Brian Wilson - I Just Wasn't Made for These Times

[Charles LePage @ ComicList]

Discuss, review and rate Brian Wilson - I Just Wasn't Made for These Times, released August 27, 1995.

[Jason]

The most honest portrayal of Brian Wilson I've yet to see. 5.

[TV Forces]

I used to have this on VHS a long time ago but it got misplaced.  Then a couple days ago I found it on a DVD with "An American Band."  I hadn't seen it in years and was surprised in how bad of shape Brian is.  He can't talk well or formulate his thoughts very coherantly.  A totally different guy from the Brian in the "Beautiful Dreamer" documentary.  He actually looks to have made some incredible progress, by watching this documentary from only about 10 years ago.

One of the best parts is the guy from Three Dog Night talking about how Brian had him, Alice Cooper, and Iggy Pop over and singing harmonies to "Shortening Bread."  Then Brian did something to make Iggy Pop have to leave, saying "this guys nuts!"  I wish I knew what Brian could have done to scare Iggy away!!

Also, I wonder if "Barnyard Billy loves his chickens" is a real lost SMiLE bit, or something Brian made up on the spot.  You can't really trust some of the things he says.  In the Friends/2020 liners, he writes he was never self conscious about his falsetto.  But he was.  And in the IJWMFTT documentary, he talks about that.  As well as his latest gaff, saying somewhere he never got to record "White Christmas," even though he did in 1964. 

So I was wonder what you guys think of this documentary and the Brian of today.  He didn't seem to easy to work with back then, but now he seems like a totally new guy.  Of course not all there like a Paul McCartney is, but light years from where he was 10 years ago.

[Jason]

I think that's the most honest, loving portrayal of Brian out there, and at the same time it manages not to be overly gushing or complimentary towards it subject. Brian admits when he's wrong, too. His comments about his drug use, you get the impression that he must really feel dumb for what he did to himself. Probably does to this day.

[TV Forces]

I agree that he does show spots of remorse.  Which you don't get in
Beautiful Dreamer.. where the drug use is kind of glorified.

I was just blown away the shape he was in.  Try having a conversation with that guy!

That was only 5-6 years before he started touring and now he looks so much healthier.
It's a GOOD thing.

[XY]

Also, I wonder if "Barnyard Billy loves his chickens" is a real lost SMiLE bit, or something Brian made up on the spot.

Van Dyke Parks once stated that he didn't write those words.

[forgetemarie]

He was on way more medication when he made the Don Was doc.  He went to UCLA Medial Center that year and they rediagnosed him and completely changed  his regimen.  That's much of the difference.  That's according to interviews with his wife and also himself.  He was supposedly on something like five or six medications, all of which have strong side effects.  Now he's supposedly only on two or three. 

[artie]

He was on way more medication when he made the Don Was doc.  He went to UCLA Medial Center that year and they rediagnosed him and completely changed  his regimen.  That's much of the difference.  That's according to interviews with his wife and also himself.  He was supposedly on something like five or six medications, all of which have strong side effects.  Now he's supposedly only on two or three. 

Very true. Watch how he continually wipes his nose and face while sitting next to Melinda on the couch- part of the side effects of the drugs - he is like a totally different person in IJWMFTT - but I really enjoyed the live performances and I guess I am in the minority when I say that his vocals were very, very good  - he just made some weird facial contortions as he was singing.

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

I love the doc, I love the album even more. One of my all time favorites.

[Sir Rob]

Very true. Watch how he continually wipes his nose and face while sitting next to Melinda on the couch- part of the side effects of the drugs - he is like a totally different person in IJWMFTT - but I really enjoyed the live performances and I guess I am in the minority when I say that his vocals were very, very good  - he just made some weird facial contortions as he was singing.

To be honest, he wipes his nose and face quite a lot even now.  I've seen him do that loads in concert.

[artie]

To be honest, he wipes his nose and face quite a lot even now.  I've seen him do that loads in concert.

Not like he does back in 1994/1995. Just watch it for a minute or two and you will see what I mean.

[Rocker]

Great Doc !!!  Puts Brian kinda in the same light as Johnny Cash's American recordings, dark and strange but beautiful. I think he sings very, very soulful on this one.  I wonder why Carl was the only BB interviewed.

[Sir Rob]

I had to laugh at what a friend said at the time about this documentary.  "My God, but what's happened to the other Beach Boys?!  Have they been out in the sun too long?"

 

[Andrew G. Doe]

Worth it just for...

1. Brian & Van Dyke performing a formative "Orange Crate Art"

2. Brian & his daughters rocking out on "Do it Again", the only one of the 'live' songs where he looked even half-interested.

[I. Spaceman]

2. Brian & his daughters rocking out on "Do it Again",

That's my favorite moment, tears me up.

[RobtheNobleSurfer]

Nice stuff all around.

And notice how lucid and articulate Brian is when he's talking about Arthur Koestler.

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

They did a great job with this one. When I saw it on Disney way back when, I knew that Brian was indeed back. The soundtrack is one of my favorite albums ever. I love it. The program here is a downer but presents Brian as a troubled survivor. It also documents that strange period between Landy and marriage where Brian was smoking, wearing a leather jacket, had side burns, and sung through his nose. Brian is chatty and not restrained, blabbling about whatever comes to his mind, which is better than him sitting frozen and holding back, which is the other side of the coin.

An essential purchase.

[punkinhead]

this truly is the best docu of Brian's life. my fav part has to be Van Dyke & Brian singing Orange Crate Art at the piano and the still i dream of it video, it's so sad

[MBE]

I wish it were in color and the Black and White to me is pretentious. I am not a talking head fan but Brian's influence is intellegently conveyed (though one or two of the "leeches" show up). More vintage footage would have been nice. I love the home movies and yes the Still I Dream Of It montage is touching. I mean he looked so happy until the last 2-3 clips of it. Anyways they did get him to talk well and I like his honesty about drugs  too. I mean Dargo makes me so P.O.d in the Smile doc.  I think Brian's voice is lacking compared to now but the arrangements are nice. Meant For You and Love and Mercy are fantastic.  I think it is a good snapshot of Brian at the time.

[Aegir]

Who are these leeches you keep on referring to?

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Who are these leeches you keep on referring to?

[MBE]

Well I don't mean The Beach Boys

[Andrew G. Doe]

One of the best parts is the guy from Three Dog Night talking about how Brian had him, Alice Cooper, and Iggy Pop over and singing harmonies to "Shortening Bread."  Then Brian did something to make Iggy Pop have to leave, saying "this guys nuts!"  I wish I knew what Brian could have done to scare Iggy away!!

Just that - he got them to sing "mama...papa...mama...papa"

For three hours.

I think that was the same occaision that Brian told his guests to be quiet because the rest of the family was sleeping, then once in the studio, played some tapes over the speakers with the volume up to 11 !!

Little factoid - the first album Alice bought with his own money was All Summer Long.

[Dr. Tim]

Essential viewing for BW fans wanting to see this chapter in his life, and I agree, the soundtrack is a joy as well, even with all its little warts.

[Rocker]

One of the best parts is the guy from Three Dog Night talking about how Brian had him, Alice Cooper, and Iggy Pop over and singing harmonies to "Shortening Bread."  Then Brian did something to make Iggy Pop have to leave, saying "this guys nuts!"  I wish I knew what Brian could have done to scare Iggy away!!

Just that - he got them to sing "mama...papa...mama...papa"

For three hours.

I think that was the same occaision that Brian told his guests to be quiet because the rest of the family was sleeping, then once in the studio, played some tapes over the speakers with the volume up to 11 !!

Little factoid - the first album Alice bought with his own money was All Summer Long.

Well, you gotta love this crazy guy, don't you ?

BTW Alice also went on record saying that "The Beach Boys were the american Beatles an vice versa". To tell the truth I never would have thought he is into the BBs....