It had been over 10 years since I last watched the film, so I didn't remember a lot of details. I thought it started out really well, most of the scenes were based on events that actually happened. I'm currently in the middle of reading Peter Ames Carlin's Catch a Wave biography of Brian Wilson, so I noticed a lot of things from the book matched up with the movie. At least until it got to the Pet Sounds and Smile era, where the movie all of a sudden became the most unflattering account of Brian Wilson I'm familiar with. In every scene, Brian is portrayed as whacked out on drugs, high, tripping on acid, unable to take care of himself, etc. He is portrayed as looking like this complete dope whose success during this era is made to seem like it happened by accident. When in reality, Brian knew exactly what he was doing, and although he was doing a lot of drugs, he was not stoned or high all the time.

Although the movie is obviously a fictionalization of what actually happened, I found that a lot of the movies' historical accuracies tended to break down during the Pet Sounds and Smile era. Tony Asher isn't even mentioned in the movie, Van Dyke Parks is introduced too early on and is portrayed as this constant force in Brian's life from the moment he meets Loren Schwartz. And Schwartz isn't named Schwartz in the movie, he's called something completely different. Did he not give permission to use his name in the movie or something?

Somebody told me that Mike Love was used as a consultant for this movie, which could explain some things. But I couldn't find his name listed anywhere in the credits for American Family on IMDB. Is it true that he had a say in the production of the movie? What exactly was his role?

This concert occurred over a year ago, however I was probably the only Smiley Smiler at this show, so I thought it'd be neat to document my experience of it to contrast it with some of the shows and venues Brian was preforming in during the Beach Boys' 50th anniversary Celebration tour, where all of a sudden Brian went from playing small theaters holding a few hundred or few thousand people, to giant amphitheaters under the the Beach Boys name. This concert was one of the first shows that Brian and his band did to promote the Gershwin CD. The first half of the concert was Beach Boys hits, while the second was dedicated to playing the Gershwin album.

The Ridgefield Playhouse theater is small - very small. The theater supposedly sits just under 500 people, although from where I was sitting in the top balcony it seemed like it held a lot less - maybe 200 people or so. The show was almost sold out, save for a few seats in the upper deck. The crowd tended to be more elderly than youthful. From where I was sitting, I spotted maybe just under 15 people who were probably under 25, myself included.

Brian and his band took the stage a little after 8 PM. They first played California Girls, Dance Dance Dance followed by a whole assemblage of Beach Boys hits. There was at least one song that my father, who went with me to this show, didn't recognize upon first hearing - Salt Lake City, which was played early in the first set. At the time Brian was doing this tour, his management had tweeted a quote from him saying that his current favorite Beach Boys album was Summer Days (and Summer Nights), which was probably a factor in him preforming the song on this tour. Brian sounded very good, and the rest of the band was on top of their game.

During the second set, Brian sounded even better. Following the intermission, Brian explained to the audience that he was approached by the Gershwin estate and asked whether he would like to do an album of Gershwin covers, which he happily agreed to. "The result was the following," he said, and he and his band then preceded to play the entire Gershwin album. Brian really seemed to enjoy singing the new material. I was amazed at some of the instrumentation used on stage. One song's instrumentation partially consisted of Jeff Foskett brushing a hand brush up against a circular piece of paper, which I thought was interesting. The crowd politely applauded at the end of each song, but it was quite clear throughout the night that they were there mainly to hear the Beach Boys material.

During the encore, the crowd really got into it. Brian started off with Johnny B. Goode, followed by Help Me Rhonda and about 4 or 5 other Beach Boys songs. His last song of the night before the show ended was Love and Mercy.

The set list was as follows:

First set:
California Girls
Dance, Dance, Dance
Do It Again
Catch A Wave
Then I Kissed Her
Salt Lake City
Don't Worry Baby (Jeff on lead vocals)
Surfer Girl
Please Let Me Wonder
Darlin' (Darrian on lead vocals)
Shut Down
Little Deuce Coupe
I Get Around
All Summer Long
Do You Wanna Dance? (Scott Bennett on lead vocals)
Sail On, Sailor (Scott Bennett on lead vocals)
Wouldn't It Be Nice (Jeff on lead vocals)
Sloop John B
God Only Knows
Heroes & Villains (Brian Wilson Presents Smile arrangement)
Good Vibrations (Mike Love lyrics, but with the “hum-be-dum” vocals per BWPS)

Second Set:
Rhapsody In Blue (intro)
The Like in I Love You
Summertime
I Loves You, Porgy
I Got Plenty o' Nutin'
It Ain't Necessarily So
'S Wonderful
They Can't Take That Away From Me
Love Is Here to Stay
I Got A Crush On You
I Got Rhythm
Someone to Watch Over Me
Nothing But Love
Rhapsody in Blue (reprise)

Encore:
Johnny B. Goode
Help Me Rhonda
Barbara Ann
Surfin' U.S.A.
Fun, Fun, Fun

Final Encore:
Love and Mercy

My father captured this video of the band preforming Help Me Rhonda during the encore: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbwOtK-cIpI It gives you a good idea of the view we had from our seats. We sat in the first row of the upper deck, which we thought were probably the best seats in the theater all things considered. One of the audience members sitting in front of the stage captured a few videos of his own: Sloop John B: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awrO4XC6X6E, his own view of Help Me Rhonda: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOUkwD7uKX8&feature=channel&list=UL, Barbara Ann and Surfin USA: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mfb6E0U9To&feature=channel&list=UL, some of Fun Fun Fun: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfZTj-iQ7-s&feature=channel&list=UL and Love and Mercy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhklPAYB7rQ&feature=channel&list=UL.

Surfer Girl is currently in my list of top 5 favorite Beach Boys albums.

1. Surfer Girl - I listen to this track more than any other song from this album. Brian's beautiful lead vocal and soaring falsetto really takes this wonderful melody to another level.
2. In My Room - I love this track just as much as any other, but most of the time I find myself wanting to listen to this track when I'm in a certain mood.
3. Catch a Wave - The rocking energy of this track makes it my favorite "surf rock" track that the Beach Boys ever did (at least what I consider to be surf rock. A lot of people define it differently)
4. Little Deuce Coupe - One of the Boys' greatest car songs. I'd rank Fun Fun Fun and I Get Around higher, but this one is up there too.
5. The Surfer Moon - Wonderful melody and production.
6. Hawaii - I'm not crazy about the lyrics, but it rocks.
7. Your Summer Dream - A whimsical track, I like the lyrics a lot
8. The Rocking Surfer - A neat little instrumental, but it's nothing too special.
9. Boogie Woodie - See number 8.
10. Surfers Rule - I like hearing the Beach Boys taunt the Four Seasons at the end of this track.
11. South Bay Surfer - eh.
12. Our Car Club - not one of my favorite car tunes, but it's passable on this album.

Rubber Soul, followed closely by Revolver. I'm in the minority here, but I think the Beatles peaked with those two albums.

The Beach Boys preforming at the Fillmore East, June 27th, 1971.

They'd better bring back the character with the best sitcom name I've ever heard, Bob Loblaw, or I will be extremely disappointed.

I highly recommend this album. As a tribute album, it is by no means essential but it makes for some nice, relaxing afternoon listening. The best tracks IMO are Wouldn't It Be Nice, You Still Believe in Me, God Only Knows, Pet Sounds, and Here Today. The album is on Spotify if anyone wants to check it out.

You're welcome guys. There's a saying by Plato that says goes "there is only one good, which is knowledge, and one evil, which is ignorance." In the case of disability awareness, a little knowledge goes a long way.

In any case, I fail to see how Brian fits the diagnosis of Asperger's. Being a reclusive genius does not qualify one as having Asperger's Syndrome. Can anyone tell me what symptoms he has that fit the diagnosis? His social skills are fine, he has empathy. He doesn't display any tics. He's really not attached to routine as far as I can tell.

One does not have to have every symptom to have Asperger's Syndome, but those are the three big symptoms that most people with Asperger's almost always tend to display (especially the social skills thing and the lack of social and emotional reciprocity, which are the hallmarks of the disorder). He is obsessive with his music, but that alone doesn't qualify one as having Asperger's.

When I see Brian and read about him, I hear and see someone who has had a traumatic childhood (being abused by his dad), has stage fright, is occasionally prone to nervous breakdowns, has had severe substance abuse, (including probably taking some potent forms of speed), and has schizophrenia and tardive dyskinesia. These conditions have all been reported about Brian before, and I really don't see a problem with any of these diagnoses. They seem to fit the bill to me. Asperger's Syndrome is a stretch.

Has anyone bought All Summer Long yet? I'd love to know how the new stereo extraction mix of I Get Around is.

[It may not even exist or be a true "disease" nor ever was]

Asperger's Syndrome is being dropped next year from the DSM (psych diagnosis manual), according to sources on Google.  It may not even exist or be a true "disease" nor ever was (it was named and based on one German psychiatrist's casual observations and personal theories, over 50 years ago).  It was a fashionable trend, just like other diagnosis that were trendy at one time then fell out of favor.

No it isn't a "fashionable trend." I have Asperger's Syndrome. I was diagnosed as a young child as a high functioning autistic. I also am studying Educational Psychology and am currently training to be a transition specialist for those on the spectrum who are transitioning from high school to college, so I happen to know a lot about the disorder. Asperger's Syndrome is a real disorder and a real diagnosis. You are misinterpreting why it is being removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Disorders. It is simply being removed because studies have shown that it is not a distinct condition, separate from autism, as psychologists once thought. Rather, Asperger's just encompasses the highest functioning part of the spectrum. It is not a separate diagnosis from autism, rather it is merely a part of the overall spectrum, which includes all autism spectrum diagnoses. The plan is simply to remove the diagnosis and just call them all "autism spectrum disorders." That does not mean that the disorder or the disorders are not real, just that they are really just all manifestations of the same thing.

In any case, as someone who actually has the disorder and works with other people with Asperger's I really, really doubt that Brian has the disorder.

All Summer Long samples are up:

http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/artist_Beach-Boys_000000000000485/item_All-Summer-Long_5103175

Al is my favorite BB. He's a nice, down to earth guy, whose voice I absolutely love. Second favorite would have to be Brian, just because he's the creative force behind a lot of the Beach Boy's success, all he's been through, etc. I'm not sure I can rank the others besides Al and Brian.

Surfin' Safari: Surfin'
Surfin' USA: Surfin' USA
Surfer Girl: In My Room
Little Douce Coupe: Be True to Your School
Shut Down Vol. 2: The Warmth of the Sun
All Summer Long: Don't Back Down
Christmas Album: Little Saint Nick
Today!: When I Grow Up (To Be a Man)
Summer Days: Help Me Rhonda
Party: Barbara Ann
Pet Sounds: God Only Knows
SMiLE/The Smile Sessions: Wonderful
Smiley Smile: Good Vibrations
Wild Honey: Darlin
Friends: Little Bird
20/20: I Can Hear Music
Sunflower: This Whole World
Surf's Up: Til I Die
Carl and The Passions: All This is That
Holland: Sail on Sailor
15 Big Ones: It's OK
Love You: Mona
MIU: Come Go With Me
LA: Lady Linda
Keepin the Summer Alive: Goin' On
BB 85: Getcha Back
Still Cruisin: Kokomo
Summer In Paradise: Pass..
That's Why God Made the Radio: Summer's Gone

Any Ray Charles fans on here? I've always admired a lot of his top hits like Hit the Road Jack, Georgia On My Mind, What'd I Say, Unchain My Heart, that sort of stuff, but never really got into the rest of his work. Does anyone here have any recommendations about what to check out? Are there any good compilation albums you recommend?

I mostly listen to TSS. BWPS I primarily use as context to hear how the incomplete songs on TSS would sound like with completed vocals. Just about the only fan mixes I listen to now and days are The Completed Smile, with Jacob Borshard filling in the missing vocal bits from BWPS onto TSS, and some snippets here and there from Purple Chick. I kind of prefer the Ann Wallace mix of Surf's Up to TSS's version, although I like both plenty.

how do you guys come across the fan mixes? my only source is youtube smh :/

Some of the best fan mixes can be found here on this site, if you use the search feature. The Completed Smile was posted here by Jacob a while back. There used to be a thread dedicated exclusively to posting fan mixes (I think it was called "bring it on, Smile fan mixers" or something like that). I'm sure Google can help you find stuff like Purple Chick (which is kind of outdated now that TSS is out) or Mok's Smile fan mix.

I think it's a middle of the road Beach Boy album. It's better than Surfin Safari, Surfin USA (IMO), and every album post-Love You. Might be better than 15 Big Ones too, although I'm not overly sure about which one I'd personally rank higher. However, it can't touch anything from their catalog from 1963-1973 (Surfer Girl through Holland).

I mostly listen to TSS. BWPS I primarily use as context to hear how the incomplete songs on TSS would sound like with completed vocals. Just about the only fan mixes I listen to now and days are The Completed Smile, with Jacob Borshard filling in the missing vocal bits from BWPS onto TSS, and some snippets here and there from Purple Chick. I kind of prefer the Ann Wallace mix of Surf's Up to TSS's version, although I like both plenty.

I'm 23 and the Beach Boys are my favorite band of all time. I grew up listening to them with my parents and my sister, especially while riding in the car. For whatever reason, I clicked with them more than any other musical artist, including the Beatles or any band from my generation. My parents bought me the Good Vibrations box set, but we mostly wound up listening to the hits rather than the rarer album cuts or post-1970 material. Imagination was my favorite Brian Wilson solo album, I really loved it back in 1998. I went to Brian Wilson concerts with my family a few times in the late 1990s.

My friends thought it was weird how much I was into the Beach Boys. When I became a teenager, I didn't really listen to music as much because I was focusing more on school, getting good grades and getting into good colleges. But I rediscovered my favorite band a couple of years ago and haven't really stopped since then. I listened to Pet Sounds starting in 2010, and it completely blew my mind and changed my life. I've been a hardcore fan ever since.

I think with modern technology, people shouldn't underestimate just how easy it is for young people to get exposed to artists from older generations. I can't say that I've encountered too many people who like the Beach Boys as much as I do who are my age, but classic rock is still really popular on the college campuses I've been to. Some of my peers' favorite bands include Cream, Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan, David Bowie and other artists from the 60s and 70s.

I made these. They're for Macs. Kinda plain, but I like them that way. Feel free to spruce them up if you'd like.

I've had the album for a bit now..

Think About the Days - Wonderful opener. Of course everyone is going to think "Our Prayer" when comparing it to other Beach Boys tracks. Amazing that Brian could come up with this on the spot at his age. I wonder what it would have sounded like with Brian's younger, 60s voice. 7/10

That's Why God Made the Radio - I still think that this is the best track on the album, despite the songs in the Life Suite being more popular. It's poppy, catchy, rich in harmony, and Brian sounds great on it. 9/10.

Isn't It Time - One of the catchiest tunes on the new album. The first time I heard this, I couldn't get it out of my head. Jeff, Brian and Bruce all sound magnificent on this. 8/10

Spring Vacation - Great tune. Bad lyrics, but again, it is catchy. Not the best tune on the album, but also not the worst. 4/10

The Private Life of Bill and Sue - Definitely the quirkiest Brian Wilson tune on the album IMO. I like the melody, the lyrics, but not the instrumentation. 5/10

Shelter - Again, quirky Brian Wilson lyrics. I know Joe Thomas probably wrote most of the lyrics on this album, but these definitely seem Brian-influenced. Interesting song. 6/10

Daybreak over the Ocean - Sounds like a cross between Bluebirds Over the Mountain and Kokomo. I like Mike's lead on this one the most. 6.5/10

Beaches in Mind - The worst song on the album IMO. I don't think I'll ever get into this one. I skip this song every time. 1/10

Strange World - This one might grow on me some more. As of right now I'll give it a 7/10

From There to Back Again - Great vocals by Al. I don't know if I'd rate this as high by calling it a Pet Sounds outtake so to speak, but it sure sounds good. I like the introspective lyrics. I wish the vocal processing (or autotune or whatever you want to call it) wasn't so prominent in this track. 8.5/10

Pacific Coast Highway - 8/10

Summer's Gone - Reminds me of Caroline No in terms of pacing, rhythm and mood. Great vocals by Brian. 9/10

Overall, I'd give this album a 7/10. Neither their best nor their worst work, but it holds up well as a cohesive listening experience all together.

Blondie's Sail On Sailor in 2011:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reP5gImvF-c&feature=related

I see you like my father's video of Blondie. That's his recording. My father even joined this board once. It's interesting that this recording seems to have become the definitive recording of Blondie preforming Sail on Sailor in 2011.

I can't honestly say I noticed a Mike/Al tension but definitely a few snipey remarks between Mike and Bruce.  Mike was making a few digs about Bruce and Barry Manilow's hit "I Write The Song" saying they won't be able to play it tonight but it'd be okay because we could hear it anytime we're in a dentist office or elevator.  To which, Bruce replied... "Yup...right after Kokomo!"  The crowd "ooh'd" at that one.  They seem to have a prickly sense of humor towards each other...we'll never know how serious it is.  

They do that for all the shows. That's the exact same banter they had at both Mohegan Sun shows I went to. It's definitely good natured and most important of all, planned.

I'm glad Smile finally has a place on this list, where it belongs, but placing it at 381 is a joke.

I wouldn't put it on the list. It's not even a finished album. If they want to use Smile they have to go with BWPS. It's the only finished record.

And I share a nice little laugh with Ziggy Stardust. Rolling Stone.... haha ....

Where exactly does it say an album must be finished in order to qualify for the list? As far as I can tell, the only requirement is that it needs to be released and have some sort of critical acclaim. I'd say it belongs.

And is Today really that much better of an album than Sunflower? I never particularly thought so.

My top 3 favorite food items are chocolate, cheese, and whipped cream (yum!). But if we're talking types or styles of food, I love sushi, soups and sandwiches.