The 1965 Beach Boys album "California Girls", which tells the story of the narrator noticing how a childhood acquaintance named Barbara Ann had grown up nicely, the subsequent rise and fall of their romance and turning to another girl named Rhonda for comfort.

1. California Girls - He's interested in girls, in general. He sees beauty all around him.

2. The Little Girl I Once Knew - They met when she was younger, but he had no eyes for her. But now... whoa!

3. Do You Wanna Dance - he makes his move. Dancing under the moonlight.

4. Barbara Ann - Yes, she did wanna dance and now he's telling others in his excitement, how he went to the dance looking for romance

5. Let Him Run Wild - Whoops. She's already with a guy. But he's cheating on her. By the end of the song, she doesn't need the other guy, he can have his freedom, because...

6. Please Let Me Wonder - ...now here they are together. It would have been worth waiting forever.

7. I'm So Young - our narrator is so excited over this new romance. He's reading to go straight to the wedding chapel.

8. Dance Dance Dance - They're together, he's having fun, but maybe taking her for granted, bragging to others about his chick by his side

9. You're So Good To Me - now doubt is creeping in. How come she is so good to him?

10. Good To My Baby - Others are starting to see problems, but he insists everything if fine. He's not bad, he doesn't treat her so mean. They are happy as a couple could be. Really.

11. She Knows Me Too Well - Now he realizes they are right. He has a weird way of showing his love. He treats her so mean and gets so jealous of the other guys.

12. Kiss Me, Baby - His doubts and jealousy have doomed them. They kiss a little bit and fight a little bit, but then late one night they say it is over

13. Help Me, Rhonda - In the end, our narrator turns to another California Girl for a little fun to help forget Barbara Ann and get her out of his heart.




At least that's the way I see it.

I want to know everything about the Don Was era in the 90s where the  BBs almost made another album.

Can someone point me to the right thread? I'm sure it's a subject that's been covered here in the past.

Thanks.

A couple of Brian-isms from the Atlanta show on June 26, paraphrasing:


"I promised you could hear Al Jardine sing and I'm not going to back out now. Here he is, a really fine singer."  

[after Don't Worry Baby]  "The great Matt!"   [to which Matt replied "The great Brian!"]

At one point, I'm guessing either just before Wild Honey or SOS, Blondie attempted to start up some banter with Brian. But Brian just wanted to get to the music. "This audience is ready for you, if you're ready for them." It was one of those unintentionally blunt comments that just shut Blondie up. He laughed it off with a shrug and started playing.

I was there Row GG Seat 109.
This was my fourth BW solo concert and it ranks second only to the incredible 2004 Smile show. Brian definitely had a great night.

Highlights for me included Busy Doin' Nothing, Wake the World, Surf's Up, This Whole World and all three numbers featuring Blondie. He really brought a lot of energy to the show. Wild Honey in particular allowed him to shine. Matt was awesome. I really enjoyed the NPP tracks, with Sail Away probably my favorite because of both Blondie and Scott's work.

A great night to be a BW fan. Three Beach Boys on stage, a stellar band and a set list with plenty of deep cuts and new material.

And I had the added joy of getting backstage after the show where I was able to shake hands with Matt, Blondie and Paul; chatted a bit with Probyn and even got to meet Al, my first time meeting a Beach Boy.

I have both volumes and I enjoy them a lot. I keep them queued up in my Kindle and often re-read them.

It is strictly a book of opinions, track-by-track for each album.  He often discusses chord progressions and other musical details, but not for every song.

His opinions are thoughtful, knowledgeable and well written. I can't compare them to AGD's book, because I haven't read that.

But I'm entertained by it and Hickey clearly knows what he's talking about.

Vol. 2 is particularly interesting to me because there's just not a lot out there covering in detail the band's 70s output.
Hickey isn't afraid to tell you when he doesn't like a track. The creative ways he comes up with expressing his loathing for, say, Going Pubilc are hilarious to me.

These are books clearly by a fan that embraces both the good and the bad from the band's catalog.

Recommended.

Summer's Gone
Til I Die
Caroline, No

Brian,

thank you for a lifetime of music.

How many tracks from No Pier Pressure started out as possible Beach Boys songs?

Thanks for all the responses, especially Lee.

I was wondering what the state of awareness regarding the song was among the BB faithful and that has been answered.

Is the 1994 issue of ESQ with SOMS story still available?

I wasn't deep into BB history or lore back in 1998, but I was blown away by this song when I listened to the soundtrack.

What was the reaction among hard core fandom? 
Had this been widely booted?
 If not, was anybody aware that it existed?
 In short, how surprised were you by it in 1998? 

I went from not ever hearing the faintest rumor of its existence to a complete mind-blowing revelation as I listened to it. Just wonder if it rocked the BB Fan world as much as it rocked mine at the time.

The background aaahs that start at 2:30.

I don't think I have ever heard the version you are talking about.  I bought my copy of Melt Away from iTunes about a year or two ago.

The ending to Melt Away.

I first saw The Beach Boys in 1985 as a wee lad of 14 at the National Scout Jamboree in Virginia. Less than two weeks removed from Live Aid, they did not (according to one who knows) have Brian in the line-up. Alas, I was too young and too casual of a fan at the time to notice for myself or to recall clearly today.  Playing in front of crowd of Boy Scouts, the band got its biggest reaction with "California Girls", recognized by all as a David Lee Roth song.  The only other song I was familiar with at the time was Good Vibrations, thanks to the recent Sunkist campaign. But I came away from that concert excited by the music and eager to learn more. By the time Kokomo hit three years later, I was firmly a fan, albeit one that had not bothered to dig deeper than the pre-'66 hits.

I saw them again in 1995 at Callaway Gardens on May 21. (The Bellagio site has it misspelled as Calloway). Carl was in fine shape and I'm so glad I saw him at this time. They had Matt in the line-up, a ringer they brought in to rap Wipeout and a parade of dancers for California Girls. I had at this point become a solid fan and had actively sought out this show and made my girlfriend go with me.... but I still hadn't discovered the deep catalog. In fact, it was just around this time that I bought the "Good Vibrations: 20 Greatest Hits" CD and discovered for the first time Shut Down, Sloop John B, Dance Dance Dance and Do You Wanna Dance.  I loved the show, but I clearly had a lot ahead of me to learn.

May 14, 1999 I saw the post-Carl, post-Al Beach Boys, with David, in Birmingham. Not much changed me as a fan, but the crowd was awesome that night and I remember being so pleased that there were that many other fans besides me that appreciated these songs.

It all changed for me on a July night in 2000 in Birmingham, Alabama. The Pet Sounds Tour came to town and I was front and center. I had a copy of the album on CD but had been unimpressed and didn't listen to it much. But that night... I got it. It all clicked for me. I was mesmerized. And not just by Taylor Mills. I felt so fortunate that even though I wasn't born until 1971, here I was able to enjoy hearing Brian Wilson perform Pet Sounds. After this show, my serious fandom began and I set out on a journey of discovery as I began buying up all the studio album 2-fers.

But none of those compare to the October 2004 SMILE concert in Atlanta or the April 2012 C50 show at the same venue (Chastain Park). Hard to pick between those two. I think Brian was at his best in 2004. That night was amazing. The crowd was great, the set list was great, Brian sounded strong, the band was unbelievable. I had just bought BWPS and was just hearing some of the material (I did have the GV box set). But I was fully aware of Brian's story at this point and fully aware of SMILE and I knew exactly how amazing it was, how fortunate I was, that I had actually lived to see this show.  Beach Boys history was still being written and I was able, despite my relative youth, to witness some of it.

THIS was a GREAT show!!  And I gained added perspective on it when Brian came back through Atlanta in August of 2011 for a Greatest Hits show. A fraction of the crowd, BW visibly more frail and disinterested, and an unimaginative setlist. I enjoyed myself (H&V was a highlight, as was Darian's Darlin), but it felt flat compared to BWPS.

But then C50... wow. THIS is how a BB show is supposed to sound. I was a fully informed serious fan and lover of the deep catalog at this point and I just couldn't believe we had Mike and Brian on the same stage. That Brian was touring with the BBs. That David was there TEARING IT UP on guitar. And what a supporting band. And DENNIS (sort of). Never had a chance to see him.

Long answer I know, but: even though Brian gave a better performance in 2004 and obviously had a set list that serious fans would love, the best experience for me was C50. Brian, Mike, Al, David and Bruce. Together. Impeccable band. Two long sets. (Probably) once in a lifetime opportunity.

So glad I went.

"Shirts off, you Motorcycle Rider!"

Tonight (Oct 4) the Brian/Beck show is playing Chastain Theater in Atlanta.  I can't go. My awesome ticket right up front among the tables is in danger of going unused.

I paid $60 for it through StubHub. If anyone's interested in it, let me know, maybe we can figure a way to work it out in time.

This is not quite on-topic, but it occurred to me this morning that you could take the following lyrics:

Daybreak over the ocean,
moonlight still on the sea.
I pray the wave's gentle motion
will bring my baby to me

and sing them as if you were singing:

One arm over my shoulder,
sandals dance at my feet.
Eyes that will knock you right over.
Ooo, Marcella so sweet.

It's not part of a race or the state fair. It's part of a RV convention called "The Rally". You have to buy a day pass for $79 to see the concert and that's not with reserved seating.

http://therally.com/2013/03/vince-gill-and-the-beach-boys-to-perform-at-the-atlanta-rally/

Ah.   So M&B are playing RV Rallies now?  Hm.

Thank you very much.  This is what I needed to know.
No, I won't be going to this show.  Now I need to see if I can make a Thursday show in Tuscaloosa or make the drive to Biloxi the week before.

But probably neither will work out.  Shame.

The Atlanta show is going to be at a state fair being held at the Speedway. I'd expect an outdoor stage setup.

Here's a link, but there's not much on the website for now:
http://atlanta.georgiastatefair.org/

Interesting that the venue told you it's not confirmed yet, since the date is listed on Capitol's official BB website.

Thanks for that info.  I just wish I could get an idea of how long their set will be. 
If it's a full show, I'll be there.
Maybe instead of contacting the Speedway, I'll try to get  in touch with somebody at the fair.

I'm thinking about going to see M&B in Atlanta in October, but it's at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. 

I'd like confirmation that it is a full show and not just an appearance at a race. I don't want to see a short set in front of a crowd that came for a race.

I called the venue and they didn't even know anything about it. I said I found the info on the Beach Boys website and they said since we don't have it listed, it's not confirmed.

I'd be happy with just one C50-style show a year.  On the Fourth of July, either in DC or at the Hollywood Bowl.

The other 364 days, let M&B tour and Brian record.

The beginning of This Car of Mine:


"This car of mine, when I got her now what she wouldn't do... on an open road. This car of mine..."

Surfin USA

Seriously...Since I was a kid I heard...

"If everybody had a notion -  Across the U.S.A"

That's exactly how I heard this for years.  And it's hard to disprove strictly by listening.

I hope to hear more.

OK!

01  Got To Know The Woman
02  Sea Cruise
03  Funky Pretty
04  I Just Got My Pay
05  Mona
06  Ding Dang
07  Goin' On
08  Student Demonstration Time
09  Mrs. O'Leary's Cow
10  Pacific Ocean Blues
11  Sail On Sailor
12  Back Home
13  Dreamer

That's looking pretty awesome. Thanks, Sheriff!

But I might move O"Leary's Cow to the final spot. It just seems too heavy and epic to have anything follow it. 

Unless maybe Ding Dang works. 

There's a method to my madness... 

05  Mona - enough of goin' steady, could we, could we, could we get married?
06  Ding Dang - she said "No"
07  Goin' On - my mind keeps on reelin', my heart keeps on feelin'
08  Student Demonstration Time - so he demonstrates...the winds of change fanned into FLAMES!
09  Mrs. O'Leary's Cow - the flames, with a continuation of the fire sirens
10  Pacific Ocean Blues - water, water, water, water, water, water
11  Sail, On Sailor - time to sail away and think, ponder, dream
12  Back Home - when I get back you won't believe how I've grown - spiritually and emotionally?
13  Dreamer - Let the wind carry your blues away, that's all we're trying to say, how 'bout a better day, fall in love...And the band keeps on playin'...
   

WOW. Now I'm really digging it.  Can we make the other four fit?  I can see "I just got my pay, so let me take you on a sea cruise."

So I'd go:

01 Got to Know a Woman
02 Funky Pretty
03 I Just Got My Pay
04 Sea Cruise

Sheriff, you just shut it down.

That vinyl sequencing... I don't know where the side split is, but if it was after Daybreak that would make it the most single-side-played disc in my collection...

It is indeed.
Shelter kicks off Side Two.

I hope to hear more.

OK!

01  Got To Know The Woman
02  Sea Cruise
03  Funky Pretty
04  I Just Got My Pay
05  Mona
06  Ding Dang
07  Goin' On
08  Student Demonstration Time
09  Mrs. O'Leary's Cow
10  Pacific Ocean Blues
11  Sail On Sailor
12  Back Home
13  Dreamer

That's looking pretty awesome. Thanks, Sheriff!

But I might move O"Leary's Cow to the final spot. It just seems too heavy and epic to have anything follow it. 

Unless maybe Ding Dang works. 

Thanks for the ideas, guys. I hope to hear more.

I have found the sequence of Mona/Ding Dang/Back Home makes for a fun 1-2-3 punch.

But I'll give everyone's sequence a spin in iTunes.