I've got the Lost Years: 3 Disc Collection somewhere, it's brilliant. I also got it signed by Mr Marks himself when I met him in 2008 at a private gig he did with Jeff Foskett in London, Essex.

Pond is a few members from Tame Impala's side project band. Saw them live early this year, they rocked!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gice6l5R-nc

Happy birthday.

So-so happy to have these beauties now in my collection, I lucked up and got them both at a beyond far price(s)

Neat.

Irish Bruce, I never.

The 'Recording the Beach Boys part 1- Addendum' video was ace! You da' man Stephen!

Great videos as always, Stephen!

I'm quite intrigued to hear the remastered version of 'Seems So Long Ago' I have to say. 

Update from Billy Hinsche's Facebook page: Carl Wilson CD new artwork.

I don't think this description is to be believed. I've seen no evidence of a white jag anywhere near the BB's after early 1965. If anyone has a photo that disproves that let me know. The description says this is a '66, and Carl often strummed it in the "late '60's"....seems unlikely.

Agree. However, unless it got stolen like previously mentioned by a member above (not 100%).

Strictly from memory, but wasn't Carl's Jaguar stolen?

Any source to that?

I already wrote a long blurb about this before, so I'll just repost it here.

From my first memories of reading about him, the first thing I thought about Carl Wilson was this - what you see is what you get. Of all of the Beach Boys, Carl was the least prone to bullshitting. He was certainly the warmest and most inviting of any of them. A perennial albatross, always up in the air, doing his own thing while still being democratic with the group.

Brian essentially had Carl as his right-hand man. And Carl was always around for his brother. And we all know that Carl was in genuine awe of his brother's talents. For someone as sensitive (in a good way) as Carl, watching his brother slowly burn out personally (forget creatively, that's a THREAD), especially when his brother was the reason he managed to become famous and successful could only have been among the most crushing blows ever dealt to him.

When Brian retreated, a whole lot of responsibility went onto Carl's (as well as Dennis') shoulders. Early on, forced to scramble and improvise around Brian's inconsistent bursts of creativity, Carl was able to develop into a much more talented artist at a rate almost as amazing as Brian had a few years before. And Carl's hard work was certainly of great artistic merit, and led the way for the band's evolution from America's preeminent pop group to a great recording and touring rock band. The world caught on too late to Carl's efforts, and by the time they were recognized, the band was starting to slow their progression to a crawl, finally sidestepping, and taking a huge step back. While I am quite sure Carl was not one to piss on or try to lessen the value the band's initial success, all of his work from when Brian stepped back to when the oldies show came running back in full force must have been disheartening for him.

There is, of course, this one conflicting story, which came from Jim Guercio, who had mentioned to the band back in late 1973 that while the shows were good, they were too loose and the audience was inconsistently entertained depending on how well-versed they were in the Beach Boys' music. He recommended that they add more of the oldies to the setlist. And the response from all of the touring band was a unanimous "yes". Where this fits in is anyone's guess.

The Beach Boys were certainly easily convinced by the almighty dollar to jump on the relentless touring bandwagon once Endless Summer became successful. There was money to be made, and they jumped at the opportunity. Sure, it's one thing to be artistic but quite another to be artistic and working from gig to gig just to survive. Carl, as the leader during their period in the desert in the early 1970s, was quite aware of that kind of burden. Their finances dropped fast, and by 1971 they were financing their tours with Brian's royalties. And this is where the conflict comes in.

Carl did want to be an artist. But once confronted with a rapidly declining Brian and Dennis on and off stage, his own troubles with Michael and Al, his marriage falling apart, and his drug and alcohol problems, he was forced to choose what was more important to him. And this was where the Beach Boys, while they were his bread and butter, became secondary to family.

Carl was able to exorcise his demons, and he wanted to have his brothers cleaned up and brought back to prominence within the group. He was a man of great patience when it came to Brian's often embarrassing live performances and rapidly lackluster studio work, and the issue of Dennis and Michael being at each other's throats would have driven most sane people over the edge. Carl was diplomatic and let Dennis off for a time to get his act together. And Dennis was able to get back in decent shape for a bit before spiraling out of control again.

But once it became obvious that it was a situation of life or death for both Brian and Dennis, Carl decided enough was enough. Family had to come first. His brothers and cousin took priority. He was instrumental in getting Brian back under Landy's care, which, while it was a bad move in the long run, was at least enough to allow Brian to return to a healthy frame of mind. And he certainly tried what he could to help Dennis. Dennis was guided by his own whims and not even the patience of Carl was enough to convince Dennis beyond a few couple-day stints in rehab. Carl even let Dennis stay with him at one point in 1983 when Dennis was homeless.

The loss of Dennis was the first blow. You can see it all over Carl's face in the press conference video the day after Dennis died. Something inside of him was gone. He had lost one of his brothers, and Brian was slowly going back to being himself. Carl's responsibility as the leader of the Beach Boys was still of importance to him; he wanted to be sure the fans were treated to a good time every day they performed. Everyone knows the stories of Carl's charity and kindness with the fans. Family still came first. I will never say that Carl gave up. He was too good to just give up on the Beach Boys and the fans. But they did become a lesser priority. And that's why as time went on, his input in the songwriting department slowed to a crawl.

When it came to the reunion in 1995, I'm sure Carl had modest expectations as to how Brian would deliver. But it soon became obvious, no matter how great the material was, that Brian was essentially being controlled again. Not by the drugs, but by his handlers. And this was something of which Carl wanted no part. He wanted to work with Brian, not with Brian's handlers. And Carl being the lucky person to put a half-hearted vocal down on Dancing The Night Away? I would have thrown up my arms and walked out too. It was a circus. This wasn't his brother he was working with. He was working with his brother's handlers. He preferred to do the right thing and walk away. And honestly, considering what Brian's subjected us to in the last fifteen years, Carl did us a favor. The show would go on, but if Brian wasn't going to be himself, then Carl wanted nothing to do with it.

It amazes me that people have the gall, the fucking nerve, to say Carl "gave up". Need I remind anyone what Carl did when he was diagnosed with his cancer? He went right back out on tour. He was the consummate professional, performing every night. He was certainly not without difficulties while doing so; he was confined to a stool for most of the shows, standing up occasionally when he took a lead vocal, and always for God Only Knows. He needed oxygen after every single song. A lesser man would have taken a cancer diagnosis as a death sentence. Carl Wilson kept putting himself out there until he couldn't anymore. People then say that Michael was a motherfucker for saying that he couldn't bear to see Carl onstage and wanted him gone. He couldn't bear to see Carl onstage in the condition he was in. I don't know how that makes Michael a motherfucker. And it's not like Michael wanted Carl "gone". He wanted Carl to try with every part of himself to beat his illness and get back out there. And I'm quite sure Carl wanted that too. Anyone who doubts that is a truly sick individual.

Carl Wilson was a trooper right until he breathed his last. He was, by far, the most levelheaded man in the group. And he was one of the lucky ones who was around to receive all of this adoration from his fans, rather than receiving it posthumously.

He didn't give up. Nature stepped in. Carl Wilson was not a quitter.

God Save Carl Wilson.

Wonderfully said, TRBB. I couldn't agree more with everything you said in that piece, fair play.

Brian's a fan of the song no doubt. As it's been stated already seen in interview, he was gutted he didn't attend the recording.

STORY:   One afternoon I observed Brian in the studio pacing around. Soon Carl, then Alan, Michael, Dennis and Bruce all showed up for session work. They talked about what songs they wanted worked on that day. But soon Brian said he wanted to have a business meeting. Everyone said, oh come on Brian, can’t we do this later?” But Brian insisten on a meeting at that time. What he said surprised me. He said, “ I want to change the name of The Beach Boys to The Beach. He went on to say how they are not “boys” anymore so why should be beach boys?  Well this went on for ten minutes or so, and then Brian wrote out a statement on a piece of paper that read, “The Beach Boys official change their name to The Beach.” Brian actually got four of the six to sign the paper. Then everyone was ready to start recording and Brian was in a good frame of mind. That evening I was cleaning up and found the slip of paper Brian had written with its signatures. I still have it. It is legally meaningless, but just a memento now. (I haven’t seen it for several years, but it’s around here somewhere). The point is that during these business meetings, many things are said, just the same as during any business meeting, and you can take anything made during a discussion, out of context, to serve your needs. – or to tell a story.
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Amazing story, thanks!

a BB friend of mine was driving back home from the USSR in the 80s (as you do) and on seeing a sign for Baambrugge took a considerable detour to see the town. At the first bar they fell into he asked if anyone remembered the band. "Oh yes", came the reply, "The Beach Boys... they drank many many drinks, and took many many drugs". 

Brilliant story, thanks for sharing!

From Brian's Facebook.

The soundtrack for "Love & Mercy" will see a global digital release tomorrow, August 14 and will be available everywhere on CD September 18.
Please visit Brian's website for more info, press release and track list: http://brianwilson.com

‘Music From LOVE & MERCY’  [digital; CD]

1. The Black Hole – Atticus Ross
2. Don’t Worry Baby – The Beach Boys
3. Silhouette – Atticus Ross
4. God Only Knows – Paul Dano
5. God Only Knows – The Beach Boys
6. Believe – Atticus Ross
7. Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys
8. Losing It – Atticus Ross
9. I’m Right Here – Atticus Ross
10. The Bed Montage – Atticus Ross, The Beach Boys, The Four Freshmen
11. Intersection – Atticus Ross
12. Love and Mercy (Live) – Brian Wilson
3. One Kind of Love – Brian Wilson

I would be interested purely for their insight via the tours over the years, M&B's backing band and possible studio footage/memories.

This is just a guess...

1. Surfin' USA
2. I Get Around (w/Studio Chatter)
3. Don't Worry Baby (w/Studio Chatter)
4. Be My Baby - The Ronettes
5. God Only Knows (w/Sessions)
6. Sloop John B (w/Sessions)
7. Caroline No (w/Sessions)
8. You Still Believe In Me (w/Sessions)
9. Here Today (w/Sessions)
11. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
12. I Live For the Sun - The Sunrays
13. Good Vibrations (w/Sessions)
14. Surf's Up (From 'Inside Pop')
15. Heroes And Villains (w/Sessions)
16. The Elements: Fire (w/Sessions)
17. Day By Day - The Four Freshmen
18. 'Til I Die
19. In My Room
20. Wouldn't It Be Nice
21. Love and Mercy (From 'Live At the Roxy)

Plus various Atticus Ross score interludes.

I would guess that list on the same lines aswell.

Don't forget Bob!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4x-xklVMx_M

Brilliant! Anyone just spontaneously played drums in them days, I like that. If Bruce did wack drums for Ritchie, maybe the adventurous side took over!

Some great photos there, thanks for posting! 

I've always thought this was a cool photo of Mr Marks from the late '60's. 

I cannot fall asleep unless I have some sort of aural stimulation. I know people will say that it prevents  getting a proper sleep, but I sleep soundly every night using this "aural stimulation" as I call it.
Really what the "aural stimulation" is, is I listen to the BBs every night when I sleep. Even though I fall asleep, so I'm not consciously listening, I hear it when I wake up, and as I'm falling asleep.

Does anyone else do this or am I just crazy?

This should sort you out. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaEi_K7c5nM

I've only saw this in snippets in the past, but now freshly uploaded (only yesterday) in full, that is cool!

Always thought the Heroes & Villians: Mono cantina mix is wacky as sh*t---love it, aha! 

It's the next round and we're losing!  Get those votes in!!

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/kinks-beach-boys-greatest-summer-song-battle/

Just added my vote for CG.  60.18% to  39.82% ---- Hummmm, might not win this one, aha!

may have to try making my own Frankensmile version 

Go for it!