I would say that the song was brought to his attention through band members and that he didn't have to listen the demo. Or if he did, they probably played him the piano demo part and not the complete bootleg.
Or perhaps fans were asking him during a meet and greet "Brian, Brian, what about that song you wrote with Dennis in the early 80's? Will you ever release it?" And then he told the band to get the boot and rehearse it.

It's my favorite song on GIOMH, a bit out of place. I think it doesn't really sound like a BW written song at all.

The problem with things like "Teardrops On My Bed", "Rollin' Up To Heaven" or "Walkin'" is that I can't get them out of my head once I heard them.

Does that mean everybody won't bitch about Foskett's falsetto ruining the new record, and how they wish Matt Jardine were doing it? 

It means that when the records comes out, everybody will bitch about Matt's falsetto ruining the new record and how they wish Jeff had done them.
That's how BB fandom works.

Isn't promotion more or less the job of the concert organizers?
But yes, a bit irritating that the Euro gigs don't get a mention on thebeachboys.com.

The German radio station I always listen to (even though I live in Switzerland) is involved with the gig in Stuttgart and did some heavy promotion in December and early January. Then suddenly from one day to another, no mention at all anymore, so I guess the tickets sold well.

Yes, Dennis obviously wasn't always an easy guy to get along with.
Sometimes the nicest guy, sometimes the biggest ...
Brian seems to have very mixed feelings about him.
I mean, this isn't the first recent interview where he expressed negative sentiments against Dennis.

 

To bring other years in here, I think 1977/78 included many low ebbs, too many.
The first Landy era was a no-go, he was back into drugs, the divorce, the stress of touring + recording.

BTW, this documentary has it's flaws (not enough prime, too much decline) but I still love it. He seems to have left a wonderful mark on everybody he met, unless you produced his records  

True.

And yes, love that documentary, but I don't like how it makes you believe that he couldn't sing anymore after the kittyCATS sessions. He still did some great singing (even in the high registers - listen to "That Is All") after that.
Harry is a bit like Brian with the raspy voice, you wonder sometimes if he really couldn't or just didn't want to sing like he did before the 'voice-break'. "How long can Disco go on" from his last album is another good example.

Here's a interview with Ringo from last year where the reporter asked him about Harry and mentioned that documentary (at the end):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAV91JJEWqU

Are you referring to the Wally Heider re-recordings that were tagged "rehearsals" on the boots, or actual rehearsals from Hawaii?

Yes, the Wally Heider remakes of course.
Would be cool to hear those beautiful background vocals on "Help Me, Rhonda" a bit louder for example.

Some more:

Looking Down The Coast / Santa Ana Winds (1978)
Runaway (live 1983 - not sure if this was released)
Awake (Brian's demo)
Ruby Baby (1976)
My Solution
Stevie
Help Me, Rhonda (Hawaii Rehearsals 1967)
You're So Good To Me (Hawaii Rehearsals 1967)
Surfin' (Hawaii Rehearsals 1967 if there's a finished recording)
Life Is For The Living
Oh Darlin' (first version with Brian lead)

"Back Home" (1963 + 1969 versions)
"Big Sur" (1970 version)
"I'm Going Your Way"
"Wouldn't It Be Nice (To Live Again)"
"Seasons In The Sun"
"You've Lost That Loving Feeling"
"Visions"
"Marie"
"California Feelin'" (1974 demo + 1978)
"River Song" BB version

I know this doesn't make sense, but when I hear "Ding Dang" or "Rollin' Up To Heaven", I always think that this could have been Brian's weak attempt to do something like "Poli High" from The Point.

Brian playing the keys would be nice, but as a tribute to Dennis, what about if he would climb the piano and sing "You're So Beautiful". That would be unexpected and bring the house down.

I would ask him where that "Good Vibrations" studio footage comes from that was used for the SMiLE podcast. Are these snippets that were used more or less all there is?

Strange to hear Carl talk about how much better many bands he heard sounded live in comparison to the albums during a period where the BB shows were... well, good but not great.

Just to put things in perspective, I'm not shocked when someone smokes a cigarette.

I thought he was enjoying a joint, the way he inhaled the smoke of that baby, but learned now that's probably not the case. So forget my last post.
And just in case, I'm not even shocked when someone smokes a joint, but was kind of surprised that Brian did it in front of cameras.

How can you sing "Giiirls, Giiirls, Giiirls" 20 times in a row and not be happy afterwards?

Here you can see 17 1/2 minutes of the uncut Brian 1976 'Old Grey Whistle Test' interview.
I'm shocked about what my eyes had to see at 15:15  
That's bad for you, Brian. Bad, bad!

http://www.globalimageworks.com/clip-brian-wilson-interview-beach-boys-1874_023?id=45092&search_string=brian+wilson&submit_x=0&submit_y=0&search_type=all&startrow=0

Also when was this photo taken by the way?? i've always wondered...

Could be 1976 when he regrew his beard.
I would say 1 - 2 weeks after the Grammys appearance.

Where in Malibu?

*singing*
Somewhere near Malibu....

I had the same brainstorm.
But only "Somewhere in Malibu" came to mind. Then I googled it and it was "Somewhere in Japan". Couldn't remember the "Malibu"-song, but now, thank you!

Brian has or had a house in Malibu.

Billy Hinsche used to live there, but not anymore.

It will probably sound like a very good BB cover band trying to imitate the 60's BB sound.
I think the new songs will sound exactly like 'That Lucky Old Sun' and the other recent BW solo albums.
Will it be a classic?
I highly doubt it, but that doesn't mean a thing.

Love the lamp in the background.
Have one myself with white shade, but always wanted it metallic like here.
I guess this is the piano where Al wrote 15 new songs for the new album.

Mike Love is not only a good, talented singer, but he has an unique voice with recognition factor.
If you hear him on a new song you never heard before, you know, that's Mike. The public knows, that's the Beach Boys!

From speaking to Marilyn over the years, it's very clear that she still has huge affection for Brian.

And vice versa, the Larry King interview comes in mind.