Bruce as Producer

[Matt H]

It seems strange to me that Bruce was brought back to help produce LA, and then KTSA, when to my knowledge he didn't have a lot of producing experience (co-producing some David Cassidy records).  He didn't produce his own solo album from a couple of years prior, Gary Usher did.  Does anyone know what the reasoning was to bring him back over getting an outside producer?

[punkinhead]

prolly the answer nobody likes: money   

[brother john]

Well maybe the usual suspects just weren't willing or able to do it. I think Bruce did a fine job. LA is definitely the best late album by a fair way.

[Magic Transistor Radio]

Did Carl not want to produce it? I know that Al produced MIU, and I suppose they all agreed that it wasn't going to happen again

[Andrew G. Doe]

It seems strange to me that Bruce was brought back to help produce LA, and then KTSA, when to my knowledge he didn't have a lot of producing experience (co-producing some David Cassidy records).  He didn't produce his own solo album from a couple of years prior, Gary Usher did.  Does anyone know what the reasoning was to bring him back over getting an outside producer?

Bruce was a Columbia staff producer in the 60: his first credit was on a Ron Holden single released March 1960, also co-produced some Rip Chords/Bruce & Terry sides with Melcher, Mandi Martin, Terry's self-titled LP in 1974 (with TM), California Music, Bill House, Barry Mann (again, with TM), Sailor's Checkpoint album with Becher.

[smile-holland]

Did Carl not want to produce it? I know that Al produced MIU, and I suppose they all agreed that it wasn't going to happen again

I'm pretty sure Carl was still busy getting himself back together again (after his personal problems of the previous years)

[Ed Roach]

I was with them in Florida, at The Bee Gee's studio for the initial sessions that Brian was producing.  It was Brian who made the call to Bruce, and his decision to step aside and have Bruce take over.
Also, Dennis was working in another studio at the complex, and, though he wasn't credited, he produced his own tracks on that album.

[Jon Stebbins]

Jim Guercio told me he was asked by CBS to produce L.A. Light but was busy preparing to make a film with Steve McQueen(Tom Horn) which turned out to be an epic meltdown in itself as Guercio was one of several directors that left the project in midstream.

[Andrew G. Doe]

I was with them in Florida, at The Bee Gee's studio for the initial sessions that Brian was producing.  It was Brian who made the call to Bruce, and his decision to step aside and have Bruce take over.
Also, Dennis was working in another studio at the complex, and, though he wasn't credited, he produced his own tracks on that album.

[koff] Dennis is credited in certain writings and websites [koff] 

[adamghost]

I always wondered why the Beach Boys didn't credit themselves as musicians on L.A. (LIGHT ALBUM). (Could it be to hide that Brian didn't play on the album?  That would be interesting if so, since we've all assumed that he did on "Good Timin'" at least)

[punkinhead]

When I think about the options they had, really, it only makes sense to use Bruce for the Light Album.


Thinking about the wide range of material they used for that album, it's like a more organized version of the 20/20 album

[c-man]

Bruce had scored a Grammy a couple years prior (granted, for songwriting, not producing), but I think that was a big part of it.  And because he'd been a CBS house producer and solo artist, he held some clout with the label.  But most of all, I thnk it was b/c he was both on the "inside" and the "outside" at the same time...no one else could really say that.

As for Adam's theory on why the Boys didn't credit themselves as musicians...well, Brian definitely played on "Good Timin'" and "Shortenin' Bread", even though he didn't sing on them. 

[Jim V.]

I'm not sure cuz I  dont have it anymore, but i'm pretty sure BW was credited as a musician on  the LA section of the MIU/LA reissue.

A question of mine, is why didnt CBS complain when the album wasn't 75 percent Brian of whatever...wasn't that in the contract?

[punkinhead]

I was thinkin their response to that was the whole: "Gentlemen, I believe we've been foda-ed."

btw, why didn't they just fill in with old Brian tunes?

[c-man]

I'm not sure cuz I  dont have it anymore, but i'm pretty sure BW was credited as a musician on  the LA section of the MIU/LA reissue.

A question of mine, is why didnt CBS complain when the album wasn't 75 percent Brian of whatever...wasn't that in the contract?

None of the Boys were credited as musicians on L.A., even on the twofer reissue.
CBS did complain, mightily...but the album's release was way behind schedule, so they had to take what they could get.  Next time out (KTSA), they insisted on, and got, a set with 70% Brian involvement.

[Ed Roach]

I was thinkin their response to that was the whole: "Gentlemen, I believe we've been foda-ed."

btw, why didn't they just fill in with old Brian tunes?

Don't know of I was credited with the quote; think either Eddie Carter or Bobby quoted him, too.  However, it was one of my favorite BB moments, uttered by Walter Yetnikoff, followed by, "I want my 3 million bucks back!!!"

[Rocker]

Just thought this thread was a good reason to bring up this promo:

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/3500/42365337.jpg

[Magic Transistor Radio]

I read somewhere on this message board that Brian, Al, Carl and maybe even Dennis all wanted Bruce back. But Mike was not mentioned. Funny how things changed over time. What did Mike think of Bruce in 1979? When did that change if at all? I wonder what Al and Brian think of Bruce today, or even Carl in the 1990s?

[Mike's Beard]

I have zero proof of this theory but does anybody else get the feeling that LA was produced primarily by whomever wrote what track with Bruce in a more 'general overseer' capcity, like in the Surf's Up - Holland period? We know Dennis produced his two songs and to my ears 'Lady Lynda' sounds very much like Al's cheesy kitchen sink style. Compare LA with KTSA which has a much more 'unified' feel throughout it*.


*10 year old Sunflower rejects aside

[hypehat]

Just thought this thread was a good reason to bring up this promo:

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/3500/42365337.jpg

Gave me a chuckle...

[punkinhead]

It seems strange to me that Bruce was brought back to help produce LA, and then KTSA, when to my knowledge he didn't have a lot of producing experience (co-producing some David Cassidy records).  He didn't produce his own solo album from a couple of years prior, Gary Usher did.  Does anyone know what the reasoning was to bring him back over getting an outside producer?

AKA: Fall the House of Usher   

[adamghost]

Bruce had scored a Grammy a couple years prior (granted, for songwriting, not producing), but I think that was a big part of it.  And because he'd been a CBS house producer and solo artist, he held some clout with the label.  But most of all, I thnk it was b/c he was both on the "inside" and the "outside" at the same time...no one else could really say that.

As for Adam's theory on why the Boys didn't credit themselves as musicians...well, Brian definitely played on "Good Timin'" and "Shortenin' Bread", even though he didn't sing on them. 

Is that established fact, Craig?  I'm not challenging you of all people, just wondering if we'd had a look at the AFM's and what-not to confirm this.  The last I knew was we all just assumed it was Brian, but there was the looming possibility that it was Carl doing a Brian imitation after the fact, and that Brian didn't play at all.  I know Alan Boyd has questioned whether Brian is even on "Shortenin' Bread."

I know we've discussed this before but I can't remember where we left off on it.  I wasn't aware that we definitively established Brian played on those two, but maybe we did and just forgot.