Dennis Wilson's favorite song

[Ed Roach]

Dennis was also a big fan of The Band and the song "Rag Mama Rag". According to some book I read, Dennis and Carl used to sing along to the song all the time on the tour bus in the early 70s. If you listen to the song you can see how Dennis liked it.

Gosh, will you guys let me get my day started...  Was just off looking for a YouTube thing for the other Dennis thread started today, and now I see this post.  The story was from Jon Stebbins book, and it wasn't a tour bus.  It was during a time when Dennis favored renting RVs, and on this particular tour, Carl decided to ride along with us.  We stopped for gas at a little hole-in-the-wall, and Carl emerged with about 2 dozen 8-track tapes; (I still have them!)  While the "Trouble Man" soundtrack tape got a lot of play, too, they just about wore out "Rag Mama Rag"!  I can still close my eyes and picture Dennis barreling down the highway, doing about 90, with Carl riding - or rather dancing - shotgun, and the 2 of them singing along...  One of my favorite touring memories, and one of my favorite tours.

[Mikie]

When was that, Ed?  Around 1974?  East, West, North, South, Midwest U.S.?

I don't have the Hinsche DVD. Was it around that time? Who was on the bus? This was before the Wilson/Love factions going their own ways on tour, right?

[Roger Ryan]

Just to clear the air...oops...Dennis' favorite Brian Wilson song was "Let Him Run Wild".

That's kinda ironic - it's one of Brian's least favorite songs that he wrote. So much so that he didn't authorize it to be on the '93 Good Vibrations box set of the bands' best stuff.

Although the story goes that Brian was disappointed with his lead vocal more than with the song itself which resulted in him nixing the appearance on the box set. This seems logical given that he re-recorded the song for IMAGINATION (I hope he liked his vocals on that version better!).

[Peadar 'Big Dinner' O'Driscoll]

Dennis was also a big fan of The Band and the song "Rag Mama Rag". According to some book I read, Dennis and Carl used to sing along to the song all the time on the tour bus in the early 70s. If you listen to the song you can see how Dennis liked it.

Gosh, will you guys let me get my day started...  Was just off looking for a YouTube thing for the other Dennis thread started today, and now I see this post.  The story was from Jon Stebbins book, and it wasn't a tour bus.  It was during a time when Dennis favored renting RVs, and on this particular tour, Carl decided to ride along with us.  We stopped for gas at a little hole-in-the-wall, and Carl emerged with about 2 dozen 8-track tapes; (I still have them!)  While the "Trouble Man" soundtrack tape got a lot of play, too, they just about wore out "Rag Mama Rag"!  I can still close my eyes and picture Dennis barreling down the highway, doing about 90, with Carl riding - or rather dancing - shotgun, and the 2 of them singing along...  One of my favorite touring memories, and one of my favorite tours.

I love this board! great share

[Mike's Beard]

Dennis was also a big fan of The Band and the song "Rag Mama Rag". According to some book I read, Dennis and Carl used to sing along to the song all the time on the tour bus in the early 70s. If you listen to the song you can see how Dennis liked it.

Gosh, will you guys let me get my day started...  Was just off looking for a YouTube thing for the other Dennis thread started today, and now I see this post.  The story was from Jon Stebbins book, and it wasn't a tour bus.  It was during a time when Dennis favored renting RVs, and on this particular tour, Carl decided to ride along with us.  We stopped for gas at a little hole-in-the-wall, and Carl emerged with about 2 dozen 8-track tapes; (I still have them!)  While the "Trouble Man" soundtrack tape got a lot of play, too, they just about wore out "Rag Mama Rag"!  I can still close my eyes and picture Dennis barreling down the highway, doing about 90, with Carl riding - or rather dancing - shotgun, and the 2 of them singing along...  One of my favorite touring memories, and one of my favorite tours.

Ed have you ever considered writing your own book? A "My Life With The Beach Boys" type of thing?

[Mikie]

Although the story goes that Brian was disappointed with his lead vocal more than with the song itself which resulted in him nixing the appearance on the box set. This seems logical given that he re-recorded the song for IMAGINATION (I hope he liked his vocals on that version better!).

Yeah, he said he sounded like a "whiny girl" singing it. It is a little shrill, but I always liked it. I never thaought it sounded like whining until Brian mentioned it.....

I really like the version on the Imagination album!

Where'd Ed go. Enquiring minds wanna know. Maybe he's saving the answers to our questions for his book. He said he was gonna do a book with pictures and stuff, but I dunno if he's serious about it.

Dennis could relate to the song's concept......

[kwan_dk]

It probably wasn't his favourite song but didn't Dennis love Dion's 'the Wanderer'?

The lyrics certainly seem tailermade for him: "Well I'm the kinda guy who'll never settle down. Where pretty girls are, well, you know that I'm around." 

[buddhahat]

.

[A Million Units In Jan!]

I wasn't trying to make light of Dennis' tragedy. Just curious why this song of all songs should be his favorite.

You're an idiot. Dennis drowned. The song is called "Every Breath You Take". If you can't do the math, then you're a very dumb person. Or a troll, of which there seems to have been an outbreak lately.

And yes, I am in a very pissy mood today. I have ample reason.

Poor thing. I don't give a rat's ass how much more you know about The Beach Boys, but your 'pissy moods' grow old after awhile.

[Jason]

I wasn't trying to make light of Dennis' tragedy. Just curious why this song of all songs should be his favorite.

You're an idiot. Dennis drowned. The song is called "Every Breath You Take". If you can't do the math, then you're a very dumb person. Or a troll, of which there seems to have been an outbreak lately.

And yes, I am in a very pissy mood today. I have ample reason.

Poor thing. I don't give a rat's ass how much more you know about The Beach Boys, but your 'pissy moods' grow old after awhile.

<_<


>_>


PWNED?

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

In the words of Brian Wilson (or allegedly Eugene Landy)... Love & Mercy.

[Rocker]

I love "Rag mama rag". It's a helluva song. And I'd loved if the Beach Boys would've made an album with this kind of basics country-rock'n'roll. "You need a mess of help" was a good start but probably not commercial enough. Blondie and Ricky would've been perfect for that kind of stuff (I believe Blondie played on the Last Waltz, right?)

[c-man]

Just to clear the air...oops...Dennis' favorite Brian Wilson song was "Let Him Run Wild".

Jon, your post came in while I was writing, and you'd already gotten it 'back on track'.  Your response doesn't surprise me, but where did you hear that?

I think it was in Creem Magazine's Q&A with Denny (1976)...at least that's where I remember seeing it.  Then there's a concert tape from 1973 (Colby College) where Denny intros "Wouldn't It Be Nice" by saying IT'S his favorite song.  Like most of us, he probably had a different fave on any given day.  Would probably by easier to say "It's in my Top 5" or "Top 10".

[Steve Mayo]

Just to clear the air...oops...Dennis' favorite Brian Wilson song was "Let Him Run Wild".

Jon, your post came in while I was writing, and you'd already gotten it 'back on track'.  Your response doesn't surprise me, but where did you hear that?

I think it was in Creem Magazine's Q&A with Denny (1976)...at least that's where I remember seeing it.  Then there's a concert tape from 1973 (Colby College) where Denny intros "Wouldn't It Be Nice" by saying IT'S his favorite song.  Like most of us, he probably had a different fave on any given day.  Would probably by easier to say "It's in my Top 5" or "Top 10".

circus magazine  issue 142  october 26, 1976. article by scott cohen  "surfer boy the dennis wilson interview". page 37. clint eastwood on cover.
thanks goes to smile-holland who gave me a lot of my scans of those magazines back to me. 

[Runaways]

loooove let him run wild.  I don't get why he didn't like that, or why vocals recorded in 1998 could be better than 1965

I wasn't trying to make light of Dennis' tragedy. Just curious why this song of all songs should be his favorite.

You're an idiot. Dennis drowned. The song is called "Every Breath You Take". If you can't do the math, then you're a very dumb person. Or a troll, of which there seems to have been an outbreak lately.

And yes, I am in a very pissy mood today. I have ample reason.

Poor thing. I don't give a rat's ass how much more you know about The Beach Boys, but your 'pissy moods' grow old after awhile.

maybe we should check if a month from now there's another or more pissy moods

[Peter Reum]

Robbie Robertson's music is a major favorite of mine, and Rag Mama Rag and the whole second band album is heaven...

[oldsurferdude]

I wasn't trying to make light of Dennis' tragedy. Just curious why this song of all songs should be his favorite.

You're an idiot. Dennis drowned. The song is called "Every Breath You Take". If you can't do the math, then you're a very dumb person. Or a troll, of which there seems to have been an outbreak lately.

And yes, I am in a very pissy mood today. I have ample reason.

Poor thing. I don't give a rat's ass how much more you know about The Beach Boys, but your 'pissy moods' grow old after awhile.

Ya think??

[Ed Roach]

Robbie Robertson's music is a major favorite of mine, and Rag Mama Rag and the whole second band album is heaven...

You know, Peter, it blows my mind that I paid virtually no attention to The Band way back when...  I actually used to 'crash' at a home up in the mountains of Woodstock, across the road from where Dylan was 'hiding out' after his motorcycle accident - man, that was what, '66, '67...  Used to drive past Big Pink whenever I went to & from the city, and never paid them any mind.
Then I somehow ignored being at "their" studio in Malibu, (sometimes with Dennis, sometimes Fataar), being much more impressed with the fact that it was the old home of Mr. Ed, in the show anyway. 
That whole episode with Dennis & Carl, and Rag Mama Rag, put that particular track in it's own category in my mind, sending me off on a trip whenever it happens to play.  But it wasn't until a few years ago that I finally became a Band aficionado...

[Ed Roach]

When was that, Ed?  Around 1974?  East, West, North, South, Midwest U.S.?

I don't have the Hinsche DVD. Was it around that time? Who was on the bus? This was before the Wilson/Love factions going their own ways on tour, right?

Mikie, sorry, when I responded to Peter, this stuff was on the previous page.  Didn't mean to ignore you, especially after your kind words.  And watch out, that book of mine may finally be coming into its time before too long...

To answer your question/s, yes, it was around '74, and I think that particular tour was in the northeast.  It was just Dennis, Carl, my ex-wife & I in the RV, although the next tour Jardine rented one, too, and drove with a bunch of the boys in the band.  That trip had another funny visit to a small town, where we virtually bought out a bait & tackle shop.  Dennis just happened to know of a fishing spot in the mountains ahead, and Al equipped himself with wading boots & the whole shebang.  Of course Dennis just bought some worms, and proceeded to put us all to shame...

[Menace Wilson]

I actually used to 'crash' at a home up in the mountains of Woodstock, across the road from where Dylan was 'hiding out' after his motorcycle accident - man, that was what, '66, '67...  Used to drive past Big Pink whenever I went to & from the city, and never paid them any mind.
Then I somehow ignored being at "their" studio in Malibu, (sometimes with Dennis, sometimes Fataar), being much more impressed with the fact that it was the old home of Mr. Ed, in the show anyway.

Excuse me, but holy merda that's awesome.   

[hypehat]

Goddammit Ed, write that book! Stop teasing with these casually remembered snippets of awesome information - it's too much to bear! 

[The Heartical Don]

Offhand, I recall the Valkyrie section from The Ring always bringing tears to his eyes.  That, and "Tristan and Isolda", or "Tristan und Isolde", more correctly.

Very interesting, thanks for that!  Will have to listen and see if I can spot a Wagner influence in DW's songwriting.  Thinking about it offhand, I can see where Wagner's brooding, dramatic quality might have been an inspiration.

It's definitely present in Cuddle Up and Make It Good. Numerous Dennis compositions have a climax that sounds orgiastic, to my ears. Building up tension.... and then release/relief. It's also very audible in Never Learn Not To Love.

[Menace Wilson]

Offhand, I recall the Valkyrie section from The Ring always bringing tears to his eyes.  That, and "Tristan and Isolda", or "Tristan und Isolde", more correctly.

Very interesting, thanks for that!  Will have to listen and see if I can spot a Wagner influence in DW's songwriting.  Thinking about it offhand, I can see where Wagner's brooding, dramatic quality might have been an inspiration.

It's definitely present in Cuddle Up and Make It Good. Numerous Dennis compositions have a climax that sounds orgiastic, to my ears. Building up tension.... and then release/relief. It's also very audible in Never Learn Not To Love.

Absolutely, I agree.

[Mikie]

Mikie, sorry, when I responded to Peter, this stuff was on the previous page.  Didn't mean to ignore you, especially after your kind words.  And watch out, that book of mine may finally be coming into its time before too long...To answer your question/s, yes, it was around '74, and I think that particular tour was in the northeast.  It was just Dennis, Carl, my ex-wife & I in the RV, although the next tour Jardine rented one, too, and drove with a bunch of the boys in the band.  That trip had another funny visit to a small town, where we virtually bought out a bait & tackle shop.  Dennis just happened to know of a fishing spot in the mountains ahead, and Al equipped himself with wading boots & the whole shebang.  Of course Dennis just bought some worms, and proceeded to put us all to shame...

Thanks, Ed! 

[Mr. Cohen]

with Denny (1976)...at least that's where I remember seeing it.  Then there's a concert tape from 1973 (Colby College) where Denny intros "Wouldn't It Be Nice" by saying IT'S his favorite song.  Like most of us, he probably had a different fave on any given day.  Would probably by easier to say "It's in my Top 5" or "Top 10".

In an interview Dennis said that "LHRW" is what turned him on emotionally to what Brian was doing in the mid-60s. He liked that it was more assertive, as he felt Brian's earlier romantic songs were too passive in tone for his tastes.