He can get off a good line here and there but could never be as consistently funny as, say, John Lennon or Franz Zappa or even Leonard Cohen (surprise!) on their good days.  

Aren't you refering to Franz Kappa?

Here's one I made with some favorites of mine. It has a really nice flow:

1 Steppenwolf - The Pusher
2 Robbie Robertson - Golden Feather
3 Beck - Broken Drum
4 Lou Reed - Perfect Day
5 Mercury Rev - Tonite It Shows
6 The Beach Boys - All This Is That
7 The Byrds - Everybody's Been Burned
8 Mazzy Star - Into The Dust
9 Badly Drawn Boy - The Shining
10 Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah
11 Spain - Untitled #1
12 Jonathan Richman - Summer Feeling
13 Elvis Presley - In The Ghetto
14 Joni Mitchell - Down To You
15 Tim Hardin - How Can We Hang On To A Dream
16 John Hiatt - Lipstick Sunset
17 Bob Dylan - Moonlight
18 Emmylou Harris - Mister Sandman

This from the Goldmine article (by Dawn Eden) on Harry Nilsson, published on April 29, 1994:

"Spector for reasons best known to him, chose not to release the Modern Folk Quartet's 'This Could Be the Night' at the time. ... The classic pop song became legendary in L.A. pop circles and a particular favorite of the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson, who has reportedly made attempts at recording it over the years. ('This Could Be the Night' has the rare distinction of being in Wilson's permanent memory. In March of this year, during his appearance at New York's Algoquin Hotel, he was unable to recall some of his own songs, but acceded enthusiastically to a request for that Nilsson tune.)

That 'itchy bitchy heart' thing. Oh, wait,  it's 'Achy, Breaky Heart" by Billy Ray Cyrus.
And another one is 'My Toot Toot', sung by anyone in the mid Eighties.

Here 's an Americana compilation I made some time ago:

1. Lucinda Williams - Essence
2. Whiskeytown - Don't Wanna Know Why
3. Emmylou Harris - Wrecking Ball
4. Gillian Welch - Dear Someone
5. Steve Earle - My Old Friend The Blues
6. Ron Sexsmith - Tell Me Again
7. Josh Rouse - It’s The Night Time
8. Ryan Adams - My Winding Wheel
9. Anne McCue - Ballad Of An Outlaw Woman
10. Shawn Colvin - Sunny Came Home
11. Grant Lee Phillips - Mona Lisa
12. The Flying Burrito Brothers - Hot Burrito #1
13. The Reel & Soul Association - Are You Sure
14. Kelly Joe Phelps - Knock Louder
15. Jim White - A Perfect Day To Chase Tornados
16. Catie Curtis - I’ll Cover You
17. Josh Ritter - You’ve Got The Moon
18. Julie Miller - I Still Cry
19. Slaid Cleaves - Broke Down
20. Alejandro Escovedo - Tired Skin

I was just wondering if any of you know anybody who hates the Beatles and just wont give them a chance? I have started a topic similar to this about the Beach Boys... but in the end I know that the Beach Boys will never be as popular as A) a lot of their stuff isn't as well known B) their voices (now matter how great we think they are) might not be everyone's cup of tea and C) they just generally aren't as commercial.... Anyway, I just don't know how some people can't like the Beatles? I mean they are just so damn easy to like!! One of my friends in particular just doesn't like them at all... he thinks they are so over-rated etc.. So what do you guys reckon? How can anyone hate the Beatles?

He'll come around in time, believe me.

Some time ago I compiled two cd's with songs that have a southern feel.

Songs From The South - CD 1

1.   Eric Weisberg & Steve Mande - Dueling Banjos – 1973
2.   John Hiatt – Crossing Muddy Waters - 2000
3.   Josh Turner - Way Down South – 2006
4.   Bobbie Gentry - Ode To Billie Joe – 1967
5.   Jeannie C. Riley - Harper Valley PTA – 1968
6.   Townes Van Zandt - Panco & Lefty – 1972
7.   Guy Clark - Desperados Waiting For A Train – 1975
8.   Emmylou Harris - Boulder to Birmingham - 1975
9.   The Byrds (Gram Parsons) - Hickory Wind – 1968
10.   Johnny Cash - Hey Porter – 1955
11.   Hank Williams - Jambalaya (On The Bayou) – 1952
12.   Bill Monroe - Blue Moon Of Kentucky - 1947
13.   Roy Orbison - Blue Bayou – 1963
14.   Alabama - Dixieland Delight - 1983
15.   Buddy Jewel - Sweet Southern Comfort  - 2003
16.   Ryan Adams - Oh My Sweet Carolina – 2000
17.   Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels On A Gravel Road – 1998
18.   R.E.M. - Maps & Legends - 1985
19.   Janis Joplin - Summertime - 1969
20.   Ann Peebles – I Can’t Stand The Rain - 1971
21.   Otis Redding - (Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay - 1968

Songs From The South - CD 2

1.   Harry Dean Staton (Ry Cooder) - Cancion Mixteca – 1984
2.   Freddy Fender (Ry Cooder) - Across The Borderline – 1982
3.   Joe Ely – She Never Spoke Spanish To Me - 1977
4.   Marty Robbins - El Paso - 1959
5.   Clarence Carter - Patches - 1970
6.   Brook Benton - Rainy Night In Georgia – 1969
7.   Tony Joe White - Polk Salad Annie – 1968
8.   Elvis Presley - Kentucky Rain – 1969
9.   Joe South – Don't It Make You Wanna Go Home - 1969
10.   Billy Joe Royal - Down In The Boondocks – 1965
11.   Dusty Springfield - Son Of A Preacher Man – 1968
12.   Dr. John - Right Place, Wrong Time – 1973
13.   Little Feat - Dixie Chicken – 1973
14.   Ike & Tina Turner - Proud Mary  - 1971
15.   Al Green - Take Me To The River – 1974
16.   Link Wray – Fire And Brimstone -1971
17.   Neville Brothers - Yellow Moon – 1989
18.   Allen Toussaint - Southern Nights – 1975
19.   The Meters - Fire On The Bayou – 1975
20.   Sonny Landreth - Congo Square - 1985
21.   Steve Earl - Copperhead Road - 1988
22.   JJ Cale - Magnolia – 1972
23.   Bob Dylan - Blind Willie McTell - 1985

Caroline Herring - Lantana

I think SMiLE! was as much a concept as Pet Sounds, whatever that means.

Or Sgt. Pepper's for that matter.

Here's a 7 cd compilation I made of Bob's carreer, to play in my car. There's no duplication of songs and I tried to stay with the official releases (with a few exceptions).

What do you think?
What's missing, what would you add?


Dylan 1961 -2001

CD 1

1. Baby, Let Me Follow You Down - (Bob Dylan)
2. Wade In The Water - (Minnesota Hotel Tape)
3. I Was Young When I Left Home - (Minnesota Hotel Tape)
4. Baby I'm In The Mood For You - (The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan outtake)
5. Blowin' In the Wind - (The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan)
6. Handsome Molly - (The Gaslight Tapes)
7. Mixed-Up Confusion - (single)
8. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right - (The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan)
9. Masters of War - (The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan)
10. Playboys And Playgirls - (live in Newport)
11. Boots of Spanish Leather - (The Times They Are A-Changin’)
12. Percy's Song - (The Times They Are A-Changin outtake)
13. The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll - (The Times They Are A-Changin )
14. The Times They Are A-Changin - (The Times They Are A-Changin)
15. Lay Down Your Weary Tune - (The Times They Are A-Changin outtake)
16. It Ain't Me, Babe - ( Another Side of Bob Dylan)
17. All I Really Want To Do - (Another Side of Bob Dylan)
18. Gates Of Eden - (Halloween concert)
19. House of The Risin' Sun - (overdub session electric instruments)


CD 2

1. I'll Keep It With Mine - (Bringing It All Back Home acoustic outtake)
2. Subterranean Homesick Blues - (Bringing It All Back Home)
3. She Belongs To Me - (Bringing It All Back Home)
4. Love Minus Zero/No Limit - (Bringing It All Back Home acoustic outtake)
5. Maggie's Farm - (Bringing It All Back Home)
6. Mr. Tambourine Man - (Bringing It All Back Home)
7. It's All Over Now, Baby Blue - (Bringing It All Back Home)
8. To Ramona - (live in Sheffield, England)
9. Like A Rolling Stone - (Highway 61 Revisited)
10. Positively 4th Street - (single)
11. From A Buick 6 - (Highway 61 Revisited)
12. Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window? - (single)
13. I Wanna Be Your Lover - (Highway 61 Revisited - outtake)
14. Just Like A Woman - (Blonde On Blonde)
15. Stuck Inside Of Mobile With The Memphis Blues Again - (Blonde On Blonde)
16. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 - (Blonde On Blonde)
17. I Want You - (Blonde On Blonde)
18. I Don't Believe You - (live in Belfast, Ireland)
19. Visions of Johanna - (live in London, England)


CD 3

1. Million Dollar Bash - (The Basement Tapes )
2. Quinn The Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn) - (The Basement Tapes)
3. All Along The Watchtower - (John Wesley Harding)
4. Dear Landlord - (John Wesley Harding)
5. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight - (John Wesley Harding)
6. Grand Coulee Dam - (live in Carnegie Hall - A Tribute To Woody Guthrie)
7. Lay Lady Lay - (Nashville Skyline)
8. Living The Blues - (Self Portrait)
9. Minstrel Boy - (live at Isle of Wight - with The Band)
10. Pretty Saro - (Self Portrait)
11. Copper Kettle - (Self Portrait)
12. Spanish Is My Lovin’ Tongue - (single)
13. If Dogs Run Free - (New Morning)
14. If Not For You - (New Morning)
15. Time Passes Slowly - (New Morning)
16. You Ain't Goin' Nowhere - (Greatest Hits, Vol. 2 )
17. I Shall Be Released - (Greatest Hits, Vol. 2)
18. George Jackson - (single)
19. Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door - (Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid
20. Billy - (Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid)
21. Forever Young - (demo - Biograph)
22. You Angel You - (Planet Waves)
23. On a Night Like This - (Planet Waves)
24. Dirge - (Planet Waves)
25. Most Likely You Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine - (live in Los Angeles, with The Band )


CD 4

1. You're A Big Girl Now - (Blood On The Tracks -outtake)
2. Shelter From The Storm - (Jerry Maguire soundtrack)
3. Up To Me - (Blood On The Tracks -outtake)
4. Tangled Up In Blue - (Blood On The Tracks)
5. Rita Mae - (single)
6. Abandoned Love - (Desire outtake)
7. Hurricane - (Desire)
8. Romance In Durango - (live in Quebec, Canada - with Rolling Thunder Revue)
9. Isis - (live in Quebec, Canada - with Rolling Thunder Revue)
10. One More Cup Of Coffee - (live in Budokan Hall, Tokyo)
11. Changing Of The Guards - (Street Legal)
12. Señor (Tales Of Yankee Power) - (Street Legal)
13. I Believe In You - (Slow Train Coming)
14. Gotta Serve Somebody - (Slow Train Coming)
15. Solid Rock - (Saved)


CD 5

1. Caribbean Wind - (Shot Of Love outtake)
2. Every Grain of Sand - (demo - Biograph)
3. Heart Of Mine - (live in New Orleans )
4. Jokerman - (Infidels)
5. Blind Willie McTell - (Infidels outtake - The Bootleg Series, 1961-1991)
6. I And I - (live in Slane Castle, Ireland - Real Live)
7. Tight Connection To My Heart - (Empire Burlesque)
8. Dark Eyes - (Empire Burlesque)
9. Band Of The Hand - (single )
10. The Usual - (single)
11. Night After Night - (Hearts Of Fire soundtrack )
12. Silvio - (Down In The Groove)
13. Pretty Boy Floyd - (A Vison Shared)
14. Man In The Long Black Coat - (Oh Mercy)
15. Everything Is Broken - (Oh Mercy)
16. People Get Ready - (Flashback soundtrack)
17. Born In Time - (Under the Red Sky)
 
Updated cd 6:

1. Nobody's Child (Romanian Angel Appeal)
2. This Old Man (Disney cd)
3. Miss The Mississippi And You (Bromberg session outtake)
4. You Belong To Me (OST Natural Born Killers)
5. Tomorrow Night (Good as I've been to you)
6. Hard Times (Good as I've been to you)
7. Song To Woody (Bobfest outtake)
8. Heartland (Willie Nelson: Across The Borderline)
9. Ballad Of Hollis Brown (Mike Seeger: Third Annual Farewell Reunion)
10. Delia (World Gone Wrong)
11. Blood In My Eyes (World Gone Wrong)
12. Boogie Woogie Country Girl (A Tribute To Doc Pomus)
13. Blue Eyed Jane (Tribute To Jimmie Rodgers)
14. Hard Rain (Great Music Experience)
15. Dignity (Unplugged - Bob Dylan Live 1961-2000)
16. Not Dark Yet (Time Out Of Mind)
17. Love Sick (Time Out Of Mind)
18. To Make You Feel My Love (Time Out Of Mind)

CD 7

1. The Lonesome River (Ralph Stanley's Clinch River Mountain)
2. Cold Irons Bound (Bob Dylan Live 1961-2000)
3. Chimes Of Freedom (The Sixties TV Soundtrack Album)
4. Train Of Love (A Tribute To Johnny Cash)
5. Things Have Changed (OST Wonder Boys)
6. Somebody Touched Me (Bob Dylan Live 1961-2000)
7. High Water (For Charlie Patton) (Love And Theft)
8. Mississippi (Love And Theft)
9. Moonlight (Love And Theft)
10. Red Cadillac And A Black Moustache (Good Rocking Tonight - A Sun Tribute)
11. I Can't Get You Off Of My Mind (Timeless - Tribute To Hank Williams)
12. Return To Me (The Sopranos - OST Salt & Pepper)
13. Waiting For You (OST Ya Ya Sisterhood)
14. Dixie (OST Masked And Anonymous)
15. Cross The Green Mountains (OST Gods And Generals)
16. Thunder on the Mountain (Modern Times)
17. Nettie Moore (Modern Times)
18. Ain't Talkin' (Modern Times)

Can a good soul estimate how much CD space would the whole As & Bs output take? Capitol, Warner, CBS and Kokomo's one offs.

Not that I think they would release something like that for the 278 audiophiles out there...

There's a bootleg box around which take up 5 cd's plus one extra with promo's and stuff.

http://www.musictap.net/Archives/Posts/Posts08/ArchivalPosts2008Mar0915.html#031408


Watch for two ‘best of’ albums coming, one for Al Green (which we have previously mentioned), and one for The Beach Boys. The Al Green comp is called Greatest Grooves, while The Beach Boys will have their set named The Beach Boys US Singles. Both are scheduled for June 10. They will join another high profile collection, one by Billy Idol called The Very Best of Billy Idol – Idolize Yourself. 


I vote for all A & B sides, chronologically ordered and the correct single mixes.

Beatles, Beach Boys, Nick Drake, Jacques Brel, Bob Dylan, Jeffrey Foucault & Kelly Jo Phelps.

Wow, Jon, this is fantastic news!
Thanks.
 

For the Steve Hoffman forum I wrote an overview of the Beach Boys recording carreer. Here is the story of Stars and Stripes album and the surrounding sessions in the period 1994-1996.

http://www.stevehoffman.tv/forums/showpost.php?p=2702935&postcount=958

John: In My Life
Paul: For No One
George: Long Long Long
Ringo: you're kiddin', aren't you?

Wouldn't it be better to start a new thread where the pro's and con's of Mike can be discussed?

In fact Carl was rehearsing with Dennis for the tour, the rehearsal tapes exist...the set sounded incredible. Maybe we'll get lucky and a sample of them will surface on a future DW solo release.

You made me drool all over the keyboard.

Gregg Jakobson lives in Oregon, i talk to him frequently...he's still very active in promoting and developing the music he wrote with Dennis.

Did he ever get any futher with those plans in Hawaii?

Part 3: Bamboo

(Note: this is my interpretation of what could have happened. Living in Belgium, it's only based on various interviews published in magazines and on the net.)


Even before Pacific Ocean Blue was released Dennis Wilson already started working on the follow-up album.

Those first sessions were to record some left-overs, like '(I Found Myself in a) Wild Situation' and a re-recording of 'School Girl'. Both songs were a bit politically incorrect and perhaps not deemed fitting to the atmosphere of the album.
Also dating from these sessions is the backing track for 'Baby Blue Eyes'.

In May 1977 he is interviewed by David Leaf to promote Pacific Ocean Blue, but he is more interested in talking about the next album.
"[The record company] call it one, two, three. I just don't stop recording. You're talking to, if there ever was, a freak or somebody completely into it, I am home here at the studio or playing music on the road. When I go to the shack that I stay at, I hate it. Music is everything. The stage, recording music, signing autographs, worrying about the airplay, worrying about talking to you, everything.
If there was ever a real lover in my life, it'd be Karen Lamm and music. Sounds silly, doesn't it? I just love it. I have so much fun doing it. I want you to come by the studio tonight to watch me record.....it's a new approach...a song called "He's a Bum." Even has a nasty line in there - "he likes to do it on his hands and knees." I know that's terrible but....."

Thanks to this interview, 'He's a bum' became one of the most legendary unreleased Dennis Wilson songs. It appears however that never more then a demo version is recorded and what appears of it on bootlegs is taken from a very poor sounding copy.

These sessions are still being produced together with Gregg Jakobson. Dennis and Gregg were also planning to built a recording studio in Hawaii, called Sunset Studios. A twenty-acre parcel of land on the north shore of Oahu was bought. They planned to live and record there with other musicians in a scenic and peaceful atmosphere. Everything was to be arranged by their new company Bamboo Productions.

"It was their plan for a recording studio and resort in Hawaii that spawned the name "Bamboo"," explained Jon Stebins. "There are those who believe it was never actually a working title for the second LP but only a label for the grand plan percolating around it."

Of course, the project never progressed past the initial planning stages - Dennis simply didn't have the necessary money, or focus, and he ultimately abandoned the project. Jakobson continued with an adjusted version of the Hawaii plan after Dennis had dropped out.

* * *

But there are more plans Dennis had to give up. A proposed solo tour to promote the album was cancelled at the last minute, because Caribou didn't want to spent the amount of money needed for the string and horns sections Dennis wanted to take with him.

* * *

At the same time, the relationships between the different members of the Beach Boys had deteriorated fast that Summer, leading to a (short) split in September 1977 - right after the release of Pacific Ocean Blue.

It's no surprise then that Carl and Dennis prefer to stay at home when Mike, Alan and Brian head to Fairfield, IA to record a contract-fulfilling Christmas album for Warners.

Dennis however is prepared to contribute a song. 'Holy Evening' (or 'Morning Christmas' or 'Holy Holy') is recorded in the Brother Studio, in Santa Monica. If released this emotive, stark ballad would have been the best track on the proposed album. Especially noteworthy are the layered angelic vocals courtesy of Marisa Conover.

These M.I.U. sessions were followed by a three-week tour of Australia & New Zealand, in February and March 1978, during which Carl and Dennis tried to cure their unhappiness with drugs and alcohol.

* * *

As Dennis saw his second album as a more ambitious affair then his impressionistic solo debut, he needed someone to replace Gregg Jakobson. He found his perfect collaborator in Carli Muñoz.

Puerto Rico-born Carlos C. Muñoz had joined the Beach Boys touring band in 1970 as percussionist, but when Daryl Dragon left the following year, he replaced him as pianist. Originally a jazz pianist, Carli was also a gifted composer and arranger and a great friend.

In April 1978, they assembled a band in Brothers Studio, consisting of Beach Boys touring band members Bobby Figueroa, Joel Peskin and Sterling Smith, along with players from Smith’s new wave band The Load: bassist Dave Hessler and Sterling’s guitar playing brother Tommy Smith.

With Muňoz as producer, the goal was to record some of the songs Carli had written and stockpiled over the years.

He had composed 'Under the Moonlight' mid-flight during a Beach Boys tour, sometime around 1973. This was a giant step from the sound of POB: it's a brash rocker with a fantastic Ed Carter guitar solo.

The dynamic 'Companion' received lyrics by Rags Baker and clearly shows Muňoz South American background. Carl Wilson was very fond of this song and wanted the use it as the title song of the next Beach Boys album.

The oldest composition from Muňoz recorded during these sessions went as far back as 1967 or 1968. 'It's Not Too Late' aka 'It Won't Be Long' is considered by some to be the most chilling song in the entire Beach Boys cannon. After a sensitive vocal intro by Dennis, it's Carl who takes the lead with one of his most heartfelt vocals of all time. The contrast between the brother's voices is staggering, but the overall effect is extremely effective.

The most famous of these Carli Muňoz songs is the gorgeous and heartbreaking 'All Alone' which was released in 1997 on Capitol's Endless Harmony. Carli had written the song around 1970-71, when he had just joined the band. Dennis plays an ARP synthesizer and adds percussion. While adding the lead vocals , he wanted to change some of the lyrics, as can be heard on an alternate vocal take, which also lacks the unnecessary sax solo.

Other Muňoz compositions that were recorded are 'Shu-Ru Bop' and 'La Plena de Amor'. These two songs were probably unfinished and have not yet surfaced amongst collectors.

These tracks are unique in Dennis's oeuvre. Carli Muňoz contributed not only the songs but also provided Dennis with a tight and uncharacteristically commercial sound. Dennis for his part, as ever not one to do something half-hearted, made all of these songs his own with some of the most honest, heartfelt singing of his career.

* * *

Despite allegations that in April Karen found Dennis not once but twice in the arms of another woman, they re-married on June 28 in Las Vegas. He promised her a new start and to stay clear of cocaine and heroin.

After two weeks she filed for divorce again.

* * *

That Summer and Autumn Dennis continued sporadically to work on his second solo album. This time on it's own.
That move strained the tension between Dennis and Caribou further because Jim Guercio wanted Dennis to work with a staff producer. Because of the label’s demands for a proven producer, the sessions for that second album were actually unauthorized under the terms of Dennis’s Caribou contract.

In August 'Love Surrounds Me' and ‘Time For Bed’ are committed to tape.

Co-written with Geoffrey Cushing-Murray, ‘Love Surrounds Me, explores Dennis’s loss of Karen. Given the recent circumstances, it's not surprisingly it's one of his saddest songs. While Christine McVie is often credited for the background vocals on the tag it might just as well be Marisa Conover once more.

The equally heart-wrenching 'Baby Blue Eyes' receives it's first lead vocals - sung by Carl, while Dennis adds a simple but pretty whistled middle eight.

Furthermore there's a backing track labeled 'New Orleans'. It's not known if lyrics excited or if it is meant to remain an instrumental.

The work is interrupted when, at Karen's request, he is admitted to the Century City hospital at the end of September, 1978, to kick off his drug habits.

The last 'starting date' for a new song is October 15, 1978: 'I Love You.' But because Dennis is used to re-record and replace parts continually, it is impossible to say when the last work is done.

* * *

But then the Brothers Studio has to be sold. The studio, co-owned by Dennis and Carl, has been operating at a loss for many years. "The problem with Brother Studio is that it started becoming a drug hangout," declared Beach Boys manager Jerry Schilling. "Carl was not going to support that, and Dennis did not have the finances to foot it alone."

The closing of the studio signals the end of Bamboo. As part-owner he was able to go in and work on tracks whenever he felt like it - if it wasn't booked by an outside artist, of course. Once the studio is sold, it' become much harder for the unorganized Dennis to work on a moment's notice, as he is used to.

So, in December, mixing and occasionally recording sessions are moved to the Venice Beach home of Beach Boys soundman Tom Murphy. The casual atmosphere of Murphy's sixteen-track home studio suited Dennis's erratic work habits, as did Murphy's tolerant personality.

When a different sound was called for, sessions would be held at United-Western studio, among others. The recording and mixing sessions continue throughout December and January.

But the work is seriously undermined by Dennis's inability to stop drinking. "When we were trying to finish the Bamboo record, Dennis kept getting so drunk I had to stop the sessions and drive him home rather than finish the mixes," says Tom Murphy. "My creative side said, I'm not going to finish the mixes without Dennis because its Dennis's project."

* * *

Shortly there after Dennis offers two of his solo tracks to The Beach Boys, when they need some songs to strengthen their Caribou debut. That move effectively seals that albums' fate.

Both 'Love Surrounds Me' and 'Baby Blue Eyes' (shortened to 'Baby Blue') receive some overdubs to make them more Beach Boys songs, before they are included on L.A. (Light Album) in March 1979.

* * *

Apart from the ongoing personal turmoil and the selling of Brother Studios, Jon Stebbins feels that the main factor in the non release of Dennis's second solo album is that "Bamboo desperately needed an outside producer to pull it together, which is what caused the unfortunate split between James Guercio and Dennis, JG felt that way too. As talented as Dennis was, he was not a good finisher."

"If the Bamboo LP had seen completion the Producer would probably have been Dennis Wilson," he continues, "That's precisely why it didn't see completion, he didn't want to share the vision, and his vision was fuzzy. Tom Murphy could have been a co-producer, or Carli Muñoz, or even Jakobson or Jim Guercio who desperately wanted SOMEBODY brought in to co-produce and to save the sessions. It seems as though he was right. “

* * *

After 1978, Dennis didn't do much work anymore in a recording studio. According to David Leaf, some tracks were cut in Hawaii at one point, but those tapes are not in the Beach Boys' tape vault, so the information on them is very sketchy.

In July 1979, according to engineer Stephen Desper, "Dennis visited the studio once, otherwise stayed on his boat." And around 1980-81 he did produce several sessions for Brian ('Night Bloomin' Jasmine', 'Stevie' and the infamous Hamburger Sessions).

His voice had completely broken down by then. After years of abuse, it had given out completely. "Dennis was convinced that the real damage had been caused by a stray blow to his throat delivered by Stan Love during a recent fistfight. He underwent several operations to remove the damaged tissue, but he never gave his tortured vocal cords a chance to heal properly."

* * *

But let's finish with some quotes from Dennis Wilson himself.

"They say I live a fast life. Maybe I just like a fast life. I wouldn’t give it up for anything in the world. It won’t last forever, either. But the memories will.”

"Everything that I am or will ever be is in the music. If you want to know me, just listen."

The DW solo material is lurching towards a release with lots of stops and starts and strangeness...but its moving forward. 2008 will more than likely be the year.

That's fantastic news. Let's hope it will come through soon.

So...Peerke...what about the video clip of "Lady"??

I am sorry, Mr. Stebbins. It definitely wasn't my intention to put you on. I had prepared the text at home and was looking, during my lunchbreak at work for some pictures to illustrate the text. I came across this YouTube link and thought it would be interesting. But at work, I can not open this kind of links. I didn't check it later. That, in a nutshell, is the whole story.
I apologize. The only pupose was to give a summary of the solo work of Dennis Wilson. I am not saying I know everything about him. That's why I added "feel free to correct or comment".

Part 2: Pacific Ocean Blue
 
When the Beach Boys recruited the rhythm section of the South African band The Flame, Dennis was happy to work with these new members. He was the first to use drummer Ricky Fataar and bass player Blondie Chaplin on studio sessions for his song 'Carry Me Home'. It was offered for Holland, but then Dennis got second thoughts. He found this Vietnam-themed ballad too depressing for a Beach Boys record and withdrew the offer. The emotional song remains unreleased.

During the Beach Boys' three year recording hiatus following that album, Dennis kept writing and occasionally recording.

There's a rumor that he had a hand in Joe Cocker's big hit 'You Are So Beautiful', especially since he sometimes sang it during concerts. Billy Hinsche confirms that Dennis was there when the song was being written and that he helped Billy Preston write it.

In Spring 1974 the engineers Steve Moffitt and Gordon Rudd built a new Brothers Studio in Santa Monica with the latest 16- and 24-tracks equipment.
According to some stories, Dennis was enthusiastic to try out the new surroundings. Among the titles that are credited to him in this period are 'Our Love Remains', 'Grateful Are We For Little', Children', 'Marble Sittin' at the Kitchen Table', 'Don't Want Much, Just a Country or Two, Maybe a Planet', 'Before It’s Through', 'Helen Keller' and 'Holy Man (and Slow Booze)'. Not much is known about these songs except that they are all co-written with Steve Kalinich.

But then again, these sessions may never really have taken place. According to Steve Desper, 'Grateful Are We For Little' was something that he had worked on with Brian back in the late 60s or early 70s. When he sang it to Alan Boyd, he instantly recognized the melody as what eventually became 'Saturday Morning In The City'.

Alan Boyd also stated that "'Holy Man (and Slow Booze)' seems to be a mis-translation of sorts. There's a tape labeled 'Holy Man' and 'Slow Blues'. Two separate tunes on the same tape."

* * *

In autumn of 1974, Dennis returned to the band as a drummer and, after Ricky resigned, his friend James William Guercio joined to play the bass. Guercio was also the owner of Caribou Records and soon The Beach Boys tried to record a come back album in his Caribou Ranch studio in Colorado.

When that didn't work out, the sessions continued throughout the Summer of 1975 in the Brothers Studio, in Santa Monica. Dennis collaborated there with members of the band: 'River Song', which he already brought live a few times in 1973-74, was finished by brother Carl, while Mike Love wrote the lyrics for 'Pacific Ocean Blues', after Dennis showed him the melody over the phone.
Mike also contributed lyrics to '10,000 Years'. That song was never finished as Dennis kept working on it during the next seven years. He and Mike couldn't agree which direction the song should go. At one time Al mentioned he wanted to record it for his projected solo-album. No vocals have ever surfaced.

'Miller Drive' is a wonderful yet unreleased duet with America's Gerry Beckley.

Carl also contributed to another song co-written with Steve Kalinich: 'Rainbows'. Dennis played drums and Moog bass synthesizer and Carl is audible in the backing vocals.

When finally is decided that 15 Big Ones will be released instead of one album of covers and an album with new compositions, Dennis is very unhappy. He refuses to let the band use any of his songs.

* * *

Knowing the internal friction in the band, Jim Guercio decided it was time to help his friend. He offered Dennis a two-album deal on Caribou Records with an $100,000 advance. But Guercio also knew what Dennis lacked: focus. He had a tendency to leave work unfinished. So there were some conditions. Dennis was granted complete artistic license but only if he agreed on a structured recording process. "We can go anywhere you want,' Guercio told him, 'but only if you work on one track at a time."
Dennis longtime friend and drinking buddy Gregg Jakobson was brought in to produce the sessions, but also as collaborator and anchor.

Under the working title of Freckles, the sessions started in September 1976 and ran through to spring of the following year.

"It's a homemade kind of album," confirms Gregg Jakobson, "without a lot of studio players. Dennis created it as he's gone along, track by track. It was really built in the studio... That's pretty unique.... It's one of the things you don't do. ... Dennis comes into the studio in the morning and stays until he's tired. I think it's innovative in the way it's produced and evolved.”

With total freedom, Dennis did precisely what big brother Brian had been doing for years; using the studio as a diary or notebook.

"Dennis really felt he could do whatever he wanted," continues Jakobson, "If he had an idea, he had the room in that studio, and the time and the engineers and the inclination and the support just to really fool around until it was the way he really wanted. It was really nice. The clock was never running. It was never a concern."

In the studio, Dennis concentrated on playing the keyboards, leaving most of the drumming to Beach Boys touring band member Bobby Figueroa, Ricky Fataar and the legendary Hal Blaine.

Over the years his voice was reduced to almost a single octave. Some claim from the deteriorating was the result of an injury sustained in a 1974 fight, others contribute it to alcohol and substance abuse. Whatever, it remained intimate and expressive - like someone whispering in your ear.

Among the backing vocalists were an uncredited Carl Wilson, plus Curt Boetcher, Billy Hinsche, Bruce Johnston and new wife Karen Lamm.

Recently divorced from Barbara, Dennis had met Karen Lamm in Autumn 1975. Although only 23, the actress born as Barbara Karen Perk, was the ex-wife of Chicago's keyboardist Robert Lamm. Dennis and Karen married on May 21, 1976 in Kauai, Hawaii. They co-wrote two songs: 'Time' and 'You And I'.
However during the recording of the album, the marriage collapsed and the were divorced just after the release.

Of course the curve of this love affair was reflected in many of the songs.

Guitar chores were handled by Ed Tuleja and Eddie Carter, the latter doubling on bass with the great Jamie Jamerson and Chuck Domanico. The horn section was Bill Lamb, Michael Andreas, Lance Buller, Janice Hubbard & Charlie McCarthy.

The recordings were engineered by Earle Mankey and John Hanlon. "I just thought he was really avant-garde - he was an amazing artist,' says Hanlon, 'He wasn't afraid to experiment, to fall into space. He was very out there. He wasn't afraid of being different."

* * *

 

Dennis Wilson's first and only solo album Pacific Ocean Blue (Caribou) was released on September 16, 1977 as the first result of the Beach Boys contract with CBS.

side 1
1. River Song
2. What's Wrong
3. Moonshine
4. Friday Night
5. Dreamer
6. Thoughts of You

side 2
1. Time
2. You and I
3. Pacific Ocean Blues
4. Farewell My Friend
5. Rainbows
6. End of the Show

Pacific Ocean Blue is very different and far rockier than any Beach Boys release.

The almost title track, the strangely funky 'Pacific Ocean Blues' with some of Mike's finest ecologically-minded lyrics started out as a BB song for 15 Big Ones, but in the released mix, the band's contributions are buried in the mix, to highlight other accents.

The other funky song is 'Dreamer'. It's driven by a repetitive bass harmonica line, played by Dennis, as most of the instruments on this track "about Christ".

Another rocker didn't make the final track list: the lyrics of 'School Girl' probably weren't pleasing Karen too much!

But most of the other songs are slow paced. A lot of them a laments of the loss of his love: Karen, with whom he was breaking up during the latter part of the recordings.

The centerpiece of the album are a couple of song about the breaking up of his marriage to Karen. 'Thoughts Of You' is one of Dennis' most heartbreaking songs, with beautiful delicate piano lines supported by string (slowed down to half-speed) much subtler than on the earlier 'Cuddle Up.'

Another beautiful piano dominated song is 'Time'. "That's about coming home after a tour and floating into L.A. on a 747. Thinking about her....just a spontaneous thing."

The album closes with a last break-up song 'End of the Show', which can also be seen as a humble message for his fans: 'Thank you very much for everything I've ever dreamed of...'

* * *

The atmospheric album charted in the Billboard Hot 100 at a respectable #96.
It went on to sell over 100,000 copies, thus outselling the next couple of Beach Boys albums. This scared the living daylights out of some band members, but Brian reportedly loved the album. In the outside world however, the album failed to earn Dennis the widespread respect he deserved.

Perhaps Dennis was partly to blame too, as he didn't exactly support the album. "To me, this album is lightweight," he declared in September 1977. "It has no substance. The next album is a hundred times what Pacific Ocean Blue is. It kicks. It's different in a way. I think I have more confidence now that I've completed one project, and I'm moving on to another... "

A small tour was planned, but although some rehearsals took place with the BB touring band, and venues were booked, it never materialized. At that time the Beach Boys were close to a split and apparently going out on tour solo was considered not-done.
Dennis was allowed to sing some Pacific Ocean Blue tracks at a few 1977 Beach Boys shows, but that was about it.


In October 1977 'You And I' b/w 'Friday Night' was released as a single in the US.
The b-side is a spontaneous song, as Dennis explained at the time: "It's a memory of when I was young and Friday night came. The white punks were out having fun. I am the white punk!"
The gentle samba-tinged ballad on the a-side was co-written with Greg and Karen. Dennis confirmed that it is about her too, although they were already separated when the single was released.
It indeed is the sweetest sounding song of the album and fitted well between The Eagles and Jackson Browne on the radio. It should have been a big hit, yet it somehow never caught on.

 

In Europe however, 'River Song' b/w 'Farewell My Friend' was chosen as the single.
'River Song' had been knocking around for years. The opening piano riff dates goes back to the early Seventies.
Dennis explained the origin of the song to David Leaf: "A few years ago, I was in the High Sierras walking by this river, that was very small and it kept getting bigger and bigger....that's the guitar sound on the track. And then thinking, Los Angeles vs. the High Sierras, it just makes me sick to think of what's happening here. That's the lyrical idea; Carl assisted on some of the lyrics. Musically, it came from the river."
While you can hear Carl in the massive choir in the intro and Alexander Hamilton's Double Rock Baptist choir was brought in for this song, Dennis stated that "Ninety per cent of those voices are mine."
An immaculate production, an ecological theme, gospel overtones... it should have been a big hit. It wasn't.

A rough mix, taped on to a cassette and dating back to 1973 or 1974 can be found on many bootlegs and this song was chosen to represent Dennis on the Ten Years Of harmony compilation.

For the b-side the sole composition penned by Dennis himself is chosen: 'Farewell My Friend'. It's one of the greatest songs of lost ever. Dennis wrote it as a eulogy for Otto "Pops" Hinsche, father of Carl Wilson's former brother-in-law and Beach Boy session musician Billy Hinsche.
Dennis Wilson: "My best friend died in my arms, and I came to the studio. I knew that he loved the Hawaiian Islands [hence the singing whales in the intro]; the song just happened, sort of a happy farewell. It's written for Otto Hinsche. I carry a picture of him everywhere. When my father died, Pops saved my life in a way."

Allegedly when the Beach Boys first came together to discuss and mourn Dennis' death, they put on this song.

Both singles failed to chart. But finally that was not what Dennis was after. "Dennis wasn't looking for a hit," says Carli Muñoz, "Dennis was going for the emotional - what worked for him, what had emotional strength and basically what sounded good."

* * *

The album was re-issued on cd in 1991 by Epic, as part of the re-issue programme of the Caribou/Epic Beach Boys albums. But it went out of sale soon and that added to the album's reputation as a lost classic, with copies fetching over $100 a piece on internet auction sites. (I should add that I bought my cd some five years ago at a fair for less then $2!)

In an interview in 2001, to promote his book Dumb Angel: The Life and Music of Dennis Wilson, author Adam Webb explains why the album is no longer available: "The legalities of putting the album out have always been a problem in the past. POB was originally released on Caribou - a subsidiary of CBS that was owned by James Guercio of the band Chicago.
The Beach Boys left CBS in 1979 (I think, off the top of my head) and Caribou would have ceased to exist too. So there's problems there as to who owns the masters. Is it James Guercio or is it CBS? Or is it Warner Bros - as the Beach Boys were signed to them when work on POB began in 1974/75.
Also, Dennis recorded a lot of material. He also recorded over a lot of material - that was his perfectionist/short attention-spanned style. The tapes are not in one location and they were not well documented.
Throw into that the complexities of Dennis' estate (married 5 times, twice to the same woman), the nature of his death, and the friction in The Beach Boys and it's a very complicated situation.
The bottom line seems now to be that James Guercio does own the masters, or some masters at least, and seems to be into the idea of putting them out. That's unconfirmed - but what seems to be rumored."

These days Pacific Ocean Blue is considered by many to be the finest Beach Boy solo project and a re-issue or, better even, some kind of box set would be more then welcome, as such a strong body of work deserves wider recognition.

[Part 1 - Hubba Hubba - Dennis' unreleased solo-album]

Here is a three part text I prepared for another message board. Since they had a major crash some time ago and a lot of their messages were lost, I'll publish it here.

Feel free to comment or correct me.

Part 1 - Hubba Hubba - Dennis' unreleased solo-album
 
No one would have expected that the middle of the Wilson brothers would blossom like he did. For the first few years, Dennis was seen as the Beach Boys pin up. The epitome of Sixties West Coast cool. The only surfer in the Beach Boys. The good looking boy who sat behind his drums, smiling at the girls and getting them wild shaking his long blond hair.
Later he got even more stereotyped as a drug-abusing, womanising, Manson disciple.

Yet, those are only small aspects of his personality. In Dumb Angel: The Life and Music of Dennis Wilson he is portrayed by Adam Webb as a very generous, romantic soul and a prolific and songwriter.
But that creative aspect only became visible after many years in the background.

When Brian slowly started to withdraw from his role as leader of the band, the other members had to fill the gap. To everyone's surprise it was Dennis who delivered the goods, often in collaboration with others: first with a little help from Brian, then with Steve Kalanich and Gregg Jakobson.

This started around 1968 and evolved over the next years.
According to engineer Stephen W. Desper (whose book Recording The Beach Boys is highly recommended), Dennis worked on his song in the morning studio sessions before the group came in to work on their stuff.

(The quotes from Mr. Desper are not from his book, but gathered from various posts, often months or even years apart, on various BB forums.)

Stephen Desper: "Although Dennis has a reputation for banging more than his drums while on the road, he was a musical natural in the studio. If he did not know how to play an instrument, and he wanted to use it on a track, he would learn enough of the playing technique to record and then continue to learn. Too bad he was treated as the black sheep of the family -- but it forced him into more solo situations."

"He recorded in the morning and the rest of the gang came in during the afternoon hours. Depending on what was happening, he either stayed or went to surf or whatever.
I'd say about half his time was spent by himself in the studio (with this engineer). As an independent he recorded lots of song starts, but only stayed with them a few days -- short attention span.”

"As far as the group was concerned, it was Dennis fooling around in the studio every morning on his stuff -- until Warner called with a deadline."

When Warners rejected the proposed track list for Sunflower, the Beach Boys turned to Dennis, because they knew he had a lot of song that were almost finished.
"Then all of a sudden Dennis' tape productions were given a listen, and deemed quite good" continues Desper, "Good enough to be finished by the group. It was not until the pressure was on that Dennis was even considered a producer. Up until then, he had been doing all the vocal parts himself, but now under the Warner clock, the entire group got involved with his productions, taking them over and finishing what Dennis could not."
That help sometime came from Brian, but mostly it was Carl who took it on him to finish the song.
"Dennis did not object…. It was his artistic temperament that Dennis had trouble controlling. He had gotten use to working by himself on his material. Not rejected, but forgotten by the other guys, all of a sudden Dennis was a means to getting the job done. Dennis wanted acceptance, but not at the price of being overridden on artistic decisions. Dennis had become a good producer without the group, but when THEY needed him, he found acceptance. By the time that happened, Dennis had his own confidence -- the group was just a side-bar issue to him."

Sunflower included four songs written by Dennis, including 'Forever'. The track, considered by many to be his first masterpiece, earned him some much sought praise from brother Brian and father Murry. This gave him enough confidence to try it on his own.

* * *

On December 4, 1970, Dennis Wilson was the first of the original Beach Boys to release solo material. To test the waters for a solo album, a single 'Sound Of Free' b/w 'Lady' was released outside the US, under the moniker of Dennis Wilson & Rumbo.

Both songs were recorded in the Add Some Music era. 'Lady' was started on December 26, 1969 and finished exactly a month later. In this period Dennis started working with Beach Boys session keyboardist Darryl "Rumbo" Dragon. Darryl would later gain some fame on his own as the Captain in Captain and Tenneille.

The gentle ballad with simple Maestro drum machine and lush strings was presumably inspired by his new love Barbara Cherren and certainly influenced by Ennio Morricone.
The song was later covered by Spring as 'Fallin' In Love' - changing the word "lady" to "baby" for gender purposes. This version was released on their 1972 United Artists debut American Spring and also as the b-side to their single 'Shyin' Away.'

Here's a clip Dennis performing 'Lady' with the Beach Boys, probably filmed on March 1, 1971 for the David Frost TV-show in Philadelphia PA: http://nl.youtube.com/profile_video_...7640F594DE6CC2

According to Alan Boyd, the 16 track master for 'Lady' is on one of the two Sunflower master reels, which shows that it would blend perfectly with the BB sound.

There's a rumour that Dennis would have recorded a new version of 'Lady' in 1976 as 'Flowers Come in the Spring', but that version remains unreleased (if it exists).

That could not be said for the a-side: 'Sound Of Free' is a blast of rock that would stick out on any Beach Boys album of this era. It is however, co-written with cousin Mike Love and there are rumours of vocal contributions from Brian and Carl.

Despite some limited success in the UK, the single attained the status of 'collectors item'. The only re-release of these tracks is on the Rarities album, where the original mono mixes are featured. Both songs have appeared on various bootlegs over the years, but mostly in stereo mixes.

* * *

In the Summer of 1971, at the final stages of finishing Surf's Up a conflict arouse around the sequencing of the songs. Dennis wanted to finish the album with his song 'Wouldn't It be Nice To Live Again', but Carl objected.

Enraged, Dennis withdrew the song and his other offerings for the album (‘4th of July’ and possibly ‘Fallin' In Love’) too. According to Andrew G. Doe (author of the excellent The Complete Guide to the Music of the Beach Boys), one of the few people who actually heard it, "The original BB version of "Wouldn't It be Nice To Live Again" is easily one of the best three unreleased BB tracks I've ever heard - it is just staggeringly magnificent. You wouldn't believe Dennis could sing so sweetly, and the background vocals... awesome. Not having this on Surf's Up was a major, major loss."

But according to Stephen Desper it was not only about the sequencing. There were other matters were involved. "Dennis was going through a lot of depression and anxiety in his personal life at this time. That, along with the commercial response to Sunflower where he did have songs, made him very moody about putting more of his work on the next album.
Dennis also had issues with Mike. There was much behind-the-scenes bickering and quibbling at that time which I was not privileged to, but Dennis was unhappy more than he was happy. His drink induced mood swings became more extreme as time went along as his participation in sessions became less."

Around the same time, Dennis had an accident with that prevented him from drumming for several years. Apparently he cut some nerves and muscles in his hand while hitting through a plate glass door.

That doesn't prevent Dennis (or give him a good excuse) to start working in earnest on a solo album, in collaboration with Darryl Dragon and engineer Steve Desper. The sessions take place in Brian's home studio, which give him the opportunity to work whenever he feels like doing so.

Among the songs recorded for this album, which Dennis - evidently none too seriously - claimed to be titled ed Poops or maybe Hubba Hubba, are 'Baby Baby', 'Sea Cruise', 'Behold the Night', 'Ecology', 'Old Movie' and 'Barbara'.

'It's A New Day', like 'Wouldn't It Be Nice To Live Again', a collaboration with Stanley Shapiro, started as a a commercial for Dry Command anti-perspirant, but was later finished with a Blondie Chaplin lead and considered for release on a Beach Boys album.
Another song, 'Baby Baby', described by Alan Boyd as "an eccentric old-fashioned little rocker on which Dennis seems to be doing his best to sound like Leon Redbone... " was once played by the band during their 1972 fall tour.
The intro of 'Ecology' later grew into 'All Of My Love'. Alan Boyd again: "After that intro, there are two unfinished segments, one of which incorporates the piano riff that later was the foundation for "River Song." As a matter of fact, on the second segment of "Ecology," the only vocals consist if Dennis repeating "Run Run, river run..."

Of special interest is a assemblage of several segments made by Dennis and Daryl, that is pressed onto an acetate. Bootleggers later gave it the name of 'Quad Symphony' because there are "three movements":
- a duet piano sonata and accompanying organ duet, both performed by Dennis and Darryl;
- the 'All of My Love' vocal choral
- a lush piano piece with delayed electric guitar lines and drums.
Of course this piece was never meant to be released in this form.

Stephen W. Desper explained it's origin in February 2003: "All of those recordings are my property and I have the April 1971, 30 ips, 1/2 inch 4 track masters in my collection. Back then, I was asked by the Audio Engineering Society (AES) to give a paper and presentation to the Hollywood section on Quadraphonic recording technique for my fellow engineers. I asked Dennis Wilson and Daryl Dragon to help me in the production of the sound portion of the demo. I recorded Dennis and Daryl playing a piano duet, miked four different ways. I recorded Dennis doing a drum solo. It was than that I recorded 'Barbara' and mixed it to two different formats in Quad.
In the talk I demonstrated eight different miking techniques and recording styles and various echo chamber imaging techniques using Barbara. In one segment, Dennis overdubbed his voice more than 350 times to make the sound of a large choir ("Steve, the big speakers are on." -- refers to the studio speakers used by Brian to hear the mixes in mono and for playbacks in the studio.)
The AES talk lasted about forty minutes and was well accepted. Although the Beach Boys, under my direction, never recorded using the Quadraphonic discipline but rather a Surround discipline, the AES figured it would ask me to present the ideas since I was one of a few engineers exploring these new multi-channel techniques of production back in 1971"

Among the unfinished songs are a couple of love songs to Barbara: one is called 'I've Got A Friend'. That track is never bootlegged, but it seems to exists on tape as an unfinished backing track - no vocals. Another is the beautiful April 1971 demo for 'Barbara' was released in 1998 on Endless Harmony. It is presented as a piano duet between Dennis and Daryl, but it was meant to receive a string arrangement.

Dennis was very interested in string arrangements in that period, but had to find a balance, as shown on 'Make It Good' which is practically drown in it.

Stephen Desper once more: "Brian was the master, and Carl was not far behind -- if not equal.
Dennis was more conventional, serendipity at times, certainly planning as he went along and as events presented themselves, such as string sessions.
Sometimes Carl would book (minimum booking is three hours) a string or horn date for the songs he was working on, and if he finished early, Dennis would use the remaining time to add strings or horns to his songs, even if he had no plans to -- thinking up the arrangements on the spot, with the conductors help."

Although Desper later claimed that "90% of it [was] 90% done", many of these songs for the Dennis Wilson - Daryl Dragon album were still unfinished, when in early 1972, Dennis effectively sealed the fate of the album by submitting two of the songs to The Beach Boys. The epic and monumental tearjerker 'Cuddle Up' and the aforementioned 'Make It Good'. Both appeared on Carl And The Passions - So Tough - and clearly showed their origins as solo recordings unrelated to the rest of the group's material.

Brian & Band played it during a soundcheck in Germany, 2004.

Really? That WAS the show after the one I've seen. I remember checking the setlist from that show to see if he played it.