MiC up for order on Amazon, August release

[Nicko1234]

As for 'more money than sense' -- I genuinely don't think so. There are a bunch of musicians for whom I'm a big enough fan to want more than a greatest hits collection, but not everything they've ever recorded, so I've ended up picking up quite a few box sets of this type over the years. I'm sure there are plenty of people for whom the Beach Boys fall into that category.

And yes, it would be a bit daft for those people to pay $130 for the box set, but it's selling elsewhere at closer to $100, and the price will only drop. They're not all going to be buying from the hihest-priced shop on release day, after all...

If the price does drop considerably then obviously that would change things. Especially if they hadn't bought 50 Big Ones (have to admire Capitol for having the brassneck to release these two products in such quick succession). But any regular fan spending more than $100 on this would have to have more money than sense yes. Especially as the GV box set is still available new for way under that price and second hand could doubtless be bought for a fraction of the money.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Here is my cast iron, 100% guaranteed method of deriving the maximum pleasure from Made in California:

1 -  if you like the track listing you've seen, buy it, and enjoy.

2 - if you don't, don't buy it, in which case you'll have saved over $100 and your blood pressure won't be elevated from all that bitching.

Now, how hard was that ?  

[Nicko1234]

Here is my cast iron, 100% guaranteed method of deriving the maximum pleasure from Made in California:

1 -  if you like the track listing you've seen, buy it, and enjoy.

2 - if you don't, don't buy it, in which case you'll have saved over $100 and your blood pressure won't be elevated from all that bitching.

Now, how hard was that ?  

3 - Don't buy it but engage in stimulating debate on the board with like minded gimps. 

[Bean Bag]

4.  Buy it.  Toss discs 5 and 6 and get 120 Big Ones for 140 bux!!

Maximum pleasure!!!

[Shady]

As a new poster, and someone who's only gotten into the Beach Boys in the last couple years, I can say I'm excited about this box set for sure. The unreleased Dennis tunes should be wonderful, some of the live stuff will be great as well, particularly excited about the live "Wild Honey". Having said that, I can see why some people would feel slighted by the track list. As a longtime Springsteen fanatic, I think he's done a really fantastic job releasing archival material while not deluding his catalog. Just look at Tracks, or The Promise. I can say I was hoping the Beach Boys would go that route with this box. I mean, we already had the Good Vibrations box, with all the hits, then we had the 50 Big Ones with all the hits, and I'm not even going to bring up the countless number of greatest hits they've put out over their career. So the fact that they're including stuff like Good Vibrations and Kokomo just kinda seems meaningless at this point. I'd like to think that everyone who wants to hear those songs, already has them, and really wouldn't help sales of this set too much. However, this is all my opinion, and ultimately, the Beach Boys can do what they like, as it's their art. But like I said, I'm psyched to hear some of this stuff, and depending on the price of the set, I'll probably pick it up. I do feel bad for some folks who bought 50 Big Ones to hear the stereo mixes of Wild Honey and Darlin' though, as it seems they'll be on this as well.

What a nice and tidy way to sum up both sides of the discussion

[The Shift]

Is "It's A Beautiful Day" considered a decent 80's song or one of the many terrible ones. I can't decide if I'm happy or disappointed it's made the box set.

That's a question we can't answer on your behalf. 

[Shady]

Is "It's A Beautiful Day" considered a decent 80's song or one of the many terrible ones. I can't decide if I'm happy or disappointed it's made the box set.

That's a question we can't answer on your behalf. 

 

I guess. It's so bad and so good at the same time

[Blake Alan]

Man, if they had skipped some of the backing tracks and stack-o-vocals, maybe even some of the lives, they could have easily crammed more genuinely unreleased stuff there.

No they couldn't. Putting two different versions of the same song on costs less than putting two different songs on. If they put, say, This Whole World and This Whole World (vocals) on the same set they only have to pay nine cents per copy sold. If you took This Whole World (vocals) off and put Carry Me Home on instead they'd have to pay eighteen cents.

I know those nine centses don't sound a lot, but assuming all 180 tracks were different songs, with no duplications, the mechanical royalties make up $16.20 of that price everyone's complaining about.

(Actually, they probably cut a deal with the publishers, but we can't know the details of that, obviously).

By duplicating twenty-two of the songs, they save $1.98 per box production costs. Those costs would have to be made up somewhere else.

Right. Which is why I’m surprised Please Let Me Wonder (live in Chicago ’65) didn’t make the cut. Had this (a song many fans have been eager to hear) been included at the expense of Runaway (a cover song I’m not so sure anyone’s been asking for), the record company could have saved some change while the fans got to hear Brian in his prime sing one of his most beautiful ballads. Win-win, right?

But I guess the fans/label are not the only parties involved. Which leads me to believe someone up top must have thought some aspect of PLMW wasn’t quite up to snuff and/or something about Runaway was mind blowingly awesome. Could any of the lucky souls who’ve heard the live PLMW speak to the quality of the performance?

[SMiLE Brian]

The whole chicago 1965 show should be released as its mind-blowingly awesome. Its a glimpse of the live maturity the BBs had with Brian touring and leading the group. Once

[Mahalo]

It's OK alt mix?? No, it's not "OK".... hopefully it's the version with no vox except with Denny's awesome tag- other than that the song is waste of valuable CD space.

Little Honda again???

Agree 100% about PLMW live....

[Bean Bag]

the reaction here seems very, very odd. We've known for eighteen months now pretty much exactly what this would be. Not the precise details, but that it'd be a six-CD set, covering their whole career, and about two CDs of it would be previously unreleased.

Andrew -- I can't speak for everyone, but... actually, my assumption (right or wrong) was that 50 Big Ones was the comprehensive hits "box" and this other nebulous, "if it happens" box Made In California -- if it happened -- was the vault raid!!

And it is a NICE vault raid for sure... but 2/3 of it is 50 Big Ones -- and not really a "Volume 2" of 50 Big Ones either.  It's the same thing, largely.

I mean, seriously.... right?  It's just a little bit "ho-hum?"  Just a little?

[Micha]

Here is my cast iron, 100% guaranteed method of deriving the maximum pleasure from Made in California:

1 -  if you like the track listing you've seen, buy it, and enjoy.

2 - if you don't, don't buy it, in which case you'll have saved over $100 and your blood pressure won't be elevated from all that bitching.

Now, how hard was that ?  

And what do I do if I like some of it and some not?

[Paulos]

Here is my cast iron, 100% guaranteed method of deriving the maximum pleasure from Made in California:

1 -  if you like the track listing you've seen, buy it, and enjoy.

2 - if you don't, don't buy it, in which case you'll have saved over $100 and your blood pressure won't be elevated from all that bitching.

Now, how hard was that ?  

And what do I do if I like some of it and some not?

Well in that scenario you're screwed! 

[AndrewHickey]

Andrew -- I can't speak for everyone, but... actually, my assumption (right or wrong) was that 50 Big Ones was the comprehensive hits "box" and this other nebulous, "if it happens" box Made In California -- if it happened -- was the vault raid!!

Everyone who knew anything was saying otherwise.

And it is a NICE vault raid for sure... but 2/3 of it is 50 Big Ones -- and not really a "Volume 2" of 50 Big Ones either.  It's the same thing, largely.

Fifty isn't two-thirds of one hundred and seventy-four. It's not even one third. And that's assuming that all fifty tracks from Fifty Big Ones were duplicated here, which they're not. I can't be bothered to go through the list but just off the top of my head Rock & Roll Music is a different version.

I mean, seriously.... right?  It's just a little bit "ho-hum?"  Just a little?

No, not even a little.

[AndrewHickey]

Here is my cast iron, 100% guaranteed method of deriving the maximum pleasure from Made in California:

1 -  if you like the track listing you've seen, buy it, and enjoy.

2 - if you don't, don't buy it, in which case you'll have saved over $100 and your blood pressure won't be elevated from all that bitching.

Now, how hard was that ?  

And what do I do if I like some of it and some not?

Buy some of the tracks as MP3s, go halves with a friend who likes the other stuff and keep the part you want, wait til you can get a copy for the price you like, torrent it and delete the tracks you don't like, sneak into the pressing plants and replace the master for disc one with an Adult Child bootleg... the possibilities are endless.

[Mike's Beard]

Us Beach Boy fans really should consider for a moment how lucky we actually are. By comparison 3 of my other  favourite bands are Fleetwood Mac, The Eagles and Queen - all huge bands with massive fanbases - who will not open their vaults, period. Our lads have put out 5 (soon to be 6) major archival releases in the last 20 years (not to mention all the bonus tracks on the twofers). They could have easily said no, the hits have made them millions and continue to do so. I seriously doubt Mike has been frothing, rabidly at the mouth for the last 33 years for the world to hear "Goin' To The Beach". In the band's mind they may be worried that they are starting to scrape the barrel after all the previous vault releases so be thankful that we are still getting archive material.

[Andrew G. Doe]

And it is a NICE vault raid for sure... but 2/3 of it is 50 Big Ones -- and not really a "Volume 2" of 50 Big Ones either.  It's the same thing, largely.

Fifty isn't two-thirds of one hundred and seventy-four. It's not even one third. And that's assuming that all fifty tracks from Fifty Big Ones were duplicated here, which they're not. I can't be bothered to go through the list but just off the top of my head Rock & Roll Music is a different version.

Just to prove Mr. H isn't whistling Dixie... 50 Big Ones tracks highlighted:

CD 1
----
1.    Home Recordings / "Surfin'" Rehearsal Highlights (2012 Edit - Mono)
2.    Surfin' (with Session Intro - Mono)
3.    Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring (Demo - Mono)
4.    Surfin' Safari (Original Mono Long Version)
5.    409 (Original Mono Long Version)
6.    Lonely Sea (Original Mono Mix)
7.    Surfin' U.S.A.
8.    Shut Down (2003 Stereo Mix)
9.    Surfer Girl
10.   Little Deuce Coupe
11.   Catch A Wave
12.   Our Car Club
13.   Surfers Rule (with Session Intro)
14.   In My Room
15.   Back Home
16.   Be True To Your School (Mono Single Version)
17.   Ballad Of Ole' Betsy
18.   Little Saint Nick (Stereo Single Version)
19.   Fun, Fun, Fun (Mono Single Version)
20.   Little Honda
21.   Don't Worry Baby (2009 Stereo Mix)
22.   Why Do Fools Fall In Love (2009 Stereo Mix)
23.   The Warmth Of The Sun
24.   I Get Around (with Session Intro - Mono)
25.   Wendy (2007 Stereo Mix)
26.   All Summer Long (2007 Stereo Mix)
27.   Girls On The Beach
28.   Don't Back Down
29.   When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) (2012 Stereo Mix)
30.   All Dressed Up For School (Mono)
31.   Please Let Me Wonder (2007 Stereo Mix)
32.   Kiss Me, Baby (2000 Stereo Mix)
33.   In The Back of My Mind (2012 Stereo Mix)
34.   Dance, Dance, Dance (2003 Stereo Mix)
 
 
 
CD 2
----
1.    Do You Wanna Dance (2012 Stereo Mix)
2.    Help Me, Rhonda (Mono Single Version)
3.    California Girls (2002 Stereo Mix)
4.    Amusement Parks USA (Early Version)
5.    Salt Lake City (2001 Stereo Mix)
6.    Let Him Run Wild (2007 Stereo Mix)
7.    Graduation Day (Session Excerpt and Master Take, 2012 Mix)
8.    The Little Girl I Once Knew (Mono)
9.    There's No Other (Like My Baby) (2012 "Unplugged" Mix with Party Session
      Intro)
10.   Barbara Ann (2012 Stereo Mix)
11.   Radio Spot "Wonderful KYA" (Mono)
12.   Sloop John B (1996 Stereo Mix)
13.   Wouldn't It Be Nice (2001 Stereo Mix)
14.   God Only Knows (1996 Stereo Mix)
15.   I Just Wasn't Made For These Times (1996 Stereo Mix)
16.   Caroline No (1996 Stereo Mix)
17.   Good Vibrations (Mono)
18.   Our Prayer (2012 "Smile Sessions" Stereo Mix)
19.   Heroes And Villains: Part 1 ("Smile Sessions" Mix - Mono)
20.   Heroes And Villains: Part 2 ("Smile Sessions" Mix - Mono)
21.   Vega-Tables ("Smile Sessions" Stereo Mix)
22.   Wind Chimes ("Smile Sessions" Stereo Mix)
23.   The Elements: Fire (Mrs. O'Leary's Cow) ("Smile Sessions" Mix - Mono)
24.   Cabin Essence ("Smile Sessions" Mix - Mono)
25.   Heroes And Villains (2012 Stereo Mix)
26.   Wonderful (2012 Stereo Mix)
27.   Country Air (2012 Stereo Mix)
28.   Wild Honey (2012 Stereo Mix)
 
 
 
CD 3
----
1.    Darlin' (2012 Stereo Mix)
2.    Let The Wind Blow (2001 Stereo Mix)
3.    Meant For You (Alternate Version)
4.    Friends
5.    Little Bird
6.    Busy Doin' Nothin'
7.    Sail Plane Song (2012 Stereo Mix)
8.    We're Together Again (2012 Stereo Mix)
9.    Radio Spot "Murray The K" (Mono)
10.   Do It Again (2012 Stereo Mix)
11.   Old Man River (Vocal Section)
12.   Be With Me
13.   I Can Hear Music
14.   Time To Get Alone
15.   I Went To Sleep
16.   Can't Wait Too Long (A Cappella)
17.   Break Away (Alternate Version)
18.   Celebrate The News
19.   Cotton Fields (The Cotton Song) (Single Version, 2001 Stereo Mix)
20.   Susie Cincinnati (2012 Mix)
21.   Good Time
22.   Slip On Through
23.   Add Some Music To Your Day
24.   This Whole World
25.   Forever
26.   It's About Time
27.   Soulful Old Man Sunshine
28.   Fallin' In Love (2009 Stereo Mix)
29.   Sound Of Free (Mono Single Version)
30.   'Til I Die
31.   Surf's Up
 
 
 
CD 4
----
1.    Don't Go Near The Water
2.    Disney Girls (1957)
3.    Feel Flows
4.    (Wouldn't It Be Nice To) Live Again
5.    Marcella
6.    All This Is That
7.    Sail On Sailor
8.    The Trader
9.    California Saga (On My Way To Sunny Californ-I-A)
10.   Rock And Roll Music (2012 Mix w/Extra Verse)
11.   It's OK (Alternate Mix)
12.   Had To Phone Ya
13.   Let Us Go On This Way
14.   I'll Bet He's Nice
15.   Solar System
16.   The Night Was So Young
17.   It's Over Now (Alternate Mix)
18.   Come Go With Me
19.   California Feelin'
20.   Brian's Back (Alternate Mix)
21.   Good Timin'
22.   Angel Come Home
23.   Baby Blue
24.   It's A Beautiful Day (Single Edit) (2012 Mix)
25.   Goin' To The Beach
 
 
 
CD 5
----
1.     Goin' On
2.     Why Don't They Let Us Fall In Love
3.     Da Doo Ron Ron
4.     Getcha Back
5.     California Dreamin'
6.     Kokomo
7.     Soul Searchin'
8.     You're Still A Mystery
9.     That's Why God Made The Radio
10.    Isn't It Time (Single Version)
 THE BEACH BOYS LIVE:
-------------------------------------------------------------
11.    Runaway (Chicago 1965 -- w/Concert Promo Intro - Mono)
12.    You're So Good To Me (Paris 1966 - Mono)
13.    The Letter (Hawaii Rehearsal 1967)
14.    Friends (Chicago 1968 - Mono)
15.    Little Bird (Chicago 1968 - Mono)
16.    All I Want To Do (London 1968)
17.    Help Me, Rhonda (New Jersey 1972)
18.    Wild Honey (New Jersey 1972)
19.    Only With You (New York 1972)
20.    It's About Time (Chicago 1973)
21.    I Can Hear Music (Maryland 1975)
22.    Vegetables (New York 1993)
23.    Wonderful (New York 1993)
24.    Sail On Sailor (Louisville 1995)
25.    Summer In Paradise (Wembley 1993)
 
 
 
CD 6
----
FROM THE VAULTS:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.     Radio Spot (1966 -- Mono)
2.     Slip On Through (A Cappella Mix)
3.     Don't Worry Baby (Stereo Session Outtake w/ Alternate Lead Vocal)
4.     Pom Pom Play Girl (Vocal Session Highlight)
5.     Guess I'm Dumb (Instrumental Track w/Background Vocals)
6.     Sherry She Needs Me (1965 Track w/1976 Vocal)
7.     Mona Kana (Instrumental Track)
8.     This Whole World (A Cappella)
9.     Where Is She?
10.    Had To Phone Ya (Instrumental Track)
11.    SMiLE Backing Vocals Montage (from "The Smile Sessions")
12.    Good Vibrations (Stereo Track Sections)
13.    Be With Me (Demo)
14.    I Believe In Miracles (Vocal Section)
15.    Why (Instrumental Track)
16.    Barnyard Blues
17.    Don't Go Near The Water (Instrumental Track)
18.    You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling
19.    Transcendental Meditation (Instrumental Track)
20.    Our Sweet Love (Vocals w/Strings)
21.    Back Home (1970 Version)
22.    California Feelin' (Original Demo)
23.    California Girls ("Lei'd In Hawaii" Studio Version)
24.    Help You, Rhonda ("Lei'd In Hawaii" Studio Version)
25.    Surf's Up (1967 Version) (2012 Mix)
26.    My Love Lives On
27.    Radio Spot (1964 - Mono)
28.    Wendy (BBC -- Live in the Studio 1964 - Mono)
29.    When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) (BBC -- Live in the Studio 1964 - Mono)
30.    Hushabye (BBC -- Live in the Studio 1964 - Mono)
31.    Carl Wilson: Coda (2013 Edit)

[Bean Bag]

Thanks for going thought that AGD.

Andrew -- I can't speak for everyone, but... actually, my assumption (right or wrong) was that 50 Big Ones was the comprehensive hits "box" and this other nebulous, "if it happens" box Made In California -- if it happened -- was the vault raid!!

Everyone who knew anything was saying otherwise.

Well, I knew "something."  You were eased into this - and thus prepared for the tracklist.  I wasn't.  I'm doing the math now - and it's not all peachy at the moment.

And it is a NICE vault raid for sure... but 2/3 of it is 50 Big Ones -- and not really a "Volume 2" of 50 Big Ones either.  It's the same thing, largely.

Fifty isn't two-thirds of one hundred and seventy-four. It's not even one third. And that's assuming that all fifty tracks from Fifty Big Ones were duplicated here, which they're not. I can't be bothered to go through the list but just off the top of my head Rock & Roll Music is a different version.

Fair enough.  Courtesy of AGD, I counted 48 of the 50 tracks found on 50 Big Ones are included in MIC.  I think that was part of my point.

So it's...
2 disc of 50 Big ones.
2 disc of 50 Big ones, Volume 2
2 discs of new stuff.

I mean, seriously.... right?  It's just a little bit "ho-hum?"  Just a little?

No, not even a little.

Cool.  I hope to be there too.  You've had more time to process this, I guess -- so it's good to know there's the possibility that I'll come to the same conclusion.

I have two months to dream about the new stuff.

 

[Rob Dean]

I actually heard the 'Live at the BBC' Version (from November 1964) of Hushabye on Radio Bristol last year - It was on the syndicated local BBC Radio 'Saturday Rock n Roll' show , I was rather surprised to hear it on the radio ( maybe the BBC opened its vaults to the MIC Set producers and thought 'let's give it a spin' )

[Andrew G. Doe]

Fair enough.  Courtesy of AGD, I counted 48 of the 50 tracks found on 50 Big Ones are included in MIC.  I think that was part of my point.

Nothing of the sort - your actual words were "but 2/3 of it is 50 Big Ones", which is, demonstrably, utter and complete nonsense, not to mention piss-poor math on your part. 48 out of 174 is just over 27.5% - some considerable way short of 66.67%.

[Rob Dean]

Well AGD , that means he was 41.125 % correct.

I love the smell of Maths in the morning 

[Sheriff John Stone]

The people on here who are saying there 'need to be' two boxed sets, one of hits and one of rarities, are just not thinking about why boxed sets are released in the real world. It only 'needs to' happen from our perspective, from the view of the fan who wants everything. But it would seem that there aren't enough of us to justify the commercial outlay and time required to create and sell rarities sets like that.

As somebody who does think there "needs to be" two boxed sets, I think there is another reason to support the suggestion. Part of it falls into the need to want everything, but I think it is necessary for a group of The Beach Boys' stature to have something of an historical, archival feeling. There are several tracks, mostly from the post-1973 period, that regardless of their commercial success (or lack of) and critical acclaim (or lack of), deserve to be represented - and available!

Just a few examples...In 1979, the Beach Boys released "Here Comes The Night" as a single. It was bold move, got some radio airplay, was performed on national TV (The Midnight Special), and brought the group some publicity, albeit mostly negative at the time. I believe this track should be represented, mostly because it was a released single, but also because the single version deserves a home. To me, a boxed set is the perfect place for it.

In 1984 the band contributed "Chasin' The Sky" to the Up The Creek soundtrack. To the best of my knowledge, this song has never been released on CD or on a comp. It would be another good candidate for a boxed set.

We recently had some discussion on "Rock And Roll To The Rescue". Despite the mixed reviews, the poor sales, and the cheesy video, it was a legitimately released single, and was performed at numerous concerts. Eventually, it ended up on a comp over 25 years ago. It would fit nicely on a boxed set.

There are others - "East Meets West", "Happy Endings", "Lady Liberty", "Crocodile Rock", "Wipeout", "Still Cruisin", "Somewhere Near Japan", "Problem Child", "Hot Fun In The Summertime", and an argument could even be made for "The Beach Boys' Medley", which was a Top 15 hit. Again, I don't think the sales or musical merit (which is subjective) should dictate their historical significance. Each one of them had a purpose, a story behind them - THEY WERE LEGITIMATE RELEASES BY THE BEACH BOYS! To me, the perfect place to house all of these records would be a boxed set. 

As I mentioned in an above post, we are talking about The Beach Boys. There's only a handful of groups from that era who deserve this kind of representation. Is there any doubt that the Beach Boys are one of them? We're only talking about two boxed sets. Two. For fifty years' worth of material. There are only so many released songs/albums in that period 1962-2012; it's not gonna grow. It should be documented by a boxed set. It could've been documented - ALL the released singles, hits or obscurities - by a boxed set. Make 'em available, house 'em together, catalogue 'em, document 'em, even just for historical reasons. And, I think Capitol Records would've found that this "product" would've done just fine commercially, too.

[Nicko1234]

There are others - "East Meets West", "Happy Endings", "Lady Liberty", "Crocodile Rock", "Wipeout", "Still Cruisin", "Somewhere Near Japan", "Problem Child", "Hot Fun In The Summertime", and an argument could even be made for "The Beach Boys' Medley", which was a Top 15 hit. Again, I don't think the sales or musical merit (which is subjective) should dictate their historical significance. Each one of them had a purpose, a story behind them - THEY WERE LEGITIMATE RELEASES BY THE BEACH BOYS! To me, the perfect place to house all of these records would be a boxed set.  

The problem is that many of the singles that the band released after a certain point weren't very good. I do think that they had to make a decision based on perceived quality as well as whether things were released as singles or whatever.

I think they've made the right decision to include It's a Beautiful Day as it is a solid song and quite rare. Somewhere Near Japan would have been a much more sensible choice than Brian's Back imo. Chasing the Sky isn't bad and it wouldn't have been the worst choice.

Most of the rest should be left for another compilation though. A compilation for these things was announced in the GV box set book I believe. Still waiting...

[Andrew G. Doe]

Well AGD , that means he was 41.125 % correct.

I love the smell of Maths in the morning 

Get back behind the drums... 

[Jeff]

There are others - "East Meets West", "Happy Endings", "Lady Liberty", "Crocodile Rock", "Wipeout", "Still Cruisin", "Somewhere Near Japan", "Problem Child", "Hot Fun In The Summertime", and an argument could even be made for "The Beach Boys' Medley", which was a Top 15 hit. Again, I don't think the sales or musical merit (which is subjective) should dictate their historical significance. Each one of them had a purpose, a story behind them - THEY WERE LEGITIMATE RELEASES BY THE BEACH BOYS! To me, the perfect place to house all of these records would be a boxed set. 

The problem is that many of the singles that the band released after a certain point weren't very good. I do think that they had to make a decision based on perceived quality as well as whether things were released as singles or whatever.

Another problem is that record companies aren't museums, and they don't care about what is "deserved."  They're businesses that are motivated by making money.  It just isn't realistic to think otherwise.

If you think that certain recordings should be preserved for all to hear, you should try petitioning the Nationl Recording Registry or something similar.