The silence in music is just as important as the notes...a great dramatic touch, that at the time, NO one was in touch with. I play in senior homes [I'm a former school music teacher] and when I do this song I have to do my own version [all my voices] with a fill in riff that would have worked. Otherwise the senior audience thinks, like "everyone" back in 1965, my equipment broke down lol. Perhaps if Brian had done the fill in riff for the single, and the silent version for the album, the song would have climbed the charts better. As you know, AM Radio hated it. John Lennon loved this, silence and all, and it's on record in an old interview.
Greetings from Texas! You guys are awesome. I am a 74 year old musician that has followed The Beach Boys since day one. I have many memories of concerts and opportunities to meet and talk with the members of the group that I would love to discuss with you guys sometime. I lived in Houston at the time and saw the last concert with Brian when he had his breakdown in 1964. Keep up the good work!
Thank you! I was just in Texas last week to judge the Texas State Fiddle Championship and also did a gig in Weatherford - next time we'll have to have coffee or something :)))
Great discussion about one of my favorite Beach Boys songs. I really appreciate you talking about what type of guitar - the 12 string Rickenbacker - helps create the "sound" Brian wanted for this tune. I read once, I think in an article about the making of "Pet Sounds," Brian wanted a session guitarist to use a Rickenbacker in a piece. The musician said he didn't have one, so Brian had one delivered from a music store, the guitarist played the part and Brian then told him to keep the instrument. I love that search for perfection - or at least quest by Brian to put on tape what he was hearing in his head. Thanks guys for an illuminating dive into "Little Girl."
I have always felt that this was really Brian's greatest , overall production. I've listened to it over and over again . Loved when Brian was doing it live in 1999
Great stuff guys, I just retired from radio, started in 1970, played Bass Guitar in our group starting in 1964, Don’t Worry Baby got me going, . During my career I met and chatted with Al and Carl, I asked Al about Capitol dropping Little Girl for Barbara Ann, his remarks were Capitol was looking for Capital for Christmas sales in 1965, Dropped Little Girl for Barbara Ann along with the Party LP, Christmas Sales…I played Little Girl on the air as an oldie, the dead air wasn’t as awful as it’s made out to be..it was all about Christmas Sales..and it worked!! Keep up the good work!🙂🎸🎤😍
Greetings from Huntington Beach (aka Surf City) --- I wish I knew you were coming down here, Matthew. Dean Torrence has lived down here for a long time -- I've seen him around town during different events over the years, truly a nice and humble guy. The Huntington Beach High School marching band still plays Surf City at every football game. I enjoyed the talk with David about the book, can't wait to see the new doc. Also loved the demonstration of the music in Little Girl I Once Knew.
I always thought this intro along with California Girls AND Trombone Dixie, sounded similar. I'm glad you included the Brian clip talking about it too. Have you guys talked about Trombone Dixie on any episodes yet? I always liked that song.
we haven't talked about "Trombone Dixie but I remember hearing it for the first time on the inaugural CD release in 1992 and thought how similar the intro was to "Little Girl" - also the feel, in some places, is similar. thank you for engaging :)
A supreme single that should have been no. 1. Regarding the dead air theory, which may well be valid, one question: Why didn’t the comparable dead air in Herb Alpert’s TASTE OF HONEY, released to HUGE radio/sales success a few months earlier in 1965, pose a similar problem for DJ’s? Honest question that I’d love to hear addressed for a moment or two. My all-time BB’s single, and this is my fav BB’s podcast, amidst stiff competition. Thank you gentlemen!
Wow..... What a great podcast! David adds so much to any program. Little Girl was my very first BB record purchased in Nov 1965. I was just 12 and it blew me away and changed my life as a Beach Boys fan. Still probably my favorite BB record. As much as I love Sloop John B..... I have always thought that Little Girl was better fit on Pet Sounds than Sloop John B. Too bad they just didn't release Barbara Ann as the single from Party, and have Little Girl as the next single before Pet Sounds. Looking forward to your Pet Sounds discussion. Thanks!
So I just got the book, and let me tell you---if it was only to explain the photos that I always wondered about since I was 9 years old on the back cover of the Pet Sounds LP---it was worth every penny! In particular, the one photo where the two guys playing piano together. I always wondered who that was because they didn't look familiar. That was Bruce Johnston teaching Dennis how to play piano for the first time! How did Capitol let the boys sneak in a photo of Bruce when he was signed to Columbia? It went beyond their notice! They must have said--"oh you fellas are putting together a collage of your tour photos for the back cover? Go ahead---knock yourself out!"🤣
Very cool 😎 episode of IMBBRPodcast with guest David 🏖 Beard and a breakdown of some of the song “Little Girl I Once Knew.” 👍 Thank you Matthew Hartz and Adam Shriner.
Surf City: Boy was Murray Wilson,Brian's father, pissed when Brian wrote that for Jan and Dean and it went to #1 in what should have been a Beach Boys number #1. in 1978 in Grand Haven MI I went to my first Beach Boys concert, outdoors, all Beach Boys were there [except David Marks of course], and the back up band. But on the bill: opening act McGuine, Clark and Hillman with a drummer. Then in the middle of the Beach Boys show, out walks Jan and Dean....Jan kept up pace on the 3 songs they did with the Beach Boys very well. I think those in the crowd that knew his condition and why, were really pulling for him , and he pulled it off, and we all stood up and cheered out of respect. I was only 22, but I knew who the hell all of those stars were, and their back story. Lol, my girlfriend had no idea who anyone was except the Beach Boys as in the Band, not individual members.
Maybe its just my perception, but in some ways, I feel like the song is more progressive than "Good Vibrations". It pointed the way for prog rock music in the 70s. Not many bands were doing keyboard triplets in the 60s. I know there wasn't near as much work put into it, but still--I feel like this would have been the better "lead" single for the future Pet Sounds album, than "Sloop John B" or "Wouldn't It Be Nice". It should have never been a "stand alone", but deserved to be part of a larger body of work
No intended disrespect for Al Jardine, but agree totally -- LGIOK would have fit a LOT better than SJB into the PS album. It was SO groundbreaking that radio programmers and Capitol just didn't "get it." But John Lennon surely did !
@@burlingtonbill1 John Lennon had good taste! He was a man who knew great compositions when he heard them! The world just wasn't ready for this song in 1965. But that was their loss
yes - they did it on the reunion tour and I remember seeing the 3rd show on Brian's first solo tour in Seattle at the Moore theatre and was blown away when they opened the show with it :)))
Beatles get Royal treatment; Beach Boys get shoddy treatment, never get the respect Beatles get. Boo. Editors were probably not Big B Boys fans, so they wouldn’t notice mistakes, probably wouldn’t care. Hope there will be a Volume 2, edited by smart, caring people.
Capitol Records even treated the Beatles with more respect than they did the Beach Boys. Gave them 'carte blanche" to create, whereas they had their thumb on Brian, as did Murry---no wonder he had a meltdown. Too much pressure!
The silence in music is just as important as the notes...a great dramatic touch, that at the time, NO one was in touch with. I play in senior homes [I'm a former school music teacher] and when I do this song I have to do my own version [all my voices] with a fill in riff that would have worked. Otherwise the senior audience thinks, like "everyone" back in 1965, my equipment broke down lol. Perhaps if Brian had done the fill in riff for the single, and the silent version for the album, the song would have climbed the charts better. As you know, AM Radio hated it. John Lennon loved this, silence and all, and it's on record in an old interview.
Greetings from Texas! You guys are awesome. I am a 74 year old musician that has followed The Beach Boys since day one. I have many memories of concerts and opportunities to meet and talk with the members of the group that I would love to discuss with you guys sometime. I lived in Houston at the time and saw the last concert with Brian when he had his breakdown in 1964. Keep up the good work!
Thank you! I was just in Texas last week to judge the Texas State Fiddle Championship and also did a gig in Weatherford - next time we'll have to have coffee or something :)))
Great discussion about one of my favorite Beach Boys songs. I really appreciate you talking about what type of guitar - the 12 string Rickenbacker - helps create the "sound" Brian wanted for this tune. I read once, I think in an article about the making of "Pet Sounds," Brian wanted a session guitarist to use a Rickenbacker in a piece. The musician said he didn't have one, so Brian had one delivered from a music store, the guitarist played the part and Brian then told him to keep the instrument. I love that search for perfection - or at least quest by Brian to put on tape what he was hearing in his head. Thanks guys for an illuminating dive into "Little Girl."
It was the Carl sound of 1965 and 1966
thank you :)
I think that story was from the guitar overdub session for Sloop John B with Billy Strange, love that Brian did that
YES, I’m so glad you all spoke about the new book, the new documentary as well as David’s “Endless Summer Quarterly.”
I have always felt that this was really Brian's greatest , overall production. I've listened to it over and over again . Loved when Brian was doing it live in 1999
Great stuff guys, I just retired from radio, started in 1970, played Bass Guitar in our group starting in 1964, Don’t Worry Baby got me going,
. During my career I met and chatted with Al and Carl, I asked Al about Capitol dropping Little Girl for Barbara Ann, his remarks were Capitol was looking for Capital for Christmas sales in 1965, Dropped Little Girl for Barbara Ann along with the Party LP, Christmas Sales…I played Little Girl on the air as an oldie, the dead air wasn’t as awful as it’s made out to be..it was all about Christmas Sales..and it worked!! Keep up the good work!🙂🎸🎤😍
Wow - love the story, Terry :)))) and thank you!
Greetings from Huntington Beach (aka Surf City) --- I wish I knew you were coming down here, Matthew. Dean Torrence has lived down here for a long time -- I've seen him around town during different events over the years, truly a nice and humble guy. The Huntington Beach High School marching band still plays Surf City at every football game. I enjoyed the talk with David about the book, can't wait to see the new doc. Also loved the demonstration of the music in Little Girl I Once Knew.
thank you, Paul! I'll have to look you up the next time I'm around :)))
It is required that every Beach Boy fan own at least one "blue and white" striped shirt like Mr. Beard here 😊
I always thought this intro along with California Girls AND Trombone Dixie, sounded similar. I'm glad you included the Brian clip talking about it too.
Have you guys talked about Trombone Dixie on any episodes yet? I always liked that song.
we haven't talked about "Trombone Dixie but I remember hearing it for the first time on the inaugural CD release in 1992 and thought how similar the intro was to "Little Girl" - also the feel, in some places, is similar. thank you for engaging :)
Lennon loved the song
A supreme single that should have been no. 1. Regarding the dead air theory, which may well be valid, one question: Why didn’t the comparable dead air in Herb Alpert’s TASTE OF HONEY, released to HUGE radio/sales success a few months earlier in 1965, pose a similar problem for DJ’s? Honest question that I’d love to hear addressed for a moment or two. My all-time BB’s single, and this is my fav BB’s podcast, amidst stiff competition. Thank you gentlemen!
that is a great question! And thank you so much - that means a whole bunch - we will keep working :)))
VERY welcome, Matthew.
Wow..... What a great podcast! David adds so much to any program. Little Girl was my very first BB record purchased in Nov 1965. I was just 12 and it blew me away and changed my life as a Beach Boys fan. Still probably my favorite BB record. As much as I love Sloop John B..... I have always thought that Little Girl was better fit on Pet Sounds than Sloop John B. Too bad they just didn't release Barbara Ann as the single from Party, and have Little Girl as the next single before Pet Sounds. Looking forward to your Pet Sounds discussion. Thanks!
thank you, Lamont :)
One of my all time favorite BB tracks. Thanks for this deep dive.
thank you :)))
So I just got the book, and let me tell you---if it was only to explain the photos that I always wondered about since I was 9 years old on the back cover of the Pet Sounds LP---it was worth every penny! In particular, the one photo where the two guys playing piano together. I always wondered who that was because they didn't look familiar. That was Bruce Johnston teaching Dennis how to play piano for the first time! How did Capitol let the boys sneak in a photo of Bruce when he was signed to Columbia? It went beyond their notice! They must have said--"oh you fellas are putting together a collage of your tour photos for the back cover? Go ahead---knock yourself out!"🤣
Very cool 😎 episode of IMBBRPodcast with guest David 🏖 Beard and a breakdown of some of the song “Little Girl I Once Knew.” 👍 Thank you Matthew Hartz and Adam Shriner.
:))))
Surf City: Boy was Murray Wilson,Brian's father, pissed when Brian wrote that for Jan and Dean and it went to #1 in what should have been a Beach Boys number #1. in 1978 in Grand Haven MI I went to my first Beach Boys concert, outdoors, all Beach Boys were there [except David Marks of course], and the back up band. But on the bill: opening act McGuine, Clark and Hillman with a drummer. Then in the middle of the Beach Boys show, out walks Jan and Dean....Jan kept up pace on the 3 songs they did with the Beach Boys very well. I think those in the crowd that knew his condition and why, were really pulling for him , and he pulled it off, and we all stood up and cheered out of respect. I was only 22, but I knew who the hell all of those stars were, and their back story. Lol, my girlfriend had no idea who anyone was except the Beach Boys as in the Band, not individual members.
thank you for that awesome story - what an experience!
Welcome Back! Another excellent episode. Love that "Hippy Music" 😀
thank you and I love it too!
So excited to get my book!
So pleased to see this new post last night. Really awesome show as always, and thanks for the technical demonstration - really fascinating stuff.
thank you - that means a lot!
This tune blew me away when i first heard it. It surely was one of the top tunes that spurred me to do a deep dive into the music of Brian Wison.
Maybe its just my perception, but in some ways, I feel like the song is more progressive than "Good Vibrations". It pointed the way for prog rock music in the 70s. Not many bands were doing keyboard triplets in the 60s. I know there wasn't near as much work put into it, but still--I feel like this would have been the better "lead" single for the future Pet Sounds album, than "Sloop John B" or "Wouldn't It Be Nice". It should have never been a "stand alone", but deserved to be part of a larger body of work
No intended disrespect for Al Jardine, but agree totally -- LGIOK would have fit a LOT better than SJB into the PS album. It was SO groundbreaking that radio programmers and Capitol just didn't "get it." But John Lennon surely did !
@@burlingtonbill1 John Lennon had good taste! He was a man who knew great compositions when he heard them! The world just wasn't ready for this song in 1965. But that was their loss
The intro to “Little Girl” has always and still does give me goosebumps.
@@h.markhorton8188 The chords are so positive and upbeat! Just gives me a good feeling like the future is looking bright😃
@@h.markhorton8188Same here.
Love the podcast and excellent discussion as usual. You guys are the greatest! 🤘🏻
thank you, sir!
Excellent episode!!!
thank you, Mr. Charlie :)
OMG! I'M BETTER LATE THAN NEVER!!! Finally found you close to LIVE! ❤❤❤❤
thank you!
Great song! Did they ever play this live??
Yes, on the 2012 reunion tour. But I’m not aware of any other performances.
yes - they did it on the reunion tour and I remember seeing the 3rd show on Brian's first solo tour in Seattle at the Moore theatre and was blown away when they opened the show with it :)))
Beatles get Royal treatment; Beach Boys get shoddy treatment, never get the respect Beatles get. Boo. Editors were probably not Big B Boys fans, so they wouldn’t notice mistakes, probably wouldn’t care. Hope there will be a Volume 2, edited by smart, caring people.
Capitol Records even treated the Beatles with more respect than they did the Beach Boys. Gave them 'carte blanche" to create, whereas they had their thumb on Brian, as did Murry---no wonder he had a meltdown. Too much pressure!