Articles on Celebration

[Steve Latshaw]

I really don't think the movie sold the song.  The film was not successful and very poorly recieved.  Mike worked his ass off at a series of events in the Spring...  and pushed the songs heavily in shows.  If anything, the song promoted the film.  I think there was a window in the spring/summer of 1978 when a Brian Wilson summery Beach Boys song - provided it was a 1978 spin on their classic sound with a Mike Love lead vocal - could become a big hit.  But the Beach Boys had nothing ready - so the song by Celebration filled the gap.  Mike was all over the radio that spring and summer, between the single, the oldies and his Kodak commercials so the timing was perfect.  I think a more polished Beach Boys version might have done even better.  But then again, based on audience response at shows that summer, I thought the next Beach Boys single would be Country Pie, so what the hell did I know?

[SloopJohnnyB]

I was at a show where Mike taught us the words to Country Pie so we could all sing along. He did that for that tour. I was really disappointed when the song didn't make the next Beach Boys album. 

[Steve Latshaw]

I heard Country Pie first in Champaign, IL, at a weekend show during the MIU sessions in the fall of 1977.  Heard it again, in Springfield, IL., in August of 1978.  It sounded great... heavy guitar base... great rhythm guitar and great vocals from the band.  The college audience in 1977 hated it... but the state fair audience the next summer loved it.  Fellow fans and I assumed that Country Pie and Lady Lynda were the upcoming big hit singles they would be saving for the first CBS album, so it was a surpriseg not to read it was in consideration when Bruce was interviewed for Pet Sounds magazine. 

The subsequent recording of the song on the Celebration album was a disappointment.  The track didn't sound as epic with trad country strumming as it did on stage with Carl, Al and the band playing... the mix is muddy; the horns are buried untiil the end, and one of my big beefs with Celebration was always the bg vocals.  They were all talented singers but the backgrounds never had that smooth, sweet sound the Beach Boys had.  Dave Robinson's voice really stood out into the mix.  A great solo singer but he didn't blend in too well.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Thank you to Steve + Dutchie for setting the record straight.. Now wasn't there a single release of AS that was tailor made for radio stations in different markets.. ?  Big collectors item.  And I agree with a cd release of Celebration lp"s   Print up 10 000 and sell em at concerts. I'd buy one.

from Discogs, here's a pic of the KRTH version label ( I dont think I've seen another radio station versions): 

     

If you had I'd be amazed, as that was the only one pressed up on a 45: all the others were on cassette or cart only.

[Ian]

We didn't have space to cover this topic in great details but it was covered in the beach Boys in Concert book. We also had a solo section covering mikes non bb shows

[Steve Latshaw]

Ian - your book is still my favorite of the ones I've read because it covers the history that most of us were there to see and experience.  I love this book's coverage of the 70s and 80s.... and the info on Celebration and the Mike Love solo work was quite enlightening.

[Sheriff John Stone]

I really don't think the movie sold the song.  The film was not successful and very poorly recieved.  Mike worked his ass off at a series of events in the Spring...  and pushed the songs heavily in shows.  If anything, the song promoted the film.  I think there was a window in the spring/summer of 1978 when a Brian Wilson summery Beach Boys song - provided it was a 1978 spin on their classic sound with a Mike Love lead vocal - could become a big hit. 

I totally agree, Steve. Even though, in early 1978, disco music was peaking and punk rock was still prevalent, there WAS still a window or door for The Beach Boys to "open" and walk in. I still remember "Almost Summer" coming on AM radio, and especially with that intro and Mike's familiar voice, just hooking you in.

"Almost Summer" was one of "those songs", along with "Rock And Roll Music", "Good Timin", "The Beach Boys' Medley", "Come Go With Me", "Getcha Back", maybe "Wipe Out", and "Kokomo", that Mike Love began and continued to hang his hat on (no pun intended) as far as believing in the power of The Beach Boys' sound. No matter what the era or generation or whatever, there was always a window for that "fun in the sun sound". It was just a matter of hitting it with the right song. Other than 'Good Timin", look at those songs I listed above that became hits, and then look at some of the deeper/better ones that didn't.

[baseball95]

They do have a wikipedia page now 

[punkinhead]

They do have a wikipedia page now 

Really? I can't find it.

[baseball95]

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebration_(1970s_band)

[Andrew G. Doe]

Promising start, could be better. The band members for the 2nd album included Kim Calkins on drums, for example.