Wouldn't It Be Nice To Live Again

[AndrewHickey]

I read the press news saying MIC is gonna be a deep cut box, but people around here seem to suggest all the hits will be included. What's the truth?

All we know for sure is that it's 6 CDs and "career spanning".
Given that there aren't, by even the most generous estimate, six CDs' worth of unreleased songs worth releasing, we can assume that it's something like a revised version of the Good Vibrations box set. I'd guess that we'll have all the hits and a bunch of album tracks -- some of them in slightly different versions, like stereo remixes of previously mono-only tracks, or single mixes being released where only the album mix has been on CD before, no doubt -- and some unreleased material along with that.

I think there might be somethign special in th works.

Remember, the 93 box was pretty groiundbreaking in its day, as was the SMile box. Standard-setting stuff this…

Groinbreaking???

Some people got *very* excited

[Awesoman]

I'm guessing that this song will find its way on the box set, so I will wait until then to hear it. No rush. My guess is that while it's probably a good track, it won't meet the astronomical expectations we've set for it. I mean the thing was never released for a reason, right?

Hoping "Carry Me Home" might make an appearance as well...

[The Shift]

As said before , I see a thin thematic link between the two…

"Don't want to die this way
In this cold
Carry me home
Sweet sweet home
Don't wanna die
Can this feeling ever go
I wanna live…"

"Wouldn’t it be nice to live again
High on a hill making love again
Whoever said that love could die
Whoever said the very first lie
Whoever said goodbye
Tell me, whoever said a girl can’t cry
I know I can cry
and we’ll live our lives alone…"


And I'd love it if they were placed sequentially on the box set.

If not, I'll be happy with the extended version of Rock n Roll Music and a couple of versions of Shortenin' Bread…

[Dave Modny]

I'm guessing that this song will find its way on the box set, so I will wait until then to hear it. No rush. My guess is that while it's probably a good track, it won't meet the astronomical expectations we've set for it. I mean the thing was never released for a reason, right?

From what we know, I don't think quality was one of those reasons. The reasons read more like a "bad comedy" at times.  

We know it was a simple argument over track placement that caused Dennis it pull his two songs off the album to begin with. After that, for further example, it was slated to be a bonus track on a 5.1, DVD-A release of the album, but the project was cancelled when the format failed to take off. Then, as we've also found out, there was the TWOTS saga. Again, not a quality issue, but a matter of certain band members deciding it didn't fit on that comp, or not wanting it on there for "other" reasons.  

That is, it sounds like it's more a victim of timing, politics, economics and circumstance than anything else. Perhaps one of the unluckiest tracks in BBs history...lol.  


Addendum:

I'd even go as far to say that, if folks like Jack Rieley are to be believed, there may have been a tinge of envy at times towards Dennis and his music from the rest of the band. Namely, for the other track that was pulled from SU -- 4th Of July.

[Mike's Beard]

How did Dennis actually pull his two tracks off the album? Couldn't the others just have easily said "Tough, they're going on", and keep them on the record anyway? With the exception of Bruce who seemed to have his own seperate publishing deal, all the bands songs at the time were published under the Brother Music banner so legally I'm guessing they all had joint ownership of the songs and could've outvoted Dennis' objections.

[Nicko1234]

I'd even go as far to say that, if folks like Jack Rieley are to be believed, there may have been a tinge of envy at times towards Dennis and his music from the rest of the band. Namely, for the other track that was pulled from SU -- 4th Of July.

I'm not sure Jack Rieley should ever be believed. 

[Dave Modny]

How did Dennis actually pull his two tracks off the album? Couldn't the others just have easily said "Tough, they're going on", and keep them on the record anyway? With the exception of Bruce who seemed to have his own seperate publishing deal, all the bands songs at the time were published under the Brother Music banner so legally I'm guessing they all had joint ownership of the songs and could've outvoted Dennis' objections.

Well, I don't know the particulars of the situation. But, it seems to have been a heat-of-the-moment thing between Dennis and Carl. And you know how things like that can go. Especially when it's family. A silly argument where everyone stands their ground.

[pixletwin]

My understanding was Brian objected to them using SU at all and Dennis was trying to use his songs as leverage against it's inclusion, but didn't work, and true to his word pulled them in support of Brian.

[Jason]

Kind of frustrating considering the fact that they could have still had a twelve-track album that would have satisfied all.

[Dave Modny]

Kind of frustrating considering the fact that they could have still had a twelve-track album that would have satisfied all.

Indeed. Hard to always get a handle on "why things are," but my guess would be that's how the artistic mind works. An era ends, and one is already moving on to the next era, the next big artistic thing to get excited about, the next muse. And the BBs musical history is littered with songs that were "of the moment," only to be discarded or forgotten about when the next moment or "big idea" came along. Why it was never revisited again, or dragged out when they were looking to pad later albums, is anyone's guess? If I had a nickel for every unexplainable or confounding decision the BBs ever made, and with the benefit of hindsight history...I'd have a lot of tarnished nickels.


The other thing to remember is that, technically speaking, both songs weren't 100% finished. 4th Of July only had a guide lead vocal from Carl, and they never got around to putting down a lead guitar part on WIBNTLA. Hell, maybe more. Thus, once Dennis took his tracks and left, the notion from others may have been, "the heck with him, let's finish or work on our stuff." Just speculating, but...

[Andrew G. Doe]

My understanding was Brian objected to them using SU at all and Dennis was trying to use his songs as leverage against it's inclusion, but didn't work, and true to his word pulled them in support of Brian.

Your understanding is incorrect: it was Dennis who told Brian (re: "Surf's Up"), "f*** you, we need that song on the album". Dennis pulled his songs after an argument with Carl over the sequencing (allegedly - as "4th Of July" wasn't finished for the album, there has to be a question...).

[pixletwin]

My understanding was Brian objected to them using SU at all and Dennis was trying to use his songs as leverage against it's inclusion, but didn't work, and true to his word pulled them in support of Brian.

Your understanding is incorrect: it was Dennis who told Brian (re: "Surf's Up"), "f*** you, we need that song on the album". Dennis pulled his songs after an argument with Carl over the sequencing (allegedly - as "4th Of July" wasn't finished for the album, there has to be a question...).

Thanks for the correction, it's good to know. So I assume they must have still been working on 4th of July when the argument occurred sometime towards the end of June to the beginning of July 1971 and he just chucked it afterwards.

[pixletwin]

Looking at your website it's interesting that after the final session for 4oJ on June 20th. Shortly after that it seems the remaining studio time for recording SU was primarily devoted to a flurry of session for new songs, presumably to fill the void left from Dennis pulling his songs. Interesting.

[Nicko1234]

Looking at your website it's interesting that after the final session for 4oJ on June 20th. Shortly after that it seems the remaining studio time for recording SU was primarily devoted to a flurry of session for new songs, presumably to fill the void left from Dennis pulling his songs. Interesting.

That isn't the final session for 4oJ.

[pixletwin]

Looking at your website it's interesting that after the final session for 4oJ on June 20th. Shortly after that it seems the remaining studio time for recording SU was primarily devoted to a flurry of session for new songs, presumably to fill the void left from Dennis pulling his songs. Interesting.

That isn't the final session for 4oJ.

Could you expand upon that? This is a subject that interests me enormously.

[Nicko1234]

Could you expand upon that? This is a subject that interests me enormously.

Sorry but you missed the recording session in July listed on AGD's website.

[Rocker]

As said before , I see a thin thematic link between the two…

"Don't want to die this way
In this cold
Carry me home
Sweet sweet home
Don't wanna die
Can this feeling ever go
I wanna live…"

"Wouldn’t it be nice to live again
High on a hill making love again
Whoever said that love could die
Whoever said the very first lie
Whoever said goodbye
Tell me, whoever said a girl can’t cry
I know I can cry
and we’ll live our lives alone…"

I see what you mean but imo the songs are about two different topics. 4oJ is about the dying of a soldier while WIBNTLA is about a lost love affair just using the "dying-living" thing as a metaphor.


I wonder why Mike has anything against this track. If the Marsland version is any indication than the song is full of fantastic Beach Boys harmonies AND it even cites one of the classic hits. I'd think Mike liked that.

[monicker]

Side 2 would have been the same as released, except with WIBNTLA replacing the title track.

I also have to say, and I know it has its detractors, but I've never really disliked Take A Load Off Your Feet. I actually find it quite charming, and I think it adds a touch of lightness and quirkiness to a pretty heavy album. Though, I respect that others see it as out of place. Had it been on LY, with Brian gruffly singing it, it probably would've been considered some sort of later day masterpiece...lol. I really like the version they did with Carl singing on the box set tour.

It already is a masterpiece as is. Great song and performance, brilliant arrangement, top notch early '70s production. I belong in a different world or something because that song rules my life and i've always been dismayed by how hated it is. Then again, i have very little interest in Dennis and have never got the fascination with him. And i agree that Disney Girls is a better song than 4th of July. Call me crazy. 

[Aegir]

Take a Load off Your Feet makes me think of an alternate world where smile got really big so instead of doing songs like "do it again" or "it's ok" or every song on summer in paradise, their idea of fan-catering backwards nostalgia songs is Take a Load Off Your Feet. It's the poor man's Vegetables.

[runnersdialzero]

Take a Load off Your Feet makes me think of an alternate world where smile got really big so instead of doing songs like "do it again" or "it's ok" or every song on summer in paradise, their idea of fan-catering backwards nostalgia songs is Take a Load Off Your Feet. It's the poor man's Vegetables.

Poifect, Aegir. ^_^

[Micha]

Side 2 would have been the same as released, except with WIBNTLA replacing the title track.

I also have to say, and I know it has its detractors, but I've never really disliked Take A Load Off Your Feet. I actually find it quite charming, and I think it adds a touch of lightness and quirkiness to a pretty heavy album. Though, I respect that others see it as out of place. Had it been on LY, with Brian gruffly singing it, it probably would've been considered some sort of later day masterpiece...lol. I really like the version they did with Carl singing on the box set tour.

It already is a masterpiece as is. Great song and performance, brilliant arrangement, top notch early '70s production. I belong in a different world or something because that song rules my life and i've always been dismayed by how hated it is. Then again, i have very little interest in Dennis and have never got the fascination with him. And i agree that Disney Girls is a better song than 4th of July. Call me crazy. 

If you insist... OK. You're crazy!

[beachboys_fr]

For those who are interested in the Beach Boys version of WIBNTLA, the deal period ends on next Friday.

[Cabinessenceking]

For those who are interested in the Beach Boys version of WIBNTLA, the deal period ends on next Friday.

[Iron Horse-Apples]

Thanks but no thanks. I do have one of the disks you want, but I'm not prepared to swap it for an fragment of audio which will almost certainly be released in full in the next 6 months.

Now if it was the Durry Smile acetates.....................

[Ziggy Stardust]

Yeah, this is really not gonna work.