Labor Day Weekend 1978

[c-man]

I think Dennis was given Studio C to work in because Guercio wanted Bambu finished, as much as he wanted the first BBs Caribou album delivered.  When it became apparent that Bambu was going nowhere, Guercio "suggested" that LSM be donated to the band's effort, and Carl supported that (all this comes from cowriter Geoffrey Cushing Murray's recollections in the Billy Hinsche-directed Dennis video).

[Jim V.]

Wow, thank you so much for that write up c-man! I never caught that all those years ago. I'm glad I got to read it though. I do have a question and some comments though.

So Brian actually called Bruce up because of the state of his voice, and not because he wanted him to produce, as we all have thought? I find this interesting about his vocals, that it was there that he realized he had damaged it too much to be on the top of the harmony stack. I don't wanna make this a "what was up with Brian's voice change" thread, but is interesting that maybe he did intentionally make it more gravely around 1975, then maybe realized around the time recording MIU that maybe he wouldn't mind bringing his older vocal sound back, only to have his rough go at life in earlier 1978 add to the deterioration of his voice. In short, maybe he did damage his voice on purpose, but maybe he also wanted to go back t his old style at a later time, and by then the damage was done.

Also, I'm of the opinion that L.A. (Light Album) was the true "art" follow up to Holland, in that it had all of the members contributing their best material on hand to try to make both a commercial and artistic statement. Basically what a true, grown-up follow up to Holland should've been. I know this is kinda random, but I've kinda thought maybe that L.A. was The Beach Boys attempt at doing something like Fleetwood Mac's Rumours. You know, something slick and catchy, yet still "mature" and creative. I think Brian and Dennis both came up with the goods as far as the material they contributed, with "Good Timin'", "California Feelin'", "Love Surrounds Me", and "Baby Blue" all being great songs in my opinion. If Carl had a few more gems it woulda helped though, as I feel "Angel Come Home" was his only really great song on the album. Al's "Lady Lynda" was nice too, and while I don't like "Sumahama", at least Mike gave it a good try, though I'd have prefered "Daybreak".  And while most probably wouldn't agree with me, I think opening the album with "Do You Like Worms" and closing it with "Can't Wait Too Long" woulda been great. Imagine this album:

1. "Do You Like Worms"
2. "Good Timin'"
3. "Lady Lynda"
4. "Angel Come Home"
5. "Love Surrounds Me"
6. "Sumahama"
7. "Calendar Girl"
8. "California Feelin'"
9. "Baby Blue"
10. "Can't Wait Too Long"

I personally think that would be a latter-day Beach Boys classic, or at least close. Regardless, I still love L.A. (Light Album) as it is.

[petsite]

Somewhere in my stash of papers, I have an interview with Bruce from fall of 1979 done by a local Houston paper. He was asked why he came back and he said Brian called him because he was having trouble hitting the high notes on several songs and wanted Bruce to come to Miami to sing the songs. I think Brian's mental state started to fail after that. And really, as Bruce says, he re-produced the LP. If you look at separate production credits, Bruce is always co-producing with someone else. Its not like it was on KTSA.

As it turns out, Carl said that he and Dennis had been talking to each other about bringing Bruce back before Brian called him in. So great minds think alike.

[D409]

"BJ: I have decided that I’m going to wait until Brian would really give his permission to do it. Guercio wants to open the album with “Rock Plymouth Rock/Roll” and end with “Been Way Too Long”. I wanted to make up a collage, but I want Brian to be the one to put the collage together. I can tell he still feels funny about that stuff. You know, there a lot of “SMiLE” stuff intact …"

This is interesting...so Do You Like Worms was known as Rock Plymouth Rock/Roll as far back as the LA sessions ? Thought that was a name given to the song for the BWPS project...

[Cabinessenceking]

What was behind Bruce disliking CalFeeling? It is quite a soothing track imo, fits perfectly with the alleged theme of the album and sounds contamporary in the context of the Dennis songs and Good Timin'. Bruce even sang very well and had very audible parts in that song. Glad Calender Girl got axed, though perhaps he would be an interesting eccentric Brian piece.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

"BJ: I have decided that I’m going to wait until Brian would really give his permission to do it. Guercio wants to open the album with “Rock Plymouth Rock/Roll” and end with “Been Way Too Long”. I wanted to make up a collage, but I want Brian to be the one to put the collage together. I can tell he still feels funny about that stuff. You know, there a lot of “SMiLE” stuff intact …"

This is interesting...so Do You Like Worms was known as Rock Plymouth Rock/Roll as far back as the LA sessions ? Thought that was a name given to the song for the BWPS project...

That is kinda weird..

[FatherOfTheMan Sr101]

"BJ: I have decided that I’m going to wait until Brian would really give his permission to do it. Guercio wants to open the album with “Rock Plymouth Rock/Roll” and end with “Been Way Too Long”. I wanted to make up a collage, but I want Brian to be the one to put the collage together. I can tell he still feels funny about that stuff. You know, there a lot of “SMiLE” stuff intact …"

This is interesting...so Do You Like Worms was known as Rock Plymouth Rock/Roll as far back as the LA sessions ? Thought that was a name given to the song for the BWPS project...

That is kinda weird..

Well, I think this is proof that Brian DID in fact have more planned, as we've guessed... of course, he could just be calling it that because that was the only recorded vocal line?

[Ian]

Well as C-Man said Bruce was an objective voice-in all honesty-the band was still pretty divided at that time-so it was easier for Mike to listen to Bruce's criticisms/suggestions than Carl and for Carl to listen to Bruce, etc, etc.  Guercio played that roll too-the outsider who got them all to harmonize.  Which was a much harder job in 1978 than 1969 for sure.

[Rocker]

Guercio played that roll too-the outsider who got them all to harmonize.  Which was a much harder job in 1978 than 1969 for sure.

Yeah, but Guercio was very pro Carl and Dennis. I guess that didn't go down too well with Mike

[joe_blow]

Great,great stuff here! That picture reminded me of the interview with Maurice Gibb in Endless Harmony where he talks about seeing Brian outside of Criteria just getting some sun. Is there any further info on their meeting where according to Maurice, Brian didn't say a word?

[Rocker]

I think Dennis was given Studio C to work in because Guercio wanted Bambu finished, as much as he wanted the first BBs Caribou album delivered.  When it became apparent that Bambu was going nowhere, Guercio "suggested" that LSM be donated to the band's effort, and Carl supported that (all this comes from cowriter Geoffrey Cushing Murray's recollections in the Billy Hinsche-directed Dennis video).

That's too bad. Just imagine you have Dennis with a studio of his own to record his music and although Bambu didn't happen there was certainly enough music done to fill out a Beach Boys album. And looking at LSM and "Baby blue" I'm sure Dennis would've been willing to share some of his music with the band. But what hapens? A 10-minute disco re-make of one of their older songs. Yeah Beach Boys...well done.
Which of Dennis' songs could have been good Beach Boys material? It's Not Too Late, He's A Bum, Under The Moonlight...heck if they wanted songs that you could dance to "Companion" could have made the mix. I know that three out of the 4 I mentioned were written by Carli Munoz (maybe with input by Dennis) but they sound the most finished. Carl certainly could have helped Dennis in finishing stuff like "I love you" "Cocktails" etc.