The Smiley Smile Message Board

According to Bruce, he was the one who solely introduced Lennon and McCartney to both Pet Sounds and Good Vibrations. Is this fact or massive exaggeration? Was he really hanging around these guys that often in 1966? Did they really have multiple private listening sessions together whenever the Beach Boys were on the verge of releasing groundbreaking material? Do these stories have credibility? Does McCartney even know who Bruce is?

Now that you mention it, I have never heard a quote from John or Paul about "Good Vibrations". We know they listened to Pet Sounds in Bruce's hotel room (supposedly twice) and then went on to record "Here There & Everywhere" the next day. What do you suppose they thought of "Good Vibrations"? I suppose the logical answer would be "Strawberry Fields Forever".

The only time I can recall Paul mentioning it, was in 1990 when David Leaf interviewed him for the Pet Sounds CD debut.

David: FROM THAT SAME PERIOD, HOW ABOUT "GOOD VIBRATIONS”?

PAUL: "I thought it was a great record. It didn't quite have the emotional thing that Pet Sounds had for me. I’ve often played Pet Sounds and cried. It's that kind of an album for me.

I haven't heard Bruce ever claim he hung around with Lennon and McCartney on multiple occasions.  He mentioned being introduced to them by Keith Moon when he was over here promoting Pet Sounds, where he played them the album in his hotel suite.

According to Paul in his 1990 interview with David Leaf, he first heard "Good Vibrations" courtesy of Brian, who had brought it to Derek Taylor's LA home when he (Paul) was visiting.

Someone needs to bone up on their Beach Boys basics: Bruce has never mentioned meeting John and Paul more than once, nor ever playing them "GV".

While on topic, where did McCartney say that God Only Knows was his favourite song of all time? I have read interviews where he has praised it, but can't recall him putting it at #1.

And that someone--in this case--may be you. Bruce is quoted as saying that he introduced "Good Vibrations" to Lennon and McCartney in the official Beach Boys yearbook that came along with the Made in California box set. In that case, he played and sang the song for them (not the record), and claims they hit the floor, I would assume in awe/frustration that they would have to keep up with a beautiful piece of music.

The Pet Sounds meeting is frequently cited, but I've never heard the story of GV until it was released in that official book. Theoretically this may have been the same meeting (and I'd assume it likely was).

Found this Derek Taylor story which says Brian played it first (unfinished) to Paul. Date would be around the Aug 28 Beatles concert.

https://music.yahoo.com/blogs/rocks-backpages/the-rocks-backpages-flashback-paul-mccartney-drops-in-on-the-beach-boys.html


The lights were low in the house, the Los Angeles basin twinkled blue, red-gold and silver, and we had Glenn Miller's Latest Hits softly on the record player. "Hi," said Brian and the Wilsons. "Hello," said Paul and added: "Well, you're Brian Wilson and I'm Paul McCartney so let's get that out of the way and have a good time." Brian laughed and said, "Would you like to hear a dub?"

He played the extraordinarily fascinating "Good Vibrations" and it impressed Paul, who asked for the dub "as a souvenir." Brian said he'd rather not part with it. He wasn't completely happy with the sound. Oh well. It didn't matter that much.

Please tell that to Keith Badman who says Mike & Bruce were at the Beatles Magical Mystery Tour costume part at the end of 1967 and joined some members of the Beatles on stage to jam an impromptu version of "Sloop John B". What an amazing claim! So, is it not fiction?

Which leads me to my next question, how much exactly did Keith Badman invent for his book? And for what purpose? I feel that this subject alone merits it's own thread but I hate to put it out there when we have so many recent threads about Dennis Wilson songs to keep us annoyed.

Quite a bit of the Badman book was fabricated or erroneous, except of course the social security numbers shown...

Yes, mine has the social security numbers in it. What bugs me is what a fantastic layout this book has. It's on par with something by Mark Lewisohn or Andrew Sandoval with the beautiful pictures and chronological information. To know it's tainted with misinformation is yet another scar to fans of this band.

Here is the entry for Thursday, December 21st, 1967:

On their last night in London, Mike and Bruce attended the Beatles' costume party at the Westbourne Suite of the Royal Lancaster Hotel in west London, held to celebrate the group's recently completed film Magical Mystery Tour, which is due for it's television premiere on BBC-1 on the 26th. Singers Cilla Black and Lulu and actor Robert Morley are among the other celebrities in attendance. At the end of the night the two Beach Boys jump on stage and perform an impromptu performance of 'Sloop John B' with members of The Beatles. Mike and Bruce return home to California the following morning to spend Christmas with their families.

I mean, sounds exciting, right? Is there any truth to this at all? I have researched all of my Beatles books (for instance) about this night, and there is never a mention about the two Beach Boys aka Mike and Bruce.

 ???

Eddie Deezen was (not) there and had some photos. Not all guests are pictured. There are no pics of George, for instance. He has a website with a link to contact him. Maybe someone here can ask him and see if he remembers and if he'll reply.  (I misread the post on neatorama and thought he was on old guy who was there, but he does seem to have a lot of info and pics.) If the Beatles partied with Monkees, they weren't that snobby.

Thanks for the tip, KittyKat. I found this (after a quick Google):

http://www.neatorama.com/2012/08/23/The-Embarrassing-Magical-Mystery-Tour-Party/#!bhbG8R (http://www.neatorama.com/2012/08/23/The-Embarrassing-Magical-Mystery-Tour-Party/#!bhbG8R)

Great story about John Lennon and Lulu. No mention of Beach Boys.

The band played a UNICEF gala in Paris on 12/15/67. Could have been in London six days later but when I asked Bruce about meeting J & P at Epsom last night, he didn't mention it. Did mention seeing them in Chicago summer 1966, though.

The only claim I've seen so far of Mike & Bruce jamming "Sloop John B" with the Beatles was Keith Badman's book. No wonder nobody takes him seriously.

Bruce was the Walrus.

(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LODC_BPQ5Ug/UPiPt_zgZII/AAAAAAAAAy0/Vt-6muXc1YU/s1600/B+Walrus.png)