The Smiley Smile Message Board

I wrote an article on the BBs Tv and film appearances from 61-76 for ESQ and it is in the new issue (with Brian on the cover).  I think it covers pretty much every app-but I am happy to be corrected.  I'd welcome any comments.  By the way-I looked over it and noticed an error. I say that Dec 14 1968 was the BBs first app in Amsterdam-this is not correct-they visited and did an interview or two on their May 67 tour (May 14 was the day)...but didn't do any concerts till Dec 14 1968.  I also regret not discussing Two Lane Blacktop...Though David Beard included some photos.  Anyways...if anyone reads it  and has a comment let me know

So anybody read this?....

I haven't received my copy. Looking forward to reading your article Ian.

Ian, I think this is an excellent article.

I can answer one of the questions you raised. When the BBs appeared on the Raiders' *Happening '69,* they did perform "Cottonfields." And it wasn't a lip-synch to the album or 45 version, it was at least a lip-synch to a live recording of the song. I recorded the audio of this show on my old cassette machine when it aired and listened to it for quite a while afterward. (Nowadays, I'd have to bake the tape first to transfer it somewhere else, let alone listen to it, and you only get one shot at that, I hear....) They also showed silent video of the BBs and Raiders on tour in Europe, with everyone doing commentary over it. I think the BBs did another song, but I don't remember that so well as "Cottonfields."

Ian, I couldn't put it down the minute I came back from the mailbox!!!! Fantastic article...must've taken you ions to write!! Congratulations on one heck of an article!!! In fact, I was going to email ESQ and thank them for having it in this issue! Always something great in the mag, but this was extra special....thanks again!!!

Thank you so much for your time and effort with this work and indeed for all of your previous work. I love reading this type of investigative writing and look forward to future instalments/updates.

I can't help but feel a sense of sadness though that some of these performances are lost either to the ravages of time or permanently erased/recorded over. Maybe we'll be lucky and Alan Boyd will stumble upon someone who archived a copy of their appearance on David Frost playing "Forever", "Vegetables" & "Fallin' in Love" as was the case with their "Cool, Cool Water" performance featured on Endless Harmony.

Thanks for the kind words...In regard to the "Happening 69" show...I found a TV listing for it (unfortunately after the article was printed) in The Tucson Citizen, where it aired on Sept 19 1969. The listing states that the BBs would perform "Breakaway" and "Cotton Fields" as well as performing "Johnny B. Goode" with Paul Revere.  It's a real shame if that footage is gone.. I am probably doing a follow up article on 1977 and after-but that is much more complicated-due to the myriad cable channels and chat shows that BBs appeared on (TV was a lot less complex in the 60s and 70s-when there were only about 7 channels in the U.S. and only three in England)

I loved working with Ian on this piece. Thanks to Lee Dempsey I was able to unearth the "Musicmakers" 16mm footage with Al & Johnny Rivers. I've already prodded Ian for part two (1977-1996).

PLUG: The Summer edition of ESQ is shaping up very nicely. Devoted entirely to the Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) sessions. The article was researched, transcribed and written by Craig Slowinski. Also of note; previously unpublished images from the Summer Days photo shoot on the boat.

ahh, i havent subscribed to ESQ since 2001, what's the price on those now?

I notice you didn't mention the Marianne Faithful version of the 1966 doc. Wasn't that and the circulating 1968 one aired in Europe?

I really did like this article a lot. One of the best things I read on the group.

Thanks again-as far as the Marianne Faithful version-I should have asked about that- Have you seen or heard this one?

A fairly finished edit of the 1968 film and the Faithful 66 doc are around.  Both are pretty interesting, if not great as far as pure live footage goes.

The Marianne Faithfull narrated doc. from '66 is the same one that Ian mentions that shows Dennis and Al wandering through some London shops.

not yet, but I will when I'm home from my holidays...



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