Rio Grande

[derekbill]

I remember making phone calls to Derek Bill back when Brian was in really bad shape, asking for updates on his condition and fearing the worst -was that '80, '81?  We thought it was a matter of weeks before he would be gone.  I sort of dropped out of the Brian picture for a few years after that, paying only a little attention.  Then his solo album came out and I bought it right away, nervously put on headphones and let it play.  When I got to "Rio Grande", I started crying.  I couldn't believe he sounded so good.

I believe it was a year or two earlier than that, Martin, but I remember that as well. BTW, are you still really, really tall? 

[TdHabib]

Rio Grande is breathtaking. I'm more willing to be lenient on Brian considering he was still in "bounce back" mode, and if that meant he had to be prodded a bit, then so be it. The entire Brian Wilson album is a small triumph for the man in the 1980s - on par with many of his 70s Beach Boys contributions, though more consistent overall. The first ten tracks on the album, despite the number of cooks in the kitchen, flow effortlessly.

I remember back in, I believe, October of 2001, in the WAY early days of my fandom, for a couple days on the way to school I brought my newly purchased CD of the Rhino reissue with me on the bus rides to and from school. It was one of the great experiences of my life to hear THIS Brian - a Brian not impeded in any way by the Beach Boys. To me at the time, it was liberating to hear this music. It sounded fresh, insistent, and above all, revelatory. Of course it was my general naivety as a fan at the time - little exposure to the bullmerda around the band and an appreciation for what the band was able to put out. Eight years, thousands of bootlegs and too much information I probably shouldn't know has clouded a lot of this for me, but the Brian Wilson LP stands tall as probably Brian's last great effort.

Rio Grande was an event then for me, and still is now. Sure, computers allowed it to happen better than the Smile music could have at the time, but it's a great amalgam of ideas and emotions wrapped up into a production. It's still amazing to hear, and would be a great thing for Brian to perform live.

Some good comments here. I think Brian's 1988 album is above average, but I like the production on his records better now. Still at the time these were Brian's best sessions since Adult Child, and it was a (mostly) creative LP at a time when the Beach Boys were really going downhill on record (their 1988 summer tour was unusually good for the period). I became a fan around this time, and it was the first new music I bought from Brian or the group. Landy tarnishes some of it for me, but it's a lot better then anything else (released) until BWPS.

I have to agree with you Mike...Rio Grande, Melt Away and Love and Mercy in particular stand out as considered songs where Brian took his time (with Andy Paley, I must admit) and wrote special songs. It also probably helped that the songs are stockpiled mostly from 1983-88 with "Little Children" sticking out as a New Album era thing.

One thought about the production. It's the drums that ruin it for me. In particular I heard the backing track to "Love and Mercy" recently and it's basically an update of the Love You style of production, or even something like "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" "Had to Pohne Ya" style of synths and stacks with the BOOMING drums that I can't stand. The vocals, in particular the harmony stacks on things like "Melt Away" or "Let it Shine," the latter probably the best vocal he cut in the eighties, are good. A bit whiny here and there but in the case of "There's so Many" they rescue what is really a slightly mediocre song...

[mtaber]

Derek- nice to hear from you!  Yes, I am still amazingly tall... how tall are you these days?  I'm still working on the next issue of "Celebrate the Newsletter", should be out posthumously...

[schiaffino]

Although I'm pretty new to posting, I've been following the board for over a year now and that's why I've this tendency to write stuff on older posts...

I've been trying to find Rio Grande on YouTube but I can't find it. Does so
someone know where can I find it? My other alternative is to get BW88...but I don't know yet of its worth it or not. Mmm.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Get BW88. Despite the dated production, it has good songs...

[Outtasight!]

For me Rio Grande is one of the hghlights of Brians career. It has everything I could hope for from a Brian Wilson song cycle. BW88 was the first BW/BB's album I ever bought. I was 17 when it came out and truthfully it took me a while to appreciate much of it, however once I "got it" it led me to the rest of his output and many many many years of rewarding listening. Although some songs suffer from the production (Love and Mercy) the album is superb and Rio Grande is the best closing track(s) I could wish for. Beautiful.

[Mark H.]

Rio Grande is a beautiful thing.  Love and Mercy along with Melt Away are as good as any songs in the cannon.  That Brian could make music that good in the midst the the ensuing Landy debacle demonstrates the man's incomparable talent.