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Post by Rick Bartlett on Aug 6, 2021 10:56:31 GMT -5
I'm on my own in a lot of respects with 15 Big Ones, but I really dig it! I heard it as a kid.... and heard it as nothing more than a bunch of fun and catchy tunes. Later when I progressed into playing music and understanding performance more, I can see why this album is not high up on the list for many people. But! disregarding all of that, to this day, it's still a fun listen to me. Some of the earlier comments in this thread make me wonder if we are even listening to the same album... If we can just for one second not put this album against 'Holland' or 'Friends' or whatever! It almost has a 'Party' vibe to it for me, put it on, and don't take it so seriously. 'It's OK' should have been a smash hit, and 'Back Home' just shows how alive this little old tune of Brian and Norbergs still was, and probably presented in it's best incarnation. 'RnR Music', while not a big favorite of mine, really has the group rocking out, especially the single mix. I'll never understand the disdain for Mike's 'Everyone's In Love With You', the background harmonies alone are priceless. 'Had To Phone Ya' has really aged well over time, especially when you hear how great it sounds in it's instrumental form alone. I dig me some Carl on 'Freddy Cannon's 'Palisades Park', and I can never get enough of that, Louder the better! The great rendition of 'In The Still Of The Night' is classic!
There's so much more to dig about '15 Big Ones', I wish more would give it a chance and stop comparing it to their other great works. Just have a little fun once in a while and don't take everything so serious!
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Post by boogieboarder on Aug 6, 2021 16:55:56 GMT -5
It must have been really frustrating for the band. First Brian tries to pry them away from surf and car fun-in-the-sun music, and it seems to work with “Good Vibrations” going to number one. But there were so many problems following that success, with the death of Smile, low sales and apparent lack of relevance, for several years until Surf’s Up and Holland finds a new mature direction. But Brian’s problems are worsening, and suddenly the band is number one - but not with the new material - instead with compilations of the old surf, car, fun-in-the sun oldies.
A new album was desired, but Brian was not really ready and willing. Gene Landy was presenting a Brian to the public they shouldn’t really being seeing. Many of the originals are unfinished or rejects from years past. The oldies aren’t even as inspired as the old surf / car songs they do live. The vocals are rough compared even to just the previous album.
Three years between studio albums these days are nothing at all. Back then it was forever. I was glad to get something new from the band, but this album always seemed like it exposed so many problems and warts.
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Post by Awesoman on Oct 9, 2022 11:50:48 GMT -5
This album is just all over the place. The progressive, folkier and bluesier direction they had been going with the previous few albums was unceremoniously thrown out the window in favor of a a ham-fisted attempt to square-peg the "classic" sound with a reluctant Brian Wilson in tow. Some of it is quite good including "It's OK", "That Same Song" and "Had To Phone Ya". A lot of the covers are sloppy and uninteresting, save for "Just Once In My Life", that kinda works and fits the mood surprisingly despite how messy it sounds.
But this album is largely a step backwards for a band that was struggling with an identity crisis. But since this one did okay commercially, the "oldies circuit" was the direction the band would go. 🤷♂️
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Post by drbeachboy (Dirk) on Oct 9, 2022 16:06:59 GMT -5
This album is just all over the place. The progressive, folkier and bluesier direction they had been going with the previous few albums was unceremoniously thrown out the window in favor of a a ham-fisted attempt to square-peg the "classic" sound with a reluctant Brian Wilson in tow. Some of it is quite good including "It's OK", "That Same Song" and "Had To Phone Ya". A lot of the covers are sloppy and uninteresting, save for "Just Once In My Life", that kinda works and fits the mood surprisingly despite how messy it sounds. But this album is largely a step backwards for a band that was struggling with an identity crisis. But since this one did okay commercially, the "oldies circuit" was the direction the band would go. 🤷♂️ Why do you say reluctant? He was the one who wanted to do an oldies album. Warner’s wanted a Brian produced album so bad, they did not care about quality like they did from 1970 to 1973. I remember thinking how different CATP sounded, well I would have never guessed that the Beach Boys would sound the way they do on 15 Big Ones, especially singing oldies.
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Post by Awesoman on Oct 11, 2022 6:07:24 GMT -5
This album is just all over the place. The progressive, folkier and bluesier direction they had been going with the previous few albums was unceremoniously thrown out the window in favor of a a ham-fisted attempt to square-peg the "classic" sound with a reluctant Brian Wilson in tow. Some of it is quite good including "It's OK", "That Same Song" and "Had To Phone Ya". A lot of the covers are sloppy and uninteresting, save for "Just Once In My Life", that kinda works and fits the mood surprisingly despite how messy it sounds. But this album is largely a step backwards for a band that was struggling with an identity crisis. But since this one did okay commercially, the "oldies circuit" was the direction the band would go. 🤷♂️ Why do you say reluctant? He was the one who wanted to do an oldies album. Warner’s wanted a Brian produced album so bad, they did not care about quality like they did from 1970 to 1973. I remember thinking how different CATP sounded, well I would have never guessed that the Beach Boys would sound the way they do on 15 Big Ones, especially singing oldies. "Reluctant" as in he was neither mentally nor physically in a good enough place to assume the role his bandmates wanted him to have.
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Post by drbeachboy (Dirk) on Oct 11, 2022 7:41:56 GMT -5
Why do you say reluctant? He was the one who wanted to do an oldies album. Warner’s wanted a Brian produced album so bad, they did not care about quality like they did from 1970 to 1973. I remember thinking how different CATP sounded, well I would have never guessed that the Beach Boys would sound the way they do on 15 Big Ones, especially singing oldies. "Reluctant" as in he was neither mentally nor physically in a good enough place to assume the role his bandmates wanted him to have. I don’t buy it. I always hear that Brian doesn’t do what he doesn’t want to do, but then The Beach Boys always seem to push the “Reluctant” Brian to do those things. Apparently, he wasn’t ready (by just listening to the results), but Brian was not pushed into producing anything.
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Post by boogieboarder on Oct 11, 2022 11:09:06 GMT -5
"Reluctant" as in he was neither mentally nor physically in a good enough place to assume the role his bandmates wanted him to have. I don’t buy it. I always hear that Brian doesn’t do what he doesn’t want to do, but then The Beach Boys always seem to push the “Reluctant” Brian to do those things. Apparently, he wasn’t ready (by just listening to the results), but Brian was not pushed into producing anything. From what I remember reading, and without going back and checking, Brian didn't really want to work with The Beach Boys again, with all their internal problems, but Landy made him do it (as part of his therapy). Didn't they even propose the album title "Group Therapy?"
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Post by drbeachboy (Dirk) on Oct 11, 2022 11:16:42 GMT -5
I don’t buy it. I always hear that Brian doesn’t do what he doesn’t want to do, but then The Beach Boys always seem to push the “Reluctant” Brian to do those things. Apparently, he wasn’t ready (by just listening to the results), but Brian was not pushed into producing anything. From what I remember reading, and without going back and checking, Brian didn't really want to work with The Beach Boys again, with all their internal problems, but Landy made him do it (as part of his therapy). Didn't they even propose the album title "Group Therapy?" Yet, he made this one, Love You and MIU. I don’t buy the excuses and not wanting to make records with the band. For me, the proof is in the pudding. 🙂
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spaggy
Dude/Dudette
Posts: 64
Likes: 93
Favorite Album: 15 Big Ones
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Post by spaggy on Oct 11, 2022 18:17:49 GMT -5
Lots of posts and arguing just to state the obvious - best album of all time, 'nuff said. Leave your pretentiousness and preconceived notions at the door and just listen to the music! If you let it all go, you might just share in the infectious joyousness which pervades it. There's a lot to love here, from Brian's leads, sung so obviously with a grin, to the devilishly simple but endlessly effective storytelling in the composition and structure of Had to Phone Ya, to the winding melody of TM Song, and the fantastic juxtaposition on Talk To Me/Tallahassee Lassie. And yes, some might say that the Beach Boys sound like little goblins on it, but to that I ask, have you looked in the mirror? So sit down, brew yourself a cup of tea, put the needle down on the wax, and allow yourself to be taken on a journey through Brian's favorite era of rock and roll and all the new sounds he has to accompany it. And use Everyone's In Love With You as a piss break.
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Post by Awesoman on Oct 12, 2022 7:48:28 GMT -5
From what I remember reading, and without going back and checking, Brian didn't really want to work with The Beach Boys again, with all their internal problems, but Landy made him do it (as part of his therapy). Didn't they even propose the album title "Group Therapy?" Yet, he made this one, Love You and MIU. I don’t buy the excuses and not wanting to make records with the band. For me, the proof is in the pudding. 🙂 Sure, he was considerably more active in his participation during this time than he had been previously in that decade. But other than the *slightly* polarizing 𝐿𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑌𝑜𝑢, none of these albums you mentioned showcased him particularly strongly. Wasn't it pretty evident, particularly his presence during concerts, that he clearly had not really recovered much from his mental health condition? And he looked and sounded pretty bad. Perhaps there is a better word to use than "reluctant", but there is a reason the whole "Brian Is Back" campaign is often looked back upon as maligned.
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Post by drbeachboy (Dirk) on Oct 12, 2022 8:01:26 GMT -5
Yet, he made this one, Love You and MIU. I don’t buy the excuses and not wanting to make records with the band. For me, the proof is in the pudding. 🙂 Sure, he was considerably more active in his participation during this time than he had been previously in that decade. But other than the *slightly* polarizing 𝐿𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑌𝑜𝑢, none of these albums you mentioned showcased him particularly strongly. Wasn't it pretty evident, particularly his presence during concerts, that he clearly had not really recovered much from his mental health condition? And he looked and sounded pretty bad. Perhaps there is a better word to use than "reluctant", but there is a reason the whole "Brian Is Back" campaign is often looked back upon as maligned. While true, it is not what we are talking about. There was a lot of activity, lots of music, lots of recording from 1976-1978. I don’t see that as being forced to work with his brothers, cousin and friend.
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Post by Maci Eascra on Nov 11, 2022 11:20:49 GMT -5
This album is just all over the place. The progressive, folkier and bluesier direction they had been going with the previous few albums was unceremoniously thrown out the window in favor of a a ham-fisted attempt to square-peg the "classic" sound with a reluctant Brian Wilson in tow. Some of it is quite good including "It's OK", "That Same Song" and "Had To Phone Ya". A lot of the covers are sloppy and uninteresting, save for "Just Once In My Life", that kinda works and fits the mood surprisingly despite how messy it sounds. But this album is largely a step backwards for a band that was struggling with an identity crisis. But since this one did okay commercially, the "oldies circuit" was the direction the band would go. 🤷♂️ When you listen to the Beach Boys chronologically, this is a jarring album. Brian wasn't really back, they wanted to cash-in on the nostalgia of the era (American Graffiti, Happy Days, etc.) and a cash-in does have a role for any band. But the production is flat and really out of place, even for 1976. There are a couple of originals that are quite solid (It's OK, Had to Phone Ya), but the covers are really just fillers. It's more of a Beach Boys cover band, as performed by the actual Beach Boys. And coming on the heels of Endless Summer, that was the goal. A band divided, and that shows on the album. 4/10 and that's generous for those glimpses of what could've been done in 1976.
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stuart
Grommet
Posts: 35
Likes: 68
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Post by stuart on Nov 19, 2022 10:12:36 GMT -5
I am not a critic. I was 15 when this record came out. I dashed home to my girlfriends house and we blasted it for hours. Palisades Park had us grooving, R&R music had us dancing, Susie was another one that had us grooving. My memories of this record still bring me back to junior high. My first gf and I are still in touch and we talk about that summer of joy often. This is what music can do if you just listen…….listen…..listen….
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Post by Awesoman on Nov 19, 2022 12:12:46 GMT -5
I am not a critic. I was 15 when this record came out. I dashed home to my girlfriends house and we blasted it for hours. Palisades Park had us grooving, R&R music had us dancing, Susie was another one that had us grooving. My memories of this record still bring me back to junior high. My first gf and I are still in touch and we talk about that summer of joy often. This is what music can do if you just listen…….listen…..listen…. Right, music can make you want to jump out a second story window when you get to the crappy cover of "Chapel of Love"...🤮
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stuart
Grommet
Posts: 35
Likes: 68
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Post by stuart on Nov 19, 2022 21:14:15 GMT -5
What’s your effing problem? Ever had a hit record?
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Post by lonelysummer on Nov 19, 2022 21:49:53 GMT -5
They should have guested on Happy Days, and had Richie Cunningham's band sit in with them. If they had done that, I'll bet Anson Williams would still be making appearances with them today.
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Post by Awesoman on Nov 20, 2022 1:04:53 GMT -5
What’s your effing problem? Ever had a hit record? Just didn't like that cover much. It's pretty clunky and embarrassing. No need for you to cry about it.
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barnsy
Kahuna
Posts: 185
Likes: 277
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Post by barnsy on Apr 17, 2024 16:55:13 GMT -5
In June's issue of MOJO J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr was asked:
What was the first record you ever bought? And where did you buy it? It was like in a department store, K-Mart or something. I think it was 15 Big Ones by The Beach Boys. Brian Wilson’s, like, staring out from the cover… I don’t know why I picked it, it said ‘hits’ I guess. I was probably eight years old.
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