Carl and the Passions – "So Tough" John penned liner notes for the 2000 CD reissue, writing: 'This is an album which I have loved for a long time... "Carl and the Passions: So Tough" has moments of breathtaking genius and experimentation. When this record was released, I remember how different and fresh it sounded. It still does'. English Britpop band Saint Etienne used the title "So Tough" for their 1993 album as an homage to the Beach Boys. Likewise, they also named their compilation of the same year, "You Need a Mess of Help to Stand Alone", after the Beach Boys song. Track notes per 2000
Carl and the Passions – "So Tough" back in Quad by most of today's audio-video receivers. The surround sound information can be extracted using the Dolby Pro Logic setting, albeit imperfectly, due to the different matrix coefficients. "Carl and the Passions – "So Tough"" met with moderate commercial success upon release, reaching number 25 in the UK and number 50 in the US. It was reviewed favourably in The San Diego Door. And unfavourably by Robert Christgau. Stephen Davis in a contemporary review in "Rolling Stone" felt that only four of the tracks were "acceptable", and that Brian Wilson's lack of genuine involvement hurt the album. Elton