2 questions for AGD (or anyone)

[the captain]

Andrew, I have two questions related to things posted in the unreleased albums portion of your site.

1) In your piece about Dennis' unreleased early 70s solo album, you wrote something that I've also read elsewhere, that Dennis didn't have material on Surf's Up "reportedly due to a falling out with Carl over sequencing." However, I don't recall ever having read what those problems were. Do you (or does anyone) know those specifics? Are they published in any of the books, in any published interviews, etc.?

2) In the piece about Adult/Child, you wrote that it "widely publicized as the next Beach Boys release." While I've read the unreleased albums part of your site a dozen times over the years while getting info from which to recreate albums to the best of my ability, today was the first time that phrase struck me: I didn't realize Adult/Child was ever actually publicized as an upcoming release. (And having been one year old at the time, I don't quite remember it first-hand...) Are there examples of publicity floating around in interviews or various printed materials? I would be curious to see what was said about it before it was shelved.

Thanks to AGD or anyone who can or will answer those questions.

[Jon Stebbins]

The disagreement between Dennis and Carl regarding the Surf's Up LP was mainly due to Dennis wanting his track "Wouldn't It Be Nice (To Live Again)" to follow "Till' I Die" as the LP's closing track. Notice the thematic flow. He felt that putting it elsewhere on the LP would put it "out of context" and therefore he pulled that, and perhaps one other track(4th of July) from the offering plate once the song "Surf's Up" was slated as the closer. Add to this the reminder that Dennis was the ONLY band member who initially supported Brian's wish that Surf's Up NOT be included on the LP...he was voted down...and then Dennis was given the job of telling Brian that the track was definitely going to be on the record despite his wishes. So I'm sure Dennis wasn't in the best of moods regarding the whole project.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Andrew, I have two questions related to things posted in the unreleased albums portion of your site.

1) In your piece about Dennis' unreleased early 70s solo album, you wrote something that I've also read elsewhere, that Dennis didn't have material on Surf's Up "reportedly due to a falling out with Carl over sequencing." However, I don't recall ever having read what those problems were. Do you (or does anyone) know those specifics? Are they published in any of the books, in any published interviews, etc.?

2) In the piece about Adult/Child, you wrote that it "widely publicized as the next Beach Boys release." While I've read the unreleased albums part of your site a dozen times over the years while getting info from which to recreate albums to the best of my ability, today was the first time that phrase struck me: I didn't realize Adult/Child was ever actually publicized as an upcoming release. (And having been one year old at the time, I don't quite remember it first-hand...) Are there examples of publicity floating around in interviews or various printed materials? I would be curious to see what was said about it before it was shelved.

Thanks to AGD or anyone who can or will answer those questions.

1 - Some other guy got there first. 

2 - It was oftened mentioned in the music press of the time, i.e. in interviews and in general pieces. It's odd now to think that interest in Brian & The BB was still high in the wake of the 1976 'comeback'. The most extensive once-over (track by track) was printed in David Leaf's Pet Sounds fanzine.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Here's an interesting one...how do you think people would've reacted to it if it HAD come out...?

[endofposts]

Here's an interesting one...how do you think people would've reacted to it if it HAD come out...?

Maybe that's why it didn't come out.  It was the "Sweet Insanity" of the '70s.

[the captain]

Thanks, Jon and Andrew, for your answers.

As for Jaymie's Dad's question, I think my guess as to how Adult/Child would have done is...pretty poorly. The top 5 albums of 1977 according to Billboard.com's historical archives section were: 1) Fleetwood Mac, Rumours; 2) Stevie Wonder, Songs in the Key of Life; 3) Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson, A Star is Born soundtrack; 4) The Eagles, Hotel California; 5) Boston, S/T.

I don't know the Streisand/Kristofferson album, but the others are all very slickly produced albums that, to me, sound very typical of the mid-70s. Adult/Child--while containing about half a dozen or more songs that I personally like very much--doesn't strike me as the kind of thing that would generate sales in that environment. You've got your slick tracks with rough singing on the "big band" tunes (not to mention typicaly bizarre Brian lyrics on three of them), even quirkier tunes like Baseball and Lines, the cheese of On Broadway, the leftovers from the early 70s that, again, aren't exactly mainstream.

While I think there is plenty of quality there, it isn't mainstream at all, and thus couldn't have generated mainstream sales. To me, Adult/Child isn't even as good as Love You, and Love You didn't sell all that well.

Most likely, Brian-centric Beach Boys fans would've loved it. Other serious Beach Boys fans probably would have liked parts of it. The public might have enjoyed some quirky appearances of the "crazy genius Brian Wilson" that they'd seen and read about in the past few years during the publicity campaign, but as for buying the album on any large scale, it just seems unlikely to me.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

BTW...I prefer A/C to Love You...and I happen to love that album. I think I'm the only one,though...

[MBE]

No I like Adult Child far better then Love You too. I just can't take the vocals on LY. I think it would of done better then M.I.U.

[C.Miller]

BTW...I prefer A/C to Love You...and I happen to love that album. I think I'm the only one,though...

How could anyone dislike an album with both H.E.L.P and Shortnin' Bread on it?

[pixletwin]

Where can I find a reputable track list for A/C?

AGD's site?

[Malc]

Where can I find a reputable track list for A/C?

AGD's site?

1) Life Is For The Living / Hey Little Tomboy / Deep Purple / H.E.L.P. Is On The Way / It's Over Now / Everybody Wants To Live
2) Shortenin' Bread / Lines / On Broadway / Games Two Can Play / It's Trying To Say / Still I Dream Of It
 

[the captain]

Where can I find a reputable track list for A/C?

AGD's site?

1) Life Is For The Living / Hey Little Tomboy / Deep Purple / H.E.L.P. Is On The Way / It's Over Now / Everybody Wants To Live
2) Shortenin' Bread / Lines / On Broadway / Games Two Can Play / It's Trying To Say / Still I Dream Of It
 

And to answer the other part of your question, pixletwin, yes, AGD's site has not only that track listing, but reported track listings of all the unreleased projects, as well as unreleased songs, and plenty more. It is a great resource.

[pixletwin]

Thanks Luther!