The Smiley Smile Message Board

I wanted to start a topic on this in the 'Other Solo Albums' section but I think only admins can start new topics there. I got Blondie's album through yesterday and must say I am thoroughly impressed! Blondie's voice as great as normal, the songs aren't too adventurous but are well written and really rock - I fine effort indeed and way better than Carls, Mike and Bruce's solo efforts.

Strangely, the one thing that I kept thinking was that this is what Carl's album(s) should have sounded like, straight forward rock n roll songs sang and played with passion.

Does anyone else have this album?

P.S. I think I read somewhere that Blondies album was released in February 1977 - meaning that he was the first Beach Boy/ex Beach Boy to release a solo album.

followed by Bruce, then Dennis, in the same year if I'm not mistaken...

2/68 Without Earth - The Moon

What is truly bizarre is that with the exception of Alan, Brian was the LAST Beach Boy to release a solo lp!!

Blondie's album is a solid rocker nothing more, nothing less. The only track that reaches the same heights as his and Ricky's contributions to "So Tough and Holland" I'd say is "Riverboat Queen" which has awesome organ playing by Garth Hudson of The Band.

Well, not exactly. Bruce had Surfin Around the World in '63, but yeah he wasn't a Beach Boy then, but Blondie wasnt a Beach Boy in '77, Bruce wasn't either in '77, and David's Moon record from '68 wasn't a solo Lp and he wasn't a Beach Boy then anyway...so...Dennis Wilson's Pacific Ocean Blue IS the first solo LP by a member of The Beach Boys.

Yeah, I like that album a lot. I agree, if Carl's albums would've sounded like this, they'd be much better. "She's mine" comes close

What about the Marksmen? Did they have an official release in 63 or 64?

Three singles in '64...no LP.

I just couldn't connect with Blondie's album from a few years ago (2007?), but I've always loved his self-titled album from 1977!  I have to be in a certain mood to listen to it, and some of the songs are a little repetitive and same-sounding, but when I first heard it, I was happy for him that he made it, even if it wasn't successful commercially.

If only the album cover wasn't so lame it might've helped sales a bit. Not a bad record though.

Not as lame as Looking Back With Love or Going Public though.

I feel the same way about Carl Wilson's first album.  That would have been an embarrassment for any male customer back in 1981 to bring to the front counter.

Does anyone else think he sounds a lot like Boz Scaggs?

I saw Boz open for the BBs in the early 70's. You're right, there is a similarity to Blondie there. I've always wondered, though, as to why Carl thought that Rickie and Blondie were necessarily the ones to add to the group at the time-musical prowess? They're both excellent musicians, but I always walked away from a concert or a listen to the albums thinking they really didn't "fit". Why not Flo and Eddie or Henry Gross or even Todd Rundgren to mention a few and yes they had their own careers but would have complimented the vocal blend a bit better. Anyone with thoughts?

Well, considering Carl had tried to get Billy Hinsche to join in 1969-70 and David Marks in 1971, both times to attempt to replace Bruce, AND was rejected on top of it, I don't know exactly what the impetus was for "new blood" after Carl couldn't get Billy and David into the group. Bruce went on record around the time of his departure that he was sick and tired of the drug use on Brian, Dennis, Carl, and, reportedly, Blondie's parts, and the facade that was "Brian's participation" in the group, which by 1972 was below minimal.

As far as bringing Blondie and Ricky in, it could have been a matter of convenience, as Carl was good friends with all of the Flame members, and certainly a fan of their work. Besides, with Carl, Dennis, and Michael as the de facto "leaders" in Brian's general absence, having Blondie and Ricky in the group meant they could incorporate their own respective talents into the songwriting and performance aspects of the Beach Boys, and having a few more heads to bounce ideas off is by no means a bad thing. It allows room for growth when you have a couple more opinions. Carl, Dennis, and Michael were certainly aware of the "hip, young audience" they wanted to court, and perhaps, in the aftermath of the whole political and social climate of the late 1960s, the racial integration of what was considered America's preeminent white pop group could have been seen as a good boost for publicity.

I think the problem with Blondie and Ricky as far as being in the Beach Boys was the general ambiguity the group was met with in 1972, despite being on the road to coming back to prominence. Of course, even after Endless Summer and the stadium shows, I still think it might not have worked. Blondie and Ricky's songwriting contributions, while certainly of good quality (in my opinion anyway), do sit uncomfortably next to the other songs at the time. I personally don't mind it as much as a lot of other fans do; Blondie and Ricky's material just adds more fuel to my "the Beach Boys are THE most diverse group in American rock music" argument with non-fans. But, as we've argued before, if you're looking for consistency within the Beach Boys, it was very much not the case after 1970, and even less after 1973. Blondie and Ricky had the potential to be truly amazing within the Beach Boys, as both instrumentalists and vocalists. But I don't believe the fans ever truly accepted them as Beach Boys, much like some folks have the same trouble with Bruce and David Marks; of course a lot of folks do consider Glen Campbell a Beach Boy which confounds me to this day, even if it was only for a few months. As far as I'm concerned, if they were credited on an album cover or inlay (think Surfin' Safari, Sunflower, and Holland for specific examples), then there's no argument. The other Beach Boys who possessed the corporate vote in 1972, that is, Brian, Dennis, Carl, and Michael, considered Blondie, Ricky, Bruce, and David as members of the Beach Boys and not sidemen.

If you llike rockin' Blondie you're in luck cuz he's said to be working on a new rock album for release later this year. 

Also check out his hard to find rock album with his trio Skollie (Blondie, Keith Lentin, and Anton Fig of Letterman fame - all SA natives) titled Ostrich Man released in 1992 by PVB Records only in South Africa. 

You can also see three hard rockin' live Skollie performances of original Ostrich Man material on a recently released DVD titled 'In The Groove' available now at Amazon.

I love all Blondies stuff and look forward to his new album.... 

Eric, how old are you? Fairly young, if your pic is up to date. I bought that LP the day it was released. I had no druthers whatsoever about walking to the counter with it in hand. That pose was not all that unusual for the period in which it was taken. That was cool circa early 1980's.

A time when straight men could buy a Queen album and think "that mustachioed singer certainly seems tough! And I sure do like the fit of his jeans." and not think anything of it. Hey, let's go a few years further and think about all those pop metal bands in full makeup and styled hair. Look What the Cat Dragged In. Macho, no? Oh, '80s. You were so cute in your day.

Who is David Moon? Should I recognize the name?

David's Moon record. As in David Marks's record under the band name "Moon."

Welcome to the board. You've been sigged.

Thanks Luther.  I feel like Emily Litella. But what's this about liking the way a man's pants fit him?  :(

Thanks. I've been reading for quite a long time.

I'm 34...that picture is not up to date...I was 30 back then!  I probably should update it.

Actually, Carl had nothing to do with David being asked back in 1971...it was Mike Love who made the offer, which David declined.