1995 up at 10452.

[Jay]

1996 is now up and running.

Wow, that was quick.  I have a question about something: "No Brian (it was an early morning show) and it was widely remarked how unwell Carl looked." Does anybody have a copy of this? Is it on YouTube?

[Jay]

Is it just me or does anyone else get depressed when reading the details of the Country remake era. Such a waste,

No it's not just you. Imagine having the mid 90s Beach Boys, with Carl, with Brian, in the studio, together, recording again... and at such a rare occasion, what do they record? Remakes. Country remakes. And "Long Tall Texan". A grown man could cry from less.

Even as a "Beach Boys remakes" album, it could have been so much better. Remember Ray Charles singing Sail On Sailor from the 25th Anniversary show? Hearing him and Carl trade off leads in a similar way would have been great. 

[MBE]

It wasn't good country either. I like Willie Nelson, and respect Tammy Wynette but most of it was very generic without any feel for sixties rock or country. Cottonfields shows that the Beach Boys could do something in that genre but this was just pathetic.

[Jay]

It wasn't good country either. I like Willie Nelson, and respect Tammy Wynette but most of it was very generic without any feel for sixties rock or country. Cottonfields shows that the Beach Boys could do something in that genre but this was just pathetic.

I agree. They could have at least done a duet with a good country singer like Johnny Cash.

[Jason]

Well, for one thing Carl was producing and writing on "Keeping the Summer Alive," which is titled after his song. So he had something invested in that album.

Secondly, Carl did walk out on the Beach Boys in the early 1980s, to pursue his solo career. So it's not like he was totally silent.

Finally, you really should listen to "Like a Brother." That was the sound Carl was pursuing in his later years. Glossy AC pop. And the self-consciously retro Paley sessions were antithetical to that mindset. I think it's telling that Carl and Brian got along better under Joe Thomas -- who was nothing if not a glossy AC pop enabler.

I'm well aware of Carl walking out on the band in '81, which was due to a lack of polished showmanship (blame laid solely on Brian, Dennis, and Michael - although Carl himself probably had a bit of self-doubt about his own showmanship...Perth '78 anyone?!?) and their inability to coexist long enough to get in the same room to record. "I will not return until 1981 means the same as 1961."

As far as Like A Brother is concerned, I have heard it and enjoy it very much. Yes, it's adult contemporary and reeks of it. But it's hardly a departure from what the Beach Boys were doing as far back as 1978 on MIU. MIU, LA, KTSA, '85, SC, SIP...all perfectly produced, spit-shined AC. Adult contemporary is where has-beens venture when they've existed way past their expiration date.

The problem with the Paley sessions was most likely that Carl was disheartened with the fact that the songs were basically more Paley than Brian, and that would eat at anyone with the slightest interest in Brian Wilson, the man who set trends. The Paley sessions are basically 90s ideas of 60s-esque BW songwriting. Paley was not too far off from another, much more maligned imitator, one Adrian Baker, who gets merda on mainly for his association with Michael (not that his material is any better).

Carl had the brains to recognize the fact that the Beach Boys for the better part of twenty years had been the victim of too much outside meddling in their art, and the Paley sessions, especially the dire Dancin' The Night Away, were just the final straw. Maybe in 1979, 1980, 1985, 1988, or even 1992, there was some kind of hope in Carl's mind that there would be a turnaround and they'd get back to doing things the old way. But with Dennis, the heart and soul of the band, ostracized after LA and basically the hired help, and Brian's contributions ranging from pleasing to dire, there was a lack of quality songwriting as far back as LA. Michael, Al, and Bruce were certainly just running through the motions. Carl, I'm sorry to say, was just as guilty as the others in the band for giving up being contemporary and cutting edge live and in the studio.

We may spew on and on about how great a Beach Boys album of Brian/Andy Paley songs would be, but as far as I'm concerned, Carl did us a favor. Some things should only be preserved on bootlegs. It's a shame the fanbase isn't as perceptive.

The Paley sessions, while pleasing, weren't the "next big thing" in the Brian Wilson saga as NOTHING Brian has attempted since at least Love You (or the '88 album if you're more forgiving) has been even close to pushing his limits. Brian may have said in IJWMFTT that after Smile he just wanted to sit back and just write some nice music, and that was a fine gimmick for a while. Eventually the fanbase stopped caring. As a cynic myself, I've given up on the hope that Brian will "blow me away" with a new record because he's just NOT INTO IT. And I believe Carl was just as cynical by this point in time. THAT'S why he walked out.

[MBE]

The problem with the Paley sessions was most likely that Carl was disheartened with the fact that the songs were basically more Paley than Brian, and that would eat at anyone with the slightest interest in Brian Wilson, the man who set trends. The Paley sessions are basically 90s ideas of 60s-esque BW songwriting. Paley was not too far off from another, much more maligned imitator, one Adrian Baker, who gets merda on mainly for his association with Michael (not that his material is any better).
I don't know on any of the work he did with Paley I feel Brian more then anytime since 1982. It's not all great but You're Still A Mystery and Soul Searchin were better then anything the group cut since Dennis died, except perhaps the equally interesting Somewhere Near Japan. OK maybe if I heard the Was versions I would understand, but the boot versions are really good.

Carl had the brains to recognize the fact that the Beach Boys for the better part of twenty years had been the victim of too much outside meddling in their art, and the Paley sessions, especially the dire Dancin' The Night Away, were just the final straw.
I see your point but again Joe Thomas was so much worse why would he be cool with that?

We may spew on and on about how great a Beach Boys album of Brian/Andy Paley songs would be, but as far as I'm concerned, Carl did us a favor. Some things should only be preserved on bootlegs. It's a shame the fanbase isn't as perceptive. Carl didn't really do us a favor as far as I can hear. I think if the Beach Boys had done an all Brian album at that point there was enough there to make it respectable. It may be a retro sound but at least it really sounded like them and not rap/country/mor/.

The Paley sessions, while pleasing, weren't the "next big thing" in the Brian Wilson saga as NOTHING Brian has attempted since at least Love You (or the '88 album if you're more forgiving) has been even close to pushing his limits.Well Love You and the 88 have Landy all over them. I don't know I still find the work Brian did up to late 1974 to be the only stuff that really hits the mark all the way. The 77-82 songs were basically autonomous but I don't think the quality  was always good.

Brian may have said in IJWMFTT that after Smile he just wanted to sit back and just write some nice music, and that was a fine gimmick for a while. Eventually the fanbase stopped caring. Again anything he did through 74 (with a few exceptions) basically is among the finest music I have heard. The late sixties early seventies stuff are nothing if not nice records. It's just that he gradually began to work less and less and then the vocal decline set in and Landy arrived at roughly the same time.

As a cynic myself, I've given up on the hope that Brian will "blow me away" with a new record because he's just NOT INTO IT. And I believe Carl was just as cynical by this point in time. THAT'S why he walked out.

I don't think Brian has the abilities he had in his twenties and early thirties. I don't expect to be blown away. The quality of his non Paley work from 83-98 was overall terrible. After his first year on tour I don't think he should have been doing oldies shows, but when his concerts have had a theme they are satisfying in a way I never thought possible before that first solo tour. BWPS, LOS, and even the Xmas LP are also better then I ever thought he could do. His personal situation gives me the blues, but for someone who is damaged and most likely unable to get extremely passionate about anything he has manged to do some work of value (granted with a lot of help from others). I think the Paley material did have something to them, and Carl settled for so much less so many other times it's still hard to fathom that his walking out was purely because he didn't like the songs. I say he probably didn't like the terms set by Brian's camp, and it's also likely he was sick. Even if my guesses are right it again still doesn't explain why the heck he would work with Joe Thomas.

[Dancing Bear]

Even if my guesses are right it again still doesn't explain why the heck he would work with Joe Thomas.

S&S was a no sweat project. No creative decisions, no headaches, no camps. Just rehash them oldies and cash in the checks.

Joe Thomas was in charge, eventually, but he was irrelevant.

[Jay]

You know, I had a Make A Wish, back in mid October 1996. I ALMOST went for hanging out with The Beach Boys and seeing a concert by them. Somedays I REALLY wish I had. It seems that 1995-98 was very significant for the group. Unfortunately, for all the wrong reasons.

[Ganz Allein]

The Paley sessions, while pleasing, weren't the "next big thing" in the Brian Wilson saga as NOTHING Brian has attempted since at least Love You (or the '88 album if you're more forgiving) has been even close to pushing his limits.Well Love You and the 88 have Landy all over them. I don't know I still find the work Brian did up to late 1974 to be the only stuff that really hits the mark all the way. The 77-82 songs were basically autonomous but I don't think the quality  was always good.

How much of an influence/involvement did Landy have over "Love You" ?  I thought it only went as far as him suggesting song ideas to Brian to get him back into songwriting (e.g., telling him he should write a song about Johnny Carson since he mentioned liking him).

[MBE]

Well he dictated when Brian would record and how long. He claimed to have co-written some of the songs, though I have my doubts. I don''t think he was as bold in the music end of things as he was by 1988, but I think one of the reason's they fired him was his wanting to get involved in the studio more. Something is in the Leaf book about that.  I find the Adult Child sessions (at least the big band ones) as a big improvment over Love You. That's just me though.

[Andrew G. Doe]

For them as is still interested. 

Ian & I are going to stop the day-by-day listings at 1999, as this neatly covers Brian's first full year of touring, Alan's only full year of touring (pretty much) and the consolidation of the BRI-sanctioned Beach Boys: thereafter we'll be doing year-by-years capsules outlining the major tours and significant individual shows (e.g. Brian's BWPS & TLOS premieres, and Mike & Bruce's stunning UK setlists of 2004 & 2008).

And of course, the main section, 1961-1999, will be regularly updated as new information on both shows and sessions appears.

[Smilin Ed H]

And the book will be out when?

[Fun Is In]

For them as is still interested. 

Ian & I are going to stop the day-by-day listings at 1999, as this neatly covers Brian's first full year of touring, Alan's only full year of touring (pretty much) and the consolidation of the BRI-sanctioned Beach Boys: thereafter we'll be doing year-by-years capsules outlining the major tours and significant individual shows (e.g. Brian's BWPS & TLOS premieres, and Mike & Bruce's stunning UK setlists of 2004 & 2008).

And of course, the main section, 1961-1999, will be regularly updated as new information on both shows and sessions appears.

Awesome output. Congratulations and thanks!

[Andrew G. Doe]

And the book will be out when?

Later.

[Smilin Ed H]

 

[MBE]

You forgot Home Improvment.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

I wish *I* could. :/

[MBE]

I wish *I* could. :/

Not as bad as the Full House one at least. THat makes my brain hurt.

[Ian]

It will be added-the app aired on Jan 14 1997-probably filmed in late 1996