Discuss & Rate Beach Boys Songs Day By Day Vol. 2

OK, Poll's locked.

Whoa!  Brian may have sang Love Is A Woman, but the results are a real bitch - what a spread.

Except for the ratings of 0,3 and 9, every other rating got a 2 - 50/50% split between the nayers (5 or less) and the Heyyyyyyyyers (6 and above).

I'll post a grid of all ratings for this album later this evening and tomorrow we'll rate and ponder Love You.

Yeah, that SNL performance is pretty cool and may have been an element in my own turnaround re re-evaluating the track.  Brian seemed to be enjoying himself, similarly so in the Almost Summer vid.

True.   

Ok, here are the collected results for The tracks on Love You.
For your delight is a table and graph (Lovers are those who voted 6 or higher, acquaintances are those who voted 5 or less) of what went down.

I haven't "normalised" the data, but it's interesting to see the high appreciation for Honkin' and, suprisingly, Good Time - especially as Good Time gets the "it's a bit jarring" rap.

Ten from me too. I can't fault this album, probably for all the wrong reasons.

Very nice. I like a table and chart, me. People here not so keen, as I've discovered over previous months!

I can't go any higher than four for Love You.   

It's got a handful of good songs, one bordering on great, and some absolute dreck.  So, it's a fairly mediocre listen overall, and features probably the worst vocals on any of the Beach Boys' albums.   

The Beach Boys Love You was a breath of fresh air the first time I played it on release day 1977.  From Carl’s growl to begin Let Us Go On This Way to Al’s counting on Love Is A Woman, I was mesmerized and smiling all the way through. What a refreshing change of pace from Brian and the Boys. I think this was Brian’s version of New Wave and I was happy with the band moving in that direction. A shame that it wasn’t to be. I rate the album a solid 9.

Agree, a flawed masterpiece, one far greater than the sum of its parts (seem to have written that a lot in relation to Beach Boys’ albums).

Any masterpiece gets a 10, even though I gave only one song a ten in its own right.

Love Love You.

There's a film series that may appeal to the both of you (not my cup of, tho').

Brian’s first solo album. Originally titled “Brian Loves You”, Brian thought "it would be a good sound that people could feel secure with”. He said later, “I think because I felt so sad I had to bring out my feelings, and try to create music that would make me and all my friends feel better”. After the tour for 15 Big Ones, Brian Wilson planned a solo release, but the group quickly latched onto the project in an attempt to maintain their momentum. It’s clearly from the heart, and Brian wore it on his sleeve. Human directness. He wrote, arranged, played on, and produced most of the songs himself. Vocals, piano, tack piano, organ, harpsichord, ARP String Ensemble, Moog synthesizer, Bass synth, Mellotron, drums. Carl cleaned up some of the shortcomings after the fact, overdubbing guitar and percussion, and was in charge of mixing the record. The meticulous, polished symphonic studio soundscapes were replaced by raw, demo-like synth sounds.

I’ve said it before many times about this album – it’s an album directed at kids. It’s an album for kids. Or it’s also an album for record-buying Beach Boys fans and Brian’s just being his creepy self (a la “Hey Little Tomboy"). My young kids enjoyed listening to the album in the 80’s. It stands in sharp contrast to the albums that came before and after it because it was a product of genuine inspiration on Brian’s part, with little outside interference. Soon after its release, Brian resumed a downward trajectory and went back into addiction and mental instability.

I use to wonder what this album would have sounded like with Brian singing the whole thing in his old voice (like “Good Time”). Can’t help but think the album would have been a lot better because of it. Dominated by one or more farting synths, the strengths are musical, the weaknesses are lyrical. He’s neither being profound or cute and nothing redeems him — you wince, but you also smile. You just have to understand that it's child-like, whimsical Brian. If you don't, too bad. The very simplicity and warmth of spirit in the words teamed up with the very complex and well thought out arrangements and tricky chord changes is what makes this album good. It went to #53 on Billboard. The selection of titles for a single is very questionable – “Honkin' Down The Highway/Solar System” which amazingly didn’t chart. Gee, I wonder why. There was a LOT of promotion behind this album and Warner’s spent a good chunk o' change on it. Dean Torrence designed the album cover and all of the promo materials.

Let Us Go On This Way

Co-written by Mike Love, the traditional Beach Boys vocal harmonies at the chorus serve as a reassuring entry to Love You. I’ve always loved it, but have reservations about the "extrasensory perception." middle part. It’s an “arrested-development” mentality concept on this one.

Roller Skating Child

A nice lead guitar moving behind the singers. The risqué “And we’ll even do more when Mama’s not around” line always got me. Roller skating at the roller rink was a real big deal around 1977. there's something not-quite-right about men on the cusp of middle age hungering after a "roller-skating child"—but it also reveals a touching vulnerability so Brian’s off the hook.

Mona

Brian all the way. Brian’s lyrical insistence that a shared love of Phil Spector is one of the requirements for romance. Always liked this one.

Johnny Carson

Ridiculous lyrics. And to think he was serious. My friends and I either skipped it or satirized it. During his reclusive period he was a night person and was awake when Johnny came on late at night. I understand that Johnny didn’t like it so much. BUT. Musically it’s great. It opens with a piano playing a blues line chain-gang type deal. Then the organ and synthesizer and Dennis playing a snare drum, and near the end with an organ interlude of short chords with bursts of the snare again. Embarrassing number one.

Good Time

One of my favorite songs on the album, right up there with “Games People Play”, recorded around that time. The vocals and instrumental track are 6 years late and it doesn’t quite fit on this album. Better late than never though. When I made a recording of this album onto a blank cassette tape, I’d take the bridge from the Spring version and edit it into the middle of the Beach Boys version. Sounds good. Again, always loved this song – it woulda fit great on Sunflower. Maybe Brian shoulda re-recorded it with his ’77 voice for “Love You”.

Honkin' Down The Highway

Originally recorded with Billy’s fine lead vocal with the cornball “gosh darn” gee willikers phrase. This song recaptured the lost innocence that made the world fall in love with the band.

Ding Dang

This one minute long fragment was written with Roger McGuinn. Brian wrote the ding and Roger wrote the dang. There’s a story where Roger had stayed overnight at Brian’s house and when Roger came out to the living room in the morning, Brian was still on the piano playing the same riff. Lively fragment but we needed at least a couple of minutes more!

Solar System

Other than Johnny Carson, this by far was the second most embarrassing song on the album. Driving down the street, you’d better roll the windows up or you’re gonna get weird looks. If you’re playing it for someone else, just skip the song. Brian was into astrology, even in 1976. Beautiful arrangement and complex time signatures though. Kids would like it. Embarrassing song number two.

The Night Was So Young

One of the best songs on the album. That trademark soaring falsetto was all Brian. Found out later it’s about a young girl who broke into was allowed into Brian’s Bel-Air home and hung out there a few times. Just a real good song.

I’ll Bet He’s Nice

A song that you would sing to your daughter. Or not. Listen to the excellent interplay of the different synthesizers, including a great bass synth. Dennis and Brian’s leads make it sound masculine and Carl’s nice soulful singing in the middle of the track “You are the sunshine and the flowah, come on and make my every houah". Another one that’s really good.

Let’s Put Our Hearts Together

Pretty personal. But also one I always skipped. Cornball to the max. But it’s all-balls-out unabashed Brian, so he’s forgiven. If I would have played this one and Love Is A Woman for friends or family, it would be hard for them to keep a straight face for very long. Embarrassing song number three.

I Wanna Pick You Up

Another song sung to a child, like a nursery rhyme or reading a book to your kid before bedtime. Dennis on lead and the voices on the ending save the day. If you have a small kid, you/they can relate. This song has everything from a chorus sung in unison to a five-part a Capella harmony ending. Good one.

Airplane

Very child-like. Like a kid would sing. Always liked the line, Brian trying to sing in what’s left of his high voice: “The woman sitting next to me tells me ‘bout her guy – and I tell her all about you and I. Airplane, airplane, carry me back to her side. And of course the great ending, and “Can’t wait to see her face!” Always liked this one very much (‘cept for Mike’s lead).

Love Is A Woman

Along with Let’s Put Our Hearts Together, embarrassing. Heartfelt, but just bad. Another one I always skipped without a second thought. Brian’s achingly strained vocal, should never have been released. Embarrassing song number four.


Luckily, the good outweighs the bad. Fuck 'em if they can't take a joke. A 10!

They never made an album this good again.  The whole 1976 thru 1977 period fascinates me endlessly.

Then and now, Love You rates a 10/10 on my Rock-O-Meter!  Shakes the earth and soothes my soul at
the same time.  Wish they could have gone on this way.  The Beach Boys last 10/10 record.