"Wild Honey (New Jersey 1972)" from MIC previewed on Yahoo Music

[DonnyL]

Why on earth is the theremin mixed so low? I always loved the sound they got out of it on the live versions of this song, it has this really cool "screaming" quality to it.

But it's like basically not here.  Like, if you hadn't heard the original song, you probably wouldn't know it was there. Odd considering everyone makes a big deal about the theremin in this song.

Srsly, what the fuck.

I think it was mixed low cause it's kind of out of tune ... pretty bad in some places. personally, i would have loved to hear it anyway.

[MBE]

No offense to Brian fans but this is the difference between the Beach Boys and his solo band. The Beach Boys on stage was a different thing to the Beach Boys on record. It's very cool when you can replicate a record, (the Beach Boys did this to an extent think Paris 1969)  but to create something that builds on a recording and takes on a new life is much more exciting. That why a really good show from any of Brian's tours pretty much sums up the whole tour. The Beach Boys at the their peak it took quite a number of different shows to get the complete feel. To be fair the same thing applied to the reunion. A great performance like the first night in Chicago or London says all you need to know. 1962-75 live Beach Boys I can't hear enough.

[runnersdialzero]

Why on earth is the theremin mixed so low? I always loved the sound they got out of it on the live versions of this song, it has this really cool "screaming" quality to it.

But it's like basically not here.  Like, if you hadn't heard the original song, you probably wouldn't know it was there. Odd considering everyone makes a big deal about the theremin in this song.

Srsly, what the fuck.

I think it was mixed low cause it's kind of out of tune ... pretty bad in some places. personally, i would have loved to hear it anyway.

Sometimes, as I'm sure you know, the totally out of tune or off-time instrument is the thing that makes the performance or song. I feel like the theremin was extremely important to this performance, and it being mixed out is kind of a big deal, I feel. "Out of tune" should never, ever, ever be synonymous with "incorrect". It really saddens me if that's the reason it was mixed out of this version.

[SonicVolcano]

Holy sh*t.

[Sheriff John Stone]

Maybe this belongs in the Unpopular Opinions thread....Certain band members are blamed for the group's return to the oldies in 1975-76, however.....When you listen to this "Wild Honey" version, it is immediately obvious that Dennis Wilson could never drum like that; he didn't have the skills. Maybe the band changed their sound/approach out of necessity, not by choice.

[Mikie]

Mike's theramin is way up in the mix and on key for you here. June, 1972. Note on this video that Ed Carter is on bass, Al was playing rhythm, and Carl is on keys along with Dragon. Don't see Billy but he was in the band - also don't see Lloyd. Mike on theramin. Ricky on drums, Dennis Dragon on percussion. So I think it's Blondie singing AND playing those great searing guitar solos that you hear on Wild Honey!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRbBPhodF4Q

I like the comment below. "Blondie Chaplin - the only guy who can take a song Carl originally sang on and make it his own."

[Don Malcolm]

Maybe this belongs in the Unpopular Opinions thread....Certain band members are blamed for the group's return to the oldies in 1975-76, however.....When you listen to this "Wild Honey" version, it is immediately obvious that Dennis Wilson could never drum like that; he didn't have the skills. Maybe the band changed their sound/approach out of necessity, not by choice.

Not really an opinion, actually...more of a speculation. And it's not without some merit. Ricky is doing the drumming here live, and he was the studio drummer for at least the uptempo cuts on CATP, right? But wasn't the change back to higher number of oldies something that began sometime in '74 while Ricky was still in the band? Granted, it didn't "metastasize" until a bit later than that, but it seems that this trend was more gradual than a sudden, 180-degree turn. (Please feel free to leap in here and prove me wrong...)

It's a shame that this phase of the BBs' career--the point in time when the band was capable of out-rockin' even the most bad-ass rockers--has been under wraps so long. And THAT's why a large number of folks were so crushed by the retrenchment that was to come.

What a GREAT freakin' track!!!

[Mikie]

It's just you.

That's it. After MIC comes out, I'm gonna petition for a live box from the different stages of their career. If they don't go for that, request that an early 70's release - specifically '71 - '75. There's obviously some good live stuff in the can that we haven't heard before, and stuff of very good quality on bootlegs that should see the light of day.

With you all the way on this. This era is the live BBs at their peak and word out to be out there.

This version of Wild Honey is great to my ears for far more than Blondie's vocal… it's the instrumental break that's so fluid and alive, and the backing vocals that are so confident and united, and the terrific ending.

Haven't a/b'ed with the acetate version yet… but am smiling at this version.

John, I think we agree a lot on this board. Maybe due to the close age differential. Next time you're in Northern Cali, we gotta compare notes over a coupla brewski's.

[Jim V.]

Maybe this belongs in the Unpopular Opinions thread....Certain band members are blamed for the group's return to the oldies in 1975-76, however.....When you listen to this "Wild Honey" version, it is immediately obvious that Dennis Wilson could never drum like that; he didn't have the skills. Maybe the band changed their sound/approach out of necessity, not by choice.

Uh oh Sheriff, Jon Stebbins is gonna come in here and shed a tear now that you are saying Denny wasn't  a great drummer!! What are you gonna say next, that David Marks was the least important Beach Boy!? You better not! 

But yeah, you're totally right on. Dennis likely could not do something like this at all.

[Kurosawa]

Maybe this belongs in the Unpopular Opinions thread....Certain band members are blamed for the group's return to the oldies in 1975-76, however.....When you listen to this "Wild Honey" version, it is immediately obvious that Dennis Wilson could never drum like that; he didn't have the skills. Maybe the band changed their sound/approach out of necessity, not by choice.

Even after Ricky left, they didn't need to stick Dennis back behind the drums. A guy with his looks and charisma needed to have been up front from the beginning. One problem the BB had was a lack of sex appeal; Dennis up front fixed that problem.

[Loaf]

Awesome, i wasn't expecting the live band to be that good!

[Dave Modny]

Wild Honey is most likely from Montclair (the day after my show 3/17/72), or it is from later in the year in Passaic.

Blondie sang WH at my show. If I recall correctly, it was one of the encore songs.

Hi Dr.,

It should be Passaic. Both that and the four-day-later Carnegie shows were professionally recorded or filmed, and as far as I know, that wasn't the case for the earlier '72 leg shows. Just as noteworthy, they call out "Captain Keyboards" at the end of "Rhonda" from Carnegie, so Daryl was indeed there right through the two Carnegie shows -- which were the final of the tour. He's also obviously mentioned in that "Rhonda"/NJ clip. Also, and I'm not home right now to check, but I believe the Concert book even notes this all specifically.

Perhaps even more importantly, I was always told that the acetate version of WH was from Passaic, and this is obviously the same performance. No skips. Different speed. Though...I kind of miss that nice, loose, big fat bass sound of that lower-fi, acetate Moffitt mix. I still have my reservations about some of ML's mastering preferences, but, that's another thread.  

[Cabinessenceking]

No offense to Brian fans but this is the difference between the Beach Boys and his solo band. The Beach Boys on stage was a different thing to the Beach Boys on record. It's very cool when you can replicate a record, (the Beach Boys did this to an extent think Paris 1969)  but to create something that builds on a recording and takes on a new life is much more exciting. That why a really good show from any of Brian's tours pretty much sums up the whole tour. The Beach Boys at the their peak it took quite a number of different shows to get the complete feel. To be fair the same thing applied to the reunion. A great performance like the first night in Chicago or London says all you need to know. 1962-75 live Beach Boys I can't hear enough.

I agree. The C50 version/present version of CalGirls for example I find almost unlistenable. The organ Darian plays on that sucks out all the joy for me (althoug I respect and admire Darian as a musician very much).

But just listen to how CalGirls was performed in Nassau Coliseum (1974) or even at Knebworth (1980) and both those performances have so much energy compared to the bland modern incarnation. I guess the 'rock&roll' part has disappeared from most the Beach Boys music over the years...

[filledeplage]

Maybe this belongs in the Unpopular Opinions thread....Certain band members are blamed for the group's return to the oldies in 1975-76, however.....When you listen to this "Wild Honey" version, it is immediately obvious that Dennis Wilson could never drum like that; he didn't have the skills. Maybe the band changed their sound/approach out of necessity, not by choice.

Sheriff - while this short streak of years showing an evolution of the band of sorts, we can't afford to forget that they were basically "in exile" playing colleges which were the  "secondary markets" of the day, before casinos, and fairs, and abroad where there seemed to be a more artful reception of the work.  

By the time 1973 rolled around, and Nixon got the boot from the White House and Vietnam was winding down, the Boys could come back in a sort of "blaze of glory" singing Surfin USA, because the war was over and it was ok again to "party."

And while Blondie and Ricky's work was brilliant, the whole dynamic of "coming home" as America's Band was phenomenal.
What relief for Carl to come home and not be fighting the Draft? His trouble was "their" trouble, too. They played dates probono in exchange for Carl's freedom.  I think there was a real quid pro quo going on for his benefit.

And, they had 14 or 15 years as a band, they could kick back and make dough from the Endless Summer stuff.  That setup "worked" for a while. And I have that Elton John/ Blondie Wild Honey on my favorites for my streamer for at least a year.  It rocks.  But, it isn't the "steady diet" for music.  

Wasn't Dennis' hand injured and recovering for quite some time? Dennis wasn't the greatest drummer ever born, but he sure was the sexiest, and projected an image as a sex symbol in surfing, racing and the Two Lane Blacktop movie.  I often think of him as the James Dean of the Beach Boys, similarly as a legendary icon.

[Mikie]

It should be Passaic. Both that and the four-day-later Carnegie shows were professionally recorded or filmed, and as far as I know, that wasn't the case for the earlier '72 leg shows. Just as noteworthy, they call out "Captain Keyboards" at the end of "Rhonda" from Carnegie, so Daryl was indeed there right through the two Carnegie shows -- which were the final of the tour. He's also obviously mentioned in that "Rhonda"/NJ clip. Also, and I'm not home right now to check, but I believe the Concert book even notes this all specifically.

Perhaps even more importantly, I was always told that the acetate version of WH was from Passaic, and this is obviously the same performance. No skips. Different speed. Though...I kind of miss that nice, loose, big fat bass sound of that lower-fi, acetate Moffitt mix. I still have my reservations about some of ML's mastering preferences, but, that's another thread.  

Good post. Yeah, Daryl was there for most of the year - you hear him referred to in one of the shows in March, see/hear him in the UK in June, and hear him again at Carnegie in November, 1972. Hear Dennis call out Daryl Dragon at the end of Ronda - Mike calls him Captain Keyboards in another show.  Funny that the supporting guys weren't pictured on the "In Concert" album sleeve. Royalties...residuals...

Agree on the crappy Moffitt mixes for "In Concert" (and CT&P). Muddled and hissy. Even the 11/23/72 Carnegie show blows "In Concert" away quality wise. And now I hear Ronda and Wild Honey here and "In Concert" (or Carnegie or other recording(s) are begging for a re-mixing and re-release. GHeez, what could have been........and still might be!

[drbeachboy]

No offense to Brian fans but this is the difference between the Beach Boys and his solo band. The Beach Boys on stage was a different thing to the Beach Boys on record. It's very cool when you can replicate a record, (the Beach Boys did this to an extent think Paris 1969)  but to create something that builds on a recording and takes on a new life is much more exciting. That why a really good show from any of Brian's tours pretty much sums up the whole tour. The Beach Boys at the their peak it took quite a number of different shows to get the complete feel. To be fair the same thing applied to the reunion. A great performance like the first night in Chicago or London says all you need to know. 1962-75 live Beach Boys I can't hear enough.

I agree. The C50 version/present version of CalGirls for example I find almost unlistenable. The organ Darian plays on that sucks out all the joy for me (althoug I respect and admire Darian as a musician very much).

But just listen to how CalGirls was performed in Nassau Coliseum (1974) or even at Knebworth (1980) and both those performances have so much energy compared to the bland modern incarnation. I guess the 'rock&roll' part has disappeared from most the Beach Boys music over the years...

Joe Thomas sucked the life out of the whole C50 CD. That lack of rock&roll thing is Brian's fault, imo. Sometimes when a concert sounds too much like the record, that can suck the Live edge right out of the song. Again, just my opinion.

[drbeachboy]

Maybe this belongs in the Unpopular Opinions thread....Certain band members are blamed for the group's return to the oldies in 1975-76, however.....When you listen to this "Wild Honey" version, it is immediately obvious that Dennis Wilson could never drum like that; he didn't have the skills. Maybe the band changed their sound/approach out of necessity, not by choice.

Sheriff - while this short streak of years showing an evolution of the band of sorts, we can't afford to forget that they were basically "in exile" playing colleges which were the  "secondary markets" of the day, before casinos, and fairs, and abroad where there seemed to be a more artful reception of the work. 

By the time 1973 rolled around, and Nixon got the boot from the White House and Vietnam was winding down, the Boys could come back in a sort of "blaze of glory" singing Surfin USA, because the war was over and it was ok again to "party."

And while Blondie and Ricky's work was brilliant, the whole dynamic of "coming home" as America's Band was phenomenal.
What relief for Carl to come home and not be fighting the Draft? His trouble was "their" trouble, too. They played dates probono in exchange for Carl's freedom.  I think there was a real quid pro quo going on for his benefit.

And, they had 14 or 15 years as a band, they could kick back and make dough from the Endless Summer stuff.  That setup "worked" for a while. And I have that Elton John/ Blondie Wild Honey on my favorites for my streamer for at least a year.  It rocks.  But, it isn't the "steady diet" for music. 

Wasn't Dennis' hand injured and recovering for quite some time? Dennis wasn't the greatest drummer ever born, but he sure was the sexiest, and projected an image as a sex symbol in surfing, racing and the Two Lane Blacktop movie.  I often think of him as the James Dean of the Beach Boys, similarly as a legendary icon.

I don't think Dennis returned to drumming until Fall of '74. It was a double drum setup. In '74 it was Dennis & Ricky and then in '75, it was Dennis & Bobby F..

[Shady]

No offense to Brian fans but this is the difference between the Beach Boys and his solo band. The Beach Boys on stage was a different thing to the Beach Boys on record. It's very cool when you can replicate a record, (the Beach Boys did this to an extent think Paris 1969)  but to create something that builds on a recording and takes on a new life is much more exciting. That why a really good show from any of Brian's tours pretty much sums up the whole tour. The Beach Boys at the their peak it took quite a number of different shows to get the complete feel. To be fair the same thing applied to the reunion. A great performance like the first night in Chicago or London says all you need to know. 1962-75 live Beach Boys I can't hear enough.

I've been saying that about Brian's band for a while but you've said it much better

[MarcellaHasDirtyFeet]

I don't know... As I posted in another thread after someone posted a BW Band version of Marcella, I thought it rocked 10x harder than the C50 version. Is this the difference between early 2000s solo Brian and his more recent work?

[Mikie]

I don't know... As I posted in another thread after someone posted a BW Band version of Marcella, I thought it rocked 10x harder than the C50 version. Is this the difference between early 2000s solo Brian and his more recent work?

No, the difference was that David Marks was playing the Marcella licks during the C50, and both Probyn and Scott (mainly Scott) were playing it in Brian's band. I thought those instances where Marcella was being played during those Brian solo shows a couple of years ago were the all-time best. Better than C50, even better than the '72/'73 versions. And that's saying something! And the sexy Taylor Mills intros did absolutely no harm either!

[filledeplage]

No offense to Brian fans but this is the difference between the Beach Boys and his solo band. The Beach Boys on stage was a different thing to the Beach Boys on record. It's very cool when you can replicate a record, (the Beach Boys did this to an extent think Paris 1969)  but to create something that builds on a recording and takes on a new life is much more exciting. That why a really good show from any of Brian's tours pretty much sums up the whole tour. The Beach Boys at the their peak it took quite a number of different shows to get the complete feel. To be fair the same thing applied to the reunion. A great performance like the first night in Chicago or London says all you need to know. 1962-75 live Beach Boys I can't hear enough.

I agree. The C50 version/present version of CalGirls for example I find almost unlistenable. The organ Darian plays on that sucks out all the joy for me (althoug I respect and admire Darian as a musician very much).

But just listen to how CalGirls was performed in Nassau Coliseum (1974) or even at Knebworth (1980) and both those performances have so much energy compared to the bland modern incarnation. I guess the 'rock&roll' part has disappeared from most the Beach Boys music over the years...

Joe Thomas sucked the life out of the whole C50 CD. That lack of rock&roll thing is Brian's fault, imo. Sometimes when a concert sounds too much like the record, that can suck the Live edge right out of the song. Again, just my opinion.

That CD does not represent C50 and its magnificence.  When YouTube from cell phones sounds better than the pros, there is a problem.  I hope there is enough good raw footage to have some fresh eyes make it happen and flatter the guys, not try to "fix" them with auto tune. They sounded great, live.  

The music is of Thomas seems to be more Florida rock, which is nice for that style, and not California music, which is the BB roots, and seems edgier in some way.  Brian is not the "cheeseburger in paradise" model.  And, Mike is his lyricist.  It is too bad the writing arrangement never came to fruition.  JMHO  

Ya, this is not a popular thread as someone above said.  

[Mikie]

Ya, this is not a popular thread as someone above said.

Huh? Why? I think it's an excellent thread! Beats the hell outta those boring nauseating never-ending anti-Mike threads that have been permeating the board lately. These new tracks are from YOUR era as a young fan, Filledeplage. You should be appreciating them to the fullest extent of Beach Boys fandom!

[filledeplage]

Ya, this is not a popular thread as someone above said.

Huh? Why? I think it's an excellent thread! Beats the hell outta those boring nauseating never-ending anti-Mike threads that have been permeating the board lately. These new tracks are from YOUR era as a young fan, Filledeplage. You should be appreciating them to the fullest extent of Beach Boys fandom!

They are my era's tracks.  It is cool they are coming out.  We all knew they were in some treasure trove.  

And, I'm so sick of the Mike bashing.  

[DonnyL]

Why on earth is the theremin mixed so low? I always loved the sound they got out of it on the live versions of this song, it has this really cool "screaming" quality to it.

But it's like basically not here.  Like, if you hadn't heard the original song, you probably wouldn't know it was there. Odd considering everyone makes a big deal about the theremin in this song.

Srsly, what the fuck.

I think it was mixed low cause it's kind of out of tune ... pretty bad in some places. personally, i would have loved to hear it anyway.

Sometimes, as I'm sure you know, the totally out of tune or off-time instrument is the thing that makes the performance or song. I feel like the theremin was extremely important to this performance, and it being mixed out is kind of a big deal, I feel. "Out of tune" should never, ever, ever be synonymous with "incorrect". It really saddens me if that's the reason it was mixed out of this version.

yep. totally

[bgas]

Mike's theramin is way up in the mix and on key for you here. June, 1972. Note on this video that Ed Carter is on bass, Al was playing rhythm, and Carl is on keys along with Dragon. Don't see Billy but he was in the band - also don't see Lloyd. Mike on theramin. Ricky on drums, Dennis Dragon on percussion. So I think it's Blondie singing AND playing those great searing guitar solos that you hear on Wild Honey!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRbBPhodF4Q

I like the comment below. "Blondie Chaplin - the only guy who can take a song Carl originally sang on and make it his own."

Something to note:  Watching this video,there seems to be a glaring disparity: as the main song is ending up to about 2:04 you can still see Ed playing  Fender bass; as it kicks back in with the ending guitar solo at about 2:10 Ed is playing a Les Paul six string and while his outfit looks very similar to the one he started wearing, either it's a different day or a different vest.
 Some of the differences I see could be camera angles, I guess, but it sure seems like they spliced in some footage. Mike appears WAY behind Carl at the piano and seconds later he's right uinderneath him.  Just seems strange.