Tandyn Almer obituary in The Washington Post

[rn57]

No it hasn't run but it's in preparation, to appear very shortly. I have been in contact with the obituarist since yesterday.  He just asked me about the toughies - just what is known about Brian's relationship with Tandyn, recording or writing or otherwise, and about the composition of SOS.

I gave him the emails of:
AGD
Peter Reum
Andrew Sandoval
Peter Ames Carlin

Can y'all suggest anyone else?

[rn57]

I told him to get in touch with all the Almer associates of the '60s that came to mind - Eddie Hodges, Billy Elder, Jules Alexander, Terry Kirkman, Ruthann Friedman, Nurit Wilde, some others - and from the BBs period I gave him the email of Billy Hinsche's movie company.

But how about Stanley Shapiro who worked with Tandyn and Brian on those rewritten lyrics? Where he at?  Or anyone else you can think of the reporter should talk to?

[Mikie]

Tell him to ask Marilyn Wilson for her recollections.

[rn57]

Tell him to ask Marilyn Wilson for her recollections.

Hooo, boy - just what she'd love to talk about after a hectic day in the world of real estate.

[AndrewHickey]

If he's asking specifically about Sail On Sailor, then VDP would be the obvious...

[rn57]

If he's asking specifically about Sail On Sailor, then VDP would be the obvious...

Well - Van Dyke is pretty busy right now. When someone from that time period like Tandyn Almer died it reminds him that he's got to get stuff done and then get the next thing done. Especially past four score and seven now. I believe Van Dyke's parents were in their late seventies when they died. His brother Carson who wrote "Somethin' Stupid" died at 69. There's an older brother in his mid-seventies, as I remember. So now that old Van's got the time to do his own stuff instead of work for hire to get his kids thru college like before, his time to straighten out the record is limited.

Especially when he already did that with SOS. I understand he simply informed the obituarist he never worked directly with Tandyn on SOS or anything else. Which given what he has said before must be true.

Van Dyke's spelled out in some interview online what percentage of the words and music he estimated was his - I think he came up with the title itself too. I was trying to find that this afternoon but no luck.

Like I said, I sent him to the experts - but my understanding is that, so far as is known, this song started with Brian playing the chords in that opening verse, then after a while Tandyn next to him supplying words. (And, I dunno, maybe a chord change? I always thought the changes at "often frightened, unenlightened" could be either Van Dyke's or Tandyn's contribution - I can point to similar changes here and there in their own oeuvre.)

Then Ray Kennedy cooked up some words when Brian was playing it again....then it got set aside....then Van Dyke's got to hypnotize Brian, and Tandyn is not there to hold the watch, y'know. Then Jack Rieley starts censoring stuff. Or I thought that was one way it was supposed to be sequenced. It's been hashed out on the board before.

And the result is the only song with a five-writer credit, not a credit for most or all members of an existing group, not a foreign-language tune with English-language lyricist(s) credited alongside the original writer(s), that could be called a classic - one recorded by Ray Charles no less.

But good luck untangling that.  As I think I said, I never asked Tandyn about it via Facebook. He was not in good shape and anyway SOS was from a time probably much less well remembered by him than his '60s work. I guess Rieley must have been in less of a fog than the other guys....but when he starts talking about what he contributed, more problems come in.

Case in point: Marcella. Co-credited to Tandyn on all the labels and credits except the original CATP - I can't remember if Tandyn's name is on that record with the Captain at the wheel. On the sheet music. Tandyn plays on the damn thing, studio version that is.

 But if you look at those ancient writings of Jack's which can be found someplace on the board, he speaks of Marcella as if he'd written every word of it. And if you go to BMI's database, the credits read Brian Wilson and Jack Rieley period - Andrew Sandoval pointed this out in his Tandyn tribute broadcast the other night.

I saw with my own eyes, at Tandyn's service, two beaten up paper grocery bags filled with his financial documents - we're not talking about a guy with a cozy little office in Nashville or out off Wilshire. I got the feeling that some stuff involving the assignment of credits might be in there. But it's up to his people - not as in "my people will call your people," but the old fashioned kind, family - to get it sorted out.

[bgas]

Maybe, hopefully, when they go thru all his stuiff, they'll find him doing some demos for SOS and Marcella

[rn57]

And far from it for me to rustle the shade of OSD - but I am going to advise this obituarist to talk to Mike Love and get him on the record this once.

We all know about Mike's side and Van Dyke's side of their respective stories.

But I have never seen Mike mention Tandyn in an interview or article.

I do know of one case where Tandyn spoke.  At one of the Youtube clips of Along Comes Mary, there's a comments section where, as I remember, a guy whose brother was in the DC chapter of the high-IQ Mensa society with Tandyn said he was introduced to him, said, "my brother says you were worked with the Beach Boys," and Tandyn answered, "for a while, then Mike Love decided I was a corrupting influence on Brian."

Which is to be expected, but I'd like to hear it in Mike's own words, and whatever else he says.

[rn57]

Maybe, hopefully, when they go thru all his stuiff, they'll find him doing some demos for SOS and Marcella

It could be more extensive than that. Some time back, before Tandyn died, I found something very remarkable online which hints - just hints - at what might be in some of the nearly thousand tapes he left. And it is relevant to his BBs period.  Will put up the link later this week.

[KittyKat]

Are there any members of The Association who would be good sources?

[rn57]

Are there any members of The Association who would be good sources?

Well, I've read Jules Alexander was the Assn member who heard Curt and Tandyn's demo, took it to the other guys and said they should do it.  Terry Kirkman is the Assn member (ex now) who was one of Tandyn's friends on Facebook. Told the obituarist to reach Terry through there and try to get hold of the other guys thru the band site.

[Smilin Ed H]

Maybe they could ask Mr Desper for his recollections...

[rn57]

Maybe they could ask Mr Desper for his recollections...

Of course, SWD - didn't think of him. Will tell the obituarist to get in touch with him.

[Jay]

Hope you got the proper permission to give out those e-mail addresses. Just sayin'...

[Andrew G. Doe]

Well - Van Dyke is pretty busy right now. When someone from that time period like Tandyn Almer died it reminds him that he's got to get stuff done and then get the next thing done. Especially past four score and seven now.

VDP is no spring chicken, but he not 87 either.

[gsmile]

Well - Van Dyke is pretty busy right now. When someone from that time period like Tandyn Almer died it reminds him that he's got to get stuff done and then get the next thing done. Especially past four score and seven now. I believe Van Dyke's parents were in their late seventies when they died. His brother Carson who wrote "Somethin' Stupid" died at 69. There's an older brother in his mid-seventies, as I remember. So now that old Van's got the time to do his own stuff instead of work for hire to get his kids thru college like before, his time to straighten out the record is limited.

Especially when he already did that with SOS. I understand he simply informed the obituarist he never worked directly with Tandyn on SOS or anything else. Which given what he has said before must be true.

Van Dyke's spelled out in some interview online what percentage of the words and music he estimated was his - I think he came up with the title itself too. I was trying to find that this afternoon but no luck.

Like I said, I sent him to the experts - but my understanding is that, so far as is known, this song started with Brian playing the chords in that opening verse, then after a while Tandyn next to him supplying words. (And, I dunno, maybe a chord change? I always thought the changes at "often frightened, unenlightened" could be either Van Dyke's or Tandyn's contribution - I can point to similar changes here and there in their own oeuvre.)

Then Ray Kennedy cooked up some words when Brian was playing it again....then it got set aside....then Van Dyke's got to hypnotize Brian, and Tandyn is not there to hold the watch, y'know. Then Jack Rieley starts censoring stuff. Or I thought that was one way it was supposed to be sequenced. It's been hashed out on the board before.

And the result is the only song with a five-writer credit, not a credit for most or all members of an existing group, not a foreign-language tune with English-language lyricist(s) credited alongside the original writer(s), that could be called a classic - one recorded by Ray Charles no less.

But good luck untangling that.  As I think I said, I never asked Tandyn about it via Facebook. He was not in good shape and anyway SOS was from a time probably much less well remembered by him than his '60s work. I guess Rieley must have been in less of a fog than the other guys....but when he starts talking about what he contributed, more problems come in.

Case in point: Marcella. Co-credited to Tandyn on all the labels and credits except the original CATP - I can't remember if Tandyn's name is on that record with the Captain at the wheel. On the sheet music. Tandyn plays on the damn thing, studio version that is.

 But if you look at those ancient writings of Jack's which can be found someplace on the board, he speaks of Marcella as if he'd written every word of it. And if you go to BMI's database, the credits read Brian Wilson and Jack Rieley period - Andrew Sandoval pointed this out in his Tandyn tribute broadcast the other night.

I saw with my own eyes, at Tandyn's service, two beaten up paper grocery bags filled with his financial documents - we're not talking about a guy with a cozy little office in Nashville or out off Wilshire. I got the feeling that some stuff involving the assignment of credits might be in there. But it's up to his people - not as in "my people will call your people," but the old fashioned kind, family - to get it sorted out.

Whoa.  Awesome post, rn57.

[rn57]

Hope you got the proper permission to give out those e-mail addresses. Just sayin'...

Every email address I gave the guy is right on somebody's own site...And Andrew, I don't know where I got that four score and seven. OK, I know. At Tandyn's memorial service there was a  photo taken of him immediately after he moved to DC in 1977.  He had these gigantic muttonchop sideburns like Neil Young back then except bigger - they almost came together and touched at his chin. He looked just like Abe Lincoln letting out his inner caveman or something.

[rn57]

For those in America I should explain the explanation. Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address begins "Four score and seven years ago."

This morning, Tandyn's obit did not run in the Washington Post. I guess at the paper they have realized that this was a figure of real importance in American cultural history who breathed his last in a rented basement room in what newspaper guys used to call their "beat," and they want to get the whole story down.

[hypehat]

You're doing the good work here, mate.

[Ed Roach]

I told him to get in touch with all the Almer associates of the '60s that came to mind - Eddie Hodges, Billy Elder, Jules Alexander, Terry Kirkman, Ruthann Friedman, Nurit Wilde, some others - and from the BBs period I gave him the email of Billy Hinsche's movie company.

But how about Stanley Shapiro who worked with Tandyn and Brian on those rewritten lyrics? Where he at?  Or anyone else you can think of the reporter should talk to?

I'll get in touch with Stan, to see if he'd be willing to talk.

[rn57]

You're doing the good work here, mate.

Much thanks.  I want to make sure this writer at the Post gets the Tandyn story told fully and accurately. Whenever Tandyn was contacted regarding questions about his career - and that did happen on occasion, for despite his mysterious and reclusive reputation he almost always had a listed telephone number - his habit was to be either terse and nonrevealing, or to tell some tall tale off the top of his head.  The conversation Dawn Eden describes at

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/feastofeden/2013/01/the-psychodramas-and-the-traumas-gone-the-songs-are-left-unsung-tandyn-almer-1942-2013/

where he told her that Johnny Walsh who co-wrote "Little Girl Lost And Found" with him was the same guy as the John Walsh who hosted the long running TV series America's Most Wanted, is a case in point.

I told the obituarist that his work isn't complete without asking Brian's manager if he had a statement - though I don't know if he'd have anything to say. Besides talking to Mike, I also pointed out that Al and Bruce were sober at the BBs sessions where Tandyn was present and could provide firsthand accounts.

[rn57]

I told him to get in touch with all the Almer associates of the '60s that came to mind - Eddie Hodges, Billy Elder, Jules Alexander, Terry Kirkman, Ruthann Friedman, Nurit Wilde, some others - and from the BBs period I gave him the email of Billy Hinsche's movie company.

But how about Stanley Shapiro who worked with Tandyn and Brian on those rewritten lyrics? Where he at?  Or anyone else you can think of the reporter should talk to?

I'll get in touch with Stan, to see if he'd be willing to talk.

Ed, thanks so much for doing that. The writer's email - this is at the paper's site, just so you know I'm mindin' the ps and qs Jay - is matt.schudel@washpost.com

[rn57]

Don't think I mentioned the paper has this scheduled to run Sunday - so Ed, tell Stan to email quick  if he'd like to contribute. Several of the Association members have already been interviewed, though I kind of hope the obit doesn't have a ton of words hashing over that age-old debate central to (Curt) Boettcher-ology.

[Smilin Ed H]

Bear in mind that Mr Desper, if I recall correctly, was less than enthusiastic about Almer and the effect he had on Brian, so it'll be interesting to have his point of view.

[bgas]

Bear in mind that Mr Desper, if I recall correctly, was less than enthusiastic about Almer and the effect he had on Brian, so it'll be interesting to have his point of view.

If he bothers to give it