The Smiley Smile Message Board

Discuss, review and rate Pacific Ocean Blue, released September 1977.

(http://www.smileysmile.net/images/albums/pob.gif)

I'm not the Dennis worshipper a lot of people are, but I do like this album, and think a number of the tracks could have infinitely improved the last two '70s BBs albums if they were cut by the band.

Perfect. 5.

Do you ever get tired of being wrong all the time?

 ;)

Well, 9 out of 10 agree with me.

Go buy me another bottle of wine--I'm all out--and I'll agree with you, too.  Yes, I'm just that easy.

There you go, big boy.
(http://www.echotrips.com/rogue/images/bottle-full.jpg)

What is that, French? Forget it -- I'm looking for a Spanish red, if you don't mind. I'm easy, but not THAT easy. And I'm not drinking it outside--this is Minnesota, sir!

Perfection. Dennis' finest hour. World-weariness, sex, cocaine, and alcohol combine to create this masterpiece of an album.

I sometimes prefer the Bamboo material.  Dennis came awfully close to having a topnotch sophmore release.

Play it again....

If the rumors I've heard and read are true, I believe Bamboo was actually started BEFORE Pacific Ocean Blue. And considering that POB was his THIRD try at a solo album (Bamboo probably formed out of the wreckage of the 1972 solo album).

Errrrrr... actually, nope, think you've misunderstood the sequence. POB had its origins in the 1970/71 Wilson/Dragon/Desper Poops/Hubba Hubba sessions. Bamboo was being recorded before POB was released.

As for POB - majestic.

Well poop, I thought my information was impeccable! Thanks for the clarification.

This is perhaps my favourite album of all time.  And when it falls temporarily to second or third, it's still perfection itself. 

I tell ya, I give this a 4 3/4...

One of me absolute favourite parts is 1:59 into River Song when buried over in the left channel something begins which sounds like an awesome organ solo... but as it progresses you realise it's a female vocalist going absolutely nuts... It sounds SO FUCKING COOL!!!

A "5" for me... beautiful, powerful, emotional, amazing...  :)

I'm new to this recording,but am very well impressed. Jasosn's summation of what went into it seems right on the spot. Another example of something great to which I was introduced here.

5/5. Perfection incarnate. I agree with AGD: Majestic is a very good word for it.

My third favorite Beach Boys officially released thing after Pet Sounds and Sunflower. Its just that good.

The first and best solo-Beach-Boy-album.  Unbelievable, heavy stuff.... gets a 5

That it is.

4

Proof that the Boys' tastes and judgements sucked. If I was Mike or Al and I heard POB, I'd be kicking myself!

I'm not going to lie about this. I'm not even going to pretend.

I cannot "get into" this album. I've played it numerous times and nothing at all has clicked. The only part I remember enjoying was the start of "Moonshine" but I remember being very unimpressed with the rest.

eh, maybe I need to put more hours in.

There's no reason to pain yourself just to fit other people's tastes. I'm not quite with you, but I understand that point. I only like about half of it. Granted, I think it's better than the sh i t on MIU or LA, but to me it's just a good album, nothing approaching the classic or legendary status people give it.

I've listened to about three tracks off of each and that's it. Brought forth no hope of better things to come throughout the album so I never furthered my listening.

And for P.O.B, well, I dunno.

Keep listening to POB. It took me a while, too, but it pays off.
With MIU, listen again to She's Got Rhythm, Sweet Sunday, Wontcha Come Out Tonight and My Diane.
With LA, listen again to Good Timin', Full Sail, Angel Come Home, Love Surrounds Me and Baby Blue.
There's a great band follow-up to Holland in there.

There's some truth there. (Obviously, we've discussed my lack of real love for Good Timin', but otherwise I see this as pretty much spot-on. And I can still admit Good Timin; is nice enough...I just don't find it as good as many of you around here do.) Ian's "album" here is a good example of how the band could have continued to create new, forward-looking music while not offending its "oldies" crowd...and not pandering to them, either.

The only solo album ever released by Beach Boy Dennis Wilson is as intensely personal as Pet Sounds and melodically diverse as Sunflower.   I consider Dennis to be not only a musical genius, but my hero as well, though he certainly had his faults.  However, the side of Dennis that is often overlooked in trashy TV bios is that of a man who displayed keen sensitivity, had an almost otherworldly ability to relate to anybody and who gave back as much as he took from life.  This is the Dennis Wilson who lays his soul bare on Pacific Ocean Blue.

Contained within the grooves of this tragically out-of-print album are beautiful hymns to lost love ("Thoughts of You", "Time") friends who had passed on ("Thoughts of You") those still alive ("End of the Show") and, fittingly for this accomplished surfer and sportsman, Mother Nature ("River Song", "Rainbows").

Dennis's voice at this time had deteriorated from a pure tenor to a sort of hoarse croak, but it still conveys the wisdom of a sage and the emotional resonance of a master poet. There's not a lot of records that send shivers up my spine when I hear them, but there's probably twenty separate moments on this album that do exactly that, every time.  The lush instrumental backing tracks are a thing of pure beauty-- Dennis by this point was no longer merely influenced by his famous older brother, but was now breaking completely new ground musically.  Dennis mentioned in interviews that he didn't listen to music by other artists, just his own.  Perhaps this fact is why his body of work still sounds completely unique today, decades after it was conceived.

The only flaw I can possibly name regarding this amazing piece of art is that the mix by Steve Moffitt is just horrible. There is so much buried under the excessive reverb, and this album is just crying out for a re-mix. Fans of Dennis should not rest until a newly mixed and mastered version of this CD is sitting on shelves everywhere, bonus tracks included.  With fans and admirers running the gamut from the Foo Fighters, Stereolab and Sonic Youth to Richard Ashcroft, Lush and Coldplay, Dennis's work deserves to be re-evaluated by a larger segment of the listening population. 

Oh I love this Album! I love it so much.   A long time I own this Album as a (pssst...) Bootleg... but a few month ago I found this on a Vinyl (and payed 35 US-D for it).

My favorite songs on this Album are "River Song", "Moonshine", "Time" and "Thoughts of you". This Album shows definitly who was the real creative genius in the 70th! Thank you Dennis for this! It´s so sad, that his second Album never released... like his other great songs (I´ve got a friend, 4th of July, Time to live in dreams aso)...

Meh, nothing special on the first listen.. maybe I'll warm up to it eventually.

Meh, the Bible is nothing special on first read, maybe I'll warm up to it eventually.

Every feeling you've ever had in your life, on a record. If you can't get instantly hot for that, yer f#cked.

Might just be my favourite of any album ever.
A 5 doesn't even come close.

Who the hell gave this zero stars?!  ??? ::)

If you don't like this album, your opinion on anything musical is worthless.

Ya know, sometimes you make me feel bad that we fought at one time, Amo.

The guy who gave POB a zero is a guy with a lotta balls. He's also a guy without a lotta brains. Or hearing, for that matter.

(http://www.nynewsday.com/media/photo/2005-08/18941126.jpg)

^^^ :lol I just spit iced tea on my monitor...

I've discussed this album a lot and I've decided that it only appeals to you when you are at a certain place in your life when it means something.  It isn't particularly mainstream, but parts of it are so lovely that it can feed into your feelings which is sometimes a bit disconcerting.  That's why you either 'get it' or you don't.  Some people aren't comfortable with music that has a deep emotional element.  POB has a kind of off-beat honesty... I didn't like it when I first heard it, then it appealed in a different way.  And... you can hear the musical influence in so many serious contemporary songwriters.  That's gotta be worth a few stars? 
Correct about the deplorable mix - wouldn't it be nice to hear a modern mix of it, with good quality sound, on vinyl of course, to keep that good old-fashioned depth of tone?  Come on, people in power... make it so.  8)

A final word is that, IMO it's difficult to accurately assess POB in the absence of any other released solo work because you don't get the comparison.  Compositions under the BB moniker have been Beach blended, and Bamboo is not sufficiently produced enough.  A pox on those cursed Marina waters...

I desperately need this album... But not so desperately that I'm willing to pay $ 150 for it... So this really needs to be re-issued very soon...

I agree that it needs to be reissued. But not only would I not pay $150 for it, but (having heard it and owning it), I wouldn't pay $50 for it. Or $40. I like the album, and some of the songs really hit me. But plenty of them don't do much for me at all. It doesn't rank among my top 5 Beach Boys-related albums, and probably falls in the lower reaches of the top 10. It's cool, but I definitely just don't see the adoration that many around here have for it.

Don't misunderstand, I like some of it, and some of it quite a lot. But for me it probably isn't in the top 100-150 albums of all time.

I definately pay $ 50 for an original POB CD or LP... No problem.

Well yeah, obviously, considering you said you would pay $150 for it, it stands to reason you'd pay $50 for it.

You're sometimes quite the mathematician. That logical mind, click click click tick.

By the way, I probably wouldn't have made that connection. I am what is known as an idiot. But I like songs.

I wrote I WOULDN'T pay $ 150.

This is perhaps the only album I have ever listened to that literally gets better every single time I hear it.  On the first listening I was only marginally impressed.  By the tenth I liked it, by the twentieth I loved it.  By the hundredth, which is about where I am now, I consider it one of the greatest albums ever recorded – certainly the greatest ever released by a solo artist, and the greatest without the words “Beach Boys” on it.

RIVER SONG – A beautiful, powerful song.  I still suspect that Elton John may have lifted the piano riff for “Tiny Dancer” from this track, which was begun in 1970.  The choral singing is very powerful.  I love the use of guitar power chords – especially after the last “rolling, rolling, rolling on river.”  Then the song goes back down to the piano and choir.  Love Ricky Fataar’s drumming.  I love the line “it breaks my heart to see the city.”

WHAT’S WRONG – A perfect fun rocker.  “Do what you want, but baby don’tcha do it on me.”

MOONSHINE – The first of many beautiful, moving ballads on this album (no surprise, given that it’s Denny we’re talking about).  Great opening riff/melody line.  Love the synth washes.  Love the “na na na” melody.  “Said you love me now, in another way.”

FRIDAY NIGHT – Very powerful opening instrumental section – love how it transitions into the main song.  Dennis created soundscapes much as brother Brian did, just using harder rock and roll instruments.  As Brian himself once said, “he was a genius in his own right.”  A great song that evokes cruising around on a Friday night as a teenager with your friends, watching the neon lights go by.  “Hats off to the drummer’s little lady.”

DREAMER – The religious imagery is maybe a little heavy handed, but the music is fantastic.  This is as great a use of bass harmonica as “I Know There’s an Answer” or “Friends” – in a totally different context.  Denny was really great at using jazzy, funky-style horns, and this song is a perfect example.  Great guitar work.  “Let the wind carry your blues away.”

THOUGHTS OF YOU – Maybe Denny’s greatest ballad ever.  The piano playing adds a great layer of complexity to a fairly simple song.  The use of reverb/vocal multiplication on the middle-eight creates an effect of soul-shaking power.  The delicate strings in the last verse literally bring tears to my eyes.  A deeply moving song.  “All things that live one day must die, you know.  Even love.”

TIME – Another ballad, just as moving and beautiful as “Thoughts of You.”  The trumpet line under the piano is so delicate – so blue.  “Hold me close, completely free, yeah.”  Love the rocking horn fadeout.

YOU AND I – The perfect change of pace at this point in the program.  A mellow, samba-type love song, with delicate guitar work, warm lyrics and melody.  “No more lonely nights.”

PACIFIC OCEAN BLUE – A justifiably angry lyric and vocal.  Love the organ break in the middle.

FAREWELL MY FRIEND – Another heartbreaking Denny ballad, great piano and seagull sounds.  This song will make you cry thinking of everyone you have ever loved and lost – not least Dennis Wilson himself.  It has one of my top ten lyrics of all time – “Farewell my friend, I love you in a funny way.”

RAINBOWS – A great uptempo yet mellow rocker.  Like the use of banjo and mandolin.  Maybe the sweetest song on the album.  Listening to this makes me feel like I am actually lying out in the grass under sunny skies.  I love the little break at the end – “Come on, baby, come on.”

END OF THE SHOW – Like “Moonshine,” this song is halfway between a ballad and rocker.  Like the whole album, the more I listen to this song the more I hear.  Great chord changes, great unique melody, great lyrics.  This is like the warm flip side of Pink Floyd “The Wall.” I love the way it ends with the crowd noise and the somewhat sudden fade out.  “It’s wonderful to know you’re alive.”

Pacific Ocean Blue is like a wonderful old friend that just keeps getting better with age.  Right now if you tried to tell me it was the best album ever made I wouldn’t ar

Pacific Ocean Blue is a masterpiece and it's in high demand for reissue on cd.  I really hope the issues like copyright/ownership can be resolved and we can get a remastered reissue of this great work of art.  This is how The Beach Boys should have and could have sounded in the mid seventies, this heavy, gritty style would have boosted their image and popularity significantly.

"You and I" is beautiful! I'm starting to get into this album more. The CD I burnt of it a while back has the tracklist out of order in some places! I only realize when I went to find the name of #9 finding it to be "You and I" on my disc rather than "Pacific Ocean Blues"

.

Really great, just wish it had been recorded five years earlier when Dennis had his full vocal range.

I knew it would grow on me.

Great album.

The outro to 'Time' is one of my favourite moments on any album every created..

You're still banned from the cool kids table.

1st to 5th grade they made everyone that was in the same class sit at the same two tables, but there was always a girl table and a boy table. My classmates would put my lunch on the girl table when I wasn't looking and then the girls would laugh at me when I went over to get it. Sometimes I didn't even bother.

6th grade I was sitting at a large table by myself when a group of bullies came over and told me to leave or they'd kick my ass. I left, but a lunch-aide witnessed this and made me sit with them the entire year.

7th grade I set my stuff down at an empty table, went to get food, and when I came back some girls were sitting at the table and they had moved my books to some other table, which had other people's backpacks and stuff there too. I sat down there, and became aquaintances with the kids that sat there.

In 8th grade the two kids from 7th grade were in the same lunch period as me again, so I sat with them for a few days until their actual friends found them and then there was no room for me so they kicked me off the table. I then sat with the fat kid, the closet homosexual, and the girl who liked anime way too much.

In 9th grade I didn't sit with anyone for a good two or three weeks. Now, I wouldn't've had a problem with this myself, but my mom always had to make sure I was sitting with someone at lunch; she knew how much of a loser I was. She forced me to change my lunch period. Luckily, or so I thought at the time, I was now in the lunch period of the closet homosexual -- maybe he would let me sit with him, I thought. But unfortunately he ended up befriending some mean seniors, one of which still owes me 35 cents by the way, so I was all by my lonesome. I chose the empty table next to theirs. This was already some kid's table, but he let me sit there anyway. Bad idea. He would make me play brutal games with him where he would fling coins into my knuckles, or we would have to continously punch each other in the arm until one of us gave up. I was always the one that gave up. He also got the people at the senior table to throw food at me alot.

10th grade I sat with a bunch of dirtbag freshmen I didn't know; they made fun of me alot.

11th grade the lunchroom was really crowded, so I couldn't even sit at a table by myself. I started to eat standing up, leaning against the wall, when I spotted some nerd I knew from my science class, also with nowhere to sit. We ate standing up together for the first few days, until some girl he vaguely knew invited us over to her extremely crowded table, directly adjacent to which there was a table full of bullies. Well, with me and the nerd sitting at the table, the bullies didn't have as much room as they liked, so the biggest one of the bunch physically removed me. Then I found a half broken seat at a table right next to the garbage can, so I sat there for the rest of the year, constantly bludgeoned in the head by people's trash. Sitting next to the trashcan was good, though, because I barfed alot that year.

12th grade I sat with the nerd's nerd friends; they were all disgusted by me, though.


River Song, pretty nice song, eh?

That was a great post Mr. Aegir.

So, at what point do you discover music?

I discovered my own music around December of 9th grade. I discovered music for real (that is, until this point I was content listening to novelty songs and disco compilation CDs) the summer between 10th and 11th.

I had a dream last night, that I was in a second-hand charity shop (thrift store) searching among some old dusty vinyl.  I was looking for a copy of Pacific Ocean Blue and I somehow got it into my head that it might be among these old records.
It wasn't, but there was a whole load of Beach Boys rarities instead  - all of which I snapped up for the grand price of £1 each.  Still no POB though.
What does it mean?... ???

I used to think that, but now I think it sounds better WITH his voice in the shape it was. Dennis sounds so soulful on this album. Not only is it the best BB solo album, it is in the top 5 of ANYTHING BB related. My wife actually feels that it actually is THE best. Who knows...it just might be. Some of the songs could be played on the radio now and not sound dated. It's just that good.

First time I heard the richard Ashcroft thing that Brian did the bvs for a few years ago, my only thought was "he's been listening to POB a lot". Turns out I was right.  8)

I can only go on River Song really but I did like the 1975 In The Back Of My Mind a lot. I guess we should be glad it wasn't recorded after 1980. I see your point though Thoughts Of You may have been more pretty in 72, but in 1977 it has more emotional context. I have to admit it IS one of the most unique albums I have ever heard, and also the best solo Beach Boys album by far.

Such a spiritual album.

i found this in my town's record shop about 6 months ago and i have really fallen in love with it. i would give it a strong 4, and rank it among the best of the bb's solo albums. river song, moonshine, you & i, & time are among my favs.

interesting side note: i was born the day that he died. dec 28, 1983.

I bought this album back in '99 when I was 16 for about $25 at the record store I worked at...and I instantly fell in love with it. I didn't have particularly high hopes about it, I didn't know what to expect...but I was in awe of it after I listened to it. It's so moving, so highly emotional. I wish it were out on CD (or at least reissued vinyl) so that more people could hear it. I, for one, believe that his rasp of a voice actually enhanced the material (not to say that his earlier, less 'hoarse' compositions weren't moving, of course...because they were). When he sings about pain in this album...you feel it. And when he sings about love, you believe it. It's just a truly wonderful work of art.

5 from me and one of my all time favourite albums. Definately the best Beach Boys solo album. I love every song on it. Like a lot of others I didn't quite get into it on the first few listens but after that it just got better and better like wine (as somebody else described it). I think you have to be in the right mindset and situation in your life for this album to intially strike you as the masterpiece it is. Until then I think it is hard to get into it. But once you get into it, it becomes a really rewarding experience.

Pacific Ocean Blue.....

Brilliant record...just heard it yesterday for the first time...I give a 5....not that it is as good as other albums that I've given 5's to, but it is so cool compared to any other BB solo album...(not counting BWPS which to me isn't a typical solo record)...I feel Dennys' pain in the music...if he could do this I'm sure he could've easily come up with more advanced and awesome music...
So sad, Murray abused his children...so sad...to think of all the BS they had to go through and chosing drugs and alcohol as a means of dealing with it...

I can see why some BB fans don't like this record...but not me. I like it because the music helps me to make sense and embrace the BS I've been going through...not only is this album incredibly sensitive and emotional but it has more balls than anything the BB's have done...it's definelty funky at times, always soulful, sometimes drags...but truly entertaining and comforting if the music speaks to you...(like any other music I guess).

I dig his vocals, more so at this time than in any other time period. Dennis rules...Rest In Peace you crazy bastard...  :drunks:'( :smokin  :drum :rock

This album is a freekin' masterpiece! The sooner it gets an official release, pref in a nice big juicy box set with a load of out-takes and Bamboo material, the better! I adore Holland and Surf's Up, but i'd say POB is by the far the best Beach Boy related release on '70s, and definately the greatest solo BB album (and yes, that includes Smile 2004). If anyone can name me a better song recorded by a B Boy in the '70s than the mighty 'River Song' i'll eat my own chin! The way it changes track throughout but constantly remains seamless - incredible tune!! 'Moonshine' is another favourite - really sets my bottom lip wobbling, what an emotinal tune! Perfection. The intro to Friday Night makes the hairs on the back of my neck (and occasionally the ones on my balls too) stand on end, while You & I is just... It's just such a great album! I'm mystified when BB fans claim not to like it, coz it ticks all the boxes of what the BBs accomplish when at their best: emotional, experimental, ridiculously melodic.. 10/10.

Do you?

HA! You just went back a YEAR AND A HALF just for that?

Not, however, the master of quotes.

Can i quote u on that?

How about:

Surf's Up
'Til I Die
Forever
This Whole World
All I Wanna Do
Cool Cool Water
Long Promised Road
Cuddle Up
Make It Good
Sail On Sailor
California Saga: California
Only With You
Funky Pretty
The Trader
Steamboat
Roller Skating Child
The Night Was So Young

No Good Timin'?

I was only listing a few. I don't necessarilly believe that all of them are better than River Song.. I just wanted to see thomasogg eat his own chin.

Considering his history of almost exclusive Dennis-loving on this board, my guess is you might get him to credit Forever, Cuddle Up, Make it Good, ONly With You and Steamboat. It's pretty clear where his head is when it comes to Beach Boys, especially in the late 60s through late 70s.

I can totally understand having a favourite member of the band. Nothing wrong with that. And in fact I have shown Beach Boys music to my friends and a few of them have liked Dennis's stuff better. It's just when you say "this one isn't as good as Dennis" etc.. I mean everything has to be compared to Dennis and nothing is better than Dennis. But of course everyone is entitled to their opinion...

Oh, I have no issues with anyone's opinion either. I was just saying where I'm guessing thomasogg was coming from, and why it's no surprise he'd rank River Song above most anything else.

As for me, I'm sure if I had to name my 20 favorite Beach Boys songs of the 70s, 12-15 would be Brian's. So...

Ha! If you seriously consider 'Roller Skating Child' a better song than 'River Song' you shouldn't be allowed to listen to music! T'was a joke surely? You an't be serious? That was quite a respectable list 'til you mentioned that... My chin remains very much uneaten i can assure you...

I do. And that was a stupid thing to say.

To be honest I do prefer River Song but I still think Roller Skating Child is an awesome song. But I love all of POB and all of LY.. they are just both great albums that are completely different. There is times when I will be in the mood to listen to POB and there is times when I want to listen to LY...

"Pacific Ocean Blue". One of the greatest albums ever recorded - brilliant all the way through.

'We do it holding hands, it's so cold I go 'brrr'. This is, let's not forget, the guy who wrote God Only Knows and Heroes and Villains. I like Love You, it's full of catchy, melodic tunes, and Roller Skating Child is one of its better tracks, but the idea that it's some kind of classic album - get outta here... I think even Brian knows deep down it's not one of his finest moments, despite his claims otherwise, hence why, when given the opportunity to pick songs for his Beach Boys Classics albums he gave excluded Love You, even from the 'almost-made-it' list on the sleeve notes.
Yeh, I stand by what I said: the idea that Roller Skating Child is better than River Song is laughable. Just an opinion obviously, but also one foundered on basic artist/songwriting merit...
It's worth quoting again: 'We do it holding hands, it's so cold I go 'brrr'. Or perhaps 'We make sweet lovin' til the sun goes down, we even do more when mom's not around'. How old was Brian again when he wrote this song about snogging a child?
(Those in the know would do well to highlight Dennis' 'School Girl' as a counter argument at this point...)

Firstly, Brian has never been known for his amazing lyrical ability (ie: Brian didn't write the lyrics to GOK and H&V) but I think he came up with some decent lyrics on Love You (eg: Let's Put Our Hearts Together). To be honest Dennis wasn't the best lyricist either (he just sung it and sounded like he believed it so you sort of tend to not notice the lyrics) but none of the Wilson brothers were ever really lyricists, they were mainly musicians. I agree with you that River Song is better, I mainly made that post as a joke and just listed songs off the top of my head so that you perhaps would "eat your chin". Of course, all in good humour. I think Love You is a classic album. It has a nice flow to it unlike say 15 Big Ones. And there really isn't a bad song on the album. I would say the same for POB, BW88, Pet Sounds, Sunflower etc.. so I would class Love You as a classic. Of course it's not as good as a Pet sounds, a Sunflower or a POB but its still a damn fine album, just not one that is easy to get into at first as the production is a bit of a departure from that Beach Boys sound but the music is great all the same...

Yeh, like i said it's a good album, and I'm glad they made it and it excists, I just think it pales when compared to so many of their other albums. The BB's lyrics were never all that great (except when they had co-writers contributing lyrics) but they were never as bad as the ones on Love You. From this album onwards Brian's lyrics went from being kinda goofy and cheesy to just... awful. Often a good track on Love You is made almost unlistenable coz of the lyrics ('Mona' in particular) and maybe it's just me but I feel as is you can almost here his brothers cringing as they sing some of the tracks (listen to Dennis' vocal on 'I Wanna Pick You Up'). I don't particualry wanna be badmouthing Love You, compared to 15 Big Ones it's great, and in light of what was going to come next it's a freakin' masterpiece, I just don't get it when people rank it alongside the likes of Surf's Up and Pet Sounds. Having said that, I'd kill for 'Honkin' Down The Highway'.

The cringe factor is one of my favorite parts of the Love You lyrics. I really love that. And the simple fun or silliness of them often interests me more than Dennis' (I've said it before and must again) overdramatic style. I like POB, but I prefer Love You. It's funny that those--Brian's and Dennis's--pieces of music are my favorite of the late 70s Beach Boys scene, and yet they're so far apart. On a different board, I actually proposed MIU would've been better had Dennis been convinced somehow not to do POB, and to contribute songs to a Beach Boys album, with it also including some of Brian's Adult Child music. It makes for an odd marriage of styles, the clunky Brian and the syrupy Dennis.

MMMmmm, maybe... Not many tracks I'd wanna sacrifice on POB though. I think 'Thoughts Of You' would be spoilt somewhat if it had 'Hey Little Tomboy' chugging away straight after it.... I think MIU shoulda had some of the Adult/Child stuff on it though for certain! 'Everybody Wants To Live' had real potential.. And ANYTHING woulda been better than 'Winds Of Change'.

The trick, as your post clearly alludes to, is that all three albums have significantly different production styles. But a good running order helps minimize the problem that could cause. (I didn't expect you to sacrifice any POB songs, btw...just sharing an idea I'd had for my amusement. Not to mention, imagine losing some of those worse BBs songs and adding better, unfortunately unheard BW songs; and then adding some Beach Boys versions of the POB material. Interesting at least.)

I have to admit initially I wasn't sure about this album.

Most work Brian has done has a light touch, and a sense of humour. I didn't get any sense of irony from POB at all, it seemed all deadly serious.

So I wonder if it can ever be judged alongside BBs work despite the presence of Carl and Mike's lyrics cropping up here and there.

Dennis' influences can also be more readily observed. Whereas by 1977 you could say that the Beach Boys' main influences were their younger selves, Dennis must have had a record collection including a lot of Lennon, Harrison, Floyd and Motown.

Immediately "River Song" is a striking, epic number. But the slow numbers took some time to take effect. It's only after a while that I can say I'll be listening to this album in a few years time, and it probably will be because of the slower numbers.

I didn't understand what Dennis' problem was initially. He seemed to live a life most of us would be jealous of, the glamorous dissolute singer hanging out in one of the coolest places in the world, with the coolest people. But as we know he had a restlessness which drove him towards self-destruction.

And he documents it all here, his disillusionment, against the backdrop of the same beaches he sang about in the innocent 60s. It's like William Blake's Songs of Innocence and Experience - naive and totally genuine.

What makes this album memorable and unique is the atmosphere, some great tunes, a sense of depth and a beepy new age synth on the title track.

Very hard to rate, but I'd say 4.5

This article is written by a friend of mine who is also a huge BB & BW fan,

Phil


http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/arts/chi-dennis-wilson-0720jul20,0,3855378.story

Wilson's talent sings forth on 'Pacific' re-release

By Patrick Kampert |Chicago Tribune reporter
    July 20, 2008

When Beach Boys fans think of the waning days of the original group, one of the painful memories is that of late drummer Dennis Wilson shambling drunkenly onstage during encores in the early '80s to croak out the Joe Cocker hit "You Are So Beautiful" (Wilson was purportedly an uncredited co-writer of the song) in a voice ravaged by self-destruction.

That's an image that close friends of the musician hope to tone down with the lovingly assembled special edition of "Pacific Ocean Blue," Wilson's re-released 1977 solo album that surprisingly debuted at No. 8 on Billboard's July 5 Internet music chart. The success has Wilson's backers mulling a second release, a retrospective of his work with the Beach Boys and other unreleased tracks.

The bare truth
"I think it's one of the most truthful statements by an artist," said Jon Stebbins, Wilson's biographer (the just-revised "The Real Beach Boy") who co-wrote the liner notes for "Pacific Ocean Blue." "It seems like he kind of bled onto the tape."

The music on "POB" is vaguely reminiscent of the Beach Boys—especially the stacked harmonies on "River Song" and "Rainbows"—but at times is a funky stew laden with horns ("Friday Night") and brooding piano ballads. It's alternately visceral and meditative. You'll hear very little of Wilson on the drums. He's mainly hunkered down at the keyboard looking for just the right sound. If it was a more instinctive hunt than the cerebral genius of brother Brian Wilson, it was not without touches of brilliance.

"Dennis was kind of like Brian. He used the studio like an instrument," said Gregg Jakobson, who co-produced "POB" and co-wrote many songs with Wilson.

Bonus disc
The package also includes a second disc of Wilson's incomplete second album, "Bambu," which was mixed and readied by three friends who encouraged Wilson in his creative '70s period: producers James William Guercio and Gregg Jakobson, and engineer/producer John Hanlon, who continues to co-produce projects for Neil Young and has worked with R.E.M. as well.

One track, "Holy Man," features new vocals by the Foo Fighters' Taylor Hawkins. Another version of "Holy Man" with the re-formed Queen, has been released in England.

Personal project
Beyond such nods at 21st Century rock, the new release was a fiercely personal project for Guercio, who played guitar for Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention and whose production touch helped sell millions for Chicago, the Buckinghams and Blood, Sweat & Tears.

"People didn't appreciate how far this guy could have gone," Guercio said from his Colorado office.

Wilson had asked Guercio to come aboard the Beach Boys' bandwagon in the mid-'70s to manage the group (and occasionally play bass guitar onstage). He encouraged Wilson's songwriting and has remained friends with the family even after he stepped down from managing them. Wilson's younger brother, the angelic-voiced Carl, bought a home next to Guercio's ranch in Colorado. In December 1983, Dennis Wilson was supposed to join his brother, their mom, Audree, their aunt and Guercio's family for Christmas. The family and Guercio planned to get Wilson into a rehab facility after the holidays. He called on Christmas Eve and told Guercio and his disappointed family that he wasn't coming that day but would be there by New Year's Day. He didn't make it, drowning Dec. 28 while diving for mementos at the spot where his repossessed boat once docked.

"I was in the process of an intervention," Guercio said, then paused. "I had to go over to Carl's house and tell his mom."

Carl Wilson died of brain and lung cancer in 1998. Three years ago, at the wedding of Carl's son Justyn, Guercio made the decision to bring the music of Justyn's Uncle Dennis back into the public eye.

"I felt it was important to his children and to his family," said Guercio, who bankrolled the project as well. "From that day on, it was, 'Forget business. We're going to figure this out.' "

It wasn't a simple process, said Billy Hinsche, longtime Beach Boys sideman and a Wilson in-law who sang on both "POB" and "Bambu."

"Just getting 'Pacific Ocean Blue' re-released was very complicated. [One question was] who owns it? There are four different record companies on the cover."

Hinsche formed the pop trio Dino, Desi and Billy with the sons of Dean Martin and Desi Arnaz in the mid-'60s and enjoyed some brief pop success. He was all of 13 when the group joined the Beach Boys as an opening act. Hinsche's dad, Otto, nicknamed "Pop," pulled Dennis Wilson aside before the tour and asked the drummer to look after his son on the road. Perhaps because Dennis and Carl were teens themselves when stardom engulfed them, Hinsche found an immediate kinship with the brothers. Hinsche's sister Annie eventually married Carl.

A touching farewell
Dennis Wilson formed a close bond with Pop Hinsche, and the wrenching and touching "Farewell My Friend" on "POB" was written to mourn the passing of Pop. Earlier this year, Hinsche completed a film documentary about his close friend, "Dennis Wilson Forever," that was picked up by Sony BMG for distribution in the United Kingdom.

"One of the things I wanted to accomplish with my movie was to show the creative, tender side of Dennis," he said. "God knows we've got enough of the stories about Dennis' wild side."

If "Bambu" shows Wilson rocking harder than on "POB," it also continues to flesh out that tender side. "Piano Variations on Thoughts of You" and "It's Not Too Late" sound like pleas, showing again that Wilson was the true romantic in the family. The latter also features one of the last true collaborations with his brother Carl, who was making an effort to clean up his life even as Dennis' was becoming unmoored.

Voice showed strain
The hints are in the increasingly rough-hewn vocals that sound more gravelly than Randy Newman's and much lower than his smoother efforts on Beach Boys tunes such as "Slip On Through" and "Be Still."

"Bambu" fell apart when Dennis and Carl were forced to sell Brother Studios, where "POB" was recorded and where Dennis spent most of his waking hours. Now, to continue his music, he would have to book time at unfamiliar studios and carry all his tapes around.

"It was not the same," said Jakobson. "It was like he was a homeless guy."

Added Stebbins: "His prolific nature pretty much ended at that point. He had more time to be doing the things that probably were not that healthy, as opposed to having a studio 24/7, which kept him focused and kept him motivated."

Wilson also lived with Fleetwood Mac's Christine McVie around that time, and the proliferation of drugs in the Mac circle during that "Tusk" period was no secret. Even after the couple broke up, Wilson's "downward spiral," as Jakobson called it, continued. The Beach Boys banned him from touring and cut off his paychecks as a desperate "tough love" treatment, but it didn't work. The sad ending helped to obscure a pop composer on the rise.

"It was very hard to go through some of these tracks," Guercio said. "The tragedy is that which could have been."

That was released already?

Have nothing much to add to the various gushings and accolades and adulation given this record: except to say: I agree. This album fucking rocks to the uttermost.

I also have to say, CD sound has come a long way--this is one of the best warmest, most three-dimensional records I've ever heard.

can we have a seperate section for Bambu?

5.  This album is brilliant.  I paid $24.89 for it at Best Buy.  Best money I ever spent. 

I'm a die hard fan of Dennis,that lp is a lost masterpiece of the70's.The legacy edition is a must have!
Just bought it! :afro

man, that IS awesome!!! I'm glad someone else noticed that. This album rules. Dennis sounds terrible technically, but it's an awesome sound. River Song is the finest to me. I also love Friday Night...I've been singing it for like three days straight. I love the "motorcycle rider...night hider" line and how he sings it. SO good!

Just saw that the 3LP Vinyl is on sale right now (December 31 2010) for $43.00 on the US Amazon. Also, 3rd party vendors are selling it for $28 on the US Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Pacific-Ocean-Blue-LP-Vinyl/dp/B00189MNT8/ref=br_lf_m_1000645791_3_69_ttl?ie=UTF8&s=music&pf_rd_p=1284407362&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_t=1401&pf_rd_i=1000645791&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1NKMZ8YE44C9NED7X070 (http://www.amazon.com/Pacific-Ocean-Blue-LP-Vinyl/dp/B00189MNT8/ref=br_lf_m_1000645791_3_69_ttl?ie=UTF8&s=music&pf_rd_p=1284407362&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_t=1401&pf_rd_i=1000645791&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1NKMZ8YE44C9NED7X070)

Just FYI.

I've just read that Carl co-wrote River Song, how much input did he have on it and the rest of the album? What did the rest of the BBoys think of Dennis' album?

just ridiculously good. it's like dennis' own "pet sounds," his soul in a record. the range of emotion it captures is astonishing. the number of "chills" moments is endless:

- the way his vocals come in on river song ("ooh, mighty river...")

- "hats off to the drummer's little lady"

- the affected vocals on the "thoughts of you" bridge

- the tag on "time"

i'll stop before i get carried away. 5/5, one of the best beach boys-related releases.

Brian reportedly loved it and it made at least three Beach Boys shake in their boots. Make what you will of that.

I would say it is the best Beach Boys related release post-Pet Sounds.

Wrote this way back and see no reason to revise it so here it is again:

"Sitting back listening to my precious copy of Pacific Ocean Blue I was suddenly struck by the sheer NUMBER of musical styles or moods on board, or, let's say, leanings towards various styles. These include straight rock, symphonic rock, funk, soul, gospel, folk, big band, latin, ballads, even some Madigras-style blowing and a smattering of psychedelia (those bleeps a la 'Reflections' (Supremes), and Dennis's heavily treated voice on one track).
"There are of course other things going on that defy classification entirely----that's just Dennis. No-one asked him to make an album, no Brianesque soul-searching for him. His horizons were wide open, and off he went."

Glorious stuff. Five.

I don't know if this has already been answered but can I hear crying at the end of It's Not Too Late? I read that Carl was emotional whilst recording his parts but is this him?

I've been listening to this for the last couple weeks. At first i don't think I listened to it that much or even all the way through. But one time i started listening to what he was saying instead of just sitting there. It's almost kind of heartbreaking. The way he says what he says with the music thats playing. Jeez. It's so honest and open. You can tell he held nothing back. And after that i've beeen able to enjoy it immensely. The music reminds me a lot of Pink Floyd's album 'Wish You Were Here'. Considering a lot of these songs pre-date that by five years, Dennis might have literally been the genius that only few people claim. This album has a lot more future listens from me for sure. 5/5

If only ego and other such bullsh*t hadn't got in the way and the BB's had released material such as this in the late 70's instead of crap like MIU. Ah well... It's a great, inventive, surprising album from start to finish. Definately a 5. It's not perfect (What's Wrong is fairly mundane, the ending of Time doesn't really work...), but in being not quite perfect it somehow perfectly represents Dennis himself, who also seemingly had everything but was flawed. River Song is of course a masterpiece, and I also adore Moonshine and You & I. You gotta feel pity for those who don't 'get' it...

I don't know if this has already been answered but can I hear crying at the end of It's Not Too Late? I read that Carl was emotional whilst recording his parts but is this him?

Really? Just re-listened and I couldn't hear any crying, besides my own.

you mad bro? That's the best song on the album. Totally perfect. Especially the trumpet solo.

Agreed.

Nah, the end of Time is my least favourite bit - it ruins an otherwise spectacular song

I listened with good headphones in the dark last night, and yes at about 7 seconds left I do hear something. I think it could either be laughing or crying, not sure which or who though.

Time is one of my favourite Dennis songs and I love the ending , it's goosebump raising in its brilliance. I interpret the song as moving through Dennis' feelings -hope, regret, loss and anger -with the thumping, thunderous outro fittingly representing the anger Dennis felt.

I think Dennis was a master at having a song unexpectedly change direction (see Celebrate the News, etc), and there are several examples of him doing just this brilliantly on the album - River Song, Thoughts of You. But - for me at least - it doesn't quite come off with Time. 

And, hey, i'm in good company here:

From Andrew G Doe's excellent POB track by track review:

Time
(D. Wilson/K. Lamm-Wilson)

A collaboration with Karen - who presumably supplied the closely-observed lyric - the first section of this bipartite number features the haunting trumpet lines of Bill Lamb over Dennis' ominous Moog slabs and piano chords, and is sadly let down by the ensuing portion as it degenerates into a noisy tub-thumper of, frankly, no great musical merit. Spot the Floyd guitar riff.

I find myself agreeing with what Andrew says quite a lot of the time, on this however, I could not disagree more.

Same.

I am completely unfamiliar with the songs on this album.

Is there any consensus (on this board? right!) of the best, say, 3 songs on POB?

Thanks

My favorites are Pacific Ocean Blues, Dreamer & Farewell My Friend

It's in my top 3 of anything released by any Beach Boys though, and I dig all of the tracks. The 2008 legacy edition has a killer 2nd disc as well.

Not the kind of album you can really "get" after just one listen though, so if you don't like it, give it another spin or three.

The best three tracks are: River Song (an epic masterpiece, and arguably Dennis' single greatest moment!), Moonshine (gorgeous ballad, with subtle but amazingly effective use of synth and a heartbreakingly sad fade) and You & I. I also love Friday Night for that incredible opening section and Thoughts Of You. The whole album is great, but yes agreed, it's a grower. Give it a few listens before passing judgement.

River Song, Thoughts of You, Rainbows.

Special mentions go to Pretty much every song on POB expect What's Wrong (boring) Tug Of Love, Holy Man, Love Remember Me, Piano Variations on Thoughts of You, It's Not Too Late, Constant Companion, He's A Bum..... but everybody's right - it does take time.

"What's Wrong" = awesome! It's 'Dennis the menace' in a nutshell. One of the best songs to walk down a road to, feeling like Dion in "The Wanderer", looking at girls and enjoying the beginning of a good, sunny day.

Basically each of the songs you mentioned as inferior got something going for them. "Holy Man" for example is one of the most gorgeous things Dennis has ever written, imo. With or without the (excellent) Taylor Hawkins vocals.

Is it just What's Wrong you dislike or is it all those songs mentioned also? If so - wrong, wrong, wrong. Tug Of Love is great, especially the middle section! It's Not Too Late? The contrast between Carl and Dennis works almost as magnificently as on Baby Blue. And Holy Man kicks arse - that fade, man! Incredible.

It actually didn't take time for me. POB was one of those albums that blew me away upon first listen.

No no, I f***ed up. I like everything except What's Wrong, and I cannot recite my lines for the show and post at the same time!  :lol

Great album by Dennis. Full of nice tracks such as River Song, Farewell My Friend, Thoughts of You... The bonus tracks are great as well, All Alone, It's Not Too Late(Fantastic voals from Carl!), Only With You, and Constant Companion. Worth the listen.

Listening to POB for the 1st time in months I thought I'd revive this thread by posting a couple of POB-related photos.  :-D

(http://whenyouawake.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/71555_453888161068_829806068_5244307_5532937_n.jpg)
(http://www.superseventies.com/oaaa/oaaa_wilsondennis.jpg)
(http://www.soundstation.dk/images/products/large/71/131171-b.jpg)
(http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/dennis-wilson.jpg)
(http://www.buddyhead.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/dennis_beach.jpg)
(http://thejonstebbins.com/photos/documentary/dwdoc2.jpg)
(http://thejonstebbins.com/photos/documentary/dwdoc1.jpg)
(http://danaddington.com/denny/aedricpob.jpg)

(I hope Jon doesn't mind me linking 2 of these from his official site...)

Really lovely album. Calm and warm-hearted - I'm finding myself playing it regularly.

In my humble opinion. the best Beach Boys-related album to appear after the release of Pet Sounds (we did not get to hear SMiLE! officially until you-know-when) - no filler here. Every BB-album post-Pet Sounds has some weak(er) moments (if rather few), none here! Unforgivably ignored at the time of its release, f-ing influential + inspiring! Very simplistic lyrics, but not in an embarrassing way, honest and warm stuff. (same goes for all Dennis's solo stuff and most of his BB-tracks...)

Well said.

Happy 36th Anniversary today, Pacific Ocean Blue. It took me nearly ten years to finally hear it all, but man was it worth it. Spectacular album, Denny! 'River Song' is sooo good, it makes me forgive and forget 15 Big Ones. 'You & I' is absolutely beautiful, my favorite song on the album. 'Dreamer' is great, love the instrumentation and the groove. 'Thoughts of You' has that warmth and directness Dennis' best songs always had. Fantastic tune. The title track is simply better than every environmental-themed song the Beach Boys ever did, really cool. 'Farewell My Friend' is also really lovely, love the background vocals and the marimba feels. So warm and dreamy. 'Rainbows' is just about perfect and 'End of the Show' is beautiful and transcendent.

Man, what an album. Dennis is the OTHER genius in the Beach Boys, a genius in a different, unique way from his older brother Brian. Dennis had a gift for simple yet complex songwriting that emphasized real feeling. He will be forever missed.


Edit: whoops I said 35th.

Does it get better than this ? No sir, it does not.

Epic album. Dennis Wilson's Pet Sounds!
Two favourites from this album would be "Friday Night", and "Thoughts of You".
Probably the only flaw in my opinion would be that the album is a little depressing. But still, it's a classic!
Why this is forgotten and virtually obscure outside of the BB's fan circles i don't understand?!
5 out of 5

Well when I had the LP I favored side 2.. This is an excellent release And Dennis should be PROUD.. 4/5  I would give  Bambu 4/5 also..  You have all said what I would say so ill stop there..

I absolutely love this album.

Is Cocktails officially on was it to be on Bambu?

Either way it's a great album and that track is beautiful. It's a shame we lost him so early into his life.

Yea I agree, I wish he had looked happier on the cover :( even though in his songs he was getting out all the pain and frustrations he had.

5/5.
Classic, and for me propably the best BB related album. Or at least as good as the best BB work (Love You, Pet Sounds..) River Song, Rainbows, Friday Night, Time, Farewell My Friend and Thoughts of You  are fantastic. What's Wrong, Moonshine, Dreamer, You and I, POB and End of The Show are great as well, but a little bit duller if I dare to say... It is depressing album, but that's for me one of the reasons it is so good. It's such a shame that Dennis Wilson and his music is still very unknown to the public. Songs like River Song or the earlier recording Lady should be that kinda songs that everyone knows.

With you on this. 100%.

I give it a 4/5. Really cool album, it's great Dennis got his songs out there since the Beach Boys were seemingly ignoring his talent. It's a very personal collection of music, and with that in mind, Dennis' damaged voice is actually an asset. I take it as him saying "Life has hurt me, I've tried to escape with drugs and drink but that's hurt me too. I don't want to hide anymore, this is who I am, take it or leave it." While I think the assertion that it's "Dennis' Pet Sounds" is an insult to Brian's masterpiece, there's no doubt in my mind the group wouldve made better music had they listened to Dennis back in the '70s. It'd a tragedy Bambu and any other possible solo albums were never completed either.

  1. River Song - 5/5
  2. What's Wrong - 3/5
  3. Moonshine - 4/5
  4. Friday Night - 2/5
  5. Dreamer - 4/5
  6. Thoughts Of You - 5/5
  7. Time - 2/5
  8. You And I - 3/5
  9. Pacific Ocean Blues - 5/5
  10. Farewell My Friend - 5/5
  11. Rainbows - 5/5
  12. End Of The Show - 5/5

It's not a total masterpiece but in many ways it's the best BB solo album. River Song - what can you say? It's fantastic! Tug of Love should have made the cut over a few songs that did.
Overall 4/5

Playing this album right now... "Thoughts Of You" ...my goodness.  :'(

Nobody associated with The Beach Boys ever did anything this powerful and hauntingly sad.  The one-two punch of "Thoughts Of You" followed by "Time" is classic.  For me, it not only seals the deal as Dennis' solo album being the best of all the band member's (certainly rivaling the best of brother Brian's solo work) -- but it also rivals some of the very best stuff in the entire Beach Boys canon.  It's so original.

To me it just highlights the massive talents of Dennis Wilson and the Wilson brothers three.  It just starts to scratch the surface of what we lost and never really got to see fully blossom.  Brian was "retired" just as he was beginning to really explore his musical ideas and when he came back, he was broken and beat up.  Carl never really could branch out too much given the responsibilities and "trappings" of keeping the band going.  And Dennis was clearly a different shade of genius like Brian, who was able to give us just a glimpse of his true abilities.  Soak it up.

I listened to this tonight after Love You. Whoa, what a world of difference! I'm not one who thinks POB is a masterpiece, but it is properly produced, sung and played. Dennis had his own style which was nothing like Brian's - the Brian of the classic era, or the Brian of 15BO/LY. POB is a mature expression of an mature artist. His songwriting style is very unique - the songs don't necessarily go where you expect them to go. That said, it's far from my favorite BB's related release. Most of the songs don't stay with me after listening, and there are times when the production seems a bit over the top - the choir on River Song, for example. But these songs are a good insight into Dennis, the man. I give him credit for bravely stepping out of the protective shell of the Beach Boys.

Beautifully put, M, as always. Actually I came here to say that "End Of The Show" features one of the most heart-rending moments in pop, that high instrumental sixth at 1:09 in the linked version. In terms of sheer mournfulness I'd rank it with Richard and Levon's call and response in The Band's "Whispering Pines" and Gilmour's four-note chiming motif in "Shine On You Crazy Diamond". The perfect closer for POB.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hxvv-vE8k88

I have this album a 5, only because 10 was not an option.  ;D

Ha, yes. This album was the recent subject of the indefatigable Watamushi's discussion of BB songs at Hoffman, where the general opinion was that "Farewell My Friend" would have made a better album closer. "EOTS" to me sounds much more final and appropriate.

I bought the Deluxe reissue of POB to help ease Dennis into the UK album charts but I soon gave it away to a friend. The bootleg version burnt for me by a Capitol Board poster years earlier says it all and my precious copy of Ultimate Bambu easily takes care of the rest.     

JK, you've just expanded my vocabulary.

Glad to be of service, sir! ;D

I think "Thoughts of You" perhaps should have been the closer. TOY is one of those songs that leaves me totally drained, emotionally and spiritually, you know? I always quit listening to the album as soon as that song is over. I just can't hear anything else after that.

I'm not familiar with Ultimate Bamboo, as far as I know. I have a boot of songs from the sessions, and some of them are quite interesting. My favorite is the "dirty" ending of Wild Situation.  >:D

I see where you're coming from--those ascending strings at the end... But I'm happy with the way things are. So you only ever listen to side one!     


Sorry, got the spelling wrong--this Bamboo/Bambu business is utterly confusing at times. ;D

I think it's a fascinating compilatlon. With notes by Jason Penick--what more could one wish for? ::) 

http://www.danaddington.com/denny/newbamboo.html

Oh, I listen to it all. I just save TOY for last. I use it as kind of a "reflection", I guess. Maybe that's not quite the right word. I mean, you get all of this brilliant music from this guy who was very nearly as talented as his brother, but then at the end you get a picture of a guy who was haunted by his own demons.

This just got way deeper than I intended.  :lol

I remember seeing that website in the early 2000's when I was new to the internet and knew relatively little about Dennis. But I always wanted to get one of those cd's somehow.

As I go through the Beach Boys catalogue these past 3-odd weeks, my opinion on this has improved somewhat. Id always liked it a lot but now...well, I like it even more, haha.

5/5