident it's a studio recording at the least.

Hey, they used Dennis' and Carls vocals too from older recordings and those sound great. Very nice addition: at the shows I attended I didn't see or hear the video tributes.

[Wirestone]

True.  I am quite confident it's a studio recording at the least.

Hey, they used Dennis' and Carls vocals too from older recordings and those sound great. Very nice addition: at the shows I attended I didn't see or hear the video tributes.

I'd hope it would sound better if it was a studio recording, frankly. But however it came together, the H&V is ghastly.

[Freddie French-Pounce]

True.  I am quite confident it's a studio recording at the least.

Hey, they used Dennis' and Carls vocals too from older recordings and those sound great. Very nice addition: at the shows I attended I didn't see or hear the video tributes.

I'd hope it would sound better if it was a studio recording, frankly. But however it came together, the H&V is ghastly.

If it weren't artificially double-tracked [or doubled tracked at all], it would be okay.

i feel like i should put up a good sample... Any requests?

No Autotune here!: http://soundcloud.com/moar-freddie/whhhheeeeennn

However, have something nasty here:

I Get Around [Final Chorus Snippett]: http://soundcloud.com/moar-freddie/i-get-around-live-snippett

[Mikie]

If the new live 50th Anniversary release was this entire concert, that would be just fine with me!

http://www.npr.org/event/music/154917913/the-beach-boys-in-concert

Oh yeah, and add 'Darlin'".

Hi Mikie,

I may be stating common knowledge information here, but I'll just clarify that the NPR Concert, at the very least, is culled from a variety of sources. For example, Good Vibrations and the Car Medley are lifted directly from the earlier Sirius-Artist Confidential radio concert. Mixed a little differently though. More "large hall" reverb for starters. Do It Again, TWGMTR and Isn't It Time are pretty heavily doctored with the standard studio sounds as well. Also, Sail On Sailor is the same performance as the Front Row Center special, and for the first couple of verses the same as the iTunes "Chicago" version (it starts to deviate on the final verse). On the other hand, for example, something like "Help Me Rhonda" is just a straight mixdown of the Grand Prairie, TX show (it briefly falls out of sync with the audience recording I have, but it's the exact same performance, and it appears to be unfutzed with. Very nice!).

All that said, from the samples I've heard of the new CD, that NPR thing is infinitely more listenable. Ditto for the Chiba show, which while appearing to be sweetened/manipulated in places, sounds more natural and very nice for the most part. On the new CD, the auto-tuning sounds very mechanical and robotic. I haven't played with the Antares plug-in in years, but I can't remember hearing anything this bad and amateurish, no matter how much those notes were initially missed by. Something in the settings?

For me, I think that I'll make my own personal live 2-CD set culled from the best of everything that we have. I suppose one positive way to look at events is that we did get a variety of pro, radio and TV recordings to work with. Some warts and all (Mermaid, the live TV performances). Some doctored beyond recognition at times (the new release, the DVD). And things in between. Could be quite a challenge...though it might be fun to see what other people come up with for their own custom "live" compilations! 

PS - I just have to say again, so we don't ever forget: How amazing and pure was that unplugged Rolling Stone performance? If the powers-that-be know what's good for them (lol!), they'll license that version of Surfer Girl and close off the new box set with it....right after Summer's Gone! 

Agree with what you said, Dave. And only after a couple of listens did I realize the NPR 'concert' was edited and culled from a few different shows. Don't think the average Joe off the street would realize that. And if there was doctoring done, it was done with good taste, and not messed up. I know somebody will come along and compile a 'Best of' live CD/DVD if they haven't done so already. A Youtube compilation would be nice too! 

[Wirestone]

True.  I am quite confident it's a studio recording at the least.

Hey, they used Dennis' and Carls vocals too from older recordings and those sound great. Very nice addition: at the shows I attended I didn't see or hear the video tributes.

I'd hope it would sound better if it was a studio recording, frankly. But however it came together, the H&V is ghastly.

If it weren't artificially double-tracked [or doubled tracked at all], it would be okay.

i feel like i should put up a good sample... Any requests?

How about when the audience applause is spliced in around 2/3 of the way in? Awful!

[Freddie French-Pounce]

True.  I am quite confident it's a studio recording at the least.

Hey, they used Dennis' and Carls vocals too from older recordings and those sound great. Very nice addition: at the shows I attended I didn't see or hear the video tributes.

I'd hope it would sound better if it was a studio recording, frankly. But however it came together, the H&V is ghastly.

If it weren't artificially double-tracked [or doubled tracked at all], it would be okay.

i feel like i should put up a good sample... Any requests?

How about when the audience applause is spliced in around 2/3 of the way in? Awful!

What, about 20 times in the whole CD? 

[The Shift]

This bit of Don't back Down is also just pure Robo-Mike, especially 'feeeet' and 'not my boys'

Don;t Back Down [Snippett]: http://soundcloud.com/moar-freddie/dont-back-down-live-snippett

Oh, man.

Is there anyone here who thinks that's acceptable?  Does anyone enjoy that?

That doesn't sound like Mike. Sounds more like some Adrian Baker retread. Awful.

[rab2591]

This bit of Don't back Down is also just pure Robo-Mike, especially 'feeeet' and 'not my boys'

Don;t Back Down [Snippett]: http://soundcloud.com/moar-freddie/dont-back-down-live-snippett

For a group famous for their vocals, this is a travesty. I never made it to any C50 shows, and thus I was really looking forward to this release. But judging from the samples, this is absolute shite and I probably won't buy it. Live recordings are about sincerity: We're supposed to hear every screwup, every missed note, every beautiful harmony, every moment of energy. But the voice modulation/manipulation rips apart the soul of these live performances. Trying to make The Beach Boys sound like Nicki Minaj or Justin Bieber makes them sound ridiculous.

Ya know, some of us SmileySmilers should compile the best live songs from the C50 (culled from different sources), touch them up if we can (add EQ, etc), and, well, leave the rest to the imagination. We deserve to hear some great performances in album form.

[Freddie French-Pounce]

This bit of Don't back Down is also just pure Robo-Mike, especially 'feeeet' and 'not my boys'

Don;t Back Down [Snippett]: http://soundcloud.com/moar-freddie/dont-back-down-live-snippett

For a group famous for their vocals, this is a travesty. I never made it to any C50 shows, and thus I was really looking forward to this release. But judging from the samples, this is absolute shite and I probably won't buy it. Live recordings are about sincerity: We're supposed to hear every screwup, every missed note, every beautiful harmony, every moment of energy. But the voice modulation/manipulation rips apart the soul of these live performances. Trying to make The Beach Boys sound like Nicki Minaj or Justin Bieber makes them sound ridiculous.

Ya know, some of us SmileySmilers should compile the best live songs from the C50 (culled from different sources), touch them up if we can (add EQ, etc), and, well, leave the rest to the imagination. We deserve to hear some great performances in album form.

I'd be up for that

[Dave Modny]

Also: have a sample of 21 seconds of Heroes and Villains: http://soundcloud.com/moar-freddie/h-v-snippett

What do you guys think about this? Here's the Chiba version of H&V, slightly time manipulated to match the new CD release version. Other than the robo-autotune on the new version, they *almost* sound as if they were derived from the same performance (studio? truly live?). A few of the words are clipped by Brian the same way, though there's one pitch dip on one of those clipped words that doesn't exist on the new CD version. Could that just be the autotune "seeing the dip" and straightening the pitch out? There's also another word where the attack seems slightly stronger on one of the versions, but again, I can't tell if that's just the processing masking it on the other one. In any event, they're awfully damned close save for the robo-effect on the new version. If they're not related at all, well...

It also seems to me that there was *something* done to that Chiba version, as the pitch seems a little too artificial and perfect. Those first vocal notes in particular almost sound like they were "bended up" or fixed, and there seems to be a few other subtle artifacts. There's a handful of other examples of studio bits in this concert, so I don't *think* this was broadcast as a live, as-it-happened pay-per-view, but rather, perhaps, a post-produced one. Though, any work done was nowhere near as blatant or unsettling as the new robo-version. Then again, I could be wrong, and they simply could've worked those studio bits into the live broadcast (e.g. the a capella intro to Isn't It Time). I'm leaning more toward the former though, as this almost seems professionally mixed after-the-fact.

Also, being that I've noticed a lot of digital tempo stretching/time compression going on in the BB Universe as of late, as noted, I had to digitally tempo match these tracks. Don't try syncing them though, as it was only a very rough adjustment, and thus, they won't stay in sync. They're simply closer now. I'm more concerned about whether or not the lead vocal has a common lineage.

I also included the warts-and-all Mermaid version to show what the H&V truly sounds like, live, without any kind of manipulation. Brian's as flat as a pancake, vocally, but....


Again, I'm just curious if other people think there might be some common lineage between the vocal on the Chiba and the new 2-CD version -- using Mr. Moustachioto's Soundcloud sample as the new CD reference. My old and tired ears honestly can't tell for sure.  

Any comments welcome.

The new CD version (courtesy of Mr. Moustachioto):

http://soundcloud.com/moar-freddie/h-v-snippett



H&V - Chiba:

http://lukpac.org/~dave/Heroes%20And%20Villains%20-%20Chiba,%20Japan%20-%208-16-2012%20-%20Tempo%20Manipulated.mp3


And for a completely different, no common lineage, warts and all performance from The Mermaid:

http://lukpac.org/~dave/Heroes%20And%20Villains%20-%20Mermaid%20Theatre%20-%209-24-2012.mp3

[SMiLE Brian]

This bit of Don't back Down is also just pure Robo-Mike, especially 'feeeet' and 'not my boys'

Don;t Back Down [Snippett]: http://soundcloud.com/moar-freddie/dont-back-down-live-snippett

Aqua Mike!!!

[Shady]

This bit of Don't back Down is also just pure Robo-Mike, especially 'feeeet' and 'not my boys'

Don;t Back Down [Snippett]: http://soundcloud.com/moar-freddie/dont-back-down-live-snippett

Good god that is truly an abomination.

I'm buying the CD to support the boys then burying it in my backyard.

Everyone involved in the production of this CD should be blacklisted from music. And yes I know Brian's name is on the CD but he had nothing to do with it.

[Shady]

This bit of Don't back Down is also just pure Robo-Mike, especially 'feeeet' and 'not my boys'

Don;t Back Down [Snippett]: http://soundcloud.com/moar-freddie/dont-back-down-live-snippett

Ya know, some of us SmileySmilers should compile the best live songs from the C50 (culled from different sources), touch them up if we can (add EQ, etc), and, well, leave the rest to the imagination. We deserve to hear some great performances in album form.

Please do that.

[tpesky]

True.  I am quite confident it's a studio recording at the least.

Hey, they used Dennis' and Carls vocals too from older recordings and those sound great. Very nice addition: at the shows I attended I didn't see or hear the video tributes.

I'd hope it would sound better if it was a studio recording, frankly. But however it came together, the H&V is ghastly.

If it weren't artificially double-tracked [or doubled tracked at all], it would be okay.

i feel like i should put up a good sample... Any requests?

No Autotune here!: http://soundcloud.com/moar-freddie/whhhheeeeennn

However, have something nasty here:

I Get Around [Final Chorus Snippett]: http://soundcloud.com/moar-freddie/i-get-around-live-snippett

No Cottonfields....but 30 plus  seconds of WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN.
Ughh

[MarcellaHasDirtyFeet]

Ya know, I have a theory...
*everything after this is complete bullshit*

At the beginning of C50, everything was auto tuned to hell. We bitched, sure, but regardless of whether or not that had any effect, that changed part way through the tour. But I swear to God, I always thought that Brian's vocals still sounded off, and I thought I heard some kind of double tracking type effect (I attended two shows)

Could the live mix have included both a "dry" track, straight from the mics (more or less) as well as a separate processed/auto tuned lead vocal track?

I hope I'm making myself clear. I just feel that the techniques used to generate a good live sound might be hard to translate to a self contained release.

[Wirestone]

Possible. But it seems unlikely to me. The two shows I saw, Brian was loud in the mix and dry as a bone.

[EgoHanger1966]

Some of the live cuts have already shown up on youtube, check this user's vids for more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnESAlEcESk

Don't Back Down has a massive amount of autoutune, Safari sounds much better and has far less. Go figure.

Not the version(s) on the new live cd. Oops. Still autotuned, though!

[seltaeb1012002]

Some of the live cuts have already shown up on youtube, check this user's vids for more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnESAlEcESk

Don't Back Down has a massive amount of autoutune, Safari sounds much better and has far less. Go figure.

That's the worst tuning job I've ever heard. They got Foskett hitting all sorts of wrong notes. It's like they just slapped the auto-tune plug in on there at "zero retune" (most robotic sound, for those aren't familiar with the plugin) without even considering what the right notes are in the melody. Ahhh. So friggin frustrating.

[EgoHanger1966]

J-Thomas could learn a thing or two from J-Hype.

Robo-Brian:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwTx-BVPJOw

Doesn't sound remotely live, either.

Apparently, this is not the version on the new live disc. Sowwy.

[runnersdialzero]

Guys. Joe "Dave" Thomas "Of Wendy's" is a busy guy. Farmin' that hair into impossible shapes. You can't just expect him to take the time to make the human voice sound like a human voice.