The Smiley Smile Message Board

It's summertime and nothing gets you in the mood faster than a dose of the old-school California rock from The Beach Boys. The group, which originally included brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, along with their cousin Mike Love and friend Al Jardine, gained quick popularity in the 1960s for its vocal harmonies and lyrics focusing on cars, romance and the beach. Some of their best-known songs, along with the vibes of summer, will be all featured Aug. 12 when The Beach Boys bring their best to a summer night at Simsbury Meadows. Love now heads the band that will perform with The Hartford Symphony Orchestra as part of its Summer Concerts Series. Love looks back on decades of top-of-the-chart hits as he Spilled the Beans with Java.

Q: You have been touring for more than 50 years now, singing songs like "Fun, Fun, Fun" and "I Get Around," classics that have sustained for decades. Do you ever get up in the morning, look in the mirror and say to yourself, 'I cannot sing these songs one more time'!?

A: I never do that! We continue to perform because people still enjoy those songs we created so many decades ago. They are songs with fond memories for people of all demographics and generations, from children to senior citizens and everyone in between. It is a blessing. Singing was a family tradition for us before we formed the Beach Boys. I can never think of not doing music. It would be like throwing out something from my life. Our music has brought wonderful experiences to people and gotten others through some tough times. Performing our songs is a wonderful experience for me.

Q: What does "old" music have that makes people want it forever?

A: I think as far as the music from the '60s, the sustained success in terms of the pure songs was in the development. Not just the Beach Boys, but Motown and the Beatles. [It is] the most performed music on oldies or classic hits radio station. I think these days the musical landscape is so fragmented. You have rap over here, hip-hop over there, Adele or someone like that over there. I think the value in the classic songs that sustain are in the lyrics and the melodies, great songs done by great singers.

Q: Pretty much anyone who has heard of the Beach Boys knows the group has had its ups and downs and is aware of the split between you and Brian Wilson years ago. You reunited with Wilson for the 50th anniversary tour and then went your separate ways again. And now there is the new movie about him, "Love and Mercy." What caused the estrangement? And do you think the fence can ever be permanently mended?

A: Brian did himself a lot of damage and that was a horrible thing for me to witness as the years went by. When we started out he was doing great music but then got into drugs and that didn't do him any favors. All I can say is that love transcends all the bull because we are family and grew up together. We went to high school football games together, loved the Everly Brothers together, and sang doo-wop before the band was formed. We wrote all the great songs together and were successful together. As far as performing with Brian again, I have nothing but love for that cousin of mine and would love to get into the studio with him again.

Q: You have your own book coming out called "Good Vibrations: My Life As A Beach Boy." Can you tell me something about that?

A: It's written mainly from my point of view, my life, the Beach Boys. Like you said, I am 74 and there have been a lot of things that have gone on in my life and if I included everything it would read like "War and Peace." The book's not finished yet, but it is not an attempt to counteract some of the stories there have been out there over the years but rather to tell it from the point of view of someone who was really there.

Q: What can Connecticut expect when you set up in Simsbury?

A: It will be fantastic, not only because of our music but because we are performing with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra.

Q: What are your favorite Beach Boy songs?

A: "California Girls," because it is so symphonic, "God Only Knows," because it is just a gorgeous song and "The Warmth of the Sun." We wrote that song in the early morning hours on the day John F. Kennedy was assassinated. I think when we recorded it, it became even more poignant. I'd have to add "Good Vibrations" and "Kokomo" as favorites also.

Q: What else are you working on now?

A: We have been performing overseas and did sold-out shows in England at the Royal Albert Hall in London. We've also been invited to Germany to perform in December. That has all been fabulous. We are doing 165 shows a year. I'm working on a new album, music that was done 30 years ago but never recorded.

Q: There are tales that you have a great hot tub in your backyard that overlooks Lake Tahoe. What do you listen to when you are out there?

A: Actually I was in there this morning but I didn't have any music on other than the music in my head.

Q: What is something most people don't know about you?

A: I graduated among the lowest in my high school class of 150 students, along with my friends on the track team. My saving grace was that I scored well on something back then called the Iowa Tests. I was very well-read.

Copyright © 2015, Hartford Courant

http://www.courant.com/hartford-magazine/features/hc-mike-love-beach-boys-interview-20150725-story.html


Just passing it along..

I detect the initial rumblings of a reunion in the studio.

"Hey Mike...what are your thoughts on Smiley Smile? Can you tell us about how it was recorded, and what you thought about it as you were recording it--with this new music being so different from what other artists were doing?"

Cant someone ask this? Would it be so hard? Instead of all the usual stuff we've heard a million times?

He just had to mention Kokomo as one of his favourite songs!!!  :lol

Had to mention "Good Vibrations" as one too - the sheer nerve of the man ! How dare he like two of the bands #1 hits !!

You seem to very touchy when someone mentions Mike Love  :lol Kokomo is terrible I don't know what people where thinking buying that record!

No mention of 'the room'! (yet) ;D

Q: Pretty much anyone who has heard of the Beach Boys knows the group has had its ups and downs and is aware of the split between you and Brian Wilson years ago. You reunited with Wilson for the 50th anniversary tour and then went your separate ways again. And now there is the new movie about him, "Love and Mercy." What caused the estrangement? And do you think the fence can ever be permanently mended?

A: Brian did himself a lot of damage and that was a horrible thing for me to witness as the years went by. When we started out he was doing great music but then got into drugs and that didn't do him any favors.

You seem to very touchy when someone mentions Mike Love  :lol Kokomo is terrible I don't know what people where thinking buying that record!

Maybe its because I'm a child of the 1980s.  Or my foundless for Jimmy Buffett style island/rock/pop, but I like Kokomo and never really understood the venom directed at that song.  

It may not be in the top 20 BB songs ever, but I think there are far worse BB songs in the catalog.  And some of those come from the creative years of 1962-1973.  

Is it because the song had no involvement from Brian Wilson that the song is hated so much?  It is the Buffett meets adult contemporary style?  It is that some people can't appreciate a relaxing song while day drinking on a hot day?  Was it that pink shirt that John Stamos wears in the video?  

Maybe its because I'm a child of the 1980s.  Or my foundness for Jimmy Buffett style island/rock/pop, but I like Kokomo and never really understood the venom directed at that song.  

It may not be in the top 20 BB songs ever, but I think there are far worse BB songs in the catalog.  And some of those come from the creative years of 1962-1973.  

Is it because the song had no involvement from Brian Wilson that the song is hated so much?  It is the Buffett meets adult contemporary style?  It is that some people can't appreciate a relaxing song while day drinking on a hot day?  Was it that pink shirt that John Stamos wears in the video?  

Probably yes to all (on the questions). But in my experience--and we might be close to the same age, as I also am something of an 80s child. (Not to diminish my 3 1/2 years in the '70s: I learned a lot in those years. How to speak. How to use the toilet. The big topics.)

But it seems to me that the hatred for Kokomo has diminished in the time I've been a serious BBs fan, from what seemed to me to be total hatred in the mid 90s to more mixed opinions now. I think a lot of it just comes down to how one self-identifies as a Beach Boys fan. If you're of the ilk that insists upon the tortured genius of Brian fighting the crass commercialism of Mike, then Kokomo can't be good to you (no matter how much you might like it). If you need the outsider thing, it's just not going to work. For those who are just looking to be entertained (god forbid!), it's just not an issue.

And of course many of us evolve, ourselves. I certainly moved in my opinions and tastes from the elitist asshole to a more populist asshole.

Certainly, if you grew up in the 80’s and were introduced to the BB’s via the ’85 album or “Rock and Roll to the Rescue” or “Full House” episodes or “Kokomo”, then it’s far less likely you’ll find anything about “Kokomo” grating or troubling.

I think musically it’s catchy. I said that back then. I think it suffered from being overexposed/overplayed back then a bit.

In the context of the band’s career, I think some find it moderately problematic because it was simply another sign of the cheese-ifying of the band in the 80’s. It’s part of that ball of a wax along with doing gigs with Mr. T, cheerleaders on stage, Stamos, and so on. I don’t think hardcore fans specifically have an issue with Brian not being on it (there are other excellent BB songs Brian had little or nothing to do with). Some fans sense that Mike takes some level of pride from having scored a hit *without* Brian.

I do think some fans have trouble with Mike touting the song so much in the same breathe as things like “Good Vibrations.” “Kokomo” isn’t comparable  It doesn’t have to be; it can just be a catchy 80’s song that gave the band a shot in the arm. But some feel Mike pumps the song up more than that.

Here’s one way to put it: I’d be just as off-put if the same fate  (e.g. getting a hit but turning an era of the band’s image into late 80’s schlock and solidifying the “old dues in Hawaiian shirts singing in front of palm trees” image) had come to “Rock and Roll to the Rescue” or “Crack at Your Love” or “Heavenly Bodies” or “Just Say No”, etc.

Probably yes to all (on the questions). But in my experience--and we might be close to the same age, as I also am something of an 80s child. (Not to diminish my 3 1/2 years in the '70s: I learned a lot in those years. How to speak. How to use the toilet. The big topics.)

But it seems to me that the hatred for Kokomo has diminished in the time I've been a serious BBs fan, from what seemed to me to be total hatred in the mid 90s to more mixed opinions now. I think a lot of it just comes down to how one self-identifies as a Beach Boys fan. If you're of the ilk that insists upon the tortured genius of Brian fighting the crass commercialism of Mike, then Kokomo can't be good to you (no matter how much you might like it). If you need the outsider thing, it's just not going to work. For those who are just looking to be entertained (god forbid!), it's just not an issue.

And of course many of us evolve, ourselves. I certainly moved in my opinions and tastes from the elitist asshole to a more populist asshole.

Sadly, considering the last few interviews we’ve seen, this one is comparatively innocuous. This is more a case of the standard quickie interview. I do think it’s disappointing though not surprising that he completely evades a pretty specific question about the demise of C50 by, wait for it, mentioning Brian doing “himself a lot of damage” years ago. As I’ve mentioned many times in the past, I totally acknowledge that these guys that get asked the same questions over and over end up having the same canned responses. (See most McCartney interviews for instance). But this was not a typical 100% fluff question; it was about the demise of C50. Not only did Mike evade the question, he then went into a canned response, and one that dredges up the same negative stuff AGAIN. I get it, there are some fans that don’t have that filter; they think bringing up something bad that someone did DECADES ago is not beating a dead horse at all. To me, it’s like a parent reminding their kids of something they did in high school when their kids are in their 40’s.

He then continues to *not* address the question at all and goes into his spiel about he and Brian were best buds back in 1962.

I give the interviewer credit for at least asking one or two pertinent questions. Unfortunately, he didn’t really follow up on the non-answers (I get it, this was probably a 10-minute phone interview), and a lot of it was disappointingly junior high school level (“What are your favorite Beach Boys songs?” Really, do you really think that is something he hasn’t been asked literally a thousand times? And you’re asking this of a guy who has a track record for discussing the same five Beach Boys songs in every interview?)

Maybe its because I'm a child of the 1980s.  Or my foundness for Jimmy Buffett style island/rock/pop, but I like Kokomo and never really understood the venom directed at that song.  

It may not be in the top 20 BB songs ever, but I think there are far worse BB songs in the catalog.  And some of those come from the creative years of 1962-1973.  

Is it because the song had no involvement from Brian Wilson that the song is hated so much?  It is the Buffett meets adult contemporary style?  It is that some people can't appreciate a relaxing song while day drinking on a hot day?  Was it that pink shirt that John Stamos wears in the video?  

Didn't Brian appear on the Spanish version of the record?

I don't like it much either, though Carl's vocal redeems it a bit. It's just that list of names again (seem to rember that from other successful BB songs...). Some Army guys did a jokey version called Kosovo (if there is anything funny about Kosovo).

Perhaps the Administrators can orchestrate a Smiley Smile Board "Mike Love Q&A" similar to what was done with Brian earlier this year.  This will give us the opportunity to ask him more interesting questions rather that the same old retreads in these interviews.

That's a spanking good idea. Someone should get on the case pronto.

Aside from the hardcore BB fans, there is definitely a good hunk of culture who kind of simultaneously hates and love stuff. “Kokomo” falls into this category along with a bunch of other 80’s stuff. People make fun of it, and also like it. Guilty pleasure, irony, all kinds of stuff like that.

There’s stuff I *love* where I can see why someone wouldn’t like it or poke fun at it. I would say someone would have to be living in a pretty cloistered bubble to not even *fathom* why someone else might make fun of “Kokomo” or find it annoying or cloying or vapid or sell-out or whatever. I’m not saying I believe I all these things. But I wouldn’t find such arguments completely unsupportable. And in the age of the internet, you can find someone obsessing and hating on pretty much any song or movie or topic imaginable.

I caught an airing of the “Kokomo” video on VH1 (I think) once several years back where a bunch of comedians basically riffed on the entire thing. It’s easily able to be mocked, whether you like the song or video or not. Speaking of Al Jardine in the video, one person asked why David Spade’s Dad was in the video. 

Sadly, considering the last few interviews we’ve seen, this one is comparatively innocuous. This is more a case of the standard quickie interview. I do think it’s disappointing though not surprising that he completely evades a pretty specific question about the demise of C50 by, wait for it, mentioning Brian doing “himself a lot of damage” years ago. As I’ve mentioned many times in the past, I totally acknowledge that these guys that get asked the same questions over and over end up having the same canned responses. (See most McCartney interviews for instance). But this was not a typical 100% fluff question; it was about the demise of C50. Not only did Mike evade the question, he then went into a canned response, and one that dredges up the same negative stuff AGAIN. I get it, there are some fans that don’t have that filter; they think bringing up something bad that someone did DECADES ago is not beating a dead horse at all. To me, it’s like a parent reminding their kids of something they did in high school when their kids are in their 40’s.

He then continues to *not* address the question at all and goes into his spiel about he and Brian were best buds back in 1962.

I give the interviewer credit for at least asking one or two pertinent questions. Unfortunately, he didn’t really follow up on the non-answers (I get it, this was probably a 10-minute phone interview), and a lot of it was disappointingly junior high school level (“What are your favorite Beach Boys songs?” Really, do you really think that is something he hasn’t been asked literally a thousand times? And you’re asking this of a guy who has a track record for discussing the same five Beach Boys songs in every interview?)

*yawn* on any Mike Q&A. Its all about how BW did drugs and Mike is some TM superman....

*yawn* on any Mike Q&A. Its all about how BW did drugs and Mike is some TM superman....

Yeah, double yawn. Instead of a Q&A, it will morph into a Q&L, that is a question about TM and the answer turning into a lecture. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ. ::)

Nah, I think the question pertained, at the very least in part, to the "estrangement" that occurred due to going "separate ways" after C50. I don't believe the interviewer interrupted his own question with a non-sequitur thought that had nothing to do with anything.

It's the same fallback answer Mike uses whenever he can, even when the answer doesn't really pertain directly to the question: Brian did a lot of drugs, and that affected ME (Mike). He then proceeds to give bullet points about how they were best buds.

I'm not saying what Mike says is *always* inappropriate or objectionable as an answer. It's just inappropriate and/or objectionable when he says the same thing over and over, dredging up the asked-and-answered issue of Brian's long-past problems, and when he uses these stock answers in lieu of always answering the question at hand or addressing the issues brought up.

My guess is he doesn't want to address the C50 issue because it contradicts his apparent assertion that any "estrangement" is due to all of Brian's problems, because it was Mike that essentially quit "The Beach Boys" and Brian in 2012.

Aside from the hardcore BB fans, there is definitely a good hunk of culture who kind of simultaneously hates and love stuff. “Kokomo” falls into this category along with a bunch of other 80’s stuff. People make fun of it, and also like it. Guilty pleasure, irony, all kinds of stuff like that.

There’s stuff I *love* where I can see why someone wouldn’t like it or poke fun at it. I would say someone would have to be living in a pretty cloistered bubble to not even *fathom* why someone else might make fun of “Kokomo” or find it annoying or cloying or vapid or sell-out or whatever. I’m not saying I believe I all these things. But I wouldn’t find such arguments completely unsupportable. And in the age of the internet, you can find someone obsessing and hating on pretty much any song or movie or topic imaginable.

I caught an airing of the “Kokomo” video on VH1 (I think) once several years back where a bunch of comedians basically riffed on the entire thing. It’s easily able to be mocked, whether you like the song or video or not. Speaking of Al Jardine in the video, one person asked why David Spade’s Dad was in the video.  

Seeing mike talk about working on a new solo album it makes me wonder. Since he essentially just rents the Beach Boys name for touring, would be have the authority to release a new album under the Beach Boys name? I'm guessing it'd have to be voted on by the trust?

Seeing mike talk about working on a new solo album it makes me wonder. Since he essentially just rents the Beach Boys name for touring, would be have the authority to release a new album under the Beach Boys name? I'm guessing it'd have to be voted on by the trust?

Mike's license to use The Beach Boys name is for touring purposes only: he cannot release an album as by The Beach Boys any more than Brian or Alan can. Only The Beach Boys can record as The Beach Boys.

Thank goodness for that.  If not, we may have had three or four more Summer in Paradise type albums stinking up the catalog. 

 :woot :woot You got that right!! Quite sure there's more SIP infested material languishing somewhere just waiting like a plague to be cast upon the world. ::) ::)

Now OSD - SIP is not bad, I don't think...I wonder how much better it would have sounded without "auto-drum."  :lol

I don't think anything could've saved Summer of Love. 

And I'm still amazed how The Beach Boys managed to mess up Under the Boardwalk.  That should've been a can't miss for them.  Even if they did a paint by numbers version like a decent version of Hot Fun in the Summertime. 

Now OSD - SIP is not bad, I don't think...I wonder how much better it would have sounded without "auto-drum."  :lol

SIP is atrocious. The fact that it's not even available for sale on digital media platforms is a key giveaway to how bad this album is.

Hypehat's review of SIP (http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,11017.msg212828.html#msg212828 (http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,11017.msg212828.html#msg212828)) brilliantly shows that "auto-drum" is the least of this album's problems.

SIP is atrocious. The fact that it's not even available for sale on digital media platforms is a key giveaway to how bad this album is.

Hypehat's review of SIP (http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,11017.msg212828.html#msg212828 (http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,11017.msg212828.html#msg212828)) brilliantly shows that "auto-drum" is the least of this album's problems.

If Brian Wilson had been on the album - not even in a creative capacity, just in the harmony blend - I have no doubt SIP wouldn't garner half the hate that it does.

That review of SIP is the best post in SS history. Really shows the clusterfuck of SIP in full detail.  :woot :woot :woot :woot :woot :woot :woot :woot :woot :woot :woot :woot :woot :woot :woot

That review of SIP is the best post in SS history. Really shows the clusterfuck of SIP in full detail.  :woot :woot :woot :woot :woot :woot :woot :woot :woot :woot :woot :woot :woot :woot :woot

:lol :lol :lol

I'll stand fully with Hypehat's review where he even takes shots at Carl for participating in this farce, and if Brian was apart of this nonsense no doubt I'd have the same amount of irritation for it.

:lol :lol :lol

I'll stand fully with Hypehat's review where he even takes shots at Carl for participating in this farce, and if Brian was apart of this nonsense no doubt I'd have the same amount of irritation for it.

But the thing is that if BW was involved, there would be no SIP album since he would actually produce a great album with original material. SIP is the posterchild for how little talent Mike Love has outside of being a supporting BBs member.

Good luck with that. Dissing Carl's final album vocals. Lahaina Aloha? Seriously.  

But the thing is that if BW was involved, there would be no SIP album since he would actually produce a great album with original material.

Like SMaRT Girls.

If Brian Wilson had been on the album - not even in a creative capacity, just in the harmony blend - I have no doubt SIP wouldn't garner half the hate that it does. That's all the Brianista's biggest problem with it, not that the music is actually that bad but that the band dared to make an album with zero Brian involvement.

I don't recall Brian ever making a BB album that expressly excluded Mike.

Would Landy have made Brian available?

Mike didn't have "a Landy" controlling his every move.

But the thing is that if BW was involved, there would be no SIP album since he would actually produce a great album with original material. SIP is the posterchild for how little talent Mike Love has outside of being a supporting BBs member.

Brian wasn't with Landy during the SIP sessions.

Good luck with that. Dissing Carl's final album vocals. Lahaina Aloha? Seriously.  

Crazy thing, these people. How dare they diss material they don't like?

Last time I checked, none of The Beach Boys are deities. They aren't perfect. Even they don't like every single thing they've done. Being a fan doesn't mean you have to like every single thing they've ever done. So next time you're defending "Problem Child" remember that even Bruce himself thinks it bites.

You hit the proverbial nail on the head, SB. And sincere thanks to Rab for resurrecting Hypehat's stellar review of myKe luHv's pathetic vision and direction of where he thinks the Beach Boys should be. Just another reason that it's so well known here and elsewhere that the luhvster's talent rests somewhere in the drainfields of America.  :smokin

But the thing is that if BW was involved, there would be no SIP album since he would actually produce a great album with original material. SIP is the posterchild for how little talent Mike Love has outside of being a supporting BBs member.

SIP is a terrible album.  Even Mike himself seems to have dismissed the whole thing.  But, you can't take away the fact that Mike contributed to a lot of classic Beach Boys songs during the glory days.  

Let's be honest too, up until That Lucky Old Sun, Brian's solo material was pretty inconsistent.  But that doesn't mean he's not talented.  

Not Necessarily So! Brian had alredy recorded songs written and produced by Terry Melcher. Funny, back in the 90's the production didn't bother me too much, but now it drives me crazy. Still Lahaina Aloha and Strange Things Happen work for me and continue in my rotation.

Mike's license to use The Beach Boys name is for touring purposes only: he cannot release an album as by The Beach Boys any more than Brian or Alan can. Only The Beach Boys can record as The Beach Boys.

How is it then that SIP came to be, from a legal, corporate BB releasability standpoint? Did Brian have to be officially asked if he was going to be a part of the album, but then Brian turned down the offer but signed off on the album happening in his absence? Or was it a matter of the other BRI voters deciding to make the album (sans Brian) and Brian was out-voted? I'm well aware of Brian's rough times being extracted from Landy at the time, but I'm speaking purely from a "how did this happen" perspective, since it seems that from a corporate standpoint, this could not happen again in 2015, right?

How is it then that SIP came to be, from a legal, corporate BB releasability standpoint? Did Brian have to be officially asked if he was going to be a part of the album, but then Brian turned down the offer but signed off on the album happening in his absence? Or was it a matter of the other BRI voters deciding to make the album (sans Brian) and Brian was out-voted? I'm well aware of Brian's rough times being extracted from Landy at the time, but I'm speaking purely from a "how did this happen" perspective, since it seems that from a corporate standpoint, this could not happen again in 2015, right?

Could MIU have happened without Dennis. Could it have been released had My Diane been left off? Or the L.A. (Light Album), could have happened without SHortenin' Bread on it? They had to have had a different recording arrangement than what they have since Carl passed away.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but under previous contracts with the various labels going back to Warner/Reprise after the band split with Capitol, the only Beach Boy whose involvement in the recordings on the studio albums was specified in the contract was Brian Wilson. He had to have a certain level of involvement in the recording process under the terms of the label contract, although there may have been an addendum or something to cover the live album. Take note of the label that released "Summer In Paradise", it was released on a totally different label than any of the other albums, and I believe under a completely different set of terms and conditions that had previously been in place for the various contracts with the labels. It may have even been a one-off deal to get that album out and that album alone, or maybe any future plans were scuppered by the album's commercial failure.

After Carl's passing, as has been said many times, the organization itself was in chaos as far as who was going to do what moving forward, and again it can be looked up but I believe the current terms of who can release a "Beach Boys" album were on the table at that time. And as mentioned, without at least Brian Wilson involved there can be nothing released as a "Beach Boys" album of new material or even new recordings, as it should be and as I (opinion inserted) hope it remains.

GF - as I suspected and was verified by wiki (a good place to start, but reliability must be re-verified)..."All surviving original band members except Brian Wilson(who was in legal process of being removed from the care of Eugene Landy) contributed to this project." It was released on Brother Records.  It may have done better in sales a few years earlier with the Kokomo era, but Still Cruisin' was released then.  Maybe a missed window of opportunity.

There may have been some "designee" in the event Brian was "unavailable" which the L&M movie clarifies, in the time line of the band, and the interloping self-dealing actions of the "doctor." If Brian was being distracted to work to advance Landy's business goals, he would be "unavailable" for the band. (The real band)

Actually, it was released by Brother Entertainment, not Brother Records.

Actually, it was released by Brother Entertainment, not Brother Records.

How is it then that SIP came to be, from a legal, corporate BB releasability standpoint? Did Brian have to be officially asked if he was going to be a part of the album, but then Brian turned down the offer but signed off on the album happening in his absence? Or was it a matter of the other BRI voters deciding to make the album (sans Brian) and Brian was out-voted? I'm well aware of Brian's rough times being extracted from Landy at the time, but I'm speaking purely from a "how did this happen" perspective, since it seems that from a corporate standpoint, this could not happen again in 2015, right?

Mike's license was voted to him in 1999. SIP was released in 1992. As far as I know, the license wasn't retroactive.

I wanted to come back to the earlier discussions about the label which released Summer In Paradise. It was essentially, if you look at it this way, an independent release under a slightly different "Brother" corporate name. "Brother Records" could have a album ready to release but they'd still need to get a label to distribute the record itself, the same process that started with Capitol distributing their albums first in '67 and continued with every label they were on after that.

Summer In Paradise apparently couldn't secure a distribution deal with a label, therefore you see the corporate name as listed on the record and a credit for Mike showing him as "Executive in charge of production for Brother Entertainment: Mike Love".

What was or is "Brother Entertainment"? It's not BRI, it's not "Brother Records"...there's one of your answers. It could read like the album was an indie release since none of the associated labels would agree to put it out.

Now what gets confusing is you'll see copies tagged with the EMI name, that was the re-release if you want to call it that which was done for the UK market and other areas after the initial US release flopped on epic proportions.

There were remixes done, some guest artists were highlighted perhaps as well more than they had been originally, and it was basically a modified version of the original record for the UK...if I'm getting my facts straight. And again, if memory serves, it laid an egg in the UK as well.

Without a major label distributor, it started as essentially an indie release through whatever "Brother Entertainment" had to do with releasing new product in the early 90's, with Mike skippering the boat. It wasn't the same as Brother Records putting it out and Capitol or Warners or whoever else picking up the ball like in the past.

Then...adding to the confusion, maybe someone can pitch in this info: They tried to release "Summer Of Love" as a single to jump on the Baywatch thing, and that sunk as well...but wasn't that a totally different label and distributor as well? Maybe some offshoot of what was Boardwalk who released Mike's solo album? I just can't remember.

Then...adding to the confusion, maybe someone can pitch in this info: They tried to release "Summer Of Love" as a single to jump on the Baywatch thing, and that sunk as well...but wasn't that a totally different label and distributor as well? Maybe some offshoot of what was Boardwalk who released Mike's solo album? I just can't remember.

Summer of Love was gonna be a due with Bart Simpson, but then ended up in Baywatch in '95.

It was released on Scotti Brothers records - acording to discogs: American record label founded in the mid-seventies by brothers Anthony and Benjamin Scotti.

Boardwalk went out of business in '82 - according to discogs: US Record company founded by Neil Bogart in 1980, after selling Casablanca Records to Polygram. Boardwalk Records, Inc. owned the The Boardwalk Entertainment Co label.
After Bogart's death in 1982, the company went out of business.

It wasn't just Brian, as the sessions progressed Al was eventually out of the process too and therefore didn't participate at all on certain parts of the record. There was still the issue lingering of Mike having tried to shut him out of the group entirely in the years just before this album was started.

Something I saw firsthand tells me it flopped because fans simply didn't like it and/or didn't buy it, if it were the indie thing then it would more likely have been a case of lesser availability due to smaller distribution networks and smaller manufacturing numbers affecting actually getting it into stores. But that wasn't the case. I lived about a half-block away from a Tower Records when this album was new and in the few years after it. I checked the Beach Boys rack almost every time I went in, which could be daily some weeks. There was never a shortage of copies in the bins, it was always there in numbers. Eventually the cut-out bins got what looked like all of those unsold copies because those cut-out discount bins were stuffed for a long time full of Summer In Paradise. It was almost like a running joke.

And I know also there was no shortage of "push" coming from Mike on the concert stage as late as July 4th 1995 when they featured the title song and played it for what felt like an eternity on that Philly stage, even though it seemed most of the crowd didn't know what they were hearing. This is, what, just about 3 years after the initial release? And it never generated interest or increased demand even after being played and featured - check the setlist archives for details - at a string of live shows for years if I recall. Fans just didn't dig it.

That's the thing with Baywatch too - They tried to reintroduce "Summer Of Love" as the new Beach Boys single complete with video and TV tie-in on what was one of the hotter shows of the moment, and it was D.O.A., flopped, sunk without a trace - no one was into it.