50th Anniversary, The SMiLE box, the reunion, new material and things to come

[Mike's Beard]

Good post. I wonder why any writers never bothered to ask Mike for his side of things. Everyone seemed to take David Leaf's spin on things as the gospel. A classic case of not wanting the truth to get in the way of a good story perhaps?

[Andrew G. Doe]

A point to ponder - Mike may well have hated the lyric to "Cabin Essence", but the indisputable fact is, he sang that lyric, and sang it damn well too. If he'd really wanted to bring Smile crashing down, all he had to do was say to Brian "F*** it, I'm not singing this s***".

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Good point.

[Cam Mott]

"Perhaps Brian didn't do everything that met with Mike's blessings however Mike's shoes as well as pockets were full of cash because Brian did what he did-the Lovester did well because of his cousin. He still does."

I concur and would add perhaps the Boys didn't do everything that met with Brian's blessings however Brian's shoes as well as pockets were full of cash because the Boys did what they did - the BDub did well because of the Boys. He still does. [Aren't I adorable?]

[Mike's Beard]

Indeed he does sing it very well but I think it is worth noting "Cabinessance" tag aside, Mike is given NO lead vocals on the Smile sessions. His role was undoubtedly becoming marginalized compared to what it was in the early days. I do wonder if maybe he felt he was getting 'squeezed' out at this stage. First he is cut out of the songwriting partnership on two consecutive albums and now he is a lead vocalist being given less to sing than the bass and lead guitarist. I doubt he just wanted to be the best bass harmoniser around and perhaps this may have been an unspoken reason for much of the conflict.

[Mike's Beard]

"Perhaps Brian didn't do everything that met with Mike's blessings however Mike's shoes as well as pockets were full of cash because Brian did what he did-the Lovester did well because of his cousin. He still does."

I concur and would add perhaps the Boys didn't do everything that met with Brian's blessings however Brian's shoes as well as pockets were full of cash because the Boys did what they did - the BDub did well because of the Boys. He still does. [Aren't I adorable?]

Yep they have all made their ex wives very rich over the years I imagine.

[Sheriff John Stone]

Indeed he does sing it very well but I think it is worth noting "Cabinessance" tag aside, Mike is given NO lead vocals on the Smile sessions. His role was undoubtedly becoming marginalized compared to what it was in the early days. I do wonder if maybe he felt he was getting 'squeezed' out at this stage. First he is cut out of the songwriting partnership on two consecutive albums and now he is a lead vocalist being given less to sing than the bass and lead guitarist. I doubt he just wanted to be the best bass harmoniser around and perhaps this may have been an unspoken reason for much of the conflict.

Um....yeah.

[A Million Units In Jan!]

Indeed he does sing it very well but I think it is worth noting "Cabinessance" tag aside, Mike is given NO lead vocals on the Smile sessions. His role was undoubtedly becoming marginalized compared to what it was in the early days. I do wonder if maybe he felt he was getting 'squeezed' out at this stage. First he is cut out of the songwriting partnership on two consecutive albums and now he is a lead vocalist being given less to sing than the bass and lead guitarist. I doubt he just wanted to be the best bass harmoniser around and perhaps this may have been an unspoken reason for much of the conflict.

Just because we haven't heard any lead vocals doesn't mean there aren't-or weren't-any.  For all we know, he could've been the one Brian wanted to sing lead on 'DYLW', or 'CIFOTM'.  The odd thing about SMiLE is, for all the music that was laid down, there does seem to be a lack of lead vocals recorded.

[Jason]

For what it's worth, Michael had lead vocals on several Heroes and Villains outtakes - there's a test mix going around of the first verse with Brian and Michael trading off on the lead vocal, and of course, Michael sang on the Cantina bit.

[Cam Mott]

It was also announced that Mike was to sing the lead on H&V back in the day but I guess that changed or it sits on the long sought 6 minute H&V I & II.

[hypehat]

I don't think his range really extends far enough for him to sing the verse - hence the trade off between him and Brian.

[oldsurferdude]

"Perhaps Brian didn't do everything that met with Mike's blessings however Mike's shoes as well as pockets were full of cash because Brian did what he did-the Lovester did well because of his cousin. He still does."

I concur and would add perhaps the Boys didn't do everything that met with Brian's blessings however Brian's shoes as well as pockets were full of cash because the Boys did what they did - the BDub did well because of the Boys. He still does. [Aren't I adorable?]

yeah, 'bout as cute as a leper. The absence of logic in that post goes far beyond any boundaries known by mankind, let alone anyone here. I can see it now-"The Beach Boys perform the songs of Mike Love"-a concert with 25 tickets sold the night of the show and lasting all of 20 minutes. Free hats to all!

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Perhaps the cuteness of Cam Mott is questionable but he is correct. What sort of lack of logic is there in accusing Brian of beneffiting from having a fully functioning touring band going out and playing his songs to paying crowds and racking in millions of dollars and keeping the Beach Boys name out there and relevent.

How about an evening of "Brian Wilson songs written without a co-writer/lyricist"?

This brings up a fun exercise: how about we try and imagine if Brian were an only child and without a cousin named Mike Love. No Carl or Dennis! Would The Beach Boys have existed? Would Al have pushed Brian into joining his folk combo? The mind reels.

[Ganz Allein]

hypercritical

Eh? I've heard of being hypocritical, but what the hell is being hypercritical? Is that like being hypocritical on a caffeine binge?

hypercritical |ˌhīpərˈkritikəl|
adjective
excessively and unreasonably critical, esp. of small faults.
DERIVATIVES
hypercritically |-ik(ə)lē| adverb

[Ganz Allein]

A point to ponder - Mike may well have hated the lyric to "Cabin Essence", but the indisputable fact is, he sang that lyric, and sang it damn well too. If he'd really wanted to bring Smile crashing down, all he had to do was say to Brian "F*** it, I'm not singing this s***".

Important point. You can't blame Mike for the song not happening. At the same time, though, with Brian's increasingly fragile psyche and hypersensitive state, he probably took Mike's comments too deeply to heart.

[Cam Mott]

At the same time, though, with Brian's increasingly fragile psyche and hypersensitive state, he probably took Mike's comments too deeply to heart.

I hear this all the time too but to me it just seems like a complete fabrication by someone. All I see is Brian firmly and utterly but adorably rolling over whoever and whatever was in his way or not what he had in mind.

[Cam Mott]

Perhaps the cuteness of Cam Mott is questionable but he is correct.

Wwwwhhhhaaaaa??

Otherwise, I completely agree with you and myself.

[Cam Mott]

I don't think his range really extends far enough for him to sing the verse - hence the trade off between him and Brian.

Really? That doesn't seem right but maybe so.

[Ganz Allein]

At the same time, though, with Brian's increasingly fragile psyche and hypersensitive state, he probably took Mike's comments too deeply to heart.

I hear this all the time too but to me it just seems like a complete fabrication by someone. All I see is Brian firmly and utterly but adorably rolling over whoever and whatever was in his way or not what he had in mind.

But by this point in time, Brian was getting worn down - by drugs, encroaching mental illness, negative reactions, craziness, whatever - and no longer just rolling over whoever and whatever.

[Sheriff John Stone]

At the same time, though, with Brian's increasingly fragile psyche and hypersensitive state, he probably took Mike's comments too deeply to heart.

I hear this all the time too but to me it just seems like a complete fabrication by someone. All I see is Brian firmly and utterly but adorably rolling over whoever and whatever was in his way or not what he had in mind.

But by this point in time, Brian was getting worn down - by drugs, encroaching mental illness, negative reactions, craziness, whatever - and no longer just rolling over whoever and whatever.

I always thought that Brian scrapped SMiLE because of things that were happening to him/his psyche in the present, for example, his hearing new Beatles songs and thinking that they "got there first".

Mike's disenchantment with Van Dyke's lyrics (and not all of them BTW) occurred very early in the SMiLE saga. A lot of writing, producing, arranging, and recording happened AFTER Mike voiced his displeasure. Did Mike continue to "nag" Brian about the lyrics?

For Brian to eventually scrap SMiLE because of the Mike confrontation, he (Brian) would have to GO BACK several months. I thought Brian moved on; the recordings would suggest that.

[oldsurferdude]

Perhaps the cuteness of Cam Mott is questionable but he is correct. What sort of lack of logic is there in accusing Brian of beneffiting from having a fully functioning touring band going out and playing his songs to paying crowds and racking in millions of dollars and keeping the Beach Boys name out there and relevent.

How about an evening of "Brian Wilson songs written without a co-writer/lyricist"?

This brings up a fun exercise: how about we try and imagine if Brian were an only child and without a cousin named Mike Love. No Carl or Dennis! Would The Beach Boys have existed? Would Al have pushed Brian into joining his folk combo? The mind reels.

What causes the mind to reel are the endless careers that the Lovester would have had to pursue had it not been for his famous cousin. Where does one start? Shoe salesman, in charge of bananas at a supermarket, pest control tech, french fry tech, hat salesman, used car salesman, clown, prison guard, hot dog vendor, street sweeper, security guard in a dry cleaners.  

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Sure, but why is Mr. Love the only guy in "rock n roll" who provokes such snickering questioneering? (is that even a word?) Exactly what marketable skills do ANY of our rock n roll heroes possess outside of music-making?

I mean, at worst (as far as credits go, which seem all-important to way too many people) he was "merely" a lead/back-up vocalist/frontman for what is inaguably the most important and succesful band America has ever produced! He also provided many great lyrics and co-wrote many a song, some big big hits!

Why do these simple facts continue to be sneeringly brushed off?

[the captain]

Because is turns into religion, and storyline becomes important, as if salvation depended on it. You can't acknowledge the hum-drum reality of a group of startlingly normal people (with their great talents here, their remarkable flaws there, and their mind-numbing boringness in between) without somehow losing your shot at heaven, so instead it's key to lionize somebody. And better still, you earn points with The Guy Upstairs (or at least cool points with some insider on a message board) by making fun of the bad guy in the plotline you like best.

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Well, put Luther!

So, I guess we'll have to wait for Mike to be mortally wounded so than Brian can kneel down, remove his Darth Vader mask, while holding back the tears that the audience is free to let flow!

[oldsurferdude]

Mike Love was at his "height" in the early formative years. Say from 61 to about 65. As Brian moved on musically, Mike became a sort of an anachronism whos lead singing was equated with surf based music. He did not play an instrument and honestly was a failure at being a "frontman" that the Beach Boys never really needed in the first place. Brian sought out more sophisticated lyrics (thank God) and thankfully started to utilize Carl over Mike. Its quite eveident that as styles changed, Mike did not and therefore became associated with the surf hits. Beyond that, with a couple of exceptions, Mike was mostly a dinosaur destined to be in an oldies band.