The Smiley Smile Message Board

I was listening to an interview from 2008 with Wendy Wilson...listen to 2:20 in this interview...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjmW-yF_L0g&feature=related

I had forgotten (or maybe never knew, and I'm creating a false memory) that Wendy had been asked to be in Brian's band, but she turned it down, and Taylor was hired instead?  I have some vague recollection of that being a topic of conversation YEARS back, does anyone remember this?  Or is this not common knowledge?

Oh God please no.

I had to stop listening to that interview when the typical morning DJ sound effects came in "YEAH YEAH YEAH" in the background, ugh.

That's very interesting to hear, though. I never knew that before.

I wonder if that was when Brian first started touring, or at some other point later on.  I also find it odd that Carnie wasn't asked as well.   I'd have to think Wendy has never made anywhere near as much money as Carnie because she wasn't ever invited to do things like a talk show or game show as Carnie was.  I recall reading that Wendy worked selling furniture at one point.  I don't think her dad has given her much money so it could have been a way for him to help her out.  Either that, or she was asked because she is prettier and much slimmer than her sister, and that may have made Wendy feel bad, too, if she suspected that was the reason.  I'm sure part of the reason Taylor got the gig is because she's eye candy, not just her voice.

Why not?? Wendy (and Carnie) were in Al's Family & Friends band and did a great job! Brian's daughters would blend with the other members' of Brian's band very well. What  good singers they are! I think it would be very cool if Carnie and Wendy joined The Beach Boys on stage for a gig or two next year.

I think it would be really cool to have any of the Jardine, Love or Wilson children onstage at some point during the reunion. Would be a nice tribute to their parents of a band that started out as a family affair.

In the Mojo interview with Peter Buck from 98, Brian says he's interested in hitting the road with a "two girls, two guys" band. Practicalities aside, this always seemed like a fun idea to me. When Taylor popped up in the touring band, then, I always thought that was a remnant of Brian's original idea -- he wanted a girl singer in there.

But now I wonder if when he was saying "two girls, two guys" in 98, he was intending to take a band with Carnie and Wendy on the road. He had just co-produced some songs for their album, after all.

I've never heard of the "Wendy Wilson in Brian's band" thing, but if that's true, maybe it's because Brian wanted a "pretty girl who could sing her butt off" and Wendy came to mind. That said, I'm glad they hired Taylor, as she's a better (and probably more versatile) singer. As for Wendy being prettier than Carnie, that's a matter of opinion. Wendy may be slimmer, but they're both very pretty. And I prefer Carnie's voice. I like it when Brian's daughters go beyond that MOR stuff, style-wise, because they're both good singers. I do hope we get to see Brian singing with BOTH of his older daughters again at some point...and I hope they're getting along with their dad these days.

I think Wilson Phillips is working on a new album as a tribute to their parents. That should be good. Wouldn't be surprised if Brian does a background or two.

Wendy's looks? Well.........for a brief time when Carnie lost some poundage and did some stuff for Playboy (airbrush and all), she looked pretty damn good and rivaled Wendy's looks. Otherwise, Wendy gets the nod from me.......even after having 3 kids.

Wendy's voice? She has a good voice. A real good voice. But not on the same level as Carnie's. Shred of Evidence: 'Bells Of Madness'.  :o

I also think she better than most would have had a understanding of what touring with him could have been like. Remember. His solo touring career has been going for what 12 years? What was the original intention, just a few gigs?

In the posted interview, Wendy said the only reason she decided not to tour with Brian was because Carnie was not asked. It was a loyalty issue is how she put it. It does seem odd that one sister would be asked but not the other.

That makes sense, and yes it is surprising that both weren't asked.  Carnie has a really nice alto tone that would fit nicely in the blend, and Wendy has a hint of Brian's late 60s/early 70s nasal high voice in her own voice.  Both would have made great additions to Brian's band.

It seems like Brian and Carnie have always been closer. It may have been that he was offering her the gig as an olive branch and trying to rebuild their relationship a little bit. As stated earlier, Carnie always has a lot going on, too, so BW may have felt that Wendy needed the offer more.

A fascinating revelation. Can you imagine Wendy as the female voice on BWPS?  :o

I don't know. In this interview they talk about how difficult they found to learn the parts for Our Prayer for their Christmas album. Maybe it's only because Brian wasn't there to show them the part, but still.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4G5MJAp9WQo
I do hope they sing with Brian again, though.

Any "reaching out with an olive branch" happened a lot sooner than 1999, when Brian was getting his tour band members together. How about 1996/1997 when Brian and Carnie did "Bells of Madness" and "Everything I Need" with Carnie and Wendy.

Do they ever make albums that are *not* tribute albums to their parents? I wish those girls would do something of their own.

They don't have anything of their own.  I read that the TV Guide Channel special they did is a pilot for a new reality series about the making of the new WP album, which will be all cover versions of Beach Boys and Mamas & Papas songs.

Oh God please no.

Wendy did join Brian for this appearance. No Carnie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zG6YHwjTTnc (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zG6YHwjTTnc)

*koff* four kids...


Or the Don was album/movie in 1994/5 where they sang the bvs for "Do it Again".... plus "Bells Of Madness" was 1994 as well.

Yes! Had forgotten about the "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times" video from '95. Both Carnie and Wendy are there.

Nice video too of "Do It Again" from the Letterman show in 1995.  Never saw that before I don't think....