That Same Song:
A List of Beach Boys "Variations"
Last updated: March 16, 2000
So, what exactly is a "variation"? That's when a song is reissued later, and
under normal circumstances is SUPPOSED to be the same as it was when it was
first issued. However, circumstances were NOT normal, so there were some
differences. For example, a different mix would be used for one release, or
perhaps a totally different TAKE was released for a reissue! This list is
an almost-complete list of such Beach Boys variations.
I was nice enough to put a quick clickable index for your convenience!
Just click on the first letter of the name of a song you're looking for and
it'll take you to that section. Neat, eh?
Oh...one more thing...Some of these versions are currently no longer
available. But for the ones that ARE available, I listed what they're
available on...'kay?
A B C D E
F G H
I J K L M N O P Q
R S T U V W X
Y Z
Barbara Ann
Version 1: Album version.
Availability: Beach Boys Party!
Version 2: Single version.
Availability: Good Vibrations box set
Besides being much longer, version 1 has a "crunch" sound during the first
verse that isn't present in version 2. (No, it's not a glitch in the
remastering done in the '90's -- I've heard the crunch on a pressing from
the '80's! -- Daub.)
Bluebirds Over The Mountain
Version 1: "Standard" version.
Availability: 20/20
Version 2: Dutch single version.
Availability: Beach Boys Rarities (Available as Japanese import)
Version 2 has a few extra overdubs that completely overpowered the basic
track due to confusion of mixing instructions when the tape was sent to the
Netherlands. Rarities has the basic track on the left and the
overdubs on the right channel.
Break Away
Version 1: Standard version.
Version 2
Availability: Good Vibrations box set
Both versions are exactly the same, except that immediately at the beginning
of version 1, the "three" from the count-in can be faintly heard. Version 2
was cleaned up so the count-in was edited out.
California
Version 1: Album version.
Availability: Good Vibrations box set
Version 2: Single version.
Brian sings "On my wa-ay" in several various places on version 2, while he's
only audible during the intro in version 1.
Come Go With Me
Version 1: "Standard" version.
Availability: Good Vibrations box set
Version 2: from 1990 Caribou cassette/CD reissue of MIU Album
Two totally different mixes; it's very likely that version 2 is the
"unreleased" mix made in 1976. Most notable difference is that in version
1, the intro is a capella, but there's a piano over the intro in version 2.
(Version 2 was also on the 1990 Caribou reissue of Ten Years Of
Harmony in the US, but the correct mix was on the European release!)
Cool, Cool Water
Version 1: Album version
Version 2: Single version
Version 2 is considerably shorter, starting with the roaring wave.
Do It Again
Version 1: Single version.
Version 2: Album version.
Availability: 20/20
Version 2 fades out with hammering sound effects from the sessions for
Smile. Version 1 doesn't have the hammering.
Endless Harmony
Version 1: "Standard" version.
Availability: Endless Harmony "soundtrack"
Version 2: from the first pressing of the 1990 Caribou reissue of
Keepin' The Summer Alive
Listen to "Endless Harmony" on a vinyl copy of Keepin' The Summer
Alive, and shake the record player as it plays. That's what version 2
sounds like. 'Nuff said.
409
Version 1: "Standard" version.
Availability: Surfin' Safari
Version 2
Availability: Good Vibrations box set
The only difference is that version 1 fades out, but version 2 continues
until breakdown.
Friends
Version 1: "Standard" version.
Availability: Friends, disc 3 of Good Vibrations box set.
Version 2: Promo film version.
Availability: Endless Harmony DVD.
The second line in version 1 is "We've been together through the good times and the tears." The second line in version 2 is "We've been together through the good times and tears."
Fun, Fun, Fun
Version 1: Mono/single version.
Availability: Good Vibrations box set
Version 2: Stereo/album version.
Availability: Shut Down Volume 2
Version 2 is shorter. Also, the instrumental track seems to cut out during
the fade on version 2, while it stays intact on version 1.
God Only Knows
Version 1: Mono version.
Availability: Pet Sounds CD
Version 2: Stereo version.
Availability: The Pet Sounds Sessions, 1999 CD and vinyl reissue of Pet
Sounds
The round at the end of version 1 starts with a double-tracked Brian Wilson,
followed by Bruce Johnston, then Carl Wilson. Carl (single-tracked) and
Brian trade places on version 2.
Good Time
Version 1: Single version.
Availability: Landlocked/Adult Child bootleg (Vigotone)
Version 2: Album version.
Version 1 has a longer outtro. Version 2 has a shorter outtro with Brian
saying "Hey!" Also, Brian sings a little bit more during the middle-8 in
version 2.
Here Today
Version 1: "Standard" version.
Availability: The Pet Sounds Sessions "bonus" disc
Version 2
Availability: Pet Sounds (1990 Capitol CD only)
Version 3: Stereo version.
Availability: The Pet Sounds Sessions, 1999 vinyl and CD reissue of
Pet Sounds
In the standard mono version, during the second verse Mike starts to sing
"She made me feel so bad..." a couple of lines too early; it's barely
audible, but there. Also, during the RIGHT "She made me feel so bad..."
part of the same verse, there's echo on Mike's voice, and someone very
audibly coughs. Both of these "ambient" noises are missing on version 2.
Version 3 not only lacks the cough, vocal flub and echo effect, but also
Bruce Johnston and someone else talking about a camera flash in the
background! However, the whole conversation is available as a hidden track
on the Pet Sounds Sessions box set.
Honkin' Down The Highway
Version 1: from original 1977 release of The Beach Boys Love You. Currently available on Greatest Hits Volume 3: The Best of the Brother Years.
Version 2: from the 1990 Caribou reissue of The Beach Boys Love
You
The drum intro is missing in version 2.
I Just Wasn't Made For These Times
Version 1: Mono version.
Availability: Pet Sounds CD
Version 2: Stereo version.
Availability: The Pet Sounds Sessions, 1999 CD and vinyl reissue of
Pet Sounds
The stereo version reveals a bass clarinet that was totally buried in the
mono mix.
Let's Go Away For Awhile
Version 1: Mono version.
Availability: Pet Sounds CD
Version 2: Stereo version.
Availability: The Pet Sounds Sessions, 1999 CD and vinyl reissue of
Pet Sounds
Right before the time signature changes to 6/8 time, a few guide taps are
clearly audible in the mono version. The taps are missing in the stereo
version. (A stereo mix WITH the taps is on Spank's Leggo My Ego 3-CD bootleg.)
Little Saint Nick
Version 1: Single version.
Availability: Ultimate Christmas
Version 2: Album version.
Availability: Ultimate Christmas
Version 1 features bells playing the riff over the intro. The bells are
missing on Version 2.
Lonely Sea
Version 1: Mono version.
Version 2: Stereo version.
Availability: Surfin' USA
Several seconds of whispering can be heard loud and clear on the stereo
version. The mono version, however, is clean.
Long Promised Road
Version 1: "Standard" version.
Availability: Greatest Hits Volume 3: The Best of the Brother Years.
Version 2
Availability: Good Vibrations box set
On most versions of this song, there's a strange distant chord at the
beginning. This chord was edited out on version 2.
Loop De Loop
Version 1
Availability: Endless Harmony "soundtrack"
Version 2
Availability: VH1's Endless Harmony documentary
Quite simple: version 1 has a carnival barker, version 2 doesn't. Also,
some of the lead vocals are missing in the video documentary.
Peggy Sue
Version 1: from original 1978 issue of MIU Album
Version 2: from 1990 Caribou reissue of MIU Album
Al Jardine's voice is reverbed on version 1 but echoed on version 2. Also,
the handclaps on version 2 are in different places from version 1.
Rock And Roll Music
Version 1: Single version.
Availability: Greatest Hits Volume 3: The Best of the Brother Years.
Version 2: Album version.
Availability: Good Vibrations box set
Version 1, which was also released in 1981
on Ten Years Of Harmony and the 1990 European CD reissue of said
title, has fewer overdubs -- most notably background vocals -- than version 2. Also, the very beginning of version 1 is slow, as if the tape started slow and accelerated to normal speed.
Roller Skating Child
Version 1: "Standard" version.
Version 2: Original 1977 release of The Beach Boys Love You
(cassette)
The organ on version 1 is almost totally inaudible on version 2.
School Days (Ring! Ring! Goes The Bell)
Version 1: from original 1980 release of Keepin' The Summer Alive
Version 2: from 1990 Caribou reissue of Keepin' The Summer Alive
Version 2's a capella intro is a bit shorter. In version 1, a bell rings as
soon as Al Jardine begins to sing; the bell is missing in version 2.
(Version 2 was also included on the 1990 Caribou reissue of Ten Years Of
Harmony in the US, but the correct mix was on the European pressing!)
Surfin'
Version 1: Single version.
Availability: Good Vibrations box set
Version 2: Album version.
Availability: Surfin' Safari
Version 2 plays faster, allegedly a suggestion by Murry Wilson. What's
strange is that the liner notes to the 1990 Surfin' Safari/Surfin'
USA twofer say that "Surfin'" was rerecorded for the album. In a way,
it was -- that is, the original recording was rerecorded at a faster speed
to a different tape! (David Leaf allegedly INTENTIONALLY wrote that it was
a rerecorded version because Capitol supposedly didn't have rights to the
song at the time!)
Surfin' Safari
Version 1: "Standard" version.
Availability: Surfin' Safari
Version 2
Availability: Good Vibrations box set
The only difference is that version 1 fades out, but version 2 continues
until breakdown.
Surf's Up
Version 1: "Standard" version.
Availability: Good Vibrations box set.
Version 2: "Clean" version.
Availability: Greatest Hits Volume 3: The Best of the Brother Years.
Both versions are exactly the same, except version 1 has some mysterious
voices on the left side of the stereo during the second "movement." The
voices are not present in version 2, which was also released in 1981 on
Ten Years Of Harmony and the European CD reissue nine years later.
Susie Cincinnati
Version 1: Single version.
Availability: Endless Harmony soundtrack.
Version 2: Album version.
Version 1 has a longer fadeout. Other than that, the only difference
between the two versions is where the car sounds are placed.
Winds Of Change
Version 1: from original 1978 release of MIU Album
Version 2: from 1990 Caribou cassette/CD reissue of MIU Album
Version 2 is missing some vocals at the end, but has extra vocal harmonies
over the intro.
Wouldn't It Be Nice
Version 1: "Standard" version.
Availability: Pet Sounds
Version 2: Single version.
Version 3
Availability: Pet Sounds (1990 Capitol release only)
Version 4: Stereo version.
Availability: The Pet Sounds Sessions, 1999 vinyl and CD reissue of
Pet Sounds
On most versions (including bootlegs!) of "Wouldn't It Be Nice," a very slight
tape glitch can be heard on the first note of the opening. On the Capitol CD
release of Pet Sounds from 1990, the opening is clean.
Version 2 has a different lead vocal track from Version 1, and Mike Love's middle-8 vocal starts
off single-tracked, then becomes double-tracked.
Brian Wilson sings the middle-8 on version 4 -- the original multitracks
that had Mike Love's vocal were lost, so an alternate take with Brian's
vocals had to be used.
You Still Believe In Me
Version 1: Mono version.
Availability: Pet Sounds CD
Version 2: Stereo version.
Availability: The Pet Sounds Sessions, 1999 vinyl and CD reissue of
Pet Sounds
Brian's vocals are double-tracked on the mono version, single-tracked on the
stereo version; the masters with the double-tracked vocals were missing, so
alternate masters with single-tracked vocals were used for the stereo mix.
I'm pretty sure I got most of it, but I haven't gotten the