This is a Dennis comp that I've been giving to interested (and uninterested) friends, family, and acquaintances:

Dennis Wilson

01  My Love Lives On
02  Tug Of Love
03  Rainbows
04  Lady (2009 re-mix)
05  Celebrate The News
06  (Wouldn't It Be Nice) To Live Again
07  Slip On Through
08  Cuddle Up
09  Forever
10  River Song
11  Love Remember Me
12  Farewell My Friend
13  Mexico
14  Time
15  You And I
16  Moonshine
17  Common
18  Thoughts Of You
19  Holy Man
20  Baby Blue
21  End Of The Show
22  Piano Variations On Thoughts Of You

Edit: Sorry, lostbeachboy. When I posted, I didn't realize that the list was to include only Beach Boys' tracks. I wasn't trying to be a jerk...

I would list Goin On and Winds of Change as a solid 7 or 8 of 10. The vocals on Goin On are a bit harsh. The tag of Winds of Change doesn't sound right. Not even close to the perfection in the tag on God Only Knows.

Not many songs in the history of popular music have a tag close to "God Only Knows".

However, the tag on "Winds Of Change" is great! I still remember the first time I played/heard M.I.U./"Winds Of Change". As a fan whose first new BB albums purchased were 15 Big Ones and Love You, and wondering if Brian would ever regain, not just his falsetto but his voice, you can only imagine how I felt when that "Winds Of Change" tag came out of the speakers. Emotional, surprised, and maybe even spiritual would describe it. I was literally doing cartwheels and going "Yes! Yes! Yes!" It still gets to me today.

From the much maligned MIU Album, Al's "Winds Of Change" (which seems very "Brucian" in it's concept, but not in its execution) is a perfect little song.  Certainly not a hit or even widely liked -- but to me the production is at the top of the notch.  The arrangement is everything it needs to be.  I wouldn't change anything on it -- and don't say "besides making it" -- because that's already been factored in.  I think it's a perfect little creation, a part one or precursor to "Santa Anna Winds."

Please, Al's "Winds Of Change"? The liner notes would have it that Ron Altbach and Ed Tejulah cooked this turd up sometime before Al and Mike laid this (additionally) sh*t version down.

Sorry 'bout that, I'm a big Al fan, and hate to see him lumbered inappropriately -(but aknowledge, he is sometimes easily led (for example, Take a Load off, and in later days, Island Girl, Lady Liberty etc).

I wouldn't rate "Winds Of Change" a 10, but in my opinion, it's far from a "turd" and a "sh*t version". One of the biggest criticisms of the M.I.U. Album is that it's not adventurous and not too deep, maybe even shallow. With "Winds Of Change" they tried something a little deeper, a different style; they were even bold enough to go outside the group for the song. I give 'em a break, I like the song, but I still wish they would've ended the album with "Our Team". I love the fade...

I'm wondering if people are misunderstanding. I love the way the songs are produced. I didn't plan on changing anything, except the running order and puting in a couple of tracks on the shelf for what are in my opinion weeker cuts like Mama Says and a great cover, but not original of I Was Made To Love Her. I guess most of you disagree that Wild Honey can be improved upon, but I feel that the running order of the songs I listed is a fantastic listen!

I agree with you, Magic Transistor Radio. To me, yes, Wild Honey does appear...short. It's barely 24 minutes; some groups' album sides are longer than the entire Wild Honey album (BOTH sides of The Doors' L.A. Woman comes to mind). Not to get off the topic, but with The Beach Boys having 5 or 6 songwriters, it's always been perplexing why some of their albums lacked number of songs.

I love re-configuring and re-sequencing BB albums, but I don't like to remove songs; it usually makes more sense to ADD them. The Beach Boys usually had a couple of outtakes that were equal if not better than some songs that made the final cut. So, with your Wild Honey project, I would just add "Can't Wait Too Long"; it's a great BW track and would at least bring the album to 12 songs at about 27-28 minutes:

The Beach Boys - Wild Honey

01  Wild Honey
02  I Was Made To Love Her
03  Country Air
04  Aren't You Glad
05  How She Boogalooed It
06  Mama Said

07  Darlin'
08  I'd Love Just Once To See You
09  Let The Wind Blow
10  Can't Wait Too Long
11  Here Comes The Night
12  A Thing Or Two

Far as I'm concerned, they could have called it a Boys album anyway with the inclusion of Al/Blondie.

I'm not singling you out, MikestheGreatest, but since you mentioned this...it's something I've wanted to address for awhile.

It was advertised and promoted extensively that Brian Wilson "reunited" with ex-Beach Boy Blondie Chaplin on No Pier Pressure. Does anybody know if, as Beach Boys, Brian Wilson and Blondie Chaplin ever shared the same stage live? And, does anybody know if Brian Wilson and Blondie Chaplin ever attended the same recording session during the CATP and Holland sessions? I'm just curious but that's not really my point.

Please correct me if I'm missing a part, but the only song on No Pier Pressure that Blondie Chaplin sings on is "Sail Away". On the song he sings four lines totaling 25 seconds. For some reason - and I'm not questioning Joe Thomas' and Brian's artistic decision - Blondie only sings the first verse and disappears. Brian sings the other verses and Brian and Al Jardine are both featured on the choruses. Blondie is listed on background vocals but I'll be darn if I can hear him. I guess my point is, yeah, factually, Brian and Blondie, two ex-Beach Boys, did reunite on the No Pier Pressure album. But, damn, if you sneezed you might've missed it. OK, sorry to hold you up. Go back to hammering Mike Love. The thread is still young...

Thank you for posting that, Rocky Racoon. I enjoyed it very much. Kind of reminded me of a Ringo Starr track. I understand Jeff Lynne's ELO is supposed to tour in the near future; I think I'll try to catch him. I would think he'd do really good versions of those old ELO classics.

I may have asked this question before but don't remember getting an answer....

 Is there a version of 'Lay Down Burden' that wasn't on Imagination around anywhere? Demo, acoustic, even whistled would be better than the album version. I love the song and want to put it on compilations etc. but the production just grates me so much.....

There's a good version on the Brian Wilson - Live at the Roxy album. 

In 1998, Brian did a TNN Front Row Center TV show with Deanna Carter and performed "Lay Down Burden". As I recall it was pretty good version.

Interesting with Matchpoint! I think that's a highly under rated song! Palisades Park surprises me a bit. I can see a point for the rest though. Was Palisades Park a cover song or written by a BB? I would like to keep it to songs written by the Beach Boys. Other wise I would add Just Once In My Life.

"Palisades Park" was a hit record for Freddie "Boom Boom" Cannon in 1962 and written by none other than Chuck Barris of The Gong Show fame.

Just to be clear I'm meeting your criteria, ALL areas have to be 10? That eliminates a lot of songs due to various member's vocals NOT being a 10. The Beach Boys Love You is an example of this. Anyway, here goes:

- Palisades Park
- Matchpoint Of Our Love
- Good Timin'
- Lady Lynda
- Baby Blue (this is soooo close because of Dennis' raspy/hoarse vocal, but maybe you like that style)
- Livin' With A Heartache (the length of the song might disqualify it from this survey, but otherwise...)
- Where I Belong
- Somewhere Near Japan
- Pacific Coast Highway
- Summer's Gone   

Brian looks very relaxed! Pictures 2 and 3 are different.  Also Van Dyke Parks is there too!

Yes, I have a whole series of these photos.  The close-up of Brian is a separate shot.

If you're talking about the guy in the blue shirt with the beard, that's not Van Dyke.

Is that Melinda Ledbetter (with face obscured) sitting next to Brian?

In interviews with Brian, when the subject comes up about his "problems", it is Brian HIMSELF who almost always says "I took too many drugs".

There’s at least one audience recording from that string of BB shows where Brian did his solo mini set. I think it’s a Philadelphia gig. He doesn’t do “In My Car”, but I think he does “Love and Mercy”, “Walkin’ the Line”, and “Melt Away.” He sounds on that recording about on par with his other ’88 solo live appearances. The stilted, weird nature of it (to say nothing of the bizarro aspect of Brian coming back to play with the band, only to mostly do solo stuff with the other BB’s off-stage) was usually more off-putting than the actual vocal performance from Brian. I recall he was partially using pre-recorded backing tapes, augmented by some of the BB backing band (and, at least on that Costa Mesa clip, some random dude playing a keytar).

yep, I have that Philly show as well where he does the 3 songs from his solo album.  My memory is that for whatever reason he was MUCH better on that tape of the Philly show than the Pacific Amphitheater show, where he indeed performed In My car, Country Feelins and Love and Mercy.  Part of this may have been from the fact that two of the songs were literally brand new and had not yet been released and never been heard before, meaning no one could understand any of the lyrics Brian was singing.

I was at the Philadelphia show (January 1989 at The Spectrum w/ Chicago); my memory is a little shaky so I have a question...and a couple of comments.

A question for Shark: You posted that you heard (on the tape) Brian on "Surfer Girl". Don't misunderstand, I'm not disagreeing, but if you get a chance  to listen to the tape/song again, would you let me know if Brian is, in fact, on the song. The way I remember it was that AFTER "Surfer Girl", the band literally walked off the stage, and I believe it was Carl who stayed behind and introduced Brian. And this was the strange thing. While the applause for Brian was good, it was NOT overwhelming. It was like a large portion of the audience didn't realize the magnitude of what they were witnessing, and at that time - 1989 - it was huge. Brian didn't get a standing ovation. I remember standing and yelling and repeating to my Beach Boy buddies "I can't believe this, I can't believe this, it's Brian Wilson, it's really Brian Wilson!" I remember people turning around and looking at me like I was nuts.

Brian looked great, he strapped on a brown Fender bass and stood in the middle/front of the stage. It was a small supporting band; the only member I recognized was Michael Bernard. Brian performed the three songs that Hey Jude posted above. There was no teleprompter, there might've been backing tapes, I don't know. I thought Brian accounted himself well, but, I will admit I was wild and it could've been one of those circumstances where you think somebody sounds great in concert, only to hear the tape later...

But this was the strange part. I assumed Brian would stay and perform the rest of the concert with the band, but, Brian acknowledged the applause and walked off the stage, and The Beach Boys resumed the show without Brian as if nothing happened. I remember hoping that Brian would reappear for the extended Beach Boys/Chicago encore - and he did - but it got weird again. Brian came out for the encore, but he stayed at the back of the stage, literally wandering around behind the drum riser. I think for a few seconds he strapped on the bass again, but he didn't play it. He never approached a microphone. He just kept walking back and forth, disappearing and reappearing. Occasionally, somebody (a stage hand or a Landy associate) approached Brian and said something to him. But, ultimately, Brian did not contribute musically to the encore. He just disappeared back stage.

01  A Hard Day's Night
02  Abbey Road
03  Help
04  White Album
05  Please Please Me
06  Let It Be
07  Sgt. Pepper
08  With The Beatles
09  Revolver
10  Rubber Soul
11  Beatles For Sale
12  Magical Mystery Tour
13  Yellow Submarine

It's tough to rank 'em because I like them all. But, one thing has always been surprising to me and that has been the overwhelming praise of Rubber Soul and Revolver. I just don't get it, and I'm not trying to start anything. It's a lot like Brian Wilson's love of Phil Spector and specifically "Be My Baby". I appreciate and enjoy Spector's work very much, and "Be My Baby" is a great record. But it never knocked me out or blew me away like it did with BW and other music fans. With Rubber Soul and Revolver, they are usually at the top of polls, but those albums just don't get to me like the other Beatles' albums. I think Rubber Soul and Revolver are both consistently good albums, but, to me, they don't have the "high points" that the other albums have.

As Beach Boys/BW fans, yeah, we gladly would've welcomed more "out there" Brian Wilson music in place of/included on 15 Big Ones, MIU, KTSA, BB 1985, and on and on. And that's not to say there wasn't some good stuff from Brian during the 1974-1985 period, because there was.

However, if you take a look at what Brian DID release post-Pet Sounds, well, some of it WAS very "out there". Released from Brian included Smiley Smile, "I'd Love Just Once To See You (In The Nude)", "Mama Says", "Diamond Head", "Transcendental Meditation", "Passing By (roller rink music)", "I Went To Sleep (complete with snoring sound effects)", "A Day In The Life Of A Tree", and "Mount Vernon And Fairway". And those were the released songs. Unreleased ones include "Sail Plane Song", "My Solution", and "H.E.L.P. Is On The Way".

Again, we love that stuff. You can assemble an album of those "out there" BW tunes for me anytime. But, two quick points come to mind. First, when you look at those above songs, it's hard to say that Brian Wilson DIDN'T record whatever he wanted to or whatever came to his mind, regardless of the commercial potential, or lack of. And, second, I guess you can say that the average (majority of?) Beach Boys fan didn't buy them, literally, although you have to hold the other band members' songs accountable for that, too.

I do struggle to imagine just where it would have fit on the actual Holland record though.

This is a possibility:

The Beach Boys - Holland

01  Sail On Sailor
02  Steamboat
03  Leaving This Town
04  California Saga: Big Sur
05  California Saga: The Beaks Of Eagles
06  California Saga: California

07  The Trader
08  Only With You
09  Funky Pretty
10  Mount Vernon And Fairway

Personally, I'm not a fan, and I'm glad it was included as an EP separate from Holland, as I think Holland is a great album without it. 

I've listened to the piece several times, but its just not my cup of tea. 

That's interesting, because I respectfully have a different opinion.

I'm STILL not sure WHY they issued it on a separate record complete with picture sleeve. I think it could've fit on Side B of the album with some re-sequencing. I WISH it would've been included on Side B of the album. Back in the day of vinyl, it was a pain in the neck to have to take the album off the turntable, put it back in the jacket, and then take out the small record and cue that up - two more times. It ruined the flow, the listening experience. Because, as you can hear on the CD, "Mount Vernon And Fairway" fits perfectly after "Funky Pretty".

There's some incredible moments on Love You, but for me, "Mount Vernon And Fairway" is one of the last examples of the Brian Wilson "how did he write something like that?" moments.

After doing some searches on the Google, I found this eyewitness acount of the trial by a fan who watched from the gallery.  Definitely an interesting read.  Despite having been separated from Landy, Brian was still in a very fragile state at this time.  It would seem he didn't really care about the outcome and it was his testimony that won the trial for Mike.
http://www.surfermoon.com/essays/lovevwilson1.html

Thanks for sharing this, what a great read! Seems like BW was in a really bad place in '94, it's amazing he could actually work on projects like the Orange Crate Art album at the time.

I agree; based on that eyewitness account, Brian did appear to be dealing with some serious issues, and that was 1994. In the recent "Carl" thread, The Real Beach Boy mentioned the "h" word - handlers- in describing Brian in 1995, less than a year later. Some posters took exception to that. They must think that Brian made a tremendous recovery in the few months after the trial.

I'm sure of the ones I would change, but don't have many creative ideas as to what I would change them to, so I'll mostly use song titles:

Surf's Up to Long Promised Road, I also like Landlocked due to the theme of the album

Carl & The Passions - So Tough to Make It Good or Cuddle Up

15 Big Ones to It's OK! (gotta use the exclamation point!)

M.I.U. to Our Team (with an album cover featuring prominently the 5 Beach Boys surrounded by spouses, girlfriends, children, supporting musicians, parents, whoever - kind of a Sunflower album cover meets the infamous 1966(?) airport photo)

L.A. Light Album to anything, maybe Baby Blue or Angel Come Home, possibly Good Timin'

Keepin' The Summer Alive to Endless Harmony or Goin' On

Beach Boys 1985 to Getcha Back, California Callin', It's Getting Late, or It's Just A Matter Of Time  

That's Why God Made The Radio to Isn't It Time, maybe Summer's Gone but that might be too ominous

Pacific Ocean Blue to Dennis Wilson

Gettin' In Over My Head to Soul Searchin'

Brian - Sloop John B
Mike - California Girls
Carl - Heaven
Dennis - Thoughts Of You
Al - Peggy Sue
Bruce - Disney Girls

Could the Beach Boys, as they were constituted in 1992, have produced a good album under any conditions? Is Mike to blame for thinking they could? What would have been the ideal alternative to SIP?

I'm of the opinion that, yes, a good album could have been produced. They could've gone along with Mike's idea and filled in the gaps. Brian hadn't released a solo album in four years and had enough songs stockpiled. Maybe he could've provided three or four of them to The Beach Boys:

01  Mike & Terry - Island Fever
02  Mike & Terry - Still Surfin'
03  Mike & Terry - Strange Things Happen
04  Mike & Terry - Lahaina Aloha
05  Mike & Terry - Summer In Paradise

06  Brian - The Spirit Of Rock And Roll
07  Brian - Don't Let Her Know She's An Angel
08  Brian - Rainbow Eyes

09  Oldie - Hot Fun In The Summertime
10  Oldie - Under The Boardwalk

11  Carl - ?
12  Al - Don't Fight The Sea
13  Bruce - Slow Summer Dancin' (One Summer Night)

Pick any three Brian songs, they're better than the songs you're eliminating (Summer Of Love, Remember Walking In The Sand, and Surfin'). I don't mind keeping "Forever"; I think it's a good cover, Carl sings his heart out, and Stamos was very popular at that time. Anybody for the Spanish version of "Kokomo"? Anyway, just the additions, and more importantly the subtractions, make it a stronger album, even respectable.

But the premise of the question is " as they were constituted in 1992" -- that is, with Brian not involved. (Do we know the full story behind why he wasn't? Too soon after Landy?) If they had waited a year, yes this new and improved SIP might have been possible.

But really, does your revised track listing constitute a "good" album? I'd rank it on the same level as BB'85 -- not good, exactly, but a step up from KTSA-like mediocrity. B minus, maybe? C plus?

My conclusion is that the 1992 version of the band needed outside help in order to produce a good album, a hit album. Don Was producing? Song doctors? Aerosmith wasn't above bringing in songwriting pros to help out Steven Tyler and Joe Perry in the 90's.
 
I blame Mike only for trying to do what could not be done.

Well, as I posted earlier, when it was determined that - for whatever reason - Brian would not be participating, the project should've been shelved, or, as you stated, put on hold UNTIL Brian did come around. Frankly, I'm surprised that the project did get the green light, but I also gave my reason WHY I thought it was ultimately approved by BRI.

I think my revised track listing is "good" at best. I wouldn't go any further than that because it lacks great songs. I can understand why some would say "mediocre", but by eliminating some tracks you escape "bad".

We can guess why Brian didn't participate on SIP but it would be nice to know definitively (which is sometimes impossible with Brian) because during Landy's second stay, with the exception of "Kokomo", Brian participated in some degree on most of The Beach Boys' projects including singles, albums, TV appearances, TV series, etc.

Could the Beach Boys, as they were constituted in 1992, have produced a good album under any conditions? Is Mike to blame for thinking they could? What would have been the ideal alternative to SIP?

I'm of the opinion that, yes, a good album could have been produced if - if - they could've/would've (whichever) gone along with Mike's idea and filled in the gaps. Brian hadn't released a solo album in four years and had enough songs stockpiled. Maybe he could've provided three or four of them to The Beach Boys:

01  Mike & Terry - Island Fever
02  Mike & Terry - Still Surfin'
03  Mike & Terry - Strange Things Happen
04  Mike & Terry - Lahaina Aloha
05  Mike & Terry - Summer In Paradise

06  Brian - The Spirit Of Rock And Roll
07  Brian - Don't Let Her Know She's An Angel
08  Brian - Rainbow Eyes

09  Oldie - Hot Fun In The Summertime
10  Oldie - Under The Boardwalk

11  Carl - ?
12  Al - Don't Fight The Sea
13  Bruce - Slow Summer Dancin' (One Summer Night)

Pick any three Brian songs, they're better than the songs you're eliminating (Summer Of Love, Remember Walking In The Sand, and Surfin'). I don't mind keeping "Forever"; I think it's a good cover, Carl sings his heart out, and Stamos was very popular at that time. Anybody for the Spanish version of "Kokomo"? Anyway, just the additions, and more importantly the subtractions, make it a stronger album, even respectable.

I mostly agree with the Sheriff, but what he maybe misses is that there is something comic about misplaced confidence. There is an impression of Mike rubbing his hands together and saying,  "Don't worry boys, I've got this covered" -- and then falling on his ass.

No, I'm not missing that. I admitted above that some of Mike's ideas warrant criticism. But Summer In Paradise isn't one of them. It was the implementation of the concept that fell on its ass, and I don't blame Mike for that. You admitted above, and I agree with you, that "the Love/Melcher songs were perfectly fine complementary numbers". When Brian decided that he was "out", the project should've been nixed. But it wasn't. It was approved by the group. Why? Could one of the answers start with the letter m and end with the letter y?

Sparks are awesome. I saw them a couple of times in the last few years (twice in 2009, twice in 2012, once in 2013, twice in 2014 and once in 2015) in various configurations (rockband, duo, FFS, with an orchestra) and they keep blowing me away. Almost every album has its own highlights (even though some of the 80's stuff is pretty weak). I'm especially a big fan of the 'classic' era (Kimono-Indiscreet) and the 'later' period (Lil' Beethoven-Exotic Creatures), but albums like No. 1 In Heaven are brilliant as well. FFS finally saw a return to 'songs' instead of the stylistic approach of the last couple of albums, which was great to hear.

Thanks for the post, Pim! As big of a Sparks fan that I am, I'm embarrassed to admit that I've never seen them live. If you have time, could you share some of your thoughts on what a Sparks' show is like? The band? Ron's stage presence? Russell's vocals? The fans?

From Rolling Stone July 2000:

...but last August, Brian's wife Melinda Wilson sued Thomas, claiming that the producer used his association with her husband to raise his industry profile and wrongfully enrich himself through his association with the former Beach Boy. Thomas ripped a lawsuit back at Mrs. Wilson alleging that she had "schemed against and manipulated" both himself and Brian.[/i][/color]

Why does the report state that "Brian's wife Melinda sued Thomas..."? Why doesn't it say "Brian sued Thomas..."?

Mike Love couldn't decide or choose or sign a contract to release "Summer Of Love" as a single without permission via a vote from the group.

Mike Love couldn't merely say, "Hey, everybody be at the TV studio by 1:00 PM. We're filming a video and a little dance to "Summer Of Love" without the agreement of the other guys via a vote from the group.

And since it is the topic of the thread, Mike Love couldn't dictate to the group what kind of album they would record, who the producer would be, and who the record company would (or wouldn't) be without consent from the group via a vote.

The Beach Boys were not a dictatorship, they were a corporation. It's easy to blame, and for several people on this board, to ridicule Mike Love. The reality is that all of the guys shared in the hits - and misses. They shared in both the praise and the blame. Again, on this board, several people don't understand that, or, understand it but prefer to be ignorant, because it's too hard, and in some cases impossible for them to make Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, and Al Jardine accountable.

Al was nearly sacked from the band at the time, so I hardly think he was in any position to exert any power play. Carl probably went along with what Mike wanted; do you honestly think Carl was enthusiastic about this material? He did not wish to fight at this point in his life. Do you doubt that?

Face it: SIP and SOL are mostly Mike's babies, and the projects are *more* his "fault" than the other Boys', just as one can say it's *more* Brian's "fault" than the other Boys' that Smile was abandoned. Mike in the early 90s was riding high on Kokomo's success, so that had to have given him more power to have a project done more his way; just as if Al, instead of Mike, had written a #1 hit for The BBs in 1988, Al would probably have fenagled any 1992 BB album to be more Al's way, due to clout.

Not a question of clout so much as a matter of energy and ambition.

Probably. But that reason gets excused, rationalized, sympathized with, and Mike Love gets...blamed. As Mel Bernstein uttered before getting blown away by Tony Montana, "It didn't make any sense".

Start with our beloved brother Brian. Do we know that he WASN'T asked to participate in the recording of Summer Of Paradise. When did the Beach Boys NOT want him to write or record with them? Was he mad because he wasn't gonna be the producer? Did he want to keep all of his new songs for himself? Was Landy still controlling him? Was a girlfriend influencing him? Was he pissed at Carl because he was petitioning for a conservatorship? I ask these questions because I don't know the answers. I do know that - well, I don't know but I'm pretty sure - that Brian Wilson CHOSE to NOT be on The Beach Boys' new album. Does anybody know if he signed a contract for a new Beach Boys' album and got paid for it?

I don't have many problems with Carl Wilson and Summer In Paradise. I think it's one of his best albums vocally. People blast the "Forever" cover, but Carl saves it with one of the most emotional vocals of his career. But, why didn't Carl contribute any songs of his own? Did he have any? Well, maybe he was tired. No, he was uninspired. No, he was reluctant - just singing but nothing else, take it or leave it. No, it was because he didn't wanna fight. Why did he have to...fight? Just vote "No" to the album and Al votes "No" and Brian votes "No" and there's no album. Who needs to fight?

And then there's good old Al. I guess he wasn't "allowed" to offer any songs. Did he have any? Maybe he played his last ace with "Island Girl"? No, Mike was pissed at Al and Al was pissed at...the set lists and the cheerleaders and the excessive touring and the direction of the band and on and on. Sorry Al, no soup for you.

Hey, we can't forget about Bruce. He was allowed to offer a song, and what does he contribute? Half of a cover of a 1958 Danleeer's song.

FORGET ABOUT ALL THE ABOVE!!!!!! Summer In Paradise was Mike Love's fault!!!!!!

You guys remember when Still Cruisin' came out. Weren't you a little disappointed and didn't you want a FULL Beach Boys album? Of course you did. In those days you couldn't wait for a new Beach Boys' album. Who was the one pushing for a new Beach Boys' album? Brian? Carl? Al? After "Rock And Roll To The Rescue" and "California Dreamin" and "Kokomo" and "Somewhere Near Japan" and some others, was Terry Melcher such a bad choice? And who approved of that choice via a vote? And, in my opinion, "Still Surfin", "Lahaina Aloha", "Strange Things Happen", "Island Fever", and "Summer In Paradise" are good songs; not great songs, but good songs.

However, Summer In Paradise is NOT a good album (and "Summer Of Love" is the worst song in the entire Beach Boys' catalog). It's not a bad album; it's hard for The Beach Boys to make a bad album. There's some good new songs on there, two of the oldies are OK, and Carl and Al's vocals save the album. It's probably the worst Beach Boys' album if you rank 'em. You take off "Summer Of Love", "Surfin", and "Remember Walkin' In The Sand" - and add "Don't Let Her Know She's An Angel", "Hotter", and maybe "The Spirit Of Rock And Roll" and you have a much stronger album.

Mike Love came up with a lot of ideas, some good and some not so good. But, at least he was trying. You can't fault him for that even though many do. In some ways he was just trying to give us, the fans, something good. Something extra. SOMETHING! Whether it be cheerleaders at a concert, or a tribute album featuring country singers, or a summer-y album. And we fans always want something MORE from The Beach Boys. That never changes. Well, Mike was the one who was trying to give us more. Sure, you can criticize his ideas and some warrant criticism. I'M NOT DENYING THAT. But, as a Beach Boys' fan for over 40 years, I have a different perspective, a perspective that has changed over the years. At least Mike was trying, trying being the key word. And I appreciate that. I have a hard time blaming people who are trying, especially people who are trying to give me a new Beach Boys' album. To me, I still don't understand (well, actually I do understand) why fans are so quick to EXCUSE Beach Boys who were tired, burned out, uninspired, didn't want to fight, gave their vote to somebody else, and maybe just didn't care - and blame the one who is TRYING to do something good for the fans.