Yes we love Pet Sounds, but 2017 will be the 40th anniversary of Love You!! :O

[SMiLE Brian]

It's a badge of honor!

[ash]

I want him to teach Al the vocal line for Do You Like Worms we heard on the Smile box with all the lyrics (Having returned / Once upon / Waving etc.) and do Heroes with Great Shape and Barnyard. Actually, a final Smile tour with Al and the songs presented as separate tracks would be great. As it is, I'm seriously looking forward to Colston Hall in just over a week.

[37!ws]

I saw BW sing Surf's up twice last year and it brought me to tears. He can belt if he wants to! Al's take would be interesting as well.

You're very lucky to have seen that! I remember reading that he had broke it out just before I went and saw him last November, but he sadly didn't perform it at the venue I was at (it was a casino, so I can understand why not; different fan bases and all that). It's at the top of my wish list of songs I want to see him perform (though if we're being honest, a "Ding Dang" jam would probably be number two!!!).

Last summer at the show I went to, before they did "Surf's Up" Brian said he didn't care much for the song. Al said, "Brian, it's from Smile! It's one of the greatest pieces of music ever written!" And I wiish I could put into words how Brian sang it...he definitely had a very eye-roll expression on his face during the song....I guess the way he sang the song kind of exuded a "Yeah, whatever" attitude...

[HeyJude]

I think when Brian says "it's not a very good song" or things along those lines, it might sometimes be his way of saying "I don't want to do this song right now."

Brian said a very similar thing at a gig he did with Al that I saw back in 2007, prefacing "Sail on Sailor" with something like "this isn't a very good song, but we're gonna do it anyway", and Al did the same thing, trying to convince Brian that it was in fact actually a great song.

The dropping last year of "Surf's Up" and "Busy Doin' Nothin'" (last performed in September in San Francisco) were possibly explained by one of the backing band members who said Brian finds them too verbose to sing. I wouldn't mind it if they just gave "Surf's Up" to Matt to sing.

I also wonder if sometimes Brian still does attach bad or acrimonious memories with certain songs, even if he doesn't actually dislike the song musically. I remember all the way back around 2000 or so, Brian did a Yahoo chat and I asked him if he would ever do "Sail on Sailor" live, and he *emphatically* stated no.

[Alan Smith]

Given Al & Matt are hangin' with B-Dub, maybe they should do a "Love MIU" tour - with Matt doing a 40 years on sequel to Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree.

[Lonely Summer]

C'mon, the logical thing to follow up the PS tour is a SS/WH tour. Blondie's in the band, right? Who sings Wild Honey better than Blondie? Deborah Harry? I can't see much interest in a LY tour, half the BW fans love it, the rest hate it. How about a combo 15BO/BBLY tour? Maybe throw in a little MIU? I'm sure Mike and Bruce will tour SIP someday.

[Lean Back Now Listen]

I want a 20 minute ding dang encore jam!

I really hope Bruce Johnston isn't reading this, he would turn the idea into a 12" Disco single  

M&B need to do the full HCTN disco song!

Honestly, if they did either of those things, they would be crazy additions to their live set! I think it'd be hilarious for them to break something like that out. What if there were to be some sort of crazed disco revival next year for the 40th anniversary of Saturday Night Fever? Mike and Bruce could whip out some disco no problem.

I want him to teach Al the vocal line for Do You Like Worms we heard on the Smile box with all the lyrics (Having returned / Once upon / Waving etc.) and do Heroes with Great Shape and Barnyard. Actually, a final Smile tour with Al and the songs presented as separate tracks would be great. As it is, I'm seriously looking forward to Colston Hall in just over a week.

I think that would be a fantastic idea! Al's a fantastic vocalist, and to use him on something like that would be so cool. Even if they did a Spotify session of the album with the live band in the manner you suggest, that would be cool for the archives. The fan mixers would go crazy with the new Al lead. Maybe, if someone had the money, they could just contract Al to sing those lines for them? His voice is still similar enough to the 60s that it wouldn't feel out of place couched in the original backing tracks.

Given Al & Matt are hangin' with B-Dub, maybe they should do a "Love MIU" tour - with Matt doing a 40 years on sequel to Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree.

C'mon, the logical thing to follow up the PS tour is a SS/WH tour. Blondie's in the band, right? Who sings Wild Honey better than Blondie? Deborah Harry? I can't see much interest in a LY tour, half the BW fans love it, the rest hate it. How about a combo 15BO/BBLY tour? Maybe throw in a little MIU? I'm sure Mike and Bruce will tour SIP someday.

A late 70s song package would be sweet too, I agree. Breaking out songs like "Palisades Park," "Just Once in My Life," "Wontcha Come Out Tonight," and "Pitter Patter" would be alright in my book, and they could do them well. And, now that the cat has been let out of the bag to the public about how excellent their version of "Rock and Roll Music" was (or could've been), they could totally showcase that too. Maybe the band could start arguing onstage, leading into Al's famous "Phew! It's time for me to meditate."
I think a Smiley Smile and Wild Honey tour would be excellent too. Blondie, with or without Deborah (haha), does indeed do a fantastic rendition of the latter's titular song.

[lostbeachboy]

Some ideas for Mike & Bruce...

The Wonderful Tour
The Vegetables Tour
The Gettin' Hungry Tour


The Aren't You Glad Tour
The Wild Honey Tour


The Roller Skating Child Tour
The Night Was So Young Tour

[kwebb]

I've said this before, but I'll say it again.  Imagine "Love You" performed or even re-recorded without all the dated synths.  Instead bring in Brian's band and a more complete production.  If I remember correctly, even Carl Wilson once remarked that the album was "unfinished" or something along those lines.

That would turn it from an album that is half loved and half hated by the fanbase into an album that's hated by the entire fanbase. The songs just wouldn't work with a mid-60's style backing band. The lyrics are childlike and silly, and the synths add to that feeling. Adding Brian's backing band would make the ridiculous lyrics stick out like a sore thumb.

[You Kane, You Commanded, You Conquered]

Some ideas for Mike & Bruce...

The Wonderful Tour
The Vegetables Tour
The Gettin' Hungry Tour


The Aren't You Glad Tour
The Wild Honey Tour


The Roller Skating Child Tour
The Night Was So Young Tour

 

[Lonely Summer]

But if they really are going to do LY live, then I think all of the band members should get as strung out, stoned, loaded, as the the guys were when it was recorded - to insure that they faithfully replicate those off-key, gravelly vocals.

[yonderhillside]

I want a 20 minute ding dang encore jam!

Interspersed with numerous "Let's Go, Mother F'ers!" 

Let's be real: A "Ding Dang Through The Years" tour simply must happen in 2017. They'll start off with "I'm the Pied Piper" and flow into "Ding Dang," "Rollin' Up To Heaven," "Shortnin Bread," "Drip Drop," "Shortnin Bread" again, "Too Much Sugar," probably "Shortnin Bread" again, "Proud Mary," and finish off with "Goin' Home." The more intimate venues could add such choice rarities as "Bells of Madness" and "Clangin." Each piece extended so as to make the performance fit a standard concert length. It'd give Jerry Lee Lewis's "Live at the Starr Club" a run for it's money!

Smells like heaven.

[sockittome]

I've said this before, but I'll say it again.  Imagine "Love You" performed or even re-recorded without all the dated synths.  Instead bring in Brian's band and a more complete production.  If I remember correctly, even Carl Wilson once remarked that the album was "unfinished" or something along those lines.

That would turn it from an album that is half loved and half hated by the fanbase into an album that's hated by the entire fanbase. The songs just wouldn't work with a mid-60's style backing band. The lyrics are childlike and silly, and the synths add to that feeling. Adding Brian's backing band would make the ridiculous lyrics stick out like a sore thumb.

Good, then maybe they'll be able to put the whole thing to bed then....

[Cool Cool Water]

It would be awesome if something was done in light of the 40th regarding Love You. Maybe a box set, new remastered tracks and even a tour (highly doubtful mind). 

[Paul J B]

I've said this before, but I'll say it again.  Imagine "Love You" performed or even re-recorded without all the dated synths.  Instead bring in Brian's band and a more complete production.  If I remember correctly, even Carl Wilson once remarked that the album was "unfinished" or something along those lines.

That would turn it from an album that is half loved and half hated by the fanbase into an album that's hated by the entire fanbase. The songs just wouldn't work with a mid-60's style backing band. The lyrics are childlike and silly, and the synths add to that feeling. Adding Brian's backing band would make the ridiculous lyrics stick out like a sore thumb.

I would substitute fan base for hardcore fan base. The average BB fan that was in the audience at say a C50 venue has no idea the album Love You even exists. It pretty much went straight to the discount bin when it was released. Performing this entire album live would not delight too many people so it won't happen.

[glimpse_of_divinity]

Ok so people not really feeling the tour (i disagree) but understandable but how about BACKING TRACKS?!?!

[KDS]

Ok so people not really feeling the tour (i disagree) but understandable but how about BACKING TRACKS?!?!

The problem with a Love You Tour is marketability.  Bands/artists tend to tour on albums regarded as classics, not albums that are cult favorites that tend to divide the most loyal members of the fanbase.  

A deluxe reissue?  More realistic.  

[Please delete my account]

Maybe if any of these suggestions come to pass the live music industry as a whole will realize this "playing whole albums in order" thing has got way out of hand and the craze will finally end.

Though I'm not one to speak: I reckon for our album launch show next week we're just gonna play our new album in order. Saves on valuable thinking time.

[KDS]

Maybe if any of these suggestions come to pass the live music industry as a whole will realize this "playing whole albums in order" thing has got way out of hand and the craze will finally end.

Though I'm not one to speak: I reckon for our album launch show next week we're just gonna play our new album in order. Saves on valuable thinking time.

I don't think the album tours have gotten out of hand.  I think they offer fans a chance to see classic albums performed from start to finish.  Plus, it offers a rare chance to hear the album tracks from said albums in a live setting. 

The only possible negative I see is this it makes a portion of the set predictable. 

[Cool Cool Water]

Ok so people not really feeling the tour (i disagree) but understandable but how about BACKING TRACKS?!?!

No, i'm a fan of the tours!

[Lonely Summer]

I don't get why people rave over the glorifed demo that is Love You; if I want to hear latter day BW at his best, I put on BW88. A tour for that album I would love!

[Please delete my account]

Maybe if any of these suggestions come to pass the live music industry as a whole will realize this "playing whole albums in order" thing has got way out of hand and the craze will finally end.

Though I'm not one to speak: I reckon for our album launch show next week we're just gonna play our new album in order. Saves on valuable thinking time.

I don't think the album tours have gotten out of hand.  I think they offer fans a chance to see classic albums performed from start to finish.  Plus, it offers a rare chance to hear the album tracks from said albums in a live setting. 

The only possible negative I see is this it makes a portion of the set predictable. 

Yeah, I actually don't mind it. Your possible negative is more of an actual negative for me though.

Another plus might be it forces a band to confront the fact that maybe their fans have a point in preferring "the earlier stuff". Having played the hits so much they don't mean anything any more, it might be a shock to play an old album track with fresh ears and think, "oh, we really were better back then". And then try harder to do better on the next album instead of moaning that the fans "won't move on".  However, I still prefer more wide-ranging setlists that contain a mix of hits and surprise deep cuts, something for everyone.

I don't get why people rave over the glorifed demo that is Love You; if I want to hear latter day BW at his best, I put on BW88. A tour for that album I would love!

The songs are better on Love You. Try playing them on the piano, or instrument of your choice.
In fact, by maligning the production as you are doing here, you are actually strengthening the case for a live or re-recorded Love You.

[feelsflow]

Maybe if any of these suggestions come to pass the live music industry as a whole will realize this "playing whole albums in order" thing has got way out of hand and the craze will finally end.

Though I'm not one to speak: I reckon for our album launch show next week we're just gonna play our new album in order. Saves on valuable thinking time.

I don't think the album tours have gotten out of hand.  I think they offer fans a chance to see classic albums performed from start to finish.  Plus, it offers a rare chance to hear the album tracks from said albums in a live setting.  

The only possible negative I see is this it makes a portion of the set predictable.  

Yeah, I actually don't mind it. Your possible negative is more of an actual negative for me though.

Another plus might be it forces a band to confront the fact that maybe their fans have a point in preferring "the earlier stuff". Having played the hits so much they don't mean anything any more, it might be a shock to play an old album track with fresh ears and think, "oh, we really were better back then". And then try harder to do better on the next album instead of moaning that the fans "won't move on".  However, I still prefer more wide-ranging setlists that contain a mix of hits and surprise deep cuts, something for everyone.

I don't get why people rave over the glorifed demo that is Love You; if I want to hear latter day BW at his best, I put on BW88. A tour for that album I would love!

The songs are better on Love You. Try playing them on the piano, or instrument of your choice.
In fact, by maligning the production as you are doing here, you are actually strengthening the case for a live or re-recorded Love You.

My problem with oldsters doin' the "play an album" deal, is that they shouldn't wait so long to do it.  It is a good idea for someone like you, to promote the album, doin' so.  And good luck, friend.  The new stuff sounds great.  Self-promote, the new easy media showcase works.  Youtube, bandcamp, SoundCloud - I am spending lots of time there.  I think working musicians like My Brother Woody are as great as the artists selling millions of records.  Throw in a link to the album on the main board.  They won't move this thread to the General Music Section.  Try It.  I was saying the same thing to Zach last night.  There are so many great artists waiting to be found right here at Smiley... If only folks would go over and check them out.  Something I have promoted since I got here.

Saying that, I snapped up all of the Todd Rundgren DVD/Cd releases, he did three, so far.  His voice has held up fairly well, but nothing like if he had done them in even the 90's.  He is now playing sets full of tracks he either never, or rarely, performed since the early 70's, lots of them.  When I got the chance to speak with Todd in the 80's and 90's, I always brought up, "Why won't you play the old Nazz songs, or the two Runt albums?"  He wanted to push the new stuff, which is fine music too.  He only played one now and then, sometimes a deep cut like "Drunken Blue Rooster" - alone at a grand piano.  He would play many of the tracks from the Todd album, even "Lord Chancellor's Nightmare Song" back in the late 70's, I think he must have loved the album, and still does, he did all of it in 2010.  Now that my concert days are pretty much over, he does it all the time.  Blows me away when he pulls up something like "Kiddie Boy."  He is doin' it, not for the old fans as much as for the new fans.  Those old records are still selling well, and need to be promoted.  So much about music is old catalogue.  Way it is.  Most of our old favorites are not going to learn from, or create something better than the past.  As great as I found Brian's new album to be - I don't see much agreement here at Smiley.  And that's the best shot he has at getting compliments.  My dream would be for Brian to get together with Van Dyke to play Orange Crate Art, and put it out on film/Blu-ray.  They never did much to promote that album in it's day.  Again, if only they had done it in the mid-90's.  But it is not too late.  Brian is still a great singer live.  I'm sure Van Dyke could still sit at a piano and do it one more time.  If he could not play the piano, he could let the young guys do it, with him and Brian arranging and singing.  Parks live versions of those songs, the few he has done, are fantastic.  They could bring in Danny Hutton, Flo and Eddie, and a few others from the old gang and fans - do it like the old Black and White Night.  Who wouldn't jump at a chance to share a stage with them.

I have a bit more trouble when, say Cheap Trick, do Magical Mystery Tour - but they did quite a few of their own albums before that.  Like with Brian, a crack band helps.  Others fill in gaps, and away we go.  btw, I think Love You is way better than BW88.  I think Adult/Child is better.  LA (Light Album) is better.  I love it much more than most folks around here.  Opinions, opinions.  And when you say that Blondie sings/plays "Wild Honey" better than anyone ever, please note, not better than Carl.  I have seen Blondie do it, in 1973.

I really don't see Brian focusing on the 70's music in concert.  Not a whole album.  Would love to hear "Solar System," or some of the ones he sang, maybe not "Love is a Woman" tho.  I'm not in agreement as much with replacing Carl, Dennis, and Mike.  Hey, we got "Honkin' Down the Highway" - a big big favorite from Al's small bunch of tunes.  I would like him to tackle "At My Window" next, he would sound good.  Bruce doesn't seem to want to give it a try.  I am surprised Brian plays so many Beach Boys 60's cuts.  Especially if he is reading all the suggestions from us.  

[KDS]

Feels,

Pink Floyd used to play their albums in their entirety when they were new. 

In fact, they'd been playing Dark Side for a full year before it was even released on record. 

They continued to play Dark Side from 1972-75, and revived it in 1994.  So, I think they were the first band to play a classic album for nostalgia.

They also played Wish You Were Here, Animals (not in the same song order), and The Wall when they were released.

When I saw Iron Maiden in 2006, they played their entire new album, A Matter of Life and Death album.  A bold choice. 

I'm with you on bands doing other peoples' albums.  If I'm paying to see Cheap Trick, I don't want to hear them do a Beatles record in concert.

[glimpse_of_divinity]

The songs are better on Love You. Try playing them on the piano, or instrument of your choice.
In fact, by maligning the production as you are doing here, you are actually strengthening the case for a live or re-recorded Love You.

So true. I've studied many a brian songs and the love you compositions are complex and beautiful. More so than BW88 (which I also like)