The Smiley Smile Message Board

I have a recording of an interview with Alan from the reception for the group at the Hilton hotel a few days before the recording of the "Live in London" album. When asked what the Beach Boys will be doing over Christmas Alan replies "we'll be reviewing the live album which we'll be doing this Sunday at the Palladium".  Which puts paid to the notion that the group weren't aware, as Steve Desper claims on page 115 of the Rusten and Stebbins book, that the performance was being recorded.

Alan also talks about the current single (Bluebirds), the upcoming album (20/20), their busy schedule and fields the inevitable Brian questions. All with considerable poise.

Also included is a very cool Christmas greeting from Dennis and another from Bruce.

Anyone familiar with the interview?

Not me.

I find it easier to believe Desper than Alan. The ML banter of that show was so far out that it would be strange how anyone would want that included on an upcoming live album.

However the interview pre-dates the show (and hence any banter by Mike) and Alan is plainly aware of the intention to record and release the performance.

Interesting.  Specifically, how does Al handle the "Brian question" in this interview?  I'm curious as to how PR was handled regarding Brian during this time.

The banter could've been edited out, but wasn't. Somebody wanted it in.

I thought the story was that everyone was aware that the show on Sunday, December 1 at the London Palladium was to be recorded, but that no one knew that the show on December 8 at Finsbury Park, Astoria was being recorded by EMI.  When the album came out, and it was from EMI's tapes of the Finsbury Park show, the group was not happy.  So Jardine's statement and Desper's statement are not mutually exclusive.

Lee

I'd very like to hear it too. Someone kind can upload the interview & greeting? Ty.

You're right Lee... If you read Stephen's quotes literally. "We were only there for one night..." They were unaware the Dec 8th show was the concert EMI would use for the LP, as Alan confirms that in the quote Kiwi posted... his, the group's and Stephen's assumption was the Dec 1 show was going to be the album's source.

Actually, some of the banter was edited out.

Yeah, that's why the intro of "California grils" was cut short.

Can you post a link to this interview, if you've got it in an e-format?

Ah, I see now.  The comments by Steve Desper and Alan, as noted above, are not mutually exclusive. I had overlooked the 1 December show on the preceding page despite Alan referring to the upcoming Palladium performance in a "couple of days" as being recorded for a live album. This likely dates the interview/reception either on the day of arrival in the UK on the 28th or on the following evening.

Interviewer: "Any chance of Brian ever touring with you again? Alan: "I don't ever foresee that, I'd say he's retired from the road". Interviewer: "Just staying behind and doing all the writing:. Alan: "No, not all the writing as you will see by the next album. The group has contributed 60 to 70% of the material. Brian is working in the capacity of making sure things get done right rather than actually spearheading them, the group is doing much more of the actual effort now of producing and engineering the album."

At some point I will make the interview available. I have had number of reel-to-reel tapes for several years one of which was labelled The Beach Boys but until yesterday I had no idea of the contents.

Other artists include Marc Bolan, The Nice, The Hollies, Duncan Browne, Solomon King, The Scaffold, Cliff Richard, Love Sculpture and likely others. The Marc Bolan interview is possibly the most interesting seeing that it was recorded upon the release of Tyrannosaurus Rex’s first single Debora.  Several artists launch into Christmas carols for their "New Zealand fans."  Alas, no Beach Boys effort yet. The Scaffold (recorded in New Zealand) in particular sing an off colour version of "Lily the Pink" which very likely was never broadcast.

Hopefully, it will be available sooner than later. Otherwise, no point in creating a topic about interview with no link to that. We shall wait.

That attitude is hardly likely to spur me along.

It just feels weird to read the descriptions with no actual listening to the interview. I think it would've been more logical to make it available 1st, then start asking questions like you did in the original post. The more people discuss it the better, don't you think so? There's so little of what we heard from the 60s, it's always interesting what's surfaced from that time.

Best just to ignore her

You keep your advice to yourself, I say.

That's good advice.  Kiwi Surfer, thanks for what you've posted so far, including the section transcript - if and when you get a chance to pop something up at your leisure, I'll happily be clicking the link - cheers - A

What did I say wrong. Reread back reply #16. I tried to explain my best. You started this offtopic, not me.

Thanks, Kiwi. Good thread. Please 'spur' along.  :)

I have to say I'm from a period of BB fandom when you had to dig for stuff and do research. Now people think they are entitled to be spoon-fed whatever they want. I also walked five miles in the snow to school.

A problematic truth.

To play Devils advocate a bit:  When someone starts a thread where they regale folks with this rare and mostly unheard interview they have, they oughtn't be surprised that people are gonna be bugging them to hear it.   

Maybe Kiwi Surfer is being selective as to whom he gives this to. Maybe he was asked by his source not to pass it around. Being a dick or making accusatory statements will get you nowhere with most people. A PM usually does wonders.  :)

Well if he's "selective" and/or asked not to share it - then perhaps he oughtn't create a thread about it.   

Why on earth not?

I don't mind being bugged, it's the sense of entitlement that annoys.

Not a record. I used to walk even more. Anyway, let's not take this 1 step forward, okay? So, you had to dig for stuff & do research. Fine. But this is new Millennium, with quick access to anything. It's a snobbish attitude if the older generation starts blaming the younger for being born in this time frame. But I'll tell you a secret: we are all in equal position, we like the BBs, doesn't matter young or old fans. So what does it take to share the interview with everyone who reads this board?

I did message kiwi surfer, in the nicest way, as I usually do. Only *then* I asked it here. No difference, as it appears.

Exactly! Thank you very much, sir!

Let me get this right. Before starting any thread relating to any unreleased material, no matter how inconsequential or the context, one must have the ability and be willing to immediately reproduce for all and sundry no matter how unwashed they may be. The mind boggles.

YEah, I think adding senor to the range rover ignore pile is worthy

Infest for the next generation. I walked to school from age 5 to 18; this generation has Jon, AGD, Craig and the likes drive the school bus for them; the next generation will sulk if their iPad doesn't boot up eight the complete Beach Boys archive pre-installed and 3D holograms of aforementioned scholars projected into their bedrooms to explain what they're listening to and why they ought to regard it as "good".

Kiwi, ignore these folk with an overdeveloped sense of entitlement.

Weird. I don't remember anyone telling me about "sense of entitlement" when I was asking for picture of Hite & Dorinda M. Quite the opposite, Mr. Murphy told himself that he'll post it as soon as the book gets published. So what's the issue now? Yes, kiwi surfer said upthread he needs time to post the interview, as he only recently found it. But I think it would be better if KS started a thread AFTER he gets ready to share the link. On this, I'm with runnersdialzero & the like who'd share stuff in a heartbeat w/o throwing the "cool kids' table" p.o.v.

Have I personally been asking for this thing?  No.  All I (foolish me) did was add my two cents from a "devils advocate" position of looking at it from how another might see it. 
"Ignore list"?  By all means ignore me, I ignore most of you as well.  ;)