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Following in the footsteps of such artists as Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin and Roy Orbison, The Beach Boys have teamed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for a new album due on June 8 from Capitol/UMe. The Beach Boys with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, to be available in CD, 2-LP, and digital formats, melds The Beach Boys' original vocal (and some instrumental) tracks with newly-written and -recorded symphonic orchestrations recorded in March at Studio 2 of Abbey Road Studios. The regular 2-LP vinyl version will be released on August 17, with a limited-edition opaque orange version also being made available through the uDiscoverMusic store.
Produced by Nick Patrick and Don Reedman, the album features 17 Beach Boys classics ranging from "Don't Worry, Baby" and "California Girls" to Pet Sounds ("Wouldn't It Be Nice," "God Only Knows," "Here Today," "Sloop John B," "You Still Believe in Me"), SMiLE ("Heroes and Villains," "Good Vibrations"), Surf's Up ("Disney Girls (1957)"), and of course, "Kokomo." A new "California Suite" opens the album. The orchestra was conducted by Steve Sidwell and Sally Herbert, who also wrote many of the arrangements. "Fun, Fun, Fun" is the first single off the album.
The Beach Boys have lent their support of this project. The press release quotes Brian Wilson: "I always knew the vocal arrangements I did back in the 1960s would lend themselves perfectly for a symphony and there is no better one in the world than the Royal Philharmonic. I am both proud and humbled by what they have created using our songs and I hope everyone falls in love with it like I have." Mike Love notes, "This album is one of a kind. I think the fact that the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra has accompanied the Beach Boys with these great arrangements is just a phenomenal thing. It's a whole other dimension to our music."
Al Jardine adds: "Don Reedman and Nick Patrick did a terrific job on this. I can't imagine having more fun than taking some of these great songs and putting them into this perspective. They did a beautiful job of arranging the music around the original vocals, which I think is a terrific idea. It makes the music feel new all over again!" Bruce Johnston comments, "When I listened to the album, I realized that the new arrangements performed by the orchestra didn't add the wrong kind of weight. They just added the beautiful fairy dust of the orchestra to what we already recorded. It's another interpretation of us without losing the groundwork of us. I really like it."
Album co-producer Nick Patrick adds: "I'm a complete and utter fan of the Beach Boys and the way their music makes you feel. The Beach Boys' music is so multi-layered -- you can experience it on so many layers. You've got the obvious harmonies, which are amazing. But what we found making this record is when you dig down into the arrangements, they're extraordinary. They're fresh. They're new. They're complex. They're beautiful and constructed in a completely original way."
The Beach Boys with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra is due on June 8. It's available now for pre-order at the links below!
The Beach Boys with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Capitol/UMe, 2018)
CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
2-LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada Links TBD
- California Suite
- California Girls
- Wouldn't It Be Nice
- Fun, Fun, Fun
- Don't Worry Baby
- God Only Knows
- Sloop John B
- Heroes And Villains
- Disney Girls
- Here Today
- In My Room
- Kokomo
- The Warmth Of The Sun
- Darlin'
- Help Me, Rhonda
- You Still Believe In Me
- Good Vibrations
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"Of course, Kokomo." Kinda says it all, doesn't it?
Horrific!
Sally Herbert says these arrangements have "added something extra" to the songs. Trouble is none of these songs needed something extra adding. What's wrong with these people, not satisfied with ruining the music of Roy, Elvis and Aretha they now think they have carte blanche to have a go at anybody. Don't think many Beach Boys fans will fall for this. And didn't Gary Usher attempt something like this years ago?
Usher’s were, at least, his own interpretations; I don't think he shanghaied the original vocal tracks. I’m very sorry that this is happening, and why it’s regarded as newsworthy is beyond me – after all, they did something similar with the same orchestra on the Symphonic Sounds CD on 1998. That flopped.
Will have to eat a bit of humble pie here. Whoever has remastered the Beach Boys vocals on this release has done a superb job. Don't think I've ever heard their voices so clear and as upfront as on these tracks. Nick Patrick and Don Reedman have excelled themselves. Still not too enamoured by the orchestral backing. At times the drumming is overpowering. Those vocals make for a decent listen tho.
Oh dear. This just makes me sad. I certainly won't be buying it. I seriously hope this is not a real trend, but I can't see what's going to stop it. What's next, Beatles + The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra "Rubber Soul"? Jimi Hendrix + The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra "Are You Experienced"? Human League + The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra "Dare". Nirvana + The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra "Nevermind"?
Personally, I like the idea. It gives a different twist on the songs. The Aretha album is great, but to each their own. We're certainly not required to make a purchase.
I agree Dustin. So what if they do this? The people who are not interested do not have to buy these CDs. I think they are fun. I especially enjoyed the Elvis Orchestral CDs. People have to remember that nothing has happened to the original recordings. It isn't like these are replacing those. People need to chill.
This is one of the worst trends in music, I really despise these. Everyone involved ( Aretha and Elvis people too) should be embarrassed. Money grab.
Two things: If I want to hear symphonic arrangements of The Beach Boys why not re-release The Hollyridge Strings album!
Also-if Brian Wilson and Mike Love are on the same page about this, then you know something's wrong.
Collector's Choice reissued the Hollyridge Strings Beach Boys albums on a 2fer CD about ten years ago. It gets crazy money now secondhand! 🙂
My point exactly- no one will be paying crazy money for a secondhand copy of Symphonic Beach Boys, ever.
Speaking of those out of print Collectors Choice releases. I just do not understand why Gordon and Gabby at Real Gone Music don't reissue a lot of those titles, even in limited editions. Titles like the Hollyridge Strings, Blooming Hits by Paul Mauriat, The Brass Ring etc. There are so many.
I can see how some songs would benefit from an orchestral arrangement, such as the SMiLE version of 'Wonderful', 'Surf's Up', or even something like 'Add Some Music To Your Day', or 'Long Promised Road', but 'Fun, Fun, Fun'? Really? I think the tracklisting veers too much toward being just another greatest hits album without mining the songs that could actually benefit from an orchestral treatment.
That is a very good point.