The Beach Boys (Brian, Carl, Dennis, Al and Mike) were inducted by Elton John into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Supremes, and The Drifters.  Also Mike Love gave an embarrassing speech…

For those who have been turned on to Fabcast, just a few days ago a new episode was posted. 3 and 1/2 hours focusing on December 8, 1980. I finally was able to finish it after several sessions. Riveting, sometimes traumatic stuff. Interviews with the likes of Jack Douglas and Fred Seaman like you've rarely if ever heard or read. Who else would go deep enough to ask Jack Douglas about asking for producer points on "Double Fantasy?"

*This* is why the episodes aren't churned out like clockwork and vacu-formed to fit every chronological expected topic.

When John Lennon was killed, I think a lot of fans, especially as the years went on, grappled with how sad or traumatized we should be. How self-absorbed would it be to be *that* sad about it? Well, this episode more than anything else I've read or heard on the topic traverses that subject in the right way.

Wow, Fred Seaman.  I’ve always wondered about that guy.  Never could be sure if he was really the close confidante he claimed to be or just a disgruntled opportunist.

BW looks like a badass walking out of the school!

It’s encouraging to see a picture of him walking by himself.  I remember when I saw him on the Pet Sounds tour, he looked to be really struggling.

So we pretty much have confirmed that David isn't on the Nascar CD at all, and Bruce only contributed to one song- Don't Worry Baby, playing keyboard. Do you guys think Dean Torrence is on there? Perhaps actually providing the falsetto on Little Old Lady From Pasadena. To my ears, it actually sounds more like Dean Torrence than Adrian Baker

Just found this scan of the liner notes on Discogs.  It is Dean Torrence.

Somewhere I do own a copy of the NASCAR cd, but not sure where it is. I don't even remember that photo featuring 4 members... is that a posed shot with Mike, Bruce, Dave, and Dean? If so, I wonder if it was ever floated that Dean would join the "BBs" band in this odd transitional time. Seems odd to do a photoshoot otherwise.

He did also appear with them at that “America’s Band” Super Bowl gig that Al wasn’t invited to so it’s possible.

So we pretty much have confirmed that David isn't on the Nascar CD at all, and Bruce only contributed to one song- Don't Worry Baby, playing keyboard. Do you guys think Dean Torrence is on there? Perhaps actually providing the falsetto on Little Old Lady From Pasadena. To my ears, it actually sounds more like Dean Torrence than Adrian Baker

Just found this scan of the liner notes on Discogs.  It is Dean Torrence.

True, but they made amends before Carl died.

Carl was the best man at Brian's wedding in 1995.

Even if it was promoted as such at the time, Still Cruisin' really isn't much of an album.  Three new songs, three recent soundtrack contributions, Wipe Out which was two years old by that point and already on a Fat Boys album, and three classic songs from the '60s.  I think the only reason it gets recognized is because Kokomo was such a big hit and it was the first time it appeared on a Beach Boys release, even though it had already been on the Cocktail soundtrack.  Otherwise it would probably be seen as just another in the endless series of Beach Boys compilations.

I would love for there to be a good sized book written about this album. Between Brian ditching the actual country of Holland sessions, to how the individual songs came about, a travelogue of what Carl and the gang did in their time off in Holland, how the new members (Blondie and Rickie) fit into the band, Van Dyke saving the album with SOS, etc.

Heck, maybe this can turn into Bill Pohlad’s Love and Mercy II

I’ll be sure to play this album today.

I've been thinking about writing that book for years.

It’s a shame that Jack Rieley passed on a few years back.  He would probably be the best source for that story.

The Wikipedia entry is pretty informative.  Seems that Brian’s involvement was the source of some conflict due to The Beach Boys being under contract with Warner Bros.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Music

One of the band’s strangest yet most ambitious albums, their last studio effort with Blondie Chaplin and Ricky Fataar, and the end of that fascinating transitional era before the Endless Summer nostalgia hit.  Beautifully produced by Carl Wilson, it’s one of my all-time favorites.

David Beard’s Good Vibrations podcast is very good.  He’s talked to Mike, Al, Brian, and various other band members and key players.  Definitely worth a listen. 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/good-vibrations-a-beach-boys-music-program/id1313106797

The thing is that there are so many actual good Beach Boys albums that don’t really sell much and go in and out of print after a few years that I can understand why there’s little interest by Capitol in reissuing arguably the band’s worst albums.  A digital release, maybe (I know Stars and Stripes quietly appeared on streaming services a while back after having been long out of print) but I can’t see any sort of vinyl or CD reissues of those albums anytime soon.

Though if they reissued Still Cruisin’, it should be more substantial than the poorly compiled cash grab that the 1989 release was.  Maybe it could look something like this.

The first seven songs from the original album, then...
8. Chasin' the Sky
9. East Meets West
10. The Air That I Breathe (with Julio Iglesias)
11. Rock & Roll to the Rescue
12. California Dreamin'
13. Lady Liberty
14. Happy Endings
15. Living Doll
16. Don't Worry Baby (with the Everly Brothers)
17. Problem Child
18. Crocodile Rock
19. Kokomo (Spanish Version)

That way, all of the mid 80s to early 90s Beach Boys studio releases (that weren't on the '85 album) are collected on one disc.

And Summer in Paradise might be of interest if they included the UK mixes as bonus tracks.

Here’s a heartwarming moment from Rock & Roll to the Rescue.

Skipped over some albums and some hit singles but I think a good overview.

1. Surfin’ USA
2. Shut Down
3. Surfer Girl
4. In My Room
5. Fun, Fun, Fun
6. Don’t Worry Baby
7. The Warmth of the Sun
8. I Get Around
9. All Summer Long
10. When I Grow Up (To Be a Man)
11. Please Let Me Wonder
12. Help Me, Rhonda
13. The Little Girl I Once Knew
14. Wouldn’t It Be Nice
15. God Only Knows
16. Good Vibrations
17. Heroes and Villains
18. Wild Honey
19. Darlin’
20. Time to Get Alone
21. Break Away
22. ‘Til I Die
23. Surf’s Up
24. Feel Flows
25. Sail On, Sailor
26. The Night Was So Young
27. Good Timin’
28. Angel Come Home
29. Soul Searchin’

Soul Searchin' - co-written with Andy, recorded with the BB except Bruce on Nov. 7-8, 1995

This is only AFAIK so correction please.

Why would you say "except Bruce"? An eyewitness to the vocal sessions confirms Bruce's presence.

This is why we need that sessionography. 

I remember reading that Cross was originally going to be the falsetto vocalist on Brian's first solo tour but had to back out for whatever reason so enter Jeff Foskett.

Alternative music blog Stereogum listed Mike’s remake of “Do It Again” featuring John Stamos and Mark McGrath as one of the 40 worst songs of 2017.  Can’t say I disagree.  Just an awful borderline unlistenable recording.  Learn to leave well enough alone, Mike.

https://www.stereogum.com/1976914/the-40-worst-songs-of-2017/franchises/2017-in-review/

It would be nice to see them take another go at a singles box, make it more like the one The Who released this year, Maximum As and Bs which collected all their singles and b-sides on 5 discs.  It’s a really nice looking set too.

This thread is very informative. Maybe one should be done on the lineup history of  the Brian Wilson Band.

Here is what I can gather of Brian's touring lineup.

Joe Thomas - Keyboards, Backing Vocals (1999)
Jeff Foskett - Rhythm Guitar, Lead and Backing Vocals (1999-2013)
Paul Von Mertens - Saxophone, Harmonica, Woodwinds, Backing Vocals (1999-Present)
Probyn Gregory - Horns, Guitar, Backing Vocals (1999-Present)
Nicky Wonder (aka Nick Walusko) - Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals (1999-Present)
Darian Sahanaja - Keyboards, Vibes, Lead and Backing Vocals (1999-Present)
Scott Bennett - Keyboards, Vibes, Lead and Backing Vocals (1999-2015)
Bob Lizik - Bass Guitar (1999-2008, 2013-Present)
Taylor Mills - Backing Vocals (1999-2011)
Mike D'Amico - Percussion, Guitar and Backing Vocals (1999-2001, 2002-2004), Drums (2008-Present)
Todd Sucherman - Drums (1999)
Jim Hines - Drums (1999-2008)
Andy Paley - Percussion, Keyboards, Backing Vocals (2001-2002)
Nelson Bragg - Percussion and Backing Vocals (2004-Present)
Brett Simons - Bass (2008-2011)
Gary Griffin - Keyboards, Vibes, Backing Vocals (filling in for either Darian or Scott when absent in 2006-2008, permanently replaced Scott 2016-Present)
Billy Hinsche - Keyboards, Vibes, Backing Vocals (filling in for Darian when absent in 2007 and 2016-2017)
Al Jardine - Lead and Backing Vocals, Guitar (guest appearances in 2006-2007), (2013-Present)
David Marks - Lead and Backing Vocals, Guitar (2013)
Blondie Chaplin - Lead and Backing Vocals, Guitar (occasional guest appearances in 2013), (2015-Present)
Brian Eichenberger - Lead and Backing Vocals, Rhythm Guitar (2014)
Matt Jardine - Lead and Backing Vocals, Rhythm Guitar (2015-Present)

I think in the absence of Brian on tour in the 60s and after Dennis's death in the 80s, having Bruce in the lineup kept the image of The Beach Boys as a five piece band, like in promotional photos and TV appearances for example.  Seeing a photo of The Beach Boys with less than five guys, no matter who those five may be, it always looks like it's missing something.  Including David Marks on the 2012 tour kept that five-man image alive.

And then there's the current touring Beach Boys in which Bruce's presence keeps the illusion that they are authentic and not just a Mike Love solo outfit.

In Brian's Facebook post dedicated to David Cassidy, he mentioned they started writing a song together.  After a quick Google search, I found what I assume was the result of that.  I wonder if Brian doesn't remember finishing the song or if Cassidy finished it without him (Gerry Beckley of America and Beckley Lamm Wilson is credited as a co-writer as well).  It's a charming if not particularly memorable song, definitely sounds like a mid-70s Brian composition, it's got that Shortenin' Bread kind of rhythm and progression that Brian was using all over the place at that time and many times since.  Sounds like Brian might be on backing vocals as well but hard to tell.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx4GT92-tSY

Just thought it was something interesting to share in the wake of Cassidy's untimely death.

Yet M&B are Scott free...

Not so.  Scott Totten is in the band. 

[No, this is not real.]

I didn't make this but thought it was worth sharing.

No, this is not real.

Took him long enough.

Mike will only speak to fans who wear Looking Back With Love T-shirts.  I'm sorry, that's just the way he is.