What is this "Yer Blues" thing you guys keep mentioning? I know John is singing off-mic for the last verse. Do yall think that is some kind of editing trick or something? It's actually part of the performance.
I really don't think they intended to make a messy record, though, it just turned out that way as a product of what was going on when it was made. Lord knows they had enough studio time to make it non-sloppy, though.
Does not compute. First of all I don't think the "White Album" really is any more flawed than their previous albums, on a purely technical level. Read through that list for yourself for plenty of messy bits even in that paradigm of studio craft "Revolver". As for it being a messy record aesthetically and this not being the intention; this is 100% silly. Look at that track-listing. Listen to the songs. At no point in the recording process was there an attempt to sequence it as a stronger cohesive single album. What is the previous record they did, "Magical Mystery Tour". Is that not a total mess as well? The Beatles love a good mess. Just watch "A Hard Day's Night".
Sgt. Pepper is messy too -- why does the concept go away after a few songs? Well, the concept is just another bit that they stumbled into during the process, it's another part of the journey of making the album, not an end in itself. In fact I think the main Pepper songs were the last recorded for it.
― Emperor Cos Dashit (Adam Bruneau), Tuesday, 8 November 2011 16:56 (twelve years ago) link
The concept was going to be "Liverpool", but after they had done three songs, they ran out of ideas, and the label insisted on 2 tracks for a single. So, Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields became 2 sides of the "Liverpool" concept single, and "When I'm 64" was kept back for the album.
― Mark G, Tuesday, 8 November 2011 16:59 (twelve years ago) link
I don't think anyone but Paul ever really signed onto the "Pepper" concept in the first place
― Everything else is secondary (Lee626), Tuesday, 8 November 2011 17:12 (twelve years ago) link
yeah I always thought so too. but the suggestion was that that whole verse is just a copy of the musical track from the beginning of the song. could be I suppose, would need to listen to it more carefully and/or consult Lewison
― akm, Tuesday, 8 November 2011 18:05 (twelve years ago) link
Right at the end of 'Yer Blues', it's clear that while the guitar solo is playing, the band are jamming and don't have the faintest clue how to end the song or get back into the main riff. Their answer to this problem? Edit the beginning onto the end and use it as an instrumental - and it sounds jarring as hell. I don't think they meant for it to sound jarring, but it does.
― Turrican, Tuesday, 8 November 2011 22:23 (twelve years ago) link
At no point in the recording process was there an attempt to sequence it as a stronger cohesive single album.
But that's not what I'm talking about!
― Turrican, Tuesday, 8 November 2011 22:27 (twelve years ago) link
I think the end of Yer Blues sounds great, intentional or not. And they do have a track record for this kind of thing. Look at how I Want You (She's So Heavy) ends...
― B-Boy Bualadh Bos (ecuador_with_a_c), Tuesday, 8 November 2011 22:30 (twelve years ago) link
i kind of forget what we're arguing about re: the white album
― tylerw, Tuesday, 8 November 2011 22:31 (twelve years ago) link
so jarring I've never noticed it
just figured it was one of the many many many rhythmic turnarounds/switchups in Lennon's songs
― The Uncanny Frankie Valley (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 8 November 2011 22:35 (twelve years ago) link
I think the end of Yer Blues sounds great, intentional or not. And they do have a track record for this kind of thing. Look at how I Want You (She's So Heavy) ends...― B-Boy Bualadh Bos (ecuador_with_a_c), Tuesday, November 8, 2011 10:30 PM (3 minutes ago) Bookmark
― B-Boy Bualadh Bos (ecuador_with_a_c), Tuesday, November 8, 2011 10:30 PM (3 minutes ago) Bookmark
Yeah, you're right about 'I Want You (She's So Heavy)' but the editing on that is far more seamless.
― Turrican, Tuesday, 8 November 2011 22:35 (twelve years ago) link
so jarring I've never noticed itjust figured it was one of the many many many rhythmic turnarounds/switchups in Lennon's songs― The Uncanny Frankie Valley (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, November 8, 2011 10:35 PM (9 seconds ago) Bookmark
― The Uncanny Frankie Valley (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, November 8, 2011 10:35 PM (9 seconds ago) Bookmark
The whole track comes to an immediate halt and literally everything gets cut off in mid-everything just as the drum fill comes in!
― Turrican, Tuesday, 8 November 2011 22:37 (twelve years ago) link
I hear it now that you've pointed it out
― The Uncanny Frankie Valley (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 8 November 2011 22:39 (twelve years ago) link
you've ruined it for me forever!
*cries*
I don't care one bit for 'Surf's Up'. I didn't even know it had a following until ILX
― hotter than a hoochie coochie (CaptainLorax), Tuesday, 8 November 2011 23:06 (twelve years ago) link
I would of preferred an album that's all stuff like "She's Goin' Bald" and "He Gives Speeches"
― hotter than a hoochie coochie (CaptainLorax), Tuesday, 8 November 2011 23:12 (twelve years ago) link
those are the same song
― The Uncanny Frankie Valley (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 8 November 2011 23:20 (twelve years ago) link
yeah, they should of stuck in that mindset and made more cracked out pop
― hotter than a hoochie coochie (CaptainLorax), Tuesday, 8 November 2011 23:23 (twelve years ago) link
in what universe did they NOT make more cracked out pop?!
― The Uncanny Frankie Valley (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 8 November 2011 23:23 (twelve years ago) link
> I would of preferred an album that's all stuff like "She's Goin' Bald" and "He Gives Speeches"
That's what most of Smiley Smile was.
― Everything else is secondary (Lee626), Tuesday, 8 November 2011 23:24 (twelve years ago) link
"Fall Breaks and Back to Winter" is wack but it got darker and more cracked out with "Mrs. O'Leary's cow". I'd like an whole album of cracked out shit - not so much light and wacky
― hotter than a hoochie coochie (CaptainLorax), Tuesday, 8 November 2011 23:35 (twelve years ago) link
That "sha na na" section in 'She's Goin' Bald' still gives me one hell of a chuckle when I hear it. In fact, the whole song does... "yer too late momma, ain't nothin' upside your head... no more no more no more no more!"
― Turrican, Tuesday, 8 November 2011 23:39 (twelve years ago) link
whenever I saw this thread I was always like ugh and now I read it and am surprised at how great it is
― puff puff post (uh oh I'm having a fantasy), Tuesday, 8 November 2011 23:42 (twelve years ago) link
― hotter than a hoochie coochie (CaptainLorax), Wednesday, November 9, 2011 12:06 AM (35 minutes ago) Bookmark
waht
― Y Kant Lou Reed (Le Bateau Ivre), Tuesday, 8 November 2011 23:43 (twelve years ago) link
"She's Goin' Bald" >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> "Surf's Up"
surf's up is blahbity blah or mehhity meh
― hotter than a hoochie coochie (CaptainLorax), Tuesday, 8 November 2011 23:44 (twelve years ago) link
the Befuddling Opinions of Captain Lorax
― The Uncanny Frankie Valley (Shakey Mo Collier), Tuesday, 8 November 2011 23:44 (twelve years ago) link
This is why smiley smile is one of my favourite albums, even above smile
― Glo-Vember (dog latin), Tuesday, 8 November 2011 23:45 (twelve years ago) link
captain lorax's technically after the deadline vote bumped surf's up from its rightful #1 spot on the beach boys poll
― iatee, Tuesday, 8 November 2011 23:46 (twelve years ago) link
I respect iatee for having not been so Type A (tight A) about the deadline (like johnnyfever).Anyways, "God Only Know" is obviously better
― hotter than a hoochie coochie (CaptainLorax), Tuesday, 8 November 2011 23:48 (twelve years ago) link
iatee was considerate
― hotter than a hoochie coochie (CaptainLorax), Tuesday, 8 November 2011 23:50 (twelve years ago) link
Oh god, Lorax, still frustrated about the deadline? Jeez, get it out of your system man.
― Y Kant Lou Reed (Le Bateau Ivre), Tuesday, 8 November 2011 23:50 (twelve years ago) link
people make lasting impressions
― hotter than a hoochie coochie (CaptainLorax), Tuesday, 8 November 2011 23:52 (twelve years ago) link
Impressions don't just dissipate. I have no desire to make them disappear
― hotter than a hoochie coochie (CaptainLorax), Tuesday, 8 November 2011 23:53 (twelve years ago) link
― Glo-Vember (dog latin), Tuesday, November 8, 2011 11:45 PM (6 minutes ago) Bookmark
'Smiley Smile' is that oddest thing, a replacement for a scrapped record that is perversely far more uncommercial and strange than what it replaced. It's not a record I dig out on purpose to enjoy, but rather I find it offers a kind of window to how strange things had got in the world of The Beach Boys at that time. 'Wind Chimes' has always been a kind of slightly unsettling moment on 'Smile', but on 'Smiley Smile' it's fucking scary.
― Turrican, Tuesday, 8 November 2011 23:55 (twelve years ago) link
yeah, I would support that track for a cracked out Smile albumand even though I like "Heroes and Villains" and "Good Vibrations" - they are bit of a different extreme. Also, "Good Vibrations" always seemed out of place even if there were songs on Smiley Smile that didn't fit either extreme
― hotter than a hoochie coochie (CaptainLorax), Wednesday, 9 November 2011 00:00 (twelve years ago) link
Impressions don't just dissipate
controlled demolitions are required for that amirite
― The Uncanny Frankie Valley (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 9 November 2011 00:01 (twelve years ago) link
be careful what you say, it all goes into one big government file
― hotter than a hoochie coochie (CaptainLorax), Wednesday, 9 November 2011 00:04 (twelve years ago) link
― hotter than a hoochie coochie (CaptainLorax), Wednesday, November 9, 2011 12:53 AM (10 minutes ago) Bookmark
This train of thought will inevitably lead you to mistake frustration for impression. The GBV poll had a deadline, you didn't meet it, get over it. Christ.
― Y Kant Lou Reed (Le Bateau Ivre), Wednesday, 9 November 2011 00:07 (twelve years ago) link
I don't care if my poll wasn't tallied. Big whoop. I care about a person's character and I don't jive well with Tight A's. Loosey Goosey all the way baby
― hotter than a hoochie coochie (CaptainLorax), Wednesday, 9 November 2011 00:10 (twelve years ago) link
Turrican is my new favourite poster. Smiley Smile was the first album I heard after their best ofs and pet sounds, and to me it's their pinnacle. No, not their best or most realised but the truest, most fucked up, most acid fried, funniest, craziest album in a time of crazy fucked up, acid fried funny albums.
― Glo-Vember (dog latin), Wednesday, 9 November 2011 00:15 (twelve years ago) link
Same goes for white album. Shit, you wanted the Beatles or the beach boys to take drugs and discover musical nirvana, these are the ones
― Glo-Vember (dog latin), Wednesday, 9 November 2011 00:18 (twelve years ago) link
Beach Boys/Nirvana collaboration in the immediate future
― hotter than a hoochie coochie (CaptainLorax), Wednesday, 9 November 2011 00:21 (twelve years ago) link
'Wind Chimes' has always been a kind of slightly unsettling moment on 'Smile', but on 'Smiley Smile' it's fucking scary.
that was the first song i heard off Smiley Smile: i was in my local record store when they started playing Wind Chimes and it kinda blew my mind. i had spent quite a bit of time with 3 different Smile bootlegs at that point so i just assumed this was another fan mix that i hadnt heard. i asked the clerk what album they were playing and then asked if it was for sale
― sk8 bush (diamonddave85), Wednesday, 9 November 2011 00:28 (twelve years ago) link
I don't get what's "scary" about Wind Chimes.
― The Uncanny Frankie Valley (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 9 November 2011 00:31 (twelve years ago) link
Really? The Smiley Smile version is Scott Walker levels of sinister compared to the Smile version (which I heard much later and found quite strange to be honest). Okay not Scott Walker but 'c-lose your eyes and lean ba-ck/listen to wind-wiiiiind chiiiyiiiimea' is sirenic stuff.
― Glo-Vember (dog latin), Wednesday, 9 November 2011 00:36 (twelve years ago) link
I just... what is sinister about chilling out and listening to some windchimes?
― The Uncanny Frankie Valley (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 9 November 2011 00:37 (twelve years ago) link
like lyrically this song does not deliver the bad vibes
the arrangement is cracked and the melody is eerie but "scary" implies fear of something and I'm not sure what anyone is afraid of in this song
― The Uncanny Frankie Valley (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 9 November 2011 00:38 (twelve years ago) link
I think some people are better than me at trancing out to "wind chimes". I'm inclined to agree with the only "slightly unsettling" descriptor
― hotter than a hoochie coochie (CaptainLorax), Wednesday, 9 November 2011 00:40 (twelve years ago) link
are there some backmasked "I am going to KILL YOU" vocals from Mike Love buried in the mix or something
― The Uncanny Frankie Valley (Shakey Mo Collier), Wednesday, 9 November 2011 00:42 (twelve years ago) link
The more you can jibe with the song the harder it can hit you?
I can't really jibe with Syd Barret stuff so it doesn't hit me at all - but I can imagine why it would hit some people. And I don't even think he's bad or anything. He just feels blah to me. Different folk for different folks
― hotter than a hoochie coochie (CaptainLorax), Wednesday, 9 November 2011 00:46 (twelve years ago) link