The Smiley Smile Message Board

I think this is the right place to post.

Okay, here's my deal. I own these books:

- Beach Boys & The California Myth
- Back To the Beach: A BB Reader
- Complete Guide To The Music of the Beach Boys
- Wouldn't It Be Nice: My Own Story
- Surf's Up

So, are there any more BB books to read that would still be essential to me? I just don't want to end up reading the same stuff over and over again.

Thanks.

P.S. Hope I'm not annoying you guys with my constant posts. I've just been looking for a website like this for MONTHS.

Two thoughts --

1.  You will flip for the Badman book.  Just realize that in the huge volume of facts he presents that there are a number of factual errors and keep comments not quoted from magazines or newspapers with a grain of salt (esp the Smile stuff) and you will love the rest of it.  A great read and essential resource.

2.  Peter Carlin has a book coming out in May that promises to be the definitive bio of the band (not just Brian).  Give that a try when it comes out.

Heroes And Villains by Stephen Gaines.
The Badman book.
The Nearest Faraway Place by Timothy White
Look! Listen! Vibrate! Smile! by Dominic Priore

Thanks!

You guys are talking about The Beach Boys: The Definitive Diary of America's Greatest Band on Stage and in the Studio, right?


Jeff Mason, I'm dumb. I really don't understand what you meant by your above statement. Your saying that there are some facts here and there that are wrong?

Yes, on both questions.
Still essential, though, for the pictures alone.

Yup. Badman and LLVS.

Gotta have Timothy White.  Period.

Yep, his Wilson family lineage alone is almost enough to forgive his bowtie and lame opinions of Wild Honey.

I'd recommend checking out Dennis Wilson: the Real Beach Boy by Jon Stebbins.  A good read, and extremely well researched, though he gets a couple of things wrong regarding writing credits on the Bamboo album.

Dumb Angel: The Life and Music of Dennis Wilson by Adam Webb is also worth the price of admission.  If you can get past his unwarranted criticisms of some of the tracks on the Friends album, you'll probably enjoy it.  The interviews at the end are a nice resource if you're a Denny fan.

YES!!!
Forgot those.
Chris D's "Monster In A USA Hat: The Hidden Life Of Al Jardine" is pretty great too.

And I have to think that the vast majority of facts are right.  We BB fans are just very picky on accuracy.  When he is quoting newspapers or listing tour dates, I have to think he is usually right.  When he is listing session info that doesn't have a clear AFM, sometimes he speculates and makes it sound like an objective fact.  It's annoying but the book is still good.  Best book overall on the BB not on your list.  Though I agree that LLVS is great too.

Good luck finding them though.  Way OOP.

hidden life of al jardine, never heard of this...where can i get a copy?

 ;)

That title would make  great fodder for a photoshop project for people with artistic leanings....

(http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/6479/159486320201sclzzzzzzz8iq.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)

Wonder if it will be any good? It seems to be more of a biography of Brian, but I'm gonna buy it when it comes out in May. Personally, I love the Steven Gaines book "Heroes And Villains."

He has posted VERY extensively on the SMiLE Shop about this book. It's gonna be great.

I'm still pissed at Badman for ripping off my cool moms chapter.

I actually tried to find that book online. Bastards. :D

That's one of the most brilliantly arcane BB references ever!

 :P

I just finished reading Brian Wilson's autobio WOULDN'T IT BE NICE.

I enjoyed it. Mind you, I haven't read a lot of Beach Boys books (see beginning of thread for list). My question is... what happens after the events the book ends on? According to the book, looks like Landy and Brian part ways on a good note; but this is back in '91. What happened after?

And, someone (I forget who) was bad-mouthing the book (probably rightly so - again, I'm not educated on the facts yet). I remember this person saying that Brian Wilson was using sources from current books to tell his own "true" story. Also, re-living his life through friends, etc.... with the addition of a People Magazine writer, the book becomes part of the Brian Wilson fantasy.

Still, the book is well-written, and one of the best times I've had reading any book.

Bonus Question: Anyone know the BB's (and other family/friends) reaction to Brian Wilson's book when it came out? Any lawsuits?

Once again, and not the last, but hanks in advance, guys.

I don't know all the facts mate, but apparently Landy actually wrote that book (or ghost wrote it) and it's very erm... 'made up'.

Check the Book Reviews section of this forum, could answer alot of your questions :)

Why does Brian have 5 o clock shadow?

It's strange reading this book (Wouldn't It Be Nice) now.  Like a relic from a previous (pro-Landy) era.  I remember reading it when it was first published in the early 90s and I was virtually shaking with rage by the end of it, with it's closing suggestion that evil forces were about to separate the 'author' from his saviour!  Well, Brian looked so lean and well looking in those days...

You will NOT find "the same old stuff" in my book -- that is if you're interested in . . . . well just read the link >>>
~swd

RECORDING THE BEACH BOYS by Stephen W. Desper (http://community.webtv.net/askswd/bookorderinginfo)

No matter what the cover says, WIBN is NOT an autobio -- Brian Wilson didn't write the book credited to him. It's a Landy snow job, and even Brian's own wife Melinda will tell you that (and has done so, on the blueboard)! 

Don't care much for the Gaines book, either, because he doesn't differentiate a whit between fact, rumor, and fiction.

I also recommend the Badman book, the Tim White book, Jon Stebbin's book, and Mr. Desper's book without hesitation. And whenever Billy Hinsche finds a publisher for his BB stories, we'll all be in for a treat!

"Wouldn't It Be Nice: Brian Wilson and the Making of the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds" by Charles Granata
is outstanding!

Thanks a lot guys. I'll be sure, in the near future to check out some of the books you guys mentioned, especially Desper's book (since those two albums kick ass) and the new one coming out (Rise, Fall & Redemption! --- love that that title!)

Brian has a 5 o clock shadow because Photoshop was invented :D

I'll check out the book reviews section.

Cheers!

If you're reading this thread - BUY THIS BOOK. Absolutely essential.

I commend the Gaines book for it's veracity concerning the financial aspects of the band. Otherwise... so-so. And of course the amusing thing is, large bits of it surfaced in Brian's pseudobiography.  ::)

Veracity really is the perfect word to describe it.  I just scored a copy of this book and, you're right Andrew, Gaines is tenacious in his detailing of the band's financial affairs.  The thing is, though, as a fan of the Beach Boys I could really give a sh*t if Dennis earned $900,000 in 1978, or what the name of Mike and Al's real estate development firm was.  The obvious appeal of a book like this is the tell-all nature of it; the stuff you don't find in the "legit" Beach Boy tomes.

I don't think Gaines was too off the mark, either.  As far as I know he was never sued over the contents, and God Only Knows this is the Beach Boys we're talking about here.   

No, he didn't. Gee, wonder why ?  ::)

As for the financial stuff, well, if you've got an excellent (and I do mean excellent - the best) source, you'd mine it dry too.

Sorry, I'm daft.  Why wouldn't they sue him if he printed mistruths?  That would constitute libel, would it not?

Oh, I dunno... maybe because they knew it wouldn't be a good idea to sue someone for libel when he's actually telling the truth ?

That was kind of my point to begin with.