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It's nice. I wonder though why Bruce felt the need to re-write another person's song.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT4LJxBBaF0

Well, that's very Bruce. He seems to have a lot of nostalgia for the '50s.

Maybe he's lost it. In my opinion, Mike was a hell of a lyricist back in the day: the "alliterative Chuck Berry thing" he talks about.

This is hard to find; I've been looking for it: the made-for-TV movie "Deadman's Curve." Not "Citizen Kane," but cool. Anyway, if anyone is interested and it's not against the rules..... here's a link!

http://dotsub.com/view/dd70723a-9cb2-4e2a-a9f5-b939fd7ffff7

For whatever reason, the flick is kind of hard on Jan.

Who wrote "Summer Means Fun"? It wasn't Bruce, was it?
How about "The Hamptons"?

I guess "Farewell My Friend" doesn't count.

In that case, "Forever."

Dennis was the saddest Beach Boy, like the guy in The Band who died: Rick Manuel.

I truly like "One Summer Night."

"Island Fever" would be okay if it weren't for the lyrics. I think Mike wasn't really trying.

Lindsey Buckingham, something of a "genius" in his own right, borrowed a ton from Brian and the Beach Boys.

Just two examples: "Trouble"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbpuflLgmgM

and
"Surrender the Rain" off Out of the Cradle

Still Cruisin'.

It's just damn catchy.

At Jones Beach they played something from 15 Big Ones: "Rock'n'Roll Music"! I wonder if they've played "It's OK," which Brian said was essentially a Mike song, at any stops...? Or Susie Cincinnati? Is that technically a 15 Big Ones track?

You could call this the "Terry Melcher" period. The late Mr. Melcher co-wrote most of their singles around this time, including "Kokomo." Nothing against him. Bruce & Terry are a hidden gem.

I watched it, then I watched "Make it Big." Downward spiral.

Al is a fantastic singer, hasn't lost a bit, and his voice has more of a rock edge than Mike's "snot-nosed kid" sound or Bruce's soft tonality.

I can't fathom why Al was given so few leads over the history of the Beach Boys. Other than the "ice cream carts" part of ASMTYD... (and HMR, Cotton Fields etc.).

1. For years I heard that Brian had spent eight years in bed doing acid. But in the Larry King interview with the pesky Melinda doing most of the talking, Brian said he had only taken acid three or four times.

2. People always say Mike sued Brian for writing credits to the songs, and this is in fact true. But it was Murry Wilson who had kept Mike's name off as lyricist, not Brian. I don't think there's much argument about this.

3. I always heard that Brian was deaf in one ear because his father beat him. But in an interview Brian said he was born with limited hearing in that ear.

4. It's frequently said that Bruce Johnston wrote "I Write the Songs" about Brian. But Bruce has said that he wrote it about "music," a spirit that influences writers and musicians. It's the spirit of music that speaks in the song.

5. Speaking of Bruce, Brian did not co-write "Deirdre," according to an interview with Bruce.

6. The Stones used a theremin on Sticky Fingers, but what was the sound on "Good Vibrations"? A Moog synthesizer? Not a theremin.

7. Dennis is the only Beach Boy to surf. Actually, although not an original Beach Boy, Bruce was an avid surfer, and was recording hit surfing music in 1962 with Bruce & Terry. Who did surf music first? Jan & Dean, who said the Beach Boys "stole our sound," Bruce & Terry (not likely), whoever did "Wipe Out," or The Beach Boys?

8. A rift was caused in the Beach Boys because Mike Love didn't like the less commercial direction of "Pet Sounds" and "Smiley Smile." Mike says it was the lyrics he didn't like, but he and Al say the rift was caused by drugs. They were clean-living chaps and couldn't deal with Brian's and Dennis's drug use. So they say. Mike seems stoned to me.

9. Mike sued Al Jardine over the use of the name Beach Boys. It was Brother Records that was responsible for this lawsuit.

10. Van Dyke Parks wrote the lyrics to Pet Sounds. Okay, this is not a big mystery, but Brian says as much in the Beach Boys: An American Band documentary. Tony Asher wrote these lyrics so closely associated with Brian. Why is he seldom mentioned?

11. Is the influence of Pet Sounds on The Beatles exaggerated? Okay, Paul McCartney liked "God Only Knows." But Sgt. Pepper doesn't seem similar to Pet Sounds in any way. Or is it Revolver that was supposed to be similar. Again...

More misconceptions? Arguments, answers?

1. TWGMR
2. From there to back
3. Shelter
4. Daybreak
5. Summer's gone
6. Isn't it time
7. Pacific coast
8. think about the days

Why am I not joining in the Love-hate relationship that leads everyone to underrate Daybreak? Actually, the album suffers from feeling a bit forced and the easygoing sway and vocals of Mike's song are a relief. Shelter is the best single material, IMHO.

Of course I like it. Terry Melcher wrote or co-wrote a lot of those cheesy '80s songs. They're all fun and catchy. They were obviously toss-offs.

I just have a problem with the Stamos factor in "Problem Child."

Bruce and Alan both said Sunflower was the best. I like Holland. Even 15 Big Ones has some good songs.

I don't know if anyone mentioned this, but you're the guy Brian dedicated a song to last night!

So glad to hear Brian is happy with the tour and the band. Many thanks!

"Our Prayer" was stunning. The harmonies sounded so dense. It was soon after the intermission. I think the crowd was blown away (and not just by the sea breezes in Long Island).

The show was triumphant. I liked the mix of songs, spanning every era of their career and including a bit of '80s. I can live without "Marcella." But the band sounded polished with dense, beautiful harmonies. "Disney Girls" was show-stopping and "Heroes and Villains" was great. I was a bit worried about Brian; he looked pale and never smiled. His vocals were a bit shaky in the beginning, but he seemed to warm up. Al had a great night and "Cottonfields" was a lovely choice--as well as "Help Me Rhonda" and the other songs he sang. Mike was a bit more low key than before, but led the band well and sounded spot-on on the songs he sings - the surf and car ones, and others. I missed "Caroline, No" and "Warmth of the Sun." But it was euphoric.

Only one complaint - a bit Foskett-centric at times. Why can't Al or Bruce sing more falsettos? On "Don't Worry, Baby" the boys were like Jeffrey's backup band.

Brian didn't seem well tonight at Jones Beach, NY. He hardly smiled and looked miserable. Jeff, who is obviously Brian's babysitter, kept giving him concerned looks.

I'll tell you what Mike did other than being a distinctive singer, perfect for the upbeat songs, and an ace lyricist at his best.

Mike is responsible for the Beach Boys nerdy optimism and patriotism. How many bands would do a song like "Be True to Your School"? Mike Love's all-American attitude is the opposite of everything else in the '60s. Whether you're a fan of this self-confident California hedonism and boy-next-door machismo, it's what made the Beach Boys stand out.

Brian's attitude to life is different, and shows in the melancholy songs.

"She makes the Indy 500 look like the Roman chariot race now"

Classic.

Disney Girls (1957)
Add Some Music to Your Day
Kokomo
Big Sur etc.
Feel Flows
Cottonfields
.... so many!

I'll say this about Bruce's falsetto. If you listen to his version of "Disney Girls" he sings the very, very high note in the midsection. People who covered the song, like Art Garfunkel and The Captain and Tenille, didn't even attempt the note. They switched a half-octave down for that part.

I'm a fan of "Daybreak" - Mike's gentle vocals and the swaying melody really work.

But the album is not exactly a goldmine of singles.  But, no: "Shelter."