I have played a lot of Beach Boys music over the years but I can’t remember the last time I listened to Carl & The Passions - So Tough. I firmly believe, that for any individual, the albums that you actually listen too are the ones you consider to be the best; critical acclaim and commercial appeal aside.
Bruce Johnston left the Beach Boys in 1972 (he would return) and Dennis Wilson had severely injured his hand and could not play the drums. Carl Wilson recruited Blondie Chaplin and Ricky Fataar from the South African group, Flame, as replacements.
Fataar and Chaplin were seasoned and capable musicians but their sound was far removed from that of the Beach Boys. These personal changes, just before the Beach Boys went into the studio to record their next album, resulted in a disjointed and jumbled release.
Carl & The Passions - So Tough took its name from a pre-Beach Boys Carl Wilson group or so the story goes.
It seems that the Beach Boys did not have a lot of confidence in Carl & The Passions - So Tough. In a very strange move the Beach Boys rented the rights to Pet Sounds from their former company Capital and released it as a double album with Carl & The Passions - So Tough. Maybe they though this would give their new album some extra commercial appeal. What happened was this new release paled next to the brilliance of Pet Sounds and did not sell well.
“Here She Comes” and “Hold On Dear Brothers” are about ten minutes of Blondie Chaplin and Ricky Fataar. Again let me say that South African funk does not match what one would expect from the Beach Boys. While the songs are competent they are not outstanding. If I want this type of music I would not seek out a Beach Boys album.
Article comments
1 - Ray
I would agree ST was an "atypical" album for the BB's, however I still like it for all of the reason that you don't. A little jazzier in places
a bit more soulfull then their usual. Think about it, if it weren't the BB's would you still not enjoy the music. I think of it as a C&TP album, with one cut that sounds like the BB's and not a BB's album. It takes away the expectation that it should sound like the BB's. I think it would have faired better in sales if they had left the BB's name off the front cover and let it stand alone. I always heard that the record company wanted to pair it with PS's not the group.
But anyway, after all of these years it sounds good to me still, especially compared to some of the crap they would put out during the 80's. HOLLAND would follow then it would all go down the tubes after that as far as studio albums are concerned. I would suggest it to anybody who wants to experience their versatility and had hoped that would of kept on taking risks and experiment with thier sound and ability.
2 - Rick
Not to forget the great song "All This Is That" which is probably the finest "not by Brian Wilson written" song the group has ever recorded. They also sang this song regularly during the early 1970's road shows. Terrific timeless harmonies and one of the main reasons to pick up this album.
3 - Tyler
I really enjoy this album for it's funky vibes and great vocals, be it from The Beach Boys or Blondie Chaplin. And as someone already stated, "All This Is That" is a treasure.