The Beach Boys Unveil a Musical Time Capsule from the 70s!
In a thrilling announcement, the iconic Beach Boys (https://www.udiscovermusic.com/artist/the-beach-boys/) are ready to take fans on a journey back to their mid-1970s heyday. The box set, 'We Gotta Groove: The Brother Studio Years,' shines a light on the band's transformative period from 1976 to 1977, a time of creative exploration and innovation. This collection is set to drop on February 13 via Capitol/UMe, and eager fans can pre-order their piece of history right now!
But here's the real treat: the set includes a never-before-heard outtake from the 'Love You' sessions, titled 'We Gotta Groove.' This track sets the tone for the entire collection, which is co-produced by the renowned producer/mixing engineer James Sáez and the band's own historian, Howie Edelson. With artist direction from archivist Alan Boyd, this box set is a treasure trove containing 73 tracks, 35 of which have never seen the light of day, and 22 that have been freshly mixed.
'We Gotta Groove' offers a comprehensive experience with a remastered edition of 'The Beach Boys Love You' and its accompanying album sessions. But that's not all! It also includes the long-awaited release of 'Adult/Child,' an album that was shelved for years, along with outtakes and alternate versions from the pivotal '15 Big Ones' sessions.
This collection is a music lover's dream, spread across three vinyl records and three CDs. The vinyl records showcase the album sessions with additional outtakes and alternate mixes, while the CDs mirror the vinyl content and add demos. The packaging is a work of art, featuring a 12.75" x 12.75" slipcase adorned with a breathtaking stained-glass window image from Brother Studio. Inside, fans will find a 40-page booklet with fascinating liner notes by Edelson, who draws from new and old interviews with all the band members and the Brother Studio engineers: Stephen Moffitt, Earle Mankey, and John Hanlon. This booklet is a visual feast, packed with rare photos, tape box images, and artifacts that capture the essence of that era, topped off with a comprehensive sessionography.
The Grammy Museum in Los Angeles will host a special event on February 12 to commemorate this release. Edelson and Sáez will be joined by Moffitt, Mankey, and Hanlon for a conversation, marking a reunion that hasn't happened since these legendary recordings were made half a century ago.
During this period, The Beach Boys were on a roll, with two consecutive Top 10 greatest hits albums, selling out venues across the U.S. It was a time of rebirth, as Brian Wilson returned to songwriting and production, working from the newly established Brother Studio, a former X-rated movie theater in Santa Monica, California. All five core members—Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, Mike Love, and Al Jardine—contributed to a body of work that was raw, unexpected, and deeply personal.
The first disc of 'We Gotta Groove' showcases 'The Beach Boys Love You,' remastered from the original 1977 mix, along with 10 outtakes from that era. Recorded primarily at Brother Studio, with Brian at the helm, the album 'Love You' showcases the band's stripped-back sound, featuring analog synthesizers and intimate vocals.
Despite mixed reactions upon its release, Brian Wilson himself proclaimed 'Love You' as his favorite Beach Boys album, describing it as "the best album we ever made." Over time, it has gained cult status, even earning praise from R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck. Edelson reflects in the liner notes that the album's DIY punk spirit resonated with audiences from the Lower East Side to Europe, and Brian's unconventional use of keyboards in the '70s is now seen as a precursor to the New Wave, Synth Pop, and New Romantic movements of the '80s.
'Adult/Child,' recorded in 1977, was meant to be the sequel, but its release was blocked. After years of circulating among collectors, 'We Gotta Groove' finally presents this elusive album in a cohesive sequence, enhanced by new backing track mixes and session highlights. Brian Wilson once described a song he wrote for Frank Sinatra, 'Still I Dream Of It,' which ended up on 'Adult/Child,' an album filled with songs of loneliness and hope.
The box set also sheds new light on the 1976 album '15 Big Ones' through its extensive studio material. This album marked Brian's return to sole production credits and was promoted with the controversial 'Brian's Back!' campaign. While it spawned the hit 'Rock and Roll Music' and brought the band back to the U.S. Top 10, 'We Gotta Groove' reveals the covers that didn't make the cut, including classics like 'Mony Mony,' 'Running Bear,' and 'Shake, Rattle and Roll.'
Don't miss out on this extraordinary collection! Pre-order The Beach Boys' 'We Gotta Groove: The Brother Studio Years' now and relive the magic of the 70s. (https://shop.udiscovermusic.com/collections/the-beach-boys/products/the-beach-boys-we-gotta-groove-the-brother-studio-years)
And now, the big question: Do you think the Beach Boys' mid-70s era deserves more recognition? Share your thoughts below!
