“The Night Was So Young” (The Beach Boys Cover)

By Jim Fusco:

Welcome to your Sunday, Sunday, Sunday! edition of the Laptop Sessions with me, Jim Fusco.

I promised a new Beach Boys video today, and even though it took me until 10:30 to do it, it’s finally here. Actually, this is one of the rare Sessions that was recorded the same day I’m posting it.

I’ve been practicing this song for weeks now, as I needed to make sure it was perfect before I did a video. “The Night Was So Young” is my favorite track off the Beach Boys “Love You” album and shows the great songwriting skills of Brian Wilson coupled with the singing of Carl Wilson.

I love the minimalist approach to the recorded version of this song- it’s great in contrast to the terribly-dated synth-sounds of most of the tracks. This song also doesn’t have that cheesiness factor that some of the others have. Although, this song does tell of Brian Wilson’s lonely trip to the sink to pour some milk at 3 am…

I hope you like this toned-down Session. We’re still chugging-along at one-a-day here in 2008. I’d like to wish a Happy Birthday to my brother, Mike, who’s 22 today. Hope you had a great one!!

“Let Us Go On This Way” (Beach Boys Cover)

By Jim Fusco:

Okay, tonight’s song goes out by request, as there’s been an outcry for songs from “Love You”, the Beach Boys album that’s lauded as one of Brian Wilson’s most personal efforts, especially after the “Pet Sounds” period. Next week’s Beach Boys song will be another from this album: “The Night Was So Young”.

This song, “Let Us Go On This Way”, is a rockin’ tune that starts off the album. Carl Wilson’s great vocals and crazy synthesizers are notable parts of the original.

This was a lot of fun to do acoustically, and I’ve always loved the message of this song. It’s unfortunate that the band really didn’t “go on that way” much longer after this album. Dennis died a few years later, and before that, they started becoming the “greatest hits band” they are today. At least Brian Wilson is still keeping the faith and making (great) new music now!

I hope you all enjoy this and I hope you’ll rate it!

“Soulful Old Man Sunshine” (Beach Boys Cover)

By Jim Fusco:

Welcome to my Beach Boys Session for this week! Today, this song goes out by request, but I probably would’ve done it eventually, anyway.

This is a technically unreleased song called “Soulful Old Man Sunshine” that was only released on a compilation a few years ago.

I truly think the only reason the Beach Boys never released it is because of Carl’s “shun-shine” gaff in the middle 8.

I figured out this song’s chords by myself and even though I took some liberties, I think it stays true to the original.

Also, I think this is one of the few over-produced Beach Boys songs. That’s why I was so excited to strip all that excess out and just make an acoustic version. You’ll notice that I even sing a bit of it like Brian Wilson did in the original demo of the song, also included on that compilation. I love that version, too- it’s a bit more jazzy.

Thank you for making this ongoing series so incredibly popular! We’re doing a Session a day in 2008, so make sure to check back EVERY DAY you go on the computer for fresh, new material at https://guitarbucketlist.com. Don’t forget to RATE the songs, too!

“Goin’ South” (Beach Boys Cover)

By Jim Fusco:

Hello everyone and welcome to another edition of the Laptop Sessions and another in our series of Beach Boys cover songs videos!

I’m very excited about todays video for two reasons- I think it’s one of my best performances so far, plus it only took me one take to do it! I just kept practicing over the past few days and it really clicked.

Today’s song is a seldom-heard one from the Beach Boys called “Goin’ South”, written mainly by Carl Wilson.

I thought of doing this song when I heard about the impending snow storm we got last night here in CT. So, it was nice to record a song about “going south for the winter” while it was actually snowing!

I hope that everyone enjoys today’s session and that winter, in fact, does end soon. Because it IS gettin’ mighty cold and I’m hoping it gets mighty warm very soon.