The Smiley Smile Message Board

I would like to post my thoughts on this era.
The Beach Boys in the summer of 1976 seem to be playing a lot of oldies, but they are taking them seriously. There also was a lot of rare songs still played and some great music from their band. Dennis is still in good shape and so is Carl.

Yet by the end of the year Brian is back and while he could sometimes be fun, his live appearances over the next six years are largely off key and off kilter. Also by the end of 1976/ early 77 Carl and Dennis are not performing at their best. Dennis' looks are going downhill, and along with Carl is more often then not stoned or drunk on stage. It continued this way through 1978 but the shows still had some artistic things to offer. Afterall they were still fairly young and the music hadn't completely lost it's freshness. Charles Lloyd added a lot to the group at the time, and Mike and Al seemed to be in very good voice for the most part.

1979-1980 was both better and worse. Bruce was back for good but he only added to the oldies vibe that was wearing thin. Dennis was gone half the time and was in mediocre shape when he was there. He still could add something fun to the shows as the Knebworth DVD shows, but he was becoming an embarrassment in some ways. Still Carl was back in top shape and sometimes (such as the 7-4-80 show) could really spark the band to life. Brian however was far worse then he had been, now he just sat at the piano barely addressing the audience.  Sometimes it's doubtful that he was plugged in. Before he hadoften played the bass for half the show and talked to the crowd. The songlist was ok with a lot of new material, but with Lloyd and Carli gone the show seemed a bit more bland.

When Carl left in 1981 the show fell apart with no one performing very well. Brian and Dennis had sunk so low that you felt sorry for them, and the set added some really age inappropriate songs and took out much of the more challenging material. Brian was forced to be more of a presence but his voice was in horrible shape and his weird dancing during a few numbers was very sad in his now obese condition.  A bad time.

From mid 82-83 Dennis is often not there which is for perhaps the best as nobody could now ignore where he was at. Brian got better in 1983 and through the spring of 1984 (when he stopped touring with the group regularly) actually seemed to be having fun. He did some new songs, and while still not in great voice he was far more alert then he would ever be again. The shows were better overall by mid 1982 because Carl was back, and he had them do some good material and insisted they play with more enthusiasm. The sets weren't perfect as the car medley was still there but Carl's  revisions seemed to last until Dennis' death.

With Brian gone by the middle of 1984, Carl settled back and with the exception of some of the summer of 1988 shows, and the box set tour in 1993, they never again reached pre 1981 levels. In fact for most of 84-97 they were detracting from their legacy while pleasing a less discerning crowd. Thankfully the solo shows since 1998 have been largely respectable. I wouldn't directly compare them to the group in it's pre 1974 prime, but even Mike and Bruce in the last six or seven years have improved their show to where the horror of their late 90's shows can be almost forgotten.

I often wonder what Brian was actually like during the 1983-1989 era where he would do an ocassional solo number or two (or three at the Beachago shows). I have two of the three solo 1989 numbers he did and he sounds pretty good, but is backed by a band. For some reason, when I think of Brian accompaning himself in 1983-1984, I get a flash of "Good Vibrations" from SNL. What was it really like, from someone who was at those shows? Also, was anyone at the 'Endless Summer' shows where Brian did "In My Car"? It feels like that performance (which aired on TV) was heavily dubbed...

MBE, I agree with all of your thoughts and opinions. The only (minor) thing I would add is something regarding the 1984-97 period.

With Dennis and Brian out of the vocal mix (not that they contributed much vocally anyway) , the guys made a conscious effort to clean up their vocals, both lead and background. I saw a few concerts during that era and you could hear/sense that they were trying to be professional, precise, and even impressive. They brought in guys like Jeff Foskett and Matt Jardine who they desperately needed. I mean, I walked away from some of those shows thinking that they at least cared what they sounded like.

I also liked the way they supplemented their sound with Richie Cannatta (spelling?), John Stamos (yes, he was an asset), David Marks (I realize it was out of necessity), and special guests like Roger McGuinn. And don't forget the cheerleaders (I hear "Pretty Woman" playing...) :police:

I've seen video from '78 and Brian is THE BASS PLAYER.  I mean literally, he's playing the whole show, not singing a whole lot, just being in the band, and what's more he's running all over the stage like he's having a blast.  When I saw this I was shocked.

The Carlin book indicates the Carl dictated that Brian not play bass and stick to the piano, and that Brian really wanted to play the bass.  I found this surprising and I don't know if it's accurate, but the difference between the footage at the concerts where's he playing bass and sitting bored behind the piano is really striking.  It could just be the mood he was in that night, of course.

I agree with most of what you said, but I see the 1977-78 era as being great as far as the setlist was concerned. A good portion of 15BO and Love You were being performed. Sure, "Airplane" isn't anything close to "God Only Knows" for example, but in my opinion it's far more interesting than "Be True To Your School". I think "Roller Skating Child" was one of their best concert numbers from that period. Plus, they were doing "All This Is That" and "Feel Flows" back to back, which I would have sold my mother to see.  ;D

I saw a video of the BBs in 77 or 78 in the Australia tour when Carl was on something. I believe they were doing a show for tv and Carl started ranting about POB. Dennis joked that Carl got his for free. Carl then said 'That's bulls**!" Dennis looked offended (probably jokingly). Carl then looks to stage left and yell 'shut up Billy!" Dennis then whispers something to Carl, before Dennis calmly introduces Surfer Girl (?).

I find this very odd, in that Dennis is the most sobre Wilson on the stage! It almost seemed like Dennis was a bit embarrassed by Carl and whispered for him to shut up. Although, from what I know about Dennis, I find that highly unlikely.

I know the 1984-97 shows were more professional, and that's why I said they pleased a mass crowd. Still I find them overall souless and I know we debated this before but I hated the cheerleaders. Why am I so hard on these shows? Well the 1993 tour, and even the longer sets Mike and Bruce do now, show that they were wasting their talent.

adamghost I think Carlin was  at times rough on Carl (no offense Peter) but if it is true perhaps he felt Brian was too erratic to put front and center.

Jay I agree with you about the sets from 1977, I indicated that general opinion at the end of my paragraph about them.

Magic_Transistor_Radio  Yes Dennis is the only Wilson seeming to somewhat be with it that night.

Maybe there all just had jetlag, it was Australia and it takes a long time to get there ;) Is any of this footage online?

Yes on youtube. Sadly it was not jetlag, even the most forgiving writers note that all three Wilson's had become full blown addicts by this time. Dennis may have had it under the most control during that time, but he was using herion, cocaine, and of course drinking on the tour. Brian and Carl as well. I like to think the best of people I admire and will defend Brian from 67-70 as still being far from an addicted hermit. Yet by 1974 he was in serious trouble and remained that way for years. It's a shame, but all too true.

Dennis seems so with-it in the Australia shows you'd never suspect he was on anything.

As I often mentioned: I think 1980 was a great year life. All 6 Beach Boys performed together almost throughout the year and only 2 back up musicians were there (3 with Bobby). The songs rocked really hard too! And the set list was still enjoyable.