The Beach Boys ‘Feel Flows’: the Sunflower and Surf’s Up Sessions 1969 – 1971.

What does it sound like?:

I posted a reaction on here to news of this release a little while ago – I was surprised then at the scale and scope of this archive issue, and it still surprises me that this is happening, given the recent direction of releases and availability of CDs and the recent history of Beach Boys releases of this type which have been purely digital rather than physical. Of course, the vinyl release fetish seems to rumble on, but more of all this later.

So, what do we have here? ‘Feel Flows’ is a reissue/remaster with associated archive recordings mostly from around the time of the Beach Boys albums ‘Sunflower’ and Surf’s Up’ – the first two albums to be released after they left Capitol and signed for Warners. I say ‘mostly’ because the set also includes live versions of ‘Sunflower’ and ‘Surf’s Up’ songs, some of which are from years outside of the recording dates. It is a treasure trove for Beach Boys fans.

The 5 CD set consists of a disc for each album containing a remaster of the original LP, then some live versions and outtakes from the recording sessions. There are then discs for each album of ‘Sessions’ – these are mostly backing tracks and then isolated vocals (labelled as ‘acapella’ versions). Finally there is a so-called ‘bonus disc’ of alternate versions, demos, oddities, and some stray tracks that would find their way onto future albums.

This was a period of some upheaval for the group and proved pivotal in their history. Capitol didn’t have a clue what to do with a band that, to them, was so rooted in their past with all the hits from the early to mid 60s. Their following in the US had dropped off a cliff (20/20, their last Capitol album had only sold a reported 18,000 copies, and ‘Do It Again’ had performed poorly) – they were seen as desperately uncool, but their popularity abroad continued unabated. As the sleeve notes attest, it was this that convinced the band they still had a future.

The individuals were now family men, and this also gave them a life outside of the band. They also all say what a happy time it was for them to work together, with Carl, Dennis and Al all starting to contribute more songs and musical ideas, whilst they also accommodated Brian so that he could contribute as well. This diversity can be heard on both ‘Sunflower and ‘Surf’s Up’, whilst this archive set particularly reveals the contribution Dennis was making with his song writing, although many of these were held back at the time.

For those familiar with ‘Sunflower’ it seems to defy logic that this album only reached 151 in the US charts: it arguably has the best opening 3 songs of any BB album – ‘Slip On Through’, ‘This Whole World’ and the superb ‘Add Some Music To Your Day’. However, there are then a few tracks of less than stellar quality (‘Got To Know The Woman’, ‘Deidre’, for instance) that rather spoil things before things pick up again with ‘Tears in The Morning’ onwards, including the transcendent Dennis masterpiece, ‘Forever’.

The ‘Sunflower’ outtakes include a couple of songs that would emerge on future albums (‘Susie Cincinnati’, ‘Loop De Loop’, and ‘Good Times’), as well as the 1969 single ‘Break Away’ and a remix of ‘Cotton Fields’.

The ‘Sunflower Sessions’ disc has tracking and backing vocal sessions for the album in sequence, along with some of the outtake songs, a couple of alternate mixes (‘Cool Cool Water’ and ‘Slip On Through’), and some gorgeous versions with just vocals – just listen to ‘Add Some Music To Your Day and ‘Forever’ and hear those harmonies.

Between ‘Sunflower’ and ‘Surf’s Up’, newly recruited co-manager Jack Rieley strove to revamp the group’s image and restore their public reputation following the dismal reception to their recent albums and tours. This new approach would emerge on ‘Surf’s Up’.

‘Surf’s Up’ included Carl’s first major song contributions, ‘Long Promised Road’ and ‘Feel Flows’, and was much more even in terms of song quality than its predecessor. To start off with the song ‘Don’t Go Near The Water’ after the closer of ‘Cool Cool Water’ on ‘Sunflower’ was, as well as being a great song, an immediate indicator of being in different territory for the band. The closing masterpieces of ‘Til I Die’ and ‘Surf’s Up’ seal this as one of, if not the, best BB album. Brian was apparently reluctant to include ‘Surf’s Up’ at first, but was persuaded to finish it by Rieley – it absolutely fits with the ecology based themes in many of the songs. If you have never heard this album, then please do – it never fails to astonish me 50 years on.

Some nice live versions are included, and again we get some outtakes and remixes – ‘Big Sur’ would be held over until ‘Holland’, and does include the ‘My Solution’ oddity (reminds me of Mt Vernon and Fairway….yes, it’s that awful).

The ‘Surf’s Up’ Sessions disc follows the ‘Sunflower’ pattern – backing tracks and vocals in the album order, and then we get a new remix of the song ‘Surf’s Up’, which is just wonderful, and Dennis’s ‘(Wouldn’t It Be Nice To) Live Again’ which was criminally left off the album – it is superb – as is the long version of ‘Til I Die’ with alternate lyrics. The vocal only versions of ‘Til I Die’ and ‘Surf’s Up’ are predictably beautiful.

The 5th ‘Bonus Tracks’ CD gives us some alternate versions and mixes from both albums as well as more outtakes, most of which are certainly worth hearing – the pick of these are ‘I’m Going Your Way’ (although not typical Beach Boys), ‘It’s Natural’, ‘All My Love Ecology’, ‘Won’t You Tell Me’, and an early version of ‘Cuddle Up’ (here called ‘Old Movie’) which is terrific, and a vocal only version of ‘Marcella’, both of which would appear on the next album. The piano demo version of ‘Til I Die’ is fascinating. As bonus discs go, this is definitely one of the best, and there is lots to enjoy here.
In summary, rather obviously you will want to hear this if you are a Beach Boys fan, and you won’t be disappointed. I found myself repeatedly listening to these discs and just revelling in the new insights into the songs.

For more casual listeners, all this will be on streaming anyway, but there are other configurations (as listed below). Annoyingly, the 5CD set does not include quite everything on the other sets – again, see below. The book (which I was given in pdf format) is mostly quotes from the band and doesn’t really address the recording sessions in detail – some nice pictures though.

The recent Mark Linett interview posted on this site was very revealing concerning the archive issue programme – it seems that the main drivers were the European 50 year copyright ruling and the fact that the Beach Boys actually own all of their tapes, including interim masters which have largely been preserved – this enables them to issue backing tracks and vocal only tracks as well as enabling remixes.

Roll on the next set!

Track listings:

Three tracks are exclusive to the abbreviated (non-box set) editions: “Cotton Fields” (2020 mix), “Susie Cincinnati” (2019 mix), and “When Girls Get Together” (2019 mix).

5-CD edition
Disc one

Sunflower 2019 remaster
No. Title Length
1. “Slip On Through” 2:19
2. “This Whole World” 1:58
3. “Add Some Music to Your Day” 3:36
4. “Got to Know the Woman” 2:43
5. “Deirdre” 3:30
6. “It’s About Time” 2:57
7. “Tears in the Morning” 4:07
8. “All I Wanna Do” 2:36
9. “Forever” 2:42
10. “Our Sweet Love” 2:41
11. “At My Window” 2:32
12. “Cool, Cool Water” 5:03
13. “Sunflower Promo 1” (previously unreleased) 0:59
Sunflower Live
No. Title Length
14. “This Whole World” (Live 1988) 2:10
15. “Add Some Music To Your Day” (Live 1993) 3:23
16. “Susie Cincinnati” (Live 1976) 2:46
17. “Back Home” (Live 1976) 3:15
18. “It’s About Time” (Live 1971) 3:45
19. “Riot In Cell Block 9” (Live 1970) 3:34
Sunflower Bonus Tracks
No. Title Length
20. “Break Away” (original 1969 single mix) 2:55
21. “Celebrate the News” (2020 mix, previously unreleased) 2:37
22. “Loop De Loop” (1969 mix, previously unreleased) 2:59
23. “San Miguel” (2020 mix, previously unreleased) 2:33
24. “Susie Cincinnati” (2020 mix, previously unreleased) 3:02
25. “Good Time” (2019 mix, previously unreleased) 2:56
26. “Two Can Play” (2019 mix, previously unreleased) 2:06
27. “Cotton Fields (The Cotton Song)” (2021 stereo mix, previously unreleased) 3:21

Disc two
Surf’s Up 2019 remaster

No. Title Length
1. “Don’t Go Near the Water” 2:41
2. “Long Promised Road” 3:32
3. “Take a Load Off Your Feet” 2:32
4. “Disney Girls (1957)” 4:08
5. “Student Demonstration Time” 3:59
6. “Feel Flows” 4:44
7. “Lookin’ at Tomorrow (A Welfare Song)” 1:57
8. “A Day in the Life of a Tree” 3:09
9. “‘Til I Die” 2:32
10. “Surf’s Up” 4:14
11. “Surf’s Up Promo” (previously unreleased) 1:02
Surf’s Up Live
No. Title Length
12. “Take a Load Off Your Feet” (Live 1993) 2:35
13. “Long Promised Road” (Live 1972) 4:14
14. “Disney Girls” (Live 1982) 4:23
15. “Surf’s Up” (Live 1973) 4:58
16. “Student Demonstration Time” (Live 1971) 4:42
Surf’s Up Bonus Tracks
No. Title Length
17. “Big Sur” (previously unreleased) 2:35
18. “H.E.L.P. Is On the Way” (2019 mix, previously unreleased) 2:31
19. “Sweet and Bitter” (previously unreleased) 2:33
20. “My Solution” (previously unreleased) 3:44
21. “4th of July” (2019 mix, previously unreleased) 3:11
22. “Sound of Free” (1970 single mix, mastered 2019) 2:22
23. “Lady (Fallin’ in Love)” (1970 mix, previously unreleased) 2:21
24. “Seasons in the Sun” (previously unreleased) 3:27

All subsequent tracks were previously unreleased.

Disc three
Sunflower Sessions

No. Title Length
1. “Sunflower Promo 2” 0:59
2. “Slip on Through” (track and backing vocals) 2:47
3. “This Whole World” (long version track and backing vocals) 2:47
4. “Add Some Music To Your Day” (track and backing vocals) 4:35
5. “Deirdre” (track) 3:34
6. “It’s About Time” (track and backing vocals) 2:54
7. “Tears In The Morning” (track and backing vocals) 4:08
8. “All I Wanna Do” (session intro, track and backing vocals) 3:46
9. “Forever” (session highlights) 3:36
10. “Forever” (track and backing vocals) 3:01
11. “Our Sweet Love” (track and backing vocals) 2:39
12. “At My Window” (track and backing vocals) 2:50
13. “Cool, Cool Water” (alternate 2019 mix) 6:24
14. “San Miguel” (track and backing vocals) 2:57
15. “Loop De Loop” (track) 2:49
16. “Good Time” (session intro, track and backing vocals) 4:27
17. “When Girls Get Together” (track) 1:47
18. “Slip On Through” (alternate 1969 mix with session intro) 3:25
19. “Our Sweet Love” (string section) 1:00
1969–1970 a Cappella
No. Title Length
20. “San Miguel” (backing vocals excerpt) 1:00
21. “Break Away (Tag)” (backing vocals excerpt) 0:18
22. “Cotton Fields (The Cotton Song)” (a Cappella) 2:44
23. “Good Time” (backing vocals excerpt) 0:19
24. “This Whole World” (backing vocals section) 1:05
25. “Add Some Music To Your Day” (a Cappella) 3:30
26. “Got To Know The Woman” (a Cappella) 2:52
27. “It’s About Time” (backing vocals excerpt) 0:50
28. “All I Wanna Do” (a Cappella) 2:58
29. “Forever” (2019 a Cappella mix) 2:52

Disc four
Surf’s Up Sessions

No. Title Length
1. “Don’t Go Near The Water” (track and backing vocals) 3:45
2. “Long Promised Road” (track and backing vocals) 3:38
3. “Take a Load Off Your Feet” (alternate vocal) 2:28
4. “Disney Girls (1957)” (track and backing vocals) 4:17
5. “Student Demonstration Time” (track and backing vocals) 3:45
6. “Feel Flows” (track and backing vocals) 5:02
7. “Lookin’ at Tomorrow (A Welfare Song)” (session intro and alternate mix) 2:43
8. “A Day in the Life of a Tree” (track and backing vocals) 2:55
9. “‘Til I Die” (long version with alternate lyrics) 4:47
10. “Surf’s Up” (2019 mix) 4:08
11. “(Wouldn’t It Be Nice to) Live Again” (extended 2019) 6:50
Surf’s Up a Cappella
No. Title Length
12. “Don’t Go Near The Water” (2020 a Cappella mix) 2:36
13. “Long Promised Road” (a Cappella) 4:00
14. “Feel Flows” (backing vocal excerpt) 0:33
15. “Disney Girls” (backing vocal excerpt) 0:36
16. “A Day In The Life of a Tree” (backing vocal excerpt) 0:32
17. “‘Til I Die” (a Cappella) 2:36
18. “Surf’s Up” (a Cappella) 4:04
Bonus Tracks
No. Title Length
19. “I Just Got My Pay” (2019 mix) 2:43
20. “Walkin’” (2019 mix) 2:44
21. “When Girls Get Together” (2020 mix) 3:45
22. “Baby Baby” 3:13
23. “Awake” 3:44
24. “It’s a New Day” 2:20

Disc five
Bonus Disc

No. Title Length
1. “This Whole World” (alternate ending) 1:41
2. “Add Some Music To Your Day” (alternate version) 3:27
3. “Don’t Go Near The Water” (alternate version) 2:42
4. “Surf’s Up Part 1” (1971 remake track with 1966 Brian vocal) 1:41
5. “Soulful Old Man Sunshine” (2019 mix) 3:14
6. “I’m Goin’ Your Way” (alternate mix) 2:24
7. “Where Is She?” (2019 mix) 2:22
8. “Carnival (Over the Waves/Sobra las Olas)” (2019 mix) 1:34
9. “It’s Natural” 2:35
10. “Medley: All Of My Love/Ecology” 5:05
11. “Before” 2:25
12. “Behold the Night” 2:26
13. “Old Movie (Cuddle Up)” 3:37
14. “Hawaiian Dream” 4:33
15. “Settle Down/Sound of Free” (basic session outtake) 2:17
16. “I’ve Got a Friend” 2:26
17. “‘Til I Die” (piano demo) 1:55
18. “Back Home” (demo) 2:20
19. “Back Home” (alternate version) 2:34
20. “Won’t You Tell Me” (demo) 2:01
21. “Won’t You Tell Me” (2019 mix) 2:54
22. “Barbara” (2020 mix) 2:59
23. “Slip On Through” (early version track) 2:48
24. “Susie Cincinnati” (basic session highlights) 3:05
25. “My Solution” (track and backing vocals) 3:04
26. “You Never Give Me Your Money” 0:40
27. “Medley: Happy Birthday, Brian/God Only Knows” 2:47
28. “You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone” (track and backing vocals) 3:32
29. “Marcella” (a Cappella) 3:27

2-CD edition
Disc one

Sunflower 2019 remaster – as above
Sunflower bonus tracks
No. Title Length
13. “Loop De Loop” (1969 mix) 2:58
14. “San Miguel” (2020 mix) 2:19
15. “Susie Cincinnati” (2019 mix) 3:01
16. “Good Time” (2019 mix) 2:55
17. “I Just Got My Pay” (2019 mix) 2:43
18. “Two Can Play” (2019 mix) 2:06
19. “I’m Goin’ Your Way” (Alternate mix) 2:10
20. “Where Is She” (2019 mix) 2:21
21. “Break Away (Tag)” (Backing vocals excerpt) 0:17
22. “Our Sweet Love” (String section) 1:00
23. “This Whole World” (Alternate ending) 1:41
24. “Add Some Music to Your Day” (Alternate version) 3:27
25. “Soulful Old Man Sunshine” (2019 mix) 3:00
26. “All I Wanna Do” (a Capella) 2:41
27. “Back Home” (Alternate version) 2:34
28. “When Girls Get Together” (2019 mix) 3:45
29. “This Whole World” (Live 1988) 2:01

Disc two
Surf’s Up 2019 remaster – as above

Surf’s Up Bonus Tracks
No. Title Length
11. “It’s a New Day” 2:20
12. “Big Sur” (1970 version) 2:35
13. “(Wouldn’t It Be Nice to) Live Again” (Extended 2019) 4:36
14. “4th of July” (2019 mix) 3:09
15. “Lady (Fallin’ in Love)” (1970 stereo mix) 2:21
16. “Behold the Night” 2:23
17. “Medley: All of My Love / Ecology” 4:16
18. “Sweet and Bitter” 2:20
19. “My Solution” 3:43
20. “Awake” 3:17
21. “Disney Girls” (Live 1982) 4:19
22. “Surf’s Up” (Live 1973) 4:55
23. “You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone” (Track & backing vocals) 3:15
24. “Feel Flows” (Backing vocals excerpt) 0:32
25. “Disney Girls” (Backing vocals excerpt) 0:19

Double LP edition
Side one – Sunflower 2019 remaster and bonus tracks

No. Title Length
1. “Slip On Through” 2:19
2. “This Whole World” 1:58
3. “Add Some Music to Your Day” 3:36
4. “Got to Know the Woman” 2:43
5. “Deirdre” 3:30
6. “It’s About Time” 2:57
7. “Cotton Fields” (2020 stereo mix, previously unreleased) 3:16
8. “San Miguel” (Backing vocals excerpt, previously unreleased) 0:35
9. “It’s About Time” (Backing vocals excerpt, previously unreleased) 0:50

Side two – Sunflower 2019 remaster and bonus tracks

No. Title Length
1. “Tears in the Morning” 4:07
2. “All I Wanna Do” 2:36
3. “Forever” 2:42
4. “Our Sweet Love” 2:41
5. “At My Window” 2:32
6. “Cool, Cool Water” 5:03
7. “This Whole World” (Live 1988, previously unreleased) 2:01

Side three – Surf’s Up 2019 remaster and bonus tracks

No. Title Length
1. “Don’t Go Near the Water” 2:41
2. “Long Promised Road” 3:32
3. “Take a Load Off Your Feet” 2:32
4. “Disney Girls (1957)” 4:08
5. “Student Demonstration Time” 3:59
6. “Disney Girls” (Live 1982) 4:19
7. “Feel Flows” (Backing vocals excerpt) 0:33

Side four – Surf’s Up 2019 remaster and bonus tracks

No. Title Length
1. “Feel Flows” 4:44
2. “Lookin’ at Tomorrow (A Welfare Song)” 1:57
3. “A Day in the Life of a Tree” 3:09
4. “‘Til I Die” 2:32
5. “Surf’s Up” 4:14
6. “A Day in the Life of a Tree” (Track & backing vocals) 2:54
7. “‘Til I Die” (a Capella) 2:11

Quadruple LP edition

First LP, sides one and two – Sunflower 2019 remaster and bonus tracks – same running order as 1st LP of double LP edition

Second LP, side one – Sunflower bonus tracks

No. Title Length
1. “Loop de Loop” (Original 1969 mix) 2:59
2. “San Miguel” (2020 mix) 2:20
3. “Susie Cincinnati” (2020 mix) 3:02
4. “Good Time” (2019 mix) 2:56
5. “I Just Got My Pay” (2019 mix) 2:43
6. “Two Can Play” (2019 mix) 2:06
7. “I’m Goin’ Your Way” (Alternate mix) 2:10
8. “Where Is She” (2019 mix) 2:22
9. “Break Away (Tag)” (Backing vocals excerpt) 0:18
10. “Our Sweet Love” (String section) 1:00

Second LP, side two – Sunflower bonus tracks

No. Title Length
1. “This Whole World” (Alternate ending) 1:41
2. “Add Some Music to Your Day” (Alternate version) 3:27
3. “Soulful Old Man Sunshine” (2019 mix) 3:00
4. “All I Wanna Do” (a Capella) 2:41
5. “Back Home” (Alternate version) 2:34
6. “When Girls Get Together” (2019 mix) 3:45
7. “It’s About Time” (Live 1971) 3:55
8. “This Whole World” (Backing vocals section) 0:34

Third LP, sides one and two – Surf’s Up 2019 remaster and bonus tracks – same running order as 2nd LP of double LP edition

Fourth LP, side one – Surf’s Up bonus tracks

No. Title Length
1. “It’s a New Day” 2:20
2. “Big Sur” (1970 version) 2:35
3. “(Wouldn’t It Be Nice to) Live Again” (2019 mix) 4:35
4. “H.E.L.P. is On the Way” (2019 mix) 2:31
5. “4th of July” (2019 mix) 3:09
6. “Lady (Fallin’ in Love)” (1970 stereo mix) 2:21
7. “Behold the Night” 2:24
8. “‘Til I Die” (Piano demo) 1:55

Fourth LP, side two – Surf’s Up bonus tracks

No. Title Length
1. “Medley: All of My Love / Ecology” 4:15
2. “Sweet and Bitter” 2:21
3. “My Solution” 3:43
4. “Awake” 3:17
5. “Take a Load Off Your Feet” (Live 1993) 2:26
6. “Surf’s Up” (Live 1973) 4:56
7. “A Day in the Life of a Tree” (Backing vocals excerpt) 0:32
8. “Disney Girls” (Backing vocals excerpt) 0:20

What does it all *mean*?

Even at their lowest ebb in the US, the creative sparks still flew and they made some of their greatest music.

Goes well with…

Release Date:

27th August

Might suit people who like…

Beach Boy fans (obviously) but also those who only know the hits.

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