Brian's mid to late 70's work and California Feeling

[Moon Dawg]

Now that I live in Iowa, you'd bet your ass I'm going to MIU (now MUM, I believe) and jamming the sh*t out of MIU. I'm convinced that if I blast "Pitter Patter" with the right EQ in the "Golden Domes" (http://truenorthbytomnorth.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/best-small-towns-fairfield-ia-praying-large.jpg), it will usher in the age of the Aquarius. But I don't know, that's just me.

Seriously though, MIU is a major guilty pleasure for me. "Pitter Patter", "My Diane", "Matchpoint", "Wontcha Come Out Tonight?", and "Hey Little Tomboy"? Sorry, but I'd take those songs over most of Holland.  "Belles of Paris", and the idea of Mike trying to romance French woman, is always good for a laugh. To think I've been pronouncing "croissant" wrong this whole time.

I actually think MIU could seriously benefit from a remix. It's got that "slab of sound" Love You/15 Big Ones vibe, but it's flattened like a pancake.  Just a nice, bouncy vibe.

 Impossible to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear even though I do dig "Matchpoint".

[Mr. Cohen]

Actually, now that I think about, Al's take on the song on Postcard is about as good as the song can get. Which is pretty good. The song just has an odd bit of clunkiness to it that prevents it from being a true Beach Boys classic. It's funny that Al got Brian on "Drivin'", but not "California Feelin'", and such a typical Beach Boys move, lol. Brian on the harmonies could've been a nice touch.

Here's a perfect MIU

Side 1
California Feelin'
Wontcha Come Out Tonight?
Hey Little Tomboy
Our Team
Come Go With Me
Good Timin'
Shortenin' Bread

Side 2
Sweet Sunday Kinda Love
My Diane
Match Point of Our Love
It's Over Now
Love Remember Me
Life Is For the Living

[Moon Dawg]

Actually, now that I think about, Al's take on the song on Postcard is about as good as the song can get. Which is pretty good. The song just has an odd bit of clunkiness to it that prevents it from being a true Beach Boys classic. It's funny that Al got Brian on "Drivin'", but not "California Feelin'", and such a typical Beach Boys move, lol. Brian on the harmonies could've been a nice touch.

Here's a perfect MIU

Side 1
California Feelin'
Wontcha Come Out Tonight?
Hey Little Tomboy
Our Team
Come Go With Me
Good Timin'
Shortenin' Bread

Side 2
Sweet Sunday Kinda Love
My Diane
Match Point of Our Love
It's Over Now
Love Remember Me
Life Is For the Living

  Let's delete "Tomboy" and pull in "Tug of Love", which was available as an POB outtake.

[Mr. Cohen]

I get that "Hey Little Tomboy" is controversial, but I still think it's a catchy song. The way they trade off on lead vocals is awesome.

[Moon Dawg]

I get that "Hey Little Tomboy" is controversial, but I still think it's a catchy song. The way they trade off on lead vocals is awesome.

  More embarrassing than controversial. But I see you have "Love Remember Me" which gives Dennis his moment. You've nearly managed to salvage the album. Any thoughts on "Still I Dream Of It" fitting in?

[Mr. Cohen]

"Still I Dream Of It" fits in musically, for sure. But almost feel that it's too confessional and Brian for a Beach Boys album. It's definitely a closer song if it's on an album.

[Jesse Reiswig]

The problem with "California Feeling" is definitely in the recording, not the song. I actually think  the song is a bit of a classic, and Al's version of it (and dare I say it, Brian's demo) show the potential of what it could be far more than the Beach Boys recording, which features distinctly meh vocals by both Bruce and Carl.

Indeed, I think Brian's demo gives the clearest picture of the direction the arrangement should have been taken in. It's more of a Randy Newman type, slightly theatrical song, and shouldn't have been given a reading that was quite so straight as the Beach Boys version.

Al's choice to make it into a sort The Good, the Bad and the Ugly style southwestern thing with the whistles like you can hear the dust rolling past the cactus works pretty damn well.

[Andrew G. Doe]

When I heard Alan's version, first thought was "he's heard Brian's 1974 demo" because they were essentially identical in phrasing (down to the whistling). And gosh darn it if he didn't admit that in an interview recently. 

[Cabinessenceking]

lyrics of CF could need a little rewriting.
'look at the orange grooves, and taste a grapefruit from a grapefruit tree...' is weak imo and could be redone, even if it gives good imagery.

[Smilin Ed H]

Actually, now that I think about, Al's take on the song on Postcard is about as good as the song can get. Which is pretty good. The song just has an odd bit of clunkiness to it that prevents it from being a true Beach Boys classic. It's funny that Al got Brian on "Drivin'", but not "California Feelin'", and such a typical Beach Boys move, lol. Brian on the harmonies could've been a nice touch.

Here's a perfect MIU

Side 1
California Feelin'
Wontcha Come Out Tonight?
Hey Little Tomboy
Our Team
Come Go With Me
Good Timin'
Shortenin' Bread

Side 2
Sweet Sunday Kinda Love
My Diane
Match Point of Our Love
It's Over Now
Love Remember Me
Life Is For the Living

I would save California Feelin' for LA because it's more worthy. MIU without Pitter Patter? Shudder.

[Nicko1234]

Actually, now that I think about, Al's take on the song on Postcard is about as good as the song can get. Which is pretty good. The song just has an odd bit of clunkiness to it that prevents it from being a true Beach Boys classic. It's funny that Al got Brian on "Drivin'", but not "California Feelin'", and such a typical Beach Boys move, lol. Brian on the harmonies could've been a nice touch.

Here's a perfect MIU

Side 1
California Feelin'
Wontcha Come Out Tonight?
Hey Little Tomboy
Our Team
Come Go With Me
Good Timin'
Shortenin' Bread

Side 2
Sweet Sunday Kinda Love
My Diane
Match Point of Our Love
It's Over Now
Love Remember Me
Life Is For the Living

Pitter Patter is superior to many of those songs imo...

My personal tracklist:

1, Pitter Patter
2, Lady Lynda
3, It`s Trying to Say

4, Come Go With Me
5, Country Pie
6, Sad, Sad, Summer

7, That Special Feeling
8, My Diane
9, Still I Dream of It

10, Kona Coast
11, Winter Symphony
12, Holy Evening

[Smilin Ed H]

See, I save Country Pie for my LA too, but Lady Lynda without the intro and Winter Symphony? Definitely.