Title: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: Runaways on September 13, 2010, 08:03:03 AM Just sort of curious on everyone's opinion. I highly doubt Mike/Al would let Brian have the freedom he'd want, but whatever. If a one in a million chance happens, and A beach boys album comes out with mostly songs by Brian, and Brian's production, how do you think it'd sell? I feel like it would get a lot of attention.
Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: The Heartical Don on September 13, 2010, 08:58:42 AM I am pretty skeptical. The BBs may be a great touring band still... but more one of the revival circuit. Brian is a niche artist, competing with Michael
Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: bgas on September 13, 2010, 09:04:00 AM Brian at the top of his game, some co-writes with Mike, a recording by all that remains of the "collective" Beach Boys? ( I'm going to specify Brian, Mike, Al, David and Bruce for argument's sake)
I think that has the potential to be a million and two seller. A tour falls into "reunion" speculation, and that's a dead horse. Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: rab2591 on September 13, 2010, 09:20:58 AM It will sell but I doubt it would be a great album.
Brian is at his best when making what HE wants to make - compare Oxygen to the Brain and MAD to 'Desert Drive'...which would you prefer? And how much you want to bet that the album would be riddled with songs like 'Desert Drive'? First, they would have to come to agreements on who does the backing instrumentals - Wondermints or Stamos? I can almost see a Braveheart-style fight between Darian's band and Mike's band. I can see the production being AMAZING. But I can't imagine too much creative power being given to Brian. My best guess is that it will be an album with mostly covers and a few originals (and as stated before, the originals would probably sound like 'Desert Drive'). With the hype of a 50th anniversary. The movie 'The Drummer'. Remastered Beach Boy albums. The media hype surrounding the comeback of the Beach Boys, the album would sell (especially if it had a pathetic commercial copy of 'Kokomo' with it). I doubt we'd be getting Brian, Mike, Al, David, and Bruce at their creative best: If this album ever happens: Please prove me wrong Beach Boys! Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: GoogaMooga on September 13, 2010, 10:07:55 AM Instead of doing covers, they could use songs by Mike, Bruce, and Al. Make it a collective BB album like Sunflower or Surf's Up.
Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: hypehat on September 13, 2010, 10:39:44 AM We must remember, however, that the Beach Boys in their modern incarnation are insane.
Mike and Bruce would be more than happy to do the dreaded re-recordings, which would sell peanuts and be beyond horrible to listen to. At least Brian has handlers who push him to do respectable product, but I imagine if left in a studio with Mike, Bruce and Al he would end up doing the path of least resistance. I think Brian wouldn't respond well to the pressure. A re-recording should be either of an unreleased song, or a REALLY obscure cut. Not bloody Barbara - Ann. Other things to consider
Out of curiousity, and put rather bluntly, was Foskett seen as a 'political' choice for Brian's bandleader back in '99? What with his ex-beach boy history.... Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: bgas on September 13, 2010, 10:48:03 AM Just sort of curious on everyone's opinion. I highly doubt Mike/Al would let Brian have the freedom he'd want, but whatever. If a one in a million chance happens, and A beach boys album comes out with mostly songs by Brian, and Brian's production, how do you think it'd sell? I feel like it would get a lot of attention. Brian at the top of his game, some co-writes with Mike, a recording by all that remains of the "collective" Beach Boys? ( I'm going to specify Brian, Mike, Al, David and Bruce for argument's sake) I think that has the potential to be a million and two seller. A tour falls into "reunion" speculation, and that's a dead horse. Gee, I don't think you're reading for comprehension! the "rules"( as I read them of course) as set forth with the "one in a million chance" : 1; Beach Boys Album. 2; Songs by Brian( mostly). 3; Brian producing My take( given the rules): the first presumption HAS to be that Brian wants to write the songs, has free rein to produce as he wants( or as much as Melinda lets him), and uses the musicians he wants. Since it's a "Beach Boys" album, the vocals will be done by the BBs under Brian's direction. Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: Emdeeh on September 13, 2010, 10:54:00 AM compare Oxygen to the Brain and MAD to 'Desert Drive'...which would you prefer? I'm sure it makes me the exception, but I prefer "Desert Drive" -- really! I'm not a fan of MAD (it's just not my kind of music). Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: hypehat on September 13, 2010, 11:08:54 AM I just read the thread title! Give me a break!
I think your conditions are slightly too idealistic, but OK. The Beach Boys reunion record still doesn't hold much water commercially speaking because, like I said, they never really went away. The record wouldn't be commercial, because Brian's music simply isn't 'fashionable' right now - 1996 was a bloody great time for them to release one because the scene was rediscovering them. Not so much now. Everyone has a Pet Sounds and thinks Brian Wilson is god. I also still stand by my of course hugely speculative guess that the news Brian was recording with the group would baffle regular folk and agitate the 'Brian WIlson is god' crowd. Then again, if the song is right... I would comfortably say that Brian shouldn't be self-consciously writing the kind of music that would get him a hit nowadays, as that's the kind of philosophy that got us 'Imagination', 'Smart Girls', and 'Summer In Paradise' (I know he had piss-all to do with that, but you know what I mean). Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: drbeachboy on September 13, 2010, 11:11:47 AM I'm with you Emdeeh. I quite like Desert Drive. Though I like Midnight's Another Day as a song, it is not sung well, at all. I skip Oxygen To The Brain whenever I play TLOS. It is my least favorite tune on the album.
Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: Cam Mott on September 13, 2010, 11:26:02 AM I'm not sure but I agree that it probably wouldn't be a great album but it might sell a bunch. I mean the old BB stuff is still knockin' it out of the park every summer.
And I have a feeling that The Boys would do as they always have done which is do whatever Brian tells them to do because they still consider him their musical genius. Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: Mike's Beard on September 13, 2010, 11:46:30 AM A new Brian Wilson featuring Beach Boys record would sell more copies than Brian's latest solo work and would sell more than if the line up was just Mike, Bruce, Al and David but I still doubt that it would be a top 10 seller anywhere. The market for new BB material just doesn't exist to that extent. The group has built such an iconic image based on those 60's hits that very few people want to hear anything new by them. They would only be competing against their younger, more groundbreaking selves. They have essentially been stuck at this juncture for 40 odd years now.
Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: Mikie on September 13, 2010, 12:12:40 PM Out of curiousity, and put rather bluntly, was Foskett seen as a 'political' choice for Brian's bandleader back in '99? What with his ex-beach boy history.... Before Foskett was a Beach Boy, he sang and played Beach Boys and Jan & Dean songs with a Beach Boys cover band from Silicon Valley California named "Papa Do Run Run". So he knew all the notes, chords, and harmony parts to much of the Beach Boys catalog before he even became a Beach Boy. And he learned well from Carl Wilson. Before that he was with a couple of bands, including "The Pranks", who also did cover songs and originals. So Jeff's very credible, and a long-time Brian Wilson athletic supporter. And on his first day on the job as a Beach Boy, Dennis Wilson fired him. ;D Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: Wirestone on September 13, 2010, 12:29:07 PM Quote Out of curiousity, and put rather bluntly, was Foskett seen as a 'political' choice for Brian's bandleader back in '99? What with his ex-beach boy history.... Foskett wasn't the bandleader in '99. Joe Thomas was. After Thomas was kicked out, the leadership kinda split, more or less, between Jeff and Darian. Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: Rocker on September 13, 2010, 12:32:17 PM And on his first day on the job as a Beach Boy, Dennis Wilson fired him. ;D Please tell more.... A Beach Boys-album by Brian would sell. Not talking about the quality or whatever, but in fact Brian's name is the only thing that would make a BBs-album sell nowadays. I wouldn't bet on a no.1-album though Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: carl r on September 13, 2010, 12:42:13 PM Somewhat gloomy thought. I may be wrong, but surely for Brian to produce truly great work, he maybe needs the sort of levels of discomfort which would take him out of his comfort zone. To produce more challenging music he needs the sort of challenge that Lenny Waronker allegedly provided, by rejecting his original work. Back then, with the help of Andy Paley, he eventually sweated out Rio Grande, surely his last work which could be described as experimental in some way. Not saying anything for certain, but if any Beach Boys project had a 'firm-but-fair' leader, prepared to jolt Brian, he might extract some great work. But with someone who's over 70, is it really fair to jolt them, or drag them out of their safety zone? I would say, it probably isn't. So on this basis TLOS or BWRG is very cool, but what would really be gained by adding the Beach Boys, without the kind of regime which would heavily tax an old guy, who could just walk away, and get on with his everyday stuff.
Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: Mikie on September 13, 2010, 01:05:03 PM And on his first day on the job as a Beach Boy, Dennis Wilson fired him. ;D Please tell more.... If this isn't completely accurate, maybe AGD or Stebbins will correct me. Foskett was hired by the Beach Boys - I think it was around Christmas time, 1981. He was at the airport to get to his first gig with the group. At the gate, he saw Dennis Wilson sleeping off the previous night's activities. He introduced himself to Dennis and told him that he was listening to some Beach Boys stuff the night before. He said to Dennis, "How about this old gem?", and he played a tape of "Auld Lang Syne" from the Beach Boys Christmas album. Dennis responded with, "How about this old gem? 'You're fired!'" Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: kwan_dk on September 13, 2010, 01:09:26 PM A Beach Boys-album by Brian would sell. Not talking about the quality or whatever, but in fact Brian's name is the only thing that would make a BBs-album sell nowadays. I agree to a certain extent - but I don't think it could only sell if it was widely known that it was a Brian production. I think the Beach Boys brand could do it alone - if the album had a lot of promotion centered on the anniversary and how truly incredible it is that the group is still issuing new music this many decades down the line, sales could be pretty good imho. Perhaps not top 10 material, but with the right collection of songs I think it could do very well. There's no doubt in my mind that there would be extensive coverage in the music press and cultural sections of newspapers. By 'the right collection of songs' I mean that in theory it should be possible to cover both fields of the fanbase - those who like the early 60s, rockin' surf & hot rod type sound as well as the hardcore connoiseurs who go for the more adventurous sounds. To my ears TLOS pulled this act of fine balancing off very well with both some harmony-heavy rockers for the casual fans and more complex ballads and production for the 'Brian is God' worshippers. Honestly, imagine 'Southern California' or 'Forever She'll Be my Surfer Girl' as lead-off singles off a new Beach Boys reunion album. If the guys shared the leads on similar catchy & well-produced songs and issued those under the BB moniker I think a minor hit could be achieved, consequently spawning some interest for an album... Man, I'd love to see them settle their differences and give it one last shot with a new album. :). Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: gsmile on September 13, 2010, 01:12:23 PM Just slap a sticker on the shrink-wrap that reads in big bold letters "PRODUCED BY BRIAN WILSON", and there you have it. I think a new Beach Boys album produced by Brian would sell rather modestly, certainly it would make a good profit for which ever label was backing them. It all depends on how championed the album is by all the right hipster blogs and review sites (Pitchfork, Popmatters, Stereogum). It always surprises me how many parties I've been to at friends places or even friends of friends (we're talking mid to late 20s age group) and I can always spot the thick CD slipcase of Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE poking out of their CD collection. Whether or not the album is in regular rotation with these people is in question, but the fact is the hype was in full force on teh internets, and the result...people bought the record. Brian returning to the fold as a member, writer and producer would send massive shock waves through the blog community. Even Mike's recent casual remarks caused a friend of mine to ask me the other day "Hey Geoff, did you hear that Brian is joining the Beach Boys again?" Yes, a Beach Boys album with Brian producing would sell. Especially to hipsters expecting the second coming of Pet Sounds or SMiLE. And this is not a dig against hipsters, it's just that generally they're on top of things in the music blog-o-sphere, and are generally the kind of people that would actually go out and buy a physical copy of said album, especially if it was released as a nice vinyl pressing.
Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: Mikie on September 13, 2010, 01:16:11 PM A Beach Boys record wouldn't sound the same without Carl Wilson's vocals. Unless they finish a demo of a song with his voice on it like Lennon's on the Beatles' "Free As A Bird/Real Love". And without Al in there, all bets are off. And no Dennis? Nah, it's either the ORIGINAL Beach Boys or nothin' at all for me.
Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: ? on September 13, 2010, 01:19:00 PM It would sell exactly the same as BWRG or TLOS. Same audience. Nobody else cares. This isn't 1966 or even 1976. Music barely sells these days as it is and the people that are buying certainly don't give a f*** about the Beach Boys or Brian Wilson producing them.
Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: TdHabib on September 13, 2010, 01:20:11 PM A Beach Boys record wouldn't sound the same without Carl Wilson's vocals. Unless they finish a demo of a song with his voice like Lennon's on the Beatles' Free As A Bird/Real Love". And without Al in there, all bets are off. And no Dennis? Nah, it's either the ORIGINAL Beach Boys or nothin' at all for me. I feel exactly the same, preach it brother!Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: GoogaMooga on September 13, 2010, 01:39:42 PM Well, the Beach Boys have already made a reunion record with Carl's vocals, "Don't Fight the Sea", and I am sure they will find other vocal takes by Carl that they could use. It doesn't have to be all new songs. Imagine a BB record with contributions by all surviving members and archival takes by Dennis and Carl.
Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: gsmile on September 13, 2010, 01:46:33 PM How about "Wouldn't It Be Nice to Live Again" as a bonus track? :)
Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: adamghost on September 13, 2010, 02:35:02 PM It actually could work if publicized right, because Brian's rejoining the group provides an angle that you can write about, and from then things sometimes take on a life of their own, so there is a scenario where the thing could sell. I don't consider it a likely one, but it's certainly possible. The circumstances, other than Brian's being healthy, are so similar to right before 15 BIG ONES however that it's hard to imagine it coming out well artistically. I realize Brian being in better shape is a big factor, but one of the reasons 15BO was what it was was the band, essentially, ran out of time to execute their marketing plan and had to put out what they had. That's why Carl and Dennis were so angry, IIRC.
Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: rab2591 on September 13, 2010, 03:29:33 PM however that it's hard to imagine it coming out well artistically. That's the way I feel. I mentioned the song 'Desert Drive' before and I'll stick with my example: Desert Drive isn't a bad song, it is just artistically uninteresting. There is nothing overly creative about it. Some of us would be happy with a Beach Boy album that had that rehashed that sound of the mid 60s Brian Wilson productions....others want the creative Brian - the Oxygen to the Brain Brian. I don't cringe at artistic creativity, I cringe when someone tries to capitalize on something that has been done FAR too many times before. Ugh, people would be expecting hits like 'Kokomo' on the album, and Brian is FAR past that. It would be amazing if people bought the album expecting fun-in-the-sun hits and got an album that "people would pray to"..... Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: oldsurferdude on September 13, 2010, 07:39:55 PM I loved it back in the day when they were referred to as "Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys" by radio stations, concert promos,etc. After 1970, I never saw or heard that again. :'(
Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again on September 13, 2010, 07:44:07 PM Um, yeah, because Brian wasn't touring with them!
Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: oldsurferdude on September 13, 2010, 07:50:04 PM Um, yeah, because Brian wasn't touring with them! Um,uh-whatever -Brian stopped touring well before they stopped using the phrase.Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: Runaways on September 13, 2010, 09:16:17 PM i def just mean a Beach Boys album with Brian in general. I'd love a most brian thing, but if the covers album crap went down etc. Just however opinion you have on it.
i'd probably buy it regardless. unless it was all covers. then heck no. actually unless it's obviously got some good brian production behind it then no. Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: summerinparadise.flac on September 13, 2010, 10:03:19 PM I'd be happy to see them do a song together. Not as the Beach Boys but as friends and family who want to sing together.
Beyond that I don't want any albums. Let them play live but the Beach Boys as recording artists died with Carl Wilson imo. Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: Dove Nested Towers on September 13, 2010, 10:53:54 PM And on his first day on the job as a Beach Boy, Dennis Wilson fired him. ;D Please tell more.... If this isn't completely accurate, maybe AGD or Stebbins will correct me. Foskett was hired by the Beach Boys - I think it was around Christmas time, 1981. He was at the airport to get to his first gig with the group. At the gate, he saw Dennis Wilson sleeping off the previous night's activities. He introduced himself to Dennis and told him that he was listening to some Beach Boys stuff the night before. He said to Dennis, "How about this old gem?", and he played a tape of "Auld Lang Syne" from the Beach Boys Christmas album. Dennis responded with, "How about this old gem? 'You're fired!'" Seems rather vindictive for such a trivial "offense"(?) He was obviously in pretty bad shape by then and must have been REALLY grouchy that day, if the incident actually unfolded that way. Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again on September 14, 2010, 12:28:00 AM Um, yeah, because Brian wasn't touring with them! Um,uh-whatever -Brian stopped touring well before they stopped using the phrase.Um, concert promoters promoted/billed The Beach Boys in concert as "Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys" WELL after Brian had stopped touring??? Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: TheLazenby on September 14, 2010, 12:42:14 AM Hell, the promotional picture for a Beach Boys concert in West Virginia (?) recently showed Brian, Dennis and Carl.
Ah, truth in advertising. Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: Pretty Funky on September 14, 2010, 12:44:20 AM It would sell exactly the same as BWRG or TLOS. Same audience. Nobody else cares. This isn't 1966 or even 1976. Music barely sells these days as it is and the people that are buying certainly don't give a foder about the Beach Boys or Brian Wilson producing them. Agree. Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: oldsurferdude on September 14, 2010, 05:45:31 AM Um, yeah, because Brian wasn't touring with them! Um,uh-whatever -Brian stopped touring well before they stopped using the phrase.Um, concert promoters promoted/billed The Beach Boys in concert as "Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys" WELL after Brian had stopped touring??? Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again on September 14, 2010, 12:21:47 PM Well, in that case it would be certainly true :)
Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: Alex on September 14, 2010, 12:57:15 PM And on his first day on the job as a Beach Boy, Dennis Wilson fired him. ;D Didn't Dennis fire every single new person in the BBs organization the first time he'd meet someone? Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: Nicko on September 15, 2010, 02:30:03 AM Just slap a sticker on the shrink-wrap that reads in big bold letters "PRODUCED BY BRIAN WILSON", and there you have it. I disagree. Many people don't know who Brian is nowadays and those who do probably wouldn't believe that he is up to producing a new album single handedly. As others have said, the thing that could help the album would be the anniversary as that would immediately get massive publicity. If the band were to do one or two big concerts and a TV special then that couldn't hurt. For the album itself, hiring an outside producer who would have the power to select or reject songs or ideas would be important. It would also allow the band members to spend a limited amount of time in each other's company as I can't see them collaborating together as they did in the old days. I would try to make the song selection as democratic as possible picking a couple from Mike's solo album, You're Still a Mystery, one or two others from the Paley sessions maybe and then whatever new stuff the members could come up with. Plus I like the suggestion of including Dennis by completing one of his old songs and either having a Carl vocal or writing credit too. Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: Pretty Funky on September 15, 2010, 02:56:44 AM This is not 1976 with the bands best years and line-up still fresh in the minds of a generation. This is 2010 with a scratch band at best minus the best voice.
A group should be like any artist. Set out with a vision that makes them happy, and if it is a good product, release it. The day the most important consideration is how much money a reunion may earn.....its doomed! Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: Nicko on September 15, 2010, 03:29:49 AM A group should be like any artist. Set out with a vision that makes them happy, and if it is a good product, release it. Not a chance with this band. All of the members, certainly including Brian, care an awful lot about sales. Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: Mike's Beard on September 15, 2010, 03:45:59 AM It must be hard to lose that kind of mindframe when you spent the first few years of your career getting No1 records.
Title: Re: How well would a Beach Boys album with/by Brian sell? Post by: Curtis Leon on September 15, 2010, 06:26:24 AM It must be hard to lose that kind of mindframe when you spent the first few years of your career getting No1 records. Yeah, it should be. Except they've had almost 45 years to get used it. |