Brian Wilson & Songwriting Credits

[Andrew G. Doe]

It's also possible that the "handing over" credits story may be referring to Ed Carter's "Surfer Suzie", which was one of the songs supposedly rolling around during the KTSA period; difference being that in that case he supposedly/allgedly did not and/or would not hand it over and relinquish credits. I've never heard it (has it ever been aired/leaked/performed in any form?). I've always wondered if that's what really went down with that song, considering they had had no problem recording songs by outside authors in the past. Yes, most of those were cover versions as opposed to "songs for hire." But they did record "Winds of Change" for instance, and the authors of that track remained.

SWD played me the track and bvs of "Surfin' Suzie" in 1985 in LA, and when I asked him why it wasn't on KTSA, he just smiled and said one word: "politics".

[c-man]

I know there were reports back then that Brian “hated” “Let It Shine”, but he apparently liked it enough to actually add it to the setlist in 2000 for a short time. I saw the first show where they added the song to the setlist in 2000, and outside of Smile-era material popping up in 2001, it may still be the biggest *surprise* as far as a setlist pick in any of the shows I’ve seen, just in terms of thinking I never would have guessed they would do it.

I was also surprised when, a year or two back, someone dug up that lengthy, interesting Carl Wilson interview from 1989 and translated it, and Carl mentioned “Let It Shine” specifically as one he liked off Brian’s then-recent album.

They did it in 2003, too.

[c-man]

But what about the song that an unknown songwriter "handed over" to the band because they all pressured him to give it over and relinquish all credits to it. The story was elsewhere on this board--I can't seem to find it now, but I bet it's still here. My question: what was the song, was it recorded/released, and were there ever credit corrections to this? It was one of the saddest BB-related stories I've read here...

Are you thinking about 'It's About Time' where the guy who wrote the bulk of the tune was offered a flat rate for the band to buy it off him and rewrite it?

a

By "bulk of the tune" in the case, you mean lyrics. Because the track already existed when Dennis requested that Bob Burchman supply the lyrics.

[Mike's Beard]

But what about the song that an unknown songwriter "handed over" to the band because they all pressured him to give it over and relinquish all credits to it. The story was elsewhere on this board--I can't seem to find it now, but I bet it's still here. My question: what was the song, was it recorded/released, and were there ever credit corrections to this? It was one of the saddest BB-related stories I've read here...

Are you thinking about 'It's About Time' where the guy who wrote the bulk of the tune was offered a flat rate for the band to buy it off him and rewrite it?

a

By "bulk of the tune" in the case, you mean lyrics. Because the track already existed when Dennis requested that Bob Burchman supply the lyrics.

All I really remembered was Al added the end part (the 'it's about time now it's about time' refrain) without Bob's knowledge to his song and was given a third of the songwriting royalty.

[HeyJude]

I know there were reports back then that Brian “hated” “Let It Shine”, but he apparently liked it enough to actually add it to the setlist in 2000 for a short time. I saw the first show where they added the song to the setlist in 2000, and outside of Smile-era material popping up in 2001, it may still be the biggest *surprise* as far as a setlist pick in any of the shows I’ve seen, just in terms of thinking I never would have guessed they would do it.

I was also surprised when, a year or two back, someone dug up that lengthy, interesting Carl Wilson interview from 1989 and translated it, and Carl mentioned “Let It Shine” specifically as one he liked off Brian’s then-recent album.

They did it in 2003, too.

Interesting. Do you remember which date or leg of Brian's tour that year? I remember that they did "Melt Away" that year, I believe. But I can't find "Let It Shine" outside of 2000 on either setlists.fm or the BB Setlist Archive (neither of which of course have every setlist).

[HeyJude]

It's also possible that the "handing over" credits story may be referring to Ed Carter's "Surfer Suzie", which was one of the songs supposedly rolling around during the KTSA period; difference being that in that case he supposedly/allgedly did not and/or would not hand it over and relinquish credits. I've never heard it (has it ever been aired/leaked/performed in any form?). I've always wondered if that's what really went down with that song, considering they had had no problem recording songs by outside authors in the past. Yes, most of those were cover versions as opposed to "songs for hire." But they did record "Winds of Change" for instance, and the authors of that track remained.

SWD played me the track and bvs of "Surfin' Suzie" in 1985 in LA, and when I asked him why it wasn't on KTSA, he just smiled and said one word: "politics".

What type of track was it? Always meant to ask this. Did it sound like a typical early 80's BB throwback style? I know there's tons of stuff that has never leaked, but I'm surprised not a single note of that one has leaked, especially when at least a few other KTSA backing tracks (both versions of "Goin' On", "Goin' to the Beach") leaked eons ago.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Not being flip, it sounded like a KTSA outtake, not dissimilar to a less frenetic "Goin' To The Beach" so yeah, 80s throwback.

I know there were reports back then that Brian “hated” “Let It Shine”, but he apparently liked it enough to actually add it to the setlist in 2000 for a short time. I saw the first show where they added the song to the setlist in 2000, and outside of Smile-era material popping up in 2001, it may still be the biggest *surprise* as far as a setlist pick in any of the shows I’ve seen, just in terms of thinking I never would have guessed they would do it.

I was also surprised when, a year or two back, someone dug up that lengthy, interesting Carl Wilson interview from 1989 and translated it, and Carl mentioned “Let It Shine” specifically as one he liked off Brian’s then-recent album.

They did it in 2003, too.

Interesting. Do you remember which date or leg of Brian's tour that year? I remember that they did "Melt Away" that year, I believe. But I can't find "Let It Shine" outside of 2000 on either setlists.fm or the BB Setlist Archive (neither of which of course have every setlist).

The 2003 BW "tour" consisted of the following dates:

6/12    CasinoRama, Orilla, ON, Canada [cancelled due to SARS oubreak]
6/14    Hatch Memorial Shell, Boston, MA
6/16    Beacon Theater, New York, NY
6/18    New Jersey PAC, Newark, NJ [cancelled]
10/16  6th Annual CWF Benefit Concert, Royce Hall, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA

[c-man]

But what about the song that an unknown songwriter "handed over" to the band because they all pressured him to give it over and relinquish all credits to it. The story was elsewhere on this board--I can't seem to find it now, but I bet it's still here. My question: what was the song, was it recorded/released, and were there ever credit corrections to this? It was one of the saddest BB-related stories I've read here...

Are you thinking about 'It's About Time' where the guy who wrote the bulk of the tune was offered a flat rate for the band to buy it off him and rewrite it?

a

By "bulk of the tune" in the case, you mean lyrics. Because the track already existed when Dennis requested that Bob Burchman supply the lyrics.

All I really remembered was Al added the end part (the 'it's about time now it's about time' refrain) without Bob's knowledge to his song and was given a third of the songwriting royalty.

I wouldn't be surprised if Al also added the melodic vocalizations in the middle, since his and Mike's are the two most prominent voices there until Carl's lead kicks back in.

[c-man]

I know there were reports back then that Brian “hated” “Let It Shine”, but he apparently liked it enough to actually add it to the setlist in 2000 for a short time. I saw the first show where they added the song to the setlist in 2000, and outside of Smile-era material popping up in 2001, it may still be the biggest *surprise* as far as a setlist pick in any of the shows I’ve seen, just in terms of thinking I never would have guessed they would do it.

I was also surprised when, a year or two back, someone dug up that lengthy, interesting Carl Wilson interview from 1989 and translated it, and Carl mentioned “Let It Shine” specifically as one he liked off Brian’s then-recent album.

They did it in 2003, too.

Interesting. Do you remember which date or leg of Brian's tour that year? I remember that they did "Melt Away" that year, I believe. But I can't find "Let It Shine" outside of 2000 on either setlists.fm or the BB Setlist Archive (neither of which of course have every setlist).

Sorry - clearly, I was thinking of "Melt Away"!

[KDS]

Andrew,

I think you can shed some light on this. 

Why were Eugene Landy's credits removed from the 2000 reissued of Brian's 1988 solo record, but not on the 2000 two-fer of KTSA/BB85? 

[Andrew G. Doe]

His name was removed from "Crack At Your Love" (as per a footnote): other than that, not a clue. I just wrote the liners. I believe it depended on the publishers.

[KDS]

His name was removed from "Crack At Your Love" (as per a footnote): other than that, not a clue. I just wrote the liners. I believe it depended on the publishers.

Gotcha. 

Thank you