One of the great mysteries to me will always be why a guy like Al Jardine (there are many other examples in pop music) can be so damn talented, a great singer, decent songwriter.... why a guy like him never made it big solo. 

Al never really tried to be a solo star. He was in a band until he was in his mid-50s, and as great a singer as he is and even though he sang lead on a No. 1 hit, he wasn't the face or voice of the band. And he's not a prolific songwriter.

I'm sure everyone has someone whose music they really like who they wonder how this person never became a big star. For me it's Marshall Crenshaw. He released a ton of great music but only got one top-40 hit out of it.

I'm 50 now. My ex-wife is 8 years younger than me. When we started dating, I was 35 and she was 27. We had a long car ride, and I asked her if she wanted to listen to Marshall's "This Is Easy" compilation on the ride. She said sure, and a few songs in she said, "Why haven't I ever heard of this guy?"

I love Hal's quote, when Denny Tedesco told him Carol would be in the interview. "I said, 'Denny, I'll tell you something right now, I have nothing against Carol, but any question you ask any of us, she's going to answer."

I'd never seen this clip before, a news report on the 1977 free Central Park concert, featuring interviews with Dennis, Mike and Audree.

I loved how Karen is holding on to Dennis, probably figuring if she lets go of him he'll probably try to take the reporter off for a pre-show "tune-up. 

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

From Van Dyke Parks' twitter -

Dennis Wilson, born Dec. 4, a Beach Boy--was under-agented, and man enough to take it. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VokiVu95xbU&



https://twitter.com/thevandykeparks/status/672768970219380736

What the hell does "under-agented" mean??

From Van Dyke Parks' twitter -

Dennis Wilson, born Dec. 4, a Beach Boy--was under-agented, and man enough to take it. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VokiVu95xbU&

https://twitter.com/thevandykeparks/status/672768970219380736

What the hell does "under-agented" mean??

It means Van Dyke loves being passive-aggressive.

COMMENT:
Dennis will try to bury his vocals because he doesn’t think he’s a very good singer and gets embarrassed when he hears himself under the “microscope” of a studio monitor during mixdown. I have fought with him many times trying to convince him that his vocal was too low

It seems like one time this wasn't the case was (Wouldn't It Be Nice To) Live Again. His vocal is very prominent, especially in the chorus. It's terrific.

I love Melt Away and think the 1988 album is his best (or new material) overall, despite the production.

TLOS would be a strong second.

From the P.F. Sloan Wikipedia entry:
"Eugene Landy, the controversial psychologist, laid claim to being the real P.F. Sloan when he was asked by reporters why he considered himself able to direct Beach Boys lead singer Brian Wilson's musical career. Landy claimed to have written the songs attributed to "P.F. Sloan".[citation needed]"  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P._F._Sloan

I don't recall hearing this before, and no citation is given. Any further info?

From a 1995 interview when Phil went to Japan:

"Mmm. About 1988, I found out that Brian Wilson's so-called psychologist, Dr. Eugene Landy, was claiming that he had written "Eve Of Destruction", which was ludicrous. He obviously picked on that song, as I had a very low public profile at that time, and he figured he could get away with it. But I wrote a letter to Billboard about it, which was actually one of the first to denounce him."

I remember that letter. After ripping Landy and his claim, it closed with something like, "I hope helps Brian Wilson in some way."

Let Him Run Wild

That's a good one.

Another is "We'll Run Away." Has that ever made a Beach Boys comp?

Wow, it's great seeing footage you've never seen before. Thanks for posting!

I have to think it's not Al. I think there are other photos from this same shoot, and you never see his face in any of them. It would be one thing for Al to clown around in one photo, but not all of them.

Probably most of us have seen photos from this shoot, which looks like to be from 1966. Two questions:

1. Where's Al? (obviously it's not the first time Al missed a photo shoot)

2. More interestingly, who is the sixth guy?

I'll never understand why the song "Good Timin'" itself wasn't included.  It must have been considered initially, given the title of the DVD.  The performance now circulates in very poor quality on YouTube and it's pretty good with Brian singing some prominent vocals on the last chorus. https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZtcbfLnRfpo

I agree with this 100 percent.

1. She's Leaving Home, with Brian or Carl singing Paul's part, and full group harmonies on John's part.

2. That's Not Me, let the Beatles and George Martin pick.

This is probably something everyone knows but me, but why wasn't Dennis there for "New Year's Rockin' Eve"?

IIRC, Dennis refused to wear a matching outfit.

Thanks!

This is probably something everyone knows but me, but why wasn't Dennis there for "New Year's Rockin' Eve"?

Wilson sings Newman
- In line with Brian's "reimagine" series, Brian Wilson plays his favorite Randy Newman compositions. Title tips its hat to Harry Nilsson.

Heck, why not Wilson Sings Nilsson?

Wilson Schmilson... 

Well done!

[Brian Wilson likes Barbara Ann]

"Barbara Ann" has also been a staple at Brian Wilson's shows.

Dean may have been the one who suggested it, Brian was the one who decided to do it, and Brian was the one who produced it. And Brian was the one who decided to do it in his solo shows.

It may be hard for some people to accept, but Brian Wilson likes Barbara Ann. Yes, the man who gave us In My Room, Let Him Run Wild, God Only Knows, I Just Wasn't Made For These Times, Caroline No, Surf's Up, Till I Die, et. al, LIKES Barbara Ann.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZylusEw-68&t=85m20s

Kokomo's a pretty good song. I think the reason a lot of people can't stand it is it's become thought of as a signature song for the Beach Boys by a lot and probably THE signature song to a lot of Beach Boys fans for whom Kokomo was their first real exposure to the Boys.

And, of course, because Mike loves to point out that he co-wrote it and Brian had no involvement.

I lived with the '71 version for so long before hearing any other that it's got to be that version.

Same for me.

Two questions about the vocal part Carl added to Good Vibrations (beginning at 5:25).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ga1Gvi7F4PU

1. Who wrote it, Carl or Brian.

2. Does anyone know the lyrics Carl is singing? (or is he scat-singing?)

I think the major thing that Dennis needed to do was make peace, somehow, some way, with Murry. It seemed like they were making an effort in Murry's final days, but they never made it before Murry died. And Dennis, like Brian, skipped the funeral.

Of course, by 1983 (and probably a couple of years earlier), he would have needed a major detox first, but once he got clean, he would have needed to come to grips with Murry to STAY clean.

This is nothing but guesswork on my part, but I think Brian could have kept the "Wouldn't It Be Nice" credit as Wilson/Asher if he had been willing to give in to Mike on other songs.

As I recall, Mike offered to settle for $750,000 but Brian's camp turned him down. I bet if Brian and his people had offered to pay that money but keep "Wouldn't It Be Nice" out of the deal, Mike might have gone for it.

By the way, I don't have an issue with Mike getting credit for his vocal ad-lib. It's good, and Brian must have liked it to leave it in. I also prefer the mono version to the stereo because I prefer Mike singing the bridge rather than Brian.

As for people getting up in arms over Mike having Asher on stage, that's silly. Mike sang his heart out on "Pet Sounds" and "That's Not Me" is one of my favorite Mike vocals ever.

Brian's contribution to "Let It Shine" was basically the same as Mike's to "I Get Around", right? Adding a vocal intro, repeated later in the song, to an otherwise finished product.

In the end, history repeats itself:

1. Mike gives an interview. Gets asked about Brian. Responds with typical answers.

I disagree with this. I normally stay out of these threads, and don't feel the need to bash Mike endlessly.

However, it's the one completely NON-typical answer, the sympathy for Landy, that's the one that most people are harping on and rightly so.

If the Dennis-Shawn relationship had never happened, I can see it. But I don't know if they ever could have gotten past that.