The Beach Boys - "California Feeling" - (Original 1978 lost version)

 

The Beach Boys have been know as a band that leaves better material “in the can” than some of the songs that make their albums. "California Feeling lp" is an example of it

Between  1977 -1980 the Beach Boys seemed to constantly be in the studio, Early the 1977, Brian hit the studio again, the result being an album entitled "Adult/Child". Composed by new recordings: "Life Is For The Living", "Deep Purple", "It's Over Now" & "Still I Dream Of It" Brian with Dick Reynolds, the arranger for the 1964 Christmas Album and five more tracks from the archive, four of which were recycled from the lost LP: 'New Album'. The other theme being the 1973 American Spring recording of "Shortenin' Bread" (with Brian on bass vocal) completed by a Carl lead. The album was widely heralded as the Beach Boys' next release, but Reprise deemed it uncommercial and rejected it; artistically interesting, but commercially not viable.

After the rejection of the "Adult/Child' album The Beach Boys embarked on not one but two new projects, to satisfy the terms of their contracts with Warner and CBS, “California feeling” and 'Merry Christmas”. Both recorded at Maharishi International University in Fairfield, Iowa. The recording sessions lasted from November 7 to December 4, 1977. Both albums were recorded in tandem, often at the same session. The second lp was going to be published during Christmas 77 produced at these sessions, consisting of reworkings of tracks that had dated from the early to mid-1970s, as well as alternate Christmas-themed versions of songs from M.I.U.

Mike chose this venue to keep members of the band away from their drug suppliers in Los Angeles. The group and their family members took residence in the university's circular dorm rooms,and attended meditation classes and meetings.

“California Feeling”, it started out as a song written by Brian Wilson and Stephen Kalinich for Wilson's American Spring side project but the song ended up off this record. It was first tracked as a demo in November 1974 by Brian Wilson in a session that was engineered by Chuck Britz. Wilson, unhappy with his performance, instructed the engineer to scrap the tape,but this was not heded. After the rejection of the 'Adult/Child' album, Brian recorded a studio version at fall 1977 that was included as the closing of the album. From fall 1976  "New album" another unreleased album. It includes two songs "Hey Little Tomboy", the only track salvaged from Adult/Child, and "My Diane", written about Brian's affair with his sister-in-law, In an early "She's Got Rhythm" sesión, Dennis, who was busy promoting his solo album Pacific Ocean Blue, was replaced on drums by Carl Wilson.

“California Feeling album” was assembled at the last week of 1977 back in Los Angeles with this line-up. bit.ly/BB78cF ,but before that, on December 13, the band held one last session, for vocals on "My Diane" and a Toys for Tots public service announcement, at Kaye-Smiths Studios.

Side one:  1.Match Point Of Our Love -2.Pitter Patter – 3.Sweet Sunday Kinda Love – 4.Belles Of Paris – 5.My Diane* - 6. She's Got Rhythm

Side two: 1.Our Team – 2.Hey Little Tomboy* - 3.Kona Coast – 4.Won'tcha Come Out Tonight – 5.How's About A Little Bit Of Your Sweet Lovin' – 6.California Feeling.

It was projected for the summer of 1978. Produced by Al Jardine and the group's touring band, keyboardist Ron Altbach and as executive producer: Brian Wilson. But the album was canceled at the beginning of February,

Why?. Brian Wilson wasn't too happy. He was depressed and on medication all time. Brian did not want to produce his bandmates because he resented them personally. In particular, he didn't want to write with Mike Love anymore. And that feeling caused a rarefied atmosphere in the recording studio and was what led these two albums to failure and their definitive cancellation.

They did not return to the new project "M.I.U" until February 22, working on an intermittent way until June 28, 1978. Once again, the song: "California feeling", became the basis of the album 'M.I.U' (released in October 1978), one of the worst Beach Boys albums. It was also one of the first L.A. songs. (Light Album), but Brian Wilson insisted, once again, that the track "California FeelIng" be again omitted and left out.

The Beach Boys' 1974 and 1978 versions of "California Feelin'" went unreleased until 2013's Alan Boyd "Made In California" compilation. It would have been a perfect addition to LA Light.

It's no wonder that with absurd decisions like this, the group in a span of just over a year fell so low so quickly. The next two albums released in that period 1979/80, "LA Light Album" and "Keepin the Summer Alive" could have been so much better. They were still able to sell out concerts, but no one was interested in their new albums anymore. They no longer raised their heads. The game for them was over.

This lost LP was released unofficially by Making Waves Ltd. – Collectors Series #4 in Canada in 1984 and has become one of the great unreleased records and a cult classic among die-hard Beach Boys fans.

Ok folks, that's all for now. See you soon with more and better.