"The Angel Song" was written in either 1979-80 or 1980-81 - Christmas time.  The "Sweet Insanity" version was closer to the original, although there were a few other elements to it that made it a bit more dramatic as a song, but I liked the "Sweet Insanity" version, in any case.  Part of the original felt a little like the "flourish" part of "Goin' On."  It may have transmuted into that...It's a little hard to break it down, as I just heard the original melody on the piano when it was first pouring out of Brian.  I would say that it was the most enchanting music I ever heard.

Debbie

Quick question: Out of the songs  you remember Brian working on during the time you spent with him, which was your favorite?

He called it "The Angel Song."  Much of it appeared in "Don't Let Her Know She's and Angel."...Wish it had a different mix when it finally came out...Didn't sound much like Brian to me when it was released many years later - very "dumbed down" from what I heard originally...

Debbie

Hey, thank you. That was new to me. So "Don't let her..." was also "begun" in the 70s...
Did you hear the "Sweet Insanity"-version? Is that more like what you remembere?

Quick question: Out of the songs  you remember Brian working on during the time you spent with him, which was your favorite?

He called it "The Angel Song."  Much of it appeared in "Don't Let Her Know She's and Angel."...Wish it had a different mix when it finally came out...Didn't sound much like Brian to me when it was released many years later - very "dumbed down" from what I heard originally...

Debbie

Welcome to the board, Ms./Mrs. Keil (or can I just call you Debbie?)!! Nice to have yet another BB insider around these parts...gotta love the internet!

Thanks.  I'm not really an insider...more of an historian, I think...not a revisionist, though - just like to focus on what counts. 

Now I'm off to work on my book and lectures - astrology, not BBs - sorry...Just too many additions to our solar system to ignore!

Debbie

Yes - It was a quote.  I appreciate his asking first!  We all must take care, even at this site.  It IS a public forum...

Debbie

Thanks!  I failed to mention one thing about Brian's wonderful friends.  After the first performance of "Smile" in London, Eva Leaf and I were sitting in front of the fireplace in the hotel drinking our second or third glass of champagne (who would know at that point?).  She had to deal with my uncontrollable sobs after the show, that I didn't even understand.  She just turned to me and said, "See, Debbie, you CAN love someone enough."  What other form of relationship do we really need?  I think that's what we all are to him, the ones who "love him enough," that he can love us with that marvelous gift of his.

Debbie

Jeremy:

Unless I retrieve a lot of documents and explain extremely complicated issues, such as friendships and love for young people, and how one clearly defines each (which I'm not inclined to do, nor capable of doing), I can't give too much more detailed information.

I was in touch with the Ivar offices from the time I was a young teen and a kindly receptionist listened to my enthusiastic comments about the music.  In late 1969, I moved to Hollywood and began working at the offices, handling the fan mail and answering the switchboard when need.  I met Brian there, and my genuine love for the music, along with the fact that I was a good listener and he was a good teacher (my ear could never have been better trained), brought an instantaneous friendship.  We talked for hours once, which got him into a little hot water with his wife, and got me into such hot water that they would hide me in the sauna when Marilyn came to the offices (no kidding).  The sauna was then full of labeled recording tapes from the studio, so I had a great time.  Anyway, I was far too young to understand that I could be direct and possibly clear up the problem (who knows, she was very young too, so maybe not).

In any case, the friendship remained, and when Brian started living on his own just before the divorce, he relied on me more than before.  Was there love?... certainly...there still is.  All of Brian's friends love him so much, and real love takes whatever form is appropriate to the situation.  Can I define it any further than that?   No.  Just think about your own lives.

I met Melinda before she and Brian were married, and I think we hit it off well.  While I don't see them often, she is always kind and friendly to me, and Brian always loves seeing an old friend.  The relationship, last time I checked, is good.  I love Brian, his people, his band...I get to the concerts when I can, AND I have a marriage and a home to support, just like he does.

If I disappointed anyone, maybe that's a good thing.  A "mystery woman" is always far more exotic, but distracts from the point - the MUSIC.

Debbie

One friend speculated that it was about a young woman named Maggie who was a follower of Maharishi and an astrologer, who I believe was close to Mike.  As I am an astrologer, too, I can tell you that when I play it for astrologers, they love it - both the music and the lyrics.  It was another place and time, but I'm still having fun with astrology...don't know anything about Maggie anymore.  I believe Maggie has her Sun in Pisces, so that might help answer the question if anyone knows her.

Debbie

Sure, you can use the quote.  It's not copyrighted.

Well, Brian told me a long time ago that "The Night Was So Young" was written for me, and he appeared really serious (meaning uncomfortable with saying it, while I had never asked).  I'm not making light of him, but if you know Brian, you have to develop a sense of what's real and what's "for the moment," said either to relieve himself of unwanted stuff from you or others, or he might have said it for the fun of it, if you appear too serious, or if he's just not in the mood.  He really is remarkably bright and perceptive (in case that wasn't clear from the music).   He has creative ways of dealing with all of that, just like his music.  His friends who truly love him get that about him, but it's still a challenge sometimes.  You might want to read his interviews that way.  Sometimes, he's just not in the mood.  Other times, it all clicks.  It doesn't have to be a drama.  It's just him.

Debbie

 

Thanks.  I tried to avoid message boards, as things can be misconstrued and attacked.  You folks have been wonderful.  I had a lot of time and personal experiences to sort through over my lifetime.  I truly regret being too young and inexperienced to understand Marlilyn's, and her family's, actions.  I was unkind to them in my thoughts (although I don't think anything was published), as I thought I was defending Brian, as his friend.  On the other hand, they were unkind to me, although they never knew me, and I dont' blame them, maybe they thought the same.  It was an overwhelming time.  We were all not just young, but I think no one can understand the immensity of fame, and what it demands.  It's a very tall mountain.

The truth is, many people have loved Brian and the Boys.  It was a tall task for us, and many of us failed.  Imagine what a tall task it was for them, really living it...Jeez!

So, when you talk about them, do it with the love that the music conveys.  They deserve it.  And when you talk about everyone around them, look at the love in their eyes these days (like his band, family and friends), and know that we all have treasured them and loved them wholeheartedly over the years, in our own ways.  David Leaf, certainly, Ed Roach, sure, among the people I knew well, as well as many of Brian's current friends who truly love him, whom I won't mention without permission.  If you could have seen his band, Van Dyke Parks, and his loving friends after the first performance of "Smile" in London (pretty much all in joyous tears), you couldn't miss it.  If you had seen Paul McCartney and his band crying at the "Smile" presentation a few days later, you also couldn't have missed it, along with George Martin, and many others.

With all the silly daily drama, how bad can that be?  All I have to say is, just look at the Wilsons' kids, Carnie, Wendy, Dari, Delaney, Dylan (sorry, I don't know the new baby's name), Scott, Jennifer, Carl B., Michael, Gage, Justyn and Jonah  (sorry I don't know Mike and Al's kids as well, so can't comment)...and the joy of the songs, what other legacy do you need?...Clearly, there ws a lot of love.

Debbie

Oops - you're right.  Marilyn was born in '48.  In any case, Brian was so young, as was she, and this wasn't an attack on you.  They were both young and were lucky/unlucky enough to be famous, and therefore, exposed.  It's just that I have also been lucky/unlucky enough to be written about, so I understand how weird and convoluted things get, and frankly, some people just lie to write the cruel article that they had planned, as it is their "signature" in the rock world, at least in one case.

I think Gaines, who also wrote a pretty dramatic book, truly did care about the indivduals in the band and did his best to fairly express a point of view, yet the constant drama was needed for a story.  It's just hard to gain perspective on something as complex as a gifted family with many problems in the time it takes (and is demanded) to write a book.  But then, if you spend too much time, there is a lack of perspective.  So, maybe it's best, in the end, to just listen to the music and hear the artist's soul.  What else matters in the end?

Debbie

Thanks, for your support and kind words.  I'm glad there are a number of thoughtful people there who might question the validity of some of the things people write, even if they do get published.  I have known some very good writers around Brian, as well, obviously David Leaf being one of them.  Whether you agree with his (and others') point of view or not, he did his research and his quotes were valid.  We should value anyone doing that these days.

Debbie

I forgot to mention, in defense of Barbara and Dennis's children and her, I know she was "of age" when she married Dennis.  I worked at the Ivar offices when he met her, and he was ecstatic about her.  She is an absolutely intelligent, lovely, down-to-earth human being, and Michael is a fantastic chef!...love his mussels appetizer, etc.  Also, consider that we were all very young back then.  I think I misjudged a lot of people, and they misjudged me.  Keep in mind we're all grownups now.

Dennis probably did many of the things some of you talk about, but I've never met another human being who could make a person feel so special and loved, even with every new acquaintance.  While I wasn't one of his ladies, I completely understand why very bright women fell in love with him, and vice versa.  I have no doubt about his love for the women in his life.  He had a giant heart and a true empathy for all people.  Listen to his music...Give him that one.  If you want to have fun with his colorful side, fine...just keep in mind what a treasure he was, and is...a very special man...

Okay, a friend let me know about this thread, and I think I have a few things to say.  First, I might have the best answer as to Debbie Keil's age, as that would be me.  I am about 10 year's younger than Brian, so when he was going through his divorce from Marilyn, obviously I was of age.  You might also want to note that when Marilyn was 15, he was only 19 - not exactly an old man robbing the cradle.  Yes, David and Eva Leaf were my friends then, and remain two of my closest friends today.  That's all I have to say about that, and I don't understand why it would be of any importance to anyone, especially so many years later when we are all supposed to be adults.  Brian obviously has a wife of quite a few years and family.  I don't get the point.

However, regarding using Nick Kent as a source for any comments about Brian, I do have a few things to say.   I was present through the entire interview Kent used to denigrate Brian and me, and have had no meeting with him since.  I will tell you what a remember, with a great deal of clarity from that day.  This was my second meeting with Kent, having met him once before with my friend, Michele Myer, and I'm certain he didn't recall it.  Michele and her friends were seeing that this NME guy visiting LA had places to stay, food and transportation.  He went home and trashed them royally in his article, along with Brian, Marilyn and her family.  Well, obviously, if someone wants to take the point of view of the "dark side," Kent's great claim to fame, the whole thing will probably lack context and balance, but this man couldn't even get the simplest facts straight in order to twist them.  He kept referring to Mae Rovell as "Eve Rovell."

When I met Kent for the 2nd time, it was at Brian's home.  My friend Michele had called me to warn me that he was coming and to be careful.  She had tried to warn the Beach Boys offices, but they arranged the interview at Brian's home anyway, for some unknown reason.  He showed up with his photographer.  Brian introduced us and I said "hello," then sat quietly not commenting.  It was Brian's interview, not mine.  The only other words I spoke in front of him were when Brian asked where something was, and I said it was "at my house," followed by "goodbye," when Kent left.  From this meeting he derived that I was a tofu eating, intellectually challenged person.  Once again, with his usual accuracy, he identified me as "Diane."  Years later, after he had obviously been told by someone that he got my name wrong, I ran across an article (I think it was a book excerpt) where he explained this away by indicating that I was so stupid, I told him the wrong name for myself.  I'm curious if those of you who read this found it concievable that an adult woudn't know her own name.  If you did believed it, may I ask why?  If you didn't believe it, why would you believe anything that so-called journalist would have to say? 

My point is, just because it's in print, on television or on a blog, doesn't make it true.  If you choose to believe Kent rather than me, that's fine.  I suppose it's a great deal more titillating, and it really, absolutely, doesn't matter at this point.  The reason I finally chose to speak up and provide the facts from my point of view, is that I hope you apply the same skepticism this might suggest to things that you read or hear that really might matter to you.  The next time you watch some shrill, self-serving, extremist jerk on television, or hear him/her on the radio, or read their comments, give it some real thought before you go around repeating what they say as fact.  Check a few more sources.  If enough people believe the wrong people about our country's leadership, for instance, because the nasty comments are fun, it could come back to bite all of us. 

With that said, take care, make whatever comments you like, but really THINK when it might have an impact on someone, like you.  And to those of you who love and support Brian and his friends, please accept my best wishes.