Arguably the hardest working man in show business. Lives on the road. Relentlessly. Brings it every night and works the crowd like a ring master. That road warrior experience manifested itself during C50, when his between song monologues and leads were impeccably delivered - no doubt given gravitas by the assembled wall-of-sound behind him. How sad that he seemingly fails to understand how richly he shined in its reflection. A five-piece 'lets rock' lineup doesn't do him justice, me thinks.

There. I do not come to bury Lovester but to praise him. Sorta.

Maybe the photos are all staged, and no-one's recording anything.

If that were the case, I would really @#$% with the formula and invite Pete Townsend, Glenn Danzig, and Lemmy into the studio for a quick smile-n-snap. That'll get 'em talkin' on the message boards...

Cam, it was a reference to OSD's suggestion you attend all of this year's M&B shows. That's the reference. A take off on that.

Back to topic, I wonder who is driving the drip-drip-drip of photos/information on these sessions. It certainly fires up the fan base and leads to wild speculation. Which is why we speculate upon the elephant in the room, Mike.

Nonsensical  @@#$%HFHDLSDFHJL!!!!!

Maybe Cam can save you a seat on his coast to coast pilgrimage to this summer's Mike and Bruce tour. As for me, I'm gonna dig on B-A-D in Pittsburgh in July. Cause I have taste. 

Every thread no matter what the subject seems to turn into a "Mike Love sucks" thread these days, as sure as day follows night.

Well, nothing happens in a vacuum ya know. Read the AZ Central short interview - funny how Michael was so sensitive about the emphasis on the C50 lineup, as in - 'you seem really hung up on that record'. And at Sea World, the pretty young thing interviewing Bruce was corrected by him - 'we ARE the Beach Boys!' Guys seem pretty sensitive about that, ya notice? They know.

It's just a pile of merda. Cam and Andrew, feel free to apply lipstick to a pig...it is what it is.

Keep on keepin' on OSD. If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it's an Oregon Duck.

Bring on the Brian solo record. And if Mike sings on it, give him his lyric, record his part, and then show him the way right outside the damn studio. And that goes double for Bruce.

Thanks, I think.

I've liked "Spring Vacation" from the start but still haven't grown fond of "Beaches In Mind".  (I replace it and "Daybreak Over The Ocean" with "She Says That She Needs Me" and "South American" for what I feel is a smoother and improved playlist. )  I don't know if the bottom half of your comments were also directed at me.  If so, I think all these posts and posters may have left you confused because I agree with you about Mike.

No problem Phoenix. We're in agreement on Mike. The bottom half of my comments were not directed to you - rather I had just read that recent Mike interview and his take on TWGMTR just fed my vitriol. He is who he is, and changing his attitude now would be like unringing a bell.

Particularly solid points, Phoenix.

I think it kind of boils down to personal taste. I remember the tug-o-war when the album came out and some people were very solidly behind Beaches and Spring Vacation. Admittedly, those tunes kind of grew on me after awhile, but I just don't take them seriously at all. A little bit of candy in the middle of the album.

If you like that kind of stuff, you probably don't have a problem with a fully engaged Mike Love working, writing and creating with Brian Wilson. I do - Brian can do much MUCH better right now, because Mike has lost his creative capability. Done, finished. Ergo, no more Beach Boys...but that's okay because we've got some great Brian material around the corner. That gives me much to be excited about.

Again, I feel like a broken record. You can't have Mike mixed into the formula without having the WHOLE Mike (for better or worse). The Mike who was accurately profiled in the Rolling Stone band interview. That's the elephant in the room. When you add up the pluses and minuses, if I were Brian I'd just let it go. Not worth it. UNLESS of course Mike pushed the issue...which he hasn't. Then, it would be more difficult to be the bad guy and squash it (as Mike did in spectacular fashion in the fall of 2012.

How is that a bash session on Mike? Andrew, for all of your research in all things BB, you exhibit the same knee jerk bias of many of us here.

A new solo album with AL! Hooray - beyond that, it just IS what it IS.

I'm with the professor here. I want a full-group album[who wouldn't?]. I want Mike's leads to Brian's songs[it would sound nice. sure]. And Mike's lyrics to some of Brian's melodies[no - absolutely not. no-go, no way. And full-group vocals[that would be nice].

Edited above, by moi.

 

I think I'd actually prefer a Brian-with-Al-guesting album than a Beach Boys album, anyway (blasphemy!), so this is really cool. While the group dynamic is missing, you get more Brian songs and less Mike nostalgia. Not that the latter doesn't have it's place, I've just had my fill from the last album.

That's kinda the elephant in the room, isn't it? I agree totally, by the way.

I don't see an elephant in the room.

Weeeeel...instead of beating the poor elephant again, I've always believed that the nuts and bolts of another decent Brian album have certainly been there for a number of years. It's almost turnkey post TLOS and TWGMTR. When you introduce certain parties such as Mike, there needs to be a certain 'compromise' that takes place.

I think I'd actually prefer a Brian-with-Al-guesting album than a Beach Boys album, anyway (blasphemy!), so this is really cool. While the group dynamic is missing, you get more Brian songs and less Mike nostalgia. Not that the latter doesn't have it's place, I've just had my fill from the last album.

That's kinda the elephant in the room, isn't it? I agree totally, by the way.

Fantastic news. Hopefully David will get to wail on a couple tunes.

Spend some time in a proper studio, you say? So, what, i take it your problem with SS is more from an engineering perspective? The same exact songs and arrangements recorded in a proper studio would do the trick? Is it an issue with session musicians vs the Beach Boys as musicians?

Sounds to me, based on your post, that you’re more hung up on the mythology of Smiley Smile than the cult following who you say deify it. 

Couple things - as I mentioned before, I prefer the fully fleshed out versions of the 6 tracks which would've been featured on Smile. As such, I could live without their demo versions. The balance of the album as is would not have been saved even if it were recorded at Abbey freakin' Road. The songs just weren't fully realized. Which is okay - if you're into an experimental trip. Maybe they were...doesn't mean that it holds water to what came before or after.

Secondly, yeah the mythology of it all kind of makes me laugh. Makes me smiley.  I just don't take the album very seriously to tell you the truth. A huge missed opportunity back in the day.

I do notice though that the UM boot has the recordings in much clearer sound than the actual album. I don't have the reissued SS, though, so I can't comment on its sound, but the original CD pressing was very muddy.

True. H&V didn't really come to life for me until Linett's stereo mix. I could drag Wild Honey into the sound quality discussion as well, but naw - this is all about Smiley right now.

I just feel that this album has engendered a following which is way way beyond its mettle. And while it's easy to use examples of art which grew on listeners over time, Smiley to me is only a quirky, yes - demoesque recording... which certainly applies to the 90's four track home recording movement of the likes of GBV et al. Perhaps I misspoke when I characterized its failings as quick and dirty. The minimal instrumentation is certainly 'clear' - but that doesn't make it deep or in any way profound. As for me, I prefer Deep-n-Wide.

Ah, the deification of Smiley Smile. What would I miss? Not much - six out of the eleven would have been presented in their (painstaking) glory on Smile. And that would have been far far superior to the dashed-off, demoesque SS renditions.

I would like to hear from someone who heard it in '67 and LOVED it as a low tech masterpiece. Really not sure those people exist, since hindsight has brought legions of low-fi fanatics who have imbued a ridiculous amount of pretense to this strange album.

I 'kind of' like it (when I'm in the mood), but I could very easily see it slip away into the shadows of history if the full and proper Smile was released. To me, SS's adherents remind me of people who worship at the feet of Pavement and early Guided By Voices. Quick, dirty, noisy, DONE (as if that somehow imbues some great artistic honesty). No thanks...spend the time in a proper studio and get it done right. Anything else is jive, in my opinion.

Here's 2 scenarios where some of the quirky SS tracks could receive a proper reception by an adoring public:
a) a solo album by Brian...why not? say, circa '70
b) a double album by the boys, ASSUMING they've already generated the MO and good will they would have greatly deserved had Smile been fully realized. White Album, anyone?

To me Smiley Smile is a strange cult of an album. I might hang out and accept its offer of toke, but it's just too silly and too inconsequential for my tastes. Definitely a 'casual' acquaintance.

Does a Mike guest lead vocal on a Brian solo track = Beach Boys?

Com'on Mike. Com'on and answer the phone, com'on com'on.

Anyone seen her cameo on the old Batman series? Robin has been kidnapped, and Catwoman is attempting to brainwash him into joining her nefarious gang. Of course, Leslie has feelings for Robin.

"You're either going to be a singer, or an arch criminal. You can't be both."

California Nights.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7KXePXj1j0

I like...her ears.

After all that, my question would center around another of my favorite bands: Specifically in '66 and '67, did the Monkees and Brian or the Beach Boys in general ever interact socially? The Monkees did have some hip, connected, mutual friends, yet I can't recall reading accounts of them hanging out in any way, which I find odd since the LA scene in 66-67 really wasn't that big, geographically.

Dunno about the period around the Monkees heyday, but Brian was certainly a regular visitor at Mickey's pad in the 70's. Sometimes I wonder whether Brian watched the Monkees series earnestly, with an eye towards the songs, production, etc.

One thing I've always wondered about was the decision to move from Laurel Way. When Brian and Marilyn lived there it was obviously a destination point for late night hipster hangouts. Living in such a celebrated artistic community certainly aided the local hip quotient of Brian and by extension the band. Wonder if Marilyn was the driver towards the relatively sedate locale of Bellagio. Got tired of living in a frathouse perhaps. Women.

Hi

Not posted on here for a while, just heard this tune and would love to know more!
That has to be Brian Wilson on at least some of the BV's, sounds like one of his productions too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2mQmLwdnEk


does anyone have any info on this?

Excellent hypothesis AllIWanna. Sadly, we can't be sure. If only we had an on-line resource which provided yearly / monthly / daily accounts of activities by the Beach Boys. If only we had such a resource.

It's a damn shame, I tell ya.

One of the Cowsill brothers died in Hurricane Katrina, easily the best known person to perish in the storm.

That was Barry, who battled alcoholism in his later years. I recall Susan posting online, desperate for news about Barry at the time. The parallels between the two families are striking.

Great interview with John Cowsill on Michael Shelley's archives on WFMU. Touches on working with the Beach Boys as well as the family history of the Cowsills. Highly recommended (he's also got archived interviews with Brian and Billy Hinsche in 2008 and David Marks in 2012). http://wfmu.org/playlists/shows/26970

http://wfmu.org/special.php/SH

BTW - listen to Poor Baby by the Cowsills and tell me that doesn't warm your ever-lovin' Wilsonian heart.

I am really enjoying From Red to Blue. When the harmonies come in, it's as if he's channeling the old times with Dennis. Gotta pick up a copy when it's available.

It's just something about Sea World in particular that is lame.... It's not a matter of me having a problem with them playing smaller, oddball places. As I said, state fairs are cool and speak to the American spirit that the Beach Boys are a part of. It's just SEA WORLD?? .... They might as well be playing LegoLand.

Or The Corn Palace, Mitchell SD ?

Hey, don't be dissin' on the Corn Palace. I been there. I couldn't resist the constant advertising that IMPLORED me to turn off the highway and visit this architectural wonder. And it IS cool...in a Cabinessence kinda way.

Nez just posted the venues on Facebook. Seattle's show will be at the Neptune Theatre. University District I believe. Portland will be at the Aladdin Theatre, which is a great place to see a show - saw Jr. Brown there some years back.

I downloaded a recent show in his UK tour prior to the November Monkees run. FYI that he does quite a bit of storytelling, setting up the songs poetically. It's not your typical bam-bam knock out the hits kind of show. Then again, Nez marches to his own different drum.

What an epic fail - 2% raised out of a target goal. Hooboy.

Pledge $2,500 or more

All contributors get listed under 'Associate Producer' category during end titles, authentic crew cap, and get to spend the day on set with crew for interview with Carol. Get to ask five 'on camera' questions.

Pity. We should have chipped in and had Andrew ask the questions.