Comments on: The Rivals

By: Yah Shure

Yah Shure — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 01:09:08 +0000

Contrary to the assertion in the Wikipedia entry, the single version of “Rock And Roll Music” was issued on the 2000 Capitol/Brother CD ‘Greatest Hits Volume Three – The Beach Boys, Best Of The Brother Years 1970-1986.’ To quote from the CD’s booklet:

“The single mix, heard on this set, was made specifically for radio airplay and features less backing vocals and more prominent instrumentation than the album version.”

There’s no deterioration noted on this CD appearance. In truth, the original 45 had a bit of a flaw; the very first word, “just,” isn’t quite up to speed, and wows a bit. The CD appearance doesn’t have this problem. The most obvious difference between the single and album versions is that the vocals are all centered right down the middle on the 45, and spread out over the stereo soundstage on the original ‘15 Big Ones’ album version. The follow-up single, “It’s OK,” was pitched two percent faster than the version on ‘15 Big Ones.’

I still find it hard to believe that “It’s Cold Outside” never made it to the airwaves in – of all places – Minneapolis-St. Paul!

Enjoy the blog, keep up the great work!

By: Shark

Shark — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:36:56 +0000

“Rock and Roll Music” and “Got to Get You Into My Life” were two great examples of why the summer of ‘76 was one of the best Top 40 music summers of all. I listened to WLS a lot that summer, mostly because WCFL had changed format in March of that year. To fill the void, I began listening more to something else….FM Radio.

By: jb

jb — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:21:23 +0000

Cripes, all those great songs and “Kokomo” gets to Number One? There is no god.

I believe Cher went 29 years between Number Ones, between “Gypsies Tramps and Thieves” in ‘71 and “Believe” in 2000.

By: Miles

Miles — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:38:19 +0000

Actually, the Beach Boys reached #1 on the Billboard charts in 1988 with Kokomo. It marked the longest time between #1 records for any group in the U.S.. Now, granted, there weren’t any Beatles songs on the charts then, but I did want to clarify that the Beach Boys did have a Top Ten hit after “Rock and Roll Music”.

The Beach Boys have always been my favorite group but I never really saw them as rivals to the Beatles. I took the view of the Brits that the Rolling Stones were their competitors.

By: Willie

Willie — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:13:59 +0000

My brother is 10 years older than me and has original albums from the Beatles and the Beach Boys. I hope he remembers me in his will. :)