Bruce Johnston talks reunion idea.

[Pretty Funky]

From the BBBritain site.

Personally I'm not looking at a 'next album' for me. I focus more on music behind the scenes (my song writing with an emphasis on television & film).
As a 'next album' for the 'Beach Boys still standing' I'd like to see a 40 song CD/DVD live concert performance with Al, Mike, Brian, David & me (lot's of extremely well known Beach Boys anthems along with the great yet rarely performed album 'fragile songs'). I'd also include a bonus CD of one solo track studio recording from each of us.
It would kind of be a controlled 'reunion' of sorts without running the financial risk and expense of a full blown tour. The economics of a 'When Surf Freezes Over' concert tour are very difficult.
The CD/DVD producer? Definitely David Foster (he's my first ten choices). Brian or any of us? Not really because I'd like us to function as the 'artist' and just concentrate on the music.

Bruce Johnston
Beverly, Mass.
December 6, 2009

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

That'd work for me.

[Wilsonista]

Replace Foster with someone good, and that might be crazy enough to work.

[the captain]

David Foster? Wow. I think it might be safe to say he's never produced anything I like. The only possible exception would be if he happened to do some of the Michael Jackson I like. But otherwise, jeezus. Yikes. I wonder if by solo studio songs, Bruce means they're each contributing at all to each other's, or literally solo, as in "I did it, it's done, here it is. Put it on the album." a la the Starbucks (or whatever it was) live album + solo tracks.

[doc smiley]

From the BBBritain site.
I'd also include a bonus CD of one solo track studio recording from each of us.


Bruce Johnston

another 15 minute 5 track bonus CD...  Yawn...
make it 3 tracks from each of them and you might have something worth having....

other then that issue.. the rest sounds pausable and possibly sellable...
IMHO

[grillo]

From the BBBritain site.

 I'd like to see a 40 song CD/DVD live concert performance with Al, Mike, Brian, David & me (lot's of extremely well known Beach Boys anthems along with the great yet rarely performed album 'fragile songs'). I'd also include a bonus CD of one solo track studio recording from each of us.
It would kind of be a controlled 'reunion' of sorts without running the financial risk and expense of a full blown tour. The economics of a 'When Surf Freezes Over' concert tour are very difficult.
The CD/DVD producer? Definitely David Foster (he's my first ten choices).

Bruce Johnston
Beverly, Mass.
December 6, 2009

...Yawn...Why bother with such a lame idea? Oh yeah, finances according to Bruce. How about a NEW ALBUM with NEW SONGS and ANY KID WITH A 4-track before Foster Producing.

[the captain]

ANY KID WITH A 4-track

I don't think kids need or use 4-tracks anymore. Computers. But point taken!

[Shady]

I'd rather not have Brian join Mike and Bruce, why bother? he's doing his best work in years on his own.

But please, somebody give Al something to do.

[Pretty Funky]

Brians dogs need walking!

I still think something will happen as soon as Yoko..I mean certain interested parties think Brian's solo career has tanked.

[grillo]

ANY KID WITH A 4-track

I don't think kids need or use 4-tracks anymore. Computers.

Yeah, computers. But I'd RATHER any kid with a 4-Track do it. I'm one of those analog guys. Boo to the computer-recording crap where they do everything they can to make it sound analog. I've been recording 4,8, 16 and 24 track analog for 20 years and no one I worked with has ever had any complaints. Of course none of them are on the top 40...Anyway I'll stop now before I derail this topic!

[the captain]

Hey, I had a Tascam 4-track as big as my stovetop, so I can relate. But I love my Mac, too. So there you have it.

[Jason]

I knew Bruce had some kind of psychic energy about him because he's managed to jump ahead an entire year! Check the signature.

[punkinhead]

need emphasis on the music without them touching the production?   kind of an oxymoron isn't it?

[the captain]

need emphasis on the music without them touching the production?   kind of an oxymoron isn't it?

No, not necessarily. And he said "artist," meaning performer. I think about it like in sports with coaches and general managers. Many is the coach who think he can control the entire club, personnel, strategy and game decisions. But sometimes the big picture is just too big. Sometimes it's best to do something and do it well. Brian, in OCA, was a performer. He was allowed to not worry about "oh, this is a Brian Wilson thing" and just sing as VDP wanted him to. And he did, to general acclaim of fans (although not this one...). I think Bruce is going along those lines: let someone else talk big picture. Let someone else tell us what to do. And us, we'll sing. (But of course, choosing a producer is sort of slanting things in your way right off the bat...)

[SG7]

Is it me or Bruce is trying to convey Brian doesn't have what it takes to produce them 

[the captain]

Well, depending on the scope intended by the term "produce," he may well be right. When is the last time Brian truly produced an album (assuming credits don't necessarily tell the whole story)? Even Love You had "mixdown producer" Carl. But really, I think what he's saying is that removing the Boys from producing removes some harmful competition. If Brian is pushed as producer, it makes the others ask "why not me? I want to produce a song or two."

[Sheriff John Stone]

I think Bruce is going along those lines: let someone else talk big picture. Let someone else tell us what to do. And us, we'll sing.

Yes, and he's taking a page right out the Brian Wilson solo career playbook. Don't let Bruce (and Mike) fool you; they've been watching how Brian's "system" works. Let somebody form the band, let somebody do the arrangements, let somebody produce, let somebody workout the setlist/sequencing, let somebody write the songs (just kidding). All Brian has to do is show up, sit on his stool, and sing.

I'm not being sarcastic, I think that approach would be easiest on a bunch of aging rockers approaching 70 years old. But, the trick is finding the right person. And that has not been The Beach Boys' strong suit for a long time, well, since Brian gave up that role about 42 years ago. If they pick the wrong person, it could be a very unfulfilling product, and the woulda/shoulda/coulda's will be flying. I think the perfect person for this project would be a person who has PROVEN himself to be a (Beach Boys') scholar and a gentleman - Darian Sahanaja.

[the captain]

If they pick the wrong person, it could be a very unfulfilling product, and the woulda/shoulda/coulda's will be flying.

I don't believe they can win. Too nostalgic and you get fans like me talking sh*t about it being a cheesy, backward looking piece of sentimental trash. Follow more modern trends and you get fans like me talking about how they're just hopping onto current formulae and abandoning what made them great. Go middle of the road and you get fans like me talking smack about them avoiding any risks by being too white bread.

[c-man]

Well, depending on the scope intended by the term "produce," he may well be right. When is the last time Brian truly produced an album (assuming credits don't necessarily tell the whole story)? Even Love You had "mixdown producer" Carl. But really, I think what he's saying is that removing the Boys from producing removes some harmful competition. If Brian is pushed as producer, it makes the others ask "why not me? I want to produce a song or two."

But geez, haven't they tried that approach enough already?  With Levine, Melcher, Thomas, etc.  Sure they got one huge hit out of their partnership with Terry, but they couldn't really follow it up with anything but tired formula-ic ghosts of Kokomo.

[the captain]

Well, depending on the scope intended by the term "produce," he may well be right. When is the last time Brian truly produced an album (assuming credits don't necessarily tell the whole story)? Even Love You had "mixdown producer" Carl. But really, I think what he's saying is that removing the Boys from producing removes some harmful competition. If Brian is pushed as producer, it makes the others ask "why not me? I want to produce a song or two."

But geez, haven't they tried that approach enough already?  With Levine, Melcher, Thomas, etc.  Sure they got one huge hit out of their partnership with Terry, but they couldn't really follow it up with anything but tired formula-ic ghosts of Kokomo.

Hey, I'm not favoring any of it. See my last (before this one) post...

[Dancing Bear]

Remember BB'85? A good idea. Bruce was into it. Everyone presumably in their best behaviour. Only problem: the outside producer sucked and most of the material sucked as well.

Now, we can't do anything about their recent material sucking (kidding, but not so much), but Darian sounds like a good name, given that he has the required skills. He goes out of his way to avoid being Brian's new-best-friend-and-partner-for-one-project. You gotta admire that in him.

[Sheriff John Stone]

Now, we can't do anything about their recent material sucking (kidding, but not so much), but Darian sounds like a good name, given that he has the required skills. He goes out of his way to avoid being Brian's new-best-friend-and-partner-for-one-project. You gotta admire that in him.

Darian is the only one I can think of who covers ALL of the bases (I don't need to list them, we all know 'em). And, most importantly, it would probably get Melinda's stamp of approval, which is a prerequisite for any project involving Brian Douglas Wilson anyway.

[?]

I'd rather not have Brian join Mike and Bruce, why bother? he's doing his best work in years on his own.

But please, somebody give Al something to do.

Exactly.  Brian is doing fine by himself.  Let those other guys worry about the Beach Boys.

[c-man]

Now, we can't do anything about their recent material sucking (kidding, but not so much), but Darian sounds like a good name, given that he has the required skills. He goes out of his way to avoid being Brian's new-best-friend-and-partner-for-one-project. You gotta admire that in him.

Darian is the only one I can think of who covers ALL of the bases (I don't need to list them, we all know 'em). And, most importantly, it would probably get Melinda's stamp of approval, which is a prerequisite for any project involving Brian Douglas Wilson anyway.

I wouldn't wish that job on Darian.  He's too nice of a guy.

[Dancing Bear]

Now, we can't do anything about their recent material sucking (kidding, but not so much), but Darian sounds like a good name, given that he has the required skills. He goes out of his way to avoid being Brian's new-best-friend-and-partner-for-one-project. You gotta admire that in him.

Darian is the only one I can think of who covers ALL of the bases (I don't need to list them, we all know 'em). And, most importantly, it would probably get Melinda's stamp of approval, which is a prerequisite for any project involving Brian Douglas Wilson anyway.

I wouldn't wish that job on Darian.  He's too nice of a guy.

Oh, he's been working for Brian & Co for almost ten years. Maybe he enjoys it.