DISC 1:   (Tour Opener, Nov. 17, Detroit, MI)   1.  Brian & Carl-Promo, 2. Barbara Ann,  3.  Darlin' 04 Country Air,  5.  I Get Around, 6. How She Boogalooed It,  7. Wouldn't It Be Nice,  8. God Only Knows,  9. California Girls, 10. Wild Honey, 11. Good Vibrations, 12. Johnny B.Goode, 13. Al & Dennis Promos (Nov.23rd, Back Bay Theatre , Boston, MA) 14. Help Me Rhonda, 15. Darlin', 16. Surfer Girl, 17. Wouldn't It Be Nice, 18. God Only Knows, 19. California Girls, 20. Wild Honey,  21. Good Vibrations,  22. I Get Around,  23. Sloop John B, 24. Graduation Day

DISC 2:   1. Promo W /Former Beatles Publicist, Derek Taylor, 2. Help Me Rhonda, 3. Barbara Ann,  4. Darlin',  5. Surfer Girl, 6. Wouldn't It Be Nice, 7. God Only Knows, 8. California Girls, 9. Wild Honey, 10. Graduation Day, 11. Good Vibrations, 12. Promo-Mike, (Nov 22 Pittsburgh, PA) 13. Help Me Rhonda, 14. I Get Around, 15. Darlin', 16. Surfer Girl, 17. Wouldn't It Be Nice, 18. God Only Knows, 19. California Girls, 20. Wild Honey,  21. Good Vibrations,  22. Johnny B.Goode,  23. Graduation Day,  24. Sloop John B, 25. More Promos!!, 26. Mike & Derek Taylor

When presented with a perfect example of what bootleg labels should do, I'm going to pounce on it.  Hang Ten Media is conducting itself exactly how most collectors would prefer, quality over quantity.  And keeping in mind that there should be a rhythm to the releases, a pace if you will.  The label has scored again with "A Vocal Element", which documents the short Fall Thanksgiving Tour of 1967.

Again, it is a themed approach but it's really more of a document of the period.  This was a tough time, 1967, for the band.  They had lost their allure as being the darlings of the American music scene as times had changed and they simply weren't hip anymore.  Losing Brian Wilson to his issues added to the pressure along with the much anticipated and scrapped "Smile" project.  What we are presented with here then, are actually 4 previously unreleased stereo soundboard recordings which are straight from the tape, unadulterated - warts and all, as they say.  The results are actually very cool! 

You have to understand where I come from with The Beach Boys.  Growing up in the 60's with 5 older sisters, I was hooked on the era of rock 'n roll right out of the gate.  They always seemed talented and likeable (aside from Mike Love who always bothered me!) but just not my cup of tea.  Aside from that, I didn't believe they could actually play anything!...and were those their actual vocals?  It all seemed sort of a manufactured product to me, even though they performed everywhere, all the time.  I didn't actually see them live until the mid-90's and I'm glad I got to witness some of Carl's talent  anyway.  The fact of the matter is, they can play.  And here with "A Vocal Element" we get a nice slice of the guys trying to find their own legs and make a a go of it - post Brian Wilson. 

The soundboards are all comparible in quality (the Pittsburgh tape does have a slight hiss) which makes for a nice, consistent listen even with the redundant setlist .  The caveat to that is that the Tour Opening segment from the November 17th Detroit performance offers up some of the only 60's live-Smile selections recorded, and were quickly dropped from the setlist.  Making this release absolutely essential for this fact alone.  The band is really out there to showcase the make-or-break, upcoming "Wild Honey" LP.  The title track doesn't work for them here at all and it gets a cool reception. The performances are almost all pretty level in quality with the only variable being how annoying Mike Love gets.  I'll give him some credit during this unpredictable time in their career, he is actually trying to be warm and funny - in his own way.  But we do get his real-personna in full glory during the Pittsburgh set to close out the discs.  He just blows the whole vibe of a song by blurting out shit during those moments he isn't in the spotlight.  Just check out any of the versions of "God Only Knows" presented here.  He just relishes ruining the song for Carl.  How has this guy continued all these years! 

The other identified soundboard is from the Back Bay Theater in Boston on November 23rd and closes out disc 1.  The 4th recording which starts out disc 2 is still an unidentified venue at this moment.  My guess is New York and its only a feeling, nothing to substantiate it but we'll continue some sleuthing on that.  Another fun element to this package is the inclusion of interspersed radio promos that Hang Ten bookends around the recordings to break them up.  They are raw, corny, sarcastic and even stupid.  But more importantly reflect the simplistic times they originated in and are really great to hear supplemented with the wonderful live tapes.  Joining the band on a couple of the promos is Beatles publicist, Derek Taylor.  Even he seems slightly annoyed by the less than cooperative Mike Love! 

The packaging is colorful and evokes a great vibe for what is housed within. This is just a great release on many levels and brings home the talent of the songwriting and the gift of harmony that the band is founded on.  How great and catchy is "Wouldn't It Be Nice"?  Nice renditions sprinkled throughout, particularly in the middle of the that otherwise erratic Pittsburgh show.  But the band displays a ton of personality from all and is having alot of fun, and it is a fun listen.  Highly recommended.