The Smiley Smile Message Board

Interesting...  ;D

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Very interesting... good to hear that Al and Dave are not the only Beach Boys to guest on Brian's next album...

Great to see but any word if this has to do with Brian's album? Like many here I don't want to see it bogged down by too many guests. No disrespect to Blondie intended.

Now THAT is very cool!

ARE YOU KIDDING! WOW. This is awesome.


Lord.....please let Blondie be on this tour with Brian too. And on the album. And why not Ricky too!

Introducing: The Peach Boys.

SERIOUSLY. This band would be killer.

Now, if they only got Ricky, Matt Jardine and possibly Billy Hinsche, they could very well rival the C50 tour.








































































Nah.  ;D

‍

He's recording overdubs for "Carry me Home" which is to be included on MIC after all. All copies of the box set are being recalled.

Wow.  Words fail.  ...In a very good way.

Don't we wish! :)

Ummm... all getting a bit recess-ish, isn't it ?

So. Four Beach Boys on an album that can't be credited to the Beach Boys.

Quirky!

Brian Wilson, Al Jardine, David Marks, and Blondie Chaplin of The Beach Boys Finally Salute NASCAR

Getting Ricky might take some doing. Isn't he still in Bonnie Raitt's band? She's doing a tour through October too.

But if Bonnie could be persuaded to round up a replacement just this once....

Then there could be on stage, five Beach Boys again.  And as Brian has often pointed out, five is the magic number.

Getting Billy and Matt up there would be the icing on the cake.

And this would provide the chance to really get the '70s thing going.

Picture a stage with Jeff Beck blazing away....Blondie singing SOS....Brian pounding out them chords....Ricky with the sticks.....Al coming in on that one-line chorus....Dave a'strummin'......

Verily, even Van Dyke might hesitate, if just for a nanosecond, before putting up a sardonic Tweet about that.

So here's hopin'.

Just call it The Beach Men.

Call me picky, but last time I looked, neither Blondie nor David were members of BRI.  ;D

‍

...and maybe Mikes growing his beard to a early 70s length and going to make a surprise appearnce wearing a robe too! ::)

wow! holy sweet jesus! yes yes yes

This picture has made my Friday start with a happy feeling.

This is wonderful, and too funny! I can read the "Mike is left out in the cold" reviews now. Wasn't it Mike who nixed Blondie appearing at any C50 shows?

So, by your logic, Carl's estate is a Beach Boy?   ;D

I'm not sure there is a stage big enough to hold all of those people...

I've never read that. I know before the tour started he said in an interview that he would be open to Blondie and Ricky being involved.

Yeah! Bring them all onstage!!! :-D

Never heard such a rumor either. Through a mutual friend I asked Blondie before the tour if he was part of the reunion or something and he said that "there's no communication from m love".
From what I heard in various interviews over the years I have the feeling that Blondie is not too fond of Mike (this is just my feeling of course).
I'd love to have Blondie be part of a Beach Boys album. I think his song "Cheatin' heart" could make a cool BBs-recording:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCBWPGXmK7A  

Blondie is such a fantastic singer. He would be a great addition to any band.


BTW, now it is really kinda sad to see that another Beach Boys album definitely would have happened but it won't because they can't get it together between Brian and Mike

Understandable, seeing as it's widely recognized - even here - that he ceded overall control of the C50 project to Brian's management & Joe Thomas.

can i use this thread to propose that Blondie looks like a troll now? like the doll...

Sure, but I didn't know that when I asked him (remember this was in January 2012) and he just answered my question if there was contact from Mike or if he (Blondie) would try to get in contact with them.

Blondie and Brian already collaborated, some years ago, on Anton Fig's Figments album, the song "Hand On My Shoulder" and bloody good it is too - Brian's background vocals are terrific. Short sample:

http://www.antonfig.com/songs/HOMS.mp3 (http://www.antonfig.com/songs/HOMS.mp3)

More on the collaboration:

http://www.antonfig.com/brianwilson.htm (http://www.antonfig.com/brianwilson.htm)

Mods: the MP3 is a legit link from Anton Fig's own website  :)

Brian could make a call to Mike and Bruce and ask them to sing in one song of the album and the circle would be closed.

Yes. He could. It would be a gracious and magnanimous gesture, and so easy to arrange.

… I think Al's album and Waves of Love showed the way in this regard.  It's very achievable.

Indeed, but this would be way better, in that all the surviving members would be in the same place at the same time. It would also be excellent PR for Team Wilson. Win-win.  ::)

Funny I really missed Blondie and Ricky last year. Felt like a little piece of them was missing.

Yeah, I agree. That tour was fantastic in every way but having Blondie on "Sail on sailor" would've been even better.


This was posted by Blondie's Facebook site:

Blondie Chaplin would like his fans to know that he has been in the studio working with Brian Wilson on Brian's new solo cd!

Do you know for certain that Brian didn't ask Mike&Bruce for a vocal contribution? ??? Maybe they declined, for whatever reason.


Anyway, Blondie's involvement will make Brian's upcoming solo LP even more special. :) That voice on a new BW track? Potential bliss!

In terms of Blondie, there's no evidence it was ever "officially" offered as an option for him to appear at any shows, let alone that Brian (or Mike) nixed such an idea.

As for "ceding overall control of C50", I wouldn't say a production company that Mike had an equal stake in is something to which he would cede overall control. Doesn't make any sense. He may have ceded more control than he likes, maybe even more control than he should have (the overall positive reviews of the album and tour would seem to negate that possibility though). But just because Mike is grumbling about things a year later, it doesn't mean we can now say he just entered into the huge C50 project with no control.

As far as Joe Thomas and the overall control on the entire C50 project, I'm going to go with Howie Edelson's comments a little while back. Joe Thomas had the money and organizational skills, and was finally the guy that, as Mr. Edelson put it, was there to clap his hands and tell the entire group "okay, here's what we're gonna do." The group has rarely had someone to do that, and if anybody in the band, whether Brian or Mike or Al or anybody, walks away from a project because the guy who gets as much accomplished as Thomas did in one year is someone they feel has too much control, then any such people in the band are insane.

Mike stated in interviews that he is open to work with Brian again...





if he is allowed write with Brian

Doesn't seem that "Team Wilson" has a PR problem since the C50 tour ended. There's another fellow in the band that seems to have had some PR issues, however. It doesn't appear he cares though, for better or worse.

And I'm sorry, putting any responsibility on "Team Wilson" for doing anything to get all the surviving members in the same room is bull****. As we've all heard a bazillion times, Brian, Al, and David wanted to keep the reunion going. It's utterly laughable to reference "getting all the surviving members in the same place at the same time" and good PR for Brian in the same sentence. He wanted to keep it together, and doesn't have any PR problem presently.

. . on a Beach Boys record, yes. Also: stuff people say in interviews....

Who knows - maybe Brian called Mike and/or Bruce and said "Guys, I have a track called 'XYZ' on my new record. It sounds like such and such. Wanna record some vocals for it?" - and maybe on the other end it said "Thanks for calling Brian, but contributing vocals for a single track on your new solo album? Thanks, but not thanks."?

I think Brian asked both Mike and Bruce to join him relatively recently. I think the project was called something like "another leg of the reunion tour, and another Beach Boys album."

Mike drools, Brian rooles

Ba-zing!!!



The f***'s that mean?

Well, exactly. How is it even remotely Brian's fault that Mike and Bruce are NOT on this album, when by all accounts, this could have been a Beach Boys album if Mike hadn't put an end to things?  I don't see where "Team Brian" owe Mike anything. And, if he's got the cred to land that solo album in the first place, AND pull in a bunch of interesting guest musicians.... good for him!

Haha. Exactly.

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+1

much as I loved this whole project with Anton Fig, I do remember reading at the time that Brian and Blondie where never in the studio at the same time.. In fact I had read that Brian had a chance to meet Blondie in the studio during these sessions but passed on the opportunity, saying something to the effect that he didn't know Blondie. Whether that was Brian on a bad day, or that Brian really never had much contact with the outer circle of BB's from 72-74 and doesn't really know him.

what I'm saying is we really shouldn't read to much into this.. Blondie was close to Carl and Dennis, and not necessarily Brian, and this visit to Ocean Way may be  mainly just a nice gesture from Brian's PR team more then anything.

Blondie as a active member of this Brian solo CD?  Man, I'd love to hear it !    :) :) :)

Absolutely.
The most casual glance at any facebook (except Mikes!) , twitter or other message board will demonstrate Brian certainly isn't the one with a PR problem. The idea he is the one to now bring things together is novel to say the least.

Edit to stay on topic! Fantastic to see Blondie involved (and we get to listen to WIBNTLA,  good times)

Blondie is morphing into Mick Jagger.... :o

Mick? I think he looks more like Keith. ;D As long as he doesn't make Mike jealous... :P

"Brian Wilson Presents the Pendletones".... hee, hee!  :lol

Brian and the Passions.

They got room for a Rutle in there?

What a neat development -- especially after my recent whining about Blondie not guesting one night on C50! Hopefully we'll get some more details about the album before the fall leg of the tour...

Boy, I sure hope these plucky young men can counter all the bad PR they've been getting! If only Mike and Bruce would show up to make it all better.

OMG Blondie?? Amazing development - I hope the Brian CD is released soon, the suspense is maddening!!

"Brian Wilson Presents the Beach Men"

 :hat

I think it's great that Blondie's in the studio with Brian since he wasn't anywhere to be found during the C50. Hell, bring Ricky in too.

Guy can play some mean guitar too, though I think the Stones wanted him just for vocals, right? I think he's buds with Bernard Fowler, a backup guy with the Stones, though I haven't heard that Blondie's been with them lately.

I don't think he was on their most recent tour.  He wasn't there when I saw them.

I didn't see him either.

He got fired for trying to impersonate Keith with some of the groupies...

Blondie confirmed it on his FB account today -- and also said he was wirking on the album as a whole, not a specific track. So that would be an interesting development ...

It would be good to have Ricky involved but from everything I've read he seems to distance himself from anything to do with the Beach Boys. Shame as he seems like a nice guy and he's still a damn fine drummer.

Well, surprising you should say that, Paulos, because I saw Ricky get up on stage with Brian and Al back in '07 in Oakland and he got a great ovation and Brian and Al seemed real happy that he was there with them. I'm sure both Blondie and Ricky had a closer alliance with Carl than the rest of the band, and they both showed up to the Carl tribute in L.A. a few years ago.

I dunno, I think he's still busy with Bonnie Raitt on the road, isn't he?

There is no problem. But there is no doubt that a big part of having these guests involved is to sell tickets/albums just as it was with GIOMH. Now the inclusion of another former Beach Boy means that if it transpires that Mike and Bruce have not been invited to take part that it will be seen as political (for want of a better word). With Mike that may well be understandable but with Bruce? Possibly less so. Doubtless it is more down to Brian's management than him anyway...

As for Blondie being on the album, I can't say it fills me with excitement. The last Brian song he sang in the studio was Sail on Sailor I guess and I wish a Wilson had sung that one.

I was completely unaware of that Mikie, thanks for filling me in. I think he's still touring with Bonnie, someone posted a video of him performing with her last year and he was as solid and classy as ever.

EDIT

Y'know, the more I think about it, I think I was getting confused and attributing remarks made by Blondie to Ricky. Time to put down the bong Paulos...

As opposed to doing stuff that doesn't sell tickets or albums?


Well, they were invited to take part. Capitol wanted a followup album, Mike put up roadblocks and split for South America and points beyond with Historical Johnston and Sporadically Stamos instead... Then Capitol signed Brian for a solo album and they are carrying on without Doctor Grumpypants. Who exactly will be seeing this as "political," exactly? You? 3 or 4 people on this board? Show of hands, anyone?

It's completely ridiculous to try to treat this as somehow bad  for Brian because Mike Love isn't in the room. He can't record with Mike, and now he can't record without him either without it being criticized as political?

What a pointless distraction. Let them go on with their tribute act on the road while the musicians who still want to do new music record it! What a great lineup, and I love how they are working on many tracks each, not just a cheesy guest spot. Really looking forward to hearing the results of these sessions... bad political recess-ish PR be damned!

We are such lucky fans. After years of waiting for something, we've gotten...

- Over a decade of Brian touring
- A bunch of new Brian solo albums
- A reinvigorated Mike and Bruce show
- Alan's solo album
- Brian Wilson Presents Smile (I am still shocked that this happened)
- Smile Sessions (ditto)
- C50 tour
- That's Why God Made the Radio
- Made in California Box Set

...and now, this new Brian Wilson album, featuring Al, David, Jeff Beck, Blondie, and more...

I think the project that I am most excited about at the moment is this new BW album. Made in California has a good 30-40 tracks I am salivating over, but the whole "wood shedding" and organic collaboration process for this new album makes it seem like the anti-GIOMH... Brian seems engaged and reinvigorated by these collaborations.

Of course, I'd love me some Bruce and Mike on this album as well... but perhaps this is Brian's way of saying "screw you guys, I'm making the album I should have made many many years ago."

I've set my expectations high for Brian's best solo album, and I haven't even heard a lick of music from it!

It's plain as the nose on your/anyone's face who is moving forward with the BB legacy -- (hint) it is not Doc Grumpypants.

Brian Wilson is the innovator, God bless him!

Preach it! The album projects are exciting me the most as well, especially the instrumental stuff... with Jardine chants? Oh gawd, YES PLEASE.

 ;D

 Just call the band -The Beach-like Brian wanted to in 1970

A little on the defensive aren't we?

More offended by the offensive, thanks.

You're going to have a tough time spinning this, huh? Poor Mike and Bruce, they weren't even invited to take part! I like how this becomes something seen only from the prism of Mike and Bruce, even something as fun and fan-pleasing as Blondie turning up to lend some vocals to a BW album...

I don't think ontor was being defensive. I think he's pointed out that Brian's doing his thing with double the amount of Beach Boys as Mike, and he's making new music, and touring, and getting lots of attention. Not that Mike would want attention.... ::)

Try reading my post again. The words, 'with Mike that may well be understandable' mean that you are replying to something completely different to what I wrote.

So another distraction, then. You have no response to any of my points, pardon me if I don't scrutinize your droppings for bits of corn I might have missed!

Can we just agree that you're right and this whole thing is gonna blow up in Brian's face? I'll even throw in a "nobody can sing Sail On, Sailor like Mike's daughter" to sweeten the deal, because a boring argument with you crapping all over a nice thread about Blondie working with BW doesn't sound fun right now.

What I really want are more song titles! What do we know so far?

"Guess You Had to Be There"
"Right Time"
"Metropolis"
and
"an unnamed Motown-like organ jam"
plus
" Beck picking a 12-string electric guitar over a haunting "ooh-na-na" vocal line from Jardine, bathed in layers of Wilson's vocal harmonies."

C'mon, you shifty insiders. Squeal!

I too have Blondie on FB, and I don't see him saying anything like the second part of your statement.. just that he's in studio working with Brian on Brian' new CD , that doesn't necessarily mean multiple tracks...
hope its true though..  :)

No because that's another thing that I've never said or thought.

Apart from that though...

Why don't one of you ask him, then? It would've be giving away any big secrets or anything... We must harness the power of the intertubes to tantalize fans still further!

love too,  and he's been asked by others for more info... however, Blondie doesn't post on his own FB account but has a friend do it for him...  So when Blondie is ready to tell he'll pass that info on..

I pestered his guy anyway. Let's see if that does anything!

This is really great news, all in all. His voice, those musicians... man -- this is sounding better and better all the time, and honestly f*** Eric Clapton and Elton John and comparisons to GIOMH. These aren't plug n play rock legend ingredients, he's adding actual Beach Boys! And sounding enthusiastic and creative, that sounds a helluva lot more promising than "oh and there's Elton John." Granted, there's Jeff Beck but he sounds like he's had a lot of creative input and it's more of a collaboration that sparked a lot of recording. I'm still not ENTIRELY sold on the Beckage since I haven't actually heard any. So bring it to my ears, please. Before the October show, preferably.

(taps foot impatiently)

Actually, word I got was that Mick felt he was a bad influence on Keith!
And I'm serious

Is this for real?

They both drink like fish. But I heard Keith's trying to cut back, so it's probably true.

They were drinking pals and Blondie apparently got Keith regularly loaded which effected Keith's performances.  On stage, Blondie's role as side musician became  larger and larger over the years, creeping in on Keith's responsibilities on guitar.  Blondie went from simple percussion to acoustic guitar and then eventually electric guitar...doubling up (and sometimes actually TAKING OVER) Keith's part.  Keith wouldn't mind because that meant he had less to worry about, guitar-wise.  But Jagger did not approve of that. 

Additionally, on this last tour, the band wanted a real stripped down set up.  They got rid a few of their horn guys and also Blondie to slim down the entire touring group.  Keith had no one to rely on with his guitar parts so he had to really deliver the goods himself.  So Blondie's not inclusion in the last tour was a combination of a few things....

 :woot

Brian's really into the Hawaiian shirts.

The expression on Blondie's face is priceless! Al is lookin' pretty sly.

So psyched!

Wtf! Why does JF always have to be there, and in pics!! He is not a beach boy!!!!!

This is really great to see. Good for Brian. Good for Blondie. Bring on Ricky for a drum solo!

And for all of you out there who don't think Blondie and Ricky were real Beach Boys and didn't belong on stage for the C50 tour......

In yer face!!

So do you guys reckon Brian actually remembered who Blondie Chaplin is this time?

Jeff is looking like Not a Beach Boy  ;D

True story, Al is standing on 400 books.

Blondie's an excellent vocalist. I look forward to hearing him on the most likely excellent new LP.


I just hope the music wasn't all written in 1998... would like to hear some of Brian's genius in 2013

The music for TWGMTR wasn't all written in 1998, either. Off the top of my head, Think About the Days, Isn't It Time, Shelter, TPOBAS and FTTBA were all newly composed.

"Isn't It Time" and "From There To Be Back Again" are evidence enough to me that teh Bryun Wilsun magic is still intact. "Think About The Days" and "Shelter" are pleasant enough, too.

Who knows how much of the former...
 

 :rock :woot

Right now, none of those guys are.  Just check all the tour promotion.  The Beach Boys are Mike, Bruce, Scott, John, Christian, Tim, and Randall.  That being the case, Jeff fits in perfectly with Brian, Al, Blondie, and Dave. ;D  And while I'd LOVE to see Ricky join them, Jeff works for me.  As it's been said, five is the magic number. :)

Is there an actual story behind this question? Did they meet before and he didn't remember?

And who said that this was a picture of the Beach Boys?

Jeff will be a very important man in the recording so why should he not be pictured? This is a Brian Wilson solo album after all and he will be playing a bigger role in the recording than most...

It was mentioned on here the other day. They were both guesting on some guy's song. Brian had recorded his parts and was asked if he wanted to hang around to catch Blondie when he arrived to do his parts. Brian claimed he didn't know Blondie and split. Remember this is the man who once claimed he didn't know that Dennis had made a solo album.

Sounds like he was just nervous.  Remember that Blondie's time in the band was not the greatest period for Brian, maybe he just didn't want any bad memories to come up.  I'm pretty sure he knew who he was, he even singled him out in the liner notes of the Beach Boys Classics album, the only member of the group to get such a mention saying "Blondie Chaplin's vocal on the fadeout of "Funky Pretty" is sensational."

Plus, Brian watched Blondie and Ricky perform "Sail On Sailor" with his band at one of the Carl Wilson memorial cancer benefits (I think in 2002?).

Not exactly. The principals (the actual Beach Boys) are Mike and Bruce. The other guys comprise the Beach Boys Band. The press does not often grasp the distinction, but they are getting better at it.

We know this, and and those that can't distinguish them in a picture probably don't matter anyway, but most of the press photos and whatnot for Mike's band that I see show the entire band with a Beach Boys logo. Mike and Bruce are usually front and center in the photos but there is no separate distinction showing that the other members are not in the Beach Boys but rather in the Beach Boys band. It's unfortunate some of the press and some casual fans can understand this distinction, but as I've said before it is a problem that all of the members of the band have created by licensing the trademark to a band that doesn't represent the actual members in the band.

That's a very good question

I don't have any idea how seriously you may have meant this (probably not all that much), and it's the Brian Wilson moniker which will sell the product, but damn, I actually really like this idea.

THE BEACH.

Yeah, you know, I kind of dig it.

Anyway, great news about Blondie, and I cannot wait to hear the album (doubly so if there are more sections of the 'Life Suite' included).

A hypothetical question.

Mike has the legal use of the Beach Boys for touring only. What could the legal standing re a new Beach Boys album? My first thought was no Mike- No chance. But then we had Summer In Paradise with no Brian. :-\

So in theory,could the voting members of BRI allow Brian, Al, Dave, Blondie (plus Jeff) only, to make a Beach Boys titled album?

I doubt if Brian would want to take the chance at kicking that hornet's nest of bad press.

I know, but I did say hypothetical. Hey...The Beach Boys don't seem to operate in the real world sometimes, so who says we have to? :lol

Ain't that the truth!   :-D

Exactly.  And it ain't right, I tells ya.  :police:

I think it's pretty easy to tell the other guys are at least a decade or two younger than Mike and Bruce.

I wonder if Mike would complain if Brian used...

The Beech Boyz  :p

um, nevermind

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/945993_10151806344097241_2020253376_n.jpg)[/

Was Blondie fired? If so every member of that party, plus David has been sacked from the Beach Boys apparently so some suggestions.

The Terminated
The Un-Wanted
Fired
Feels Like We Were Fired

others...? :lol

They should add Mike D and Ad-Rock to the lineup, becoming the Beachtee Boys.

The Heart And Soul

And tribute it to Carl, Dennis and MCA.

Kenny and the Cadets : So Tenacious

BriDub & the AutoTenors.

Kid Hawthorne and the Leathered Lads

The Seaside Seniors

Murry's boys

They could call it "Flame Family & Friends", instigating a lawsuit from Ricky Fataar......  :lol

The legal standing of anything being called "The Beach Boys", from a tour to an album to a signature line of singing toothbrushes would involve agreement by the shareholders of BRI. They currently have granted a license to use the name solely for touring to Mike.

There is no standing license to use the name for recording new albums. Any new album using the name would require agreement by the majority I would presume. How did they do an album without Brian in 1992? Either Brian (or his conservator at that time?) didn't care and/or agreed to it, or perhaps he disagreed with it but they had a majority of voters (Mike, Carl, and Al) involved enough with the project that that was enough. I've never heard Brian comment much if at all about the SIP album, so I dunno.

Presently, I don't see anybody in the organization trying to use the BB name for a new album unless they regroup as they did last year. Brian seems fine doing solo stuff, and between the lucrative nature of touring and the utter failure of SIP, I don't think Mike has much interest in attempting to license the name to do a "Beach Boys" album on his own, and he likely wouldn't have the support to do that anyway.

In most cases. But I'd say a couple of the dudes (Kirsche for instance) in some of the group photos I've seen sort of blends into that general look of older dude with short hair wearing a baseball cap and Hawaiin shirt. My main point was that big fans know who is who, but the "masses" who I've heard in person and I've read stories about, who are utterly clueless about who is original and who isn't, are not going to make the distinction between members of "The Beach Boys" and the members of "The Beach Boys Band" within a group who bills itself simply as "The Beach Boys" and who poses for group shots under that name.

It's not a coincidence that when the touring BB's was a four-man unit in the 80's and 90's, they never (to my recollection) posed for group publicity photos with the "touring band." It was only when it dwindled to two members that they started using the backing band for publicity photos. Not sure if they did that much when David was in the band in 1997-99; I know there are some circa 1998 publicity photos with just Mike, Bruce, and David. There are some publicity photos that still float around with just Mike and Bruce that are sometimes used, but more often than not I'm seeing that same photo of the "touring band."

I think the confusion of who is a Beach Boy is a non-issue. I just saw the Average White Band, I'm just a causal fan, I wasn't under the impression that this was the original band with two old guys and some young guys that were barely born when the band formed.

I'm relatively new to BB fanaticism, so there are a few things I haven't totally grasped.  Among them:

-Why the hate for Foskett?

-Why the love for Blondie and Ricky?

1. Good question - one that I can't answer. He's done a lot for The Beach Boys and Brian. Not sure if Brian can do all that he does without Jeff. Jeff is Brian's #1 right hand man. He ain't a bad guitarist and singer either.
2. Because they were Beach Boys. They recorded on three of their albums; 2 studio, one live. Plus, the old codgers here remember seeing them live on stage with The Beach Boys in the early 70's when the band was at their artsy fartsy best.

I kind of find Jeff'voice over the top, a bit grating.

Ha, I was in high school when I saw the BBs with Blondie. Damm, they were rocked. And were cool again. Even Mike.

When Jeff first joined The Beach Boys, he was a welcome sight. For years, they were missing that falsetto that could cut through all the instrumentation on stage. Even today, Jeff is fine in the Live setting and sounds enough like a younger Brian to really give the songs a more Beach Boys sound, especially in Brian's band.

Agreed on Jeff, though I think he sounds more like a Beach Boy on his non-BB/BW stuff than he does on actual BB/BW stuff.  

I still don't get Blondie.  So he made them seem cool again and was apparently awesome on stage.  What about an album setting where the only standout could be his vocals?  Was his voice really THAT special?  Did it really have that much indispensable chemistry with the others?  I think this Blondie love is just nostalgia for those early 70's concerts.

If Denny and Carl were still with us...

...would they be here?

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/945993_10151806344097241_2020253376_n.jpg)

...or here?

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It would be up to Brian considering the Love/Jardine pair and the Carl/Dennis pair were always tight and it was Brian who went back and forth between the two but you'd have to think Carl and Dennis would be with Brian, no real question about it.

He helped give The Beach Boys a different sound. I like Blondie's and Ricky's stuff on CAPT & Holland. He did a terrific lead on Sail On Sailor too. So, I like the studio work as well as his stage work. I saw the band 3 times with Blondie, and I think, not by coincidence, those 3 shows were great. I think they provided an energy to their shows. He and Ricky were new and they were able to provide some spark. Plus, I think the whole band worked very hard to prove that they were not washed up, and that the tag placed on them was unjustifiable.

Yeah, I don't think that Love/Jardine faction is as strong as it used to be.... ;)

I so wish Dave was in that top pic!

Yeah, I don't think that Love/Jardine faction is as strong as it used to be....

True that. What is at the heart of their conflict? I think more so than any other messed up interpersonal dynamics among the Beach Boys the Al/Mike divide is the widest. What caused this divide? It seems to go back over 20 years, as Al was suspended from participating much in the Summer in Paradise sessions (much to his chagrin, no doubt!)

Blondie and Ricky both are excellent musicians. And Blondie's voice is a very strong instrument on it's own. He just has a style. Plus his voice fit very well into the Beach Boys blend. Listen to the "In concert" album and you'll hear just how well. He even takes the high background part from time to time (intro to "Don't worry baby" for example). He has a certain warmth that just fits perfectly to the Boys. And I love his "ta-a-a-a-a-tions" on "Good vibrations".

If you got a chance check out "The Flame"'s first album. It really is a great record.

(http://i.imgur.com/9bup1eT.jpg)

The Beach Boys had been going about 10 years when they joined and were all late 20s- 30. Crazy to think about it now but they possibly perceived themselves as being old and stale. It had been their only deal for all their adult lives really. The music styles and fashions had changed.

Imagine if when Brian had left they bought in 2 black members wearing those stripped shirts. At the time surely a career ender but a few years later it was a master stroke and just refreshed the group and gave them a new outlook and some fire power live and in the studio.

 :lol :lol :lol
This pic may be my favorite post on this board, ever.

Listen to the new live version of Wild Honey to "get" Blondie.

Or to this. As a reviewer said, a Beach Boys song with balls:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfDKow9kcpU

Or how 'bout an acoustic version. Guy can still sing with soul:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5WDhyPX9XI

Hmm - with their brother of course!

Trick question, they would be the secret identities of hipster electronica artists.

Oh My Grandfather Dave...what big..um Everything you have.  ;D go on a diet.

Guess you don't read the board very much, eh?  ::)

I read it everyday, actually. God forbid someone have different tastes in what humors them. Condescend much?

I remember reading that Al was becoming frustrated that the live shows were being overrun by Mike's idea of an entertaining Beach Boys concert, i.e., the cheerleaders factor.

Doesn't seem enough to fuel a 20 year feud, tho.  Perhaps it's someting more personal, or something TM related?

Close but my first thought was Jeff was supposed to be Mike!  :lol

His first solo album is top notch too.  Much better than The Flame even.  Check it!   :listening

Blondie and Ricky were just good all around. I think it's simple, either their style grabs you or doesn't.

Jeff seems OK to me, I think he has to be the "heavy" sometimes to keep fans at bay.

I like it. But I think it's too slick compared to "The Flame".

My sense is that Al and Mike were never in the same "faction" because they had a strong connection or that they shared a lot of personality traits or interests. They were basically in the "non-druggie" camp together by default. They were the (relative) teetotalers, and that forced them together at certain points in the band's career (especially that 1977-78 timeframe where the band nearly broke up).

It seems by the 80's and certainly the 90's, with the strong "opposition" to the clean cut Reagan-esque image of the band largely gone, there was nothing much left binding Mike and Al together. They clearly ultimately didn't share political views a great deal (Al's politics eventually became evident enough that he did not appear in the end to be on the same Reagan-friendly page as Mike). There aren't a lot of pieces of evidence of what happened between them, but you can see even in those early 90's interviews with Mike, Mike is describing an already tenuous situation. Mike seems to just chalk it up to some sort of generic negative attitude, and getting hung up on old beefs from years ago. Fair enough, everybody has their own things that they get hung up on. But I think Al just wasn't liking the direction of the band, both on the business side of things, and also on the artistic side. I doubt the cheerleaders thing was a huge breaking point for them, but the fact that Al apparently spoke out about it a bit in a 90's interview and then later described getting crap about saying something about that, seems to indicate he was more and more on the outs.

It seems like Al and Carl became closer in the 80's and 90's, but then when Al started having issues with some of the business stuff to do with the touring band and Carl apparently/supposedly no longer was interested in putting up opposition to Mike, then Al was *really* on the outs without much of any support.

Peter Ames Carlin's Brian bio actually makes passing reference to Mike trying to oust Al from the band as early as 1990, so something was brewing for quite awhile and you have to wonder if it's not actually amazing that Al lasted until 1998 playing with Mike.

I think a mixture of liberation from having to tow the party line for the band, and just getting older, has allowed Al in more recent years to be refreshingly frank about a lot of things relating to the band.

From the live stuff I've heard from that period, their style does grab me.  I just don't see how that style would lend much to a studio album.

I really liked Jeff after I heard his track "Through My Window," which apes Pet Sounds but really showcases his powerful falsetto.  Sounds really Wilson-esque on that track especially.

The evolution of fan feelings for Foskett is an interesting one. I think most fans were ambivalent and/or generally pleased with him during his 1981-1990 tenure with the touring band. Once he started up with Brian in 1999, fans seemed to enjoy his support of Brian and his ability to help Brian be motivated to do projects and whatnot. Almost anybody around Brian who ends up having to be some variation of a "handler" ends up getting some scorn or negative feelings. For better or worse, Brian appears to need these roles to function. It's not full-on Landy status, but there is always that element. Perhaps partially because of this role, there does seem to be the appearance of some ego going on.

On the musical front, some perhaps don't prefer his falsetto. Other than that, I think it's simply his ubiquitous nature in appearing on pretty much everything Brian does in the studio or live (and thus the Beach Boys 50th projects) that grates on some. I do think it occasionally goes past my personal taste; for instance last year's new BB album essentially featured Foskett as a more prominent vocalist than some of the actual band members.

I've also occasionally gotten the sense Foskett's resume gets pumped up a bit in various ways. I remember a fan description of a private show Foskett gave for fans in the early 2000's, and it came across as though he likes to pump himself up quite a bit. He allegedly described how when the BB's splintered in 1998, he was in demand so much that all three camps (Brian, Mike, and Al) all asked him to join their respective touring bands. I don't know how many times I've read bios on him (perhaps not written by him) that pad the number of years he toured with the Beach Boys. "Late, late 1981 to mid 1990" has at times morphed into "1979 to 1991." Some of his bios described that he "replaced Carl" even though the band toured without Carl before Foskett joined for nearly a year.

But in any event, I've never understood the relatively recent disdain. I prefer Matt Jardine's falsetto, but I can't say Foskett's work has been anything other than generally impeccable with the BB's and Brian over the years.

As for Blondie and Ricky, I'm sure there has been some romanticizing done over the years about their relatively brief tenures in the band. I think the positive association is indeed partly due to the band as a whole being more adventurous and interesting and progressive in that era. They were both good musicians and singers, and were something different to kick the BB's in the butt. Don't get me wrong. "Here She Comes" bores me to tears. They were not indespensible members of the band; I can't imagine Blondie fitting into an album like "That's Why God Made the Radio", but who knows? I think they could have functioned for years as great musicians with the BB's whose somewhat different musical styles would have been interesting and kept the BB's more progressive.  

Mike seems to just chalk it up to some sort of generic negative attitude, and getting hung up on old beefs from years ago. Fair enough, everybody has their own things that they get hung up on.


Having just read The Wilson Project, in which Al holds a grudge against Gary Usher over some money he feels he was owed some 25 years prior, I believe this aspect of the conflict is certainly something that probably keeps Mike & Al from being best buddies. Al seems petty at times and a tad immature for a man of his years (jeez it almost sounds like I am defending Mike here!)

HeyJude, thanks for that explanation.

I've heard that story a number of times, and I'm looking forward to my copy of "The Wilson Project" which is currently in the mail. But one need only reference Van Dyke Parks' story about Mike hounding him about the "Cabinessence" lyrics over 25 years later to determine that Mike seems to have some of those same issues. In Mike's case he wasn't even allegedly owed money!  :lol Mike seems to get pretty hung about stuff too, but perhaps sometimes it's easier to vent that via lawsuits instead of Al's simply being poopy about it.

The point was that Al undoubtedly has his idiosyncrasies. But it's a bit rich to call Al of all people out for weird behavior in the Beach Boys of all bands.  :lol

I've had the two Wilson Project volumes since 1992.  I don't see anywhere in there where there's any indication that Al resents Mike for Usher's not paying him back the loan in 1962. Don't think Mike had anything to do with that if I recall correctly.

Mike did show up to Usher's house when Brian was recording there. There's a picture of him - around 1996 I believe.

Jeff/Mike's cap needs a propeller!

1986???

Yeah, '86. 

Just wanted to see if anybody was reading my post.  :)

If Carl and Dennis were alive they would be recording and touring with Ricky!



 :lol

Great … four acts to shell out for!    :lol

An entire song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bk9Q7Patb54 - can easily be downloaded by 10+ methods (clipconverter, savefrom.net, savetube, DownloadHelper, vixy.net, DownloadMaster, via YouTube Spider program, keepvid, vidirect, checking own cache, 0download...).
 
Now, I radically disagree with you, Mr. Manning. The song is generic, there are thousands like that having similar melody. Brian's bgvs are indeed terrific but they're, well, audible in the background, therefore can't save the fact that it's a drag. And what's the difference if it's legit or illegal link? The quality is the same here & there, sometimes illegal files are even better sound-wise. I'm sure mods don't see the difference too & don't mind this factor of posting.

Well I think it's terrific… and the isolated BVs available on the album as a bonus track sound… well, not just in the background.

Hey ho…

Thanks for bumping this thread. I completely forgot Brian had a new record coming out and I'm back to being incredibly excited

From Blondie's facebook:

Blondie would like you all to know that he has been busy in the studio with Brian Wilson. Catch him with the Waddy Wachtel Band Jan. 25 at the Joint in LA and Feb. 11 at the Cutting Room in NYC for the Young Presidents cd release show.