Alternate/personalized tracklists?

[Dudd]

I tried making a whole other album from all that great late 60s material:

[bluesno1fann]

No need to really tamper with any pre-'76 albums as far as i'm concerned; LA however has always seemed like an album that had the potential to be really fantastic, rather than just plain good, as it ultimately was.
My thoughts on it are this... After the sales/quality disaster of MIU it seems Carl and Dennis were, quite rightly, being allowed to rule the roost, and to me it's a real shame that they didn't draw more from Bambu. So i'd include more songs from that album, plus some of the top quality tracks the band recorded around this time which were likewise inexplicably left to gather dust in the vaults, and i'd lose HCNT (because, and i don't care what it's defenders say, it's an embaressment) and i'd use the far superior Adult/Child version of Shortenin' Bread (yeah, production-wise that farty synth doesn't fit, but then neither does the screeching guitar on the released version, so hey ho...). Anyway, here is my dream LA. Sequence it yourselves and listen, it works brilliantly:

SIDE ONE
1. Good Timin'
2. It's Not Too Late (the delicate fade of this track segues perfectly into the quiet chiming opening of Full Sail)
3. Full Sail
4. Angel Come Home
5. California Feelin' (the solo Dennis vocal at the start of Love Surrounds Me works as a great contrast following the full group harmony ending of California Feelin')
6. Love Surrounds Me
7. Lady Lynda

SIDE TWO
8. Santa Ana Winds (the lovely LA version of course, which has none of the dated tacky-sounding production as heard on the KTSA version)
9. Lookin' Down The Coast
10. Sumahama
11. Baby Blue
12. Goin' South
13. Shortenin' Bread (Adult/Child version)

Interesting. I'd replace Sumahama with the single version of Here Comes The Night and Goin' South with It's A Beautiful Day

[Steve Latshaw]

For me, side one of LA Light is near perfect, for what was intended.  I think Bruce was trying to put together something resembling a late 70s Sunflower, suitably "matured" for the slick pop and disco market at the time.  The large weakness, for me, is side two.  He's gotten a lot of flack for including the 11 minute disco version of Here Comes the Night... but in light of historical information and the great session detail from AGD, that longer version may have simply been included due to a lack of suitable material in a reasonably finished state.  For me, I disagree with the fondness for the early mix of Santa Ana Winds... it sounds sparse and sloppy, with less than adequate lyrics.  The finished version on KTSA is one of the best tracks on that album.

My personal mix for LA

side one
Good Timin
Lady Lynda
Full Sail
Angel Come Home
It's Over Now (MIC mix)
Love Surrounds Me
Sumahama

side two
Here Comes The Night (single mix)
Baby Blue
California Feelin' (MIC mix)
Brian's Back (MIC mix)
Goin South
Shortnin Bread
Country Pie (Celebration)

As for KTSA, I've said this before, but I think the primary problem with this album is not what's on it... but what was left off.

side one
Keepin' The Summer Alive
Goin To The Beach
Da Do Ron Ron
Oh, Darlin'
Some of Your Love
Wild Situation (Bambu)
Livin' With A Heartache
School Day

side two
It's A Beautiful Day
Goin On
Why Don't They Let Us Fall In Love
Sunshine
When Girls Get Together
It's Not Too Late (Bambu)
Santa Ana Winds
Endless Harmony

[Quzi]

Love You is one of my favourite albums of all time but it's well noted as being a difficult listen the first time around. I've introduced both the album proper and a re-envisioned version to friends and most seem more receptive to my tracklist, probably because it's trimmer, more evenly dispersed and those who are fans of ballads don't have to wait till the second side to get to those songs.


Let Us Go On This Way
Roller Skating Child
I'll Bet He's Nice
Honkin' Down the Highway
Solar System
I Wanna Pick You Up

Johnny Carson
The Night Was So Young
Airplane
Mona
The Fairytale
Still I Dream of It


Notes on the inclusions:
- "The Fairytale" is the instrumental Mt. Vernon theme - it's a controversial addition, but I find it fits in just a little too seamlessly alongside all the other great synth work here to exclude it. It harkens back to the effectiveness of instrumentals like "Summer Means New Love" and "Diamond Head" in being a tasteful respite from the rest of the album's vocal harmony.

- The version of "Still I Dream of It" I use is the booted demo where Brian coughs in the beginning and flubs during the bridge's "till then I'm just a dreamer" climax. It's rougher than the IJWMFTT edit for sure, but I feel the mistakes make Brian seem all the more human which subsequently pushes his cry for help to something all the more poignant.

[Mark H]

I tried making a whole other album from all that great late 60s material:

Side 1
01. Old Man River (Vocal Section)
02. Break Away
03. San Miguel
04. Celebrate The News
05. Back Home
06. I Just Got My Pay
07. Mona Kana

Side 2
01. Soulful Old Man Sunshine
02. Sail Plane Song
03. Where Is She?
04. Walk On By
05. We're Together Again
06. Old Folks At Home/ Old Man River
07. Can't Wait Too Long

I have always loved this 'missing' albums worth of tracks that could make another release from around this time.  My current playlist is;

A)
01. Old Man River (Vocal Section)
02. Soulful Old Man Sunshine
03. Loop De Loop
04. Games Two Can Play
05. Susie Cincinatti
06. Celebrate The News
07. Sound Of Free

B)
01. Break Away
02. I Just Got My Pay
03. Good Time
04. H.E.L.P Is On The Way
05. San Miguel
06. We're Together Again
07. Old Folks At Home/Old Man River

A real easy enjoyable set of tracks at 36 mins

[punkinhead]

Love You is one of my favourite albums of all time but it's well noted as being a difficult listen the first time around. I've introduced both the album proper and a re-envisioned version to friends and most seem more receptive to my tracklist, probably because it's trimmer, more evenly dispersed and those who are fans of ballads don't have to wait till the second side to get to those songs.


Let Us Go On This Way
Roller Skating Child
I'll Bet He's Nice
Honkin' Down the Highway
Solar System
I Wanna Pick You Up

Johnny Carson
The Night Was So Young
Airplane
Mona
The Fairytale
Still I Dream of It


Notes on the inclusions:
- "The Fairytale" is the instrumental Mt. Vernon theme - it's a controversial addition, but I find it fits in just a little too seamlessly alongside all the other great synth work here to exclude it. It harkens back to the effectiveness of instrumentals like "Summer Means New Love" and "Diamond Head" in being a tasteful respite from the rest of the album's vocal harmony.

- The version of "Still I Dream of It" I use is the booted demo where Brian coughs in the beginning and flubs during the bridge's "till then I'm just a dreamer" climax. It's rougher than the IJWMFTT edit for sure, but I feel the mistakes make Brian seem all the more human which subsequently pushes his cry for help to something all the more poignant.

I like your thinking concerning the version of Still I Dream of It, you really thought about it. Some folks don't push for specific versions (booted or otherwise) but that all makes real good sense.
I'm very fascinated about your Fairytale instrumental idea....is this a "what if"/hypothetical recording or are you declaring a specific released/unreleased version?
I've always wondered about the lack of instrumentals in the 70s, besides the Mt. Vernon and Fairway material, there's not much. Perhaps Hey There Mama, but there's not much of an instrumental there.
Oh, and what Short Skirts supposed to be an instrumental for 15 Big Ones? 
The instrumental to Had to Phone Ya is fab!

[Quzi]

I like your thinking concerning the version of Still I Dream of It, you really thought about it. Some folks don't push for specific versions (booted or otherwise) but that all makes real good sense.

Thanks 

I'm very fascinated about your Fairytale instrumental idea....is this a "what if"/hypothetical recording or are you declaring a specific released/unreleased version?

I use the first 1:30 of "Fairytale Music" from the Good Vibrations boxset.

[Dudd]

Alternate Keepin' The Summer Alive (which I retitled It's A Beautiful Day):

Side 1
01. It's A Beautiful Day (MiC)
02. Goin' On
03. Some Of Your Love
04. H.E.L.P. Is On The Way (GV) - I think it kinda fits with the slight nature of the album
05. Da Doo Ron Ron (MiC)
06. School Day (Ring! Ring! Goes The Bell) (10 Years Of Harmony)

Side 2
07. Keepin' The Summer Alive
08. Goin' To The Beach (MiC)
09. Oh Darlin' (Brian lead)
10. Sunshine
11. Why Don't They Let Us Fall In Love (MiC)
12. California Feelin' (MiC)

I also made a new cover for it, since I considered that miserable-ass original a big issue:

[MarcellaHasDirtyFeet]

It's amazing how similar Brian looks to that long-haired, older proto-hippy who hung around the Smile sessions (the red haired guy? From teh photo?) in that pic.

[bluesno1fann]

Alternate Keepin' The Summer Alive (which I retitled It's A Beautiful Day):

Side 1
01. It's A Beautiful Day (MiC)
02. Goin' On
03. Some Of Your Love
04. H.E.L.P. Is On The Way (GV) - I think it kinda fits with the slight nature of the album
05. Da Doo Ron Ron (MiC)
06. School Day (Ring! Ring! Goes The Bell) (10 Years Of Harmony)

Side 2
07. Keepin' The Summer Alive
08. Goin' To The Beach (MiC)
09. Oh Darlin' (Brian lead)
10. Sunshine
11. Why Don't They Let Us Fall In Love (MiC)
12. California Feelin' (MiC)

I also made a new cover for it, since I considered that miserable-ass original a big issue:

Odd. I see no Dennis, who was still alive and not-so-well at the time...

[Dudd]

Odd. I see no Dennis, who was still alive and not-so-well at the time...

Well, I like to think this is a timeline where Bambu was completed and released.

[Niko]

Fixed it anyway. u shud ashame 4 sclude teh deenez

[Crow]

Summer days (and Summer Nights)

1. The Little Girl I Once Knew
2. The Girl From New York City
3. Amusement Parks U.S.A.
4. Salt Lake City
5. Then I Kissed Her
6. You're so Good to me
7. Help Me Rhonda

8. California Girls
9. Let Him Run Wild
10. Girl Don't Tell Me
11. Guess I'm Dumb
12. Sherry She Needs Me
13. Summer Means New Love
14. And Your Dream Comes True

[Dudd]

Fixed it anyway. u shud ashame 4 sclude teh deenez

NEVAARRRRR

[shangaijoeBB]

My (newer) ADULT/CHILD mix:

Life Is For the Living
Marilyn Rovell
Deep Purple
My Diane
Sherry She Needs Me
It's Over Now
Everybody Wants To Live

You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'
Shortnin' Bread
Lines
Lazy Lizzy
Baseball
New England Waltz
Still I Dream Of It

[runnersdialzero]

I also made a new cover for it, since I considered that miserable-ass original a big issue:

Odd. I see no Dennis

* Odd. I see no the LATE, GREAT DENNIS MOTHER FUCKING WILSON!!!!!!!! The only REAL Beach Boy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[SMiLE Brian]

 

[bluesno1fann]

Fixed it anyway. u shud ashame 4 sclude teh deenez

How anachronistic....

[John Stivaktas]

I've done a coupla these, I did a real good one for the Brian is Back era of 1976-77, but I don't have it with me now. I'll post it tomorrow. I do have my fanmix of All Summer Long; chronologically it may be a little off, but I for one don't care!:

SIDE ONE:
1. I Get Around
2. All Dressed Up for School
3. Be True to Your School (Single Mix)
4. Drive-In
5. Little Honda
6. All Summer Long
7. Do You Remember

SIDE TWO:
8. Carl's Big Chance
9. Wendy
10. Girls on the Beach
11. Hushabye
12. We'll Run Away
13. NOT SURE-ANY IDEAS?
14. Don't Back Down

Makes for a heck of an album!

All Dressed Up for School definitely goes on my version of Today! instead of Bull Session with the Big Daddy.

[Cabinessenceking]

And, an alternative sequence for Sunflower. I think it flows better, both musically and lyrically. What do you think?

SIDE A

1. Add Some Music To Your Day
2. Got To Know The Woman
3. Slip On Through
4. Our Sweet Love
5. Forever
6. Deidre

SIDE B

7. Tears In The Morning
8. At My Window
9. Cool Cool Water
10. All I Wanna Do
11. This Whole World
12. It's About Time

superior sequencing imo!

[punkinhead]

My (newer) ADULT/CHILD mix:

Life Is For the Living
Marilyn Rovell
Deep Purple
My Diane
Sherry She Needs Me
It's Over Now
Everybody Wants To Live

You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'
Shortnin' Bread
Lines
Lazy Lizzy
Baseball
New England Waltz
Still I Dream Of It

Wow, that would have been a great Brian Wilson album! Basically The Beach Boys Love You Too...I like that Deep Purple, Shortenin' Bread, and You've Lost that Lovin Feeling are the only covers (not that I don't like Mony Mony or On Broadway), but these three covers are Brian Wilson (what should have been) signature solo covers. So much BW quirkiness on this album. I also like the use of the New England Waltz (from Get the Boot vol. 2 I assume.)

[yonderhillside]

Time To Get Alone
1. Do It Again
2. We're Together Again
3. I Can Hear Music
4. Never Learn Not To Love
5. Time To Get Alone (alternate version)     [
6. Nearest Faraway Place                           -
7. Old Folks At Home/Ol Man River             -       this works as an almost perfect suite of songs
8. Cotton Fields (The Cotton Song)             -
9. Our Prayer                                           -
10. Old Man River (vocal section)                [
11. Walk On By
12. A Time To Live In Dreams
13. Mona Kana
14. Be With Me

Add Some Music
1. Break Away (alternate version)
2. Soulful Old Man Sunshine
3. Add Some Music To Your Day
4. Good Time
5. Deirdre
6. Sail Plane Song
7. Country Air
8. At My Window
9. Cool, Cool Water
10. All I Wanna Do
11. Where Is She?
12. Our Sweet Love
13. Forever

Reverberation
1. This Whole World
2. Celebrate The News
3. It's About Time
4. San Miguel
5. Carnival (AKA Over The Waves)
6. Slip On Through
7. Got To Know The Woman
8. All I Want To Do (20/20)
9. Lookin' At Tomorrow (Landlocked)
10. Susie Cincinatti
11. Big Sur (4/4)
12. Back Home (1970)
13. Tears In The Morning

[Dudd]

Here's an alternate BW88 with a small helping of Sweet Insanity:

01. Concert Tonite (Intro)
02. Someone To Love
03. Let's Go To Heaven In My Car
04. Being With The One You Love
05. One For The Boys
06. Rio Grande

07. There's So Many
08. Baby Let Your Hair Grow Long
09. Walkin' The Line
10. Melt Away
11. Meet Me In My Dreams Tonight
12. Love and Mercy

[punkinhead]

Here's an alternate BW88 with a small helping of Sweet Insanity:

01. Concert Tonite (Intro)
02. Someone To Love
03. Let's Go To Heaven In My Car
04. Being With The One You Love
05. One For The Boys
06. Rio Grande

07. There's So Many
08. Baby Let Your Hair Grow Long
09. Walkin' The Line
10. Melt Away
11. Meet Me In My Dreams Tonight
12. Love and Mercy

That's a heck of a solo album! I really like the usage of Concert Tonight into Someone to Love, it really steps up the album to a faster pace.

[shangaijoeBB]

A 1969 more Brian-centric follow-up to Friends..

BREAK AWAY (1969)

Side A

1. Do It Again (MIC)
2. We're Together Again (MIC)
3. Walk On By (seltaeb1012002 remix)
4. Lonely Days  (seltaeb1012002 remix)
5. Sail Plane Song (MIC)
6. Mona Kana (MIC)
7. Celebrate The News (MIC)

Side B

8. Break Away (MIC)
9. Time To Get Alone (Alternate Hawthorne CA mix)
10. I Went To Sleep (MIC)
11. A Time To Live In Dreams (Hawthorne CA)
12. Old Man River (Mix of the two versions, as in The Fantastic Mr Fox movie)
13. Can't Wait To Long (GV Box)