Perspective: Good Vibrations Box Set

[Rerun]

At the time of the "Good Vibrations: 30 Years of The Beach Boys" box set release, I was much too young to be a fan of the band, so I'm curious as to how the Smile-loving community reacted.  I've been around to see the release of BWPS and now TSS, and it's been such an awesome time to be a fan, but I wonder if the reaction was similar upon the release of that set.  Of course, the reason I ask is that we had official releases of Smile tracks, such as "Do You Like Worms?" and "Love to Say Da Da."

I understand it was pre-Internet, obviously, but any memories from anybody?  Did you have similar expectations and geek outs?

[juggler]

Yes, 1993 was pre-internet.  However, I had access to Lexis-Nexis at school, and I read essentially every major newspaper and magazine review.   The reviews were actually pretty similar to what we're seeing now.  All of the major papers and magazines (Time, Newsweek, etc.) did reviews.  Critics almost uniformly loved the 1993 box, and Smile was the centerpiece of virtually every review.  Even though that box contained only 30 minutes or so of Smile stuff, more than a few reviews almost left the impression that the box contained more or less all of Smile with the exception of maybe Mrs O'Leary's Cow.

One major difference between then and now, though, was the involvement of the Beach Boys touring act in promoting the release.   In fact, the situation was almost the opposite of what we've seen during the last few weeks.  Brian did little or no promotion for that box while Mike, Carl, Al and Bruce were out there doing interviews and actively plugging the box.  The BBs' concerts that year included special 'unplugged' segments featuring rarities from the box.  On the other hand, Brian was laying pretty low at the time.  This was just a year or so after Landy had finally exited the scene but before Brian had re-emerged (in 1995) with 'Orange Crate Art,' the film and soundtrack 'I Just Wasn't Made for These Times,' his marriage to Melinda, etc.

[Eric Aniversario]

I remember that fans marveled at the great sound quality of many of the tracks, improved over the 1990 2-fers, and I remember several people remarking that Soulful Old Man Sunshine should have been on there instead of lesser tracks from that time period.  There was also some quibbling over track selection between fans, but that's to be expected with a boxed set that's supposed to span the Beach Boys' entire career up until that point...but overall people were happy that it had been released, particularly the Smile tracks!  I do also remember that there was a general feeling at the time of "What's next?" and feeling that the Beach Boys recording career might have run its course by that point.  There was a sense that Summer In Paradise was gonna be their last effort at recording new material, and that the Boys were content with just touring.  Little did we know that were was MUCH more to come!  

[runnersdialzero]

Little did we know that were was MUCH more to come! 

Like Stars & Stripes (Volume 1!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

[jeffcdo]

I'm sure it depends on our various ages.  I didn't really start seriously listening to music until I was about 10 years old, which unfortunately is when this damn commercial came out...

http://youtu.be/sndJDH4LSV8

So for years, long unfortunate years, I couldn't get "sunkist orange taste sensation" out of my head (I actually disliked "Good Vibrations") and the Beach Boys seemed cheesy to me.  I began to understand when the "Made In U.S.A." comp came out in 1986.  I finally began to explore their music in depth and this process fit well with the solo album in 1988 (which I obsessed over) and then the two-fers in 1990.  I think my favorite SMiLE version came out around that time too (the Japanese CD). So my initial reaction to the box set was - another compilation?  Of course when I got it, there were more treasures on there (like the bonus tracks on the twofers).

And I still don't like the artwork on those CD inserts.  I flipped each one over to show the thumbnail band pics.

[runnersdialzero]

I'm sure it depends on our various ages.  I didn't really start seriously listening to music until I was about 10 years old, which unfortunately is when this damn commercial came out...

http://youtu.be/sndJDH4LSV8

So for years, long unfortunate years, I couldn't get "sunkist orange taste sensation" out of my head (I actually disliked "Good Vibrations") and the Beach Boys seemed cheesy to me.  I began to understand when the "Made In U.S.A." comp came out in 1986.  I finally began to explore their music in depth and this process fit well with the solo album in 1988 (which I obsessed over) and then the two-fers in 1990.  I think my favorite SMiLE version came out around that time too (the Japanese CD). So my initial reaction to the box set was - another compilation?  Of course when I got it, there were more treasures on there (like the bonus tracks on the twofers).

And I still don't like the artwork on those CD inserts.  I flipped each one over to show the thumbnail band pics.

Yeah, I suddenly want orange soda. Thanks a lot.

[Iron Horse-Apples]

Well, when the box came out there were few revelations for me. Great quality though.

Of the SMiLE stuff, Love To Say Da Da and the Vegetables fade were new for me, the latter particularly mind blowing.

Of the other stuff, there were a few surprises. 4th of July I hadn't heard.

I just remember I had to ring about 100 record shops before I found one that had it. Had to travel about 5 miles on the bus to get it. It was a few days before my girlfriend and I went on holiday, and I spent a sizeable part of our spending money on the box. She wasn't happy, but we had good music while we were away.

[Rerun]

I'm sure it depends on our various ages.  I didn't really start seriously listening to music until I was about 10 years old, which unfortunately is when this damn commercial came out...

http://youtu.be/sndJDH4LSV8

Oh my goodness, that video was the best/worst thing ever.

[Mr. Wilson]

When the box set came out BB did a concert in the parkin lot of capitol records..l I was there in Hollywood that day and saw the show.. It was a week day + STRANGELY wasnt that well promoted..Maybe cause it would have shut down east end of Hollywood + traffic.. Anyway the news programs all had footage + it was played over + over for a couple of days..!!

[Rich Panteluk]

I was born in Feb 1974.  Grew up listening to my dads LPs.  The holy trinity were The Beatles, The Beach Boys and Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons (Frankie was my dad's fave of the 3).  I loved all three of those groups but the BBs were in last place until I saw my first Beach Boys concert in 1987 in my hometown Calgary (Alberta, Canada).  Carl Wilson nearly knocked me on my ass with his singing that night, I didn't know who he was before then.  I became a super big fan shortly thereafter (my dad just had just had hit comps) and bought all legit released stuff and started to get some cassette bootlegs from friendly traders.  I read all the rock mags of the time and was pumped to hear about the good vibes box.  Bought it on the day of release (at costco of all places cause it was way cheaper than elsewhere and my friend worked there and assured me that they had it).

Loved the box and the smile material (though I had heard much of it already).  I recall that all the reviews were really positive and it got much coverage in the mags at the time.  I recall much praise for the unreleased gems (not just smile) and a few gripes about missing songs.  No Let Him Run Wild?  How could Brian actually not want that on the set - he must be nuts?  Lots of controversy round then with the BW autobiography, it's fallout and lawsuits.  I was just a sponge and soaked it all up.  Listened to classic stuff on the box a lot and even found time for my Sweet Insanity and 21 Little Ones cd bootlegs that I bought on a NYC trip.  Bought all the releases on Vinyl, cassette and cd.  Read every book.  It was a great time to be a fan then and it is a great time to be a fan now.  Thanks to ALL of The Beach Boys for the happiness they have brought to my life.  Thanks to Mark, Alan and all the folks that helped bring the Smile box into existence.  What a long strange and wonderful trip it has been.  Long may it continue...