The Smiley Smile Message Board

I quite like the whole California Saga (Big Sur, Beaks of Eagles, California) but I can't seem to find any recording of the band playing it live aside from Part III which even though its arguably the best part of it, I think all three parts actually work as a whole.

They did Big Sur and California together in Hartford 1973. I don't think Beaks Of Eagles was ever performed live.

Dennis once said something in a 1975/6 interview that implied they have done "Beaks of Eagles" live. He wasn't too complimentary.

Any chance of a quote? Dennis being desparaging always makes good copy (see his comments re Mike, MIU, et al)

I always enjoyed Dennis' "to the point" quotes on material of theirs that he found less than satisfactory. Saying the MIU Album should "self-destruct" and "an embarrassment to my life" is great stuff.

I recall seeing the "Beaks Of Eagles" quote somewhere, but can't find it. I recall him mentioning the "scorched meat" line as being particularly lame.

I would like to add how great to these ears Mike's and Al's voices sound when recitng the poem of "Beaks of Eagles". I am sure their current voice would only improve the experience.

I couldn't agree more with Dennis on that Beaks Of Eagles thing. Ugh.

I think the spoken poem verses really hurt Part 2. Those musical lines are some of the best things Al's ever written and sung, a whole song in that style would have been great.

Beaks of Eagles is the greatest thing ever. I can see how a lot of people wouldn't like it though.

I appreciate honesty, and I appreciate one's right to express an opinion. But, if I were a member of The Beach Boys, I would not have appreciated Dennis Wilson's public criticism of other bandmate's work. It's not really a matter of whether he was "right" or not. If you have a problem with something a band member is doing or has done, it would be more appropriate - and courageous - to say it to their face than to say it to an interviewer. Acting the way Dennis did is not good for someone's physical well being; it could cause bodily harm.

I like California Saga very much, it's bold, ambitious and an essential part of the Holland album listening experience, but the poetry sections probably wouldn't go down well in front of the average Beach Boys audience who've never been known for their appreciation of high art :  "Get on with it !"..."What the hell is this s**t ?"..."Surfin' USA !"..."California Girls !"

Yeah, but I doubt Dennis would be afraid of getting his ass kicked by Al and Mike. Other way around, maybe.

Beaks of Eagles is why Mike and Al stick to the formula.

Count me in as a huge fan of the entire "California Saga"! I don't mind the poetry bits at all, don't even think they're particularly cheesy.

I'd rather hear that poem than listen to Maharishi give a sermon in 68 at the concerts. Are there any reviews/recordings/pics (of him on stage) available anywhere?

So is the line Dennis objected to one from Robinson Jeffers' poem?

If you're referring to the line about "eating scorched meat" then yes...it was from the Jeffers' poem.  Personally, I like the Saga as it shows SOME artistic creativity out of Mike and Al.  The poem is probably the weakest link of the whole "suite"...though Al's musical bits from the second part are great.  "Holland" really was the end-of-an-era.  To me, it's always been the last LP where the band was actively trying to push forward...to create something new and vital.  After that...it was just an attempt to try and recreate old glories (no matter how good some of those attempts were).

Love You wasn't about recreating past glories.

Good catch!  That is the exception. 

Isn't there background music in the recited part of BOE?  That could be given a nice treatment live, dim the lights, have a backdrop of big sur and condor  footage  playing (as on the screen on the current tour)  .....recite the poetry in a hushed tone as the background music plays..........

I could certainly dig THAT!

"Beaks of Eagles" could fit very well into an "unplugged" concert. It would be a very interesting task to pick all the songs that would work best in such a context...

I love the whole Saga, but man it would be a bit indulgent for them to perform the whole thing in concert.  I can't imagine a scenario where that would really work, I'd imagine almost all of the audience wouldn't know the song, and while you could play the first or third parts on their own (because they're great) "Beaks of Eagles" is a kind of superfan thing that only you and I would enjoy. 

I think the problem they're always going to have, is that they have so many hits fans get pissed if they don't play nearly all of them, and they dont' have time to do much of the special stuff like we'd like to see, I.E. the entire Saga. 

Even "Big Sur" live would be great, though.  Either version. 

If they played "Beaks of Eagles" live and I was at the show and wasn't expecting it, I would have an anxiety attack so large I would probably have to be rushed to the hospital. (magical moments make me anxious. I felt a little tingly during Add Some Music, and the Carl and Dennis tributes, et cetera)

Love Beaks of Eagles, and the whole saga. But would be limp live.