Has that version of JBG ever been "booted"? Strange that one of the last songs recorded with Dennis hasn't seen some sort of release.

My Solution
California Feeling (Brian's original recording...this one I really want to hear since I like all other version except the one with Rocky)
Everybody Wants to Live
It's Trying to Say (Baseball)
I Do (from Sweet Insanity)

Oh, and Rollin' Up to Heaven/Hard Time/Ding Dang (dirty version) or whatever its actually called too. They sound like they're having a gas on that one.

OK, I have a question I thought of earlier today that is kind of on this subject. What is the one song from The Beach Boys(I'm talking about the group specificly) that had the longest "creative span"? I'm talking about from their "active" years as a studio band, from 1961 to whenever Summer In Paradise came out(I don't remember the exact year, and don't care enough to find out.  ). Stars and Stripes Forever, as I like to effectionately(?) call it doesn't count. The song Loop De Loop doesn't count either, since it's an "archiveal release". My best guess would be Back Home. It was first written and recorded in 1963(I believe), but was not released until 15BigOnes came out in 1976. That's 13 years. Yes, I know that the 15BO's version was recorded in 1975, but the album was not released until 1976.

There's a version from around Sunflower too I think. Isn't it Al singing lead there? But yes, the 63 version rocks pretty good, despite being incomplete (or so it sounds)...15 Big Ones version is pretty awesome too though.

[Summer In Paradise]

I blame it on them rarely playing new material on the road...what a ridiculous concert format.

They performed new material live every time they had a studio album out, up to and including Summer In Paradise. So, invalid premise.

Well, I correct myself. I didn't mean they never played new material, but rather not enough of it. And I still stand by the fact that their "non-classic" songs disappeared from setlists too early. To me, it would just make sense if a band playing in, say, 1981 played more of their music from 1976-1980, rather than cramming the show full of songs from earlier than 1970.

I blame it on them rarely playing new material on the road...what a ridiculous concert format.

But that isn't really true, is it? The band continued to play a good number of new songs well into the '70s, doing a lot of new tunes at least through the Brian is Back campaign.

I was in the process of typing the same thing and you beet me to it.

I think it is true. Look at the Knebworth CD...they play two damn songs from KTSA. And they rocked, too. And pretty soon those disappeared from setlists. Go to a show these days and the band better be playing at least half of their new album. It's not only something the audience would likely want to hear, but good marketing also. You sprinkle your shows with the big hits, some deep fan favorites and a lot of new stuff. Just my opinion though.

I tried to make a Brian "solo" mix today. I included stuff he did with the Beach Boys that, to my ears, could've been snagged and released as a BW 45 without anyone really noticing...so it ends up being half and half. It's in chronological order, with total running time of 1:19:40. I guess the title could simply be "Brian".

1. Cindy, Oh Cindy
2. Back Home (1963 version)
3. I'm So Young (Alternate Take)
4. Caroline, No
5. I'd Love Just Once To See You
6. Busy Doin' Nothin'
7. I Went To Sleep
8. Games Two Can Play
9. 'Til I Die
10. Chapel Of Love
11. Let's Put Our Hearts Together
12. Still I Dream Of It
13. Matchpoint Of Our Love
14. I'm So Lonely
15. Let's Go To Heaven In My Car
16. Love and Mercy
17. Melt Away
18. Little Children
19. Being With The One You Love
20. I Do
21. Thank You
22. Spirit Of Rock 'n' Roll
23. Desert Drive (Paley sessions version)
24. California Feelin' (Beach Boys Classics recording)
25. You've Touched Me
26. Gettin' In Over My Head
27. Saturday Morning In The City
28. Going Home

We (real BB fans) have got to be some of the most frustrated fans of any band.

"A pain I know all too well..."

But really, even more interesting to me is how a band that is one of America's best selling and well known acts has unbelievably unpopular albums! I blame it on them rarely playing new material on the road...what a ridiculous concert format. And so many of their singles were released way too close to the album date.

How long was Brian and Diane's affair? Or, to continue with the nautical references: when did the USS Brian pull dock into Port Diane?

People with the inside info are people who have the ability to keep their mouths shut about it. Don't hate them because they're not gossip queens like you. And just remember that most of the inside info you so desperately want to know could in many cases color your feelings on the Beach Boys. Sometimes ignorance is bliss. Let's keep it that way. It certainly hasn't done this board any harm, now has it?

If it wasn't for ignorance, this board probably wouldn't exist!

Jason Schwartzman would make  a killer Brian. Or in a pinch, Carl.

I like Schwartzman (both acting and music) but he's way too short to play Brian. Part of the BW persona is that he is so large...how could Schwartzman pull off big mid-70s Brian?

The last line of your post sums up in a nutshell exactly what went wrong with the BB's. Of course Brian should have been welcomed back into the fold as a full time participating creative member but to cut the legs off creatively from the others (esp Dennis) is THE most stupidest thing they did in their entire history.

Yes. Even though Brian is without a doubt my favorite BB, even I can see this. Would've been such a powerful band with all these guys pooling their talent together.

I agree about 63-64....then later.....

Was it 73 or 74 when Rolling Stone magazine named them "Band of the Year"?

RS also had the two part  Tom Nolan cover story associated with the pending or recent release of "Surf's Up".

74 is what I've heard. They didn't even have an album! But they were selling out shows like crazy and then Endless Summer really sent it overboard. But their first peak was probably 63-64 as everyone has said. Also, good to see another young BB fan on here!

I have a question about this...I've "heard" a copy of this "TM in the AM/PM" song that opens with a clip from an interview with one of the Boys about TM. It sounds A LOT like a slightly gravely voiced Brian. Sounds like what I think he'd sound like around CATP era maybe. In it he claims: "I personally combine the two together, I meditate while under hypnosis, I do it at the same time". Does anybody know anything about this--where its from? Who's interviewing him? If there is a full version somewhere? It definitely sounds like just a small clip of a discussion. I'd love to hear more about Brian's (and all of the guys') meditation practices.

Also, on the page AGD linked...very happy to know Brian and Spongebob have been in the same studio together  .

Add to those, "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off" and "I Got Plenty Of Nothing".

I know that's a joke but I could actually see "I Got Plenty of Nothing" working well with Brian. He loves himself some funky banjo sounds, and that song is supposed to have a banjo. As heard here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SZuwxT2omw and in other older recordings of the song.

Not a parent here, but I'd always imagine your children are always your "little children". They'll always be the those little people you saw grow up, and regardless of how estranged your relationship might be, you still harbor love for them. To me its a troubled and highly controlled Brian still saying to his girls that they're in his mind, even if Mr. Svengali won't let them see him.

In fact, I think people have misinterpreted most of Brian's songs that mention children, except for "Tomboy" maybe. But heck, "Pick You Up," everyone thinks its perverted, and I'm sure it can be read as so, but to me it sounds like an emotionally awkward man speaking with love and affection for his children; nothing off putting about that at all.

I've always dug Big Sur and realized the lyrics were quite good...but looking at them sans music, they are just brilliant. Real poetry of a high order. The whole California Saga rips hard; what the heck happened to Mike and Al in the hiatus the band took after Holland. Makes you wonder what the band could've been if instead of making Brian the sole head again, they ALL worked together to make something extremely eclectic and beautiful.

NPH as the Lovester!

By Jove, NPH would be perfect as Mr. Love. Heck, I'd pay to see a Mike biopic if NPH was doing it. Genius.

Actually, it's the reverse. They're Susie and Tommy in demo. Only in the released version do they become Carnie and Wendy. I've always seen Landy's creepy hand behind that.

You're right. My mistake. But what's creepy about it? Seems a nice touch to add his daughters names to the song...

wasn't Holland all newly recorded material?

Didn't Desper claim they had done a version of SOS some months prior to the Holland recording? And Big Sur was recorded earlier too, in a different time signature.

Hope it's good. I'm excited to hear his take on Gershwin classics. I hope "Ain't Necessarily So" is on there.

On another note, I can't open the site when I'm on campus. When at my apartment or anywhere else though, its fine.

First #1 to be Pro Tools from the ground up. First commercial version of Pro Tools was marketed in 1991 - 4 tracks, price tag $6,000

6 Gs for 4 tracks 

I feel somewhat ashamed that this is getting me so excited...I really hope something (read: anything) happens. A reissue or some rarities would be nice; a concert or DVD; whatever. With this, who knows...maybe soon there'll be a critical/public reappraisal of the BBs work ahead. I hope they make the most of this opportunity. I mean, how many bands even exist in some form 50 years later?

I've always wondered how this song made Carnie feel when she heard it:
"When a man loves a woman, they make things like you my son,
Er, whoops. Think Brian wanted/expected a son, maybe?
I know he loves all his daughters but, Jeez: awk-ward.

I've thought the same thing. Didn't Brian even see the sonogram? Either way, they both get name checked in the early version of Little Children. Although not released with those lyrics, it's very sweet and a very good song in general.

Everyone always associates them with surfing and cars

And girls.

I think, however, that's a more appropriate association. Boy-Girl relations are timeless and will always be the subject of songs. Plus, they do sing about a lot of ladies.

BDW made the word "vibrations" cool, and gave a whole new meaning to the word while making it part of the daily lexicon.

Don't forget "exitations!"

Not to nitpick but isn't it "excitations"?