Stack-O-Tracks
Encyclopedia
Stack-O-Tracks is an album release by The Beach Boys
containing the backing tracks to fifteen of their songs spanning their career to that point. Considered little more than a penny pincher when it came out, Stack-O-Tracks turned out to be a very educational album for those who wanted to know what went into the making of a Beach Boys music track. This type of release was unique for the band, and generally was and still is relatively unique throughout the music industry where backing tracks, in the rare event of their commercial release, are generally bonus tracks or b-sides to singles.
The Beach Boys third and final album release of 1968, coming after Friends
and released the same day as the quickly cobbled-together Best of The Beach Boys Vol. 3
, Stack-O-Tracks was seen by many at the time as a desperate last-ditch effort by Capitol Records
to try anything to sell Beach Boys records. The strategy backfired, however; issued at one of their lowest commercial ebbs in the U.S., Stack-O-Tracks became the first Beach Boys album to fail to reach the U.S. or UK charts. Until 1992's much-maligned Summer in Paradise
, it would remain their only official release to have this distinction.
Nonetheless, featuring instrumental highlights from the past studio albums, and including a booklet with the bass lines, lead lines, chords and lyrics (to sing along with), Stack-O-Tracks was clearly a gift to those who wanted to hear what was going on beneath the lush harmonies. Stack-O-Tracks quickly disappeared and was out of print for two decades. In 1990, Capitol Records
saw fit to re-issue it on CD, and again in 2001 - both releases without the handy booklet that accompanied the vinyl edition.
/Mike Love
, except where noted.
Stack-O-Tracks is now paired on CD with Beach Boys' Party!
, with bonus instrumental tracks. While Stack-O-Tracks was originally available only in mono
or Duophonic
sound, the CD includes true stereo
mixes of several tracks.
Stack-O-Tracks (Capitol (D) KAO 2893) failed to chart in either the U.S. or the UK.
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
containing the backing tracks to fifteen of their songs spanning their career to that point. Considered little more than a penny pincher when it came out, Stack-O-Tracks turned out to be a very educational album for those who wanted to know what went into the making of a Beach Boys music track. This type of release was unique for the band, and generally was and still is relatively unique throughout the music industry where backing tracks, in the rare event of their commercial release, are generally bonus tracks or b-sides to singles.
The Beach Boys third and final album release of 1968, coming after Friends
Friends (The Beach Boys album)
Friends is the fourteenth studio album by The Beach Boys, released in 1968.As work on the album began in February 1968, Mike Love, a recent convert to transcendental meditation , departed on a two week trip to India to study TM further with his new master, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi...
and released the same day as the quickly cobbled-together Best of The Beach Boys Vol. 3
Best of The Beach Boys Vol. 3
Best of The Beach Boys Vol. 3 is the third in a series of hits compilations of music by The Beach Boys released by Capitol Records. It would prove to be the last official "best of" package by the band on their first record label....
, Stack-O-Tracks was seen by many at the time as a desperate last-ditch effort by Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
to try anything to sell Beach Boys records. The strategy backfired, however; issued at one of their lowest commercial ebbs in the U.S., Stack-O-Tracks became the first Beach Boys album to fail to reach the U.S. or UK charts. Until 1992's much-maligned Summer in Paradise
Summer in Paradise
Summer in Paradise is The Beach Boys' twenty-seventh studio album, their first release of the 1990s and the band's last full album of new, original material. It was released in the United States in 1992 on Brother Records and in the United Kingdom in 1993 on EMI. It has been reported that Navarre...
, it would remain their only official release to have this distinction.
Nonetheless, featuring instrumental highlights from the past studio albums, and including a booklet with the bass lines, lead lines, chords and lyrics (to sing along with), Stack-O-Tracks was clearly a gift to those who wanted to hear what was going on beneath the lush harmonies. Stack-O-Tracks quickly disappeared and was out of print for two decades. In 1990, Capitol Records
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
saw fit to re-issue it on CD, and again in 2001 - both releases without the handy booklet that accompanied the vinyl edition.
Track listing
All songs by Brian WilsonBrian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
/Mike Love
Mike Love
Michael Edward "Mike" Love is an American singer/songwriter and musician with The Beach Boys. He was a founding member of the band along with his cousins Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson, and their friend Al Jardine, and continues to perform with the band to the present day...
, except where noted.
- "Darlin' " – 2:12
- "Salt Lake City" – 1:58
- "Sloop John B" (Trad. arr. Brian Wilson) – 3:04
- "In My Room" (Brian Wilson/Gary UsherGary UsherGary Usher was an American surf rock musician, songwriter, and record producer.-Biography:Usher's early life was spent in Grafton, Massachusetts. He attended Norcross Grammar School with his sister, Sandra, who was in the same class and was likely his twin. Gary was kiddingly called "Chicken Feed"...
) – 2:13 - "Catch A Wave" – 2:00
- "Wild Honey" – 2:35
- "Little Saint Nick" – 1:49
- "Do It Again" – 2:11
- "Wouldn't It Be Nice" (Brian Wilson/Tony AsherTony AsherTony Asher is an American lyricist who co-wrote much of The Beach Boys 1966 album Pet Sounds in conjunction with front man Brian Wilson, including such classic songs as "God Only Knows" and "Wouldn't It Be Nice"...
/Mike Love) – 2:11 - "God Only Knows" (Brian Wilson/Tony Asher) – 2:37
- "Surfer Girl" (Brian Wilson) – 2:16
- "Little Honda" – 1:36
- "Here Today" (Brian Wilson/Tony Asher) – 3:06
- "You're So Good To Me" – 1:55
- "Let Him Run Wild" – 2:13
Stack-O-Tracks is now paired on CD with Beach Boys' Party!
Beach Boys' Party!
Beach Boys' Party! is an album of cover songs by American rock and roll band The Beach Boys that was marketed during the lucrative Christmas season. The original album release included a sheet of photographs of the band 'appearing' to be at the party at hand. It was The Beach Boys' tenth album...
, with bonus instrumental tracks. While Stack-O-Tracks was originally available only in mono
Monaural
Monaural or monophonic sound reproduction is single-channel. Typically there is only one microphone, one loudspeaker, or channels are fed from a common signal path...
or Duophonic
Duophonic
*In synthesizers, capable of sounding two voices, or notes, at a time. Compare: monophonic, polyphonic.*Duophonic is also a term used to refer to a sound process by which a monaural recording is turned into a kind of "fake stereo" by splitting the signal into two channels, delaying the left and the...
sound, the CD includes true stereo
Stereophonic sound
The term Stereophonic, commonly called stereo, sound refers to any method of sound reproduction in which an attempt is made to create an illusion of directionality and audible perspective...
mixes of several tracks.
Bonus Tracks
- "Help Me, Rhonda" - 2:54
- "California Girls" - 2:45
- Our Car Club" - 2:14
Stack-O-Tracks (Capitol (D) KAO 2893) failed to chart in either the U.S. or the UK.