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David Leaf Talks About DW
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Topic: David Leaf Talks About DW (Read 6192 times)
c-man
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David Leaf Talks About DW
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on:
January 09, 2012, 09:53:59 AM »
I recently came across this, in a mid-'80s issue of BBFUN (the official Beach Boys fan club newsletter)...thought the next-to-last paragraph in particular was interesting, since I haven't read about it anywhere else:
"I interviewed him when his solo album came out, and ended up spending the day and night with him. He had a recording session, and he took me and a bunch of people into Brother Studio, and had us singing background on a new song of his, 'He's A Bum.' A great song, and I hope it comes out someday. He taught us our part, and we sang it over and over until he was satisfied. That's the first time I really saw how hard it is to make records. Later that night, around ten o'clock, Dennis began working on a lead vocal for another song. He spent at least two hours singing the same verse, over and over again, until he was satisfied with every single word. I don't think people knew that when it came to his music, Dennis was really a perfectionist. He had so much talent, and I don't know if he ever acknowledged himself.
"That day with Dennis didn't end at the studio. Around 1:00 in the morning, when he quit for the day, he said to me, 'C'mon, let's go.' I didn't know where we were going; I just knew that he wanted to drive my car. I have to admit that made me a little nervous, not only because Dennis was a speed racer, but because on the back windshield of my car, I had a bumper sticker that a friend of mine had given to me. It said, 'Warning - I brake for Brian Wilson...When Dennis saw it, I was just humiliated. I thought, 'He's going to kill me.' And he looked at it, and got all choked up, like he was going to cry. And he said, 'I know exactly what you mean. Everytime I'm driving in my car and one of Brian's songs comes on the radio, I have to pull off to the side of the road.' To me, the bumper sticker was a mean joke, but when Dennis said it like that, it suddenly took on a whole new meaning. I never knew whether he was serious or whether he was putting me on, but he got pretty emotional about it...Anyway, he drove to his house in Venice, and we spent the entire night talking. He played the piano some, played a new song, and he got me to write lyrics to it. That's another beautiful song that never came out. I think the lyric was something like 'Drink up, the bartender said, the night is long and you've been mislead.' And in the chorus, Dennis sang, 'Did it hurt, did it hurt to love again?'. That was a powerful, emotional experience. And that's what Dennis could do to you.
"We talked 'til dawn, never went to sleep. We discussed different groups we liked, and it turned out we were both big Bruce Springsteen fans. The next morning, a friend of his visited, and around 10 a.m., I went home and slept. I will never forget that day..."
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Last Edit: January 12, 2012, 09:29:09 AM by c-man
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Autotune
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Re: David Leaf Talks About DW
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Reply #1 on:
January 09, 2012, 12:19:25 PM »
I remember that interview. BBFUN conducted some good ones over the years.
DL told great stories about each beach boy like this one about Dennis. Except when it came to Mike: the story was about seeing him naked.
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"His lyrical ability has never been touched by anyone, except for Mike Love."
-Brian Wilson on Van Dyke Parks (2015)
Justin
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Re: David Leaf Talks About DW
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Reply #2 on:
January 09, 2012, 01:17:34 PM »
Great story...really gives you an insight to Dennis' character.
Dr. Lenny....love that Norbit quote in your signature...where did Brian say that?
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Autotune
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Re: David Leaf Talks About DW
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Reply #3 on:
January 09, 2012, 03:14:42 PM »
Quote from: Justin on January 09, 2012, 01:17:34 PM
Great story...really gives you an insight to Dennis' character.
Dr. Lenny....love that Norbit quote in your signature...where did Brian say that?
I wish I could remember... It comes from a questionaire-type inteview from the period between Imagination and BWPS.
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"His lyrical ability has never been touched by anyone, except for Mike Love."
-Brian Wilson on Van Dyke Parks (2015)
Mr. Wilson
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Re: David Leaf Talks About DW
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Reply #4 on:
January 09, 2012, 03:34:52 PM »
THX for posting that..I seem to remember that story..I was a BB fun member for YEARS
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Shane
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Re: David Leaf Talks About DW
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Reply #5 on:
January 10, 2012, 12:05:32 AM »
Something tells me Dennis Wilson was as much of a BW fan as anybody on this board.
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Aegir
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Re: David Leaf Talks About DW
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Reply #6 on:
January 10, 2012, 02:19:22 AM »
Quote from: Dr. Lenny on January 09, 2012, 03:14:42 PM
Quote from: Justin on January 09, 2012, 01:17:34 PM
Great story...really gives you an insight to Dennis' character.
Dr. Lenny....love that Norbit quote in your signature...where did Brian say that?
I wish I could remember... It comes from a questionaire-type inteview from the period between Imagination and BWPS.
Actually, it's more recent than that, and the quote isn't exactly accurate. It was in the Asbury Park Press in 2007, and here's the quote:
Have you seen any good movies lately?
Well, I've only seen one in the last couple of years. It's called "Norbit" by Eddie Murphy.
How did you like it?
Fantastic movie. Very funny.
What's your favorite movie?
"Norbit."
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Quote from: runnersdialzero on April 05, 2012, 06:08:41 PM
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Autotune
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Re: David Leaf Talks About DW
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Reply #7 on:
January 10, 2012, 03:54:35 AM »
thanks Aegir!
Interesting taste in movies. We also know, per Breakaway newsletter that he saw and liked Flipper in the 90s.
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"His lyrical ability has never been touched by anyone, except for Mike Love."
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Andrew G. Doe
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Re: David Leaf Talks About DW
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Reply #8 on:
January 10, 2012, 04:07:45 AM »
Quote from: Aegir on January 10, 2012, 02:19:22 AM
Have you seen any good movies lately?
Well,
I've only seen one in the last couple of years
. It's called "Norbit" by Eddie Murphy.
Feel compelled to point out that this is a primo example of Brian messing with an interviewer's head by telling a huge porky.
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Roger Ryan
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Re: David Leaf Talks About DW
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Reply #9 on:
January 10, 2012, 09:39:50 AM »
At one point about 15 years ago, Brian was quoted as saying his favorite film was an obscure 1965 psycho-drama entitled MIRAGE. If he saw it first run, it would have been in the late spring / early summer of 1965. Here's a synopsis from IMDb:
An accountant's memory suddenly becomes mixed up starting from the moment the building he is in has a power blackout. He is bewildered that he can't recall even simple particulars of his job and places he does remember don't exist. Believing he has some type of amnesia, he tries to backtrack what happened before the blackout. Aided by a rookie detective and confused by an old girl friend, he tries to make sense of inconsistent facts while people around him are being murdered.
Interesting that this TWILIGHT ZONE-like plot appealed to Brian who might have been experienced something similar to the film's protagonist in the years after the film's release.
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send me a picture and i'll tell you
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Re: David Leaf Talks About DW
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Reply #10 on:
January 10, 2012, 02:33:37 PM »
Quote from: c-man on January 09, 2012, 09:53:59 AM
and had us singing background on a new song of his, 'He's A Bm.' A great song, and I hope it comes out someday.
My understanding is that that song is a real turd.
A bm usually does come out, if one is patient...
*potty-mouth mode off*
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that's it, who here wants to touch d***s? all in a row, just run your hand across several of them and hit them like you're bret hart tagging your fans as you approach the ring wearing teh pink sunglasses in 1993 ----runnersdialzero
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Jon Stebbins
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Re: David Leaf Talks About DW
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Reply #11 on:
January 10, 2012, 06:00:08 PM »
Quote from: Bill Larson on January 10, 2012, 02:33:37 PM
Quote from: c-man on January 09, 2012, 09:53:59 AM
and had us singing background on a new song of his, 'He's A Bm.' A great song, and I hope it comes out someday.
My understanding is that that song is a real turd.
A bm usually does come out, if one is patient...
*potty-mouth mode off*
Such cultivated insight Bill. Thanks for your informative contribution.
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Jason
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Re: David Leaf Talks About DW
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Reply #12 on:
January 10, 2012, 07:45:30 PM »
Actually, the song was called "He's a Bm". Bm isn't as effective as Dm, the saddest of all keys.
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Magic Transistor Radio
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Re: David Leaf Talks About DW
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Reply #13 on:
January 10, 2012, 08:37:02 PM »
What is the other possible meaning to 'I brake for Brian'. The only one I can think of is to break down and cry.
On another note, I just lost a lot of respect for Dennis, that he was a Bruce Springstien fan!
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"Over the years, I've been accused of not supporting our new music from this era (67-73) and just wanting to play our hits. That's complete b.s......I was also, as the front man, the one promoting these songs onstage and have the scars to show for it."
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Andrew G. Doe
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Re: David Leaf Talks About DW
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Reply #14 on:
January 10, 2012, 10:42:25 PM »
Quote from: Magic Transistor Radio on January 10, 2012, 08:37:02 PM
What is the other possible meaning to 'I brake for Brian'. The only one I can think of is to break down and cry.
On another note, I just lost a lot of respect for Dennis, that he was a Bruce Springstien fan!
It's a parody on the "I brake for Jesus" bumper stickers that were rife at the time.
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The four sweetest words in my vocabulary: "This poster is ignored".
Bill M
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Re: David Leaf Talks About DW
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Reply #15 on:
January 11, 2012, 02:03:21 PM »
Always thought it was a parody of the "I brake for animals" bumper stickers. I got one of those "I brake for Brian Wilson" bumper stickers in '77 from the BBFUN club for entering one of their BB trivia contests. Unfortunately, it washed off the car during the first rain storm after putting it on.
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SMiLE Brian
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Re: David Leaf Talks About DW
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Reply #16 on:
January 12, 2012, 04:46:57 AM »
Quote from: Andrew G. Doe on January 10, 2012, 10:42:25 PM
Quote from: Magic Transistor Radio on January 10, 2012, 08:37:02 PM
What is the other possible meaning to 'I brake for Brian'. The only one I can think of is to break down and cry.
On another note, I just lost a lot of respect for Dennis, that he was a Bruce Springstien fan!
It's a parody on the "I brake for Jesus" bumper stickers that were rife at the time.
Suprised the blueboard hasn't revived these bumper stickers...
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And production aside, I’d so much rather hear a 14 year old David Marks shred some guitar on Chug-a-lug than hear a 51 year old Mike Love sing about bangin some chick in a swimming pool.-rab2591
Andrew G. Doe
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Re: David Leaf Talks About DW
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Reply #17 on:
January 12, 2012, 05:37:06 AM »
Quote from: SMiLE Brian on January 12, 2012, 04:46:57 AM
Quote from: Andrew G. Doe on January 10, 2012, 10:42:25 PM
Quote from: Magic Transistor Radio on January 10, 2012, 08:37:02 PM
What is the other possible meaning to 'I brake for Brian'. The only one I can think of is to break down and cry.
On another note, I just lost a lot of respect for Dennis, that he was a Bruce Springstien fan!
It's a parody on the "I brake for Jesus" bumper stickers that were rife at the time.
Suprised the blueboard hasn't revived these bumper stickers...
Don't give them ideas. Or Ronnie, for that matter.
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The four sweetest words in my vocabulary: "This poster is ignored".
♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇
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Re: David Leaf Talks About DW
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Reply #18 on:
January 12, 2012, 08:04:27 AM »
Quote from: The Real Beach Boy on January 10, 2012, 07:45:30 PM
Actually, the song was called "He's a Bm". Bm isn't as effective as Dm, the saddest of all keys.
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Jon Stebbins
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Re: David Leaf Talks About DW
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Reply #19 on:
January 12, 2012, 08:59:31 AM »
Quote from: Bill M on January 11, 2012, 02:03:21 PM
Always thought it was a parody of the "I brake for animals" bumper stickers. I got one of those "I brake for Brian Wilson" bumper stickers in '77 from the BBFUN club for entering one of their BB trivia contests. Unfortunately, it washed off the car during the first rain storm after putting it on.
I think it was a parody of the "I Brake For Bigfoot" stickers that were prevalent during the Sasquatch rumors craze in the mid '70's. Brian being reclusive and large and hairy...you can see the humor there...I think that's why Leaf was concerned about Dennis' potential reaction to the sticker.
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c-man
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Re: David Leaf Talks About DW
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Reply #20 on:
January 12, 2012, 09:35:38 AM »
Quote from: The Real Beach Boy on January 10, 2012, 07:45:30 PM
Actually, the song was called "He's a Bm". Bm isn't as effective as Dm, the saddest of all keys.
Wow, I just realized my typo at the top of this chain (and fixed it). Thanks!
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