['Carl and the Passions – So Tough:' The Beach Boys' Misunderstood 1972 Rock Opus]

Wish I could have met Carl. He was one of the good guys. You wonder how much unreleased Carl material is still sitting in a vault somewhere. Earlier today, I wrote about Carl & The Passions -- So Tough and included some new quotes from Jon Stebbins and Andrew.  Minutes after I had published it, Brian's Twitter feed mentioned that today would have been Carl's 67th birthday. Fortuitous timing...


http://www.examiner.com/review/carl-and-the-passions-so-tough-the-beach-boys-misunderstood-1972-rock-opus
'Carl and the Passions – So Tough:' The Beach Boys' Misunderstood 1972 Rock Opus

This is amazing news.  It should be interesting to see Brian at the 4,000 seater St. Augustine Amphitheatre, definitely a step up for him. That's where the 50th Anniversary tour made one of their earliest stop....also where the PBS special filmed. About two weeks ago I saw The Monkees at the amphitheatre, and while folks had an amazing time (more young people than at Beach Boys show), it was only 60% full. Can Brian fill the venue?

You're more than welcome, Ziggy.

John Manning... I don't think Brian is working on two albums simultaneously. Mark Lindsay was referring to the fact that if Brian decides to not include their collaboration on his forthcoming album, there's always the next solo album on down the road. Of course, assuming that Brian keeps recording. Sorry for any confusion.

I really appreciate your kind remarks, OregonRiverRider. Thanks.

Coincidentally, I got to interview Mark Lindsay earlier today. I had no idea that he had composed a song with Brian until about a hour before the interview, so thank God for Smiley Smile. I got a few teeny, tiny details...

Lindsay said he was in California last week on business and dropped into Ocean Way for less than 10 minutes to visit & listen to what Brian was doing, who was recording. Foskett took the photo of them together.  I asked if it would be a Beach Boys or Brian recording...Lindsay said solo Brian. He said he wasn't sure if the song would appear on Brian's upcoming album...perhaps the next album.

I tried to get Lindsay to tell me the title, but he laughed and said he couldn't. He thinks it's part of another, larger song, so there may be a couple of additional writers on it. I pressed him a bit regarding what the song was about. In his words, "If I tell you the lyrics, I'll let the cat out of the bag. But it's a love song about a boy and a girl or about two lovers of any sex for that matter." At this point Lindsay hasn't recorded any vocals, but he left the possibility open.

He mentioned that his friendship with Brian only blossomed in the last couple of years. He used to hang out with Carl, Dennis, and Bruce, but he was always intimidated by Brian.

My favorite Lindsay quote: "The man is a genius, there's no question about it. He may not sing like he did in the '60s, but he still thinks like he did back in the '60s. He still has it...all those harmonies in his head just like he did. There's only one Brian."

Currently performing on the Happy Together '60s package tour (how I got the interview in the first place), Lindsay told me that he will be in New Jersey when Brian plays there on July 20 and plans on attending the show.

Believe it or not, last year when I saw the Beach Boys in St. Augustine, Florida, I was heading into the amphitheatre when guess who I see walking in front of me with a baseball cap...Mark Lindsay and his wife, Deb. Nobody else seemed to recognize him. After they were seated, I simply walked up, said that was I a fan, sat down and chatted for a few minutes, and got his autograph. I should have got a picture, I know. Guess I was nervous about making a scene. Apparently the former Raider saw The Beach Boys a number of times last year when they were in Florida. Definitely a nice, approachable guy.

Many thanks for sharing the link. It was especially insightful to read about Carli's insights on the 2008 reissue of POB. By the way, the "James B Rieley" gentleman who commented on the article...would he happen to be the Jack Rieley?

Rocker,

I feel kinda ashamed, but I haven't had a chance to hear Tony Joe White's album yet. But last night I was listening to Elvis sing For Ol' Times Sake and I've Got A Thing About You Baby from the July 1973 Stax sessions in Memphis. Two of my favorites. So I'm nearly there...

Jimmie Haskell played accordion on Elvis' GI Blues soundtrack in April 1960. The accordion song that sticks out is "Wooden Heart."

[Bobbie Gentry Had The Most Gorgeous Legs Ever: On The Record With Jimmie Haskell]

That was a wonderful link to the Jim Stafford interview. Hope he will eventually be comfortable talking about Bobbie on the record.

Earlier this week I finally got around to publishing my interview with Grammy-winning arranger Jimmie Haskell (worked with Rick Nelson, Elvis, hundreds of others)


Bobbie Gentry Had The Most Gorgeous Legs Ever: On The Record With Jimmie Haskell
http://www.examiner.com/article/bobbie-gentry-had-the-most-gorgeous-legs-ever-on-the-record-with-jimmie-haskell


Here is what Haskell talks about...

Haskell sets the record straight on his initial meeting with Gentry (she liked his beard), recording the string arrangement for "Ode to Billie Joe" as if it were a movie, Capitol being initially embarrassed by the recording, how the alluring songwriter handily dealt with the musician who claimed he "produced" "Ode to Billie Joe", and what it was like to receive a Grammy for the legendary song.

Believe it or not, the easy-going and forthright gentleman briefly dated the girl with the most beautiful legs ever. Once she became wealthy, Haskell analyzes whether fame and fortune affected Gentry's personality in an adverse manner. A glaring example: what occurred backstage at a Memphis Symphony concert when a facility manager did not meet her demands.

And has the singer/songwriter attempted to rejuvenate her long-dormant recording career? You might be surprised at Haskell's revelation that an out-of-the-blue phone call after decades of non-communication was poised to reunite the duo in the studio but inexplicably failed to materialize.

I've always wanted to see The Everly Brothers live. Was it roughly eight years ago when they opened for Simon & Garfunkel on a tour? With all the great word-of-mouth & publicity, I wish they would have cut a new studio album and rode all the buzz. Maybe they still can't work together. Sorry for getting further & further away from Rick Nelson. We'll get back on track eventually.


PS...Has anyone heard a long-unreleased Everly Brothers song called "Even If I Hold It In My Hand (Hard Luck Story)?" Written by Don about suicide and recorded on January 6, 1967...Glen Campbell plays a killer 30-second solo. Fans finally heard it in 1993.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b8DoGqtRGU

No one has mentioned this tidbit...CBS showed footage of The Beach Boys performing and a little interview with Brian & Mike tonight (Saturday) on "The Grammys Will Go On: A Death In The Family", a new one-hour special on CBS about the 2012 ceremony and how it all quickly came together in the aftermath of Whitney Houston's death. It aired at 9:00 PM East Coast time.

I didn't know John Beland felt that way...did he make his remarks in an official interview somewhere?

Yeah, Rick had so many record-related setbacks in his final years. A 1978 album with Al Kooper was rejected by Epic Records, then the Memphis Sessions was inexplicably rejected by the same label. The Playing To Win 1981 Capitol LP was released but had terrible sales. Then a second record for the label was scuttled. Wish Rick's family would get concerned about his legacy. No major label compilations since the Greatest Love Songs set in 2008 on Capitol. But at least we have the indie collector labels like Real Gone Music & Bear Family. They are probably our only hope in getting the sessions out.

[True Love Ways: A glimpse inside the tangled web of Rick Nelson's final album]

https://medium.com/@jeremylr/true-love-ways-a-glimpse-inside-the-tangled-web-of-rick-nelsons-final-album-cff2ad08795c
True Love Ways: A glimpse inside the tangled web of Rick Nelson's final album

I have continued to pursue my interest in Rick Nelson.  I wrote another article examining Rick's final, still-unreleased 1985 album for Curb Records. Hopefully I touched on some topics that might be new to you. Here's part of the introduction...

Did you know that there is a complete album of unreleased Rick Nelson songs in someone's possession? Indeed, the "You Just Can't Quit" songwriter was working on a new rockabilly “comeback” album for Curb Records at the time of his fateful collision with destiny on December 31, 1985.

For decades Nelson had been uncomfortable performing many of his greatest hits live. His personal mantra of "if memories were all I sang, I'd rather drive a truck" as immortalized in "Garden Party" haunted him, not unlike Pete Townshend's declaration that "I hope I die before I get old" in the anthemic "My Generation."

But his fans never stopped yearning to hear Nelson perform the tunes that made him a household name. When rockabilly experienced an unexpected revival in the early '80s as the Stray Cats landed several huge hits with "Stray Cat Strut" and "(She's) Sexy + 17", Nelson finally realized that his legacy was worth celebrating. Consequently, classic artists such as Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, and Nelson himself began to command better-paying gigs in front of screaming, appreciative fans.

The OleMiss link to the original lyrics for Ode to Billie Joe is beyond impressive. I had never seen those before, so many thanks for posting, RN57.

I have always wanted to read Glen Campbell's recollections of working with Bobbie but have never found any interviews where he goes into much detail. If someone does, please post the link(s) on here.

The two songs recorded with Jody Reynolds are also available on iTunes/Amazon. I agree with your assessment that it is very surprising that it took an additional four years for Bobbie to gain major notice. Hopefully I will uncover more of what was happening in Bobbie's life/career during those years.

[A Voice Possessing Effortlessness and Tossed-Off Coolness: Rick Nelson Remembered]

Guitarfool2002 suggested I create this topic, so here goes. I have published several Rick Nelson-related interviews, including James Burton, Sam Nelson (Rick's youngest son), 1992's "Teenage Idol, Travelin' Man" author Philip Bashe, and producer-arranger Jimmie Haskell.

Fittingly, after playing a roof-raising rockabilly concert that ended with Buddy Holly's defiant ode to endless rockin', "Rave On", the dashing singer boarded a dilapidated DC-3 aircraft with his band and fiancé. Destination: a New Year's Eve concert in Dallas, Texas. It was never to be.

I have a conversation with Sheree Homer, who wrote "Rock 'N' Roll Pioneer," the first book dedicated to the singer in 20 years. So if you've never heard of Rick Nelson, check out the following and see what you think. We cover his rockabilly and early songwriting efforts in detail.

During the late '50s and early '60s, he was second only to the King of Rock and Roll in terms of record sales and overall popularity, eventually notching 53 singles on Billboard's Top 100 through 1973. Nelson, perhaps unconsciously, helped usher rock and roll into the mainstream in 1957 via the long-running family comedy series The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, an era when many uptight parents forbade their children from watching the pulsating, highly sensual gyrations of the more threatening Presley.

https://medium.com/@jeremylr/a-voice-possessing-effortlessness-and-tossed-off-coolness-rick-nelson-remembered-64cd67ee3e4e
A Voice Possessing Effortlessness and Tossed-Off Coolness: Rick Nelson Remembered

[To lighten the mood, I told Dennis how much I loved Pacific Ocean Blue, and his eyes opened wide, his head snapped back, and he barked, “You know that album?" "Dennis", I truthfully told him, "I bought it in England the day it was released, took it home and it blew me away". He just stared at me and finally remarked, “D*mn…you really mean that, dontcha? Thanks man, that means so much to me".With a crushing handshake, he was off to see to the drums. I never met him again, nor saw him in concert, and 26 months later, he was gone. My interaction with him lasted maybe 25 minutes, but during that short span, I felt I was the most interesting person in his life, and also the sheer raw force of his charisma – it radiated off him like heat from a blast furnace.]

If you read the last line, you'll see where the title came from. It sums up Dennis' aura perfectly to me.

Andrew G. Doe, on meeting Dennis Wilson:

To lighten the mood, I told Dennis how much I loved Pacific Ocean Blue, and his eyes opened wide, his head snapped back, and he barked, “You know that album?" "Dennis", I truthfully told him, "I bought it in England the day it was released, took it home and it blew me away". He just stared at me and finally remarked, “D*mn…you really mean that, dontcha? Thanks man, that means so much to me".

With a crushing handshake, he was off to see to the drums. I never met him again, nor saw him in concert, and 26 months later, he was gone. My interaction with him lasted maybe 25 minutes, but during that short span, I felt I was the most interesting person in his life, and also the sheer raw force of his charisma – it radiated off him like heat from a blast furnace.


http://www.examiner.com/article/like-heat-from-a-blast-furnace-the-sheer-raw-force-of-beach-boy-dennis-wilson

Back on December 4, what would have been Dennis' 68th birthday, I spoke at length with Andrew Doe, Mike Eder, Jon Stebbins, and Craig Slowinski about their admiration for Dennis. I think the article commemorates his life, too. Wanted to include Ed Roach but was unable to reach him. Maybe next time...

"Like heat from a blast furnace: The sheer raw force of Beach Boy Dennis Wilson"

http://www.examiner.com/article/like-heat-from-a-blast-furnace-the-sheer-raw-force-of-beach-boy-dennis-wilson

Thanks for the info, all. I would love to learn more about the song's history, whether it was derived from "Common", etc.

Was there a reason(s) why Morning Christmas wasn't included on the 2008 Legacy reissue of Pacific Ocean Blue? Thought it should have been there...

This was so satisfying emotional and intellectually to read today; I salute our scholar brothers for their insight and generosity in marking this memorial.  The now famous "Everything that I am or will ever be is in the music. If you want to know me, just listen" remains one of the great literary epitaphs in poetic history. To me it's up there with Keats' "here lies one whose name was writ in water." I have both POB and the Bamboo in the car stereo; I promise to listen all week and help us all keep Dennis alive. From what I teach, from Gilgamesh and Homer on down through Shakespeare, I learned that the only way to achieve immortality is through art. Dennis has made it, and he continues to give us eternal joy. Back to the grading. . . .I leave so much unsaid.

The Professor, I appreciate your insightful remarks about Dennis' birthday article, especially for singling out the "Everything that I am or will ever be is in the music. If you want to know me, just listen" line and comparing it to Keats. I'd never thought of that. It is indeed a great literary epitaph and sums him up in a nutshell.

Our own Mike Eder, Andrew G. Doe, Craig Slowinski, and Jon Stebbins consented to a hastily put together but ultimately rewarding interview earlier today about Dennis.

Like heat from a blast furnace: The sheer raw force of Beach Boy Dennis Wilson
http://www.examiner.com/article/like-heat-from-a-blast-furnace-the-sheer-raw-force-of-beach-boy-dennis-wilson

Ironically enough, I am currently interviewing Sheree Homer, author of Rick Nelson: Rock 'N' Roll Pioneer. The book has tons of new interviews with Rick's bandmates and friends, including a very rare conversation with Kristen [Kris] Harmon, Rick's wife. She also provided at least 30 unseen photos from her archive. The only thing to consider -- the publisher, McFarland, priced the book kinda high at $35 [paperback, 196 pages]. I still recommend it, though.

The Tony Joe white collection is now in my Amazon shopping cart. Many thanks...And it's actually going for $8.00 new, a real bargain.


RN57, that video of Bing Crosby, Tiny Tim, and Bobbie performing In The Cool, Cool Evening is unbelievable. I can't think of a stranger combination. That could very well be part of why Bobbie quit her career -- the lustful stares and the constant questions about what Billie Joe threw off the Tallahatchie Bridge. She basically quit recording after her 1971 album, the critically acclaimed but commercially unsuccessful Patchwork, came out in 1971. She wrote every song on this loose concept LP. Later she did a few one-off singles through 1977 that sadly had no chart impact. However, she kept her Vegas/Tahoe gigs through the early '80s.


Bayou soul and country funk...if you don't mind SBonilla, I want to file your words away. It's a perfect description of Bobbie's music.

That wouldn't surprise me at all about Glen Campbell's wife being jealous. Bobbie had an effect on many men she met, including her producer and arranger. Producer Kelly Gordon actually left his wife and kids for Bobbie, and arranger Jimmie Haskell dated Bobbie briefly when he and his wife were separated.

Very cool info on Tony Joe White. I have said for years that I would get a good Tony Joe compilation, but I haven't gotten around to it.

Moon Dawg,

Raven Records in Australia has released every one of Bobbie's albums [a 2 albums per CD type thing]. They started their BG campaign around 2007. However, they will not release her collaboration with Glen Campbell. You would think that one would really sell if marketed properly. It went to No. 11 on the pop charts, No. 1 country. Stayed on the pop charts for 47 weeks, actually beating the chart stay of the Ode to Billie Joe LP [No. 1 Pop, on chart for 30 weeks]. Her second most popular album and a certified Gold one, too. You can find it on iTunes and Amazon as an MP3 download.


If you want an overview of her career, the 2004 Shout! release "Chickasaw County Child: The Artistry of Bobbie Gentry", is a good bet. A single disc with 23 cuts.

AllMusicGuide has some great info on her...

http://www.allmusic.com/album/chickasaw-county-child-the-artistry-of-bobbie-gentry-mw0000330430