Central Park 1977

[Jay]

I was looking at Eric's Beach Boys Setlist Archive website today, and I noticed something. For the 9/1/77 Central Park show, there is a message after Surfer Girl that says "Massacred by Brian". I was just wondering, does anybody here know what he did?

[Andrew G. Doe]

There's an excellent quality tape, taken from a stereo FM broadcast. Let's just say... not Brian's best-ever rendition of the song.

[Jon Stebbins]

He sang it horribly, which he would often do during those days. In My Room could be even worse.

[Dutchie]

yea just listning. He really srews up. Singing it like a doo wop song  and he seems to think its funny because he laughs a lot 

[c-man]

yea just listning. He really srews up. Singing it like a doo wop song  and he seems to think its funny because he laughs a lot 

I like when he would sing "God Only Knows" in a Mickey Mouse voice.  Or when he would bellow his way through "Sloop John B." like a very bad cabaret singer.  And when I say I "like" it, that doesn't mean I think it was good...if you know what I mean...

[Sheriff John Stone]

When I hear the Central Park show, I hear a band that so much wanted Brian to contribute, to be a vital part of the show, to succeed. Brian lost some weight, had his hair cut, and played bass for some of the songs. He has a few leads, including some Love You-performed songs. And Brian does sound somewhat enthused. I'm assuming the guys were disappointed, but couldn't show it, and, perhaps traded the diminished quality of the performance for just having Brian "back".

By the way, we all know what happened right after that show....

[Jay]

Looking at the notes written for each of the 1977 shows, it seems as thought Brian's performances from that period were very erratic, at best. It almost seems like he was a different person from day to day.

[Jay]

Everybody, it seems, but me. What happened?

[Sheriff John Stone]

Everybody, it seems, but me. What happened?

This is from memory, from some book I read years ago, so don't quote me....

After the concert, at the airport, as the jets were ready to take off (back to California?), an argument broke out between Dennis and Mike & Al. There was literally a tug-of-war over Brian, and which airplane (and group) he would travel with. Dennis wanted Brian to travel with he and Carl; Mike wanted Brian with he and Al. There was a lot of shouting and insults flung, and, in the end, I guess Brian ended up with Mike and Al. Dennis, who was infuriated, said something like, and I'm paraphrasing, "Today is the day The Beach Boys broke up. And I'll remember this day, because it happened on Al Jardine's birthday". Unfortunately, there was a Rolling Stone reporter hanging around, who reported the whole mess in the next edition of the magazine.

[Jay]

I've read that too. I think it came from the Heroes and Villians book. I didn't realise that the group were touring at the time. I thought that they were just landing, with a tour being a few days/weeks away. I wonder how much of their anger was coming from a poor performance?

[MBE]

It was a night or two after the Central Park show.

[Jay]

I thought I would bring this topic back, since I happen to be listening to this very show right now. Yes, Brian's performance isn't that great. But Carl's is even worse. Feel Flows is performed very vell, musically, but I don't think Carl sang a single sentence of correct lyric.  He seems fairly tanked. Not as bad as he would get the next year, but getting there.

[Rocker]

Does anybody have that Rolling Stone-article?

[KokoMoses]

I have a soundboard of the show and yeah, all the above comments are correct, but the Love You stuff really rocks!

[urbanite]

I think this show was around 8/16/77 and was broadcast live by WNEW and introed by Pete Fornatela.  Wasn't that the day Elvis died?

[Jay]

I have a soundboard of the show and yeah, all the above comments are correct, but the Love You stuff really rocks!

Back Home, Roller Skating Child, and It's Ok really kicked butt live!  I wish they had kept them in the set list longer. Especially since Brian went back to occasionally playing bass and being more up front in around 1983. Back Home would have been a nice change of pace. It's still a generic blues/rock song, but it's fun. 

[KokoMoses]

Yeah, Brian's out front, going apemerda on the bass period was a blast!

Come to think of it, who needs a Mike Love or a Mick Jagger when you've got this master showman:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbLx5Y5zRww

[GLarson432]

"I think this show was around 8/16/77 and was broadcast live by WNEW and introed by Pete Fornatela.  Wasn't that the day Elvis died?"

Yes it was. 1/8/35 (Tupelo) to 8/16/77 (on the throne). 

[Jay]

Yeah, Brian's out front, going apemerda on the bass period was a blast!

Come to think of it, who needs a Mike Love or a Mick Jagger when you've got this master showman:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbLx5Y5zRww

You mean this guy? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsqqBvge4DU&feature=related

[Eric Aniversario]

Carl was totally lost and confused during Feel Flows...

[MBE]

I wanted your guys opinion but to me Carl and Dennis last seem (relatively) sober during the MSG shows. Do you all hear any oddness yet? The 1-77 tapes are the first that sound reall wonky to me. Of course Carl was in prtty good shape again by the LA Light tour.

[Jay]

Dennis seemed fairly together. He even sang "lead" on In My Room, wich is quite odd to hear. He seemed pretty up-beat and happy. In my opinion, Carl didn't do such a great job at this show. I don't know whether he was high/drunk, or just having a bad day. Listen to Darlin' from this show. He seems to be having trouble hitting some notes, which was odd for him at this point in time. Maybe his voice was just a little worn out.

[Jason]

It was mid-1977 - Carl was well into his heroin and cocaine addiction at the time, and his drinking didn't help matters either. He was equally loopy in Largo in January of 1977.

[Jay]

Carl was totally lost and confused during Feel Flows...

I often wonder why they put that song in the set list. Some of the longer Bob Dylan songs have easier lyrics to remember.  You have to admire their guts though, to even attempt it.

[Autotune]

Does anybody have that Rolling Stone-article?

Someone posted a transcript of it in another thread. Look for it.