Welcome thread

[JK]

Great to see Rocker keeping up the BB Magazine Scans topic after so many of the earlier scans went missing.

Vielen dank!

[JK]

Just got back after a week spent in the beautiful Russian city of St. Petersburg. What a place!

[NOLA BB Fan]

Yes, an amazing city. The Hermitage was incredible!

[JK]

Yes, an amazing city. The Hermitage was incredible!

Incredibly perhaps, we never visited The Hermitage--too little time and so much else to see. We did visit a fantastic Ilya Repin exhibition at the Russian Museum though.

Perhaps the most extraordinary museum we visited was The State Museum of the Political History of Russia. That really was an eye-opener!  

[JK]

I should add that we attended a performance of a relatively obscure Prokofiev opera, Betrothal in a Monastery, at the Mariinsky Theatre.

A never-to-be-forgotten experience--not least because of the caviar on toast during the second interval!

[JK]

When we were in St. Petersburg the week before last I took this picture of a plaque on the wall at Ulitsa Marata 9, where one of my idols, the composer Dimitri Shostakovich, lived from 1914 to 1933:



And then we ate Borscht at a brilliant restaurant almost next door...

[JK]

Dear browser, it's very kind of you to look in here but really you would be better off checking out this splendid topic:

http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,26762.msg654743.html#msg654743

If you only have time in your busy life for a few tracks, scroll down through the SoundCloud page linked in the OP to "Poro", "Il pastor", "Orlando", "Ariodante" and "Messiah". But it's all wonderful stuff.

[JK]

This is the topic that requires your attention right now. I hope more folks dive in there with ideas and opinions to help get this labour of love off the ground!

http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,26761.0.html

[JK]

Folks, I'm taking a sabbatical from forum activity. It became patently clear today that my priorities right now are all wrong.

My apologies, particularly to aeijtzsche, whose recent posts have been a constant source of inspiration and enlightenment.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Gotta do what you gotta do. I'd been doing the same thing lately although I plan to become more active here shortly

[rab2591]

Folks, I'm taking a sabbatical from forum activity. It became patently clear today that my priorities right now are all wrong.

My apologies, particularly to aeijtzsche, whose recent posts have been a constant source of inspiration and enlightenment.

I have taken much needed hiatuses from the forum and they've been a breath of much needed fresh air. It's funny, sometimes the internet can slowly/sneakily start to consume little moments of your life that you'll never get back...a long break from it can really help give you perspective on what is really important in one's life.

That being said, we will definitely miss you around here! You've always been a constant source of positivity especially when I or others brought negativity here. Be sure to keep your eyes and ears out for the upcoming boxset!

[JK]

Thanks, Billy and rab for the kind words. It was a combination of crossed wires at home and overactivity over here.

Actually I wasn't planning to come back yet but there was something I just had to respond to. Then one thing led to another...

But the break was certainly most beneficial, as you suggested, rab.

Wonderful to see so much activity in the BB orchestration threads. It's intelligent topics like these that could be the saving of message boards in the age of social media.

[JK]

Folks there's a beautiful new instalment in aeijtzsche's BB orchestration series "I'm Grass and You're a Power Mower". This one features the use of the 12-string on "Sloop John B":

http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,26816.0.html

[JK]

Folks, as it's Christmas on Smiley (and a very Merry Christmas to you all!), I thought it would be nice to share with you this rewrite of The Twelve Days of Christmas, imported from my "hobby" forum (http://thebeachboysforum.forumotion.com/t45-the-twelve-days-of-beach-boys). 

To be sung to this tune over the following twelve days (beginning tomorrow):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7cSZD1GPuU

On the first day of Christmas, the Beach Boys gave to me
A day in the life of a tree

On the second day of Christmas, the Beach Boys gave to me
Two cuckoo clocks
And a day in the life of a tree

On the third day of Christmas, the Beach Boys gave to me
Three moon dawgs
Two cuckoo clocks
And a day in the life of a tree

On the fourth day of Christmas, the Beach Boys gave to me
Four Disney girls
Three moon dawgs
Two cuckoo clocks
And a day in the life of a tree

On the fifth day of Christmas, the Beach Boys gave to me
Five gold discs
Four Disney girls
Three moon dawgs
Two cuckoo clocks
And a day in the life of a tree

On the sixth day of Christmas, the Beach Boys gave to me
Six surfers rocking
Five gold discs
Four Disney girls
Three moon dawgs
Two cuckoo clocks
And a day in the life of a tree

On the seventh day of Christmas, the Beach Boys gave to me
Seven Hondas roaring
Six surfers rocking
Five gold discs
Four Disney girls
Three moon dawgs
Two cuckoo clocks
And a day in the life of a tree

On the eighth day of Christmas, the Beach Boys gave to me
Eight showboats crawling
Seven Hondas roaring
Six surfers rocking
Five gold discs
Four Disney girls
Three moon dawgs
Two cuckoo clocks
And a day in the life of a tree

On the ninth day of Christmas, the Beach Boys gave to me
Nine monsters mashing
Eight showboats crawling
Seven Hondas roaring
Six surfers rocking
Five gold discs
Four Disney girls
Three moon dawgs
Two cuckoo clocks
And a day in the life of a tree

On the tenth day of Christmas, the Beach Boys gave to me
Ten winds a-blowing
Nine monsters mashing
Eight showboats crawling
Seven Hondas roaring
Six surfers rocking
Five gold discs
Four Disney girls
Three moon dawgs
Two cuckoo clocks
And a day in the life of a tree

On the eleventh day of Christmas, the Beach Boys gave to me
Eleven Rhondas helping
Ten winds a-blowing
Nine monsters mashing
Eight showboats crawling
Seven Hondas roaring
Six surfers rocking
Five gold discs
Four Disney girls
Three moon dawgs
Two cuckoo clocks
And a day in the life of a tree

On the twelfth day of Christmas, the Beach Boys gave to me
Twelve Dennies drumming
Eleven Rhondas helping
Ten winds a-blowing
Nine monsters mashing
Eight showboats crawling
Seven Hondas roaring
Six surfers rocking
Five gold discs
Four Disney girls
Three moon dawgs
Two cuckoo clocks
And a day in the life of a tree!

[JK]

From me too, folks.

[JK]

Lizzie, on the subject of Wozzeck, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

I'm saying that here rather than in the "General Music Discussion", as it's great to see someone else's name in the top slot over there for a change!

I'll also drop out of the book discussion so that RR can chime in again. (I had no idea that the K stood for Klapka!)

I wish she'd get rid of that post though (three posts back in this thread).

[RangeRoverA1]

I'll also drop out of the book discussion so that RR can chime in again. (I had no idea that the K stood for Klapka!)

I 200% knew it since school. We read Jerome Klapka Jerome in 8th grade. His entire full name been written in literature book. It didn't say Jerome K. Jerome, as foolishly stated in the Internet. Thus, I'd written in Sandbox thread the full name. Glad to see Nola repeated the pattern next.

Re: Cats, I stated in *December* that they don't accept donations towards Lugansk pets case, the date is specific: to donate till *mid-December*. Thus, shared the news back then that they now been buying items, diapers, medicine, everything that poor pets need & when they buy everything listed in "1st aid list", they send it by car to Lugansk. Looks like you didn't read update about it.

[JK]

I'll also drop out of the book discussion so that RR can chime in again. (I had no idea that the K stood for Klapka!)

I 200% knew it since school. We read Jerome Klapka Jerome in 8th grade. His entire full name been written in literature book. It didn't say Jerome K. Jerome, as foolishly stated in the Internet. Thus, I'd written in Sandbox thread the full name. Glad to see Nola repeated the pattern next.

You're right, of course, but it still looks really weird to me. My edition dates from 1941 and that has K. as the middle name. Not a Klapka in sight.

And if you google "three men in a boat" in Google Images, all you get are books with Jerome K. Jerome on the cover, even in Russian. Apparently, he was originally called Jerome Clapp Jerome, which makes him sound like a communicable disease. No wonder he changed it. 

[JK]

Bless you, rab2591, for your comment at aeijtzsche's new thread. Why it has got so little initial feedback is utterly beyond me!

[JK]

Folks please take a look here, if you haven't done so already:

http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,26892.msg657378.html#msg657378

If you do more than just look, I know it will be greatly appreciated.

[JK]

I noticed this at another forum yesterday (thank you, that man) but because of one thing and another never got round to mentioning it here.

Yesterday was the birthday of Alan Boyd, who has so much to answer for in Beach Boys Land. Many belated happy returns, sir!

[JK]

Folks please take a look here, if you haven't done so already:

http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,26892.msg657378.html#msg657378

If you do more than just look, I know it will be greatly appreciated.

The view count has reached four figures! Now let's do the same for the crowdfunding donations.

[JK]

The amount raised for aeijtzsche's new recording computer has more than quadrupled at a stroke and now stands at a magnificent $1,269!!!!

[JK]

rab2591, you da man!

To say nothing of The Captain.

[JK]

And now we're up to $1,344!!!
Just a short way to go now, folks.