SURF'S UP redux

[Moon Dawg]

  For me, the following is the definitive SURF'S UP. No subtractions, only additions. "SDT" forevermore.

 
   SURF'S UP

 side 1

 "Don't Go Near the Water"
 "4th of July"
 "Long Promised Road"
 "Take a Load off Your Feet"
 "Disney Girls"
 "Student Demonstration Time"

 side 2

 "Feel Flows"
 "Lookin' at Tomorrow"
 "A Day in the Life of a Tree"
 "Til I Die"
 "Wouldn't It Be Nice to Live Again"
 "Surf's Up"


 It was always a good album, but the two Dennis tunes elevate SURF'S UP immensely. Compare it to other 1971 classics. Far superior to say John Lennon's IMAGINE or Paul McCartney's RAM. Perhaps less powerful than STICKY FINGERS or WHO'S NEXT or LED ZEP iV, but really, a different ballgame more or less.

[Rotat]

I agree Dennis's songs would have been excellent additions to the album. It's too bad "4th Of July" was never really finished but it still sounds beautiful on the modern mix. I would personally get rid of at least "Disney Girls", as it sounds more like Sunflower's type stuff, and I'd be tempted to nix "SDT" but since it was apparently pretty hip at the time and a semi-hit when it was released, I would just leave it on.

[Jason]

Smart move keeping the original ten tracks in the mix. I once fooled around with a "double album" setup for Surf's Up, but never really came up with enough satisfactory stuff for a second record without having to dip heavily into earlier outtakes.

I think either Surf's Up or Live Again could work as a closer; I'm a bit biased toward the latter because it has a sort of "light at the end of the tunnel" feel to it. And the ending just seems to imply greater things.

[coco1997]

01. Don't Go Near the Water
02. Long Promised Road
03. Take A Load Off Your Feet
04. Sound of Free
05. Disney Girls (1957)
06. Student Demonstration Time
07. Fallin' In Love (Lady)
08. Feel Flows
09. Lookin' At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song)
10. A Day In the Life Of a Tree
11. 4th of July
12. 'Til I Die
13. (Wouldn't It Be Nice) To Live Again

[Moon Dawg]

01. Don't Go Near the Water
02. Long Promised Road
03. Take A Load Off Your Feet
04. Sound of Free
05. Disney Girls (1957)
06. Student Demonstration Time
07. Fallin' In Love (Lady)
08. Feel Flows
09. Lookin' At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song)
10. A Day In the Life Of a Tree
11. 4th of July
12. 'Til I Die
13. (Wouldn't It Be Nice) To Live Again

 So, your version of SURF'S UP omits...Surf's Up?

[coco1997]

So, your version of SURF'S UP omits...Surf's Up?

Oh, yeah, in my alternate universe SMiLE was released in 1967.

[pixletwin]

 For me, the following is the definitive SURF'S UP. No subtractions, only additions. "SDT" forevermore.

 
   SURF'S UP

 side 1

 "Don't Go Near the Water"
 "4th of July"
 "Long Promised Road"
 "Take a Load off Your Feet"
 "Disney Girls"
 "Student Demonstration Time"

 side 2

 "Feel Flows"
 "Lookin' at Tomorrow"
 "A Day in the Life of a Tree"
 "Til I Die"
 "Wouldn't It Be Nice to Live Again"
 "Surf's Up"


 It was always a good album, but the two Dennis tunes elevate SURF'S UP immensely. Compare it to other 1971 classics. Far superior to say John Lennon's IMAGINE or Paul McCartney's RAM. Perhaps less powerful than STICKY FINGERS or WHO'S NEXT or LED ZEP iV, but really, a different ballgame more or less.

Track for track that's exactly the same as my Imaginary surfs up.

[Smilin Ed H]

Great choice. I'd probably want to squeeze on the early Big Sur, but I'd need something else to balance it out. I might cheat and put Charles Lloyd's How Sweet or All Life Is One.

[Dudd]

My favourite tracklist is rab2591's:

1. Sound Of Free
2. Disney Girls
3. 4th of July
4. Don't Go Near The Water
5. Wouldn't It Be Nice To (Live Again)

6. Feel Flows
7. Fallin' In Love (2009 mix)
8. A Day In The Life Of A Tree
9. Til I Die (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS34TZR3SNY)
10. Surf's Up (TSS)

[Sam_BFC]

I've always had difficulty appreciating the love for 4th of July.  Might be my least favourite Carl vocal