The Beachago tapes

[peerke]

In 1975 The beach Boys and Chicago played 12 sold out show together. They were recorded for a live album, that never happened.

I heard a story that the shows were recorded on two multi-track machines that were sync'd up.  In March 1983 a fire broke out in the controlroom of Caribou and the tapes from one of the machines were destroyed. So, what's left in Guercio's vault is essentially half of the recording, and thus relatively unlistenable.

Any truth in that? And why didn't the live album appear in 1976?

[Andrew G. Doe]

That's pretty much how things stand right now.

[yrplace]

In 1975 The beach Boys and Chicago played 12 sold out show together. They were recorded for a live album, that never happened.

I heard a story that the shows were recorded on two multi-track machines that were sync'd up.  In March 1983 a fire broke out in the controlroom of Caribou and the tapes from one of the machines were destroyed. So, what's left in Guercio's vault is essentially half of the recording, and thus relatively unlistenable.

Any truth in that? And why didn't the live album appear in 1976?

Not exactly . The individual Chicago and Beach Boys sets are all there. What's missing and apparantly lost are the tapes from the 2nd machine used to record half of the band(s) during the encores. No plans to release at the moment but we do have the four Beach Boys shows so perhaps one day........

[Malc]

In 1975 The beach Boys and Chicago played 12 sold out show together. They were recorded for a live album, that never happened.

I heard a story that the shows were recorded on two multi-track machines that were sync'd up.  In March 1983 a fire broke out in the controlroom of Caribou and the tapes from one of the machines were destroyed. So, what's left in Guercio's vault is essentially half of the recording, and thus relatively unlistenable.

Any truth in that? And why didn't the live album appear in 1976?

Not exactly . The individual Chicago and Beach Boys sets are all there. What's missing and apparantly lost are the tapes from the 2nd machine used to record half of the band(s) during the encores. No plans to release at the moment but we do have the four Beach Boys shows so perhaps one day........

Can you confirm exactly which songs are gone forever ? I have heard of an A+ quality version of "Darlin'" with Peter Cetera on lead, so I know that one exists ... but which other ones survived ?? 

[Andrew G. Doe]

This is the setlist for at least one of the joint sets:

Wishin' You Were Here (Chicago w/BB backups)
God Only Knows (w/the Chicago horn section)
Darlin (as above)
Saturday In The Park (Chicago w/BB backups)
California Girls (w/the Chicago horn section)
Fun, Fun, Fun (as above)
Feelin' Stronger Every Day (lead vocals Mike Love & James Pankow)
Jumpin' Jack Flash (lead vocal - Mike Love)

[MBE]

The show with In The Back Of My Mind would be awsome in professinal sound.

[Christian]

from the Beachago tour
released by Rhino Handmade on May 24

Track Listing
 
Disc 1
1.    “Introduction”
2.    “Anyway You Want”
3.    “Beginnings”
4.    “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?”
5.    “Call On Me”
6.     “Make Me Smile”
7.    “So Much To Say, So Much To Give”
8.    “Anxiety’s Moment”
9.    “West Virginia Fantasies”
10.    “Colour My World”
11.    “To Be Free”
12.    “Now More Than Ever”
13.    “Ain’t It Blue?”
14.    “Just You ’N’ Me”
15.    “(I’ve Been) Searchin’ So Long”
16.    “Mongonucleosis”
17.    “Old Days”
18.    “25 Or 6 To 4”

Disc 2
1.    “Got To Get You Into My Life”
2.    “Free”
3.    “I’m A Man”
4.    “Dialogue”
5.    “Wishing You Were Here”  (w/BB backups)
6.    “Feelin’ Stronger Every Day” (lead vocals Mike Love & James Pankow)

[Mikie]

I'll buy that one. Would love it if it had more Beach Boys content, such as Darlin' with Chicago's horn section, but I'll take it. Just having it for "Wishing You Were Here" alone makes it worth the price. I'm there! For me, the best era for Chicago, both studio and live. Classic.

[guitarfool2002]

This is pretty cool, I'm a very big fan of Chicago but I focus that on the years when Terry Kath was still alive. It's interesting with the song choices - as some tapes circa 1968 appeared a few years ago from before Chicago/CTA was famous, they were essentially a bar and club band playing horn-based songs of the day, and those included Darlin and Got To Get You Into My Life, as well as some Hendrix covers for Kath to wail on.

So getting an official release with those songs Chicago played as they were paying their dues in Chicago clubs after they became a worldwide hit band is a pretty cool full-circle kind of deal to hear.

Cheers again to Rhino Handmade.

[Bill M]

I wonder if this release is from the Guercio tapes or a different source?

[onkster]

Really? Finally? A Beachago album? This is great. I honestly can hardly believe it.

This isn't some prank, is it?

[onkster]

Arrgh...just found out it's real...but it's also $40!

[bgas]

Arrgh...just found out it's real...but it's also $40!

But, that's almost nothing for the value you get!

[Awesoman]

Really? Finally? A Beachago album? This is great. I honestly can hardly believe it.

This isn't some prank, is it?

I would hardly call it a "Beachago" album; on Chicago's website they make absolutely no mention of the Beach Boys in this release.  I'm guessing if the bands played together on that particular date, they'll appear on the album.  But it doesn't look like any of the Beach Boys songs will appear.

[onkster]

So, "Wishing You Were Here" wouldn't have the BBs on it? That's the thing I want the most...

[The Shift]

Can someone kindly provide a link to the site selling the disc? I've tried Rhino HM and found nothing so far...

Thanks in advance...

[smile-holland]

So, "Wishing You Were Here" wouldn't have the BBs on it? That's the thing I want the most...

well....

5.    “Wishing You Were Here”  (w/BB backups)
6.    “Feelin’ Stronger Every Day” (lead vocals Mike Love & James Pankow)

Plus that it's from the June 24-26th 1975 concert at Capitol Center, Largo, Maryland > check out AGD's site: http://esquarterly.com/bellagio/gigs75.html
It clearly mentions that "These concerts were recorded for a possible Beachago live album."

I'd say, the BB's should be present (and audible) on those last 2 tracks.

[Alex]

Add the Beach Boys set to the release and then I'll pony up the dough.

[Mikie]

The Largo June 24 1975 setlist included:


WISHIN' YOU WERE WERE (w/Beach Boys)
GOD ONLY KNOWS (w/Chicago horn section)
DARLIN' (Peter Cetera on lead, w/Chicago horn section)
SATURDAY IN THE PARK (w/Beach Boys - Carl lead vocal)
CALIFORNIA GIRLS
FUN, FUN, FUN
FEELIN' STRONGER EVERY DAY (Peter Cetera and Mike Love on lead) *
JUMPIN' JACK FLASH

So unfortunately a few of the Beachago tracks weren't included in this new Rhino set.  But........it's actually a CHICAGO release, isn't it?

*Credit for lead vocal for this song on the new set goes to Pankow, not Cetera.

[Malc]

Can someone kindly provide a link to the site selling the disc? I've tried Rhino HM and found nothing so far...

Thanks in advance...

It comes up for pre-order on April 11 - check out http://chicagotheband.us/profiles/blog/list?user=2za7qpkmaeyar

[sherryluvsbrian]

Add the Beach Boys set to the release and then I'll pony up the dough.

I second that.

[bgas]

Add the Beach Boys set to the release and then I'll pony up the dough.

I second that.

I suppose you'll simply have to do without, then; the BBs portion isn't scheduled for release until 2015

[XY]

I heard a story that the shows were recorded on two multi-track machines that were sync'd up.  In March 1983 a fire broke out in the controlroom of Caribou and the tapes from one of the machines were destroyed. So, what's left in Guercio's vault is essentially half of the recording, and thus relatively unlistenable.

Newer revelations showed that no BB tapes were destroyed. The fire, destroying kitchen + control room burned in March 1985. (Lecture: click)
There was a docu about the 1975 Madison Square Garden shows on YouTube (can't find it at the moment) showing also how the shows were recorded.

[Jay]

I'm slightly confused. When people mention missing parts of the recording, are we talking about songs from the concert(s), or actual missing instrument or vocal parts of multitrack  master tapes?

[XY]

I'm slightly confused. When people mention missing parts of the recording, are we talking about songs from the concert(s), or actual missing instrument or vocal parts of multitrack  master tapes?

Since two multi-track machines were sync'd up for recording and The Beach Boys + James Guercio (or Chicago or whoever) made half-half storing the tapes, that means that half of the instruments/vocals are missing for some songs.