25 Years Together

[Phoenix]

As someone here recently said, the C50 tour was the first in a very long time where the Boys ran contrary to the old Jack Reilly quote and actually DIDN'T "blow it."  That said, I finally got around to watching the 25TH Anniversary show (right now, as a matter of fact) and that's a monumental example of how wrong things COULD have gone this past year.  Wow.  I actually replied to the old thread on the bootleg DVD but amended it to the main board because while I certainly don't disagree with anything said in that thread, it made me think of a few things that weren't mentioned: 

It's funny to see how "hidden" Jeff was in those days.  He's shown here and there but not once yet (I'm about halfway through it at this point) with him singing a lead part.  I know he took several leads in concert around those days but it's as if the powers-that-be wanted the folks watching at home to think the Boys were still doing the falsetto parts (while showing each of them singing different parts while they were going on).  Also I must say, that was a pretty nice guitar solo from him in "Barbara Ann".

I know the Boys "always" used an additional percussionist live but to me, it never made sense once Dennis died.  Before then, Bobby or whoever's presence meant there was someone on hand to take over drums when Dennis went down front (or missed a show) but from the time of his death, up until the most recent tour, the guy on percussion didn't really bring anything extra to the sound; usually just reinforcing the accents.  On this show the percussion set up includes an entire electric kit, including a bass drum.  Since Al, Brian, and Bruce's instruments were all pretty much inaudible around then, every backing musician (but the percussionist) is there for a reason and heard loud and clear.  It's also weird that Mike K and Bobby took turns on certain songs.

I know Glen Campbell had some struggles with some addictions over the years.  Was this recorded around one of those times?  Because the lines he sings in the Car Medley are sometimes WAAAAYYY off the mark.  With all the post-production work done on this, you would thing they would just try it again and use the best take or make one through editing but it appears they figured that was as good as it was gonna get.   "Ladies and gentlemen, the great Glen Campbell!" 

"Whena fyna boony ubnee don't even try cause if she had a set of wings man I know she could fly!" 

"Well when none of the guys go steady and go and it wouldn't be right to leave her home on a Saturday night!"

   
 


As a professional video editor, the show is an absolute nightmare to watch.  And as if the crappy technical gaffes weren't bad enough, there's also a very creepy Stan Love(?) cameo at 43:58!

[Ian]

I agree totally.  The bbs made no attempt to really honor their legacy with that show. It's just pure 80s cheese nd barely watchable today.

[Sheriff John Stone]

But the potential was there....Ray Charles, Glen Campbell, the Everly Brothers, Three Dog Night, and Paul Shaffer. Even Gloria Loring had some talent.

I'm starting to realize that, whether it's on record or on film, the Beach Boys depended so much on the producer. 25 Years Together is a good example of that, unfortunately.

[Phoenix]

I think you hit the nail on the head.  Strange as it seems, I think Mike was the only in the band then who knew they even HAD a legacy.  Carl always wanted them to be a "good band" but had really given up by then.  When approached with directions from a producer, the Boys would just tow the line.

And speaking of Carl, I doubt anyone would argue he had the best voice in the band at that time, yet the producers barely featured it at all.  Outside of "Heaven" and "Good Vibrations" (which most people regard as the group's highlights from the show), most of his leads (even "God Only Knows") were given away to the guest stars.

And as far as the tech stuff goes, I could literally go on for days.  What in the world were the powers-that-be thinking in regards to the (sped up?) key change on the middle eight in "Surfer Girl"?!?

[Autotune]

The TV special is a piece of crap.

Regarding the performances, everything you hear is pre-recorded except for the lead vocals.

[Rocker]

The TV special is a piece of crap.

Regarding the performances, everything you hear is pre-recorded except for the lead vocals.

Wasn't it re-recorded (and to me it sounds like mostly Jeff Foskett on the background - "Sail on sailor" is a good example)?

[Andrew G. Doe]

The TV special is a piece of crap.

Regarding the performances, everything you hear is pre-recorded except for the lead vocals.

Actually only the bvs were pre-recorded. Pretty much everything else was post-dubbed. I've heard an audience tape of the actual show. Dire.

[SMiLE Brian]

The TV special is a piece of crap.

Regarding the performances, everything you hear is pre-recorded except for the lead vocals.

Actually only the bvs were pre-recorded. Pretty much everything else was post-dubbed. I've heard an audience tape of the actual show. Dire.

Belinda's dress was the highlight of the show.

[Rocker]

The TV special is a piece of crap.

Regarding the performances, everything you hear is pre-recorded except for the lead vocals.

Actually only the bvs were pre-recorded.

Were all the Beach Boys involved with the vocals? Because to me it sounds many times like mostly Foskett ("Sail on sailor" as mentioned). But then the audio on my DVD isn't that great

[Rocky Raccoon]

I tried to sit through the whole thing on YouTube but it really is painful to watch.  The "celebrity" cameos from Joe Piscopo, Patrick Duffy, and Don Ho.  The guys reading off of cue cards.  Just the phoniness of it all (I mean of course the majority of Beach Boys fans in 1986 were young bikini clad girls  ) and knowing how dark everything actually was behind the scenes with Brian and Landy.  However, Ray Charles singing "Sail On Sailor" was pretty cool, that was probably the special's biggest get and Carl as usual is giving as much as he could into his vocals.  Three Dog Night singing Darlin' (or was it Two Dog Night that day?) was also not bad, especially considering Danny Hutton is an artist who actually has ties to the boys in their heyday (well Glen Campbell too but as noted before, his performance was nothing to get excited about).  But overall, my god, what a mess.

[Shady]

If you look at Al's smug look while he's walking on stage with Belinda you would think they just had a quickie backstage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HgcuX9GuWE

[SMiLE Brian]

If you look at Al's smug look while he's walking on stage with Belinda you would think they just had a quickie backstage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HgcuX9GuWE

Keep it clean with Al Jardine....

[37!ws]

Some years ago the Mrs. and I watched this with a bunch of other BB fans. And when you have enough people watching something, you tend to notice stuff you've never noticed before...

- Glen Campbell repeatedly pulling his shorts out of his crack
- Brian walking around like a Frankenstein monster with no shirt on. Really, you expect him to blurt out"FIIIIRE BAAAAAAAAAAD!"
- The late Lauri Klobas once said that every single word - sung and spoken - on this show was on cue cards (cue cards that she was in charge of making). This becomes quite obvious at some point when Mike is speaking, and Brian walks over behind him, squints, and actually mouths what Mike is saying...
- You can make a drinking game out of people flashing the "hang loose" sign.
- Brian is stationed about eighteen miles away from the rest of the Beach Boys.
- You never appreciate the sheer number of keyboards until someone in your group of friends notices.

[ontor pertawst]

Hi, I'm Joe Piscopo...

[I. Spaceman]

Yeah, it kinda spoils the "heartfelt" tribute to Dennis when you realize how cuecarded it is.

[Rocky Raccoon]

Hi, I'm Joe Piscopo...

That bit felt like it went on for 20 minutes.  And I actually like Joe Piscopo in all his hasbeen glory but my god, I was cringing.