ITโS BEEN A big year so far for the oldest โboysโ in rockโnโroll, with their first โ and almost fatally flawed โ album in decades, a huge tour, and now, two new compilations: the single disc Greatest Hits, and the two-CD Greatest Hits: 50 Big Ones.
But probably of more consequence to hi-fi lovers are plans to release new remasters of 12 of the groupโs studio albums.
But hang on a minute, didnโt we already get some remasters just a few years back? Well, yes, and I thought they sounded pretty good, too. But fans will be asked to fork out one more time for the discs (and digital) releases, most of which feature both mono and stereo mixes.
For the record (ha-ha) these are: Surfinโ USA, Surfer Girl, Little Deuce Coupe, Shut Down Volume 2, All Summer Long, The Beach Boys Today!, Summer Days (And Summer Nights!), Beach Boys Party!, Pet Sounds, Smiley Smile, Sunflower (stereo mix only) and Surfโs Up (stereo mix only).
Weโre told that these releases mark the stereo debut of Smiley Smile and Beach Boys Party!, while The Beach Boys Today! and Summer Days (And Summer Nights!) โare being released in stereo for the first time in their entiretyโ. This means weโll get to hear classics like โGood Vibrationsโ, โHelp Me, Rhondaโ, โI Get Aroundโ and others in stereo for the first time.
Whatโs wrong with this picture? Well, just when The Beatles realised that their earlier albums sounded best the way they were recorded and intended to be consumed โ in mono โ someone has decided on a bit of reverse psychology for the Beach Boys. Itโs weird because Brian Wilson is famously deaf in one ear, and was only ever interested in mono as a consequence of this affliction.
As for whether the Beach Boys albums will sound any better than the original issues, or the HDCD ones, or the first batch of remasters, only a detailed A/B listening session on good gear will provide an answer.
But one thingโs for sure: for everyone except for the most dedicated disciples of the BBs, one of the greatest hits compilations together with Pet Sounds, Smiley Smile and possibly a couple of later albums (depending on personal preference) will probably do.
The groupโs early stuff sounds clunky and uninspired to these ears, and over the years, Iโve grown to love their least successful albums from the late โ60s and early โ70s. These include Wild Honey (โ67, which isnโt mentioned as a remaster), Carl & The Passions (โ72, ditto) and Holland (โ73, ditto). Hopefully, re-rubs of these great albums will be announced in due course. GARY STEEL
Beach Boys Remastered… Again
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