Yesss!!

Good Vibrations was originally conceived as a soul record.  This has never made sense to my brain until you pointed this out.  Thank you.

Danny Hutton has said that a number of times. I didn't understand that either, listening to early versions really doesnt have that much of a soul feel. Not surprised he used a riff that he'd heard, those things have crept into his songs before. Interesting to see where he got some of the inspiration from.

Want to see what you guys think of this. Its nothing shocking but you can hear that signature piano riff. Has this been discussed before?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMQKfKjv6lE

There's an interview in the Toronto Star showing how the book was written, including info from Greenman.
Sorry I can't post link from my device.

Name of article: Brian Wilson, the voices, and the answers in the music. Toronto Star, 15 Oct 2016.

Pretty good interview
https://www.thestar.com/news/insight/2016/10/15/brian-wilson-the-voices-and-the-answers-in-the-music.html

Can't believe thats what people wanted to ask on reddit. If the first thing you think of asking is about the Mansons then your not much of a fan and obviously more interested in the whole Manson story. I find it strange how so many people are obsessed with that story, I think its the most boring thing out of the whole BB career.

Or maybe he can get a visit from this guy and his "vampire bat"

Hahahah.
By the way that was a great episode.

Yeah it was. I have my serious doubts about episode 2, though...

From the preview it didn't look as interesting. Probably the best thing to do is wait a month or so then binge watch it.

Or maybe he can get a visit from this guy and his "vampire bat"

Hahahah.
By the way that was a great episode.

Here is a video.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mqTBPa_jGY

I wonder if he is using it for convenience due to chronic pain in the legs or back.  It makes me deeply sad.

Wow what an asshole that paparazzi guy is. Leave him in peace and of all questions a stupid manson question, f*** that guy.
It's emotional seeing those photos of him in the wheel chair but from watching the video it doesn't seem so bad. You can see Brian hoping in the wheelchair.

Yeah, and also Brian's like 'tell him not to come in here'.


I just want to slap the fuckstuffing out that guy. Just a little bit.

Your too kind to him. I think he deserves more.

Here is a video.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mqTBPa_jGY

I wonder if he is using it for convenience due to chronic pain in the legs or back.  It makes me deeply sad.

Wow what an asshole that paparazzi guy is. Leave him in peace and of all questions a stupid manson question, f*** that guy.
It's emotional seeing those photos of him in the wheel chair but from watching the video it doesn't seem so bad. You can see Brian hoping in the wheelchair.

Finally received my copy a few days ago and finished it. What a great read!! It's like reading a whole books worth of Brian's linear notes. I feel like this book was made for die hard Brian Wilson fans and it doesn't disappoint. Love the way it jumps around different time periods. My favourite parts are hearing about Marcella, Love You album, Lucky Old Sun/Gershiwin albums, his adventures with Ray and just simple thinks like walking and the deli. It was interesting to hear Brian's view of how he got Jack Reiley to sing 'Tree'. Very close to how Reiley decribed but a little different. Greenman's presences in the book feels at a low even if it wasn't, and that's how it should be.

It would be interesting to hear from Greenman the backround on how the book was written. I'm guessing the book was made in part from Brian's own writings and the interviews he had with Greenman over the phone all put together. That's why the book kind of feels like Brian is responding to a great interview.

There's really no contest between this and Mike's book. Brian's book gives the fans what they have always wanted from a Brian Wilson Autobiography, pure BW. Mike's on the other hand regurgitates typical BB Biography information for the most part.
Thank you to Ray for helping with this!
5 stars!!!!

New Brian interview
https://youtu.be/OLdjjXDtA8g
Same old questions asked nothing new but he looks tired. Very grateful his doing this tour but maybe this tour is a little too long, seems very tiring.

[If you've been a beach boy fan for awhile you'll know exactly where Mike got these stories from.]

Can't wait to read this, still waiting for my book to arrive. Taking too long
Just finished reading Mike's book and have to say it was kind of a mixed bag for me. When Mike's talking personally it's good like when he talks about his family (like his Facebook posts) or when he talks about his opinion on the 50th anniversary but a lot of the book relies on other people's stories. If you've been a beach boy fan for awhile you'll know exactly where Mike got these stories from.[/u] The problem isn't these stories but that they are relied on a little too much.  It feels like Mike listing albums like "we recorded friends it was our lowest selling album then we recorded a live album in London ... we recording holland lots of people like it." I was looking forward to his stories on those albums or at least what he thinks of them now but we get this type of thing, feeling more like a typical beach boy biography rather than an actual autobiography.
We get bogged down on the trail case which in my opinion takes up too much time. By the time that is finished it starts picking back up again but then there's not much left.
Because of this Iam looking forward to Brian's book even more now. From the little prieviews iv read it seems like an unconventional read with flip flopping from past to present time which will be refreshing.

Point in bold - My original take on it too. I would have liked more of Mike's voice talking about his take on these various events rather than rehashing the info.

Yes. I guess one example would be when he mentions the Holland airport story where Brian fell asleep (which is taken from elsewhere) but thats as far as he goes with Holland. A lot of the time he his not speaking personally on these things feeling like his just stating facts and figures. I think Mike relied a little too much on the people helping him write the book.

Can't wait to read this, still waiting for my book to arrive. Taking too long
Just finished reading Mike's book and have to say it was kind of a mixed bag for me. When Mike's talking personally it's good like when he talks about his family (like his Facebook posts) or when he talks about his opinion on the 50th anniversary but a lot of the book relies on other people's stories. If you've been a beach boy fan for awhile you'll know exactly where Mike got these stories from. The problem isn't these stories but that they are relied on a little too much.  It feels like Mike listing albums like "we recorded friends it was our lowest selling album then we recorded a live album in London ... we recording holland lots of people like it." I was looking forward to his stories on those albums or at least what he thinks of them now but we get this type of thing, feeling more like a typical beach boy biography rather than an actual autobiography.
We get bogged down on the trail case which in my opinion takes up too much time. By the time that is finished it starts picking back up again but then there's not much left.
Because of this Iam looking forward to Brian's book even more now. From the little prieviews iv read it seems like an unconventional read with flip flopping from past to present time which will be refreshing.

A few things that have stuck out for me so far:

-Very surprised to hear Brian say that he was unsure of the direction that "Imagination" was going and felt that at times it was more Joe Thomas' album than his. He generally praises Joe but that was interesting. 

-Unlike others here, I never thought "The Last Song" was about the C50 tour ending. I always felt if that were true it kind of cheapened the song. I figured I was correct. Brian says the song is about wondering if every album he makes is going to be the last one given his age. Powerful stuff and helps me to reexamine and re-appreciate that song in a new way. 

-The whole story about Murray forcing Brian to sh** on a plate is turned on its head. In Brian's version he purposely did it and handed the plate to his father saying "Here's your dinner" just to get back at him for numerous offenses. 

He also mentioned Thomas remixing and adding stuff to "Everything I Need" as well

Not a surprise. Thomas seems to like to add little acoustic guitar riffs throughout Brian's songs. That would be alright but most of the time they don't really seem so gel well. Everything I need is another example of that as is most of Imagination album.

Gimme some lovin
Johnny B Goode
Juniors Farm

Earth news radio did a radio documentary of rock and rock in 1968 and Brian was interviewed for it. The person who interviewed Brian was Jack Lloyd, who was working for them at the time with their concerts. He says he interviewed him twice because Brian was enjoying it and wanted to get it better a second time. (This interview is not the 68 interview Brian did inside a car that was found recently).

Has anyone heard this interview before? Iv heard the revised version of history of rock n roll in the 70's but they only have a small clip of that 1968 interview where Brian explains what surf music is.

Yeah, good observation!


And don't forget:


Brian Wilson - California Sun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E47cPnGAHJk

Don't remember that one. Do you know when that was recorded? Sounds like it would be around the Lucky Sun sessions.

That is true, and yet another reason why he is my hero...I don't just admire him for being a musical genius...I find him personally inspiring as well (for his strength and also for being a genuinely good person, which in this day and age is sadly increasingly rare).

Agree with this totally! Personallity wise his just very real, no bullshit. He has a very good heart, not hung up on ego. In my opinion Brian the human being is on the same level as Brian the musical genius.

Must be, oh well we'll get to read it sooner or later.

Damn that was taken off quickly

https://books.google.com/books/about/I_Am_Brian_Wilson.html?id=9CmiBQAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=kp_read_button#v=onepage&q&f=false

Preview the book here

It says its not available to preview

I'm interested only in the music, and can hope to read some insights in Brian's book. Not in the other.

I really don't mind what he writes about. It could be about his favourite arm chair. As long as its 100% Brian that's all that matters. Don't want history repeating itself like that first "autobiography".

Same with me. Hell, I'd love to hear his thoughts on non musical topics too, like baseball

Yea that'd be interesting. I remember there was an interview where it kind of derailed and Brian brought up the topic of ufos. Those type of conversations are so much more interesting than the things we already know.

I'm interested only in the music, and can hope to read some insights in Brian's book. Not in the other.

I really don't mind what he writes about. It could be about his favourite arm chair. As long as its 100% Brian that's all that matters. Don't want history repeating itself like that first "autobiography".

That sucks

Thanks, Billy, but it was really mild and almost no one would know except me and a few others. Since it happened a long time ago, it's easy for me to forget how that same thing can  affect people who've been living with it for a long time. Famous folks don't have that luxury. They get half-truths thrown about them all the time. I didn't really get it until  it happened to me. It was half-truthful enough to be painful, if that makes any sense.

Since the BBs have been famous since 1963 and all the insane PR of being teen idols, then the post-Watergate expose coverage of the rock star excesses, to TMZ, to twitter, it's all going to be warped.  If I read Mike's book I know I'll disregard most of what he says about Brian's emotional/mental state because he seems to have an almost Scientologist's view of mental illness and treatment.

It's never fun to have someone's view of you discussed publicly (whether you're named or not) without your input. We all have a point of view.  I empathize with you as well. 

I think Brian began to ignore the endless opining about him a very long time ago, for the most part.  I think it explains a lot of the "toss off" answers he offers at times.  "You want to hear that my whole problem was experimental drug intake in the 60's, sure.  Here it is.  Now can we get back to the music and the love?" Given the exposure he had, while also trying to function as an artist, I think that was his only choice.  I'm bored with the same old stories, told over and over again, from 30-50 years ago. Imagine how he feels about it?  (Here I am projecting, but it makes sense.)

This review makes me hope that he spends a lot of time of the creative process and how it was impacted by his personal life/support system.  We'll see.

Very true. I often think "I couldn't do what he does with all those repetitive interviews". It's because of all those same old question being regurgitated over and over again that he seems bored or one word answers. Put him with someone who doesn't talk about the typical questions and Brian is totally different and very funny. I always look forward to those type of interviews, if anyone wants to know what Brian is really like listen to those candid interviews, they really showcase how intelligent he is. Theyre hard to find lately with the recent pet sounds tour, with all the typical pet sounds questions. How many times can you answer "what inspired pet sounds? Did drugs help make pet sounds? Would you change anything you've done in the past?"

By the way what happened to the beach boy South Park cartoon and why does Mike's face have Brian's on it