The Beach Boys

Pet Sounds



The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
Capitol Records DT-2458 (1966)


Side One
1. Wouldn't It Be Nice
2. You Still Believe In Me
3. That's Not Me
4. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
5. I'm Waiting For The Day
6. Let's Go Away For A While
7. Sloop John B


Side Two
1. God Only Knows
2. I Know There's An Answer
3. Here Today
4. I Just Wasn't Made For These Times
5. Pet Sounds
6. Caroline, No


Personnel:
Here Today:
Brian Wilson - producer, music composition, lyrics, arrangement, falsetto backing vocal
Tony Asher - lyrics
Mike Love - lead vocals, backing vocal
Bruce Johnston - backing vocal
Al Jardine - backing vocal
Carol Wilson - backing vocal
Bruce Botnick and Ralph Balantin - engineers
Mike Deasy - 12-string acoustic rhythm guitar
Al Casey - 12-string electric rhythm guitar
Carol Kaye - bass
Ray Pohlman - session leader, electric tic-tac bass
Lyle Ritz - string bass
Don Randi - piano
Larry Knechtel - organ
Nick Martinis - drums
Frank Capp - tambourine on snare drum
Terry Melcher - tambourine
Steve Douglas - saxophone
Bill Green - saxophone
Plas Johnson - saxophone
Jay Migliori - session contractor, baritone saxophone
Jack Nimitz - baritone saxophone
Gail Martin - bass trombone
Ernie Tack - bass trombone

Notes:
Here Today was recorded on 3/11/66 at Sunset Sound Studios in Los Angeles, CA. Bruce Botnick was the engineer. Capitol Master #55680. The Master Take is a combination of Take 11 (first half of track) and Take 20 (last part of track).

On May 16, 1966, Capitol Records released the album "Pet Sounds" by The Beach Boys". This was the album Paul McCartney says inspired him to come up with the "Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band" concept.

Recorded at various studios between July 12, 65 and April 13, 66, using scores of studio musicians, Mike's contribution to the "Pet Sounds" album was on the song "Here Today" written by Brian Wilson (music) and Tony Asher (lyrics). It was recorded in sessions on March 11 and 25, 1966 at Sunset Sound Recorders and CBS Columbia Square. The song would also be included as the B side of the 1967 single "Darlin'". 

Wilson said in 1990 that "'Here Today' was a work of art" and Bruce Johnston, Mike's old band mate, stated concerning the song, that Brian was "redefining the word brilliant." AllMusic's Donaled Guarisco wrote that "Here Today" was "a highlight of 'Pet Sounds'" and "one of Brian Wilson's most ambitious arrangements." Listen to the instrumental track provided below where you'll hear Larry Knechtel's organ prominent throughout the song as are the low end horn and woodwind sections, giving it a somewhat Phil Spector "Wall Of Sound" feel. 

Listen to "Here Today" on YouTube:


And here's the stereo track without vocals:


The backing track for "Here Today" would be released on the 1968 album "Stack-O-Tracks:
























The Beach Boys - Stack-o-Tracks
Capitol Records DKAO-2893 (1968)




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Smiley Smile




















The Beach Boys - Smiley Smile
Brother Records T-9001 (1967)

Side One
1. Heroes And Villains
2. Vegetables
3. Fall Breaks And Back To Winter (W. Woodpecker Symphone)
4. She's Goin' Bald
5. Little Pad

Side Two
1. Good Vibrations
2. With Me Tonight
3. Wind Chimes
4. Gettin' Hungry
5. Wonderful
6. Whistle In

Notes:

On September 18, 1967, Brother Records released "Smiley Smile" by the Beach Boys, their 12th studio album.

While Brian Wilson's "Smile" album was still in the works, and prior to his nervous breakdown, he worked on other music in his home studio as well as the regular studios of Los Angeles. The tracks used for "Smiley Smile" were recorded at his home and at Sunset Sound Recorders, United Western Recorders, Columbia Studios, and Wally Heider Studios between February 17, 1966 and July 14, 1967.

"Smiley Smile" was compiled in an experimental party-like style that confused and disappointed fans and critics alike. It sold poorly and issued only one single, "Heroes And Villains." The already released hit single "Good Vibrations" was included hoping to boost sales.

In 1989, Capitol Records reissued "Smiley Smile" as part of their "Past Masters" series complete with booklet listing the personnel involved in the recording of the songs included in that release. The Past Masters series was Capitol's highest level release and considered it's best researched and most accurate.

Personnel listed in the Past Masters booklet for "Smiley Smile" include:

Al Jardine - bass, rhythm guitar, vocals
Bruce Johnston - bass, organ, vocals
Brian Wilson - bass, organ, piano, vocals
Carl Wilson - bass, lead guitar, percussion, vocals
Dennis Wilson - drums, organ, vocals
Stephen W. Desper - engineer
Jim Lockert - engineer

Mike Deasy - electric guitar, wah-wah guitar
Glen Campbell - acoustic guitar
Carol Kaye - bass
Ray Pohlman - bass
Chuck Berghofer - upright bass
Jimmy Bond - upright bass
Lyle Ritz - upright bass
Larry Knechtel - organ
Al DeLory - tack piano
Don Randi - harpsichord
Hal Blaine - drums, bongos, percussion
Jim Gordon - drums
Jesse Ehrlich - cello
Paul Tanner - theremin
Paul McCartney - mouth sounds
Tommy Morgan - harmonica
Diane Rovell - backing vocals
Marilyn Wilson - backing vocals

Listen to "Smiley Smile" on YouTube:



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Sunflower
























The Beach Boys - Sunflower
Reprise Records / Brother Records RS 6382 (1970)

Side One
1. Slip On Through
2. This Whole World
3. Add Some Music To Your Day
4. Got To Know The Woman
5. Deirdre
6. It's About Time

Side Two
1. Tears In The Morning
2. All I Wanna Do
3. Forever
4. Our Sweet Love
5. At My Window
6. Cool, Cool Water


Notes:
On July 8, 1969, a session was held at Gold Star Studios involving Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys singing "I'm Going Your Way" which was also known as "California Slide".

This was the start of the sessions for the Beach Boys' album "Sunflower". Also in this session the song "Slip On Through" was tracked. 18 takes of "Slip On Through" were done and 25 takes of "I'm Going Your Way" were recorded. Reduction mixes were done on "Slip..." following the session to make room for future overdubs. Dennis did a rough vocal this day which would be replaced in a later session.

On July 14, more work was done on "I'm Going Your Way" this time at Sunset Studios, Hollywood. The song was never officially released. "Sunflower" was released August 31, 1970.

Personnel on the "Sunflower" album included:

Stephen Desper - engineer, mixer
Dennis Wilson - vocal, composer
Brian Wilson - piano, bass, Moog
Carl Wilson - 12 string guitar, guitar, bass, drums
Dennis Wilson - vocals, guitar, bongos, tack piano
Al Jardine - rhythm guitar

Mike Deasy - guitar
Al Casey - guitar
Jerry Cole - guitar
Ray Pohlman - bass
Mike Melvoin - keyboards
Doug Dragon - keyboards
Daryl Dragon - harpsichord, piano, vibes, drums, tubular bells
Hal Blaine - drums
John Guerin - drums
Earl Palmer - drums
Gene Estes - drums, percussion
Dennis Dragon - drums
Stan Levey - drums

Listen to "I'm Going Your Way" aka "California Slide" on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/WB2KW7x99Ho

Listen to "Slip On Through" on YouTube:

https://youtu.be/oSXsl6V7c8Y


* * * * *

Made In California


















The Beach Boys - Made In California
Capitol/Universal Records 2323452 (2013)

Notes:
Mike is listed as participating on one or more of the songs on this compilation of alternate mixes and outtakes.


* * * * *

Feel Flows




















The Beach Boys - Feel Flows
Capitol Records / Brother Records B0031864-01 (2021)

Notes:
"Feel Flows: The Sunflower & Surf's Up Sessions 1969–1971" is an expanded reissue of the albums Sunflower (1970) and Surf's Up (1971) by the Beach Boys. It was released by Capitol/UME on August 27, 2021. "Feel Flows" is the band's first major archival release since 2018, and the first issued on physical media since 2017. The title is taken from the "Surf's Up" track "Feel Flows".

The compilation was released in four different formats: a five-CD box set, a two-CD set, a double vinyl set, and a quadruple vinyl set. The box set includes remastered editions of the "Sunflower" and "Surf's Up" albums alongside 108 previously unreleased tracks, the majority of which are session highlights, alternate versions, and alternate mixes (including instrumental and a cappella mixes). "Feel Flows" also includes live performances, radio promos, and outtakes not originally included on either album, as well as several tracks drawn from Dennis Wilson's aborted solo album, "Poops/Hubba Hubba".

"Feel Flows" received largely positive reviews. Criticism was reserved for the poor mastering quality, particularly with respect to the presence of digital artifacts, excessive treble, and extreme dynamic range compression. It peaked at number 83 in the U.S and number 19 in the UK while also reaching the top 20 on record charts in the Netherlands, Germany, and Scotland. ~ Wikipedia

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