Was there any official reason given for the cancellation Rasmus?

Well I think it's really good. You guys have certainly got the harmonies spot on and the guy who does 'Mike Love' bass line is absolutely great. Well done!

I can't understand what the narrator says at 1:47 approximately, when the California Republic flag is shown.
They are two words, but I have no idea of their meaning.
Anybody knows?

Thanks in advance.

The words the narrator is saying are "Act one, scene one". Which loosely could be translated to mean "Chapter one, page one" or in fact the very beginning. I hope this helps.

I'm not sure I believe that it was REALLY Bruce Johnston who posted on The Beach Boys Britain Forum (the obvious, undisputed place to go for official Beach Boys news). It doesn't make much sense and its impossible to prove.

It's also, using my belief, impossible to disprove. I can't believe that you're serious with this ridiculous and somewhat sarcastic comment, especially the bit between the brackets. By doing so you leave yourself open to be shot at but then I guess that's just what you're really trying to achieve here. It's Bruce for sure and I've a feeling that deep down you know it is. The people that run BBB should do the dignified thing here and just ignore you.

Oh by the way, I've nothing to with BBB. I'm not even a member but I do enjoy reading the regular contributions that Bruce makes to their message board.

After making a reference to this book in an earlier post I was surprised to see that it wasn't included in the 'Album, Book & Video Reviews' section. It certainly should be .

U.S. version;


U.K. version;

Keith Moon, lamented and eccentric drummer of The Who was a huge Beach Boys fan, especially of their earlier recordings. Not only the Beach Boys either, Keith was a huge fan of 'surf' music in general. When the Beach Boys style took a different direction with Pet Sounds, surprisingly with it, Keith Moon's love of their music actually faded.

that's really odd, because didn't Keith take Bruce around the UK to promote Pet Sounds? I've seen pics from articles (LLVS) but is there any footage or audio of this?

I don't know Justin. My information came from the book "Keith Moon, Instant Party" by Alan Clayson. What we do know is that Keith got in touch with John and Paul, who then came to listen to Pet Sounds at a listening party held in Bruce's room at the Waldorf Hotel in London. Check out the book 'I just Wasn't Made For These Times' by Charles L, Granata, for a more in depth version of how things went on at that meeting (pages 190-194) {This book was apparently named "Wouldn't It Be Nice" in the States}. Incidentally, the book does say that it was Tony Rivers, a good friend of Keith Moon, who introduced Keith Moon to Bruce. I know Tony Rivers is a member here, perhaps he could elaborate a little more about this.

Finally, I don't think Keith Moon actually took Bruce around the UK to promote Pet Sounds, that's possibly taking things a little too far.

You're doing great Kayla and you're certainly not weird. Your Beach Boys covers have received some great accolades across their fans message boards and deservedly so.

Incidentally, I'm just curious to know which Beach Boys albums are you saving back on, so that you'll still have something to look forward to?

Keith Moon, lamented and eccentric drummer of The Who was a huge Beach Boys fan, especially of their earlier recordings. Not only the Beach Boys either, Keith was a huge fan of 'surf' music in general. When the Beach Boys style took a different direction with Pet Sounds, surprisingly with it, Keith Moon's love of their music actually faded.

You can also add Jimmy Nail, famed comedy actor in UK tv programme 'Auf Wiedersein Pet', but perhaps more well known as a singer of hits such as Crocodile Shoes, Love Don't Live Here Anymore and U.K. number one, Ain't No Doubt.  He said in his excellent autobiography 'A Northern Soul', "but listen to any Beach Boys record, particularly Surf's Up, and marvel at the bass playing those counterpoint passes. Groovy. After the tragic summer of 1967 (he had some personal tragedies that year), the Beach Boys became more important and precious to me". He also said about Brian, "The term 'genius' is much overused these days, but I do believe that, for a time back then, Brian Wilson was plugged into something which no one else was privy. His compositional skill, choice of instrumentation and structure, with gorgeous tumbling harmonies everywhere, are real works of modern art".  I guess none of us here could have put it into words better than that.

Please feel free to tell everyone this message is irrelevant because I hate the British.

I'm hoping that you've missed the obligatory smiley face here. As you know I'm British too and this could mean me choosing a Mateus Rosé over a nice Burgundy while I settle down to watch the football next week .

Just wondering what it is that Dave really finds so offensive about Obama - the tone of his politics, or the tone of his skin.

What a ridiculous thing to say. I can't say I agree with what Dave in KC had to say but not for one second did the thought pass my mind what you seem to be implying.

I should've used a smiley when I made that remark... 

I don't know why but I somehow worked out you were probably joking anyway .

Be careful though, it works on the Dutch sites too .

["Lots of great stuff, and part of an ongoing BBs program, which includes forthcoming reissues of Carl's two solo albums, ongoing negotiations over the Spring album and a reissue of Murry's album:"]

Has anyone come across this recent release from Cherry Red records?



The track listing is as follows;

1. DO YOU WANNA DANCE ? - Bobby Freeman
2. THE WRECK OF THE JOHN B - The Kingston Trio
3. COME GO WITH ME - The Del-Vikings
4. BLUEBIRDS OVER THE MOUNTAIN - Ershel Hickey
5. HULLY GULLY - The Olympics
6. SWEET LITTLE SIXTEEN - Chuck Berry
7. ONE KISS LED TO ANOTHER - The Coasters
8. A CASUAL LOOK - The Six Teens
9. ALLEY OOP - Dallas Frazier
10. I M SO YOUNG - Naomi Wilson
11. SHORTENIN BREAD - The Andrews Sisters
12. WHY DO FOOLS FALL IN LOVE? - Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers
13. IN THE STILL OF THE NITE - The Five Satins
14. TALK TO ME - Little Willie John
15. GEE - The Crows
16. COTTONFIELDS - Leadbelly
17. RIOT IN CELL BLOCK No 9 - The Coasters
18. TENNESSE WALTZ - Patti Page
19. GRADUATION DAY - Four Freshmen
20. ROCK N ROLL MUSIC - Chuck Berry

It might be a budget release but it's a really cool album with some comprehensive liner notes listing the history to each track.

Incidentally, and I've not seen this anywhere else, over on the Beachboys.com message board someone from Cherry Red has plugged this album and also said this;

"Lots of great stuff, and part of an ongoing BBs program, which includes forthcoming reissues of Carl's two solo albums, ongoing negotiations over the Spring album and a reissue of Murry's album:"

Link: http://thebeachboys.forumsunlimited.com/index.php?showtopic=8119

I know they've already re-released Murrys "Many Moods Of" but is there really a possibility of Carl's two solo albums and the Spring album coming out again? Who actually owns the rights to this music as I'd love to have those on CD?.

Thank you Andrew. I just knew that I'd get the answer here.

I remember reading, some time ago I might add, Steven Gaines' book 'Heroes and Villains' and was intrigued to read about how Marilyn's mother would rustle up a meal for Brian and his friends, no matter what time of night or early morning he cared to turn up. Brian apparently found the warm and loving family environment of the Rovell's so diffferent form his own personal family life at home. So much so that he found their home more as a refuge and therefore spent so much time there. Dennis, it says in the book, at a time when The Beach Boys were, shall we say financially loaded, was bragging to Marilyn's father Irving about how much money the Beach Boys were making and how little it all meant to him. To make his point Dennis tore up a dollar bill. Apparently, after he had left, Irving then picked up the pieces, and taped them together. The book says that he keeps the dollar book in his wallet to this day.

Now, I know this is an old book but I just happened to wonder what happened to May and Irving Rovell. I tried to google some information with no success. I doubt whether they are still alive but can anyone here give me any further information?

Is there a way to translate that board?

I don't speak German, but I do use the Yahoo tool bar and the 'language and translation tool' icon that is there for you to choose from in the apps available. Once you've opened a post from a topic on the California Dreamin' board, you then click on the icon within your toolbar and within seconds you will get a translated version of the transcript. It's not perfect English, but you can get to understand what the general meaning of the post is. For example, I just tested a post where an Austrian member was asking whether they would be able to attend their fan meeting for 2010. The meeting was in Neuweid, Nr. Koblenz and starts at 3 o'clock. All are welcome but the person enquiring would have to make their own overnight arrangements for accomodation.

That's far easier than going to all that trouble of learning the language, as SMiLE-Holland suggested .

The wonders of todays technology eh?

I had to listen to both versions of this three times in succession - each, that's six times - while updating the ComGuide. Therefore I feel unusually qualified to say that, in my opinion, this album sucks like a turbo-charged cess pit emptier.

 

Is it safe to assume you're one of the 20 (so far) who've rated it a big fat zero?

..... and not forgetting that Al promised to give a free copy of his new album 'Postcards From California', to those European fans who were disappointed when he pulled out from touring with Brian a couple of years back. This was after tickets had gone on sale and some of the fans who bought them, at the time of purchase, were expecting to see Al on stage with Brian. I know a few people in Holland who have kept their ticket stubs, as Al has told them to do so. They're just waiting for confirmation of where to send them. I just hope Al doesn't end up giving more away that he sells .

Incidentally, the reason Al gave for having to pull out of touring with Brian...., you ready for this? He had to stay at home to put the finishing touches to the album .

Awful album, what annoys me most about this album is that it cost me the same amount that I paid for the Pet Sounds Box Set, unbelievable.

I had a similar experience, having paid a small fortune for the rehashed UK version on eBay. I'd bought the brilliantly packaged US 'digipak' version when it first came out, but when the 'jewel case' UK version made the shelves (well I only ever saw one copy), I left it alone because the track listing was identical and there was no indication that some of the tracks had even been re-recorded. It was only years later I realised it was actually different. Incidentally, in my opinion, the Beach Boys made a poor album even worse with their meddling on the UK version. The new version of "Island Fever" has to be one of the best examples of how "not to" improve a track in the history of making music. The line "Doctor, doctor, what's your prescription?" never fails to make me cringe.

Interesting topic. That is, what should or should they not do for a 50th Anniversary release. Personally, particularly as some sort of a bonus release, I'd like to see a complete album with vocals only. After listening to something like that I'd defy anyone to come back and then (still) say the Beatles were the better group. Vocally the Beatles were good but the Beach Boys were perfection.

I think most of us here know that Brian Wilson has always held such a high regard for Phil Spector. We've almost all heard the tale about Brian once owning a juke box and no matter what button you pressed it always played Be My Baby, probably Brian's most favourite song ever. But what about Phil Spector and his opinion of Brian. Again, we've almost all heard about Brian attending a Spector recording session back in the '60s and Spector sending Brian home because his piano playing was just not good enough.....

Well hold on to your hats and read this passage that I've come across in the book I'm currently reading. It's called Tearing Down The Wall Of Sound, The Rise and Fall of Phil Spector by Mick Brown. I haven't completed the book yet but I have had a peep at the many references to the Beach Boys and in particular Brian Wilson via the index. This excerpt is from page 406;

Quote:
'You have to conquer yourself,' he said (he being Spector), 'and take control of yourself. I make fun of a lot of people, like Brian Wilson, because they don't have control over themselves. I think they're largely phonies. They use their illness as an excuse. I have no mercy for that.' But Wilson, I said, idolized him ('I said', being the author Mick Brown) 'I know. He does interviews; he writes his autobiography about me. I know, I know, I know.' He shrugged. 'It's sad, you know, but I don't know whether you can feel sorry for untalented people. Maybe he's not that talented. Maybe he's overrated. Maybe. Jimi Hendrix was not overrated. Janis Joplin was not overrated. I feel sorry that they died, because they shouldn't have. They should have been a little smarter. Brian Wilson outlived his brothers for God's fucking sake. How do you figure that? Carl Wilson - pretty bright guy. Dennis - pretty silly guy; y'know, a muppet. And Brian outlives them? But maybe Brian wasn't that talented to begin with, and we're burdening him with that. We make these people more than they are. I don't feel sorry for Brian Wilson; I never thought he was that talented to begin with. I'm glad he idolizes; I wish that Jimi Hendrix idolized me. I heard he did. I'd be more impressed if somebody with a brain idolized me.' I told him that when I had met Brian Wilson he had talked of perhaps wanting to be produced by Spector. He smiled. The idea was clearly preposterous.
End quote:

In contrast read what Brian had to say about Phil Spector in this interview which he gave to Sylvie Simmons for the Mojo Collections magazine back in 2002. (This is not the full interview);

Quote:
Ask him about the dark years and a cloud goes over his eyes. “It was a bad place.... The world got to be too scary. I didn't want to be in it,” he answers in fits and starts. He doesn't like to look back - “wallow in the mire”. If he accidentally hears an old Beach Boys album – he never plays them himself - “sometimes it brings back sadness, sometimes it brings back a good feeling.” If he sees an old picture of himself, depressed and overweight, he feels “totally embarrassed. But I lost the weight – 311 lbs! I got over it.”
One thing he has still to get over is “feeling competitive” with Phil Spector. Every day, several times a day, he plays Phil Spector records – the Christmas album too. He owns several copies of each so there will always be one at hand. Some of them he has laid out for Collections on his coffee table: The Best Of The Ronettes, Phil Spector's Back To Mono 1968-9, Wall Of Sound Vol5; Rare Masters and A Christmas Gift For You. He's been playing them over and over “for a year now. I don't know why. I just love the energy and love in them.” Asked if there's some essence of the music he's trying to reach, he nods and says, “I think that's it.” There was a time when all that Brian wanted to do was “to keep trying to beat Spector at his records. I kept trying to whip him.” When it all started going crazy was when “I couldn't”. I tell him that I think he whipped him good, a number of times. “No,” he says quietly. “No, no.”
End quote:

What do you all think about Spector's derisory dissing of Brian or even Brian's compulsive infatuation with Spector? Are they both mad?

I played that album to death when I first bought it when it was released in the UK back  in June 1970. I still have it to this day, although now looking a little sad, it brings back fond memories of happy times.

There's a website I'm forgetting the name...sorry...but it takes all the reviews, from all the major magazines and newspapers, and all the websites and all the professional music critics who have published extensive reviews of a particular release and this website AVERAGES the total score from all of those varied sources.  As I recall POB/Bambu was a clear winner over TLOS last time I checked...and TLOS reviewed really well...it was no slouch...but POB/Bambu got consistently better reviews.

It wouldn't be 'Metacritic.com' by any chance Jon?

http://www.metacritic.com/music/

You'll see that Brian's 'SMiLE' is number one in the 'All Time High Scores', so they must know a thing or two over there .