STUCK IN THE VINYL AGAIN - THE BEACH BOYS - CARL AND THE PASSIONS - "SO TOUGH"

[maggot]

Good morning, morning people and welcome back to the Sunday edition of Stuck In The Vinyl Again . Today we celebrate the 79th Birthday of Chicago born  musician, singer, songwriter, arranger, and record producer, Bruce Johnston, best known for his work in the Beach Boys. Happy Birthday Bruce ! The record turning on our table today is perhaps the most hated BB album, their 18th studio recording, Carl & The Passions - "So Tough". It was released on May 15, 1972 on Brothers Records and produced (according to the liner and this gave me a chuckle)

"Produced by Brian Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Carl Wilson, Mike Love, Alan Jardine, Ricky Fataar, Blondie Chapman. Especially Carl." 

There are varying accounts about the name. The Wilson's Mother said it was their high school band name. Brian said it was the name he told Carl to lure him into the group. Carl said the name never existed. I say it existed enough to make it onto this album. The album by the way, peaked at #50 in the US and #25 in the UK. Two singles were released ; "You Need A Mess Of Help To Stand Alone"  (#29 the Netherlands) and "Marcella" (#110 US, #20 the Netherlands) .

Anyway, I guess in '72 the times and sounds were changing. The majority on the tracks were recorded in 1971. Bruce left in '72 and members of the South African group the Flame's, guitarist and drummer Blondie Chaplin and Ricky Fataar, were brought in. Daryl Dragon , of Captain & Tennille, contributes some songwriting as well.  Brian Wilson's contributions on the LP are said to be few, as he was busy producing the Spring album (later renamed American Spring, featuring the duo, Diane Rovell and Marilyn Wilson. 

All in all I like Carl And The Passions -"So Tough" because it is drastically different from their other output. Heck, it's even got a couple of country rock sounding tracks. Our copy is an early  pressing with the bonus record of 1966's Pet Sounds. We bought this at the legendary J.R.'s Junk Trunk. It has ownership labels that say J. Haskill and believe it or not, my beautiful was able to track J's Brother down on Facebook. He was happy to know his late Sister's albums had found a good home. 

1. "You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone" Brian Wilson, Jack Rieley Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson 3:27

2. "Here She Comes" Ricky Fataar, Blondie Chaplin Ricky Fataar 5:10

3. "He Come Down" Al Jardine, B. Wilson, Mike Love Al Jardine, C. Wilson 4:40

4. "Marcella" B. Wilson, Tandyn Almer, Rieley C. Wilson 3:54

Side two

1. "Hold On Dear Brother" Fataar, Chaplin Fataar 4:43

2. "Make It Good" Dennis Wilson, Daryl Dragon Dennis Wilson 2:36

3. "All This Is That" Jardine, Carl Wilson, Love Jardine, C. Wilson 4:00

4. "Cuddle Up" D. Wilson, Dragon D. Wilson 5:30

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Pet Sounds :

1. "Wouldn't It Be Nice" Brian Wilson, Tony Asher, Mike Love Brian Wilson and Mike Love 2:25

2. "You Still Believe in Me" Wilson, Asher B. Wilson 2:31

3. "That's Not Me" Wilson, Asher Love with B. Wilson 2:28

4. "Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)" Wilson, Asher B. Wilson 2:53

5. "I'm Waiting for the Day" Wilson, Love B. Wilson 3:05

6. "Let's Go Away for Awhile" Wilson instrumental 2:18

7. "Sloop John B" traditional, arranged by Wilson B. Wilson and Love 2:58

Side two

1. "God Only Knows" Wilson, Asher Carl Wilson with B. Wilson and Bruce Johnston 2:51

2. "I Know There's an Answer" Wilson, Terry Sachen, Love Love and Al Jardine with B. Wilson 3:09

3. "Here Today" Wilson, Asher Love 2:54

4. "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times" Wilson, Asher B. Wilson 3:12

5. "Pet Sounds" Wilson instrumental 2:22

6. "Caroline, No" Wilson, Asher B. Wilson 2:51

The Beach Boys

Al Jardine – vocals
Bruce Johnston – vocals
Mike Love – vocals
Brian Wilson – vocals; producer; plucked piano strings on "You Still Believe in Me"; bass guitar, Danelectro bass, and organ on "That's Not Me"; piano on "Pet Sounds"; overdubbed organ or harmonium on "I Know There's an Answer"
Carl Wilson – vocals; lead guitar and overdubbed 12-string electric guitar on "That's Not Me"; 12-string electric guitar on "God Only Knows"
Dennis Wilson – vocals; drums on "That's Not Me"

Guests

Tony Asher – plucked piano strings on "You Still Believe in Me"
Steve Korthof – tambourine on "That's Not Me"
Terry Melcher – tambourine on "That's Not Me" and "God Only Knows"
Marilyn Wilson – additional vocals on "You Still Believe in Me" introduction (uncertain)
Tony (surname unknown) – tambourine on "Sloop John B"

Session musicians (also known as "the Wrecking Crew")

Chuck Berghofer – string bass
Hal Blaine – bicycle horn, drums, percussion, sleigh bells, timpani
Glen Campbell – banjo, guitar
Frank Capp – bells, beverage cup, timpani, glockenspiel, tambourine, temple blocks, vibraphone
Al Casey – guitar
Roy Caton – trumpet
Jerry Cole – electric guitar, guitar
Gary Coleman – bongos, timpani
Mike Deasy – guitar
Al De Lory – harpsichord, organ, piano, tack piano
Steve Douglas – alto saxophone, clarinet, flute, piano, temple blocks, tenor saxophone
Carl Fortina – accordion
Ritchie Frost – drums, bongos, Coca-Cola cans
Jim Gordon – drums, orange juice cups
Bill Green – alto saxophone, clarinet, flute, güiro, tambourine
Leonard Hartman – bass clarinet, clarinet, English horn
Jim Horn – alto saxophone, clarinet, baritone saxophone, flute
Paul Horn – flute
Jules Jacob – flute
Plas Johnson – clarinet, güiro, flute, piccolo, tambourine, tenor saxophone
Carol Kaye – electric bass, guitar
Barney Kessel – guitar
Bobby Klein – clarinet
Larry Knechtel – harpsichord, organ, tack piano
Frank Marocco – accordion
Gail Martin – bass trombone
Nick Martinis – drums
Mike Melvoin – harpsichord
Jay Migliori – baritone saxophone, bass clarinet, bass saxophone, clarinet, flute
Tommy Morgan – bass harmonica
Jack Nimitz – baritone saxophone, bass saxophone
Bill Pitman – guitar
Ray Pohlman – electric bass
Don Randi – tack piano
Alan Robinson – french horn
Lyle Ritz – string bass, ukulele
Billy Strange – electric guitar, guitar, 12-string electric guitar
Ernie Tack – bass trombone
Paul Tanner – Electro-Theremin
Tommy Tedesco – acoustic guitar
Jerry Williams – timpani
Julius Wechter – bicycle bell, tambourine, timpani, vibraphone
The Sid Sharp Strings

Arnold Belnick – violin
Norman Botnick – viola
Joseph DiFiore – viola
Justin DiTullio – cello
Jesse Erlich – cello
James Getzoff – violin
Harry Hyams – viola
William Kurasch – violin
Leonard Malarsky – violin
Jerome Reisler – violin
Joseph Saxon – cello
Ralph Schaeffer – violin
Sid Sharp – violin
Darrel Terwilliger – viola
Tibor Zelig – violin

Engineers

Bruce Botnick
Chuck Britz
H. Bowen David
Larry Levine
Other engineers may have included Jerry Hochman, Phil Kaye, Jim Lockert, and Ralph Valentine.