Alleged TLOS demos...

[lance]

Having said that, if Al or Mike release a solo album, I will get those too!! More solo albums for everyone. I wonder if it's common for great artists to go through a resurgent period late in life, or if Dylan and Brian Wilson are anomalies(among anomalies)?

[SurfRiderHawaii]

Wow, how did this end up 'out there'?  Brian or Mel must have had a hand in it. Maybe to appease the masses because of the delay in recording the album.

The Demos are pristine quality and a lot of effort went into the B/R vocals.  Yes, some midi but make the "Love You' demos sound like garbage (quality wise).

Just burned the tracks to CD (37 minutes).  Understand Brian has added some songs - hopefully 'CWTL' will be fleshed out to atleast a couple minutes - so hopefully the album will be over 45 - 50 minutes .

The quality of the writing makes me wish the album would feature guest appearances by the Beach Boys.  I can hear David singing the opening verse (Rudy Vallee style), Al in spots; Bruce and Mike too.

[Jason]

Wow, how did this end up 'out there'?

Oh, it's the story of many an unreleased item. Person A gives something to Person B, Person B gives it to Person C, Person C makes it public knowledge.

[SurfRiderHawaii]

Just listened thru again on my car stereo.  Great, great sound! (gotta love technology and 'FLAC', which beats MP3s by the way)   Could really hear a lot of nuances I didn't hear in the live versions  (and some variations from the live arrangements).  Brian, Scott, VDP, others really put considerable effort into this.  Going to be a VERY good album with the full band (though some members / Taylor on one?/ seem to be adding b/r vocals on a few tracks.)

Yes, I know these things get passed around but in the history of BB boots, I've never heard anything like this quality.  And all 'out there' freely available.

[Loaf]

Wasn't Bri-Mel holding out for major label distribution, rather than the self-released option, which is why the long delay in finally getting around to a proper studio recording of TLOS?

If this is the case, then Bri-Mel  likely made high quality "home demos" that they then shopped around the (crumbling) major labels.

Any leak likely came from some guy at a label.

i haven't heard the demos, but i don't mind waiting for the real thing. As long as it comes eventually.

Any chances of a real piano being used this time around? That was the one thing that annoyed me (slightly) about Smile 2004, that the piano and harpsichord timbres i loved so much from the 60s were replaced by keyboards.

[c-man]

Wasn't Bri-Mel holding out for major label distribution, rather than the self-released option, which is why the long delay in finally getting around to a proper studio recording of TLOS?

If this is the case, then Bri-Mel  likely made high quality "home demos" that they then shopped around the (crumbling) major labels.

Any leak likely came from some guy at a label.

i haven't heard the demos, but i don't mind waiting for the real thing. As long as it comes eventually.

Any chances of a real piano being used this time around? That was the one thing that annoyed me (slightly) about Smile 2004, that the piano and harpsichord timbres i loved so much from the 60s were replaced by keyboards.

Actually...REAL pianos (both grand & upright) were used for Smile 2004.  The only "faux" instrument was the harpsichord, which was a custom-programmed Kurzweil.  The Kurzweil company sent one of their programmers over to work with Darian on the sound until Brian, Darian, etc. agreed it sounded like the real thing.  At least that's what it says in the article from either EQ or SoundOnSound (or maybe both...).

[Susan]

Wasn't Bri-Mel holding out for major label distribution, rather than the self-released option, which is why the long delay in finally getting around to a proper studio recording of TLOS?

If this is the case, then Bri-Mel  likely made high quality "home demos" that they then shopped around the (crumbling) major labels.

Any leak likely came from some guy at a label.

I think these demos were made last summer for bandmembers to familiarize themselves with songs/running order, etc., and possibly to show progress to the folks at the RFH  Why would Melinda use a demo with a BB track in it to shop the project to a label?  I don't think she would.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Seeing as Brian's people were spitting feathers and pitching blue fits about the demos being 'out there', I seriously doubt they had any hand in leaking it. There's one very obvious reason, if you think about things for a little while. Not saying it's the right reason, but works for me.

[dsl]

I still can't believe they got out. Is Brian's camp really going beserk (like they should)?

[the captain]

I still can't believe they got out.

You can't? I'd be a lot more surprised if they hadn't gotten out.

[SurfRiderHawaii]

Seeing as Brian's people were spitting feathers and pitching blue fits about the demos being 'out there',

Gee AGD, I missed the Melinda Wilson/David Leaf thread where they posted their unhappiness.  I for one, as a BB 'outsider' fan, find it a bit tiresome where 'insiders' come up with these things after the fact; or claim to have insider knowledge on goings on but can't divulge the facts (IE: Al Jardine not going on Brian's UK tour).  From hearing them, I think Susan is right that the tracks were put together for band members to learn the songs.  But it is naive to think, after making disks for so many people, that they wouldn't get out there.  Do you have any actual Mel quotes??? Nothing on the Blue Board.

With all due respect to you, by the way, AGD.   (I am just dying to find out why Al didn't tour)

[SurfRiderHawaii]

For my cd, I added Brian's  'Heaven" as a bonus track and then  "TLOS"  live in London . About 73 minutes.  I am one happy camper right now as this will get me thru till POB/Bambu, Then the reissue of 'The Real Beach Boy', Then 'PostCard',  then the studio version of "TLOS'.  2008 is shaping up to be a very good year!

[Wirestone]

Well, whatever the reason for these things being leaked, they at least have the benefit of making the project seem exciting. Brian sounds with it and was obviously involved in playing instruments and singing leads and backgrounds. Add some strong material, and there's a strong case for the suite.

To my mind, this kind of leak just pressures the BW camp to release something already. That, or some band member is trying to sabotage the commercial release -- but why would anyone do that?

[the captain]

That, or some band member is trying to sabotage the commercial release -- but why would anyone do that?

How would leaked demos affect eventual sales of material?  The "Free As a Bird" demo was available, yet Beatles' Anthology I certainly sold well. It's not like someone leaked the actual album--that hasn't even been (completely) recorded yet. The only way it would hurt sales would be if the songs sucked so badly that people decided not to buy, as opposed to being disappointed by an eventual release of those terrible songs. And in the case of TLOS, that isn't true--the songs are generally really good.

[Wirestone]

Luther -- I don't think that's the case -- I was just trying to play AGD's little puzzle -- why would the material be leaked? What's the purpose? He seems to suggest that there's a fairly obvious reason (aside from BW's inner circle letting it out for their own purposes). I was trying to figure it out. Perplexing.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Seeing as Brian's people were spitting feathers and pitching blue fits about the demos being 'out there',

Gee AGD, I missed the Melinda Wilson/David Leaf thread where they posted their unhappiness.  I for one, as a BB 'outsider' fan, find it a bit tiresome where 'insiders' come up with these things after the fact; or claim to have insider knowledge on goings on but can't divulge the facts (IE: Al Jardine not going on Brian's UK tour).  From hearing them, I think Susan is right that the tracks were put together for band members to learn the songs.  But it is naive to think, after making disks for so many people, that they wouldn't get out there.  Do you have any actual Mel quotes??? Nothing on the Blue Board.

With all due respect to you, by the way, AGD.   (I am just dying to find out why Al didn't tour)

Their unhappiness wasn't posted on any MB, but was made plain in emails. Why do you think that there was very little discussion when the tracks first leaked, or why certain threads rapidly vanished ?

[shelter]

How would leaked demos affect eventual sales of material?

They won't. Anyone that's curious enough to download demos is probably a fan and will get the official thing anyway. I'm sure that even if they'd put all the demos on BW's site as free downloads, it wouldn't hurt the sales of the album the slightest bit.

I can understand though that the BW camp is not happy with songs leaking out that haven't been approved yet as being finished.

[the captain]

How would leaked demos affect eventual sales of material?

They won't. Anyone that's curious enough to download demos is probably a fan and will get the official thing anyway. I'm sure that even if they'd put all the demos on BW's site as free downloads, it wouldn't hurt the sales of the album the slightest bit.

That was my point.

[shelter]

That was my point.

I know. Can't a person reply without disagreeing? 

[the captain]

I won't stop you.

[pixletwin]

Wow this thread had more legs and ran further than I thought it would. 

[absinthe_boy]

Hmm must access google....

I remember when threads on this subject first appeared, then disappeared sometimes within hours! Clearly someone with influence genuinely does NOT want this discussed....ergo the leak has no approval (tacit or otherwise) from Brian/Melinda. They don't want it out there...and the only reason I can think of is that the final product will sound very different. Still, I am sure AGD's little puzzle has a different answer.

Personally, even if they posted the entire album as free downloads, I'd still buy the official release....twice if its available on vinyl....but then I was one of the loons who bought the vinyl box set of Radiohead's album last year...

[Andrew G. Doe]

I think the final product may well sound quite different. 

[Wirestone]

edit.

[Amy B.]

I think the final product may well sound quite different. 

What does that mean? They're bringing in some awful "hitmaking" outside producer?
Brian and Melinda, it's not going to be a hit. Just accept that. He's 65. 65-year-olds don't have hits. Just make the music Brian's way, and it will be beloved. Beloved is better than Top 40.