The Beach Boys Band loses another band member.

[Charles LePage @ ComicList]

Per my handy AGD reference books, David Marks left the BBs August 1963.  Al played on the new songs that were on the fourth album, which was released October 2003.   Does that mean Al was part of the crucial year 1963?

[thomasogg]

Yes Charles, it does.

[Alex]

Per my handy AGD reference books, David Marks left the BBs August 1963.  Al played on the new songs that were on the fourth album, which was released October 2003.   Does that mean Al was part of the crucial year 1963?

2003? Don't you mean 1963?

The "4th album" refers to Little Deuce Coupe, right?

[Charles LePage @ ComicList]

Yes to both, and thanks for catching that.

[thomasogg]

Hey thicko, their fourth album 'Little Deuce Coupe' (yeh, I knew what it was called, me) was released 1963, not 2003. Duuuh!!!!

Don't worry, i'm just joking! Sorry, i just re-read Stebbins posts and got rather caught up in the mood...

[Jon Stebbins]

Per my handy AGD reference books, David Marks left the BBs August 1963.  Al played on the new songs that were on the fourth album, which was released October 2003.   Does that mean Al was part of the crucial year 1963?

David left the BB's in October 1963 after the LDC LP had been mastered. Al became an official Beach Boy again later that month. However as The Lost Beach Boy book points out David and Al both participated in the Beach Boys LP sessions for Surfer Girl (Al is only on a few tracks, David is on all of them) and LDC, with David being the official member and Al being the occasional helper. The first Beach Boys hit single to not feature David Marks is the 1964 release Fun Fun Fun.

[Charles LePage @ ComicList]

Thanks for the clarification, Jon.

From AGD's "Guide" regarding Little Deuce Coupe, the fourth album: "Although David Marks obviously appears on the four previously released tracks, the new material marks the official return to the band of Alan Jardine."

For the record, I've not yet read your book yet.

Sounds like both David and Al played on Be True To Your School?  Would that be the last hit to feature David?

[Jon Stebbins]

Thanks for the clarification, Jon.

From AGD's "Guide" regarding Little Deuce Coupe, the fourth album: "Although David Marks obviously appears on the four previously released tracks, the new material marks the official return to the band of Alan Jardine."

For the record, I've not yet read your book yet.

Sounds like both David and Al played on Be True To Your School?  Would that be the last hit to feature David?

David apparently played on one of the versions of BTTYS, but which one I can't be certain. Both Al and David are on In My Room for sure.

[c-man]

I believe David & Al are both on the LP version of "Be True To Your School" (David: guitar, Al: bass).  The single version was recorded at Gold Star with the "Wrecking Crew" on the instruments (plus maybe Carl on the lead guitar, and that may be an overdub).  Al is probably singing on that, but David MAY still be on it as one of the hand-clappers. 

Jon, do you know if Dave plays on "Little Saint Nick"?  The instrumentation there sounds like the "Boys" rather than the "Crew".  I know Al is singing on "The Lord's Prayer".

[Carrie Marks]

David doesn't know for sure if he was on LSN but it sure sounds like him, you are right about that.  David does not remember ever being in a studio with a guitarist other than him and Carl so if the Crew was on the single BTTYS, then David wasn't on hand claps. 

There are 2 songs David hears himself on and FEELS like he played on, although the session logs and previous myth say otherwise.  But now that we know those logs are less than accurate, what does your ear tell you about him playing rhythm on Surf City and I Get Around?

[c-man]

David doesn't know for sure if he was on LSN but it sure sounds like him, you are right about that.  David does not remember ever being in a studio with a guitarist other than him and Carl so if the Crew was on the single BTTYS, then David wasn't on hand claps. 

There are 2 songs David hears himself on and FEELS like he played on, although the session logs and previous myth say otherwise.  But now that we know those logs are less than accurate, what does your ear tell you about him playing rhythm on Surf City and I Get Around?

HMMM...very intersting, Carrie.  From what I can tell listening to "I Get Around", the basic track is Carl on rhythm guitar, Al on bass, and someone else (probably Ray Pohlman) on Dano bass, then Carl overdubbed lead guitar.  But it warrants another listen.  "Surf City" could very well have Dave on it!
As far as the handclaps on the single of "Be True" go...someone (not a Beach Boy) was once quoted as saying they were added at the same time as the "cheerleaders" (The Honeys) and that was done at the Capitol tower...meaning they were overdubbed at a later date than the Gold Star instrumental track.  If you ask Dave, I'll bet he'll remember whether or not he was there when the girls did their cheerleader routine. 

[Rocker]

"Surf City" could very well have Dave on it!

But why should he have been there? It was a Jan Berry-session, not a Brian Wilson-one. Of course, maybe it was him. Do we know if any other Beach Boy played on that track?

But I am reminded about something: the Beach Boys played the instruments on J&D's "Surfin' safari" version. Was Dave still part of the band then? I don't remember when it was recorded right now.

[Carrie Marks]

"Surf City" could very well have Dave on it!

But why should he have been there? It was a Jan Berry-session, not a Brian Wilson-one. Of course, maybe it was him. Do we know if any other Beach Boy played on that track?

But I am reminded about something: the Beach Boys played the instruments on J&D's "Surfin' safari" version. Was Dave still part of the band then? I don't remember when it was recorded right now.

Brian, Dennis, Carl, David and Jan are on J&D's version of Surfin' Safari and Surfin'.

Jan and Dean and The Beach Boys hung out together at the Rovell's every day and David didn't stop hanging with them until around 1965 even though he quit in late '63.  He can remember several occassions where Brian would be at the piano, he'd get an idea and then jump up and grab everyone and head off to the studio to record.  Nobody was paying attention to who quit or which guy was in which band...it was totally spontaneous. 

[Carrie Marks]

HMMM...very intersting, Carrie.  From what I can tell listening to "I Get Around", the basic track is Carl on rhythm guitar, Al on bass, and someone else (probably Ray Pohlman) on Dano bass, then Carl overdubbed lead guitar.  But it warrants another listen.  "Surf City" could very well have Dave on it!
As far as the handclaps on the single of "Be True" go...someone (not a Beach Boy) was once quoted as saying they were added at the same time as the "cheerleaders" (The Honeys) and that was done at the Capitol tower...meaning they were overdubbed at a later date than the Gold Star instrumental track.  If you ask Dave, I'll bet he'll remember whether or not he was there when the girls did their cheerleader routine. 

Thanks, Craig.  Carl would be the only one who would be able to authentically replicate David's stlye on rhythm so it would make sense that if its not David, it would be Carl.  David has no problems distinquishing between himself and the Crew but Carl playing rhythm like David might be harder to tell.

He does remember being in the studio several times with the Honeys but not specificallly which track they were on. David used the Honeys and his aunt Andrea (County Fair) on several Marksmen tracks and most likely he got that idea from BTTYS. 

[Jon Stebbins]

Interesting that Dave was most likely on the LP version of BTTYS, considering that was the version on the Endless Summer LP. Also...By back dating Dave's BB's tenure to Aug. '63 Murry took a major chunk of BTTYS royalties out of Dave's pocket.

[c-man]

Carrie, when David played with Mike & Bruce the other night, who was on piano now that  John Cowsill is drumming?  Was it just Bruce, with Tim Bonhomme on organ/synth/clavient, or did they also have someone else on piano?

Thanks

[Carrie Marks]

Timmy was handling most of the keys.  And Bruce.  The only other change was that Scott played drums on Rhonda when John came down to sing.   

[Eric Aniversario]

Timmy was handling most of the keys.  And Bruce.  The only other change was that Scott played drums on Rhonda when John came down to sing.   

Whoa, Scott can play drums?  I had no idea.  I've talked with him many times, but I never knew that about him.  Cool.

[Pretty Funky]

Carrie wrote about David.

He can remember several occassions where Brian would be at the piano, he'd get an idea and then jump up and grab everyone and head off to the studio to record.  Nobody was paying attention to who quit or which guy was in which band...it was totally spontaneous. 


Some of the best times for the Beach Boys IMO. Nice story Carrie.

[shelter]

The first Beach Boys hit single to not feature David Marks is the 1964 release Fun Fun Fun.

How about Surfin'? That was a national hit (a minor one, but still) before David even joined...

[Susan]

Did anyone go to the show in Oklahoma over the weekend?  I'm interested in how the band sounded in its new configuration...

[Jon Stebbins]

The first Beach Boys hit single to not feature David Marks is the 1964 release Fun Fun Fun.

How about Surfin'? That was a national hit (a minor one, but still) before David even joined...

I meant like a top 40 hit...Surfin' was like #75...even Ten Little Indians charted much higher than that. Surfin was really only a local hit.

[Carrie Marks]

David may not have been on the Candix recording of Surfin' but I still think its still worth noting that the song peaked on the charts about a month AFTER David was in the band and the time he spent touring and promoting Surfin' around LA helped contribute to the success the song did get.

[shelter]

David may not have been on the Candix recording of Surfin' but I still think its still worth noting that the song peaked on the charts about a month AFTER David was in the band and the time he spent touring and promoting Surfin' around LA helped contribute to the success the song did get.

OK, you've got a point there.