Fabulous guitar arrangement of my #2 All Time Favorite BB song!

Thanks for posting!

Following up on the topic of Mike and Dean, here are two artistic gems in a row ... Caroline No beautifully segueing into The Locomotion ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhhws5pTJdw&feature=youtu.be

I'd never heard of Craig Smith until GF's post seven years ago. Here's an interesting article, from Sept. 2016, reviewing Mike Stax's book. When Craig Smith left for a trip on the Hippie Trail in 1968 Mike Love threw a going away party at his house. Unfortunately, Mike declined to be interviewed for the book. https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/7bmxzx/swimming-through-the-darkness-the-hunt-for-craig-smith-psychedelic-messiah

The Michel Colombier arranger-as-writer thing makes sense for Deirdre. Still though, interesting that back in June 1970 not long before release Bruce doesn't even mention Brian in that context -

"We have now got two new albums ready for release. 'The Fading Rock Group Revival', which will be our last for Capitol, should be out around the end of July. It will contain 10 tracks, including 'Loop-de-Loop', 'Deirdre' which I co-wrote with Michel Colombier, our previous hit 'Breakaway', possibly an unaccompanied version of the 'Lord's Prayer', and a song called 'Forever' which we are also considering as our next single. After that album, we shall be bringing out 'Sunflowers', which will be on our own re-activated Brothers label."

Speaking of Al and Brian, is there a general consensus on who wrote (and produced) what for At My Window? I've read one quote about Al remembering writing it (without mentioning Brian) and another from Brian where he says Al wrote the lyrics. Brian responsible for reworking the Raspberries Strawberries chords/melody after Al brought him the song maybe?

Thanks for posting that June 1970 quote from Bruce - I hadn't seen it before. Where was it published or broadcast?

A review from Rolling Stone 1/18/2019 ...
Review: Beach Boys Plumb Vaults for Post-‘Pet Sounds’ Gems
Heavenly acapellas, covers, stoner ramblings, and other rarities from the 1968 ‘Friends’ and ’20/20′ sessions are spruced up and issued on the latest digital dump from the band’s fabled vaults.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/review-beach-boys-plumb-vaults-for-post-pet-sounds-gems-780314/

New Rolling Stone interview with Alan Boyd and Mark Linett

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/how-the-beach-boys-lost-late-sixties-gems-got-a-second-life-779012/

Great article and interview! Now THAT is how to get the word out about releases like this. I'm so glad to see RS run this piece so people outside the BB's fan bubble can know it's available. I think sometimes this fanbase exists too much inside its own bubble unless something gets picked up and distributed to outlets like RS.

Re: The article, this section:

>>>>What was Brian’s level of involvement with these sessions originally?
Boyd: Brian was very much involved in Friends — he was still basically running the show. He even finished the album after the boys had left to go on tour. At that point, the Beach Boys were sooo far behind on their contract with Capitol because of that long period of time between Pet Sounds and the eventual release of Smiley Smile. They were still playing catch-up. By the spring of ’68 , an album had to be turned in. Same thing with 20/20 — there was a major flurry of activity to finish that one in time to get it to Capitol before they launched a major tour of Europe. But Brian was very much involved in Friends. He pretty much produced it.

Linett: Even [songs] we’d probably say were co-produced, like Dennis’ “Little Bird,” were still more Brian producing. Not a whole lot different than earlier group recordings. The exception here is there are a lot of session players on the basic tracks, as opposed to Wild Honey and Smiley Smile.<<<<

A very big thank you to Mark and Alan for truly setting the record straight on this specific issue, and doing so in a major music publication. I hope this can be one of the definitive statements of fact on this issue of Brian's involvement in the music, and a validation of sorts for those who had to argue this very fact over the past 15 years or so in various online jousting matches over how involved Brian was in the music from 67-68. Thank you.

And now, Craig, you can truly thank Mark and Alan in their endeavors toward providing both current and future copyright extension releases of this wonderful music by purchasing all three 1968 sets.

To somewhat paraphrase a very popular song from a year prior to these 1968 releases, "it will be worth it, if not only for the benefit of this and future Beach Boys releases from the vault, but for your own peace of mind."

Is it known exactly when Brian was institutionalized in 1968 and for how long? Was it between the Friends and 20/20 sessions? For the Friends sessions, is it known if Murry volunteered his services or it Brian specifically asked him to assist. If Murry produced WTA, how involved was he in the 20/20 sessions?

  The only problem is that there's no room left in Mike's hat. It's been so full of sh*t for decades just like the rest of his stupid hat collection.  

Sigh ... Seeing moronic comments like the above makes me embarrassed to have been a part of this thread. I don't understand why the mods allow this type of immature nonsense.

  Uninsultable, that's what I am. You, of all people should not read my posts because man, you take things wayyyy to seriously. One would think you learned your lesson by now, but no. You must be a lot of fun, man.  

Mr. "lol lol woot whatever thumbsup wave kiss tm happydance love rock winke":

Hah! Yeah, man, I’m known for a having great sense of humor - highly refined with a sense of jocularity (not to be confused on your part with jock straps). But I outgrew (as have 99% of adults) what you apparently consider to be “funny” around the time I turned nine or ten years old.

But look, no use irritating the other board members with this tripe, so I’m signing off on this back and forth, and for the benefit of the readership, you might wanna consider doing likewise.

Cheers!

It's never as simple as that.  Even if the truth is on your side, the cost of defending yourself from a lawsuit is enormous.  Most people will give it up rather than face the time and costs of attorneys' fees in defending themselves from a lawsuit.  If you are sued and you win, you don't get your attorneys' fees back, they are down the drain.  And if a judge makes a decision that turns a case upside down, even if that decision is wrong, that is one of the risks of a lawsuit.  The road to good intentions is paved with all kinds of bad and incorrect outcomes in lawsuits, especially in sunny California.

Exactly.

  The only problem is that there's no room left in Mike's hat. It's been so full of sh*t for decades just like the rest of his stupid hat collection.  

Sigh ... Seeing moronic comments like the above makes me embarrassed to have been a part of this thread. I don't understand why the mods allow this type of immature nonsense.

On Nov. 20th I first asked about the flip in Mike's portrayal in Rocky's book, and Guitarfool posted a similar question, comparing Rocky's posts on this board of a couple of years ago to what has been reported in the final edition coauthored by Ron.

... In his posts of roughly three years ago, Rocky often cast Mike and Stan Love in a negative light, but I see that Stan contributed pics to the book, and Ian says Mike was cast only in a positive light. How do you account for this change? Other than the pictures contributed by Stan, were either he or Mike involved in determining the content of the book? ...

... the book itself seems to be complimentary of Mike, if anything. ...

Ron answered thusly:

... One of the most surprising things was that Rocky had in fact, enormous respect for Mike Love in myriad ways, respect that I heard over and over again in those long and rambling conversations. Rocky himself was surprised at what he had revealed. We're hoping that it made for a better read. ...

... Yes the book was considerably reworked. ...

... As I mentioned, my understanding of the material based on my conversations with Rocky revealed a different story, one I don't think that Rocky was completely aware of himself. ...

But when CenturyDeprived made the following observations:

... Yet I can understand that powerful parties who potentially stand to gain or lose based on the book's content could yield their power (via methods that I have no insight on), much like I assume that the final cut of the film Love & Mercy (as well as it turned out IMHO) was almost certainly impacted politically in *some* fashion by not just what the filmmakers wanted to say, but what they could/couldn't say without problems arising.  If lines are crossed, I imagine the wrath of known litigious folk could be a result. While you personally haven't met Mike Love, that in and of itself doesn't tell me that my assumption above is by definition completely incorrect.  I frankly think it would be rare and gutsy/stupid for any book like this by any insider about a famous band to simply be released without certain considerations being made. ...
 

We most likely got the real reason for the flip in this reply from Ron:

... You are astute in your observations about having to be careful about a book including rich, influential people.
As one of my attorney friends reminded me when I realized that my name would actually go on the book, and I'll quote him here because it is an amusing and brilliant and frightening quip, all at the same time, "A rich, vexatious litigant can always cause trouble." Ha.
Believe me, that was on our minds. More to come. ...

I would like to thank Ron for conducting himself in a courteous, respectful, and diplomatic manner on this board, especially in the face of numerous attacks. He was obviously quite naive thinking an error filled Chapter 2 would be greeted with accolades, as well as perhaps not recognizing the level of distain held for Mr. Pamplin due to a number of his past actions. Interestingly, Ron showed up on the Pet Sounds Forum three days ago, offering to answer any questions, but so far there haven't been any takers.

Meant For You (Alternate Version With Session Intro) - Is that Murry Wilson critiquing Brian's vocal over the talkback? Sounds like him. Shades of the Rhonda tape perhaps?

Murry unofficially co-produced the "Meant For You" session, along with a few other Friends tracks like "Ann Lee" and "Transcendental Mediation". He also sang the low bass note on "Be Here In The Morning", so he likely co-produced that one, as well.

And there's that interview with Carl (I think it was on one of those radio specials) where he says something to the effect that Friends (doesn't specify if he's referring to the single or the album) was basically "Brian and our dad."

Can I assume this will be available for download on ITunes at some point? Exciting!!

It's available! Dropped on iTunes at 9 PM Pacific Time, midnight Eastern Time.

Brian : Not "what city are we in?" like Dennis or Carl who were often barley sober enough to stand up, but "what planet are we on?"
Carl and Dennis, "whoopee, can I get a drink on stage with me?" Carl actually fell into the drum set on one occasion and a stand by drummer was continually on the road with them because Dennis was often incapable of "going on with the show" at all. Mike Kowalski had to slip on stage to play drums. Now, there's no doubt that Carl and Dennis were talented and both superior musicians, but they were not consummate professional entertainers consistently. Say what you will. MIKE LOVE WAS.

This is not an accurate characterization of Carl Wilson. Yes, there were some on-stage issues for a short period of time, but 99.9% of the time he was a consummate professional on stage. As a long time fan (to put it mildly!) I saw Carl on stage with the band on numerous occasions, starting way back in 1966, and I never once saw him "barely sober enough to stand up" wondering "what planet are we on?"

Yep, really nice gatefold packaging, a signed postcard from Al inside, and cool looking dark blue vinyl. My copy (and hopefully all others) is perfectly pressed, with no clicks, pops, or other extraneous noise.

Now all I need is Summer in Paradise on vinyl. Seriously, it's the only BB album which I don't have a vinyl copy of. Sure it's got some songs that I absolutely have no desire to listen to (Summer of Love being number one in that category), but it's also got some songs I really enjoy (Lahaina Aloha being number one in  that category). The CD is going for a premium price both used and new these days, so for those of us who are vinyl competists a vinyl release would be perfect for a future Record Store Day.

Thanks!

Darn, US Netflix currently only goes thru Season 3.

Ron,

Since you didn't reply to my earlier questions, I'll ask 'em again and add a few more:

1. The book went from 35 chapters (the titles of which Rocky originally posted on this board) to 28. Does the text in the current book bear much resemblance to the excerpts Mr. Pamplin posted here around three years ago, or was the book partially or completely reworked?

2. At one point Rocky described the book as the autobiography of his friend Steve Love. Would you still characterize it as such? What was Steve Love's level involvement in the book?

3. In his posts of roughly three years ago, Rocky often cast Mike and Stan Love in a negative light, but I see that Stan contributed pics to the book, and Ian says Mike was cast only in a positive light. How do you account for this change? Other than the pictures contributed by Stan, were either he or Mike involved in determining the content of the book?

4. Moderators, please correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it's OK for Ron to post info Rocky told him about the book (eg, "Concerning the book, Rocky told me blah blah blah") as long as Ron does not act as a conduit for Mr. Pamplin to engage in back and forth conversation with members of the board.

5. Ron, I'm assuming you have read Rocky's posts in Rocky Pamplin Book About the Beach Boys? and Is Steve Love a Credible Source? and are thus well aware of the fact that your writing style is completely different from Mr. Pamplin's. Due to a number of his past actions (involving Carl, Dennis, and Marilyn), Rocky received justifiable criticism from members of this board, but he frequently responded with rather juvenile sounding posts and name calling - certainly a poor course of action for someone dealing with people to whom he is hoping to sell his book. How would you characterize Mr. Pamplin's demeanor and personality in your dealings with him?

I see the book went from 35 chapters (the titles of which Rocky originally posted on this board) to 28. He also posted some excerpts. Does the text in the current book bear much resemblance to the excerpts posted here around three years ago? At one point Rocky described the book as the autobiography of his friend Steve Love. Would you still characterize it as such? What was Steve Love's level involvement in the book?

In the modern day equivalent of the LP cut-out bin, Amazon is now selling the Unleash the Love 2 disc vinyl album for $5.06 with free Prime shipping. Adjusting back for inflation, that's like selling a double album for 70 cents 50 years ago in 1968.

So for those that know. What’s the legalities of Music plagiarism and this song?

Shortenin' Bread is a traditional song in the public domain.

Thanks for the info!

At this juncture I'd simply like to once again let Stephen Desper know how much I and others appreciate his study videos and the fact that he is willing to spend time posting on both the SS and PS boards.

I searched on the web for more information about Sail, On Sailor, and the history of the song is getting to be a head-scratcher for me.

Thus far, I found this old thread from this forum (http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php?topic=8405.15)

According to c-man's post on the thread above, there's a chance Sail, On Sailor, The Trader and On My Way To Sunny California (or whatever you call it) were all finished in some way before June 1972, when Holland sessions are just about to be taken place.

Rather than repeat what I posted here back in 2010, I'll simply recommend that interested parties check out the link above, posted by Watamushi (Polly Poller), which also includes a well researched timeline from Craig Slowinski.

Rob - interesting to see some of the other titles listed for Dennis C. Wilson on that ASCAP site - would make a good topic for another thread!

Craig - That's for sure!

https://www.ascap.com/repertory#ace/writer/46471283/WILSON%20DENNIS%20C