Wouldn't It Be Nice To Live Again

[Disney Boy (1985)]

Dennis is a great "what if" in a sense. Obviously what if he didn't die so young, but what if his voice hadn't been ravaged by his own abuse and take a punch to the throat and also a savage beating. I think he was at his vocal peak from 1968-71 and it would have been great to hear the voice of Sound of Free singing POB. And what if he had either been able to stay focused on his own or kept people like Darryl Dragon or Gregg Jakobson to help keep him focused and bring the best out of him.

But while Dennis is far from a TOTAL "what if." He left behind some truly great music. He certainly was his own distinct presence from Brian, but you can't tell me that the guy who did THIS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSiIHHOPULg

didn't learn a ton from his big brother.

No-one disputes Dennis learned a ton from Brian, including Dennis himself (not now obviously). But then, hey, didn't Brian learn a ton from Phil Spector, Four Freshman, etc. The difference is Brian surpassed his heroes whereas, well, how do you surpass Good Vibrations or Pet Sounds? However, Dennis certainly came a hell of a lot closer to doing so than most. River Song, Moonshine, Thoughts Of You... These are truly stunning pieces of work.

[MBE]

Dennis is a great "what if" in a sense. Obviously what if he didn't die so young, but what if his voice hadn't been ravaged by his own abuse and take a punch to the throat and also a savage beating. I think he was at his vocal peak from 1968-71 and it would have been great to hear the voice of Sound of Free singing POB. And what if he had either been able to stay focused on his own or kept people like Darryl Dragon or Gregg Jakobson to help keep him focused and bring the best out of him.

But while Dennis is far from a TOTAL "what if." He left behind some truly great music. He certainly was his own distinct presence from Brian, but you can't tell me that the guy who did THIS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSiIHHOPULg

didn't learn a ton from his big brother.

Perfect post. I love all of Dennis' work, but his voice through 1973 has something very special to it. Dennis was his own man, but Brian taught him some fantastic things.

[RangeRoverA1]

I wasn’t drawn to the Beach Boys, nor do i like them to this day, because of a “sweet” and “smooth” sound. It was/is because they’re so damn odd and unconventional in more ways than one. They’re truly one of a kind. I love all the paradoxes in their music. The arrangements, productions and vocal harmonies are dense and powerful. The counterpoint is often jaw-dropping. Everything comes together in such satisfying and amazing ways. 

Affirmative nod.

[Jon Stebbins]

He certainly was his own distinct presence from Brian, but you can't tell me that the guy who did THIS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSiIHHOPULg

didn't learn a ton from his big brother.

That's pretty much all Van McCoy, though, right?

No, not all. Van McCoy did the very cool string arrangement, that's it.

[runnersdialzero]

I wasn’t drawn to the Beach Boys, nor do i like them to this day, because of a “sweet” and “smooth” sound. It was/is because they’re so damn odd and unconventional in more ways than one. They’re truly one of a kind. I love all the paradoxes in their music. The arrangements, productions and vocal harmonies are dense and powerful. The counterpoint is often jaw-dropping. Everything comes together in such satisfying and amazing ways. 

Affirmative nod.

Cartwheels.

[Wirestone]

He certainly was his own distinct presence from Brian, but you can't tell me that the guy who did THIS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSiIHHOPULg

didn't learn a ton from his big brother.

That's pretty much all Van McCoy, though, right?

No, not all. Van McCoy did the very cool string arrangement, that's it.

My point was that McCoy's arrangements -- which I would have to assume include the horns as well, no? -- are what give that instrumental track much of its flavor. Those are clearly Dennis's chords underneath, but it's hardly something he did in a studio on his own. (As opposed to some of his later stuff, which he did pretty much play all the instruments on.)

[Disney Boy (1985)]

He certainly was his own distinct presence from Brian, but you can't tell me that the guy who did THIS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSiIHHOPULg

didn't learn a ton from his big brother.

That's pretty much all Van McCoy, though, right?

No, not all. Van McCoy did the very cool string arrangement, that's it.

My point was that McCoy's arrangements -- which I would have to assume include the horns as well, no? -- are what give that instrumental track much of its flavor. Those are clearly Dennis's chords underneath, but it's hardly something he did in a studio on his own. (As opposed to some of his later stuff, which he did pretty much play all the instruments on.)

So what? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm fairly certain Brian didn't play all the instruments on Pet Sounds, Good Vibrations, etc. I'm sure I read somewhere that he had a bit of help with the clarinets, horns, trombones, etc. I could be wrong.

It seems that now - as then - some people just really have a hard time being convinced of Dennis' musical talents.

[Jon Stebbins]

He certainly was his own distinct presence from Brian, but you can't tell me that the guy who did THIS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSiIHHOPULg

didn't learn a ton from his big brother.

That's pretty much all Van McCoy, though, right?

No, not all. Van McCoy did the very cool string arrangement, that's it.

My point was that McCoy's arrangements -- which I would have to assume include the horns as well, no? -- are what give that instrumental track much of its flavor. Those are clearly Dennis's chords underneath, but it's hardly something he did in a studio on his own. (As opposed to some of his later stuff, which he did pretty much play all the instruments on.)

McCoy scored the strings on Be With Me, that was it. Dennis usually played string suggestions on the piano (or sang) his ideas for string lines to whomever was arranging/scoring the string orchestrations on his productions. Daryl Dragon is very adamant  about this in his interviews, that the string melodies were usually Dennis' own musical ideas, and BTW Jimmie Haskell did some of the string scoring job for Dennis on the Pacific Ocean Blue era material. I think Be With Me falls into the same routine that the subsequent stuff did, Dennis had a feel for what he wanted and did his best to translate that to his arranger, not having the ability to actually score charts for a string section on his own.

[pixletwin]

I expect to make more deals in August since WIBNTLA won't be on MIC.

Pity that isn't going to work out for you. I suspect even the resell value of the CD you bought containing this track has deflated considerably. 

[ontor pertawst]

I'll light a candle for him.

[Gertie J.]

i'll blow out it.

[Cabinessenceking]

I'll relight it....then blow it out.

[Gertie J.]

k, gag's gotten old already.

[Emdeeh]

I'm just gonna keep doin' the happy dance because WIBNTLA is being released!

 

[BJL]

McCoy scored the strings on Be With Me, that was it. Dennis usually played string suggestions on the piano (or sang) his ideas for string lines to whomever was arranging/scoring the string orchestrations on his productions. Daryl Dragon is very adamant  about this in his interviews, that the string melodies were usually Dennis' own musical ideas, and BTW Jimmie Haskell did some of the string scoring job for Dennis on the Pacific Ocean Blue era material. I think Be With Me falls into the same routine that the subsequent stuff did, Dennis had a feel for what he wanted and did his best to translate that to his arranger, not having the ability to actually score charts for a string section on his own.

There' a great Bruce quote about the 20/20 string arrangements. I can't remember exactly, but the gist was that he and Dennis "talked those arrangements into his [McCoy's] head."

[Ziggy Stardust]

Hahahahaha

[FatherOfTheMan Sr101]

Okay so are you going to release this now please? I've been waiting a long time to hear this track, and it's being released in about 2 months, so why not at least help us all out?

[Don Malcolm]

That does raise an interesting question. Is bb_fr's version of WIBNTLA different from what will be released on MIC? Any way to compare track lengths, for instance?? 

[pixletwin]

That does raise an interesting question. Is bb_fr's version of WIBNTLA different from what will be released on MIC? Any way to compare track lengths, for instance?? 

I think he already stated it was 4:33

[monicker]

That does raise an interesting question. Is bb_fr's version of WIBNTLA different from what will be released on MIC? Any way to compare track lengths, for instance?? 

I think he already stated it was 4:33

JOHN CAGE? Dennis' best song is a cover of silence?

[pixletwin]

That does raise an interesting question. Is bb_fr's version of WIBNTLA different from what will be released on MIC? Any way to compare track lengths, for instance?? 

I think he already stated it was 4:33

JOHN CAGE? Dennis' best song is a cover of silence?

Hehe!

[Andrew G. Doe]

That does raise an interesting question. Is bb_fr's version of WIBNTLA different from what will be released on MIC?

I'd bet very heavily against that. VERY heavily.

[Disney Boy (1985)]

That does raise an interesting question. Is bb_fr's version of WIBNTLA different from what will be released on MIC?

I'd bet very heavily against that. VERY heavily.

I reckon the guy doesn't even have WIBNTLA. Honestly, he's an attention seeker seeking attention. He don't got it, folks.

[beachboys_fr]

That does raise an interesting question. Is bb_fr's version of WIBNTLA different from what will be released on MIC?

I'd bet very heavily against that. VERY heavily.

You think it will be different or not? To me, the ideal version should end at 2:30. The "jam section" don't add nothing to the song... What will be interesting too is the quality of the sound. Don't forget that "my" version is not final... And last thing, the missing guitar part... I doubt it will be added on the MIC version but...

[Gertie J.]

STFUA!!