The KTSA album

[Alex]

I haven't listened to KTSA or BB'85 yet, & it looks like I haven't missed much.  On the other hand, I know I'll buy it eventually, so maybe going into it with no expectations of greatness will make it somewhat better.  At least that's what I hope.  By the way, I love the L.A. album from the year before, too.

While BB85 isn't the Boys' best album by any means, it's much better than KTSA, Still Cruisin', or Summer In Paradise. Where I Belong could've easily fit on LA Light or even Holland, Male Ego sounds like a Love You outtake, and the rest of the album consists of guilty pleasures (yes, even California Calling!).

[TdHabib]

I was thinking about "Santa Ana Winds" today. Lovely, beautiful song; but it sounds like the chorus is something Brian would've written in about three minutes flat and then gone off to eat a steak. Al probably finished it off. I also miss Brian's high harmony on the chorus from the early version, though not those awful comments.

Still a lovely song.

[Rocker]

I like "Sam niguel" but it wouldn't have fit on KTSA. It sounds just too different to the rest of the songs.

It DOES sound different, but that wouldn't b unusual for the Boys. Their previous album included a beautiful, haunting ballad in Baby Blue, a rock version of a traditional children's song in Shortenin' Bread and a never-ending disco song, Here Comes the Night. Talk about songs that don't fit together.

It's not just on LA either. Take a Load off Your Feet hardly fits on the same album with Surf's Up, Feel Flows and Til I Die.

KTSA needed any good songs it could get, so I think San Miguel would have helped.

I was talking about the sound, not the quality, arrangement or whatever of the song. Not only do the vocals sound totally different, it is the whole recording. HCTN and Shortnin' bread however sound totally like they were cut around that time (which they were) and with the same recording techniques...

[Eric Aniversario]

I was talking about the sound, not the quality, arrangement or whatever of the song. Not only do the vocals sound totally different, it is the whole recording. HCTN and Shortnin' bread however sound totally like they were cut around that time (which they were) and with the same recording techniques...

I agree.  Putting San Miguel on KTSA would be like putting WIBN on Still Cruisin'....oh wait...

[metal flake paint]

Despite some weak material, the main problem for me, which has been mentioned by others, is Mike's nasal vocals. "Santa Ana Winds" surely the worst offender. Why Al's lead had to be interrupted three times by MEL is beyond me, ruining an otherwise decent song.

[adamghost]

I was in a rehearsal for a gig with Nelson and Probyn yesterday and I deliberately tortured Probyn by playing "Oh Darlin'" on the piano between songs (and Probyn didn't recognize it, dammit!)

[joe_blow]

Now THAT's funny...just get me Randy Bachman's phone number and I'll get right on it!

If your serious Adam, I'm told that he's quite approachable on this kind of stuff..
maybe contact him through his website  randybachman.com.

 

Bachman is quite a Beach Boys fan and hosts a radio show that you can catch here: http://www.randysvinyltap.com/main.php?ch=4#


Check out show # 111 which was on The Beach Boys. I am not sure if they are archived, but if anyone is contacting Randy anyway.....

[Rocker]

I was in a rehearsal for a gig with Nelson and Probyn yesterday and I deliberately tortured Probyn by playing "Oh Darlin'" on the piano between songs (and Probyn didn't recognize it, dammit!)

I've been playing it myself lately on piano quite a bit. Like I said, I think the song is really good, but everything on the released version is wrong, everything !

[Andrew G. Doe]

Whatever else you say about KTSA, you have to admit, the liners on the 2000 reissue aren't too shabby... 

[Sam_BFC]

Did you write them?

[Andrew G. Doe]

 

[Smilin Ed H]

My problem with Santa Ana Winds is the strings.  Best track on the album by a mile, however, and should've been on LA.
The syrupy sax break almost kills Goin' On, my second favourite track.
The lyrics are the biggest culprit in Endless Harmony (wasn't it actually written before Still Crazy?), my third favourite.
KTSA is okay but it's no Do It Again.
WGGT is beginning to sound better - worryingly...
I don't care much for the rest at all, especially Sunshine and LWAH.

[adamghost]

You're right about it being written before Still Crazy, but the electric piano sound and vibe of the A section are very similar.  It may very well be a coincidence but the "A" section of each of the songs ends with the same little 1-4-1 keyboard riff, which makes me think it was a conscious or unconscious tip of the hat to the Simon tune.

[punkinhead]

about the sax solo on Goin On, it's alright, but I always found Mike Meros' keyboard solo on the concert versions charming.

BTW, whoever brought up the Sunshine/parade analogy was genius!

[adamghost]

Really?  I didn't like that solo at all, though I don't blame Mike, but the lack of decent keyboard patches to approximate a sax at that point in time.  (Actually, this is still largely true)

[Jason]

In 1980, Mike Meros did the Some Of Your Love "sax" sound two different ways. In Philly he used a poor quality sample, but at Knebworth he used just a plain synth saw.