pierson Posted October 3, 2005 Share Posted October 3, 2005 Mike Love may well be an idiot but at least he and Jardine can still sing. Brian can't. Not totally true, although it's obvious Brian has his limitations and many off moments... If he couldn't sing, they wouldn't have been able to make "SMiLE." And, of the concert I saw this summer, he was on the money most of the time, even the times when it was just him singing the part (i.e. "Sloop John B"). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted October 4, 2005 Share Posted October 4, 2005 From Billboard:QUOTEBRIAN WILSON raised over $200,000 for Hurricane Katrina relief after matching all donations through his Web site and promising fans that all who gave over $100 would receive a personal call from him. (Wilson made more than 500 calls.) The former BEACH BOYS singer-songwriter, who is readying his first solo Christmas album, "What I Really Want for Christmas" for an October 18th release, also has plans to bring some holiday cheer to New Orleans by donating toys to children affected by the disaster. "Christmas has always been a special time for me and my family," Wilson said. "No kid should be without Christmas." ENDQUOTEMarv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ira Posted October 4, 2005 Share Posted October 4, 2005 He really is about "Love And Mercy".A brilliant Teddy Bear of a man without a bad bone in his body.I reaaly don't know it for a fact-but Carl too- always struck me as having the soul-as well as the voice of an angel. What it must have been like to grow up in "Chez Wilson"-Yikes!Thanks for the post Marv. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted October 4, 2005 Share Posted October 4, 2005 I know that we shouldn't believe the hype and the press clippings, but everything I've ever read about the Wilson brothers indicate that even with their very troubled upbringing, they are (were) deep souls who had incredible faith in each other and in humanity. Marvp.s. For over 20 years I've been trying to find an inexpensive copy of the highly-valued (among BB fans) David Leaf book, "The Beach Boys and the California Myth." Special *thank you* to Larry L for sending me his prized copy for my reading pleasure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raspberrywine Posted October 4, 2005 Share Posted October 4, 2005 yes, yes , yes Brian Wilson walks on water and the surfs up to boot. I can imagine those phone calls. I hope he doesnt think Katrina is some girl he knew in high school in Hawthorne? I saw Brian Wilson a couple years ago, and while certainly appreciating the precise renderings of the Pet Sounds material by a talented back-up group, without this group he would be absolutely doomed. He sounded sorta like a beached whale singing off key in a very big shower. Not to mention all the discordant notes he played on the keyboard- till someone had the courtesy to turn him down in the mix. I always find it interesting how we lose objectivity when we come to review so many musical or creative people. How the kind of behavior and abuses, we would detest and find totally reprehensible in our own friends and family, is suddenly dismissed because youve written some great songs. Read the many Beach Boys biographies out there, its not a pretty picture. Answer me this: when's the last time Brian Wilson wrote a great song? I mean a song of the calibre of his writing '65-'71. If you think "Love and Mercy" is a great song then I suppose you also must think that "This little piggy went to market" is a hot little tune as well. Mike Love and Al jardine are disgusting cretins masquerading as professional musicians.They would have been lucky to have sung in the Hawthorne Community Choir if the Wilsons hadntput up with them. I dont think either of them could win a high school talent contest. The Beach Boys were a tremendous musical force but Id rather listen to the great CDs then pay to see Brian hit another flat note. Fortunately, the reverse is true with the Raspberries. How Eric can still sing like that is a wonder. Theyre like a good wine I guess. Great shows but they had four wonderful albums to choose material from besides these classic covers.The Beach Boys would have been lucky to have been given "Lets Pretend" "On the Beach" and "Drivin Around" circa 1973. Those songs were a reminder of the level that Brian could write at prior that time period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted October 4, 2005 Share Posted October 4, 2005 Not to take anything away from Eric or to diminish his still-great vocals, but I don't think you can compare the 2005 model of Brian Wilson to Eric. We all know what Brian has been through in his life, and granted some of it was his own doing, but to lay blame on him for not being up to snuff is totally unfair. Is he lucid when he's on stage? Is he singing on key? Is he playing his keyboard? Personally, I really don't care. The fact that he is trying to face his demons and is on stage performing again is all that needs to be said.Without a doubt the Wondermints are a fabulous group of musicians who deserve the credit for making the live show a success, and maybe I'm just too blind to see Brian's failings, but I'm on top of the world that he's out there performing, releasing material, trying to become a valid and important artist again. A few years ago this would have been an impossibility. Although Brian seems to think that he needs to win back the public's admiration, he doesn't have to prove anything to me. I am blessed for having him back, for having received my musical education at his feet, for being exposed to all that wonderous music. For those who have not done so yet, I would suggest that you pick up a copy of the SMiLE dvd. You will gain incredible insights into a man who is obvioulsy still not healed, but who can still take over a studio and a rehearsal and show musicians EXACTLY what he needs to hear on a song. Does Brian walk on water? No, those days have long passed, but in my mind he will always be the most inventive and innovative writer/producer/arranger Pop music will ever know. Thanks. Marv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ira Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 Marv-you're right.As much as all of us on this website love Rock And Roll sometimes I wonder if we-Myself Included- realize that "Rock And Roll Is Here To Stay". Brian Wilson is Cole Porter,Stephen Foster,Irving Berlin,George Gershwin,-part of the American musical landscape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 ..and Ira there's no one who knows that better than Eric himself.Marv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darlene Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 That's very true, Marvin. Eric marvelled at Pet Sounds, as we all did. Brian certainly has been through a lot, as have, unfortunately, some of the best musicians. Life happens. If people are happiest listening to old recordings of Beach Boys, by all means, do it. I, too, think Brian Wilson is one of the American icons of music who should be applauded for putting his music out there. Brian's tribulations help to underscore how EXTREMELY fortunate we are and how wonderful it is that Raspberries are at the top of their game and better than they ever were. God, are we lucky, or WHAT(?!) to be able to see and hear them live, in the best form of their lives! Just thinking about that alone, if you haven't seen a show, GO!!!! --Darlene Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raspberrywine Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 Everyones entitled to their opinion, but I would prefer to see a musician play and sing on key regardless of their legendary status. Everyone admires his comeback from drug induced psychosis,but I would actually be freightened to hear him play and sing just by himself at the piano. It would proabbly be similar to the sound of fingernails on the ole chalkboard. I'm not sure a person could go through this experience without resorting to their own drug induced psychosis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 Granted Brian's voice has been ravaged by years of abuse, but as I said, pick up the SMiLE dvd and you'll see and hear for yourself that Brian, when he is in the right frame of mind (and mood), is very capable of playing and singing. Marv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raspberrywine Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 Ive heard it. And Ive also listened to all the Smile cuts on the Beach Boys box set, the Smilebootleg I possess, and all Smile material on the Beach Boys albums '67-'73. Lets not forget the Beach Boys released about 75% of that project in one form or another over that time period. For me, "the new" Smile cd is a commercial decision- not a creative one. How could one claim to be going back to do it properly when your own powers (singing and instrumentally) are so diminished?? I think re-doing it is an excuse for not being able to write superior material any more. Granted, the back up intrumentalists do a very fine job indeed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 Raspberrywine (what the heck is your name anyway?), the release of the *new* version of SMiLE has everything to do with Brian finally feeling mentally able to re-visit that horrific period of his life. It has nothing to do with not being able to write superior material. So you've "heard" the SMiLE disc, but have you *seen* the DVD?Marv Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnO Posted October 5, 2005 Author Share Posted October 5, 2005 The thing that gets me is - Brian can still do it vocally in the studio. He still does most of the vocals himself, including all of the high harmonies. Yet, live, he's very much hit or miss, even if his band is always on (and...if you've seen him live, you know that Jeff Foskett is doing most of the high parts....while Brian falls somewhere into Mike Love's range in the mix live.) The band and Brian still put on a great show, especially compared to either the "real thing" (Beach Boys from the 70's-90's) or Love's (and Brian Johnston's) ersatz Beach Boys band that seems to tour non-stop.Why he chose to re-do "Smile" in lieu of releasing the original recordings has more to do with a decision to cut the remaining Beach Boys out of the picture...part creative, but mostly commercial. Per Al Jardine, he and Brian and Mike never meet anymore....it's just their lawyers getting together. A damn shame, because Al's band was damn near as good as Brian's - and he had both of Brian's daughters singing with him, until they were intimidated to quit by Brian's lawyers - and Al was forbidden from using the words "Beach Boys" to help promote his shows.Lastly....Brian's last studio CD "Getting In Over My Head" was a huge disappointment. Very little of it was new recordings. It was mostly songs from "Sweet Insanity" and the sessions with Andy Paley (all unreleased....except, of course, on tons of bootlegs). Brian claims he's suffering from writer's block. I believe him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
popdude Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 ...the release of the *new* version of SMiLE has everything to do with Brian finally feeling mentally able to re-visit that horrific period of his life. Marv From what I've heard, it actually has * a lot* to do with the people around Brian telling him what to do and the fact that there is a lot of $$$ to be made. Sad but true.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pierson Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 from what I've heard, it actually has * a lot* to do with the people around Brian telling him what to do and the fact that there is a lot of $$$ to be made. Sad but true.... [/QB] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
popdude Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 These were people who KNEW the music better than anyone else and had already spent a LOT of time with Brian on the road... It's idiotic to think that such an attempt to remake/finish "SMiLE" was not genuine and from the heart... the fact that it could make money was the BONUS (& an honest incentive). Obviously, if it wasn't a viable concept (i.e. it could make money) they wouldn't have done it... let's not be dumb about it...That doesn't mean it's "SAD" that such a thing is the truth... It's actually pretty f'n cool this far down the line that people care enough so that such thing is PLAUSIBLE!!!!! [/QB]Gee Pat, "dumb" AND "idiotic?" Next you'll be calling me "Popdud." The "labor of love" you speak of is Foskett and the Wondermints' labor of love, not Brian's...by all accounts, Brian would rather be at home playing with his kids and banging on his piano than out on the road night after night (and on some nights it seems as if he'd rather be ANYWHERE else but on stage)---but *someone* wants him out there. Is this so he can preserve his legacy? Doubtful. It's to make money. Not that there's anything WRONG with that...Yeah, it's definitely cool that it's happening and that the Wondermints and Foskett are so careful with the preservation and re-creation of SMILE....but it'd be even cooler if Brian was able to make these choices on his own and wasn't being forced out on stage like a trained seal.Just my opinion.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pierson Posted October 5, 2005 Share Posted October 5, 2005 -but *someone* wants him out there. Is this so he can preserve his legacy? Doubtful. It's to make money. Not that there's anything WRONG with that...Just my opinion.. [/QB]that side of the story i don't doubt... & wouldn't it be nice if his "handlers" were more sensitive to what's best for him... that is still a 'sad' story... & you're right...I do hope that deep down he's happy that his music was restored and that he was finally able to reach people with what is his greatest creations... it is hard to tell how much he cares/cared... the night I saw him play (in August) he was ecstatic & happy... But I do know that he's tired of all the touring... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tgp Posted October 6, 2005 Share Posted October 6, 2005 I don't understand all of the bashing of the other Beach Boys, especially their live performances after Brian left. In my opinion, Brian may have been the heart of the Beach Boys but Carl was the soul. And to diss the band's performances with Carl is just as much an insult as those who question Brian's current live stuff. I grew up with the Beach Boys and I have to tell you, I always thought Smile sucked back then and it sucks in its new form too. It will always be one of the most overhyped albums of all time. The Beach Boys were always a singles band with the exception of Pet Sounds and Love You (and I happen to be partial to MIU and 15 Big Ones). That is why Endless Summer and Spirit Of America are their biggest sellers.The inference in this thread is that Brian Wilson was the Beach Boys. Irregardless of whether Mike Love or Al Jardine are idiots, they, along with Carl and Dennis and to a much lesser extent, Bruce, were crucial to the band's success. Has everyone forgotten that Mike sued Brian successfully for co-writing credit of many of the band's hits? I can't stand the guy but to keep dismissing his impact on the band is clearly ignoring the facts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raspberrywine Posted October 6, 2005 Share Posted October 6, 2005 Most four year olds could write better lyrics than Mike Love. Or sing better than him for that matter. Dennis and Carl were invaluable, Mike and Al were completely disposable in my opinion. SMILE is overhyped, I agree, but at the same time it was a worthy effort by Brian and Van Dyke Parkes to do something more distinctly and broadly American in a pop/rock vein. Theres an American folkiness to Smile which is really intriguing and charming. To try to link snipets of American history and development to the 60s progressive psychadelic vibe was cool. But the problem in my mind is that, because of breakdowns and fallouts,it never hung together conceptually. Way too much of a hodge podge. Compare it to Pet Sounds where theres a wistful and plaintive tonal feeling throughout the whole entity. And theres a lyrical cohesiveness, even if the song subject matters are different. Even Sloop John B. is a song about a boat trip going haywire. But SMile, ,its beautiful instrumentations aside, seems a little dated coming out anew because it really sounds like a product of those times. I think its a darn shame it didnt come out in the time period for which it was intended. It had alot more potential to be a cohesive masterpiece as opposed to something like Sgt. Pepper which really feigned at being a conceptual whole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.