http://m.beaumontenterprise.com/entertainment/article/Q-A-Beach-Boys-talk-TV-touring-and-The-Beatles-6869179.php

Mostly a fluff piece, but Mike talks about a new Pet Sounds box, and the fact that he's been in communication with Al, and a few other interesting things.

There is also a longer audio version of the interview on the same page.

I think Al would have been a better choice for California Saga: California.

Brian, Mike, Al, Carl & Dennis.

Not because that's my ranking, but just because that's how I'd want it. If I can't include Dave, I won't include Bruce either.

You could get rid of the car and surf medleys they've been doing since 1981 and break those songs up a bit. I Get Around can easily be out of that medley and put somewhere else.  They've dropped Shut Down from time to time too, so that might free up some things.

The surf medley hasn't been around in over a decade.

COMMENT:

Scroll through the various artists.  Dennis is second.

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/gallery/entertainment/here-what-10-iconic-rockstars-would-look-if-they-were-alive-today

~~~  interesting.

Looks a bit like Huey Lewis.

["We’re warned not to incite his ire by making mention of the rift with Wilson"]

Nothing terribly unique or new on this one (songwriting credits, L&M movie, etc.), but it was slightly interesting to read the writer mention:

"We’re warned not to incite his ire by making mention of the rift with Wilson"

Obviously, we don't know who offered the warning, though my first impression is that it was someone the writer had to go through to talk to Mike. I guess he could mean just random colleagues or fans offered the friendly warning, but if any managers/agents/PR people are asking that of writers, that's interesting (not scandalous or nefarious, just interesting).

So I guess it's gonna be a bit more awkward continually showing big screen pictures of Brian at shows, when Brian is now banished to not even being able to be talked about in interviews. Like he doesn't even exist. Yeesh.

It is so, so incredibly sad that it has gotten to this point.

I think he'll still show the images.

But I did notice that, when I saw Mike and Bruce a week ago, Mike mentioned Al, Carl, and Dennis at various parts, but didn't make any of his usual mentions of "Cousin Brian." 

Just curious, in what context was Al's name brought up? My guess is during the introduction to Pisces brothers or All This Is That.

Probably Here She Comes

[Bellagio 10452 - albums]

Was this version never released before? I Don't think Their Hearts was ever a bonus track on the cd reissues before!

Bellagio 10452 - albums

... and yes, I know it needs updating. Real life has an unfortunate habit of intruding. 

I can relate to that!

Here is the setlist from last night in Hagerstown.   The band was great, the venue was cool but the crowd was the lamest I've ever witnessed in 30 years of attending concerts!!!!

Wow, there are 7 songs from Today! (8 if you count R[h]onda, which of course wouldn't really be accurate.)

Here's the group performing "Oh Darlin" for a TV documentary:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLqvRpN_bSE

Carl is my favorite Beach Boys vocalist, but that has to be the most dreary, boring performance by the band ever! It looks like Carl is completely bored, and Al looks bored as well.

Cuddle up was performed at least once live.

Good to my baby has been performed numerous times post-1998 by Mike & Bruce, with Randell on lead.

Girl Don't Tell me has been done by Al Jardine Family & Friends.

It would be cool if Brian's band would do Diamond Head live!

I really wanted to go, and I was less than an hour away, but I made the last minute decision to keep hanging out with friends in the area instead.

Did anyone get the setlist?

"Hawaii" by the High Fives. This was around 2006 or so.  I don't remember who the guy was behind the band, but they were on myspace back in the day. Not to be confused with the High Llamas.

Anyone notice two officially released studio albums missing from the list?

I see Party is missing, but a loss for the other one unless you mean Stars & Stripes?

I thought it odd that SIP was left out of the C50 tour program. But in all the publicity, they would always say that TWGMTR was their 29th studio album, which means that they included both SIP and S&S in that count.

Yes. Stars & stripes, whether we like it or not, was an officially released Beach Boys album.

It was at least better than Summer In Paradise. 

I'm guessing the author was only factoring in albums that contained original material.

I know it's got "THE BEACH BOYS" on the album sleeve, but I don't consider Stars and Stripes to be a legit BB album.  I've always thought of it as a country tribute to TBB that features Mike, Brian, Carl, Al, and Bruce. 

I agree, though during C50 I think they included it as part of their canon, but not SIP. SIP is a half of a decent album, whereas S&S has maybe 3 decent remakes on it.

Hmmmm...
- The Beach Boys on the cover
- Produced by Brian Wilson and Joe Thomas
- Exec produced by Mike Love
- bg vox mostly by Mike, Bri, Al, Bruce, Carl & current at the time member Matt (BB blood) Jardine.
- an album of BB songs + associated with BB song (Long Tall T)

But it's not a BB album because...?

It's my personal treatment, is all. I know it's considered their album. It is a bit weird where you don't sing one lead on your own album. Just odd that during C50 they included it, but not SIP.

Anyone notice two officially released studio albums missing from the list?

I see Party is missing, but a loss for the other one unless you mean Stars & Stripes?

Yes. Stars & stripes, whether we like it or not, was an officially released Beach Boys album.

Anyone notice two officially released studio albums missing from the list?

Not a very inspiring list, but...

1 Getcha Back
2 Isn't It Time
3 Good Timin'
4 Summer In Paradise (live version. Either studio version would be at the bottom)
5 It's OK
6 Good Timin'
7 Come Go With Me
8 Goin' On
9 Rock And Roll Music

You have Good Timin on there twice

Very close between the top 4:

1. Getcha Back
2. It's OK (45 version)
3. Rock And Roll Music (45 version)
4. Good Timin'

And similarly, the bottom 4 are pretty close

5. Summer In Paradise (US studio version)
6. Come Go With Me
7. Isn't It Time (45 version)
8. Goin' On

I moved to Los Angeles in November of 1995.  The first thing I did was drive out to Leo Carrillo Beach, pop that CD in the car stereo and played Warmth of the Sun.

Brian's time-worn voice was perfect at that moment; even in 1995 there wasn't much left of the California Dream that gave birth to that song in 1963.  Listening, I had a sense that there wasn't much left but the ghosts, like attending a family reunion and not recognizing anyone .  It's a beautiful, but ghostly track, for me.

One of the images that stays with me from the IJWMFTT film is Brian and Melinda driving by the site of the house where he grew up. "My house is gone"....yeah, it already felt like ancient history in 1995. Sometimes I have a hard time wrapping my brain around the idea that it is 2016. 2016? How did I get here? Never expected to be around this long.

Yeah being in 2016 is surreal....thinking that 1996 was 20 years ago...that was when Stars & Stripes came out. We are closer to 2020 now than 2010. We are closer to 2030 than 2000. Crazy stuff.

10/10

Veteran fans and new fans alike:

What would you like to see happen this year in the world of the Beach Boys?

As unlikely as it may seem, I'd love for there to be a few full reunion shows in honor of the 50th anniversary of either Pet Sounds or Good Vibrations. Especially if there's a show or two in Southern California!

Also, I'd love to see new solo releases from David, Mike, Al, and Brian!

More BB archival releases as well!

It would be cool if Mike/Bruce added "Keepin The Summer Alive", "It's About Time", and "California Saga" to the setlist!

It would be cool if Brian/Al/Blondie added "Funky Pretty", "You Need A Mess Of Help to Stand Alone", and more Brian solo tracks to the setlist!

And continued health for all involved in the BB/BW world.



What's on your wish list?

Very surprised to find the "Help Me Rhonda" baseball tee on Urban Outfitters' website:

http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=36908986&category=SEARCH+RESULTS

Very cool that they would do that, but it looks to be of poor quality.

The US version is WAY better. The UK version is very awkward, repetitive, and sounds like a rushed demo.

i don't think we would ever do away with the printed edition.  It's true we would save some costs of printing and postage if current subscribers opted for a digital subscription, but a good portion of our expenses are fixed regardless of whether we print 100 copies or 1,000 copies.  The value proposition is how many subscribers would we gain by a digital edition, what price could we set, and what is the cost of a third party service to host the issues, provide an eCommerce front-end website to purchase the digital subscriptions and individual issues, and provide a secure method of delivery.  They would have to support Microsoft devices, Apple devices, Kindles, Androids, etc.

Lee

Even if a digital option was available to the fans for a fraction of the price, I would still stick with the print edition. I like something that I can look back at in future years and not have to turn on a device to read.