Endless Harmony [Soundtrack]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
Those familiar with the Beach Boys' decades of familial squabbles and personal discord will find the title Endless Harmony almost too ironic. But this soundtrack from the band-sanctioned VH-1 television special wisely focuses on the band's undeniable vocal prowess and the vaunted composing/arranging/producing skills of its chief architect, Brian Wilson. It also manages a fresh take on one of the most over-exposed catalogs in pop, largely by raiding the vaults for some unexpected gems. Twenty-one of the 23 music tracks (two brief radio promos are also included) here are previously unreleased. Several Brian Wilson demos give insight in to his creative process. Worshippers of that grail of unreleased albums, Smile, will be excited to find that the piano demo of "Heroes and Villains" also includes snippets of "I'm in Great Shape" and "Barnyard," long-lost pieces of that legendary album/puzzle. Wilson's demo for "Breakaway" illustrates how he would arrange songs by recording each band member's vocal part himself--Wilson quite literally is the Beach Boys here. Also notable is "Surf's Up" engineer Steve Desper's radical (for 1970) remix of Wilson's fatalistic classic "Til I Die," early versions of "Do It Again," and "Help Me, Rhonda," and gorgeous (if heretical) stereo mixes of "California Girls" and "Kiss Me, Baby." The other band members' creative instincts are succinctly documented, but as always, it is the sound and vision of Brian Wilson that overshadows them. "Genius" might just be too weak an adjective. --Jerry McCulley --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Entertainment Weekly
...poignant evidence of [Brian] Wilson's singular genius... --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Endless Harmony [Soundtrack]

Tracks:

Soulful Old Man Sunshine
Soulful Old Man Sunshine
Radio Concert Promo 1
Medley: Surfin' Safari/Fun, Fun, Fun/Shut Down/Little Deuce Coupe/Surfin' U.S.A.
Surfer Girl
Help Me, Rhonda
Kiss Me, Baby
California Girls
Good Vibrations
Heroes And Villains
Heros And Villains
God Only Knows
Radio Concert Promo 2
Darlin'
Wonderful/Don't Worry Bill
Do It Again
Break Away
Sail Plane Song
Loop de Loop (Flip Flop Flyin' In An Aeroplane
Barbara
'Til I Die
Long Promised Road
All Alone
Brain's Back
Endless Harmony

Amazon.com essential recording

Those familiar with the Beach Boys' decades of familial squabbles and personal discord will find the title Endless Harmony almost too ironic. But this soundtrack from the band-sanctioned VH-1 television special wisely focuses on the band's undeniable vocal prowess and the vaunted composing/arranging/producing skills of its chief architect, Brian Wilson. It also manages a fresh take on one of the most over-exposed catalogs in pop, largely by raiding the vaults for some unexpected gems. Twenty-one of the 23 music tracks (two brief radio promos are also included) here are previously unreleased. Several Brian Wilson demos give insight in to his creative process. Worshippers of that grail of unreleased albums, Smile, will be excited to find that the piano demo of "Heroes and Villains" also includes snippets of "I'm in Great Shape" and "Barnyard," long-lost pieces of that legendary album/puzzle. Wilson's demo for "Breakaway" illustrates how he would arrange songs by recording each band member's vocal part himself--Wilson quite literally is the Beach Boys here. Also notable is "Surf's Up" engineer Steve Desper's radical (for 1970) remix of Wilson's fatalistic classic "Til I Die," early versions of "Do It Again," and "Help Me, Rhonda," and gorgeous (if heretical) stereo mixes of "California Girls" and "Kiss Me, Baby." The other band members' creative instincts are succinctly documented, but as always, it is the sound and vision of Brian Wilson that overshadows them. "Genius" might just be too weak an adjective. --Jerry McCulley

Amazon.com

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Endless Harmony DVD

Customer Reviews:

Thank you Brian!.......2007-04-09

This cd is worth it's weight in gold just for the STEREO remixes of California Girls and Kiss Me Baby... let alone the previously unreleased and unique Soulful Old Man Sunshine. My neighbors must think I have a beach party going on in my apartment 24/7.

Great Carl material here. His barebones demo of God Only Knows shows how great Brian's masterpiece is even before erecting the wall of sound. Carl again SOARS on his live performance of Darlin'.

Like another reviewer mentioned, this cd is aimed at the sophisticated, advanced Beach Boy afficionado... but anyone will love the sounds here. Very special bonus- Brians demo of Heros and Villains on piano! Again Bruce Johnston comes up with a cool title (Endless Harmony) but his actual songs aren't quite Brian Wilson level material... but then again whose songs are? Terms like genius and legend get overused... but Brian Wilson is the definition of both. We should pull Bush and Cheney's secret service detail and have them protect Brian. He is our greatest national treasure.

Good if not great, and not just for diehard fans!.......2007-03-04

One of the frusterating things about being a Beach Boys fan is that sooner or later you own all the Beach Boys stuff that's out there, and then you wonder if you really do or not, and you go looking for more.

Well, if you already own all their regular studio albums, this might be the next thing to buy. I'm glad I did. Here's why:

The live Medley is a lot of blast-from-the-past high energy fun.

The Surfer Girl "vocal only" track is beautiful.

The alternate version of "Help Me, Rhonda" is great, and it makes you wonder how many other alternate version of their great hits are out there that you may never get to hear.

You get a minimalistic live performance of Good Vibrations that still totally works.

There's the rough-cut and live versions of Heroes and Villians for you Smile fans out there.

A moving live rendition of God Only Knows.

An early "draft" version of Do It Again without the "hey now" backing vocal, but it totally works for me.

The Sail Plane Song and Loop de Loop, which frankly I think are awful, but you get to hear two different takes on the same musical idea, so even that was interesting.

Finally, Brian's Back and Endless Harmony (Beach Boys singing about themselves in retrospective) which are very different but both beatiful in their own ways.

All in all, a fine addition to your Beach Boys collection.

A GREAT TRIBUTE TO A GREAT BAND!.......2007-01-19

I will be writing a review on the legendary brilliant masterpiece album entitled "ENDLESS HARMONY SOUNDTRACK" by one of Rock's most greatest premiere bands and one of America's greatest son's, I give you Hawthorne's own BEACH BOYS. This album was originally released in 2000 on Compact Disc on the infamous Capitol Records label in association with Delilah Films Inc. The matrix or ID number is 72435-24002-2-5. As always, if I hear any new additional information concerning this legendary album, I will edit this review immediately so that you the consumer will get the best informative and most accurate review possible. I would like to thank all of my fellow readers and reviewers that have stressed their honesty and opinions of my reviews and I would like to encourage them as well as all of you to continue leaving comments in order for me to improve my reviews and punctuation. With all of your help, I will be the best that I can be for all of you.

The Beach Boys will forever be remembered in Rock n' Roll history as the greatest harmonizing band that ever lived. If you don't believe me, just listen to songs such as "Surfer Girl," "Don't Worry Baby," "Wouldn't It Be Nice," "Sloop John B" and "God Only Knows." There are still many other songs that I can list but I think you get the point. Brian Wilson, in his prime, had the greatest falsetto voice than anybody I have ever heard in my lifetime. There is so much that I can say about this legendary band that I will just narrow it down to just one word, GENIUS. "ENDLESS HARMONY SOUNDTRACK" is an album comprised of many unreleased outtakes, demo's, remixes and alternate versions. This soundtrack album is also the result of the documentary film that was made in the lives and careers of The Beach Boys. "ENDLESS HARMONY" is a great album.

I will list and briefly review some of my most favorite song tracks in their original exact running order as follows: (2.) "Soulful Old Man Sunshine," (This is a rare Beach Boys recording. This is The beach Boys trying to experiment with a more Jazz sound. The harmonizing in this song is incredible.) (4.) "Medley," (This live recording from 1966 will give you an idea what The Beach Boys really sounded like in the 60's. The technology was so primitive back then.) (5.) "Surfer Girl," (This is just the vocals only. This track is one of the many reasons why The Beach Boys are the greatest harmonizing band of all time.) (6.) "Help Me, Rhonda," (This is an alternate version. This song track will blow you away when you hear just how high Brian's falsetto will go. How can anyone sing like that.) (7.) "Kiss Me, Baby," (This is a beautiful romantic song. Now you can really hear this song for the first time in a new Stereo Remix. Brian really sings this song with such emotion that his falsetto is taken to another level.) (8.) "California Girls," (This legendary song is now given to us in a new Stereo Remix. We can now listen to this song as it was truly intended to be listened to. Note: It now appears to be that many of the Beach Boys songs are now being remixed in Stereo. With Brian being partially deaf in one ear, he could never enjoy the music he was creating in Stereo.) (17.) "Break Away," (This is a great demo version.) (20.) "Barbara," (I love this song. Who would have ever believed that Denny (Dennis) would have developed into the great songwriter and musician he became. This track remain unreleased until now. You have to hear it to believe it.) (21.) "'Til I Die," (This is a alternate mix. This is one of the most emotional songs I have ever heard. This is about as deep as you're ever going to get out of Brian Wilson.) (23.) "All Alone" (This song was recorded by Denny during the BAMBOO sessions. This has to be one of the most emotional sad songs I have ever heard in my life. You can really truly feel the heartbreak and the pain in Denny's voice as he is singing this song. I guess this is what happens to you when life catches up with you. This is something alot of us can relate to, I know I can for I'm still going through it.) and (25.) "Endless Harmony." (This is a great song. The harmonizing in this song is breathtaking. You can close your eyes and just flow with the angelic harmonizing of this song.) Overall, this is a great album.

As you can see, this album is definitely worth purchasing that he or she should own as a valuable and important part of his or her music collection. This album will stand the test of time and will always be around to be enjoyed and cherished, NOW AND FOREVER.

In closing, "ENDLESS HARMONY" would add a little more to The Beach Boys legend. I would also like to encourage all of you to watch the documentary film "ENDLESS HARMONY." The Beach Boys have had so many ups and downs and highs and lows through the years that it is such a tragedy that Brian never got the support he truly needed in order to be the creative force he felt he was destined to become. But as we all know, the Brian Wilson story does not even come close to ending here. But that, my fellow readers and reviewers, you will have to stay tuned and read about at a later date. And as the saying goes, "AND THE REST IS ROCK N' ROLL HISTORY," need I say more? Here's to you Brian, Al, Mike, Bruce, the late great Denny and the late great Carl. The back of the album states: Dedicated to the memory of Dennis and Carl Wilson. Thanks for reading my review and I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it for your reading pleasure. I also hope that you will read all of my other reviews in the near future when time permits. Long Live Rock n' Roll! Rock out always and take it easy. Forever in Rock, John L.

This one's for the diehards.......2005-03-26

If the only Beach Boys songs you know are the 10 that get played on "oldies" radio, this collection isn't for you. "Endless Harmony" gathers together a variety of live cuts, demos, unreleased material and alternate versions of some of their most well-known and some of their least-known but critically guarded tunes.

The drawbacks are minimal..The radio concert promos are only interesting to see how "square" promotion for concerts once was. "Brian's Back" appears in good sound but it's really just a pastiche of cliches. "Endless Harmony" is somewhat better at capturing the essence of the sound Brian Wilson put together if still only a middling track. "Loop de Loop" is a bizarre sound collage from Al Jardine that shows him overreaching his grasp artistically.

Outside of these, there's a treasure trove for the Beach Boys connoisseur, and not only the Brian enthusiast. "Soulful Old Man Sunshine", a 1969 outtake Brian co-wrote with the Sunrays Rick Henn, is phenomenal and really leaves you to wonder how they let it languish in the vault. This song is better than a lot of the material they did release in 1969 and some of what ended up on "Sunflower". It's a vocal tour de force with a somewhat jazzy feel. "Help Me Rhonda" is here in an alternate take that ALMOST became the single. It's almost identical to the released version except for a very high "wah wah wah" vocal (I'm guessing from Brian?). It's obvious it still would have been a hit this way but it sounds odd to my ears because I'm used to hearing it differently. Still the "wah wahs" are pretty catchy..hard to say if the "official" version is better or not. You also get a demo of Brian and Van Dyke Parks writing "Heroes and Villains" at the piano that lets you hear a vintage performance of SMiLe section "I'm in Great Shape" and "Barnyard" in their infancy. A rare 1972 live version of "Wonderful" appears as part of a medley with a Flame song (recorded at Carnegie Hall). As a sidenote, Mike intros it by saying it's "from Smile..which should be out this year". Obviously history proved him wrong until 2004. The demo of "Break Away" shows you both how well formed a musical idea was when Brian brought the others into the studio and how much he added to give it extra "oomph" before release. It's OK here..but the final version with the added "Feel the vibrations...and all the sensations" coda make it really sing (regardless of whether others felt Brian "undersold" it..) The early version of "Do it Again" is more spare and would not have been a hit. It doesn't yet have the toned down guitar solo, handclaps on the verses, and the "hey now" part on the bridge that helped make it magical. A fine 1972 live version of Carl's "Long Promised Road" is packed with energy (though it does show how important the 'trombone' part is to the song via its absence here..). Dennis fans will love "All Alone",a fantastic ballad from never released solo album "Bamboo".

BOTTOM LINE: If you own both box sets and the 70s material, you need to have this.

Essential for Beach Boys fans/collectors.......2005-03-10

This is not a good release for a casual fan or someone exploring the Beach Boys, but for fans and collectors, this is essential material. A compilation of random, scattered unreleased tracks from the Beach Boys' career, the focus is their late '60s/early '70s material.

There's a number of live tracks, alternate mixes, etc., most of which I won't speak of because while they're great, they're not exactly extraordinary-- I'll discuss that stuff.

Opening with the unbelievable "Soulful Old Man Sunshine", filled with jazzy big band-esque arrangement and stunning harmonies, this is an essential lost gem in the Beach Boys catalog finally being released.

Also essential-- a demo of Smile sections! Brian at the piano singing several sections, including the main H&V theme, Barnyard, I'm in Great Shape, this is really essential-- Smile in two and a half minutes!

A couple other pieces that deserve noting-- we get some early versions of "Do It Again" and "Break Away"-- the latter is actually Brian's demo and is really revelatory in terms of his construction of songs, as much so as the Smile demo.

There's also two unreleased Dennis pieces, "Barbara" as a solo piano number and "All Alone", both are brilliant, particularly the former, and an extended mix of "'Til I Die".

All in all, a great value-- collections of unreleased tracks run the risk of being extraneous, but there's precious little here that could qualify in that light, and much of this are incredible finds that any fan will be grateful to hear.

Average customer rating:

Thank you Brian!
Good if not great, and not just for diehard fans!
A GREAT TRIBUTE TO A GREAT BAND!
This one's for the diehards
Essential for Beach Boys fans/collectors

Endless Harmony (Soundtrack)
The Beach Boys
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000009OH5
Release Date: 2000-01-01

Tracks:

Soulful Old Man Sunshine (Writing Session Excerpt)
Soulful Old Man Sunshine
Radio Concert Promo 1
Medley: Surfin' Safari/Fun, Fun, Fun/Shut Down/Little Deuce Coupe/Surfin' U.S.A. (Live-1966)
Surfer Girl (Biaural Mix)
Help Me, Rhonda (Alternate Single Version)
Kiss Me, Baby (Stereo Mix)
California Girls (Stereo Remix)
Good Vibrations (Live-1968 Rehearsal)
Heroes And Villians (Demo)
Heroes And Villians (Live)
God Only Knows (Live-1967 Rehearsal)
Radio Concert Promo 2
Darlin' (Live-1980)
Wonderful/Don't Worry, Bill (Live-1972)
Do It Again (Early Version)
Break Away (Demo)
Sail Plane Song
Loop De Loop (Flip Flop Flyin' In An Aeroplane)
Barbara
'Til I Die (Alternate Mix)
Long Promised Road (Live-1972)
All Alone
Brian's Back
Endless Harmony (From Keepin' The Summer Alive)

Amazon.com essential recording

Amazon.com

Beach Boys Photos

More from The Beach Boys

Sounds of Summer
Pet Sounds
20 Good Vibrations, The Greatest Hits

Good Vibrations: Thirty Years of The Beach Boys
Surfer Girl / Shut Down, Vol. 2
Endless Harmony DVD

Customer Reviews:

Thank you Brian!.......2007-04-09

Good if not great, and not just for diehard fans!.......2007-03-04

A GREAT TRIBUTE TO A GREAT BAND!.......2007-01-19

This one's for the diehards.......2005-03-26

Essential for Beach Boys fans/collectors.......2005-03-10

Endless Light: Spiritual Songs by a New Generation

Average customer rating:

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Endless Light: Spiritual Songs by a New Generation

Manufacturer: Northern Harmony Publishing Co.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000E3GDFO

Product Description

Hearty, Rhythmic, Intense, Delicate, Earthy, Mystical Hymns, Psalms, Spiritual songs and a Waltz by nine teenage composers from Village Harmony, sung and played by 50 past and present members of the Vermont Youth Ensemble.

Customer Reviews:

PRODUCT INFORMATION.......2007-02-19

Title: Endless Light
Artist: Village Harmony
Year: 1997
Length: 1:02:27
Label: Northern Harmony Publishing Company

Notes: "Spiritual Songs by a New Generation" is the subtitle of this CD, of 23 songs written by members of the acclaimed Vermont youth ensemble Village Harmony.

Village Harmony is known for its dynamic performance of early New England Singing School and shape-note music, and many of the compositions by the young composers show that influence.

Tracks:
01 Big Sky [2:49]
02 Barnet [2:46]
03 When The Hours... [2:57]
04 Big Bay [2:46]
05 Resolution [2:50]
06 Lawrence [2:21]
07 Parting [1:57]
08 Smear [3:28]
09 Remember [2:14]
10 Lucton [2:32]
11 Craftsbury [2:04]
12 Atlantic [2:44]
13 Miller [2:31]
14 Mystic [2:11]
15 Utopia [2:34]
16 Wyman Road [1:42]
17 Aeolian Harp [2:29]
18 Lewis [3:31]
19 Interstate [3:04]
20 Escalante [4:03]
21 Remember Variations [2:03]
22 Endless Light [3:30]
23 Harmony Waltz [3:18]

Average customer rating:

Endless Harmony
Beach Boys
Manufacturer: Toshiba EMI
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000066ACI
Release Date: 2002-06-19

Tracks:

Soulful Old Man Sunshine (Writing Session Excerpt)
Soulful Old Man Sunshine
Radio Concert Promo 1
Medley- Surfin' Safari-Fun, Fun, Fun-Shut Down, Little Deuce Coupe, Surfin' U.S.A. (Live 1966)
Surfer Girl
Help Me, Rhonda
Kiss Me, Baby
California Girls
Good Vibrations (Live)
Heroes And Villains
Heroes And Villains (Live)
God Only Knows (Live)
Radio Concert Promo 2
Darlin' (Live)
Wonderful-Don't Worry, Bill (Live)
Do It Again
Break Away
Sail Plane Song
Loop De Loop
Barbara
'til I Die
Long Promised Road (Live)
All Alone
Brain's Back
Endless Harmony

Average customer rating:

Endless Harmony
Miho Karasawa
Manufacturer: Pony Canyon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B00005UBWT
Release Date: 2002-02-06

Average customer rating:

Endless Harmony
The Beach Boys
Manufacturer: Japanese Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

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Baroque Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0000561QV
Release Date: 2002-04-16

Tracks:

Soulful Old Man Sunshine [Writing Session Excerpt]
Soulful Old Man Sunshine
Radio Concert Promo 1
Medley: Surfin' Safari/Fun, Fun, Fun/Shut Down/Little Deuce [Live]
Surfer Girl [Vocals]
Help Me, Rhonda [Alternative Single Version]
Kiss Me, Baby [Stereo Remix]
California Girls [Stereo Remix]
Good Vibrations [Live]
Heroes and Villains [Demo Version]
Heroes and Villains [Live]
God Only Knows [Live]
Radio Concert Promo 2
Darlin' [Live]
Wonderful/Don't Worry Bill [Live]
Do It Again [Early Version]
Break Away [Demo Version]
Sail Plane Song
Loop de Loop (Flip Flop Flyin' in an Aeroplane)
Barbara
'Til I Die [Alternative Mix]
Long Promised Road [Live]
All Alone
Brian's Back
Endless Harmony

Average customer rating:

Endless Harmony
The Beach Boys
Manufacturer: Japanese Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

Baroque Pop | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Surf Rock | Oldies & Retro | Rock | Styles | Music

Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Classic Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Pop | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000649P3
Release Date: 2002-10-01

Tracks:

Soulful Old Man Sunshine [Writing Session Excerpt]
Soulful Old Man Sunshine
Radio Concert Promo 1
Medley: Surfin' Safari/Fun, Fun, Fun/Shut Down/Little Deuce [Live]
Surfer Girl [Vocals]
Help Me, Rhonda [Alternative Single Version]
Kiss Me, Baby [Stereo Remix]
California Girls [Stereo Remix]
Good Vibrations [Live]
Heroes and Villains [Demo Version]
Heroes and Villains [Live]
God Only Knows [Live]
Radio Concert Promo 2
Darlin' [Live]
Wonderful/Don't Worry Bill [Live]
Do It Again [Early Version]
Break Away [Demo Version]
Sail Plane Song
Loop de Loop (Flip Flop Flyin' in an Aeroplane)
Barbara
'Til I Die [Alternative Mix]
Long Promised Road [Live]
All Alone
Brian's Back
Endless Harmony

Music Review:

Music Review

Music Review

Sounds of Summer	Pet Sounds	20 Good Vibrations, The Greatest Hits
Good Vibrations: Thirty Years of The Beach Boys	Surfer Girl / Shut Down, Vol. 2	Endless Harmony DVD