On "Darlin'" , don't you think that on the "precious love hum hum..." part, it's Brian and not Carl? I hear Brian ,on this little part of the song. what do you think? (The same way, I hear Dennis on "I just wasn't made for this time", at the end of a verse)

Definitely all Carl on "Darlin'," and that's a good catch on "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times," although that one's all Brian.  But when he sings "that I won't leave behind," he sounds uncannily like Dennis.

Until further notice. ~swd

Hello Stephen.  I had the good fortune to meet and speak with you while you were engineering the sessions for "Keepin' The Summer Alive" at Daryl Dragon's studio.

I was so enjoying the "Recording the Beach Boys" chapters-- the only great new information I've read on the band in decades.  I'd just made it through Part One and its addendum and was about to dive in to Part Two only to find its access suspended.  I hope this is temporary or that you will make this available elsewhere; it is such a fascinating and valuable resource.  And the sonic revelations in so many of my favorite Beach Boys tracks are astounding, even on my laptop's little speakers.

I had thought of you on the sad occasion of the death of the Beatles' engineer, Geoff Emerick, last week.  You were kindred talents in your respective groundbreaking work in that you didn't just break the conventional rules of audio recording, you re-wrote them.


Nearly 50 years later, "Sunflower" remains one of the best-sounding albums ever recorded, despite any of the inherent limitations you enumerated in your study.  I hope that one day a format will allow its full sonic dimensions to be revealed.


Thanks, Stephen.


Regards,


Scott Paton


sep1958@hotmail.com

Thank's Scott! Great memories!

You're welcome.  And yes, that day took on greater import for me as the years (and Dennis) passed.  Regards!

That's a great post, Scott! Thank you for that! I can only imagine what it must've been like to have a Beach Boy play you that legendary tape. Not many people had heard it at that point

Definitely among my favorite memories.  Regards!

Hello,

Regarding Dennis's playback of the "Fire" tapes:  I did that interview with Dennis in January '78 for "The Robert W. Morgan Special of the Week" which aired later that year and was re-purposed for another show a year or two later.  I was a writer-producer for Casey Kasem's "American Top 40" at the time and picked up extra income by doing interviews for "SOTW," which was also produced by the same company, Watermark, Inc.

The interview took place at Brother Studios early (for a rock star) on a weekday morning.  Dennis was bright-eyed and at the top of his game that day and recently clean-shaven.  We did a fairly standard "Beach Boys" interview as that was the content I needed for the upcoming program.  Of course, 40 years later, it kills me that we didn't spend more time on "Pacific Ocean Blue" and all of Dennis's songs from "Friends through "Holland."  Especially "Sunflower." 

When we got to talking about "Smile," Dennis hollered to engineer Earle Mankey to come inthe studio to "cue up the tape we were listening to last night."  It was "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow"-- the "Fire" tapes!  My obvious astonishment had Dennis attempting to maintain a poker face.  When I referred to the fact that Brian has claimed to have burned the tapes --even to me personally-- Dennis said, "You know Brian.  When he doesn't want to talk about something, he lies!  Nothing has ever been burned."  I truly was in shock hearing someing so legendary and presumably lost.

Shortly thereafter, I did an interview with Brian at a mutual friend's house, for the same show.  Brian was not in the best state of mind that particular day.  When I told him that Dennis had played me the "Fire" tapes, he pretty much brushed it off without comment.  It didn't seem to upset him at all, but it furthered no additional discussion.  The most significant thing I remember about that interview was Brian's admitting that he missed "the old days" and that he felt that he was somewhat forgotten.  It was a sad conversation and I made a vow to simply be his friend going forward-- to let others do the interviews.  Over the forthcoming years --until he vanished in the second round of Landy's care in '83-- I'd ask him a fair amount of questions about vocal parts and arrangements, but I don't believe we ever did a formal interview again.

I'd interview the other guys periodically, including Dennis another time or two.  But boy, on that date in January '78, he was truly as healthy, sharp, funny and charming as I ever saw him.  And despite lesser encounters, that's how I remember him.

Hello BBs fans in the MD/DC/VA region.  I've got an extra ticket for Al & Matt Jardine's upcoming performance (3/27) at the Rams Head Tavern in Annapolis.  It's an excellent seat --there actually are no bad ones at this venue-- and I have sat at this very table myself on many occasions.  This is probably as close as one can get to having Al do a show in your own living room, it's that intimate a concert setting.  No mark-up on the price of the ticket, you can have it for what I paid for it, direct from the venue's box office.  Direct any inquiries to sep2958@gmail.com.  Thanks!

http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,25616.0.html
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Hello, I have an extra ticket for Al's show in Annapolis (Rams Head Tavern) on March 27.  I will offer it at my cost, no mark-up.  If interested, email me at sep2958@gmail.com.