50th Anniversary, The SMiLE box, the reunion, new material and things to come

[punkinhead]

what will it take to get new/unreleased stuff? We're willing to do anything....more than anything, everything.

[The Heartical Don]

what will it take to get new/unreleased stuff? We're willing to do anything....more than anything, everything.

I hear Kalashnikovs go at a cheap rate nowadays. As do tickets to an airport near the Capitol Tower.

[punkinhead]

do we need to protest outside Capitol? 

[The Heartical Don]

do we need to protest outside Capitol? 

Yes we do. We are concerned citizens who want to protect cultural heritage against the barbarians!

[Runaways]

i spent half my dad listening to clips from the Pet Sounds Sessions which i don't have.  freaking awesome, will buy it soon.  I'd love Smile box.  Not of everything, clean it up obviously.  Throw in some rare tunes if you want (tons of Dennis songs, or Brian songs).

and also speaking i LOVE getting the "remasters" and stereo remixes. love it love it.

[the captain]

i spent half my dad

That's a pretty steep price. What'd your mom think?

[runnersdialzero]

i spent half my dad

That's a pretty steep price. What'd your mom think?

I laughed, a lot.

[The Heartical Don]

i spent half my dad

That's a pretty steep price. What'd your mom think?

  I was just about to post somewhat similar...

[Paulos]

Does anyone know how well Endless Harmony and Hawthorne CA sold? These releases were essentially rarities compilations and if the sales weren't spectacular then Capitol may be put off from releasing a similiar product.

[grillo]

If Capitol put Wouldn't it be Nice To Live Again online right now and the download fee for that one song was $15 I would do it in a heart beat. When will they ever get a clue?

[Jason]

If Capitol put Wouldn't it be Nice To Live Again online right now and the download fee for that one song was $15 I would do it in a heart beat. When will they ever get a clue?

Technically, they already HAVE a clue. When it comes out as the token unreleased track to lure the collectors on the next hits CD, you'll definitely pay $15 for it. What do you think they are, stupid?

[the captain]

Technically, they already HAVE a clue. When it comes out as the token unreleased track to lure the collectors on the next hits CD, you'll definitely pay $15 for it. What do you think they are, stupid?

Not to be a record label apologist, but this is pretty much dead on (whether it was meant seriously or not). Don't you think they've calculated/estimated sales? Not to say this or that album doesn't surprise here and there, but I doubt they've somehow completely missed some gigantic base of people who would buy this or that. The people who would pay extra for tunes make a small group. (Many more would just illegally download shared files once it's released; many, many more just don't fucking care.) Labels release what they figure can sell. We, an insular group, think "they could make a fortune!" We don't get stuck with the bill for manufacturing, distributing, and promoting. I'm guessing they know what they're dealing with, more or less.

[Jason]

It's more than "pretty much dead on". It's a FACT. A fact of life, business, commerce, you name it.

I love the Beach Boys as much as anyone here, but let's face it. We obsessives are a true niche market. As hardcore collectors, our numbers aren't those of, say, the Beatles, the Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, or even the Monkees.

I think the fact that, considering their standing in the pantheon of rock groups that THE GENERAL PUBLIC...I will repeat this...THE GENERAL PUBLIC...one more time, bolded, italicized, underlined, striked-through, glowed, shadowed, marquee'd, and blown up huge so you definitely get the message...THE GENERAL PUBLIC thinks are a given as far as being classic, they've had as much archival stuff put out as they have is nothing short of miraculous.

Don't get me wrong. I would certainly rush out and scoop up a disc of unreleased tracks, an unreleased concert recording, or whatever else comes out. But be realistic about it.

WE'RE STATISTICALLY INSIGNIFICANT. We aren't even a blip on the commercial radar.

I'm not trying to say we're not dedicated enough to buy the stuff if it were to come out, but we're a HUGE minority. A dedicated minority, but a minority nonetheless. Keep your fingers crossed for the Beach Boys Central website. That truly might be the only real chance.

[the captain]

Last time I try to be tactful. But yeah. That. (We don't matter.)

[grillo]

Technically, they already HAVE a clue. When it comes out as the token unreleased track to lure the collectors on the next hits CD, you'll definitely pay $15 for it. What do you think they are, stupid?

Not to be a record label apologist, but this is pretty much dead on (whether it was meant seriously or not). Don't you think they've calculated/estimated sales? Not to say this or that album doesn't surprise here and there, but I doubt they've somehow completely missed some gigantic base of people who would buy this or that. The people who would pay extra for tunes make a small group. (Many more would just illegally download shared files once it's released; many, many more just don't friggin' care.) Labels release what they figure can sell. We, an insular group, think "they could make a fortune!" We don't get stuck with the bill for manufacturing, distributing, and promoting. I'm guessing they know what they're dealing with, more or less.

The point ,though, is the label needn't bother with packaging, shipping or any of the other costs associated with hard copies of their 'product' when a perfectly reasonable and cheap resource is already at hand (the internet). naturally I would rather everything be released on vinyl or even CD before I'd choose a download, but I'd still take what I can get and the label could dish it out at almost no cost to them which, according to my admittedly limited understanding of economics, is pure profit, and pure profit is what drives these intellectually crippled suits in the tower, right?

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

I dunno if I completely agree!

One of my favorite bands: Saint Etienne, who've, record sales-wise, sold a mere fraction of what Sunflower even sold in 1970,just had lavish double CDs of their first string of albums come out. They have a few bulding at the seams best-of. They had more EPs, singles, etc, all packed with rare tracks, than you could hope to ever count on two hands and two feet!

My thinking is, it just comes down the the lables really. Saint Etienne is on Heavenly and Sub-Pop where sales aren't everything and if the label likes the band, they'll play ball.

That big fat huge BIG STAR box set just came out. And trust me, they're nerd cult is much smaller than us!

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Also, all the early Bee Gees albums, up to and including Odessa, came out in packed double disc special editions (Odessa getting a 3 disc, but non fuzzy, box-set treatment) As amazing as these albums are, just how many "millions" exactly were Rhino expecting to make off these lavish re-issues?

But, this is Rhino we're talking about, where quality is king and rules the land!

Maybe The Beach Boys ought to jump ship again?

[the captain]

grillo, what you're saying is along the lines of what I've promoted for years as the smart way for the band to release their music--at least their new stuff. The audiophiles among us will bitch, but online-based distribution would be a virtually free way to get the product out. Totally agree. But ... the talk here is always high quality vinyl, beautiful artwork, detailed liner notes, new photography...

[the captain]

But, this is Rhino we're talking about, where quality is king and rules the land!

Didn't Rhino more or less die this past year, though?

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Did they???  

Ok, another example is Neil Young's monsterously huge "archives" box!!!! Thing costs like $400 retail and must've cost Warner/Reprise/Neil a fortune! I know Neil is a huge rock star, but how many CDs do you think he's selling these days?

[Ganz Allein]

But, this is Rhino we're talking about, where quality is king and rules the land!

Didn't Rhino more or less die this past year, though?

Rhino is still around. On their new web site you can buy albums in vinyl or CD format. Also, a lot of their stuff is available as digital downloads, both in 320kb mp3 and lossless (FLAC, Apple Lossless, WMA lossless) format. The lossless costs a little more, of course. Anyway, they're selling GIOMH (vinyl and digital), Brian Wilson (digital only), Orange Crate Art (digital only), BWPS (vinyl only), and the BWPS DVD.

http://www.rhino.com/artist/brian-wilson (web site is kinda slow, though)

[the captain]

I was just remembering the somewhat dire discussion around their relatively substantial layoffs late 2009, I guess. It was hardly an air of positivity.

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

I think they actually just shut down their retail stores!

   the one off 3rd Street in Santa Monica was a fave of mine.

[The Heartical Don]

Last time I try to be tactful. But yeah. That. (We don't matter.)

Luther, I love you when you're drunk. Turn around and drop your pants.

[the captain]

I'm not wearing any. (Vacation, Day Two!)