I've come to see Surf's Up as a very ominous farewell to the Beach Boys as a Brian's band, much more so than Smile. Yes, I know that Holland had plenty of inspired moments, but it is a a very different band on those albums. Holland and In Concert are records of the mid 70s, Ricky and Blondie, Carl-led Beach Boys. Surf's Up is for me the send off for Brian's Beach Boys, especially the second side. Disney Girls tours the past with a bittersweet eye, then is slapped hard by Student Demo Time and harsh present reality.

Feel Flows finds the Boys strung out, confused, floating in space. And the final trio of songs from Brian find no hope for the future as past glory falls behind. Surf's Up paints the picture of the Boy's empire crumbling at their feet. A message of renewal in a children's song should be encouraging, but the chanting behind it covered by Brian's ghostly wail into the abyss chokes out all hope.

The most acid rock thing the Beach Boys ever did was the beginning of "California Saga".  Brian Wilson sings the opening line in a voice that sounds like a crying boy trying to sound chipper. Then Mike Love comes in with overly reassuring "mmmhhhmmm's  that are so echo drenched I imagine him as a gigantic 7 foot tall, dopey, grinning sheriff with a cowboy hat and some mean spurs on his boots. At this point, Brian retreats into the corner of the room and goes into the fetal position. Al Jardine responds by playing that looping, loopy bass line that promises us that Jardine's insanity will never end - it's as eternal as the ocean's waves. Brian is tempted to ask Al if he's trying to rewrite "California Girls", but he's too distraught. Eventually, Mike picks up Brian like he's a hand puppet and manually forces him to mouth the words "on my way!" a couple of times. Finally, the song finishes and Brian begs the band for more hard cider as compensation for his contribution.

Gosh Darn it this brilliant. Thank you Dada.

My SOS has the "Original Stereo Version" of When I Grow Up.

I guess the famous pic of Brian sitting on the diving board (with clothes, sorry girls) is from the same photo shoot?

You mean this one?



I think this ones from later though.

I think it all comes down to everyone just being a bit too hard on The Beach Boys in general. ...
I honestly don't think the "worst" Beach Boys stuff is half bad.

It's all just for discussion; it's not like much of this--a fan message board devoted to a pop band--matters in the least.

I don't anyone was pretending it did...

You're dead on with the Dennis/Corbett comparison...

There's photos of the My Solution session?

just checking again to see if there's anyway to see this thing online... thanks

Grade A stuff dude. Love your Brian style playing.

great, just wondering, has anyone notated the piano version at the beginning, or can anyone give some clues as to the piano chords in this case ? any help much appreciated

Try the chords section of www.cabinessence.net

Is there any way to see this Brian year by year collage on the net?

I don't see why people dismiss Help Me, Rhonda. To me it's another great cut emphasizing Hal Blaine's picture perfect drumming.

Yeah he looks pretty good there. I wish it had the original audio.

Back Home with some of what I presume is that MIU promo footage:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Y6YSihrVvK4

Brilliant! Thanks a bunch!

Dunno but either way its a good Smile mix!

I wonder if they got any shots of Brian there...

If this got Tubed' I too would be pretty happy.

Shortnin' Bread

Seriously, either Time To Get Alone or maybe All I Wanna Do.

I think MBE nailed it. Despite the fact he was reaching his low point of drug and food addiction, 1982 seems to be the last time Brian seemed anything at all like his old self. The second Landy era saved his life, but it seems he lost a lot of his original personality in that time.

Then again, I'm just going on his public presentation here.

The Spring version sounds fine to me....

So Drip Drop was 1975 then?

One of my favourite 'Scary' Brian Wilson tracks!

It's in circulation?

Probably one of the funniest BBs songs, and a good glimpse of Brian's wacky humor.