The Smiley Smile Message Board

I just stumbled across this video on YouTube the other night.  I have not seen it in AGES!  It's kind of an odd/creepy video featuring Papa John Phillips as a priest and Michelle Phillips as an angel (I think).  Roger McGuinn also makes an appearance.  The whole thing is shot in black and white and has that slick late-80s look to it.  I've actually never minded their version of the song.  It's a product of it's time and it kind of has a cold, digital feel to it...which somehow fits the song.  It's startling to remember how skinny Brian got for awhile.  He's almost unrecognizable!  Anyway...if you haven't seen it in awhile...check it out!

I think it's a well executed music video, and something else for the boys. Always liked it. Their version of California Dreamin'" is nice enough, too.

I've actually never seen it (until just now) and I think it's pretty cool.  A hell of a lot better than most of the other Beach Boys music videos of the 80s and 90s. 

It's probably the most watchable music video they ever made.

Not counting the promo videos produced for "Pet Sounds", of course. :O

Well, I meant like music videos made for the MTV era.

Boo!   :wink

Yeah, far and away the best of that era - although I like Getcha Back, but the BB's are barely in it.

Compare it to "Rock 'n Roll To the Rescue" which was made at relatively the same time.  That's like a bad David Lee Roth video.  California' Dreaming is a moody song...I think the video is moody and matches the song.  It's one of those songs I have not listened to in many years...but I've given it a few spins since I saw the video and it's not bad.  It's always tough calling a cover version better than the original...but they come close on this one.  I'd say they at least equal the original.

Good cover, about as good as the original. Both are very good though. As for the video, it's somewhat decent, not really good but better than most of their videos around the time, most of which were just "meh" for a lack of a better word.

The "Kokomo" video is a hoot...especially when Mike busts out on the sax solo!  ;)

And Bruce on the bass guitar...Stamos hamming it up on percussion...and Al...on tambourine? Whaaat?

"Aruba, Jamaica...ohhh....I wanna take you...." ;)

Yeah, I don't get why Al is on tambourine. Foskett's in this video, playing guitar. if they were just miming the whole thing they should've had Al play guitar.

At least Foskett actually played on the song!  Did any of the actual Beach Boys contribute anything other than vocals?  I always thought the backing track was cut by Foskett and several other studio aces like Jim Keltner. 

That would've made more sense.

...and Van Dyke Parks.

Ah yes, Van Dyke on the accordion!  I wonder if he and Mike had an understanding that they would not discuss the lyrics to Cabin Essence during the sessions for Kokomo!

Ha, or during the SIP sessions.

"...over and over the crow cries uncover the cornfield..."

It makes sense to me (I think)...but dang...I still want to know who ran the iron horse???  ;)

Granted, most of the Beach Boys' videos are bad, but I think "California Dreamin" might be their best. It goes against all of the BB stereotypes - black and white instead of colorful, indoors (the church) instead of outdoors, fall instead of summer, aging instead of youth.

IMO Terry Melcher did a fine job with the production of the song. If you look at his production during that era, it wasn't all Summer In Paradise. He did some good work.

I always found it curious why they repeated the verss "all the leaves are brown..." and left out the verse "if I didn't tell her..." I liked that verse.

I completely agree with you!  Just check out the videos to "Rock 'n Roll to the Rescue" (which is really, really bad) and even "Kokomo" which is just corny.  I thought the video for California Dreamin' really invoked the feeling of the song...and you're right...Melcher did a nice job on this.  As mentioned before...it's tough to ever say that a cover is better than the original...but in this case they come really, really close...and I'd argue that they at least equal it.  It's still freaky, however, how skinny Brian was at that point!

TWGMTR is a good video, imo.

It's a GREAT video!  Yeah, the band makes a brief appearance...but I like the element of timelessness of good music that the video conveys.  God made the radio so we could hear beautiful music...not only in the 50's and 60's...but also today and tomorrow. 

My girlfriend saw the 25th anniversary special (the one from Hawaii) and commented "Brian was a stud back then!" Really shocked her to see how he looked then compared with 1995 - we had just watched IJWMFTT.

The 25th Ann. special has to be the worst tv-related BB product existing.

Your girlfriend's comment has to be copied and pasted onto the girlfriend comment thread somewhere on this board.

Brian DID look great in 86-87; Landy got results, I'll give him that. Unfortunately, not all the results were good.

(http://i49.tinypic.com/2ld9att.jpg)

Is that Drew on the left?

Yup.

... not the fact that he pumped all kinds of sh*t into Brian, thus irreparably damaging his brain? Or generally brainwashing him? Keeping him from his daughters for the better part of a decade? Etc. ;)

Watch part 1 and 2 of this to see what Landy had done to Brian by the early 90s.  It might just break your heart, just to warn you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-vhRkfFgj8

PA Carlin's 'Catch a Wave' book also has a great commentary on this era.  You should check it out :)

What Landy did to Carl and Audree is unconscionable, as well.

Yeah, Landy is bad news.  I know a bit about mental illness (have suffered my own bout).  Now, my condition is not what Brian suffers from...but the point I want to make is that once a good diagnosis has been made...there is help.  It also needs to be mentioned that for too long nothing was done for Brian, who was clearly mentally ill.  I don't know if it was just a case of sticking one's head in the sand or what...but he needed help far before he got it.  I also disagree with Landy's diagnosis once he was put in charge.  His "treatment" involved pumping Brian full of psychotropic drugs he did not need...and which may have caused permanent damage.  Who knows.  His actions once he surrendered his license were just as horrendous...hijacking Brian's creative life to further the ambition of he and his wife at the expense of Brian Wilson.  It's a very, very sad tale.  You know, the same could be said for Dennis.  If someone had made a serious effort to help him...perhaps he'd still be with us.  Yeah, I know one care argue that he wouldn't have accepted help...but who knows.

Initially, Landy's presence seemed to be a good thing, although the 24 hour surveillance thing always bothered me. But I'll give credit to Landy and his team for getting Brian off the illegal drugs...and boo them for getting him messed up on all those legal drugs. And Landy had no business being in a recording studio with Brian, or writing songs with him.