Quick question, If I can find an actual brick and mortar 'record store' are there physical copies of this release in CD format? Or is it just released in download format via iTunes etc?

My local store had CD copies.

California Beach: Nice enough. Generic Mike summer lyrics as expected, including a list of places.
It's OK feat. Hanson: The only good thing is that its got It's OK into the live setlist. The Christmas Hanson collab was better
Surfin': Bland. Still better than the Summer In Paradise version, right?
California Sun: Loving this
Surfin' Safari: Once you learn that this and Surfin' is - musically - entirely by producer's Sam Hollander & Josh Edmondson and their people - instead of anyone in the Beach Boys touring band - even the vocal arrangements by someone not in the band, then this starts to make more sense. In fact, the only involvement of BB band members in these two tracks (and the two other Hollander/Edmondson tracks) is Christian Love and John Cowsill on backing vocals.
On and On and On: I like this song, and this version.
Here Comes The Sun: "It's alright"
Girl From Ipanema: Long. Dull.
Over and Over and Over Again: Don't like the song, don't like this version.
Keepin' The Summer Alive: The track has more life to it than the KTSA version, but the vocals here are worse. Backing vocals need to be a bit more present.
Summertime Blues: I like this a lot
Rockaway Beach: I also like this a lot

Since then cowriter Sam Hollander has of course gone on to produce Mike.

Brighton yesterday was changed  - seemingly on the night? - to have no intermission - but they still played 2 hours and 20 minutes anyway - so shorter than Royal Albert Hall, but complaining about a couple of near-80 year olds only being on stage for 160 minutes straight is a bit unfair... In fact they only did four more songs at RAH where they got a 25 minute intermission, so not much different really.

Setlist was a bit more hit-based than the RAH show - out with some of the Pet Sounds numbers (Caroline, No, Here Today, I'm Waiting For The Day, You Still Believe In Me), Why Do Fools Fall In Love, Their Hearts Were Full of Spring, 'Til I Die, Little Honda and Please Let Me Wonder

But they added in You're So Good To Me (Bruce lead), In My Room, 409, Shut Down and Wild Honey (love how heavy Cowsill makes this)


Mike seemed to be enjoying himself and was very talkative. Bruce did another great Disney Girls and also seemed in good spirits
Continue to be amazed by Ike - his Don't Worry Baby and Warmth Of The Sun were so good
Mike mentioned how they filmed the Don't Go Near The Water video in Brighton. Bruce then said it was either a terrific song or a terrible song... couldn't hear it clearer enough to determine which but either is likely!
I enjoy the new Summertime Blues version, and both that and Rockaway Beach go over well live.
Bruce played a single line of I Write The Songs before Disney Girls (with Mike threatening to make him do the whole thing one day)
I noticed Christian sang "blossom world we find" this time on GV.

Two complaints, neither band related - 1) there are always some people sitting near me in the crowds at these shows who seem to object to the whole "people standing up, dancing, clapping, having fun" during the fast songs. Despite Bruce literally doing his "all stand up" gesture at the start of those songs. I'm fine if you don't want to join in but why act all disgusted at everyone who doesn't want to just sit still and silently appreciate Help Me Rhonda.
2) Brighton Centre confiscated my water bottle on entry, but would happily sell me a bottle of water at the bar...

Four producers: Courtesey of new ESQ

Michael Lloyd: It's OK
Sam Hollander: California Beach, Over and Over, On and On and On, Surfin', Surfin' Safari
Scott Totten: Here Comes The Sun, Rockaway Beach, Keepin' The Summer Alive, California Sun, Summertime Blues
Paul Fauerso: The Girl From Ipanema


I'm hoping that since Surfin' Safari and Surfin' are by Hollander and not Lloyd, they might be a bit more listenable than the UTL remakes...

Uploaded by Mike's channel today https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk5ojT7LY7k&feature=youtu.be

4/5 star review in the Telegraph. Seemingly it lost a star for being too long... just skip all that boring stuff and get to Barbara Ann

The one problem was that the concert was too long. They could have lopped off 18 songs, ditched the interval and played 30 all-out bangers instead (that’s still five more songs than The Eagles currently play live, and 10 more than The Rolling Stones).

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/beach-boys-review-royal-albert-hall-timeless-songs-triumph/

I asked all these celebrities about a brutal murder and none were willing to have a chat. Must be a conspiracy.

This looks like a new pro shot to me... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzB_PMITLrY

Audio is probably  C+ or B- (if I'm being generous), but the camera work/editing is pretty cool, and looks somewhat professional.

Bruce shouting "THIS WAS THE COOLEST CONCERT!" totally cracks me up  I can't lie though, the band was on fire. I liked Ike's falsetto, Scott's guitar was perfect as always, Mike sounded pretty damn good!, and Ramone's drumming added a lot of energy. Looking forward to hearing this live.

It's a copy of the video Mike's official channel posted https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgD9XrlJT0o

The soundtrack album has Jakob Dylan and Fiona Apple doing In My Room, and Dylan and Neil Young doing I Just Wasn't Made For These Times.

It's interesting that Mike hasn't sought out a Terry Melcher-type collaborator to continue to write new material that much. Yes, there are a few actual originals (or newly polished-off songs) on the recent albums. But beyond the glut of cover versions and BB re-recordings, most of the "originals" on the albums have been songs written decades ago.

One would have thought that Mike's continual stated desire to "write songs from scratch" alone in a room with Brian would have sprung at least in part by a desire to write new music in general. Yet, we don't see him seeking out alternate avenues to write a ton of material with other writers (at least in terms of what's released). It tends to reinforce the feeling some fans have that Mike's "alone in a room" thing with Brian had more to do with taking issue with *others* writing with Brian and getting writing credits/royalties.

It's interesting to break down the tracks across these recent three Mike albums. There are a total of 49 tracks across these three albums. Of the 49 tracks:

- 33 are cover versions of songs previously released (including BB songs, standards, etc.)
     - Within this category approximately 24 are covers of songs Mike has already released as part of the BBs or solo
- 8 are re-recordings of unreleased songs known to have been written and recorded years ago
- 3 are previously released tracks more or less unchanged (Cool Head, Pisces Brothers, Alone on Christmas Day)
- 5 are as-yet-unheard-of originals

This is not an exact science; there is some overlap in these categories. I'm not counting the "It's OK" remake as previously released, even though it was aired a year ago. I'm assuming on those five seemingly "new" compositions; for instance, "All the Love in Paris" is a co-write with his old collaborator Paul Fauerso, so it could actually be older as well. Also, one of those "originals" isn't a Mike co-write.

Which original is not a Mike co-write?

Keep a tally of how many replies use the term "fun" when describing this track. Seems to be a trend surrounding Mike releasing covers over the past few years. 

Last I checked fun was still a good thing?

Because he wasn't at the photoshoot?

I have a quick question, I hope it's ok to post it here. Does anybody have a working link for those 1982 Candlestick Park clips? The website or link they came from seems to be gone.

I just thought I'd bump this post in hopes of somebody being able to help.

I have no clue if its this one, but maybe?

Warmth Of The Sun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABkd9zy-j5Y
Barbara Ann: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srPg-MnPd00
California Girls: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41fCvG8K0YI
Wouldn't It Be Nice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpCb7S4XUr0
Sloop John B: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4x8YqR3CAA
Runaway: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXa2mWaK89M

Outside of um...less than legal means, I'm not aware of a way to obtain the albums outside of the original records.

That being said, a  few tracks are on Youtube, maybe most? I've never properly searched

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sn1o9yq3NCM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfz5dQdS7zI

Worth pointing out a large number of songs are playable on that site, including Shortenin' Bread and Roller Skating Child.

How long has Brian been using a wheelchair as he apparently did at this concert?

Since his back surgery last year, although I think he's used a walker at times

Maybe just uses it for stage shows since it reduces the chance of him tripping on wires, etc.

Maybe I've missed this being mentioned, but Panic! At The Disco's Crazy=Genius

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjarLiQ6jc4

"She said you're just like Mike
Love but you wanna be Brian Wilson, Brian Wilson
Said you're just like Mike
Love but you'll never be Brian Wilson"

"She said you're just like Mike
Love but you wanna be Brian Wilson, Brian Wilson
Said you're just like Mike
Love but you'll never be Dennis Wilson"

I mean, there is a difference between not caring about Mike's projects, and acting like every project he does is a personal attack on you...

I found this so interesting.  First of all, Brian's singing sounds great.  So much stronger than the shows I saw in November.  This leads me to think that Brian's behaviour at those fall shows had a lot to do with him being tired and worn out and possibly being in pain.  Either that or they've really cleaned up his vocals in this video.  Any thoughts?  His singing at the beginning of California Girls was just beautiful. 

Blondie and Nicky are great too.  Nicky seems almost protective of Brian...very sweet. 

He might just feel less pressure in an almost empty room where he knows they can do second takes, compared to infront of a thousand people live.

Cover art https://www.disquaireday.fr/produit/dennis-wilson-taylor-hawkins-brian-may-roger-taylor-holy-man-hawkins-may-taylor-wilson-version-b-w-holy-man-instrumental/

Stephen Kalinich claimed in The Sun a few years back that it was blocked for legal reasons, so I assume that's all been sorted (https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/4192795/beach-boys-queen-foo-fighter-song-holy-man-blocked/)

From Brian May's Soapbox at the time

HOLY MAN

- a beautiful DENNIS WILSON TRACK



Well, since many people have been asking, and the word seems to be out there ....



I got inspired when Taylor sent me the track in its raw state, with a really soulful vocal from Taylor. It was a song which Dennis Wilson had begun, shortly before he died, but never finished. Beautiful piano playing, wonderful spiritual feel. The producers of the new Dennis Wilson release had asked Taylor Hawkins to sing on the track, and, by instinctive 'feel', finish the song. He had done an amazing job. Taylor had a feeling we could contribute, so he sent me a ProTools session of it. If you were a fan of the Beach Boys, you'll remember Dennis was not known as the principal songwriter, and was regarded by many as just a band member who was carried along. But, of all of the band, it was only Dennis who actually led the life of a surfer, and as time went on, it became obvious that he had a lot to say. He came into his own as a writer, and is now regarded by many as truly at the heart of what the Beach Boys were, and are, in the history of Rock.



So the track arrived, and I was moved ... so much so, that it hadn't even got to the end of the first playing before I was down in the studio, playing along ... inspired. I plunged in, and did a kind of resculpting, about three days work, as perhaps you'll eventually hear - and sent back a rough mix of what I'd done. It involved mapping and singing some backing vocals for the lead vocal to bounce off, building the rhythm track with guitars, and playing a solo. I then extended the song a little, to try to make the point a little stronger, and made an ending which resolved to something very much like the opening of the track - just subtly changed. The whole track spoke to me like a poem, and seemed to be steeped in the spirit of this mysterious man, the Beach Boy Who Surfed. And I wanted to do my bit to realise it to the full. Taylor was hugely enthusiastic, and we then asked Roger to add his magic. Roger loved it too, added his voice to the harmonies, and did some nice percussion, so the whole thing now had a subtle Queen overtone. We all loved the track - and hoped that we would see it on the Dennis album.



Sadly, we then found out that the producers of the album had gone ahead and compiled the album without waiting for us. I think there is some plan to issue it as a download, but obviously, having put so much love into it, we were a little disappointed, Taylor and Roger and me.



But such is life. It was still a nice experience doing it. Those moments are precious, and it's a fact of life that they don't always lead to something commercially successful, or even get heard. It's the moments of creative joy which matter ... and, in a way, this brought us closer to Taylor. And maybe there will yet be a good outcome.

Yeah how dare someone love Dennis' work enough to want to play it and share it with more people.

There’s just so very much to take in here.

-   Was Mike trying to craft a wrestling-esque, ball-busting image, where he’s belittling Dean’s intelligence? Was this an attempt at a comedy type pairing? Serious question. I’m baffled, because I guess I don’t know their history together, if they had that sort of relationship, if that was a known joke by the public… because it just comes across - in a context of a “new” music duo “supergroup” of sorts - as off-putting and just plain odd to make your musical partner come across as a simpleton dumbass by the blurb.

If a member of the public can't work out its a joke, then they probably won't be able to operate it.