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Post by wontlastforever on Jul 5, 2020 13:14:09 GMT -5
Hi guys. This song stirs up so much emotion in me every time I hear it. There's the face value level of the destruction of nature which Brian, once again, seemed to be ahead of his time on, and then the idea of a whole other level of how Brian could have been feeling at the time. It gets me every time. There are so many great covers out there of the Beach Boys and I reckon this one does justice to such a beautiful song.
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Post by drbeachboy (Dirk) on Jul 5, 2020 13:25:06 GMT -5
As a 14 year old when the Surf’s Up album was released, ecology was really coming into it’s own with Earth Day happening the year before. Mike and Al also were concerned about water pollution for which they wrote Don’t Go Near The Water. What was cool and different about A Day In The Life Of A Tree, is that it was written from the perspective of a tree. A very compelling piece of music to be sure. WELCOME to the forum!
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Post by filledeplage on Jul 5, 2020 13:46:07 GMT -5
Hi guys. This song stirs up so much emotion in me every time I hear it. There's the face value level of the destruction of nature which Brian, once again, seemed to be ahead of his time on, and then the idea of a whole other level of how Brian could have been feeling at the time. It gets me every time. There are so many great covers out there of the Beach Boys and I reckon this one does justice to such a beautiful song. That was awesome! Thanks for sharing it!
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Post by wontlastforever on Jul 5, 2020 13:47:21 GMT -5
Thanks for the welcome! It's great to be on here! Yeh you're right, it was definitely a theme they were on at the time. Even back to Brian's ideas on smog in LA during the SMiLE sessions.
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Post by John Manning on Jul 5, 2020 14:53:54 GMT -5
Really enjoyed that. This song is one of the very, very best the band made and in my top five BBs tracks of all time. Good to see it being done justice.
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Post by John Manning on Jul 5, 2020 16:06:36 GMT -5
Which makes me wonder about this, as per the 2014 Chidester article about the so called “Bedroom Tapes”.
“”A Day in the Life of a Tree” (alternate version) – According to the band's engineer Stephen Desper, a version of Brian's eco-conscious ballad, “A Day in the Life of a Tree,” was first recorded with brother Dennis Wilson on lead vocals before being replaced by manager Jack Rieley on the final track. This version has yet to surface. “”
This wasn’t listed on the Proposed Brother Bonus Tracks CDs that accidentally slipped out several years ago but maybe a likely inclusion on the much-touted Feels Flows set due out (hopefully) later this year.
Anyone had the good fortune to hear it?
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Post by radiantradish on Jul 5, 2020 16:16:08 GMT -5
Hi guys. This song stirs up so much emotion in me every time I hear it. There's the face value level of the destruction of nature which Brian, once again, seemed to be ahead of his time on, and then the idea of a whole other level of how Brian could have been feeling at the time. It gets me every time. There are so many great covers out there of the Beach Boys and I reckon this one does justice to such a beautiful song. I just listened to the song again for first time in a while. It is really stunning, everything from the arrangement, Jack Rieley’s vocals, and the outstanding background vocals. I love the unison ‘ooooh’ in the second ‘now my branches suffer section’. And Al’s performance at the end is just perfect.
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Post by ian on Jul 5, 2020 16:38:17 GMT -5
In the book Shaky-neil Young gushes about his admiration of that song
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Post by wontlastforever on Jul 5, 2020 17:10:31 GMT -5
John, I too would love to hear the Dennis version.
I always liked the story of Jack being 'duped' into singing the vocal on the track to demonstrate what the song should sound like. He did a great job. And I agree with radish, Al does a great job at the end!
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Post by Mikie on Jul 5, 2020 19:51:05 GMT -5
Supposedly Brian cried when he heard the playback. Did Desper or anyone else that was at the 10452 session ever confirm or debunk that? I assume that Brian cried when he heard Jack singing it because he got emotional and liked it. Supposedly, the song was performed live only once by the Beach Boys, at the Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, CA on December 3, 1971. Brian was there, and a member of EH (Custom Machine) was also there. Wontlastforever, would you please check in with us and introduce yourself? Thanks! endlessharmony.boards.net/board/26/new-member-introductions
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Post by John Manning on Jul 6, 2020 5:59:57 GMT -5
Which makes me wonder about this, as per the 2014 Chidester article about the so called “Bedroom Tapes”. “”A Day in the Life of a Tree” (alternate version) – According to the band's engineer Stephen Desper, a version of Brian's eco-conscious ballad, “A Day in the Life of a Tree,” was first recorded with brother Dennis Wilson on lead vocals before being replaced by manager Jack Rieley on the final track. This version has yet to surface. “” This wasn’t listed on the Proposed Brother Bonus Tracks CDs that accidentally slipped out several years ago but maybe a likely inclusion on the much-touted Feels Flows set due out (hopefully) later this year. Anyone had the good fortune to hear it? Unfortunately someone trying the lead at some point doesn't necessarily translate to that still surviving on the multitrack. The Chidester article tends to take a lot of hearsay or titles mentioned in passing and interprets them as material that definitely exists. Rieley said that almost everyone attempted the lead on Tree, including Brian, but all would've been wiped in succession on the master tape as new parts were recorded. Unless a previously undiscovered rough mix from 1971 surfaces there isn't a lead vocal other than the final one. I thought that might be suggested as the case, but one can always hope… perhaps Craig knows something?
Thanks also for correcting my mis-spelling of BC's surname – will correct that in the original post!
Here are links to the original articles for those who might be in the dark:
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Post by wontlastforever on Jul 6, 2020 6:24:08 GMT -5
Supposedly Brian cried when he heard the playback. Did Desper or anyone else that was at the 10452 session ever confirm or debunk that? I assume that Brian cried when he heard Jack singing it because he got emotional and liked it. Supposedly, the song was performed live only once by the Beach Boys, at the Long Beach Arena in Long Beach, CA on December 3, 1971. Brian was there, and a member of EH (Custom Machine) was also there. Wontlastforever, would you please check in with us and introduce yourself? Thanks! endlessharmony.boards.net/board/26/new-member-introductionsYes, sorry for the delay. Done it now!
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Post by craigslowinski on Jul 6, 2020 7:47:28 GMT -5
Unfortunately someone trying the lead at some point doesn't necessarily translate to that still surviving on the multitrack. The Chidester article tends to take a lot of hearsay or titles mentioned in passing and interprets them as material that definitely exists. Rieley said that almost everyone attempted the lead on Tree, including Brian, but all would've been wiped in succession on the master tape as new parts were recorded. Unless a previously undiscovered rough mix from 1971 surfaces there isn't a lead vocal other than the final one. I thought that might be suggested as the case, but one can always hope… perhaps Craig knows something?
Thanks also for correcting my mis-spelling of BC's surname – will correct that in the original post!
Here are links to the original articles for those who might be in the dark:
As far as I know, Dennis' attempt at the lead vocal was wiped and no rough mixes exist. Same with his attempted leads on "IJWMFTT" and "SOS".
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Post by John Manning on Jul 6, 2020 8:07:11 GMT -5
I thought that might be suggested as the case, but one can always hope… perhaps Craig knows something?
Thanks also for correcting my mis-spelling of BC's surname – will correct that in the original post!
Here are links to the original articles for those who might be in the dark:
As far as I know, Dennis' attempt at the lead vocal was wiped and no rough mixes exist. Same with his attempted leads on "IJWMFTT" and "SOS". Many thanks Craig, what a shame… what would the chances be of Steve Desper having made back-up copies that might yet be in his private collection?
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Post by Autotune on Jul 6, 2020 12:10:32 GMT -5
The BBs: a group of six great singers.
Yet, they pull off this track with two guys from outside the group who can’t sing very well (JR and VDP). And it works wonderfully.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 6, 2020 13:54:25 GMT -5
I thought that might be suggested as the case, but one can always hope… perhaps Craig knows something?
Thanks also for correcting my mis-spelling of BC's surname – will correct that in the original post!
Here are links to the original articles for those who might be in the dark:
As far as I know, Dennis' attempt at the lead vocal was wiped and no rough mixes exist. Same with his attempted leads on "IJWMFTT" and "SOS". That’s a terrible pity. Dennis would’ve sounded fantastic on this song.
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Post by Paul JB on Jul 6, 2020 21:01:37 GMT -5
Dennis would have sounded great on all three of the songs mentioned. Really depressing that we don’t have them. Did Dennis ever sing lead on Sail On Sailor live? His later POB voice would have been freaking stellar singing SOS.
Since this thread is mainly about Tree and about Jack....Jack really nailed it with the “they’ve always blown it” quote.
That video by the OP is terrific. Thanks.
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