The Smiley Smile Message Board

Saw this on David's FB page:

"Thank you for all the kind messages about my mom and wishing me a happy birthday. I’m sorry I don’t get on here more but I will try harder!

It was suggested once that I sing this Dennis song live, and while I haven’t had the chance yet the idea has been stuck in my head ever since. I’ve been felling Dennis a lot lately so I thought it was a good time to record it and post as a thank you for all the support. Special thanks to Adam Marsland for playing piano and producing my vocals."

https://soundcloud.com/davidleemarks/cuddle-up

Lovely job David and Adam!

Thank you!  I was very stoked to get to do this.

Damn, that is awesome. Probably the most emotion I have felt from a new BB recording, cover or not, in a long while. David and Adam, you are both awesome.

wow! he could almost be a brother of Dennis's and Carl's vocals combined on those falsetto parts.
Great Job! 

David has done a brilliant job!

A very emotional recording, it brought a tear to my eye.  Well done David and Adam!

This really captures Dennis's spirit!! Great job guys! David sounds absolutely awesome  :angel:  :-D

Wonderful !!!  A real gem , well done both of you. David, you were one of the reasons I began following the BB .......please do more like this    🙋

I can imagine. Ye gods, what an amazing performance from David! Cover of the year----by a mile. 

Oh, how compelling. This makes me think that the BB in Radio did not really do anything close to what they could have in highlighting the individual artistry of the various surviving members. The new Monkees album has more individual, signature moments of highlighted creative art and expression. I think BJ said the album was a "punt" or a "bunt"?, and  i have to agree that giving everything that Joe Thomas, Jeff Foskett feeling squandered the chance for an album that could have included this kind of DM tribute to Dennis's art--to say nothing of the shocking absence of DM surf guitar on the album (despite his good work on the title cut).

I have said before that Dave--more than Brian--has the legacy of Carl and Dennis on his shoulders, or at least is more cognizant than Brian of that particular historical burden. Dave delivers here beautifully.

Agreed completely.

Listening to this track makes me realize how (IMO) unfortunately one-sided and often misguided the band has been in absolutely neglecting this type of music for so long. We need less "Beaches in Mind", less "Forever" (sung by Uncle Jesse), and more moving material like this. And I say that respectfully, as I don't dislike the "Forever" cover the way many others do, and I'm glad Denny's work got a boost from it, but it sucks when it's at the expense of more raw, hard-hitting, newly-recorded stuff like this not happening - and this recording not getting a more official release.

If this cover was released under the BB name in an official capacity, you couldn't wipe the grin off my face.

Of course, there have been some great emotional moments in some of the band's work (both solo and BB material) since Denny's last new works, but the fact that this type of raw emotional gut-punch has been often absent is a real shame. I certainly can't fault Denny for not being around to make new music like this, but this cover makes me realize how neglected both Denny's own music, as well as that entire style in the context of the BBs' canon, has been for so long. I'm not talking about archival releases, I'm talking about new stuff that gets into this territory.

More works by members of The BBs that pay tribute (either covers or original works) that pay tribute to the Denny style would be so appreciated. Even just a few. I guess at this point, David is probably the only guy left who could do them, or even has interest in doing them, it would seem. David rules, and this proves he has certainly been underutilized for far, far too long.

That was so tender, so emotional -- what a great tribute to Denny's music! Adam, if you and Dave ever decide to do an album or tour of the Songs of Dennis Wilson together, I'd love to hear / see that!

That'd be fun.

I'm really not a sentimental guy, but this could be tears in my eyes.
Thanks so much for sharing this.  :drum

He´s really singing it good. Wouldn´t have thought this.

I had the honor to play and sing it on one of our German BB fanclub meetings, having Billy Hinsche and Jeff Foskett on choir. That was REALLY something !

As much as I like David and I think this is a very good cover of this song, for me it lacks the yearning, passionate feel of the original. Dennis' voice was so perfect for his music. So much feeling and so emotional that his music is difficult to do justice to.

Let's see - "Little bird", "Cuddle up", "You & I", "Forever"(?). What else? POB? WIBNTLA? Or Evie Sands would sing it as usual?

Thank you David and Adam.  I'm sure the spirit of Dennis was with you as you recorded this.

Awesome! Beautifully done guys!

I just can't get enough of David's effort here. I'd love to hear a studio version of David doing "Little Bird" and other Denny tunes. (Adam has some experience in this area....) Nobody channels Denny like David. If you read "The Lost Beach Boy", their connection is well explained. And I see on David's web site that the 10th anniversary edition is coming soon. Hope "The Real Beach Boy" reissue is coming soon too.

Totally agree! A Marks version of LB would be amazing.

OregonRiverRider added the word "too" at the end of last sentence. It means that he likes both books. He did mention "The Lost Beach Boy".

As for song, never was big fan of it, so whether David's cut it or smb. else wouldn't make difference. Boring song is boring song.

Hence the edit.

David's book is revised and updated. I am hoping we get David's take on the demise of the "C50 tour.