ithaka

5y

did you guys know neil young is featured on al jardines solo album on a remake of his californi-a song from the holland album and that is also features crosby and stills on the harmonies?

fits just like a glove, like it was handcrafted for neil and his boys - therefor we do indeed have neil crosby and stills covering the bbs

@RVI @Trouble @Elric @Jerry_Seinfeld @Womanpuncher69 @Sir_Swagalot @Noir @provider @KoGoYos @sentient_sherm_bag

rvi

5y

the album also features john stamos on bongos

rvi

5y

the album also features john stamos on bongos

ithaka

5y

wish we had more stuff like that

ithaka

5y

upon release of 15 big ones, in the summer of 1976 it was a given that the “comeback” album of the beach boys was gonna be a hit record: a preceding top 5 single (a first in forever) and with major coverage in press and TV on top of sell outs concerts around the USA including two major venues in cali just days prior released the album, add to all that the marketing of the return of brian in the band, this album couldn’t flop.

and it didnt: it was still staying in the top ten billboard weeks after its release which was massive in the bbs lord since their albums in the us at least has flopped for a decade by now, was it a massive critic success tho? no.

anyone who was long awaiting for brians spark of genius would’ve been let down by this intentionally under produced record that is half stacked with old covers - the sad reality being that the later was actually brians idea, on top of making it under produced too: pet sounds it is not.

the cover band photos ironically captures that disconnection within the band, notice mike businessman style beard all trimmed and clean collar while brian definitely just got out of bed and didn’t take any shower - we now can put together as to why band photos have been kept off of front covers of their recent previous releases.

these band photo shots was taken by dana abrams, volleyball playing friend (rock and roll!) of dean torrence of jan & dean who was the one doing the artwork of the album, about 20 shots photos were taken at dana’s studio and each band member picked their favorite one of their own.

the actual cover and package has been in discussion for a minute within the beach boys camp and the inclusions of the band members photos within what seems olympics rings has long been the subject of debates, dean torrence recalls: ”i had a very solid relationship with ed thrasher at warner’s art department and mike love had pointed out it was olympic’s year and noted the symbol was five interlocking rings and that there is five beach boys, sounded like a cool idea to me so i came with the logo, design and title: i thought 15 big ones was more humble than “15 years of golden greats” which was warner’s initial idea to acknowledge the band’s 15th anniversary and i suggested to put 15 songs on the album.”

reportedly “glow crescent glow” and “i wanna pick you up” (later done for “love you”) were both attempted for the album hence the album title proposal of “pick you up at 8” - here are some songs recorded during the sessions or attempted that didn’t make it:

• come go with me (later done for “MIU album”)
• honkin’ down the highway (later done for “love you”)
• on broadway
• mony mony
• michael row the boat ashore
• alternate version of rock’n’roll music
• shake rattle & roll
• secret love
• he’s so fine
• sea cruise
• runnin bear
• let’s dance
• workin’ in a coal mine

dean adds: ”i always wanted to create a logo for the beach boys that looked like neon, like you would see at a typical hamburger joint. i had always loved the bob’s big boy logo (a usa based hamburger restaurant), it seemed like a perfect fit to me. the bbs + bob’s big boy. a very talented air- brush artist named jim evans executed the design. he did an awesome job...”

obviously the torrence designed logo has followed the band over the years, it worked back then because the 50s were becoming hip again: a time were innocence was a thing much before the war, it’s something that always happens in pop culture much like there has been 80s revival or 90s revival lately. but the logo sticked around also because well dean didn’t charge or got a copyright for the design since he thought it was just part of the artwork, obviously mike love thought otherwise... the man sure comes up with s***ty ass creative art idea but sure knows how to steal. it is curious to note we still don’t know how much it has costed wb to get to use the olympics rings.

what’s curious is if you turn the vinyl around you get a full list of who does what on every song of the album - something normally relegated to either the inner spread or the featured insert, not sure it’s a good idea, sounds like it would throw people off

instead when you open the vinyl and where you would usually find those credits notes you find this black and white montage of the band:

”i did the collage in the inside of the package. i asked all five of the guys to pick out some of their favorite photos, and i was even allowed to throw in (an) official jan & dean fanclub card. plus, i snuck in a little surf city reference. nobody caught it. i figured fans like candid pictures...” dean torrence.

as some will say some of the photos are old, but that doesn’t hide much - it’s a 15th anniversary celebration album themed so it makes sense, note that you can spot in davy jones!

ithaka

5y

upon release of 15 big ones, in the summer of 1976 it was a given that the “comeback” album of the beach boys was gonna be a hit record: a preceding top 5 single (a first in forever) and with major coverage in press and TV on top of sell outs concerts around the USA including two major venues in cali just days prior released the album, add to all that the marketing of the return of brian in the band, this album couldn’t flop.

and it didnt: it was still staying in the top ten billboard weeks after its release which was massive in the bbs lord since their albums in the us at least has flopped for a decade by now, was it a massive critic success tho? no.

anyone who was long awaiting for brians spark of genius would’ve been let down by this intentionally under produced record that is half stacked with old covers - the sad reality being that the later was actually brians idea, on top of making it under produced too: pet sounds it is not.

the cover band photos ironically captures that disconnection within the band, notice mike businessman style beard all trimmed and clean collar while brian definitely just got out of bed and didn’t take any shower - we now can put together as to why band photos have been kept off of front covers of their recent previous releases.

these band photo shots was taken by dana abrams, volleyball playing friend (rock and roll!) of dean torrence of jan & dean who was the one doing the artwork of the album, about 20 shots photos were taken at dana’s studio and each band member picked their favorite one of their own.

the actual cover and package has been in discussion for a minute within the beach boys camp and the inclusions of the band members photos within what seems olympics rings has long been the subject of debates, dean torrence recalls: ”i had a very solid relationship with ed thrasher at warner’s art department and mike love had pointed out it was olympic’s year and noted the symbol was five interlocking rings and that there is five beach boys, sounded like a cool idea to me so i came with the logo, design and title: i thought 15 big ones was more humble than “15 years of golden greats” which was warner’s initial idea to acknowledge the band’s 15th anniversary and i suggested to put 15 songs on the album.”

reportedly “glow crescent glow” and “i wanna pick you up” (later done for “love you”) were both attempted for the album hence the album title proposal of “pick you up at 8” - here are some songs recorded during the sessions or attempted that didn’t make it:

• come go with me (later done for “MIU album”)
• honkin’ down the highway (later done for “love you”)
• on broadway
• mony mony
• michael row the boat ashore
• alternate version of rock’n’roll music
• shake rattle & roll
• secret love
• he’s so fine
• sea cruise
• runnin bear
• let’s dance
• workin’ in a coal mine

dean adds: ”i always wanted to create a logo for the beach boys that looked like neon, like you would see at a typical hamburger joint. i had always loved the bob’s big boy logo (a usa based hamburger restaurant), it seemed like a perfect fit to me. the bbs + bob’s big boy. a very talented air- brush artist named jim evans executed the design. he did an awesome job...”

obviously the torrence designed logo has followed the band over the years, it worked back then because the 50s were becoming hip again: a time were innocence was a thing much before the war, it’s something that always happens in pop culture much like there has been 80s revival or 90s revival lately. but the logo sticked around also because well dean didn’t charge or got a copyright for the design since he thought it was just part of the artwork, obviously mike love thought otherwise... the man sure comes up with s***ty ass creative art idea but sure knows how to steal. it is curious to note we still don’t know how much it has costed wb to get to use the olympics rings.

what’s curious is if you turn the vinyl around you get a full list of who does what on every song of the album - something normally relegated to either the inner spread or the featured insert, not sure it’s a good idea, sounds like it would throw people off

instead when you open the vinyl and where you would usually find those credits notes you find this black and white montage of the band:

”i did the collage in the inside of the package. i asked all five of the guys to pick out some of their favorite photos, and i was even allowed to throw in (an) official jan & dean fanclub card. plus, i snuck in a little surf city reference. nobody caught it. i figured fans like candid pictures...” dean torrence.

as some will say some of the photos are old, but that doesn’t hide much - it’s a 15th anniversary celebration album themed so it makes sense, note that you can spot in davy jones!

ithaka

5y

look at the contributions “no one gives a f*** about” according to yours truly

@Womanpuncher69 @grimes @DonutHole

ithaka

5y

@RVI youre going into the 2012 album?

im working on what could’ve been a 90s comeback album using songs they made for the attempted comeback actual album but also using other material from around that time to fill in and make the best alternative timeline

im trying cut down bc there’s lot of great material to play with and ion like albums over 10 songs

but if you’re interested for it ill make a playlist itt for it

rvi

5y

ye gonna listen soon

if you insist there is really some great material for potential 90s comeback thing id peep some

ithaka

5y

trust me

well ik u don’t because we haven’t seen eye to eye bbs material wise

but i think uve seen by now some of the great stuff they leave shelved

rvi

5y

yeah great stuff shelved for sure..but the aspect im more concerned about is "90s"

Eyesonthesmile

5y

around also because well dean didn’t charge or got a copyright for the design since he thought it was just part of the artwork, obviously mike love thought otherwise... the man sure comes up with s***ty ass creative art idea but sure knows how to steal. it is curious to note we still don’t know how much it has costed wb to get to use the Olympic rings

Typical Mike Love

Amazing read brother 🙏🙏🙏💯

ithaka

5y

ty 💙💜

Like a Camillimane

5y

surfer girl is such an atmospheric song

ithaka

5y

my fav covers of it:

@RVI