The Smiley Smile Message Board

I'm sure we've all thought one time or another about writing a book about our favorite band and passion, the Beach Boys. (some of us have even made the dream come true and published their own works! not mentioning any names).
A couple of years ago, I had started to approach a story about the mid 70s/Holland era, based on a story like Almost Famous, but I found that I was writing more fiction about other characters and not writing enough about the Beach Boys.
But with all these wonderful writings that have came out over the years, it's hard to find material that hasn't been written or put together....whether it's online or in a book, it may seem like all the ideas have ran dry.

So I thought of writing a book/selection about the BB songs in an over-analyzed fashion, not just the story behind them, but all the info, dates, where it's available, who played on it, what other songs link to it, what other versions exist, history of, and so on.  I know this has kinda been done (maybe over done), with the likes of people like AGD, Peter Ames Carlin, and Dominic Pryor...and if I'm just beating a dead cow, let me know to not waste my breath...now I'm not talking about publishing or anything that far, just a pleasure in writing for fans of our nature.

I would like to touch the surface of some things that aren't usually discussed like rare recordings (boot material) such as:

-Out in the Country
-I'm Begging you Please
-Beginning of the End
-Lonely Days
-Walkin'
-He gives Speeches
-We Got Love
-Moni Kani
-Concert Tonight
and so on.

Of course using sources that will be sited; pretty much anything and everything I can get my hands on. I just want to put a lot of those sources together and file it as a common source.

and occasionally question on here of the legitimacy of certain information.

I think if you're going to write wholesale about unreleased recordings you're pretty much opening yourself up for a lot of trouble.

I wouldn't think of selling it, there's no market for making money on such a thing...and the market is pretty much us.

a Mike biography is what is badly needed!

We all want it, right?

OldSurferDude can even write a special preface!

I honestly would like to read a biography of Mike -- and of Carl too! Would the latter be any easier to accomplish considering he's, you know, dead (i.e. would you be able to get others to talk so you'd at least have a once-removed portrait of 'Carl Wilson' than you might not have been able to get while he was alive)? As I recall, Mike has no interest in sure a venture, unfortunately...

While I would love to write either bio, I don't have the money nor the knowledge of 'who knows who'...The only people close to them in the BB world are those guests here on the board. With my idea, I'd be doing mostly observation of recordings and information and researching out the wazoo. I also couldn't write a 'bio' of Mike, I just couldn't keep my mouth shut on some topics that should either be left out or just left to the facts...as my opinion my fly out.

Mike bio, Stebbins???  :o

The Beach Boys book I would most love to read would go song-by-song (and album-by-album) through their catalog and collect every available quote about the creation and recording of each track.  Ideally, the author would sit down with all living participants, especially Brian, Al, Bruce, Mike, Blondie and Ricky, Marilyn and Diane, Van Dyke, Tony Asher, and people like Steve Desper, Ed Roach, etc. who have posted here, and try to probe their recollections about as many songs as possible.  Obviously some people would be more willing to participate than others.  I think Al would have a tremendous amount to say, and might be willing to participate.  It just seems like an oral history of the Beach Boys, particularly focused on the actual recording rather than backstage stuff like drugs and booze, etc., should be done before any more of the principals die.

Wow, talk about going from one of the most loved to the most hated of Beach Boys authors just for writing that book and defending its subject. Any writer who would have the courage to write a Michael bio is opening themselves up for ridicule.

Right of the top of my head, I can think of at least 83 reasons why this will never happen.  ;D

"Mike was born at a very early age. His first words are recorded as having been 'Goin' to the beach, goin' to the beach with ma bay-beeeee...'".

I think an MEL bio would be truly fascinating IF it were written by the right guy. Whoever that person was, they would have to retain the best legal team the world has seen since the Nuremburg Trials.

Understood.  And it should be said that such a book would only complement Andrew's, which is fantastic in its own right.

84.

You can't be talking about Stebbins! His books are awesome!

Maybe Ann Rule should write the Mike bio!

I would be a true-crime bestseller!

I'm not saying Stebbins is a bad writer. But Stebbins' dedication to the subjects he's written about previously in our little Beach Boys world would NOT translate well with the Brianista contingent who are happy to believe the lies propagated throughout the last forty-five years. Stebbins would be an AWESOME choice to write such a tome. Andrew could pull it off too if he were so inclined. But of course, Michael himself has no interest. What you see is what you get with him. He understands that. I understand that. A few other fans understand that. Why can't everyone else? Because it doesn't fit their preconceived Brian-centric notions of who Michael Love is.

I agree Stebbins would be the man for the job! But if he won't do it and Myke won't cooperate, how about Steven Gains??? I mean it! H&V (the book) is high trash art! It's well written, entertaining as all hell and jam packed with details.

I understand Brian worship just as much as the next Brianista, but Mike hate is beyond me!

I mean, do Mike haters sing along to their favorite Beach Boys songs and stop singing whenever Mike has a part? If they DO keep singing, they have no right to hate the man!  >:D

There have been a number of "discography" "concerto-graphy" (I made that up  :lol) and sensation-ography (that one, too) books over the years...I am unimpressed for the most part.  I have not read everything, but most. 

Billy Hinsche is doing a film on Carl Wilson.  I am impressed by his film, 1974 - On the Road with the Beach Boys.  It is objective and historical.  It gives a "context" within a "time-line."

The most important kind of book might be one solely for educational purposes for children to learn an historical "time-line" alongside the music.  I would want to have children know what were the early "seeds" that were sown to inspire Brian to write music.  We know Gershwin was a profound influence.  Kids could learn something about the Gershwin brothers, and how Brian composed and Mike worked on lyrics. 

They could see how the basic chords of rock and roll were constructed and how their music followed those principles and influences, and that Kennedy was assassinated during those early days.  They could learn about doo wop, who sang it, and why it was important.  A cappella singing...at a Presidential Inaguration...an historic venue.

They could read about the Cold War (Prague) and learn that the Boys performed there, during a politically challenged era (an understatement.) The shows in Japan, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, etc. might even be plotted out on a world map, for a generation who are basically "geographic illiterates."  They were ambassadors for America.   

They could objectively learn about TM, which is old but, at the time, sort of radical, but now is so mainstream that doctors recommend its practice in medicine.  They could learn some American Constitutional principles, in the context of Carl being a Conscientious Objector, during the Vietnam War.  And that in a fictionalized movie about Vietnam, "I Get Around" was played by the disc jockey.  The products they inspired (409 cleaner!) 

There are an abundance of  positive accomplishments of this band, which have become mired in sensationalism which, frankly, in my opinion, is old and tired.  There is charity work, instances of true courage (Carl on tour with cancer) and many lessons and joyful music, which grew with technology, and even Brian "coming back" with the use of "assisted technology." Yes, the teleprompters helped Brian overcome whatever obstacles were in his way all those years. Almost every musician from the 60's era who is interviewed now, says that the Beach Boys were a profound influence on their music.  Even the "theremin" for Good Vibrations helped to usher in a whole generation of electronic musical instruments. 

I believe that there is an important story, here, for our grandchildren (and, no I don't have any yet!) to learn, alongside the years from late 1950's and early 1960's (and the musical influences which catapulted the story) and the growth of audiences which started off as teens and preteens, to grandparents to grandchildren which leaves the "sensationalist - tell all' in the dust, ultimately. 

These are significant American composers and lyricists whose work should be important in an academic setting, whether in a college "history and sociology of music" course covering the Vietnam Era up to this point, high school, or for younger children in grade school.  I think it would do them the greatest justice, for someone to "step back" and "objectively" look at the musical legacy, and tell "the musical story" about how it came to be, "who" and "what" (society and historical events) influenced it and how they have left this world, a better place, as a result of their journey.

No drama, just musical history.   8) 

"Brian contingent"? "Brian-centric?? What about the Myk-a-holics around here? It cuts both ways and you know that, sir RBB. ::)

Absolutely, but us Myke-Lovers, Myke-anistas, Koko-morons are grossly outnumbered.

And for good reason! :p

You'll see!

The tide shall turn......... someday  >:D

How about a BEACH BOYS: LIVE book?

It would be a Badham style tome focusing solely on The Beach Boys as a live act. It would go though all the years (the recent past/present being fully documented as well) and would have as many pictures as possible as well as personal concert recollections from fans as well as whoever in the band (both utility and Beach Boys themselves) would care to share their stories.

Could be a good idea.

I'd love to see books from Al and Bruce....although in years from now, when there aren't any Beach Boys projects pending.  Especially Bruce...he has a unique perspective on the band AND he's lived through a ton of rock 'n' roll history.

There's been a lot written about the BBs but I don't personally find any one book definitive (though Carlin takes a decent stab at it), and it's probably true that it's going to quite a few years (and principals passing out of the picture) before that can happen.  Mike Love once said it would almost require a James Michener to write such a book, and I think that's actually a pretty astute statement.

Believe it or not I am still intending to finish my Beach Boys book. I had so much work this year on Elvis projects that I couldn't get back to it until now but it will be finished soon. I have the main part done which is a song by song thing with a lot of background. My three goals. One to show that every Beach Boy had talent and played a part in their success. Two to prove Brian did become a vegetable right after Smile. The work he did from 1967-72 ranks among his best. Even from 1973-82 he was fairly active. Three to promote vinyl and discuss everything ever released in that format. 

A little typo there I assume?

Probably not. It was only by becoming a vegatable, that he got back to his roots. 

I wanne be 'round my vegetables.... indeed!!

I won't go near that water.

A Murry book is what I wanna read!

I think a good book project would be along the lines of the Genesis "Chapter and Verse". Chronicle the entire Beach Boys story by interviewing the remaining members and the people that have been associated over the years with them and have them each give their own perspective over different issues. Only use text from the transcripts themselves without an author giving his own interpretations. By telling the story in their own words, overall there would be a balanced view from each party.

U2 did a book like that. It was quite good considering it was all transcript. Though, It seems to me the guys were all in the same room at the time of the 'interviews' and thus the book read very easily (like reading a conversation). Whereas I can imagine the Beach Boys book to be disjointed and confusing (hearing Mike's interpretation of the SMiLE era, then reading something completely different from Brian's point of view). Plus, Brian is known to be a little off kilter when it comes to giving answers.

I love the idea though. Also, to add to to filledaplage's good idea, add a musical and historical timeline at the beginning of each chapter to set the mood of the era.

...... doncha think it's sad  :p

I think an in-depth look at the contributions of John Stamos to the legacy of the Beach Boys is in order.  ;D :angel:

Yes of course ;D