I know these weren't the best of times for Brian, but I was wondering what material he was writing during this period of time. Was there any noteworthy compositions. Any kind of list that showed what he was doing would be cool. This period seems interesting to me.

hmm thats all interesting. I'd probably venture a guess and say hes Christian in some form.

I know this is a touchy subject, but I always wondered what religion Brian belongs to. We all know about Mike due to his advocacy of the Maharishi, but what about Brian?

another really valid question. i dont mind marilyn and dianes singing but its definately not top notch. is it just brian's attachment to his family that always made him work with them and the beach boys pretty much. or do you think that he was just easily used? because i mean hes produced things for the vail fellow, had their manager sing, produced a bunch for his wife and sister in law, rocky pamplin........but then mike had the guts to say redwood wasnt up to brians specifications (it was in an interview)......i just dont get it

sorry guys i recently had surgery and am on a bunch of meds....if i'm not making total sense i apologize.

i suppose you have a point there. but then again, rocky had about as much business singing that song as any one of us. i know brians "autobiography" said it was a put-on to let him sing that.  but i wonder what the real story is. was rocky really a part of american spring?

ok so i heard the rocky version. it sounded kind of unprofessional i thought. maybe it was just a demo? i've actually grown to quite like the beach boys LA version. it has a nice ambiance to it. the BW 2002 version.....well thats another story still.

i do think if there is another Beach Boys version its probably from MIU, or maybe Bruce was just incorrect about singing on a "few" versions.

and now that I think of it, why was "Good Timin" held all the way back for release until 1979.......it was obviously Brian's best composition since Sail On Sailor or maybe even Til I Die.

Why wouldn't Bruce want it on LA? That seems weird, it has that nice mellow vibe that either makes or breaks LA for most people and would have definately risen Brian's profile on the album. After all, he only had Good Timin and Shortenin Bread as real contributions, and I don't think hes really heard vocally at all.

I'm not so sure about that Bruce theory, but I'll take your word. Isn't it also true the band wanted to call the MIU Album "California Feeling," which I'm assuming means they recorded a version then too. Or is that just the Rocky version. How confusing.....or possibly they were gonna use the '74 version. All I know is for that album Brian didn't want it used. Any explanation?

This topic has become way more confusing to me that I originally imagined. Thanks for the help so far everyone.

I haven't actually heard it yet........but most people seem to think it was a lapse of judgement to say the least, to have Rocky singing lead.

I'm wondering....

What was the point of the '74 demo....was it shown to the band? or Marilyn for American Spring? Or anybody? Seeing that he actually went to Western (I think) to record it, I would think that he must have felt strongly about the tune, one of his best in the 70s.

And then, seeing that he played it to that interviewer, he must have had some plans for it. Was Brian's preferred version the Spring one, with Rocky singing? I heard it was a "put on," but at the same time, why would Brian sabotage a great song of his, not even with the Beach Boys (we KNOW he would do that with the BB, haha)....Was he involved in the Beach Boys recording in 78 (?)....Is that him on the falsetto? And why did he object to including it on albums....or is that just conjecture.........AHHH so many questions.....lets try to unravel this mystery, if its of any importance to you guys.

Sorry for all the ridiculous questions.

Haha, thank you very much Jason....you are "preferably" fine with me.

This topic has been done to death by I just want to clarify.....how many versions of CF have been done, and when, and could whoever responds, AGD preferably.....sum up each track. I'm pretty sure I'm only in posession of a Beach Boys LA Album outtake and the obvious "Classics" version by BW and his band. Thanks everyone in advance!

so. i was reading my badman book and the carlin book and i thought about 3 things.

first off, what is the story of "won't you tell me"? the badman book says its written by brian and murry and i think it says something about it not being a beach boys tune. well anyways, judging by brian and carl (?) on it, i'm assuming it was.....so what was the deal, and why wasn't it considered for inclusion on any album, its a pretty nice, sweet tune.

then onto "where is she?".  it was mentioned in the badman book, and sparingly around other places. whats the story with that song? hass a boot ever popped up of it? i'm really unaware of ever hearing about that song through the years. i think i've seen it described as "haunting." however, i'm guessing it must be somehow incomplete, as not much of a fuss has ever been made about it.

then lastly, what was up with "gimme some lovin/baby i need your lovin"? i read in the carlin book that it was worked on in 71/72 but then in the leaf book and i think the badman book it says something about 76/77. i'm just wondering to what extent it was ever done. it sounds quite interesting from sandlers description.

anyways, thanks guys.

Hey everybody, just wondering, but why after Love You, did the Beach Boys decide to use a lot of the Brian songs they put on MIU and KTSA instead of the (mostly) much stronger material that he wrote around this period that was almost, if not totally, finished.  I know music is all about taste, but I would find it weird if somebody honestly would choose "Oh Darlin" or "Sunshine" over something like "It's Over Now" or "California Feeling."

Which brings me to another question, mostly posed for the Beach Boys experts. What prevented the release of "California Feeling" in the 70's. The recording with Carl/Bruce seems to be from the LA era and seems like it would have been a perfect fit on an album sorely lacking Brian contributions beside "Good Timin." Also about "CF," was there a certain attachment Brian held to this song, because according to those BW Selected BB Classics liner notes, it seems like there is/was. Also, when were attempts made to record this song, I know of a demo session with a clear voiced Brian in '74, and (I think) the Carl/Bruce version from '78. Also, was there any Brian involvement in that recording?? Sorry for all the questions, but the whole late '70's period has been of great interest to me lately. Thanks everybody.

Woppin' and-a boppin' with-a LUCY JONES is Brian and Steve Kalinich at the piano singing a cute, uptempo tune, "this is a song about Lucy Jones, 6 foot tall she's skin and bones...."  Steve sings most of the lead.  Recorded 11/74 at Western, same session as the original demo for CALIFORNIA FEELIN. 

For anybody in the know.....so basically Brian's musical output in 1974 was as follows???:
-Ding Dang
-California Feeling
-Good Timin
-Lucy Jones
-You're Riding High on the Music

If anybody could help me out that would be cool

So at the session for the original demo for CALIFORNIA FEELING, what happened....was it recorded? Was tracking finished? Who sang lead? Brian? And how did he sound if it was??

Sorry for all the questions...

odd that none of those 1972 were considered for Holland......an album which (along with Surf's Up or L.A.) shows Brian almost non-existant on either vocals or production. anybody got any word on those.......and also, "spark in the dark" has no correlation to "funky pretty" odd, seeing as how its not the most commonplace phrase ever, and to be used in 2 songs in the same year....hmm.

also, does anybody know if these songs even got to the demoing phase?? any fully recorded? or even copyrighted?

My Solution (B. Wilson) - 10/31/70 - Brian

Silly Walls (B. Wilson - Sandler) - fall 1971 - David Sandler, Brian
Beatrice From Baltimore (B. Wilson) - 12/71 - Carl ?

Spark In The Dark (B. Wilson) - 1/21/72 (NOT the Holland track)
Burlesque (B. Wilson - Rieley) - 1972 - Brian ?
Is Jack Rieley Really Superman ? (B. Wilson) - 1972 - Brian

Pattycake (B. Wilson) - summer 1973 - Brian

Just An Imitation (B. Wilson) - mid 1974 - Brian ?
Brian's Tune (aka Ding Dang) (B. Wilson - McGuinn) - 11/74
California Feeling (B. Wilson - Kalinich) - demo 11/74 - Brian
Lucy Jones (B. Wilson - Kalinich) - 12/74 - Brian, Steve Kalinich (ummm... Brian in best shouty voice)
You're Riding High On The Music (B. Wilson - Kalinich) - 12/74

Andrew, could you give us a description of all of these tracks.......this is very interesting.....but my best guess is many of the compositions weren't up to snuff to actually be worked on for release.....or were they?

Hey everybody, how about a list of all Brian compositions through these years. I know its been said hes been through a dry spell as of recently, but how about a list of songs he wrote/and or worked on during this set of years that he seemed to be withdrawing in. Released or unreleased, I'd just like to see exactly how prolific he was during this period.  Also, a description/opinions on songs if they are unreleased. Thanks guys/girls.