Thinking About Making a 33 1/3 Book Propsal

[Amanda Hart]

The next submission window for the 33 1/3 book series is going to open in about 6 months, so I hear. I've been thinking about doing an exploration on Love You for awhile and 33 1/3 might be a good platform for it. I've got a mental map going on this that includes, in no particular order; musical analysis, the overall sound and what inspired it, the song writing process, the recording process, Brian's mental state, the state of the band and what I think will be really interesting to explore - the album's cult status and what it means to the people who are fascinated by it.

Do you guys think something like this would be viable? That 33 1/3 might pick it up and it would sell reasonably well? This is going to be a lot of work, and I want to get a feel from the potential audience before I pour a bunch of effort into this, or start reaching out to important people for interviews. I'll actually have some free time away from my usual career during a long US weekend and thought it would be a good time to get the ball rolling on this. I would love to hear any feedback!

[seltaeb1012002]

I'd buy it. 

[Loaf]

I would love to read a dedicated book on Love You, but the album itself isn't a great seller, or even well known outside of BB fandom, and there is no way it would get picked up for publication. Just my opinion.

[KittyKat]

If you do it, I'd put emphasis on how synthesizers are used on it, because there is so much still going on with electronic music.  But I have to agree with Loaf, it might be a tough sell due to it being a poor selling album that doesn't have much of a cult or belief that it's a classic. There are albums in that book series that didn't sell that well, but they have a much higher and better critical profile than "Love You."

[Amanda Hart]

But I have to agree with Loaf, it might be a tough sell due to it being a poor selling album that doesn't have much of a cult or belief that it's a classic. There are albums in that book series that didn't sell that well, but they have a much higher and better critical profile than "Love You."

That's the reason I'm hesitant to really go all in on this yet. It might be better as an essay or something, but when I heard about them putting out another call this year, it got the wheels turning. I think it could be really interesting to the right market, but that market is really small.

[Alan Smith]

Go with your gut and do what you want to do.

Leave the market appeal etc second guessing up to the 33 1/3 people; sure you can influence their decision but its their call either way.

I hope to read it, or an essay, a blog? some day

[Jon Stebbins]

Go with your gut and do what you want to do.

This is the only advice worth taking when it comes to writing books.

[Moon Dawg]

  Best of success and luck to you with the project. I'll buy it. If I were going to do a 33 1/3 book on a Beach Boys album, Surf's Up would undoubtedly be the subject!

[KittyKat]

I looked at the 333 site, and it had information about the last submission window, which closed in March of this year. They only request that you submit a proposal, not that you have a finished book in hand.

Here's the requirements for the proposal. It sounds like they open up the proposal phase in January each year, then you have until March to submit a proposal, then it will take them a few months to decide which projects to accept. You then have several months to complete the book. Requirements here:

http://333sound.com/how-to-submit/

[Amanda Hart]

I looked at the 333 site, and it had information about the last submission window, which closed in March of this year. They only request that you submit a proposal, not that you have a finished book in hand.

Here's the requirements for the proposal. It sounds like they open up the proposal phase in January each year, then you have until March to submit a proposal, then it will take them a few months to decide which projects to accept. You then have several months to complete the book. Requirements here:

http://333sound.com/how-to-submit/

Oh yeah, I've been all over that, and am basing what I'm working on now off of the last submission requirements, so I'm prepared. I heard from a reliable source that the next window is going to open earlier than January and want to start working ASAP because my actual (i.e - paying) career is pretty demanding of my time and I don't want to be sitting on my thumbs waiting around when I could be productive.

Thanks for your thoughts everyone! I've been working on this with my afternoon off today and am leaning more and more toward it being a better fit for something else, but we'll see what happens. Glad to know that some people might actually read and appreciate it at some point. 

[alf wiedersehen]

Whether or not Love You is a big seller is not any of Amanda's concern, to put it bluntly. In fact, most of the books are on the smaller, quirkier albums that have been released. Seems like a perfect fit. The only thing that could possibly be a problem is their seeming plan to only release one book per band (usually). They already have two on The Beach Boys.

Also, go for it. You don't have to write the entire book by the time of the proposal, you just have to have a sort a plan and a synopsis. If they pick it up, great! You're on your way to writing a book about The Beach Boys. If they reject it, that's cool too. You can do a smaller version, perhaps an essay, like you mentioned earlier.

There isn't really any downside in trying, so try. I'll buy it.

[Shady]

I would love to read a book on "love you", best of luck.

[KittyKat]

I looked at the 333 site, and it had information about the last submission window, which closed in March of this year. They only request that you submit a proposal, not that you have a finished book in hand.

Here's the requirements for the proposal. It sounds like they open up the proposal phase in January each year, then you have until March to submit a proposal, then it will take them a few months to decide which projects to accept. You then have several months to complete the book. Requirements here:

http://333sound.com/how-to-submit/

Oh yeah, I've been all over that, and am basing what I'm working on now off of the last submission requirements, so I'm prepared. I heard from a reliable source that the next window is going to open earlier than January and want to start working ASAP because my actual (i.e - paying) career is pretty demanding of my time and I don't want to be sitting on my thumbs waiting around when I could be productive.

Thanks for your thoughts everyone! I've been working on this with my afternoon off today and am leaning more and more toward it being a better fit for something else, but we'll see what happens. Glad to know that some people might actually read and appreciate it at some point. 

For a pay rate that's only a 10% royalty, you can use all the potential readers you can get. I'm sure the fact that this board and the Brian Wilson board exist could count in your favor, since you have an easy way to let the intended audience know that this proposed book exists, should they decide to publish it.

[smilethebeachboysloveyou]

Go with your gut and do what you want to do.

Leave the market appeal etc second guessing up to the 33 1/3 people; sure you can influence their decision but its their call either way.

I agree with this.  It sounds like you're interested in writing this for the sake of writing it rather than for any personal gain, so even if it gets rejected you can release your work in another way.  In any case, it sounds like it could be a great book and I'd love to read it (and for any additional attention it would draw to the album).

[Andrew G. Doe]

Write it. I'd buy a copy.

But, write it because you want to write it, and write what you want to say, not what you think might land a deal. Also, bearing in mind your core audience, (viz., us), aim to make it as factually accurate as possible. I'm sure there are several posters here who would be happy to proof it and detect any errors.

It would (he idly mused, gazing into the middle distance with a beatific expression, gently stroking his heard betimes) be a fine idea for us, here, to do a 33 1/3 of each album. Um... except SIP, maybe...  

[Alan Smith]

It would (he idly mused, gazing into the middle distance with a beatific expression, gently stroking his heard betimes) be a fine idea for us, here, to do a 33 1/3 of each album. Um... except SIP, maybe...  

I bags 20/20 - I was given chapter and verse by Mr Desper on the DIA intro drum sound.

And is that a misspelling of beard, or a misspelling of herd?

[Andrew G. Doe]

Told them putting the H key just above the B key was a dumb idea. 

[Emdeeh]

Amanda, if you do write this book, please at least mention the controversy that BB fans have over LY's merits. Personally, I think it's one of their lesser efforts, but others here clearly disagree.

And something I'd like to see explored -- does LY fit into or influence the punk movement?

[Amanda Hart]

Amanda, if you do write this book, please at least mention the controversy that BB fans have over LY's merits. Personally, I think it's one of their lesser efforts, but others here clearly disagree.

That's the thing that I think is most intriguing. The idea to explore the subject initially came last summer when I read a harsh review of the album from the another hardcore fan. Everything the review said was valid, but it made me feel kind of defensive toward Love You. As dedicated fans does our affection for the artist change how we perceive the art? Is something still "good" if the only way it can be appreciated is to know the context of its creation?

[JK]

And something I'd like to see explored -- does LY fit into or influence the punk movement?

With all due respect, I've never understood the punk connection. I'd say it was straight-down-the-line outsider music. However you look at it, Love You is in a field of one.

[KittyKat]

And something I'd like to see explored -- does LY fit into or influence the punk movement?

With all due respect, I've never understood the punk connection. I'd say it was straight-down-the-line outsider music. However you look at it, Love You is in a field of one.

Patti Smith wrote a magazine review of it when it was first released. Some indie band people have cited it as a favorite. Peter Buck of REM wrote notes for the CD reissue. That would be the punk/indie references, but I can't really say it had any influence whatsoever on the punk movement.

[JK]

And something I'd like to see explored -- does LY fit into or influence the punk movement?

With all due respect, I've never understood the punk connection. I'd say it was straight-down-the-line outsider music. However you look at it, Love You is in a field of one.

Patti Smith wrote a magazine review of it when it was first released. Some indie band people have cited it as a favorite. Peter Buck of REM wrote notes for the CD reissue. That would be the punk/indie references, but I can't really say it had any influence whatsoever on the punk movement.

I have the Peter Buck notes, which I shall read again tonight. Didn't know about Patti Smith's review. Thanks for the info, KK.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Here y'go - http://www.smileysmile.net/uncanny/media/users/djm/scan0008-13SMALL.jpg

[hypehat]

Amanda, you should totally do this - imo, the only barrier to it would be that there's already a Beach Boys book in the series (Pet Sounds), but it's not like you're writing about Summer Days & Summer Nights, this is a radically different project.

And I'm so heartened to hear you're not considering the awful 'novella based on the album' approach that a couple of them do, I mean Jesus.

[MyDrKnowsItKeepsMeCalm]

I would love to read a book on "love you", best of luck.

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