Carl And The Passions- So Tough

[KDS]

The Beach Boys boldly shuffle their lineup a bit here, and the results are......well.

I think this album as a whole is not up to the same standards as Sunflower and Surf's Up.  I ranked it a 3. 

One thing that strikes me about this album is that, to me, it doesn't really sound like The Beach Boys for the first few songs.  Personally, I don't think Blondie and Ricky gelled with the Boys until Holland. 

You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone is alright. 

To me, the album doesn't really pick up until Marcella, four songs in. 

From that point on, the album is pretty enjoyable. 

All This is That is my favorite track on the album.  I really enjoy the mellow Beach Boys tunes from this period, especially with Carl in top vocal form. 

The album closes with the excellent Cuddle Up. 

It's pretty bold for an iconic band to shake up the lineup the way the Boys did, and to me, it didn't pay off until the second album. 

[KDS]

I always preferred "Mess of Help" to "Marcella". Carl's "she's a fine, fine, fine..." hilariously obsessed scream just annoys me.

I will agree that's not a high point in Carl's career.  But I think the song itself is great.

[Mike's Beard]

"You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone" - 5/5
"Here She Comes" - 4/5
"He Come Down" - 5/5
"Marcella" - 4/5
"Hold On, Dear Brother" - 4/5
"Make It Good" - 1/5
"All This is That" - 5/5
"Cuddle Up" - 5/5

I'd say on the whole the album is very good, with He Come Down and All This is That the standouts (Yes there was a time when Mike could write good TM lyrics!!). Marcella worked better live, the studio version sounds as if it was mastered too slow. The only turd in the punchbowl is Make it Good. My ideal Carl & The Passions would have had Brian give them Sweet Mountain in it's place.
Overall 4/5.

[Disney Boy (1985)]

You're all mad!! Make It Good is a gem - so original and unique.

[JK]

I'd never been a fan. I loved "Marcella" and "All This Is That" but the rest had always seemed incongruous in one way or another. Until today. Thanks be to Scott G at YouTube (and maybe here as well) for his alternate version. I've been converted, it seems----although I still have to decide on a rating. (I shall listen to this version again soon.)  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4T26lvc58o

As SG says: "Read the description please!"

[You Kane, You Commanded, You Conquered]

I'd never been a fan. I loved "Marcella" and "All This Is That" but the rest had always seemed incongruous in one way or another. Until today. Thanks be to Scott G at YouTube (and maybe here as well) for his alternate version. I've been converted, it seems----although I still have to decide on a rating. (I shall listen to this version again soon.)   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4T26lvc58o

As SG says: "Read the description please!"

Scott G is jiggy22 here.

[JK]

I'd never been a fan. I loved "Marcella" and "All This Is That" but the rest had always seemed incongruous in one way or another. Until today. Thanks be to Scott G at YouTube (and maybe here as well) for his alternate version. I've been converted, it seems----although I still have to decide on a rating. (I shall listen to this version again soon.)   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4T26lvc58o

As SG says: "Read the description please!"

Scott G is jiggy22 here.

OK----thanks, BDIB. :=)

[You Kane, You Commanded, You Conquered]

OK----thanks, BDIB. :=)

No problem! 

[Lonely Summer]

This album has grown on me over the years. It's not one of their best, but it's far from the worst. Cuddle Up is a gem; You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone gets this off to a good start; All This is That is nice - although I used to think it was "Feel Flows (light)". I don't know if the Blondie/Ricky songs really belong here, but they're alright. Make it Good makes no impression on me, it's just there. The length of the album is pretty standard for the group, but still it feels short, having only 8 songs. Surprised Carl didn't contribute to the writing except for "This is That".

[Decarlo]

I am listening to this album{vinyl} that I bought in the early/mid 70's.I like it a whole lot more now ,some 40 some years later.It is SO different from the previous BB albums.Cuddle Up is a symphonic masterpiece.All This Is That is incredible.The album came with Pet Sounds...That is a nice Bonus.

[JK]

I'd never been a fan. I loved "Marcella" and "All This Is That" but the rest had always seemed incongruous in one way or another. Until today. Thanks be to Scott G at YouTube (and maybe here as well) for his alternate version. I've been converted, it seems----although I still have to decide on a rating. (I shall listen to this version again soon.)  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4T26lvc58o

As SG says: "Read the description please!"

Regrettably the YouTube vid has been removed but you can still get to hear the "alternate" C&TP here, thanks to the intrepid Scott G:

http://jiggy22.blogspot.nl/2016/05/the-beach-boys-so-tough-alternate.html