Beachago

[The Shift]

I see there are a number of Beachago discs "out there". Anyone heard any? Quality? Live up to the reputations?  They're inaccessible to me' I'm simply interested to hear opinions.

[Steve Mayo]

check pm....

[Competition Clutch]

I have the same question. 

[Jason]

Well, it depends. There are a few boots from both the 1975 and 1989 Beachago tours, and the video from Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve in 1974. The 1975 gigs are pretty amazing, as the Boys stepped up their game for this tour (early 1975 shows were very loose). The 1989 shows are very silky smooth programmed entertainment. Good, but not up to the 1975 standard. I haven't seen any boots of the 1997 tour, though.

[c-man]

Well, it depends. There are a few boots from both the 1975 and 1989 Beachago tours, and the video from Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve in 1974. The 1975 gigs are pretty amazing, as the Boys stepped up their game for this tour (early 1975 shows were very loose). The 1989 shows are very silky smooth programmed entertainment. Good, but not up to the 1975 standard. I haven't seen any boots of the 1997 tour, though.

'97's tour was not Beachago...just Beach Boys and Chicago doing separate sets.  Carl's illness is probably what kept them from jamming together.

[ESQ Editor]

The Fall 2006 edition of ESQ explores the 1975 tour to an informative extent.  I conducted interviews with Walt Parazaider, Peter Cetera and Robert Lamm.  Jeff Bleiel interviewed Al Jardine and Billy Hinsche and wrote the article.  The article is full of rare images and anecdotes.  Cetera discusses writing "Wishing You Were Here" too and it's fascinating to have the Chicago guys discuss The Beach Boys resurgence happening before their eyes.

While the description for the edition on the back issues only states "Celebration of Beachago;" it's worth checking out.
 
http://esquarterly.com/PDF/ESQ_Back_Issues_Order_Form.pdf

[Rocker]

Well, it depends. There are a few boots from both the 1975 and 1989 Beachago tours, and the video from Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve in 1974.

Here's that mentioned performance. There were more BBs-songs but I couldn't finde them on youtube.

Darlin:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxJbymqdMSg

Wishing you were here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKjq1_PjYII&feature=related

Here's a video from '75:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY8j4R8YIpk

Guercio talking about Beach Boys and Chicago:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuhRpywKcKU&feature=related

And here in longer form (two parts):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTZVBBh27jQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rr0WB0lRqPw&feature=related

I hope this helps. I couldn't listen to the videos before posting.


"Wishing you were here" '89, audio only:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTqUinC8lmo&feature=related

[MBE]

Maybe I'm alone but to me these 1975 shows were the last that really were The Beach Boys in their prime before they declined. Maybe they were doing older songs then they were say in 1971-72 but they still sounded fresh vital and contemporary. Even by late 1975 the shows are getting a little stale at least compared to everything before.

[The Shift]

Utterly fascinating.

The difference between the versions of Wishing You Were Here -  Mike's initial 89 lead section doesn't compare well with Terry Kath's from '75, but then Carl's lead section from '89 is stunning.

Many many thanks.

And special thanks to Steve Mayo.

I had no idea that the bands toured together more than once-  always thought the refs made on this and other boards were to a mid-70s tour. 

[Bill M]

Quick story:  I saw the '75 version at Madison Square Garden & all these years later, it stands out as one of the best shows I've ever seen.  I also saw the '89 version & agree with Cousin Eddie's assessment:

silky smooth programmed entertainment.

Well said!

In '89 I was working at VH-1 as the stage manager for their studio production.  The day after the Beachago show, we were taping a segment of "My Generation" with Peter Noone.  Who walks in to surprise Peter during the shoot, but Bruce Johnston.  During a break, I mentioned to Bruce that I'd seen both the '75 & '89 Beachago shows.  He asked me which one I liked better.  I had to politely lie & say '89, since Bruce wasn't around in '75.  His response was that he thought the '75 version was better.

[ESQ Editor]

You got "Bruced."

[Jason]

Bruce recognizes quality. The '75 answer was the right one.

[Steve Mayo]

plus a&e had a concert from 1989 of a beachago concert. i recorded it off tv in 1994..around july.

[astroray]

I got about 20 minutes of SUPER 8 footage I shot of the 75 BEACHAGO show from 2 nights in Landover MD. GREAT!!!

[Mikie]

To me, there was only one Beachago tour.  The 1975 tour.  The one with Terry Kath. This is one of the best concerts I ever saw, and I've been to a LOT of them.

http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/chicago/poster-art/poster/OCS750524.html