My long overdue follow up to the other members "where did your musical influences come from" mix that Lazy suggested we all put together. I had a lot of fun sifting thru my record collection and putting the pieces together of my musical journey.
Growing up the radio was always on while my mom did housework and I played around. Top 40 pop mostly. We had one of those old stand up all-in-one wooden stereos similar to the one if the background here. They bought me a Disney album after we visited Disney Land in CA when I was really young. I recall playing the Tiki Room song over and over again. As I got older my uncle bequeathed me with some of his 45's and The Beatles, Beach Boys, Troggs, Chicago got regular playing time.
My folks eventually upgraded to one of those monster stereo cabinets that I wasn't allowed to touch. Dad was into classical and some jazz. He had the Taste of Honey LP, which for me was like Playboy magazine. Mom loved her Streisand and Broadway tunes. I believe my love of female artists and Prog Rock probably came from that mixture.
When I had a paper route and started making my own dough I would save up for records. Started with 45's of songs I liked from the radio and eventually graduated to albums. The first 3 I bought, and still have to this day, were Desolation Boulevard by Sweet, Band of the Run and Alice Cooper's Greatest hits. I really got into Cooper, started buying all his stuff much to my parent's chagrin.
In Jr High music was everywhere, we are talking mid 70's here. My friend and I would go to the department store and spend hours in the record department. We often would buy records without knowing anything about the band, cause the cover or the band looked cool. That is how I ended up with my first Todd Rundgren album, Utopia's Oops Wrong Planet. Something about his music spoke to me on some level and my life long journey as a Todd fan began.
It was during these years and many a "discovery" record buy that my friend and I started down the road to Progressive Rock. He had an older brother who played guitar. That guy had a great collection of vinyl. He was a big Steve Howe fan and turned us on to Yes. We would hang out in his room for hours playing records. I loved those days.
When high school came around all the kids developed their musical identities. Most were into the popular stuff of the time, Talking Heads, Springsteen, The Cars, stuff like that. I gravitated to tunes off the beaten path. Nobody in my class was listening to Rundgren, very few were into Zappa. King Crimson was virtually unknown. So I developed my own identity thru what was in my wheel house.
Putting this mix together really gave me an understanding of why I like what I like. And finding Radio Paradise later in life solidifies that. I'm always hearing things here that appeal to me and still feel like it's my own, as very rarely do I come across somebody who knows RP. Now if William would only put some Todd into the rotation....
That was funny, but man does Joisey get a bad rap from The Sopranos and Jersey Shore. I lived in the North-West section and you'd be surprised at the outdoor community there. Lots of hiking, fishing, hunting, farming. But if you've ever driven the Jersey Turnpike you can see where the reputation fits to a wife-beater T.
Location: Really deep in the heart of South California Gender:
Posted:
Apr 9, 2025 - 5:04am
ColdMiser wrote:
March Mix left the still Federally Funded US Postal Service yesterday. Expect in your mail box soon. SteelyD's copy on delayed send, hopefully this weekend.
It is the Much Anticipated, Long Awaited "Influence" mix that Lazy8 requested we all do back in 2023, 24 maybe....anyway I should have gotten it out last year but Buying/Selling a house and moving to a new state kind of got in the way.
Howsa about posting your comments so we can comment?
March Mix left the still Federally Funded US Postal Service yesterday. Expect in your mail box soon. SteelyD's copy on delayed send, hopefully this weekend.
It is the Much Anticipated, Long Awaited "Influence" mix that Lazy8 requested we all do back in 2023, 24 maybe....anyway I should have gotten it out last year but Buying/Selling a house and moving to a new state kind of got in the way.
Whew.
I'm glad you found it entertaining.
And thanks for the compliment.
I've read a few different books on the story behind these guys.
One mentioned Brian went out on his own to record "In My Room" because of all the bickering that was going on within the group at that time.
When he had them listen to it when he was done, they got together, and decided they should behave better because Brian could go do this all by himself.
I still own my copy of "Sloop John B" on a 45. I bought with my lunch money back in the day when it came out.
I also read that, for the recording of "Cool, Cool Water", Brian drained his swimming pool and recorded it in the deep end to get the right sound. "It's such a gas!"
That guy...
this is going to be my go to shower music from now on
i mean who doesn't love the beach boys?
good job
Location: Really deep in the heart of South California Gender:
Posted:
Mar 14, 2025 - 9:54am
ColdMiser wrote:
Like Marty, I'm not the biggest Beach Boys fan on the block. Surfing on the East Coast isn't as popular as the West Coast. That being said it's a little ironic that one of the very first records I owned was a 45 my uncle bequeathed to me with Sloop John B as the B side. I must have played that record hundreds of times when I was a wee lad. (spoiler alert, this tune included on my upcoming, much overdue What Influenced You mix that Marty asked us to all do). I did see them live once in the 80's and wasn't impressed.
But I have to say this mix was very eye opening. And I know you were worried how it would be received. I think it's TOP SHELF stuff! Had headphones on when listening and I could have swore I caught a buzz. The songs that lit up my senses were as follows:
In My Room - Just great Acapella here. Should be required of all High School Choirs.
God Only Knows - This song encapsulates Brian's Genius and Wow is it unbelievable stripped down like this!
Sloop John B - Memory Lane Re-Paved
Darlin - Very Heartfelt
Do It Again - This one put me on the beach for sure
Cool, Cool Water - Favorite on the mix, totally new to me. Quite Unique
Cabinessence - Beach Boys? Really? So different than anything they are known for
Surf's Up - Superb version of this, it's like a whole new song
Long Promised Road - Inspirational
The Trader (both versions) - Sounded like 2 totally different tunes
As I said, wasn't the biggest fan of BBs. But recently I've picked up some used vinyl of theirs that I came upon here and there. Surf's Up, Pet Sounds and Summer Days. Now that my ears have been opened I'm going to keep an eye out for some of these other records. Especially the Sunflower LP. I'm glad you took a chance on this one, it paid off! I think everyone enjoyed the hell out of it. Well Done!
Whew.
I'm glad you found it entertaining.
And thanks for the compliment.
I've read a few different books on the story behind these guys.
One mentioned Brian went out on his own to record "In My Room" because of all the bickering that was going on within the group at that time.
When he had them listen to it when he was done, they got together, and decided they should behave better because Brian could go do this all by himself.
I still own my copy of "Sloop John B" on a 45. I bought with my lunch money back in the day when it came out.
I also read that, for the recording of "Cool, Cool Water", Brian drained his swimming pool and recorded it in the deep end to get the right sound. "It's such a gas!"
That guy...
Location: Really deep in the heart of South California Gender:
Posted:
Mar 14, 2025 - 9:31am
Steely_D wrote:
I've seen Brian a couple of times (and he's done now - he's way too fragile) and it always galled me when Blondie comes out of the back to stand in front of Brian and do "Sail on Sailor" and then take the applause and move to the back. Dude. You're not Brian. Don't stand in front of him. Only Mike Love gets to do that..
Like Marty, I'm not the biggest Beach Boys fan on the block. Surfing on the East Coast isn't as popular as the West Coast. That being said it's a little ironic that one of the very first records I owned was a 45 my uncle bequeathed to me with Sloop John B as the B side. I must have played that record hundreds of times when I was a wee lad. (spoiler alert, this tune included on my upcoming, much overdue What Influenced You mix that Marty asked us to all do). I did see them live once in the 80's and wasn't impressed.
But I have to say this mix was very eye opening. And I know you were worried how it would be received. I think it's TOP SHELF stuff! Had headphones on when listening and I could have swore I caught a buzz. The songs that lit up my senses were as follows:
In My Room - Just great Acapella here. Should be required of all High School Choirs.
God Only Knows - This song encapsulates Brian's Genius and Wow is it unbelievable stripped down like this!
Sloop John B - Memory Lane Re-Paved
Darlin - Very Heartfelt
Do It Again - This one put me on the beach for sure
Cool, Cool Water - Favorite on the mix, totally new to me. Quite Unique
Cabinessence - Beach Boys? Really? So different than anything they are known for
Surf's Up - Superb version of this, it's like a whole new song
Long Promised Road - Inspirational
The Trader (both versions) - Sounded like 2 totally different tunes
As I said, wasn't the biggest fan of BBs. But recently I've picked up some used vinyl of theirs that I came upon here and there. Surf's Up, Pet Sounds and Summer Days. Now that my ears have been opened I'm going to keep an eye out for some of these other records. Especially the Sunflower LP. I'm glad you took a chance on this one, it paid off! I think everyone enjoyed the hell out of it. Well Done!
Even William here at R.Paradise doesn't play any songs from this era. Except for the hit "Sail On Sailor". Which I define as overplayed.
I've seen Brian a couple of times (and he's done now - he's way too fragile) and it always galled me when Blondie comes out of the back to stand in front of Brian and do "Sail on Sailor" and then take the applause and move to the back. Dude. You're not Brian. Don't stand in front of him. Only Mike Love gets to do that..
Location: Really deep in the heart of South California Gender:
Posted:
Mar 13, 2025 - 9:06am
Lazy8 wrote:
Sorry I'm so shockingly late with this. I listened a couple of times, and not being the biggest Beach Boys fan ever (or even the mediumist Beach Boys fan) a lot of this was fresh to me, and even what I was familiar with got a new perspective.
First impression was damn these boys could sing! The harmonies are a lot more obvious stripped of everything else. That said my favorites were a couple of rarities that were accompanied by some instrumentation. At least I think they're rareties, I mean,
Heroes and Villains - That was trippy! Not exactly the clean-cut image I've always had.
Cabinesque was pretty surreal as well.
Surf's Up was not at all what I was expecting Lyrics are not what I would call Beach Boys-esque. Kinda Freddy Mercury vibes. Sweet.
Feel Flows - Did they abandon SoCal for Haight Ashbury? Probably the highlight of the disk for me.
Long Promised Road - This stands alone without instruments just fine.
Funky Pretty - When I started listening to this disc I thought this would like watching a cooking show on the making of Velveeta. Turns out to be much more interesting. Maybe the program directors on all those AM radio stations of my youth never heard something like this, or thought it was too weird, or maybe the original mix just didn't do it justice. Thanks for the introduction to music I thought I already knew!
You're not late. You're the first!
Yep. I figured this CD would likely freak some people out.
"Come on! The Beach Boys? Really?"
Most only recognize the "surfing songs" that were the big hits from the 60's.
I remember when "20/20" ('69), "Sunflower" ('70), "Surf's Up" ('71) and "Holland" ('72) came out and the people who heard it thought "What's this?"
I personally really enjoy this period of their music
Yes, they can really sing and harmonize as they did on their hits. But this era showed they could put it together with some really unique structure.
Van Dyke Parks had a big influence on them at this time with some quirky lyrics.
Carl Wilson came to the forefront with some great songwriting and his beautiful voice.
Rarities indeed.
Even William here at R.Paradise doesn't play any songs from this era. Except for the hit "Sail On Sailor". Which I define as overplayed.
Maybe they don't qualify as good examples. I disagree.
I've tried to get others, including DJ's from other radio stations, turned on to this lost era of The Beach Boys music.
The last was at KHUM- FM. The lady DJ there was amazed at songs I suggested to her and at the backstory I told her about the early 70's music these guys produced. "I thought all they did was surf music!"
"So to you, I shall put an end. And you'll never hear surf music again." Jimi Hendrex
When I discover a "new" radio station, and I try my best to influence them, the first song I request is "Feel Flows".
The version of "Surf's Up" with just Carl singing, blows me away every time I hear it.
There's many comments out there about this time frame of The Beach Boys.
One that pops up is that these guys were way ahead of their time. Introducing music that seems to be "Dream Pop"/ "Shoegaze".
Not bad for a bunch of pseudo surfers.
Sorry I'm so shockingly late with this. I listened a couple of times, and not being the biggest Beach Boys fan ever (or even the mediumist Beach Boys fan) a lot of this was fresh to me, and even what I was familiar with got a new perspective.
First impression was damn these boys could sing! The harmonies are a lot more obvious stripped of everything else. That said my favorites were a couple of rarities that were accompanied by some instrumentation. At least I think they're rareties, I mean,
Heroes and Villains - That was trippy! Not exactly the clean-cut image I've always had.
Cabinesque was pretty surreal as well.
Surf's Up was not at all what I was expecting Lyrics are not what I would call Beach Boys-esque. Kinda Freddy Mercury vibes. Sweet.
Feel Flows - Did they abandon SoCal for Haight Ashbury? Probably the highlight of the disk for me.
Long Promised Road - This stands alone without instruments just fine.
Funky Pretty - When I started listening to this disc I thought this would like watching a cooking show on the making of Velveeta. Turns out to be much more interesting. Maybe the program directors on all those AM radio stations of my youth never heard something like this, or thought it was too weird, or maybe the original mix just didn't do it justice. Thanks for the introduction to music I thought I already knew!
They cover what I think is the best era of Beach Boys music... that hardly anybody noticed at the time. Or even to this day.
They contain all kinds of outtakes and various unique versions of those songs.
