Albums That Never Were

January 26, 2015 2:02 PM

Albums That Never Were

Soniclovenoize recreates versions of lost albums.

The Beatles (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7), Pink Floyd (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), The Beach Boys (1, 2,3, 4), The Who (1, 2), Dylan (1, 2), Hendrix, The Doors, The Velvet Underground, Zappa, Captain Beefheart, The Turtles, The Zombies, Van Morrison, Neil Young, CSNY, The Clash, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Weezer, and Mars Volta.

posted by goethean (24 comments total)

Bookmarked. Thanks for this!
posted by Splunge at 2:11 PM on January 26, 2015

See also Nicholas Gurewitch's soundtrack for The Cloud Photographers, a non-existent Wes Anderson film.
posted by Iridic at 2:15 PM on January 26, 2015 [3 favorites]

Anyone who goes through the effort to create a studio version of "The Man and The Journey" has my undying appreciation.
posted by hobgadling at 2:17 PM on January 26, 2015

See also The Cure (1, 2) assembled by Chris Ott of Shallow Rewards fame. The download links are long since dead, but they are well worth (soul)seeking out. I'd rank Kiss Me as just midling, but this refix I'd rank perhaps 3rd or 4th in The Cure discography.
posted by Hubajube at 3:09 PM on January 26, 2015 [1 favorite]

During my teenage years on dialup BBSes and the early years of the web, I had this overwhelming sense that the ability to connect online would make truly amazing things happen. At the time, I was mostly just reading and posting on FidoNet and sharing text files, and I really didn't see the Internet proper becoming what it became, but I felt that knowing other people were into the same things you're into -- the sense of community that came from posting online and getting responses from real people -- would push people to be more creative.

I don't think I ever could have foreseen something like this, though, from the Weezer link above:

This reconstruction is technically a revision as I had previously created one in late 2010 upon the release of Alone III (the solo Rivers Cuomo release containing the final missing pieces needed to reconstruct Songs From The Black Hole). Unfortunately that reconstruction suffered from the ethos of ‘trying to being the first!’ and had some errors I regret making. It was a hasty reconstruction made to compete with about thirty others, all making ‘their own take on SFTBH’, and mine contained some missteps (namely my attempt to change the ending of the rock opera itself!). I believe hindsight has allowed me to create a more natural, flowing, and complete Songs From The Black Hole reconstruction, one truer to Rivers Cuomo’s original narrative and presented as a sonically finished album.

This inspired individual, who by this point had already tackled some daunting reconstruction projects, rushed his work because there were, by his estimation, thirty other people online trying to construct the exact same Weezer album he was. Then he went back and fixed it, because, hey, those other schmucks didn't do it right.

I don't like to wax internet triumphalist very often, and seeing what the VC-funded web has become leaves me feeling a bit old and jaded, but seeing things like this reminds me that this thing is still pretty fucking awesome.

Anyway, I can't wait to find time to listen to these albums -- thanks for posting.
posted by tonycpsu at 3:16 PM on January 26, 2015 [7 favorites]

I compile imaginary Beatles albums instead of counting sheep. In my alternate timeline, they split in 1982.

I also like to imagine Jools Holland gesturing to two grey haired rockers and announcing: "And now, back together again, and for the first time on British television, with their new single… Lennon and McCartney."

And I miss FidoNet.
posted by popcassady at 3:37 PM on January 26, 2015 [1 favorite]

Great post, thanks!

The nirvana post is interesting, because I remember trying to find a copy of Bleach in record stores (before nevermind) and having to settle for an expensive import from Europe... and it was missing songs. GG, subpop.
posted by Huck500 at 3:46 PM on January 26, 2015 [1 favorite]

OK, anyone want to take a swing at The Beatles' 1980/81 album? Sources would include Double Fantasy, McCartney II, Pipes of Peace, Somewhere in England and Stop and Smell The Roses.
posted by Joey Michaels at 3:47 PM on January 26, 2015

I am extremely happy to see the Barrett/Floyd mashups on here, as someone who thinks Piper at the Gates of Dawn was an incredible achievement distinct from their other work.

Also, I kinda wish there were a LIfehouse edit that was just 90 minutes of someone doing a Pete Townshend impression and trying to explain the plot.
posted by graymouser at 3:50 PM on January 26, 2015 [3 favorites]

Looking forward to AC/DC's For Those Who Haven't Rocked Yet (We're Still Waiting)
posted by furtive at 4:07 PM on January 26, 2015 [3 favorites]

Great stuff. Gonna have a lot of fun with this in the next few weeks.
posted by cincinnatus c at 4:10 PM on January 26, 2015

This is very cool. Thanks for the post. Thanks also to Iridic for "The Cloud Photographers" link. As both a fan of Wes Anderson's movies AND as a cloud photographer, I *love* that.
posted by spock at 4:23 PM on January 26, 2015

Haven't listened to any of this, but at first glance, kind of a cool idea.
posted by freakazoid at 4:23 PM on January 26, 2015

some thoughts - the only one i've listened to so far is the uncensored 1960s mothers album, which is great

the imaginary beatles albums of the 70s just prove to me that they broke up at the right time

two records of red rose speedway? - please, no

the lifehouse project by the who intrigues me and i'll probably give that a listen - the who really had a lot of good songs then - "i don't even know myself" deserved better than to be a b side

i've listened to several "smile" recreations - but the official release of brian wilson presents smile is the last word, in spite of not being a 60s beach boy release

i pretty much feel the hendrix family had the last word on first rays of the rising sun - but there was nothing really wrong with rainbow bridge or the cry of love, either - (and with rainbow bridge, you get hear my train a comin which is amazing live hendrix)

i always thought it would be interesting - and pointless - for someone to imagine the two studio albums the grateful dead could have done between american beauty and wake of the flood - interesting because they had a whole bunch of good songs back then - pointless because they did them all live anyway

and another more obscure note - amon duul II's made in germany was actually a 2 record set in europe instead of the single LP that was released in the usa - it's a lot more interesting as a double with more weirdness included, but still not up to earlier stuff

also, i've always thought an edited version of yes' tales from topographic oceans would have been much better - leave side one as is and pick and choose the best bits from the other 3 sides
posted by pyramid termite at 4:52 PM on January 26, 2015 [1 favorite]

popcassady: "I compile imaginary Beatles albums instead of counting sheep. In my alternate timeline, they split in 1982."

If you ever want to cure yourself of that, just think of the sleeve notes all including "Produced by Jeff Lynne".

Yeah, I'm a bastard ;)

(I love me some ELO - particularly the early stuff - but, by Gods, the man developed a tendency to overproduce everything into a flavourless mush...)
posted by Pinback at 5:04 PM on January 26, 2015 [5 favorites]

yeah I could have done with a different producer for Harrison's "Cloud Nine"
posted by thelonius at 5:10 PM on January 26, 2015

Man, a Beatles album based on McCartney II and Double Fantasy, especially the crazy Yoko tracks, that'd be awesome.

The White Album meets the 80s.

I'd like to hear that.
posted by svenni at 6:34 PM on January 26, 2015 [1 favorite]

I compile imaginary Beatles albums instead of counting sheep. In my alternate timeline, they split in 1982.

In mine, The Clash stayed together until Strummer passed away in '02.
posted by octothorpe at 6:40 PM on January 26, 2015

Here's a Spotify playlist of the tracklist from Cloud Photographer I threw together just now, or the tracks from it that are on Spotify. I think maybe two are missing?
posted by svenni at 6:55 PM on January 26, 2015 [1 favorite]

My lost music fantasy is that there's an alternate universe where Buddy Holly didn't die in 1959 and instead went on to join the Traveling Wilburys.
posted by Daddy-O at 10:43 PM on January 26, 2015 [9 favorites]

The Beatles apparently came very close to booking in to make an album in a US studio just before Rubber Soul. I think they wanted to make a whole LP that sounded as wildly R&B as Paul's outrageous 'She's A Woman' early takes. I like to think about that one.
posted by colie at 12:38 AM on January 27, 2015 [1 favorite]

If you ever want to cure yourself of that, just think of the sleeve notes all including "Produced by Jeff Lynne".

Actually, by 1978, Lynne has joined the band. Rumours persist that John has left after contributing little to that year's album. It's turns out to be the LP that Beatles fans like to forget.
posted by popcassady at 8:14 AM on January 27, 2015

i've always thought an edited version of yes' tales from topographic oceans would have been much better

I'm sure you've heard this, Steve Howe's nine-minute Excerpts from Tales From Topographic Oceans
posted by goethean at 10:35 AM on January 27, 2015 [1 favorite]

So any recommendations for other people doing this?
posted by MartinWisse at 7:44 AM on January 31, 2015