Question re Having Unavailable Content (for Insiders)

[the captain]

I have a question for those of you with more access to the group and its assorted employees and associates over the years: do you have, or have you in the past often had, access to much music that hasn't been (or hadn't been until much later) released, either officially or on boots? And if so, can you talk about what that's like?

This is not to ask you to reveal sources or secrets, or to share, or anything like that. The point behind the question is twofold:

1) Is there still much left available to be heard (not counting alternate mixes and such--I mean different songs)? We had that "Bedroom Years" article relatively recently, for example.
2) (This is the one I am more interested in.) What is it like to have, or to have heard, music that you're really not supposed to talk about or share generally? I know the sharing of musical experiences is really important for me--it's a part of what makes music great--and so it must be tough to either just keep your mouths shut or talk only to some select few.

Anything you're willing to discuss without compromising your integrity would be appreciated. It's interesting to me.

[retrokid67]

I have a question for those of you with more access to the group and its assorted employees and associates over the years: do you have, or have you in the past often had, access to much music that hasn't been (or hadn't been until much later) released, either officially or on boots? And if so, can you talk about what that's like?

This is not to ask you to reveal sources or secrets, or to share, or anything like that. The point behind the question is twofold:

1) Is there still much left available to be heard (not counting alternate mixes and such--I mean different songs)? We had that "Bedroom Years" article relatively recently, for example.
2) (This is the one I am more interested in.) What is it like to have, or to have heard, music that you're really not supposed to talk about or share generally? I know the sharing of musical experiences is really important for me--it's a part of what makes music great--and so it must be tough to either just keep your mouths shut or talk only to some select few.

Anything you're willing to discuss without compromising your integrity would be appreciated. It's interesting to me.

Can we include the footage that's still kept in the vaults too?

[Loaf]

i recall drooling over some of PongHit's posts a little while back. I'm pretty sure he's heard some stuff that's not out there yet. Didn't he hear it from Alan Boyd?

I'd wager AGD has heard some really rare stuff too… care to expand?

[the captain]

Just to clarify my interests--not speaking for anyone else's, though--I'm less interested in what you have / had than I am in what it was or is like to have / have had something.

[MJP]

I was told recently by someone who would know, that there is unreleased Smile material in the hands of private collectors.

Doesn't seem fair.

[the captain]

I was told recently by someone who would know, that there is unreleased Smile material in the hands of private collectors.

Doesn't seem fair.

I disagree completely and don't see anything unfair about it.

[retrokid67]

I was told recently by someone who would know, that there is unreleased Smile material in the hands of private collectors.

Doesn't seem fair.

What about songs that aren't SMiLE related?

[Andrew G. Doe]

I'd wager AGD has heard some really rare stuff too… care to expand?

Yes, I have. 

[Andrew G. Doe]

2) (This is the one I am more interested in.) What is it like to have, or to have heard, music that you're really not supposed to talk about or share generally? I know the sharing of musical experiences is really important for me--it's a part of what makes music great--and so it must be tough to either just keep your mouths shut or talk only to some select few.

Exquisitely frustrating. But, if hearing/having it comes with an embargo, you comply.

[alf wiedersehen]

I'd bet a good amount of people here have heard rare stuff, but just don't post about it because there's nothing they can say.

[the captain]

I'd bet a good amount of people here have heard rare stuff, but just don't post about it because there's nothing they can say.

 not sure that's true, depending on what you mean by "quite a few" and "rare." Most of us have studio and live boots, which are to some extent rare, but I'd bet 95% of what 95%* of us have is in common. My interest was in those with the truly rare stuff, the nearly unique experiences.

*All stats estimated, margin of error is, oh, 95 pts.

[MJP]

I've heard 4 1/2 minutes of the Brian Wilson/Van Dyke Parks composing tape for Sail on Sailor.  It's great to hear, but I much rather hear those Smile bits which haven't every been released.

[bgas]

I've heard 4 1/2 minutes of the Brian Wilson/Van Dyke Parks composing tape for Sail on Sailor.  It's great to hear, but I much rather hear those Smile bits which haven't every been released.

Where and When?

[Mikie]

I've heard 4 1/2 minutes of the Brian Wilson/Van Dyke Parks composing tape for Sail on Sailor.  It's great to hear, but I much rather hear those Smile bits which haven't every been released.

Do you mean the tape where Van Dyke says, "Cut the sh*t Brian, and sit down here and write this middle-eight"?

[MJP]

That's the one.  It was played to me over the phone about 13 or 14 years ago.  I believe it came from someone that has passed away recently.

[jeffh]

I have a reel to reel tape containing a few songs that Brian sang to Lauri Klobas on one of her birthdays. At the time she worked at his home as editor of "Break Away" the fanzine. Her and I had become close friends after I bid on one of her Beach Boys auctions on the old AOL message board. That must have been in 1996 or 1997. We remiained friends until her passing.

Anyway, as a gift to me, she sent me that tape. However, I don't have a reel to reel player, and have never heard it!! The tape sits in a box in my basement.

[Lee Marshall]

You may want to do something with it sooner rather than later Jeff.  Like take it somwhere where it can be transferred onto a cd or at least into a file you can play on your computer.  Those old tapes can go 'bad'.   Most of us haven't stored our cassette, reel to reel, and 8 track tapes properly.  They crack, break, stretch, twist and disappoint.  Why take a chance?  Do it sooner rather than later.  Each passing week at this point is your enemy.

[jeffh]

Yeah, good point. I really should do something with it.

[jeffh]

. Double post sorry

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

I miss Lauri. She was a really nice person

[jeffh]

She was one in a million. We talked about almost everything, except not much about Brian, as she had signed a confidentially agreement for her employment there. She was without a doubt my best and closest Internet friend.

[runnersdialzero]

. Double post sorry

I WILL NOT FORGIVE YOU

[Shane]

Jeff, not trying to pry material out of your hands in any way, but I'm sure there are some board members (myself included) who have working reel to reel machines.  You're talking with a bunch of audio geeks on this board.  If you know and trust someone here, you might think about arranging to have someone transfer it over to CD.  I've thrown away a lot of reel to reel tapes over the years that literally fell apart while being played.

[LeeDempsey]

Jeff, not trying to pry material out of your hands in any way, but I'm sure there are some board members (myself included) who have working reel to reel machines.  You're talking with a bunch of audio geeks on this board.  If you know and trust someone here, you might think about arranging to have someone transfer it over to CD.  I've thrown away a lot of reel to reel tapes over the years that literally fell apart while being played.

Agreed.  I also have a working reel-to-reel deck.  In fact I was just transferring some vintage tapes from the '50s and early '60s (non-Beach Boys; sorry) to CD over the holidays.

Lee

[Aomdiddlywalla]

Is there a list of unbooted songs that HAVE been heard, (not just known to exist) available?