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http://www.app.com/article/20090822/ENT/908220301/1031/Beach+Boys+still+surfin++the+airwaves

Beach Boys still surfin' the airwaves
The Beach Boys hit Ocean Grove for weekend performance
By ED CONDRAN • CORRESPONDENT • August 22, 2009


As the Beach Boys approach their 50th anniversary, vocalist Mike Love is more than happy to look back at the group's plethora of accomplishments. The group's achievements are unparalleled. The pioneering Southern California pop-rock act is the top selling American band of all time. No band has more than the Beach Boys 36 Top 40 hits.

 
"It's been amazing," Love said while calling from Tucson, Ariz. "I can't imagine a better existence than being a Beach Boy. I've loved every minute of it. We have an enormous amount of success over an incredibly long period of time. We've survived so much, and we're still doing it."
The Beach Boys, performing Saturday at the Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove, certainly can be described as survivors. The group weathered changing musical styles and changes in personnel.
Love soldiered on despite the loss of three of his cousins. Vocalist/keyboardist/visionary Brian Wilson left the band due to mental illness and drug use. His brothers Dennis and Carl Wilson passed away, the former in 1983 and the latter in 1998.
The quirky Love, 68, has feuded publicly for decades with a number of musicians, most notably Brian Wilson. But he claims that the pair, who grew up singing together as children, are on good terms.
"Brian and I and our wives are planning to go out together soon," Love said. "We don't have that (bad blood) anymore. I love Brian. The man is a genius. I only want the best for him. We go back a long, long way."
However, the two tour separately and that's just fine with Love, who possesses the rights to the name of the band, which he won after a legal dispute.
"I love the Beach Boys," Love said. "I'll never go out there and tarnish the good name of the band. I go out there and we just have fun playing the hits."
Expect the familiar when the Beach Boys return to Ocean Grove. "Good Vibrations,' "Surfin' USA" and "Barbara Ann," will be among the hits, which evoke a simpler and more innocent time.
"We never get tired of doing those songs or coming back to New Jersey," Love said. "It's all just wonderful."
Don't expect the Beach Boys to slow down anytime soon. In fact, Love believes the band will be busier than ever since he's plotting the band's 50th anniversary.
"That's going to be a crazy time," Love said. "I envision a PBS documentary. I envision doings special shows in places like the Hollywood Bowl and Wembley Stadium."
Love believes that Brian Wilson will be part of those benchmark events.
"I see that happening," Love said. "I see Brian there and hopefully there will be some amazing special guests like Paul McCartney and Neil Young. They like the Beach Boys. Who doesn't like the Beach Boys?"




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Well...I hope so is all I can say to that!

Would love to see some evnt, but please without any guest stars

"Brian and I are going out with our wives" - man, I'd hate to have to pay THAT tab...

This is exactly what Mike should be doing. Healing old wounds, mending fences, charming Melinda....

OK, you can accuse me of getting carried away, but I think it's possible that if they do have this dinner, and it goes well, that they could walk away with some "verbal pact" to go forward with planning something. Hey, it's a start....

this makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside..

Well, time will tell. You never know what's going to happen in the BB/BW world!

I think it's aspiration speaking, but it's good. Great promise.

I also think its more aspiration, but certainly some promise.

Couple things:

A. I almost spit out my drink when Mike said he would never tarnish the good name of the band. He's not now, but certainly some of his actions over the past many years might be at least bordering on tarnishing!

B. Please no guest stars- I dont want to see them performing music, I want to see the Beach Boys!

C.  Mike is gonna have to back off his high horse about HIS aspirations or what HE wants to do or else it's never gonna happen

I always said a BB reunion wouldn't be complete without Neil Young.  Jardine and Marks would just be fluff...  ???

This is the greatest thing I've heard in a long time.

It always hurt me that Mike and Brian have been estranged to for so long, but it's good to know that things are good and Mike's got big plans for this landmark event.

I'm excited  ;D ;D

>>Please no guest stars- I dont want to see them performing music, I want to see the Beach Boys!

I agree. In the '80s PBS had a folk-rock TV special that ended in a big, sloppy, "All-star" jam session that was the very antithesis of simple elegant folk-rock. I'd rather hear good music than see the Beach Boys equivalent of "It's A Mad Mad World" (or "We Are The World").

Guest stars... The 25th anniversary concert at Waikiki beach comes to mind...

Or the "All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson." Ricky Martin, superstar.

Right, this isn't a "tribute" to the Beach Boys, but a reunion, a reunion of THE BEACH BOYS. As great as artists like Neil Young, or Springsteen, or McCartney, or Elton John, or whoever are, their affect on or relationship with the Beach Boys is negligible.

I would like to see this reunion be less about ratings and more about emotion, something more of a documentary than an all-star filled concert. The Beach Boys have always learned from their past; I'm sure they'll make the right decisions.;D

 Mike's New Band!:

http://www.broadway.com/Fun-Fun-Fun-Beach-Boy-Mike-Love-Feels-the-Beat-at-Jersey-Boys/broadway_photos/5016732

What..?! Then it's not the Beach Boys!

It's odd that the writer doesn't even acknowledge Al's existence.

Who????   :p

Mike...'I envision a PBS documentary. I envision doings special shows....'

This concerns me. I hope he is not planning this thing. Bring in a outsider. I don't know who was behind the Eagles' Hell Freezes Over' reunion but that was different enough to make it of interest.

Knowing how mike is about money, Brian will definitely have to dole out the cash for this. :-D

Better that than have Mike choose the restaurant. Tofu anyone?

Gee I hope for Brian and Melinda's sake Mike never saw Melinda's post about Mike on the Bloo Board - the post that disappeared after about 10 minutes but just long enough for enough people to read it to confirm that it existed. I saw it at the time and was dumbstruck at how bitter she was towards Mike ... really do wish I had saved it somewhere. Dinner could be very long and very quite ...

Well, Neil Young could do long may you run.........that would be sweet with the Beach Boys doing the harmony part (caroline no) (spot shifts to Bb s for a moment)

And Neil just finished a colab with Booker T...stranger and worse things could happen......

I hope something comes of this, it's exciting that they might be considering something! I'm with all of ya'll that don't want a huge thing with a ton of guest stars. I'd want it to be all about the Beach Boys.

Only if Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and Bonnie Tyler do the backing vocals.

I'm sure it galls Mike that he has to go through Melinda to get Brian to sign for a reunion.  Other than the fact that she runs Brian's life to some extent, what right does she have to participate in decisions about the Beach Boys?  She ought to butt out and let Brian and Mike talk about it.  Brian has a manager and business people to make sure he is treated fairly on the finances.

I agree and disagree with you. :)

Yes, for obvious reasons, it must be hard for Mike to discuss Beach Boys' related issues with Melinda, but, and not to appear insensitive, it is necessary because Brian is not competent enough to make important decisions regarding his career (and life?). Brian needs to be surrounded by a "team".

I was just reading the Kingsley Abbott book. There's an interview in there with Brian from 1988, and he says some interesting things about working with the BBs. (Take this, of course, in the context of what was going on in 1988, but still... it might explain the back and forth we've been seeing...the inner conflict of whether or not to work together).

"I can't ever work with those guys comfortably knowing that we don't even say "hi" on the phone hardly ever. That's the hardest part. For me the Beach Boys are among my very hardest people in the world to be with. I find it more difficult to be with the Beach Boys over say 95 percent of the people I know in this whole world....When I'm working with the Beach Boys, I'm not comfortable just sitting there thinking, I'm talking to myself saying, 'What am I doing up here? I don't even feel comfortable playing with these guys.' And I say to myself I like it though. What am I doing playing with these guys? And then I turn around and say I love working with the Beach Boys. It goes back and forth, you know what I mean? [Then, on working on the most recent studio album with the BBs]: We got along good. We spoke to each other. There were no hittings or yellings or anything like that. It was OK. It was fairly alright except that I was confronted with something that I didn't like: being with the Beach Boys. That's what I didn't like. But at the same time I love being with them."

I think Brian will always be conflicted about working with Mike again.  Obviously he's always been prone to quickly and repeatedly change his mind, so I'm sure there are times when he would feel like he would want to participate in something like Mike is proposing.  Despite all that has happened over the years, some part of Brian still has to feel like he's a Beach Boy, and a reunion could be a nice way for him to get some closure on that part of his life.

For better or worse, Melinda will most certainly be involved in the process, but I would really hope that, given the gravity of the event, what Brian wants will be what ultimately happens.  If Brian wants to get together with Mike and Bruce to do this, I think it could really be something special for all of them and for us fans.  If he really doesn't, that's fine too, but the decision should be his.

Hey you can do a lot of great things with tofu!

While I am sure the rooftop thing was great and that Brian charmed everyone there, I look at those pictures and think that there are two very, very significant holes missing that you just can't fill. That's why I'm not in favor of a reunion - without Carl and Dennis, what would be the point?

That may be but trom what we know about Brian and his food, given the choice between Tofu and a T-Bone, red meat would win every time. ;D

And cake...before he became diabetic, anyway.

The "Beach Boys" are currently Mike, Bruce, and sometimes Dave. In addition to not having Carl and Dennis, they also don't have Brian and Al. All five of them is better than just two or three of them. Using your logic, they should've broke up in 1983.

The Lippin Group, that is Jean Sievers, are Brian's business managers. Melinda is, unless something has changed recently, his personal manager (and also was at one time his conservator). He also has people... ah, I guess you could say they 'run interference' for him (I don't like the overtones of the word 'minder'). Probably the best example of this is Jeff at the meet & greets.

I think contributions from Miley Cyrus, Kelly Clarkson, Mandy Moore & Britney Spears would be appropriate and lend class to the event. :)

Funny, I just came across this video and it made me think of the days when they all got along great and it all was about the music (not that I was born back then). Would anybody have thought that it takes so much for them to get back together?  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1FaflUn4Co (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1FaflUn4Co)

I'll believe it when it happens.

People with mood and/or thought disorders are prone to cognitive distortions, misperceptions, and so on.  Brian is unstable in this sense and thus  needs a life coach to help with reality testing and apppropriate assessment of situations and circumstances.  Sort of like a "regular " person who goes to the therapist once a week to discuss turns of events and circumstances and receive support in dealing with them.  As a performer and a famous  celebrity Brian faces these difficult interpersonal and business issues almost daily when working.  I think it is essential to his survival to have the sort of support he is getting.  Lets just hope the supporters can be trusted.

Well, guess what? The 70s happened!

I agree that it would be nice to have a new documentary to mark 50 years of the band and it would also be cool if the soundtrack could have some more rarities. Ideally I would like to see a double album of rarites released maybe containing 50 songs from throughout the band`s history. Maybe that is unlikely though...

If the band were to release one more album somehow then I hope it would avoid the fun in the sun themes. Mike obviously had a lot of songs stockpiled and Al says that he as some that aren`t included on his new CD so pick the best of those and whatever the other guys can come up with.

15 Little Ones? ;D

Come the 50th I see yet another compilation. 50 Biggest Ones type of deal with a extended EH DVD and good book.

And that ain't a bad thing! :)

I'd certainly go for this.

Let's not forget the bonus DVD comprising crucial insights into some of their most important law suits from the last 20 yerars.

Seriously I'd love for the complete Chicago '65-tapes to be released as well as the '93 boxset-tour-recordings. Plus the reunion-concert. make that a Live-boxset that covers all of the band's eras. There are enough shows from the early 70s and alot from the 80s, etc.

Yeah, some sort of live release would be nice too. Any of the previously mentioned shows would be fine but if they weren`t to release a full concert, a double CD of songs from right through the band`s career including some of the rarer heard stuff might be interesting.

And it's gotta have the live version of River Song from 1973!

Its gonna be a TRAINWRECK.

You know, I can't help thinking about what the group's history would have been like had Brian never released his "autobiography". In one of the ugliest parts of the book, Brian basically blames Carl for Dennis's death. Sure, the lawsuits, Dennis's death, and general bitching among the group hurt them. But I think what REALLY did the irrrepairable damage was that book. Rumor has it that the final "falling out" between Brian and Carl during the aborted reunion album had something to do with how Carl was portrayed in the book.

Well, that and simply the presence of Landy for all of those years. Carl`s comments in the Endless Harmony documentary hint at the damage that Landy (and maybe Leaf as well) did to relationships between band members.

Interesting point, and it would probably make a good thread of its own. I wonder if the relationships were already broken, and it was just a matter of making it public, airing the dirty laundry if you will.

I've often wondered about the relationships between the Wilson brothers, specifically Brian's. Brian stopped touring with his brothers in 1964. With a few exceptions he stopped recording with them extensively (except for an occasional track or two) after Friends in 1968. And, we know that Brian spent the majority of his time in his home.

Obviously, due to their childhood, they had some strong and unique bonds. But in their adult lives, did they see each other, hang out together, spend quality times together, holidays? Just curious....

Don't know about the later years, but in the early 70s they recorded in Brian's house, so I guess they saw each other quite often....

From the Cabinessence site: "If there wasn't The Beach Boys and there wasn't music, I would not even talk to them. But through music I fell in love with my brothers." .................................Dennis Wilson 
I guess he means that personality-wise, they had very little in common, but music bonded them. Not sure if that helps, but to me it sort of suggests that outside the music, they really didn't hang out. Just speculating.

Just another thought on the reunion. Did Mike say "Wembley stadium"? You know what that means, stadium = just the hits, right? Hope they'll do RFH or something instead. You know, if done right and with class, this could be a great, great opportunity for the Beach Boys and their legacy. Hope they'll do it justice, but since they never really took a real chance in the last decades, I'm quite suspicious.

How about "The Beach Boys Presents SMiLE"?

Or even "The Beach Boys Presents Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE"?

 ;D

Well, how many times have we said THAT over the last 15-20 years...

That's exactly why I also wrote this:



 ;)

yep, I gotcha...

You know I have wondered about this for the last 4 years. Any chance that to get a BWPS deal Brian had to sign away any chance of a official Beach Boys SMiLE album or boxset in the future?

This topic was covered before.  Brian did not sign away anything to get the BWPS deal; rather, his views on a Smile box set have been along the lines of "over my dead body."  Indeed, musically, all the principal elements of BWPS were derived from already-published tracks, with new lyrics here and there and a couple of new bits (the segues, and the intro to I'm In Great Shape, which is a re-arrangement of the Cantina theme).  That was one reason Mike Love's lawsuit to "stop" BWPS (after it was already released) failed: he couldn't claim copyright violations of unpublished works as a basis to enjoin further sales, since the music had all come out, in bits and pieces, over the years.

Thanks for the reply. Can you recall what thread mentioned a Mike Love lawsuit over the BWPS album? I don't recall that one and would like to read some more.

Dear Other Anonymous:  take a look at this and then you can work backwards if you like...

http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,2643.0.html

Yes this is the "News On Sunday" suit, and while that's what turned out to be the focus, the original complaint contained some other alarming suggestions that Smile was a Beach Boys project which Brian stole for himself (the Carlin book quotes Mike to this effect too), and the demands for injunctive relief left some of us with the impression he was also seeking to enjoin - or at least get a piece of - BWPS for himself. 

The irony, of course, is that Mike's name will always be part of Smile - he is the co-author of GV, after all, and credited as such, even though the Tony Asher first and second verse lyrics were used too.  (Look at the CD metadata, or if you have the LP version, the label on side 3).

This whole chronicle was kind of my main contribution to this board but now even I'm tired of it.

yes please a beach boys reunion  ;D get mike, al, brian, david, and bruce together not too mention record a new album together as a one last amazing album like what the beatles did with abbey road..

The sticking point will be the Lovester's insistence that the album released to commemorate their 50th anniversary will be the Kokomo sessions boxed-set.

Your expections are ridiculously high; prepare for ultimate disappointment if a new album comes to fruition.

If they could just get the right producer....That's been the key (for better or worse, usually worse) for a long, long time.

I find it very hard to believe a Beach Boys reunion record would happen without a 'produced by Brian Wilson' thing attached.... But who were you thinking of for the 'co-production' credit?  ::) My minds gone blank.

And now back to this topic. Insert the obligatory calls for Rick Rubin, Darian Sahanaja, the Beach Boys themselves, Nigel Godrich, and every other dinosaur, flavor of the month or 60s ripoff artist.

I think you're exactly right, hypehat. Brian will have to be credited as co-producer; and his name will undoubtedly go first.

I'll tell you what, Luther, I wouldn't mind someone like Darian Sahanaja or Scott Bennett or even Jeff Foskett; they know today's Brian as well as anybody, and, most importantly, know how to get the best out of him. While I have my problems with Brian's solo material, I think the production on BWPS and TLOS is excellent.

Would the rest of the band agree? Or is it more likely to think that they would all work on their songs seperately and there would be very little collaboration. Mike might want to work with Fauerso, Bruce with Foster, Al on his own at Red Barn etc.

yea thats another thing the boys have to work together like they did in the mid 60s brian and mike have to wright songs together! One idea I visioned would be a double album 1 cd would be your normal 12 or 14 track cd that covers everything the beach boys stood for (cars, beach. girls, some rockin songs like from the early 70s era, etc) and cd 2 could be a ep 5 or 6 tracks were brian will make a mini  phychadellic masterpiece kinda like a pet sounds or smile

If Brian wants to be a co-producer, I would think Alan B and/or Mark L would be the natural band consensus candidates.

All we need to do is...
1. Get a great producer (hey, how about Don Was or Sean O'Hagan, they're good?);
2. Get some great material (hey, how about Mike and Brian just write about 12 great songs together without threatening to maim or at least sue each other?)
3. Get that $500,000 advance an artist such as the Beach Boys will require to record this watershed album that ANY major label would die for;
4. Get somebody to replace Carl's vocals (this should be easy as voices like his are really a dime a dozen);
5. Get the remaining Beach Boys to agree to be in the same room together for more than about 30 minutes;
6. See if we can dig up Derek Taylor to stir up the appropriate  interest in this endeavor.

I would like a real grand finale for this group more than anyone, but, you guys all left reality at the front door of this thread, right?

Nothing to add, just quoting so everyone can read it again.

Hi-five southbay!

Finallly, some common sense!

Thing is with Beachboyland that Strange Things Happen.

Whod've thought ten years ago that Brian would be touring, that he'd've finished SMiLE, that the law suits would have ended and that AGD would confess to liking Looking Back With Love? That Al would've recorded a solo album that wasn't all country & western/folk versions of Sloop John B? That David Marks would be well-and-truly back in the fold? That Mike & Bruce would be the touring version of our favourite band, and that many hard-core fans actually rate them very highly?

Beachboyland isn't normal.

That's why we keep the faith, as David Leaf so succinctly used to put it (and who'd've thought he'd be persona non-grata at BW gigs?)

Because if it's really, truly, absolutely fricking certain that something won't happen, it's a dead cert that it will.

Or not.

THAT's the way it is -  embrace the truth, get real! Maybe. Perhaps. Could be.

Deep in your heart, you know you want it to be this way.

I shouldn't blame you.  I dreamed big in 1985. And 1989. And 1995.

How about for 1) James Guercio and for 4) Peter Cetera :police:

How about some good songs as well? I'd much rather hear quality songs than quality production. Of course both are vitally important, but I'd rather hear a song as good as say "God Only Knows" with BB '85 style production than hear "Summer Of Love" with Pet Sounds style production.

I would LOVE to hear Summer of Love with Pet Sounds production! That would be AWESOME.

Nah...ultimately if the quality of the material is sub-par, there is only *so much* a producer could do. 

I don`t know why some people naturally assume that any new material might not be up to much. There have been some good songs on Brian`s solo stuff, on Mike`s unreleased album and, by the sound of it, Al`s CD too. If the band members were to write 2-4 songs each then there is no reason why they might not come up to scratch.

For example, Santa's Goin to Kokomo was awesome.

I don't know if you're being sarcastic or not, Luther, but as you know, Mike has far more respectable songs than that one.

I was indeed being sarcastic.

You must have been referring to Camp California?

Well, if Al doesn't hurry up, they might have a recording with Carl.... (Don't fight the sea)
Christian Love sounds great btw and often very reminiscent of Carl Wouldn't mind him and Matt Jardine filling out the Boys' blend

That's what I'm hoping too. Beach Boys fans tend to have an optimistic streak, and a realistic streak too. It's what keeps us alive!

Oh. Was it that then?

Yep. There are three possibilities. First, they might already have a few songs written just looking for a home. Second, the spark of a new, meaningful project could lead to some renewed creativity. Or third, maybe they could collaborate among themselves like they did successfully in the past.

Like, in: tucking Brian in in a four-poster and supplying him with hamburgers and Bolivian Marching Powder, and the rest working in the home studio, with the very occasional visit of Brother Bri, to do a couple of staccato synth drones? Could be. A. Distinct. Possibility.

Ah, there we go again, reminiscing about the good times...

 :lol

Christian Love has a good voice, which does help fill the mid-range hole in the harmonies in concert, but, imho, aside from some familial charactering in his voice, he doesn't sound much like Carl. I think his sister Hayleigh comes closer.

now thats when the boys really used to know how to get the whole gang together for an album :lol

I *do* agree with this.  There are some good tracks off of Brian Wilson's That Lucky Old Sun such as "Live Let Live" and "Midnight's Another Day".  Mike Love had a pretty darn good tune with "Cool Head, Warm Heart".  And Al Jardine's "Driving" sounds like it will be a pretty decent track.  The problem is the band is rather direction-less and incomplete without Carl Wilson.  Without his presence there would be holes in the harmonies; just wouldn't sound right.  And although you could try and fill these holes with Christian Love or Matt Jardine, neither are actual Beach Boys.  Brian Wilson's interest in the project would be questionable at best; no one really knows whether or not he really wants to work with these guys again.  I just think if these guys tried to do another album it would be quite sub-par at best, or another Summer In Paradise at worst.  Without the heart and soul of the group (namely Dennis and Carl), I just don't care for new Beach Boys material. 

Yes, the harmonies situation would be a question mark. But, I can see/hear Bruce taking Carl's part and David Marks singing Dennis' part. When Bruce really tries, he can still sing repectably, and, I've recently seen some David Marks' performances on YouTube and he was quite impressive.

Yes, it would be quite feasible to utilize the talents of a Matt Jardine or Jeff Foskett to sing the high harmony as "insurance". They have both been used effectively on projects like Stars and Stripes and Brian's solo albums. Really, the harmonies are not a big concern of mine. I won't say how good (or bad?) they'll sound, but I know they'll sound a little different. Again, with the right producer, studio technology, Brian's vocal arranging, and the guys' rising to the occasion, I'm confident and optimistic. I really believe the days of Love You and Getting In Over My Head - vocally - are a thing of the past.

Brians favorite albums then!

Oh wait...they were yesterday.

I was really gonna leave it alone, SJS, but the temptation was just too much. The harmonies aren't a big concern of yours? If you mean you don't care, I guess that's your business (though it's a lame-ass BBs record to lack good harmonies). If you mean that you think the real, live BBs are fine on their own without the likes of Jardine the Younger (muscley feller, ain't he? and sweet ponytail) or Foskett or someone else, uh, yowzers. Those better be some lower, tighter arrangements. That or we won't just have the never-ending digital tuning bitching, but flat-out pitch-shifting going on. You're kind of like  Lou Holtz or something. You definitely should have been a coach. Your optimistic confidence is remarkable.

I think if you plug Matt and Jeff in with Mike Bruce, Al, and I guess Brian, though sometimes he doesnt sing the backing parts, it would be a good sound. I would put Jeff on Carl's part and Matt on the high harmony personally. Dave doesn't sing every song either, so you can plug him where he wants to sing. You wanna throw in a Cowsill or Totten, can't hurt.

So I guess you don't like songs like Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder), I'm Waiting for the Day, Let's Go Away for Awhile, I Just Wasn't Made for These Times, Pet Sounds, and Caroline No... none of those have Carl or Dennis on them.

I think that a great harmony blend could be achieved, but they would need a couple of extra voices...one for falsetto parts, and one for the higher tenor parts.  Even without Carl's, Dennis', and "Brian at 23" voices.  I wasn't able to see Al with Brian in person for any of those shows that they did together, but from what I heard on various YouTube clips, just adding Al's voice to Brian's made for a much more authentic sounding Beach Boys blend.  The timbre of those two original BBs voices together was great, but add in Mike's signature bass tone, and some of his famous nasal whine, put Bruce in there on some mid-range parts, and augment with Foskett or Matt Jardine or Christian Love...hell, I'd buy it.   Whatever it is.

I'm in favor of them trying it. Even if Carl and/or Dennis were still alive, in 2009, the harmony blend would not be the same anyway. All of their voices have changed over the years. Bring in Christian and Matt, and keep it in the family.

First of all, these suggested lineups would likely make for a good sounding group and blend, but it still won't be the Beach Boys. Second...it won't happen anyway.

First, yeah, it wouldn't be the Beach Boys, but I'd buy it anyway.
Second, you're likely correct.

The blend wasn't already the same when Dennis was still alive.
Brian's and Dennis' voices changed dramatically around the mid-70s and also Mike's went through a change, becoming very nasal and losing some deepnes imo. I'd even say that, except for a few lucky occasions, the magic was gone by '76/'77

Neither of the above examples. I explained the reason "I'm not concerned" with the last two sentences in that post. I believe those days of "bad" harmonies are over. I'm confident they learned their lesson(s) and won't make the same mistakes, again, with a competent producer, studio technolgy, adding Matt or Jeff, etc.

But, also, I welcome a difference in the overall sound of the harmonies. There have been several changes in The Beach Boys' sound over the last five decades, this is nothing new. There were changes after 1966, after 1970, after 1975, after 1981, after 1984, after 1987, and it's still changing. Change is the only constant in the group. I think it would be exciting and even fulfilling to hear what a vocal blend of Brian, Mike, Al, Bruce, and David (with Matt or Jeff?) would sound like in 2010 or 2011.

This is another of my rhetorical questions that doesn't require an answer, because I already know most of what the answers will be....But, what makes the lineup of Brian, Mike, Al, Bruce, and David soooooooo less valid than the ones with Bruce and without Brian, with Blondie & Ricky and without Brian, without Dennis & Brian, or without Dennis & Carl. It's a new incarnation, a new Beach Boys' lineup. I'll embrace it.

And, yes, I was a coach, for many years, of basketball, football, and baseball, at the youth level. I'm now in coaching rehab.... :police:

This Willie Nelson 'Warmth Of The Sun' track with Matt. No Carl unless he was added later. (some here could tell by the mix I guess)

Anyway, should a new track ever happen, this is likely the sound we would have IMO.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LK6dQTS8VwM

Carl was probably added later, as you can hear him on the recording.  But yes, it could work, they only have to do just that, work

I'll answer it anyway: nothing. They're all equally valid, if not equally loved (in various incarnations by various people). 

Thank you. That's not an answer that I expected to see posted, but one that I agree with nevertheless....

We may get to that same place in different routes, but I'm increasingly there. As you know, I don't believe in magic. I do believe in musicians having a right to go out and do whatever they can for as long as they can in whatever manner they want or are able. I might hate it, ridicule it, ignore it or whatever else, but that doesn't mean anything.

By the way, I recommend people check out the long, excellent Bruce interview in the media section. But if you're a "the band died in 19xx" kind of person, you might not like it ... especially when he (correctly, in my estimation) discusses the band as a business with a brand to protect.

If there should be a reunion and if Blondie and Ricky were featured, this song should be recorded:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCBWPGXmK7A (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCBWPGXmK7A)

Bruce handle Carl's parts?!  Nothing against the guy, but he has a razor-thin voice.  He wouldn't work.

I just think it is what it is.  They will do the best they all can at this point and use others to fill out the harmony.

 I also imagine they will just sing the songs that allow them to sing the leads on (Al - Help Me Rhonda, Mike-409, California Girls, etc.).  It's not going to be like The Mike/Bruce show or Al's show with others singing lead (cept maybe on a few numbers if they use the siblings).

I do hope they let David do Dennis's leads.  He really does well with Dennis's songs.  Love to hear David do "Forever"

Mike still friends with Paul McCartney, has two albums worth of solo songs, and still planning 50th reunion with Brian.  Hmmm!

http://alibi.com/index.php?scn=music&story=29714

They ought to take a shot at making one last great song.

  
    " Pine Scented Air ",  that's the ticket!

I just don't know if they can do a "great song".  Al should most definitely sing it if they do choose to put out a one time single. He can sing circles around them right now.

If there is a final single, I really hope that Mike sings lead. Whether people like him or not, he sang lead on most of the songs the Beach Boys are most recognized for. Hopefully, all of the guys will get a turn at some lines, but definitely Mike.

It would also be nice if the single actually made the charts!  :o

There are a lot of good newer songs written by members of the band/s over the past 25 years that many have not heard.  They could record an album of these. 

But it has to be promoted correctly.  I would suggest guest appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show and Bandstand.
Some nice "gifts" sent to DJs around the country could help ensure frequent airplay.  And lets not forget a carefully timed release of a series of mucic videos presented on MTV.   I know the kids seem to enjoy these.

A lot of acts have done very well with this approach.

Funny stuff.

Could someone make a 'mockumentary' on our gang, to celebrate the 50th? With the cooperation of all the usual suspects? Who participate with earnest faces to support an alternative reality (much as Matthieu Karel did with the moon landings and Stanley Kubrick's involvement)?

1. think up sort of a McGuffin, a grand but untrue scheme that happened, the true structure or plot of which never fully is explained.
2. get Mike. Al, David, Bruce, and all others (e.g. Phil Spector in his cell, and Charlie Manson too) to comment seriously about that scheme.

For instance: Brian passed away in 1967 (whilst taking bad acid together with Sir Paul). There is a gigantic cover-up. A replacement is sought and found for the two of them. But the second Brian passes away in 1972, in Holland, in a car accident (he wrapped his Merc around a tree). A new Brian was found. In 1980, Brian III died of a coke-and-alcohol overdose. But the untiring Mike found a Brian IV. A rather thin-voiced butterfly collector from Oklahoma, who has been waring bathrobes and trainers all of his life, and still was living with his mum then. As Brian IV did not have time to learn the material in time, someone invented the teleprompter for him. Brian IV actually thinks Summer In Paradise is the greatest album ever, period, but is bound by contract not to ever vent that opinion. Brian IV, futhermore, is a true outdoors man, and he is 48 years old. So there's another cover-up: a 48 year old man celebrating the 50th birthday the band he founded?

Ah, I had to fill up a couple of minutes, guys. Forgive me.

On a similar theme, I mentioned on another board years ago that the Beach Boys should do a spoof/ comedy song taking the mickey out of their ages, past songs, bad blood etc. A parody tune might just get some interest! :lol

Somewhat OT, but damn, weren't they just totally enjoying each other's company back then ? The resulting album may not have been much to write home about, but when it brought them back together like that, even for such a brief time... yeah, you can't dismiss it.  Especially loved seeing Brian 'coaching' Willie.

Like, say... oooooh, I dunno... "Smart Girls" ?  ::)

A parody recorded and marketed as a parody then. Unlike much of the later stuff. Recorded with a serious intent but mistaken for parody. ;)

Funny you bring that up. I think a later poster said Carl was added later. However there is a short clip during the 'I Can Hear Music' where the band, minus Carl, is trying some vocals in the control room. Not to shabby IMO.

That was Mikey coaching Willie, not Brian.

So... who was the tall, dark haired guy standing next to Willie while he was singing, singing along, and who nodded encouragingly when Willie looked over at him ? Hence my writing 'coaching' with the quote marks. As in 'moral support'.

Can't speak for you, but I can tell the visual difference between 1995 Brian and 1995 Mike.  ;D

Giving a nod, to me isn't the same as coaching. What Mike was doing, to me is more lilke coaching.

To me it was more like making a fool out of oneselve.
But I agree with AGD, that scene is very cool. Especially if you consider yourself not just a BBs but also a Willie-fan. Would love to see Willie's appearance on Farm Aid (?) with Brian in the background

I was thinking the same damn thing the first time I saw Nashville Sounds! Willie's response to Mike shows that you don't "coach" Willie Nelson; you just let Willie be Willie.

... and to be fair to Mike, he totally acknowledged that fact, and with great good humor: the faint glimpse at the Wilson/Love double act we get in this DVD is enduringly precious.

Just realised - I like the DVD waaaaayyy more than the album.  ;D

Just ordered a used copy of the Nashville Sounds DVD.

He had better. How would you like being punk'd by a senior citizen pothead?

wait a second....you're losing me.........WHICH senior citizen pothead?

Does this look like Mr. HawaianShirtBaseballHatWearingIHateDrugsBecauseTheyTurnedMyCousinIntoAVegetable to you? ;)

(http://symonsez.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/willie.jpg)

Oh.  THAT senior citizen.  In these discussions you need a program to keep up with which senior (and I''m one)is being roasted!

Is that mag still in publication?

http://hightimes.com/

Alive and well I see.

I wonder if medical marijuana will be available on line soon......like viagra and such....online talk with a doc, get a script, it arrives at your door...

seems that is no longer as far fetched as it once might have been.

Not that I would be interested in or support any  such activity..... :o :o

Not for me, please. In all my life, I had just a few tokes from a joint. I hated the effect; the memory still gives me chills. Giggling, disinhibition...

But I grant everyone with a severe pain problem his or her free marijuana. If alcohol and tobacco are legal, it is plain silly to prohibit grass.