Missed Hits & Hits Missed

[Mr. Cohen]

The single "Marcella" should've had a shorter tag. Up the "lost in haze/doobie-doobie-doo" bit in the mix and begin a quick fade out just as those parts comes in.  Then the song would be perfect. You're looking at a max length of 3:10 instead of 3:54. Leave the longer tag on the album to indulge hardcore fans.

[Mr. Cohen]

Now that I think about it, "Marcella" really is odd song. It's got like 2 choruses: "Hey Marcella" and "Sandals Dance At My Feet".  It'd be intriguing to hear the song with "Sandals" used only as the tag. That sounds more like a vintage Brian move.

[phirnis]

It baffles me how This Whole World wasn't released as a single. It's one of the catchiest songs I've ever heard and I think the lyrics really could've worked in that late-60s/early-70s context, though I was born quite a bit later, so the assumption might not be entirely accurate. What about Big Sur, early version?

[Steve Latshaw]

<<Matchpoint of Our Love is a bit of a piece of sh*t, imo, but I can see why some would find it appealing as a single - given some Aussie Yobbos had a hit with a cricket analogy love song around the same time, no reason why a tennis themed number wouldn't have hit it out of the ballpark.>>

We disagree about this one.  I was shocked and pleased at how contemporary it sounded in '78, and how great Brian's vocal was.  Stylistically, it's very reminiscent of Dr. Hook's When You're In Love With a Beautiful Woman, which was a huge hit in 1979.  Maybe the lyrics are weak but it's a great sounding record.  Maybe because it's disco, the band vetoed it's release since Bruce & Co. were busy with Here Comes the Night.  Who knows, but a lost opportunity in my view.

[Watch a Cave]

How was Forever not a single?  I don't understand why Add Some Music was chosen over it.  Really baffles me.

[job]

My List:

"Here She Comes" - If this had been the first single off of CATP, the Boys would have been rock station darlings.
"Matchpoint" - Definitely.
"Love Surrounds Me" - I think this was a B-side.  Should have been an A.
"Lahaina Aloha" - Would have suckered a lot of people into buying SIP.
"Spring Vacation" - Personally, the two singles chosen were among my least fave songs on TWGMTR.

[bgas]

It baffles me how This Whole World wasn't released as a single. It's one of the catchiest songs I've ever heard and I think the lyrics really could've worked in that late-60s/early-70s context, though I was born quite a bit later, so the assumption might not be entirely accurate. What about Big Sur, early version?

Maybe just flip Slip On Through ( Brother-Reprise 0929) over and you'll see/hear it....

[SenorPotatoHead]

San Miguel
Forever
Wouldn't It Be Nice To Live Again
Good Time
This Whole World
Funky Pretty
Disney Girls
Help Is On The Way

[Dogbone51]

"By the time "Marcella" did show up as the 2nd single, the album was probably almost off the charts, and there was little interest left in promoting it."

Actually, the exact opposite was the case: "Marcella" was listed as bubbling under the Hot 100 on 7/15/72 and stayed there for three weeks: during that time CATP was at its chart peak - 50-50-56 - and stayed on the album chart for a further 11 weeks. Didn't go into free fall until early September. But yeah, your basic point is entirely valid: as the lead single it was a no-brainer of the highest order.

"What You Do To Me" peaked at #72.

Thanks for the clarification on this.  I did not look it up, but I figured that at least CATP has already peaked when "Marcella" was released.   

I'm surprised to see "What You Do To Me" peaked so high...I didn't think it was THAT high!

Dogbone

[Dogbone51]

NOTE:  For those who want to hear the bad mix of "Add Some Music To Your Day".....you need to find the WHITE PROMO release 0894...and then look at the Deadwax on the "Add Some Music" side.  If the serial number is NOT followed by the RE Letters, then it's the FIRST(Or Bad) mix.  If it has the RE Letters with the serial number, then it's the REMIXED version.   The bad mix suffers mostly from being a bit squeezed in sound.   The Remixed version corrects this a bit by spreading out the sound a little more.  

Do all the stock copies contain the remixed, non-squeezed version?

Hey Bgas--

Honestly,  I've never double checked the Stock singles.   Something I need to do.

Dogbone

[Dogbone51]

It baffles me how This Whole World wasn't released as a single. It's one of the catchiest songs I've ever heard and I think the lyrics really could've worked in that late-60s/early-70s context, though I was born quite a bit later, so the assumption might not be entirely accurate. What about Big Sur, early version?

In the USA, "This Whole World" was the B-side to "Slip On Through".....but it's surprising that it was JUST the "B-side"....

Dogbone

[Lonely Summer]

Great points, Dogbone, and I had no idea about the bad mix of Add Some Music.  I always wondered why Marcella wasn't a hit... it fit perfectly into 1972... but your explanation makes perfect sense.

Another mistake, I think, was made by CBS with Pacific Ocean Blue.  They should have released River Song as the first single.  I think David Leaf even asked about it in Pet Sounds... and the label response was something to the effect that while "everyone knows River Song is a classic, it's not a single.  We think You and I best fits the demands of radio airplay..." or something like that.

I had a promo sampler of CBS artists from '77, and "River Song" was on it, so someone thought that was the song to push from POB.  The sampler also had "My Own Way to Rock" by Burton Cummings, the studio version of "I Want You to Want Me" by Cheap Trick, and "Black Betty" by Ram Jam.

[Alan Smith]

Matchpoint of Our Love is a bit of a piece of sh*t, imo, but I can see why some would find it appealing as a single - given some Aussie Yobbos had a hit with a cricket analogy love song around the same time, no reason why a tennis themed number wouldn't have hit it out of the ballpark.

We disagree about this one.  I was shocked and pleased at how contemporary it sounded in '78, and how great Brian's vocal was.  Stylistically, it's very reminiscent of Dr. Hook's When You're In Love With a Beautiful Woman, which was a huge hit in 1979.  Maybe the lyrics are weak but it's a great sounding record.  Maybe because it's disco, the band vetoed it's release since Bruce & Co. were busy with Here Comes the Night.  Who knows, but a lost opportunity in my view.

Hey Steve, I think we agree MOOL had the potential to be a good single, and perhaps, maybe enough appeal to make it a hit - given the type of stuff around at the time - eg, Howzat (the cricket song), the Dr. Hook jive you mention, Love is in the Air, etc etc.

None of those songs (inc MOOL) or the sound they were pushing are my cup of tea, but that's life.  I don't like Kokomo, but it (unexpectedly perhaps) achieved a pretty good outcome for the brand de jour.

[Bill30022]

There is something to be said for releasing the best song on an album regardless of how commercial it might seem.

Sunflower
- This Whole World
- All I Wanna Do

Surf's Up:
- Surf's Up
- Til I Die

CATP:
- All This Is That
- You Need a Mess

Holland:
They got it right

In Concert:
- Marcella (10 x better than the studio version)
- SUSA (exception to my rule but it is a fresh take on an oldie)

15 Big Ones:
- It's OK (should have the first single - another "what were they thinking" moment)
- Just Once In My Life
- Had to Phone Ya

Love You
- Honkin
- Johnny Carson (why not?)

MIU
- Peggy Sue was the right call
- My Diane

LA
- Angel Come Home
- Love Surrounds Me

KTSA
- I like a lot of the songs on the album but it just was not a good record for the time.  Maybe "Some of Your Love" with different lyriss.

BB85
- Where I Belong
- It's Getting Late

[JasonK]

I always believed that if they had finished River Song in the early 70's, then it might have had a chance.  Maybe Marcella if they had jazzed it up like the live version.  Shoot, I might have released that live Wild Honey as a single.

[The LEGENDARY OSD]

Mess of Help with a tweek here and a twerk there could have been a solid hit to my ears.

[Niko]

Mess of Help with a tweek here and a twerk there could have been a solid hit to my ears.

The guitar break in that song is genius.

[donald]

Match point could have been a top 20 or so, at least as big as Good Timin, given the publics expectation of the BeachBoys nailing a fad......Tennis being huge  in that era.     the commercial potential was there.   

[Beachlad]

I always though Please Let me Wonder and Back of My Mind could have been huge.

[Alan Smith]

Match point could have been a top 20 or so, at least as big as Good Timin, given the publics expectation of the BeachBoys nailing a fad......Tennis being huge  in that era.     the commercial potential was there.   

I'm led to believe Tennis is still a popular event in the current era - perhaps instead of all this "Last Song"/"My Life" Suite guff, Brian and the remaining BB's could nail it with a MOOL revisit!

[phirnis]

Match point could have been a top 20 or so, at least as big as Good Timin, given the publics expectation of the BeachBoys nailing a fad......Tennis being huge  in that era.     the commercial potential was there.   

I'm led to believe Tennis is still a popular event in the current era - perhaps instead of all this "Last Song"/"My Life" Suite guff, Brian and the remaining BB's could nail it with a MOOL revisit!

Would be a nice opportunity to team up with Daft Punk.

[Micha]

Interesting topic.


"Feel Flows" (in a shorter single version maybe)
"The Trader" (in a shorter single version maybe)
"Palisades Park"
"Roller Skating Child"
"I Wanna Pick You Up"
"She's Got Rhythm"
"Angel Come Home"
"Crack At Your Love"

Yeah!

Though I can't really decide between "She's Got Rhythm" and "Woncha Come Out Tonight" as my favorite first single record choice.

"Angel Come Home" is one of Carl's best songs. In fact for quite some time I thought Dennis wrote it, that's how good it is!

[drbeachboy]

"Angel Come Home" is one of Carl's best songs. In fact for quite some time I thought Dennis wrote it, that's how good it is!

Mick Fleetwood's Zoo did a nice job with their version. It's a bit faster and with a Western type arrangement.