Carl and the Passions - "So Tough"
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| Carl and the Passions - "So Tough" | ||
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| Studio album by The Beach Boys | ||
| Released | 15 May 1972 | |
| Recorded | 4 December 1971 - 13 April 1972 |
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| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 34:26 | |
| Label | Brother Records/ Capitol Records |
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| Producer(s) | Carl Wilson, Brian Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Ricky Fataar, Blondie Chaplin. | |
| Professional reviews | ||
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| The Beach Boys chronology | ||
| Surf's Up (1971) |
Carl and the Passions - "So Tough" (1972) |
Holland (1973) |
Carl And The Passions - "So Tough" is the twenty-third official album released by The Beach Boys, and was released in 1972. In its initial release, it was the second disc of a two-album set with Pet Sounds (which The Beach Boys were able to license from Capitol Records). Unfortunately, due to the fact that Carl And The Passions - "So Tough" was a transitional album that saw the departure of one member and the introduction of two new ones, making it wildly inconsistent in terms of type of material present, it paled next to their 1966 classic and was seen as something of a disappointment in its time of release. The title of the album itself was a reference to an early band Carl Wilson had been in as a teenager (some say a possible early name for the Beach Boys). It was also the first album released under a new deal with Warner Bros. that allowed the company to distribute all future Beach Boys product in foreign as well as domestic markets.
In 1971, Carl (who served as the group's de facto musical director at this juncture) decided to spice up the structure of The Beach Boys by hiring second guitarist Blondie Chaplin, whose soulful singing brought a strong R&B element into the band's sound. Joining him was drummer Ricky Fataar after Dennis Wilson suffered a debilitating hand accident. Both had been discovered by Carl in 1969 while playing in a London band called The Flame.
Not long after the sessions began, Bruce Johnston had a falling out with manager Jack Rieley. His main contribution, an early version of "Endless Harmony" entitled "Ten Years of Harmony", was re-recorded and eventually released in 1980 on Keepin' the Summer Alive. Johnston was unenthused with Rieley's suggestion that the group adopt a hard rock approach and felt that Brian Wilson's prolonged lack of involvement had resulted in declining artistic quality. Brian Wilson himself barely contributed to the album's sessions, distracted by his personal demons and various extraneous side projects. These included the production of American Spring's debut album (a reunion of The Honeys that included his wife and sister-in-law) and a projected trio with Tandyn Almer. Reportedly, their demo tape was rejected by A&M Records because Almer was considered a "troublemaker" by top brass who also feared that Wilson "would be pitching circus tents in their parking lots".
Meanwhile, the middle Wilson brother's outlook on the band had soured as well. Although he was sharing frontman duties with Mike Love in concert during the epoch, Dennis Wilson's contributions were marginalized by other band members. The preceding Surf's Up did not feature any songs from Dennis, an attempt by Carl Wilson and/or Rieley to prevent the album from being dominated entirely by the Wilson brothers.
Brian Wilson's contributions consisted of collaborating on writing three songs and singing backing vocals on "Cuddle Up", "He Come Down", "Marcella" and, reportedly, "You Need A Mess Of Help To Stand Alone". "You Need A Mess Of Help To Stand Alone", credited to Wilson and Rieley, was Wilson and Almer's Beatrice From Baltimore with less tawdry lyrics ("she's got some holes in her stockings/she do a whole lot of rockin'" is a couplet from the original lyrics). "Marcella" was a song written about a massuse and prostitute frequented by Almer and/or Wilson. The music itself was originally recorded in some form during the All Summer Long sessions in 1964 as "All Dressed Up (For School)". It was re-recorded during the Sunflower sessions as I Just Got My Pay.
With the infusion of two African musicians, there was an undeniably "black" quality to many of songs, be it the gospel of "He Come Down", the soul of "Here She Comes" or the straight ahead rock'n'roll of the singles "You Need A Mess Of Help To Stand Alone" and "Marcella". However, an unusual turn occurs with the country-tinged "Hold On Dear Brother". Even more off-putting are Dennis Wilson's inclusions, "Make It Good" and "Cuddle Up", which sound as though they are from a different album. As it turns out, those two tracks were initially intended for a projected solo album recorded between late 1970 and late 1971.
It's been speculated that Carl And The Passions - "So Tough" was either scheduled to be released, or re-released, as a single album. A Warner/Reprise catalogue number, MS 2090, had been assigned to this single disc release, but nothing came of it. It should be noted that it was released as a stand-alone single album in Europe(Under Reprise Records)
The group photo on the inner sleeve was thought to have been doctored to show Brian with the rest of the Beach Boys, a fact confirmed when a picture featuring the same image of Brian appeared in a 2004 book by Keith Badman. This rare shot showed him surrounded by fellow band members - including Bruce Johnston (in his final group picture), but not with either Ricky Fataar or Blondie Chaplin, both of whom appeared on the final album cover. This is the last known group photo taken with Brian before a massive weight gain.
It was because of the jarring stylistic clashing that Carl And The Passions - "So Tough" met with a less than rapturous response upon release, going as far as #50 in the US and #25 in the UK. Though still not considered to be among their finest albums, the passage of time has repaired Carl And The Passions - "So Tough"'s critical standing considerably.
Contents |
[edit] Track listing
- "You Need A Mess of Help To Stand Alone" (Brian Wilson/Jack Rieley) – 3:27
- Features Carl Wilson on lead vocals
- "Here She Comes" (Ricky Fataar/Blondie Chaplin) – 5:10
- Features Ricky Fataar and Blondie Chaplin on lead vocals
- "He Come Down" (Brian Wilson/Al Jardine/Mike Love) – 4:41
- Features Mike Love, Blondie Chaplin, Al Jardine, and Carl Wilson on lead vocals
- "Marcella" (Brian Wilson/Tandyn Almer/Jack Rieley) – 3:54
- Features Carl Wilson and Mike Love on lead vocals
- "Hold On Dear Brother" (Ricky Fataar/Blondie Chaplin) – 4:43
- Features Blondie Chaplin on lead vocals
- "Make It Good" (Dennis Wilson/Daryl Dragon) – 2:36
- Features Dennis Wilson on lead vocals
- "All This Is That" (Alan Jardine/Carl Wilson/Mike Love) – 4:00
- Features Carl Wilson, Alan Jardine and Mike Love on lead vocals
- "Cuddle Up" (Dennis Wilson/Daryl Dragon) – 5:30
- Features Dennis Wilson on lead vocals
[edit] Singles
- "You Need A Mess Of Help To Stand Alone" b/w "Cuddle Up" (Brother 1091), 15 May 1972
- "Marcella" b/w "Hold On Dear Brother" (Brother 1101), 26 June 1972) US #110
Carl and the Passions - "So Tough" is now paired on CD with Holland.
Carl and the Passions - "So Tough" (Brother/Reprise 2MS 2083) hit #50 in the US during a 20 week chart stay. It reached #25 in the UK.
[edit] Sources
- Carl and the Passions - "So Tough"/Holland CD booklet notes, Elton John and Scott McCaughey, c.2000.
- "The Nearest Faraway Place: Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys and the Southern California Experience", Timothy White, c. 1994.
- "Wouldn't It Be Nice - My Own Story", Brian Wilson and Todd Gold, c. 1991.
- "Top Pop Singles 1955-2001", Joel Whitburn, c. 2002.
- "Top Pop Albums 1955-2001", Joel Whitburn, c. 2002.
- All Music Guide.com
