Alternate versions of some songs are on the greatest-hits CD 20 Good Vibrations. When referenced, that title is abbreviated 20GV.
1. Sufin' USA (demo) * (1:49) - Here it's just a piano and Brian's voice. The tempo is faster here than in the hit version, and also two keys higher. The hit version is in D, this one in F.
2. Little Surfer Girl * (0:31) - The tempo is moderate, with an organ and drums as the only instruments. Brian sings both the roles of both characters. First, the girl entreats her boyfriend to climb on his surfboard; he then assures her that's just what he's done.
3. Surfin' (rehearsal) * (1:31) - This is a slower, a capella version of the song that comes next. Before the guys start singing, they take time to settle down from chatting.
4. Surfin' (2:28) - This moderately fast song was a minor hit, the one that launched the BBs into the record business. Like in "Surfin' Safari," the narrator asks his girlfriend to come surfing with him. Carl was 14 years old when the group recorded this song; I can certainly hear his then-boyish voice in the backup vocals.
5. Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring (demo) * (2:35) - The tempo is very slow, and the guys sing a capella. "Gentle boy, tender girl" love each other so much that they stick together through all seasons, until they die and are buried together. At the end, if you turn the volume up a lot, you can hear Murry Wilson (father of Brian, Dennis and Carl) speak.
6. Surfin' Safari (2:16; 20GV version 2:04; Beach Classics version 2:03) - The album's title song was the group's first big hit. This song and the next three are fast. In the second verse a few places are mentioned where a lot of people are surfing. During most of the chorus Mike's voice is overpowered by the backups of the other guys. But the last few lines are clear: everyone's learning how to surf, so jump on the bandwagon! This version goes all the way to a final drum roll, whereas the 20GV version fades out. I also have an early demo version on a various-artists compilation titled Beach Classics. Lyrical variations include "some honeys will be makin' the scene" and the narrator wearing "faded blue jeans" in the first verse, and the second verse mentioning surfing's popularity in South Africa.
7. 409 (2:08; 20GV version 1:58) - This was the flip side of the above song; this is the first of three singles consisting of a surf song backed with a car song. The spice in this song is the sound effect of someone starting the 409's engine. After years of saving money, the narrator bought a new car; now that he has it, it's the fastest car in the drag race. Again, in this collection, we hear the actual end of the session rather than the fadeout.
8. Punchline * (1:51) - This instrumental is fast, featuring organ riffs much like the ones we'll hear in the middle of the next song. The key feature, consistent with the title, is laughs galore--loud, hearty laughs that sound half like crying.
9. Surfin' USA (2:28, also on 20GV) - This and the next song have fast tempos. This song mentions various places along both coasts where people have gone surfing. When the song was released, Chuck Berry sued Brian, alleging that the music was copied from Berry's hit "Sweet Little 16." Brian settled out of court that from then on he would credit Berry as the writer of this song and relinquish the royalties to him. At least the label of the 20GV disc credits both as having written the song; after all, Brian wrote the lyrics!
10. Shut Down (1:51, also on 20GV) - This was the B-side of the previous song, the second of the "surf song/car song" singles. In drag-race jargon, to "shut (someone) down" meant to pass someone at lightning speed, to make the other driver appear to be standing still. The cars mentioned in this song are a fuel-injected Stingray, a 413, and a Super-Stock Dodge.
11. Surfer Girl (2:24, also on 20GV; Beach Classics version 2:22) - The tempo is moderately slow. The narrator has fallen in love with the girl after watching her stand on the shore; he asks her if she feels the same way about him. In the third verse he offers to fulfill her dreams. In the demo version from the Beach Classics disc I mentioned earlier, the guitar and drums are quieter, and the tempo is a tiny bit slower than in the hit version.
12. Little Deuce Coupe (1:48, also on 20GV) - This moderately fast song is kind of short. This is the third of the car songs that backed a surf song on a single (this song was the flip of the previous one). The narrator claims that his Deuce Coupe is the fastest car in town, although in the last verse he admits that it's sometimes difficult to steer.
13. In My Room (2:13) - The tempo is slow, in 12/8 time. A bell-like instrument plays on the first beat of some measures. Once the drums enter, they accent every second and fourth beat. The narrator's room is his refuge from his troubles, the place where he feels safe. For most of us, the bedroom would be that haven.
14. Catch A Wave (2:18, also on 20GV) - This song is somewhat faster than moderate. Here the narrator persuades the second person to take a surfing lesson. In the second verse, he mentions that many people said surfing would be only a fad; I find it interesting when he sings, "They'll eat their words with a fork and spoon." The phrase "to eat one's words" is used in its usual sense, yet at the same time is taken literally.
15. The Surfer Moon (2:17) - Instruments in this slow, 12/8 song include a chime. Especially since the guys were a surf group, they used the word "surfer" as an adjective for the moon. In any case, if you fall in love sooner than you thought you would, blame it on the moon!
16. Be True To Your School (2:07; 20GV version 2:05) - The tempo is slow at first, but after the first verse it's moderately fast in the 20GV version, and even faster in this one. The narrator is the star football player of his school, and his girlfriend is a cheerleader. In all three verses he shows patriotism for his school; in the chorus he urges, "Be true to your school, just like you would to your girl or guy." This version, in the key of A, features cheers from women such as "Do it again! Do it again! We like it! We like it!" The 20GV version, in the key of B-flat, doesn't contain those cheers.
17. Spirit Of America (2:20) - This song has a slow, 12/8 tempo. Whereas Charles Lindbergh's airplane had been the "Spirit of St. Louis" in the 1920s, a certain car was the whole country's spirit in the 1960s, the "king of all cars."
18. Little Saint Nick (1:59) - This Christmas tune has a moderate beat. It mentions what Santa does during the REST of the year--exercising on a sled. One of my earliest childhood memories is of listening to a later version of this song by the Muppets.
19. Things We Did Last Summer * (2:27) - This slow, jazzy tune tells of a summer filled with moonlit boat rides, hikes at dawn, tandem-bike rides, prize dolls, and other happy memories. Now that it's winter, the narrator will always look back on those good times he shared with his girlfriend, who has now gone away from him.
20. Fun Fun Fun (2:19, also on 20GV) - This fast song reached #5 in 1964 only because the Beatles held the top four positions on the charts. In the first and second verses, the narrator talks ABOUT the girl who speeds along in her dad's Thunderbird. In the third verse, the narrator talks TO the girl, telling her that she can have fun with him now that she's lost her driving privileges.
21. Don't Worry Baby (2:47) - The tempo is moderate. The song starts with a 3-second, fading-in drum solo. The narrator constantly worries that everything in his life will go wrong, but his girlfriend assures him that everything will be all right.
22. Why Do Fools Fall In Love (2:07) - The tempo is the same here as in the hit version by Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers. The BBs skip the verse about love being a losing game, but they do include the one where the narrator realizes his heart would surely face defeat.
23. The Warmth Of The Sun (2:48) - This song plays at a slow, 12/8 pace. Although the girl doesn't love the narrator like he loves her, he still dreams at night of being held in her arms, and he still has the sun's warmth in his heart. The literal sunrise and sunset don't mean a thing to him.
24. I Get Around (2:13, also on 20GV) - This fast song is about fun in general. The narrator and his friends are well-known wherever they go. They always drive in the narrator's car " 'cause it's never been beat." Does that mean that it's never been in an accident, or it's the fastest car in town, or both?
25. All Summer Long (2:07) - This song, slightly faster than moderate, features a marimba or some similar instrument. A flute plays lead during the middle instrumental. The narrator and his girlfriend have had fun throughout the summer: sitting together in his car at night; wearing T-shirts, shorts and sandals; playing mini-golf--doing just about everything together. Unfortunately, autumn is approaching, so they make the most of their time together while they still have it.
26. Little Honda (1:51) - This song, originally meant to be a commercial for Honda motorcycles, has a fast tempo like a later hit version by the Hondells, but is one key lower. I like how the drums roll as the song fades.
27. Wendy (2:19) - This moderate-tempoed song starts with a few whole-note guitar strums. Then the drums enter and the singing starts. The narrator wakes up one morning to discover that Wendy has left him for another guy without warning. In the second verse he urges her not to fall for the other guy, whose prospects in life are bleak.
28. Don't Back Down (1:53) - This fast song opens with a somewhat slower 3-second drum solo. All surfers know that once they hit the waves, they'd better not chicken out; instead they "grit their teeth" and give it their best.
29. Do You Wanna Dance (2:15, also on 20GV) - This fast song was written and originally sung by Bobby Freeman, a one-hit wonder; his version was even faster. I like the several-second piano solos. The narrator asks the girl if she wants to dance with him, hold him and kiss him throughout the night.
30. When I Grow Up To Be A Man (2:01) - Instruments in this fast song include a harpsichord and a harmonica. As the narrator wonders what his adult life will be like, backup vocals count up ages, starting at 14. As the song fades out, the last number I can hear is 32.
31. Dance Dance Dance (1:59, also on 20GV) - The tempo is fast. Instruments include jingle bells and castanets. The drums play minimally during the verses. In the middle of the third verse, the key goes up a step. After school one afternoon, the narrator and his girlfriend dance to his radio at full volume.
32. Please Let Me Wonder (2:45) - The tempo is moderate. Instruments include a tambourine. The narrator shakes with fear and his heart breaks as he talks to the girl he loves. All his goals revolve around her. What he hopes she'll let him wonder is whether she feels the same way about him.
33. She Knows Me Too Well (2:28) - This song is slightly faster than the previous one. Instruments include a chime. The narrator acknowledges that he has behaved badly toward the woman he loves; maybe he's seeking help in changing his ways. She gets hurt when he looks at other girls, but he apparently cares less when she looks at other guys. Ironically, earlier in the song he says "I get so jealous of the other guys." For a gal who knows him so well, apparently she loves him too much to dump him.
34. Radio Station Jingles/Concert Promo * (1:03) - The guys sing a capella and very slowly, mentioning radio stations KYA and KEWB, and the DJ known as Murray the K. Then Carl speaks, inviting fans to a concert.
35. Hushabye (live)/Happy Birthday to Four Freshmen * (3:56) - This track begins with an excerpt from the concert promoted in the previous track. I also have a version of "Hushabye" by Jay and the Americans. The tempo in this version is moderately fast. Fans scream throughout, though louder in some parts than in others. At 2:26 is a false ending followed by some slow scat singing. When the guys really finish playing, they thank the audience, telling how wonderful they are. The live portion ends at 2:55; after 7 seconds of silence, the guys prepare in the studio to sing a very slow, a capella version of "Happy Birthday" to commemorate the anniversary of the forming of one of their favorite groups, the Four Freshmen.
1. California Girls (2:36, also on 20GV) - This moderate-tempoed song features a bell-like instrument. The narrator loves the fashions, accents, etc., of girls in various areas of the country; he wishes they all could live in California.
2. Help Me Rhonda (2:47; 20GV version 3:08) - I like this version (the 45 RPM single version) better than the other one, an LP track with the title originally spelled "Ronda." The single version is also the one I hear on the radio more often. In the LP version, a little instrumental plays before the singing starts. One of the lines in the second verse goes, "But she met another guy who got between us and it ruined our plan." A harmonica is featured in the middle instrumental. The chorus repeats and fades. In the single version, the singing starts right away, a tambourine playing on the first two lines; the drums enter at the third line. Here "ruined" is replaced with "shattered." A piano plays during the middle instrumental. The chorus does not repeat the final time; instead an instrumental plays as the song fades. But the tempo is the same in both versions--moderately fast. The narrator lost his fiancee to another guy. Then he met R(h)onda, whom he wants to take the place of his former fiancee.
3. Then I Kissed Her (2:14) - This song also has a moderate tempo. The original version was sung by the Crystals and titled "Then He Kissed Me." During the first verse and the fading sequence, the regular drums play the first beat of each measure; during the rest of the song they play the even-numbered beats. Clicking drums are also featured. In this version, the guy meets the girl's parents and is the one who almost cries with joy. But in both cases, the guy is the one giving the kiss.
4. And Your Dream Comes True (1:03) - Here's another very slow, a capella piece. It's late at night, the girl is sleepy, and she wishes her boyfriend could stay. In just one more summer, her dream (probably to be with him again) will come true.
5. The Little Girl I Once Knew (2:36) - This moderately fast song features a tambourine and chimes. The narrator didn't have romantic feelings for the girl when they were children, but now that they've grown, she's no longer the girl he used to know, and he schemes to steal her from her boyfriend. I like how, when the verses end, Mike says in a low voice, "Look out, babe!" and "Split, man!"
6. Barbara Ann (2:04; 20GV version 2:17) - The tempo is fast, but slightly slower than the original version by the Regents. Dean Torrence of Jan and Dean sang the lead vocal, over the BBs, their ladies, and other friends. They laugh during the instrumental and the verse following it. There's sure a party going on here; Barbara Ann has got the narrator--and everyone, for that matter--"rockin' and a-rollin', rockin' and a-reelin' "! This version is the same as the 20GV version except that the latter fades out later.
7. Ruby Baby * (2:10) - This version of a Dion hit was an outtake from the Party! LP, which also featured the previous song. Instruments include a tambourine and a harmonica. The tempo is initially somewhat slower than moderate; after the first two lines of the first verse, it speeds up to moderately fast. During the interlude between the second and third verses, the guys sink "oink oink" and make other animal noises.
8. KOMA * (0:10) - Here's another radio station for which the BBs provided a theme tune: simply, "Wonderful KOMA."
9. Sloop John B (2:55, also on 20GV) - At first I thought the title was "I Wanna Go Home." The tempo is slightly faster than moderate. I like the bell-like instrument, which is especially audible during the first few seconds. Also during the first few seconds, if you listen closely, you can hear what's most likely edit noise. During the first verse and most of the third, Brian sang lead; during the second verse and the last line of the third, Mike sang lead. The narrator wants to go home after a weekend sea cruise has turned into his worst nightmare. I also have a version of this song by Tom Fogerty.
10. Wouldn't It Be Nice (2:23, also on 20GV) - Two guitars play ethereally for the first 6 seconds. Most of the time the tempo is moderate; just before the final verse it slows down, and once that verse is over the original tempo resumes and the song fades. Brian sang lead on this song. The narrator and his girlfriend wish that they were older so they could get married and spend each night together.
11. You Still Believe In Me (2:30) - This slow song features a piano and chimes. The theme here is similar to that in "She Knows Me Too Well," except that now he's singing TO the girl. Someone else would've left him after the way he's behaved, but this gal's faith in him is strong.
12. God Only Knows (2:48, also on 20GV) - In this moderate-tempoed song, the drums are soft. Other featured instruments are an organ and jingle bells. In the first verse, the narrator says he may not always love his girlfriend, but he assures her that he'll stay with her forever. Then in the second verse he tells her that no one on earth knows what would become of him should she ever leave him. Carl sang lead.
13. Hang On To Your Ego * (3:13) - This is an alterate version of a song that was originally released as "I Know There's An Answer." The tempo is moderate. Instruments include an organ and a tambourine. Some people isolate themselves from the world as much as possible, and almost anything one could say would make such people defensive.
14. I Just Wasn't Made For These Times (3:12) - This moderately slow song reflects the stress Brian was feeling at the time. "They say I got brains, but they ain't doin' me no good," he laments. I suppose at one time or another, we all feel that we should have been born in a different era.
15. Pet Sounds (2:22) - This instrumental has a moderate pace and features various instruments, including a tambourine, a scratchy percussion, and a guitar. This was the title composition for an LP that also included the previous six songs and the next one.
16. BRIAN WILSON SOLO RECORDING: Caroline, No (2:52) - This slow song opens with a 6-second drums solo. Apparently, the narrator loves Caroline and now she's found someone new. She's cut her hair off and no longer emits the "happy glow" that he used to see in her. She used to tell him her feelings for him would never change, but now they have, and he shudders to see a good love die. At 2:15 the song fades out, only to return with the sounds of a train whistling and Brian's dog barking.
17. Good Vibrations (3:36, also on 20GV) - Carl sang lead. The tempo is fast most of the time, but it does slow down temporarily near the end. Featured instruments include an organ, jingle bells, a clarinet, and one called a therimen. The narrator gets "good vibrations" from sitting or lying next to his girlfriend in the meadow.
18. Our Prayer * (1:07) - Here's yet another song that the guys sing a capella, very slowly. "Ahs," "ooos" and "hmmms," that's all there is. This and the next three tracks were all outtakes from an album titled Smile that was never released.
19. Heroes And Villains (LP version) (2:56) - The tempo varies a lot, from the initial moderately fast speed, to a moderately slow, swing pace, to the fast fading sequence. Instruments and sound effects include a piano, a harmonica and whistling. The narrator has spent such a long time in a town full of good guys and bad guys that back in his home city people believe him to be dead. In this version, the narrator notes that at age of "three score and five" (65), he still knows how to survive with the good guys and the bad guys.
20. Heroes And Villains (sessions) * (6:40) - The guys played around with the speed a lot. Parts I find notable include the low, villainous chanting at the beginning; a horn solo; the repetition of "Doo doo doo, heroes and villains"; low, throaty voices that resemble a whale clearing its throat; those same voices chanting, "The heroes, the heroes, the heroes and villains"; and the same fading sequence that closed the previous track. The wacky lyric "Bicycle rider, just see what you've done" amuses me, since I ride a bike myself. Not that a bike rider is capable of doing as much damage as a car or truck!
21. Wonderful * (2:02) - This slow song features a harpsichord. Mystery shrouds the girl this song is about, but at least there's nothing more wonderful for a girl than to be loved by her parents--except perhaps, once she grows up, to have a loving boyfriend or husband.
22. Cabinessence (3:32) - Instruments include a piano, a harmonica, and a tambourine. Some parts of this song are moderately slow, soft and swing; they note how nice it would be to have a cabin, a "home on the range." Others are moderately fast with loud scat singing. From 2:25 on, the the tempo is moderately fast, in 3/4 time. And yes, I have seen the Grand Coulee Dam before.
23. Wind Chimes * (2:32) - The tempo is moderately slow. A xylophone (or similar instrument) plays softly until 1:09, when other instruments enter and the guys scat-sing. A fast piano solo lasts from 1:31 till fadeout. This track and the next five were all from the Smile sessions.
24. Heroes And Villains (intro) * (0:35) - This sounds very much like what you'd hear when playing an arcade game set in the Old West.
25. Do You Like Worms * (4:00) - No, I don't. But if I were a fish I would. Most of the time, the tempo is somewhat slower than moderate. I don't hear worms mentioned anywhere in the lyrics, but instead the guys invoke Plymouth Rock to roll over. Some parts of this piece sound familiar; maybe "...Worms" was the working title of "Heroes And Villains."
26. Vegetables * (3:28) - Most of the time, the tempo is fast. The narrator loves to eat veggies. If his girlfriend brought a bunch home, he'd beg her for a carrot. But to him she's the best "vegetable" of them all; her love must be just as good for him as the literal vegetables are. Other amusing moments include a tennis shoe flying off his foot when he kicks a ball, and the time he ate not a candy bar, but its wrapper! The tempo is slow when the guys sing "Sleep a lot, eat a lot," etc. The moderately fast fading sequence contains scat singing.
27. I Love To Say Da Da * (1:32) - For the first 25 seconds, the tempo is moderate, with instruments including a popping percussion. The rest of the song is somewhat faster than moderate, with the guys singing "wah wah ho wah" over and over.
28. Surf's Up (alternate version) * (3:38) - Initially, the measures count at a fast pace as the lyrics elicit images including a diamond necklace, an opera glass, a trumpeter swan, and columnated ruins. At the lyric "Dove nested towers," the speed slows to slightly slower than moderate. For the fading sequence, the original tempo resumes. The lyrics have little to do with surfing, but the title is a nice look back on the BBs' heyday. In this version, the only instrument is a piano. Maybe this was a "raw" recording over which other instruments and background vocals were dubbed later to make the version that eventually was released.
29. With Me Tonight (2:17) - This song has a moderate swing tempo. For the first 26 seconds the guys sing a capella. In other parts, they sing soft and low while an organ plays. This is a nice song to dance to; I love the repetition of the line "On and on she (or you) go, dum be doo." This line seems at first to conflict with the title. But even though the girl has gone away from the narrator physically, she's still with him in spirit.
1. Heroes And Villains (45 RPM single version) (3:35) - The tempo varies a lot--anywhere from fast with drums to slow with only vocals. This version's fading sequence consists of repetition of the lines "Heroes and villains, just see what you've done."
2. Darlin' (2:12) - This song, somewhat faster than moderate, features a tambourine. Until the narrator met the girl he's singing to, he "was livin' like half a man" and seemed incapable of love. But now she lifts him up when he's down and gives him valuable love every night.
3. Wild Honey (2:36) - The tempo is slightly faster than moderate. Instruments include a piano, a tambourine, and an organ. The screaming vocals reflect the narrator's excitement over his girlfriend, who is as sweet as wild honey to him.
4. Let The Wind Blow (2:21) - This song has a moderately fast, 3/4 tempo. The narrator doesn't care if the wind blows or not, if the bees make honey or not, as long as the girl he loves can be in his life forever.
5. Can't Wait Too Long (3:51) - Among instruments in this moderately slow song are a tambourine and a piano. Within the first minute, the guys sing "I miss you darlin', I miss you so hard," but little else other than scat singing. Starting at 1:15 I hear "doo doo doo" scat singing followed by a combination of singing and speaking. From 2:05 on, vocals are mostly repetition of "Wait too long, can't wait too long, baby."
6. Cool Cool Water (1:11) - This swing, moderately fast tune features finger snaps. Nothing like a cup of ice-cold water to keep cool on a hot summer day!
7. Meant For You (0:37) - The only instrument in this slow tune is a piano. The narrator feels peace of mind and heart because he has a woman he loves, to whom he sings. His peaceful feelings are meant for her.
8. Friends (2:31) - This song has a 3/4 tempo somewhat faster than moderate. Instruments include a harmonica. The narrator sings to a buddy he's known practically all his life. When they were younger, they helped each other cope with depression, untrue girlfriends, and other trials. The narrator even managed to talk his buddy's parents into letting the buddy keep his long hair. Now that the narrator and his buddy are grown, he hopes they can stay friends for eternity.
9. Little Bird (1:58) - This tune is fast, approximately the pace at which a bird would fly. The narrator wakes up one morning to hear a bird singing; that bird's song makes his life a little easier to cope with. Later, he goes out to his back yard to pick a fruit from a tree, but the bird is gone. As good as the fruit tastes, he really would like the bird to come back. So the guy decides to mow the lawn while he waits for his little friend.
10. Busy Doin' Nothin' (3:03) - The moderate pace is appropriate for the narrator's lazy day at home. I like how he gives the listener directions to his home; and later, how he racks his brain for a long-lost friend's phone number, dials it only to find no answer, and ends up writing a letter.
11. Do It Again (2:25) - This song, slightly faster than moderate, features handclaps and a tambourine. Just like the characters they play reminisce about good times they used to have with surfing, cars and pretty girls (and hope someday they can meet again for further such fun), the BBs look back on their heyday when songs about such topics were popular.
12. I Can Hear Music (2:38) - Yep, I sure can, and it's louder than all the previous songs on this disc at the same volume setting. The pace is moderate and instruments include jingle bells. When his girlfriend is near, the narrator hears music that drowns out the city noise. My favorite part of this song lasts from 1:50 to 2:05, when the tempo swings and speeds up slightly; this part features handclaps.
13. I Went To Sleep (1:36) - This song is somewhat faster than moderate, in 3/4 time. The soft playing of a clarinet matches the sleepy mood. Early one morning, the narrator falls asleep in a park while its grass is watered by sprinklers (I'm glad he didn't drown). In the second verse he goes home, and the soft music on his radio induces another nap. In the last verse, goes to the park again, watches a bird fly away, and falls asleep once more.
14. Time To Get Alone (2:41) - This song plays in 3/4 time also but is slightly faster than the previous song. Sometimes, when the narrator and his girlfriend are together in public, they will see love in each other's eyes. Just by looking at each other in a certain way, they can tell each other that it's time to find a private place to go to.
15. Breakaway (2:53) - Instruments in this moderate-paced song include a tambourine and castanets. The narrator, whom love always passes by, longs to break free of loneliness. Ironically, this song was written by Murry Wilson, from whom Brian struggled to make his own "breakaway."
16. Cotton Fields (3:00) - I also have a version by folk group the Highwaymen and one by Creedence Clearwater Revival; my favorite version is the Creedence one. In the BBs' version, Al sang lead. The tempo is moderately fast. This version has a lyrical variation about the cotton balls rotting: "Who cares if them cotton balls get rotten? I got you, baby, who needs cotton?" A "warn ya/California" couplet is also unique to this version.
17. San Miguel (2:26) - This moderate-paced song features castanets. The narrator has found just the place where life is good and women are available: San Miguel, Mexico.
18. Games Two Can Play * (2:01) - Instruments in this fast song include a tambourine and an organ. This song was inspired by the Joe South hit "Games People Play." The narrator even specifically says that he hears that song on the radio one night and likes it. He prefers 2-person games over solitary ones.
19. I Just Got My Pay * (2:20) - The tempo is moderate during the verses, then speeds up somewhat for the chorus. The first 14 seconds consist of just drums and vocals, as does the time from 1:09 to 1:24. Now that the narrator has received his paycheck, he prefers not put it in a savings account, but rather to "spend it while it's here." Following five days of work, two days of rest rejuvenate him for the next work week. An alarm clock rings just before the second verse, when a new Monday begins. The narrator, having proven valuable to his boss for quite some time, plans to ask for a raise.
20. This Whole World (1:57) - Chimes and bells are among the instruments in this moderate-speed song. The narrator is quite the optimist; he sees "lots of different people everywhere". Indeed, diversity makes the world interesting. Everywhere he goes, he sees love.
21. Add Some Music (3:33) - This song, slightly slower than moderate, opens with a soft 4-second guitar solo. Country, folk, rock, blues, or gospel, whatever it may be, we hear it every day, almost everywhere we go. So the guys entreat us, "Add some music to your day."
22. Forever (2:40) - This moderately slow song features a tambourine. It was written by Dennis, who (with Brian and Carl) endured abuse as a child from father Murry. The lyrics may seem at first like the words of a guy trying to please his girl, but it's actually an attempt by Dennis at reconciliation with his dad.
23. Our Sweet Love (2:38) - The tempo is slightly faster than moderate. The narrator hopes his relationship with the girl can last forever, and he wants to spice it up with incense, flowers, and many other delights.
24. H.E.L.P. Is On The Way * (2:30) - The tempo is moderate. The background vocals are all in the right speaker. The narrator wakes up one morning and is dismayed to find the fat figure he sees in his mirror. He even borrows a lyric from Kenny Rogers: "Oh what condition my condition was in." From that moment on, he swears off steaks, sweets, hamburgers and hot dogs and converts to a diet of organic foods. Once he adopts his new diet, he promotes it to others in similar situations, promising that help is headed their way. Instead of a fadeout, I hear the end of the session.
25. 4th of July * (2:44) - This slow song opens with an 11-second organ solo. Of the patriotism that enabled America to gain its freedom, the narrator laments, "Where has it gone?" Dawn's early light, spacious skies, stripes and bright stars, bombs bursting in air, and other patriotic images are abundant in this song. For the last half-minute, a flute and a piano play a soft duet.
26. Long Promised Road (3:27) - This song, slightly faster than moderate, has soft verses and a loud chorus. Here we revisit the theme of breaking away from the grip of adversity: knocking down roadblocks and thowing off shackles. The narrator is now overcoming enough adversity to travel the road to success that was promised to him long ago.
27. Disney Girls (4:08) - This slow song is my favorite tune to waltz to. Bruce Johnston wrote and sang lead on this song. The narrator has enjoyed being with pretty girls in Disneyland, but now he has one girl with whom he goes steady. She's from a small town, apparently near Massacusetts' Cape Cod, where he has spent summers. He wants to marry her and have a child with her.
28. Surf's Up (4:11) - Here's the version of an earlier-discussed song that has more instruments, including drums, horns and chimes. The fading sequence is longer, with "cha cha" scat vocals in addition to the "ahs" we heard before. It's interesting that the raw version was track 28 on the second disc, and this version has the same track number on the third disc.
29. Till I Die (2:30) - This moderately slow song features an organ. The narrator uses a few metaphors for himself: "a cork on the ocean," "a rock in a landslide" and "a leaf on a windy day." During the verse containing the last, I even hear whistling that resembles the wind. Rhetorically, he asks how long the wind will blow; then he answers, "Until I die."
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