There's video floating around of the new guys in Mike's band. While it has been apparent for some time what Mike is aiming at when he adds/replaces members, it's very clear here in my opinion that he's swapping members out for younger members.

The new drummer appears to be one of those players that plays a really low-to-the-ground kit on a high stool, so it kind of looks like he's playing a kid's drum set, or that he's standing while playing.

I'm seeing some YouTube comments and comments in other places that truly seem to think Totten and Cowsill just retired. C'mon people. This isn't rocket science. When two guys are gone at the *exact same time*, that's doesn't sound like an organic decision to retire. As with the vast, vast majority of backing band changes over the years, I don't believe this was a voluntary exit.

I'm guessing that getting younger guys at a cheaper price hit two of the main goals that could have motivated Mike in this decision.

All just my opinion of course....

Are Scott Totten and John Cowsill that much older than some of the newer additions (their replacements, the bassist, and the saxophonist), though? I don’t mean to doubt your expertise, HeyJude, but I really doubt Scott would have given Mike such a pleasant Facebook post if he and Cowsill were canned. I just FB friended Scott; while I don’t plan to ask him about this, I have to say I am tempted.  

I saw the video you're referring to from May. Looks like the new guitar player on the opposite side of the stage don't know who he is. Would be nice if they were announced as to who they were and what their backgrounds were but knowing Mike love we may or may not get that. And PS I have to continue to say after all these years I still don't care for Christian love voice it sounds extremely Bland and toneless

I’ll have to look around for this video. From lurking on the other board, there was a rumor that the lead guitarist might have worked with The Righteous Brothers before jumping over to Mike and Bruce. Agreed with you 100%, Tony, on Christian Love’s voice. While I was lurking over there, someone said Christian doesn’t even like the band’s music; I think that explains a bit of what we don’t like about his voice. I don’t understand how those who praise him genuinely like his voice; he sounds nothing like Carl to me.

My guess is that either Christian will play the leads or (more likely) that Randell Kirsch or Rob Bonfiglio returns but moves to lead guitar. I don’t have a guess for a drummer, though.

That’s interesting about John Cowsill sitting in with some former Rascals. Did the two survivors that attended do any songs together?

Do we know why Brian used a bass saxophone and baritone sax combination on Do It Again instead of (what had been) his previous standard of tenor and baritone saxes?

Someone posted this on Wikipedia before the announcement was made, so I assumed it was some sort of stupid prank like the people that post every year that Steve Perry is rejoining Journey.  I guess I was wrong, and someone got a hold of the information earlier than the rest of us.  I agree with everyone that Scott Totten and John Cowsill were the highlights of Mike and Bruce's band (along with the occasionally rotating falsetto role), and they will be missed.  I've seen M&B (and Scott and John) twice: 2015 and 2019.  I always doubted I would go see Mike again, but now I really doubt it.  

I know I could use Google, but what is this Chiller Theater convention?

Hi all,

I'm back again.    It was nice to see David Marks at the Grammy Salute.  Does anyone know if his health has improved after the health scare if he had a few years ago?  We haven't seen him much since around 2015 or so, and I know the pandemic and health scare had something to do with that.  I was just thinking about Al's tour and, though it's likely impossible because of Al's limited--but growing--bookings and money, how it would be great to have David and/or Blondie there with Al as well, now that Brian is most likely retired from touring.  Thanks again!!

While the above is true, I do have a growing compendium of scores.  I could be persuaded to whip up a little flute greatest hits thing.

Hi Joshilyn (and leoleoleoleo), thanks for your quick responses.  I agree with you, but I've specifically been asked for sheet music.  Joshilyn, I don't want to take too much of your time away from your research/scoring/recording, so while I'd appreciate it if you had one or both of those two, it's definitely not essential.  Thanks for the offer, though!! I really appreciate it!!

Hi all,

This might be a stupid question, but does any sheet music exist for the flute intro to Sloop John B or solo on Be True To Your School? I know a couple flute players and I’d love to hear them play the part live. Sorry for the strange topic being my first new one in a while. Thanks in advance!!

I’ll post (or edit this to post) more complete thoughts tomorrow (I DVRed it and watched it tonight), but yes I didn’t notice Probyn at first. I was just surprised that they got someone to play tannerin. My first guess was that they loaned it from Probyn, but then I made several attempts (two of which were successful) to view the names in the band in the credits. They’re all there; you just have to be precise with the pause button.  

I specifically remember seeing a Jamie Muhoberac on keys. The only other time I’ve heard that last name is a Larry Muhoberac who played with Elvis on a couple soundtrack albums and live in 1969 with the TCB Band. I wonder if they’re related.

FIRST EDIT: And I was very pleasantly surprised to see Abe Laboriel, Jr. there. I saw Paul McCartney last year and Abe was definitely a great part of the show, plus his comedic dancing during Dance Tonight.

The vocals on Love Me Do weren’t live with the instruments? You learn something new every day.  

I don’t know anything about the tapes really to help with that (other than what others have posted on the board for a handful of songs, IIRC), but I support your venture and hope you can get some (helpful) support!!

EDIT: I should probably mention that I know about the efforts to undergo the personnel list; I wasn't clear here but I was referring to my lack of knowledge regarding the exact "lineup" (for lack of a better word) of the multitracks.

That bit of over-talked “I’d Go Anywhere” from the C50 documentary is really the only extant “outtake” as such.

As others have mentioned, “Waves of Love” wasn’t worked on. Brian wanted no part of it, and it was literally in the process of being released as a solo Al track during the reunion sessions. And “Don’t Fight the Sea” had been released in 2010. Both of these would have/could have been potentially good reunion album tracks, but Al had already released them.

Bruce supposedly re-jiggered “She Believes in Love Again”, with one story indicating he actually used some of the ’85 version as a basis (including his (Bruce’s) vocals), and Foskett re-sang the Carl lead parts. I honestly don’t think this would have ever made it onto an album. It kinda sounded like Bruce just used the paid-for studio time to mess around with something.

I strongly suspect that some of the Brian-Joe songs on “No Pier Pressure” could have and perhaps would have ended up on a second reunion album. But there were supposedly a number of songs worked on and in contention in 2012 for the reunion album, and I’m not sure any of *those* were used for “No Pier Pressure”, as in taking the “Beach Boys version” and taking off the BB contributions.

“Daybreak Over the Ocean” was used from Mike’s circa 2004 solo album material, and it sounds like they did a quick dub job where the reunion group (most prominently Al, but apparently including Brian as well) just sang the “bring back…” interludes. The rest of the song has the same Christian Love/Adrian Baker (or whoever) vocals sans any other Beach Boys. I’ve always thought they should have had Al sing the lead on Mike’s 2004 version of “Too Cruel” (the only Christian Love sings; not the later 2017 rereremake) if they were going to fly something in from that album. “Cool Head” would have been good too, but that also had already been released in 2006.

I also remember reading an interview where Mike said he'd written a song with Dave Marks, but I can't remember if a title was said or not.

"Stowaway." I don't know if it was re-written with Mike or not, and I also don't know if it was either recorded or even seriously considered. If Al's stuff and Bruce's stuff weren't getting serious consideration, I find its hard to believe David Marks was getting a song on a new Beach Boys album.

Well at least Al’s stuff was unheard. Why on earth did Bruce want to dig up a song that had been on an album and keep his original vocals from 30 years prior?

Perhaps for the same reason he thought the world needed a disco-fied version of "Here Comes The Night".  🤷‍♂️  And back in the early 2000's he claimed of recording with Mike a "Britney Spears-type" cover of "Surfin'".  Which to this day has (thankfully) never been heard. 

Britney Spears-style Surfin’ is not a good idea. But I’m one of the rare fans of the disco Here Comes The Night. Carl is great vocally on it. They just shouldn’t have used the LP version - they should have used the single version.

That bit of over-talked “I’d Go Anywhere” from the C50 documentary is really the only extant “outtake” as such.

As others have mentioned, “Waves of Love” wasn’t worked on. Brian wanted no part of it, and it was literally in the process of being released as a solo Al track during the reunion sessions. And “Don’t Fight the Sea” had been released in 2010. Both of these would have/could have been potentially good reunion album tracks, but Al had already released them.

Bruce supposedly re-jiggered “She Believes in Love Again”, with one story indicating he actually used some of the ’85 version as a basis (including his (Bruce’s) vocals), and Foskett re-sang the Carl lead parts. I honestly don’t think this would have ever made it onto an album. It kinda sounded like Bruce just used the paid-for studio time to mess around with something.

I strongly suspect that some of the Brian-Joe songs on “No Pier Pressure” could have and perhaps would have ended up on a second reunion album. But there were supposedly a number of songs worked on and in contention in 2012 for the reunion album, and I’m not sure any of *those* were used for “No Pier Pressure”, as in taking the “Beach Boys version” and taking off the BB contributions.

“Daybreak Over the Ocean” was used from Mike’s circa 2004 solo album material, and it sounds like they did a quick dub job where the reunion group (most prominently Al, but apparently including Brian as well) just sang the “bring back…” interludes. The rest of the song has the same Christian Love/Adrian Baker (or whoever) vocals sans any other Beach Boys. I’ve always thought they should have had Al sing the lead on Mike’s 2004 version of “Too Cruel” (the only Christian Love sings; not the later 2017 rereremake) if they were going to fly something in from that album. “Cool Head” would have been good too, but that also had already been released in 2006.

I also remember reading an interview where Mike said he'd written a song with Dave Marks, but I can't remember if a title was said or not.

"Stowaway." I don't know if it was re-written with Mike or not, and I also don't know if it was either recorded or even seriously considered. If Al's stuff and Bruce's stuff weren't getting serious consideration, I find its hard to believe David Marks was getting a song on a new Beach Boys album.

Well at least Al’s stuff was unheard. Why on earth did Bruce want to dig up a song that had been on an album and keep his original vocals from 30 years prior?

I hate to be a stick in the mud, but a live box set without any studio material whatsoever sounds like something I and many other fans would largely pass on. The ‘76 live stuff with Brian, however, would be great. But even then, I’d probably think it would be better as part of a ‘76-77 box set.

What did Brian contribute to the live band in 1976? Any footage I've seen, he just sits there, hiding behind his piano.

Not 100% sure. His contributions are probably patchy, but definitely not non-existent. I've seen footage where he plays bass, does vocals and in some cases leads, i.e. on Surfer Girl and Back Home. The track Back Home (Live / 1976) on Feel Flows is testament to this, even though his lead vocal is flown-in, unfortunately.

I think those two were the only ones he played bass on in 1976, but I’ve read he played a ton of bass from late ‘77 to late ‘78.

Carnie mentioned Wilson Phillips was asked to perform, but they weren't all available on the date.

Hi HeyJude, thanks for the update. I wonder the exact unavailability, though I know we’ll never know (unless I try to ask Carnie on Instagram and see what happens).

EDIT: HeyJude, was that in the new BeachBoysTalk interview with Carnie (that I haven’t yet been able to watch), by any chance?

If Wilson Phillips could've played, they might have picked something like "This Whole World" …

This Whole World by Wilson Phillips would have been wonderful; I happened to be thinking this myself too, Don Malcolm.

I’ve never heard the Spring/American Spring material, so I’ll have to dive in. Thanks for the heads up, “Big Daddy.”

I know it would have been impossible to get Brian to perform, and that there was a 99.9% chance it wasn’t going to happen, but I wish they had done a couple songs. The odds of that getting them all in the same place for the third time since 2012 are pretty much 0, unfortunately, and someone (hell, maybe even Stamos?) should have tried to make that clear to them.

Still not impressed art all by the lineup outside of Michael McDonald and Brandi Carlile (but at least Jim James has a connection to the group through Brian). Do we know who the backing band was? I assume it wasn’t, but it would have been Brian’s group plus Scott Totten and John Cowsill, just like the 2012 tour, and how it should have been if we could have had the rest of a brief reunited group performance. I know it was an unrealistic dream, but I’m still disappointed.  

EDIT: Forgot to mention that it’s great but also bittersweet to see them all together again, just like HeyJude detailed. I also think it would have been nice to have Blondie and Ricky (or at least Blondie, given his last decade of work with Brian and Al) there with the core 5 as well.

ANOTHER EDIT: I was just on the Carnie interview thread and patsy6’s post about Brian and Carnie made me wonder again why Wilson Phillips didn’t perform at this like they did at Brian’s tribute in 2001? Couldn’t they have been given Good Vibrations or a deep cut?

I believe this will air on paramount plus

Just curious, Shady, when was that announced?

Folks should listen to this Carnie interview. It's great.

She does say that the touring is done, but she also notes that it probably extended her dad's life by decades. Even when he was just going through the motions, the love from fans really mattered. Stay tuned for lots of stories about Carl, x-rated versions of Hey Santa and what it's like to tour with Al (everything we've assumed as fans is true). She also notes that she has been urging BW to do a Sinatra tribute record.

The ending part about her dad is concerning. She suggests he has a lot going on, then corrects that to "a lot going on around him," and says she misses him and wishes that he -- and then she doesn't finish the thought. It wouldn't be the BBs without family drama, so who knows.

I’ll definitely have to listen that interview. It’s one of the many that the BeachBoyTalk crew have done that I’ve put on a to-do list. However, apologies for the second (and hopefully final) off-topic post I’ll make in this thread, but I’m curious about what an x-rated version of Hey Santa sounds like. I guess I’ll have to get to that interview sooner rather than later. 

So I’ve lost all hope that I had, say, a couple weeks ago. I’m excited by Michael McDonald and Brandi Carlille, but I bet I’d skip most of the rest of the show when it eventually airs. I might be in the age group of fans of a lot of the other artists mentioned, but they hold no interest for me. So much for the best of YESTERDAY along with today.

I don’t want to go off-topic, but given Robbie Mac’s true comment about Brian’s “comeback run,” did we ever get any further info about the pictures of Brian in the studio in late summer/early fall 2022?

The backing track.  They used take 20 for the bulk of the backing track, but the tag of that take was deemed subpar, Brian then had the band do a pickup starting at the tag (he might have rejiggered some instrumentation for it) which I think was two takes.  Then he edited the body of take 20 with the tag pickup piece to create the full backing track, and then all that was mixed to mono in preparation for the vocal sessions.

Wow, thanks. It appeared that Brian used the splicing technique quite a lot even before the recording of “Good Vibrations”~

Certainly -- as did everyone else.  It's a nice easy way to combine the best parts of different takes, very common from the very birth of magnetic tape recordings.

Case in point: I SAW HER STANDING THERE. The Fabs kill it on that one, but from the guitar solo out, it's a different take edited on (or maybe from after the solo - I forget which).

c-man, has the story changed regarding this? I thought everything was from take 1, except the count-in being from take 9.

Does Brian Wilson sing both harmony parts to the first chorus of Sloop John B?

I thought Al was one of them; (if I’m reading it and/or understanding your question correctly — and if I’m thinking of the right part), c-man’s website confirms this.

I didn’t post this before, partly because I haven’t looked through the whole thing yet - I don’t want to have too many spoilers especially since I haven’t had a chance to pick up the box set yet (don’t throw me off the thread or the board  ), but…

Thank you c-man, Alan Boyd, Joshilyn, WillJC, and John Brode (the last name I don’t recognize) for your amazing and time-consuming work on the sessionography. In my opinion, this is as awesome as the set (and I don’t have the box yet, nor have I looked through more than a few songs in the sessionography). I love you all.  

(Also, it’s nice to see more (lead) guitar credits for Carl on the couple or so I’ve looked at so far.)

EDIT: Not that I doubt everyone’s research, but it still shocks me that Carl is behind the ‘second’/gruff lead vocal on You Need A Mess of Help to Stand Alone.

surprised to see Tandym Almer on so many songs.

and is that Michael Clarke of the Byrds drumming on Rooftop Harry??

Yes on Michael Clarke. I remember reading that somewhere - perhaps that Bedroom Tapes article from one of the LA papers.

The date of the tribute show for the BBs has finally been announced (see below).

From https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/grammy-salute-the-beach-boys-2023-1235198488/:

"A Grammy Salute to The Beach Boys, the latest in a series of "Grammy Salute" specials, will tape Wednesday, Feb. 8, three days after the 65th annual Grammy Awards are held in Los Angeles. The live concert special will feature a star-studded lineup paying tribute to the classic pop/rock group. It will tape at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and will air on CBS later this year."

Oh wow - let’s hope there are some actual stars. It’s been a while since I’ve been able to post, but others have floated (or read, j can’t recall) about big names of today and yesterday? In terms of today, I’m not a fan of Weezer, but Rivers Cuomo does seem to like The Beach Boys (and I think The Monkees too, IIRC). Maybe the Jonas Brothers for today? (I’m not a fan, but Nick Jonas was in LPR, so who knows?)

In terms of yesterday, who’s still around that’s would be up for and/or able to do it? The Rolling Stones, if they page brushed off Mike?   Paul McCartney on God Only Knows, perhaps? (Imagine if Paul and Ringo Starr did God Only Knows together? A Beatles reunion for a Beach Boys event would be awesome.) Bob Dylan? Roger McGuinn? David Crosby? (Imagine a Byrds reunion too?) Micky Dolenz? Peter Noone? Barry Gibb? Maybe Willie Nelson doing The Warmth of the Sun again? The Eagles (now with 2001 BW special alumnus Vince Gill)? Bruce Springsteen? Maybe Elton John since he was in LPR? Jeff Lynne/ELO? Lorrie Morgan doing Don’t Worry Baby again?

What do we think the chances of any of the band, other than I’d say Al being 99% likely IMO, attending. I know it wouldn’t happen but a full band reunion (including Blondie and even Ricky if he was interested) backed by any/some/many/all of Ed Carter, Bobby Figueroa, (Mike Kowalski on percussion?), Brian’s band, Scott Totten, John Cowsill, and maybe even Brian Eichenberger would be pretty awesome!! (Especially since it would 99.99% likely be the last possible time.) I tried to narrow down a potential setlist, but I couldn’t get lower than like 15, which definitely wouldn’t happen. I doubt if it did happen that it would go above a handful.

After all, Paul and Ringo reunited for their special for a handful of songs, which I missed somehow when it aired — maybe my DVR deleted it on its own or something. (Did Barry Gibb play at the one for The Bee Gees? I also missed that one somehow when it aired - but I think I forgot to DVR that one.) Too bad they don’t re-air and/or release these on DVD or something.

Sorry to bring up this old thread but I don't think this would need no new one:

Currently I'm very interested in playing bass and therefor wondered about Brian's playing. One question that comes up is if Brian was the only bass player on the songs he played during the late 70s live shows. I watched a couple of videos but couldn't see anyone else on bass for those songs. I understand that I - as others probably do as well - underestimate late 70s Brian becaus of his condition. Still, I wonder if he had that much practice and rehearsal for carrying the bass duties during that time.

Another general question I have is if we know if Brian had an understanding of how the bass works so that he could actually "play" the instrument or did he just have Carl show him the lines for each song and kept it to that?

Not sure about the second point but Ed Carter was almost certainly covering bass for Brian, whose playing and behaviour could be described as quite erratic during this period.

I could be wrong, but I thought that Ed Carter switched to guitar for those 1977-78 shows and only played bass for songs like Lady Lynda, Country Pie, Everyone’s In Love With You, etc.

Rocker, I thought the general consensus was that, at the very beginning, Carl showed Brian the lines for each song, but that eventually, Brian knew how to “play” bass on his own (maybe with a little help from Carl for more difficult parts?). I do wonder about any songs he hadn’t played bass on in the ‘60’s that he may have played in 1977-78. I wonder if he “translated” them himself, or if Carl or Ed Carter helped him because he hadn’t played bass regularly for a while.

Here's hoping whoever wins thinks outside the box and delivers an amazing vocal no one would expect!

I entered but definitely didn’t deliver an amazing vocal, so I doubt it get it. Combination of lack of time to prepare, having not heard the song before a few days ago, not being familiar with the software I was using, and trying not to wake the neighbors while recording late at night. I kinda apologized in my email for the poor vocal, because I definitely could’ve done better, but I really wanted to say I submitted something of me singing to Brian Wilson for a contest.    

EDIT: Accidentally double-posted (and quoted myself) while trying to edit an emoji. Is there a way to delete a post from a tablet/phone, or can that only be done on a computer? (I’m struggling to find a delete button?)

ANOTHER EDIT: Since it looks like I’m stuck with this embarrassing double-post (sorry about that everyone), I’ll take advantage of it to echo Billy C’s comments about the melody. I know very little of Brian’s solo material, (and as I said I had to sing poorer and a bit different because of the time and I didn’t want to risk belting at that late hour,) but I was surprised at how difficult the higher parts actually were. I’ll have to listen to seltaeb’s version and the other cover posted below. (I’m not going to post mine out of embarrassment about my vocal.)