Carl sounds super mellow on part 2, and very quiet. He says he's going back to the hotel to go to bed afterwards, so he's probably tired. He makes some great (and surprising) choices of music to play here as well, including cuts from Karla Bonoff, Bruce Springsteen and Emmylou Harris. I was a big fan of Emmylou in 1977. It's nice to know Carl and I were on the same musical wavelength. Interestingly, he's rather dismissive of the tarmac incident.

Yeah, loved hearing what kind of stuff he was listening to at the time.

They get him and Marks as the neighbor guys. This time when Audrey forces Dennis in, it would be as a singer. He would be freed up from drumming and could sing lead and harmony as he had done since the first album (in the studio.) The live harmony would be huge with an extra voice on each song. Sorta on a different note, isn't it strange that on most of The Beach Boys albums, Dennis doesn't drum a whole lot, but he sings lead and harmony on every album. Then on stage, he mostly drummed and didn't sing a whole lot. How I miss Dennis Wilson!!!!!

Oh, come now. “Dennis didn’t drum a lot”. He drummed more than most realize. Especially in the early days. Then after the band become more of a self contained unit.

We need a list of every confirmed song Dennis plays drums on. I think it would shock a lot of people.

According to AGD’s site, Dennis drummed on:

- Every track on Surfin’ Safari (except ‘Surfin’’)
- Every track on Surfin’ USA (except the title track)
- Every track on Surfer Girl (though I thought Hal Blaine played on ‘Our Car Club’)
- Every track on Little Deuce Coupe
- Every track on Shut Down Vol. 2
- Every track on All Summer Long
- Every track on the Christmas Album (except the Dick Reynolds-arranged tracks I believe)
- Every track on Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!), apparently
- At least one track (‘That’s Not Me’) on Pet Sounds

I’m not sure if he played at all on Today.

So yeah.
 

Actually, I don't think Dennis would have been in the group either. It was just a crazy "what if" deal. Recently read "Becoming The Beach Boys" and all that early stuff was on my mind. One thing's for sure, Mike and Dennis up front  would have made The Kinks look like rookies.

As performers, or fighters?
No, I don't like the idea of Dennis not being the drummer. I guess I am the only one who admires him more for his energetic drumming than his singing or songwriting. He had a good voice in his early years, not a great voice; and it deteriorated seriously in the 70's. Dennis' drumming pushed that band on stage.

but it might have been funny to see Mike and Dennis get into a brawl onstage ala Dave Davies and Mick Avory.

Not Carl's best interview exactly, and since it was 1977, I'm thinking he may have been a bit out of it there.

I should have known someone would say that. Yeah, Carl was f***ed up there, probably shooting smack right there in the studio.

Good grief. He sounds fine to me. Just relaxing, picking out some music for the dj to play. It wasn't a proper interview.  As you can hear at the starting of the clip, even the announcer on duty was surprised that Carl was dropping by that night.

My own Still Cruisin' tracklist - it's nearly an hour long, so more than Wild Honey and Friends combined, but I guess it's an approximation of what would've happened if The Beach Boys had embraced the CD era, or used the album as a clearing house for all their stray tracks.

1. Still Crusin'
2. Rock N Roll To The Rescue
3. Chasin' The Sky
4. Problem Child
5. Island Girl
6. East Meets West
7. Somewhere Near Japan
8. Make It Big
9. Crocodile Rock
10. Kokomo
11. In My Car
12. Happy Endings
13. California Dreamin'
14. Wipe Out

That would have been a pretty good representation of the era.  Too bad legal headaches and an overall lack of interest are probably preventing these songs from getting released. 

(You can at least grab a remastered "East Meets West" off Frankie Valli's box set from awhile back...)

I didn't know that East Meets West had every be released on cd. Thanks.

I don't have a problem with the Beach Boys 80's material. It was fun, commercial sounding stuff - not unlike what the reunited Monkees were doing in 86-87. IMO, that's where both groups fit in during the 80's - fun, frivolous pop music. There was an element of that throughout the 80's - catchy, pop songs with good melodies, lots of vocal harmonies, no heavy messages. If you were an older act, you could stick with a purist approach and be written off as stuck in the past; or you could embrace the changes in technology and at least have a chance of getting some radio play. So I don't fault the BB's at all for trying to stay contemporary.
Now, to continue with the Monkees comparison - in 1996, the four Monkees reunited to do an album that was a little rough around the edges; just the four of them in the studio, writing all the songs, playing all the instruments. The album, Justus, was not a big seller, but it did seem to give them a bit of artistic credibility. Imagine if Brian, Carl, Mike, Al and Bruce had regrouped to do an album like that. And I don't mean a Brian Wilson solo album with Beach Boy vocals; I mean an album with full involvement from each member.

Blue Oyster Cult, 2014. They played a free show in a park which totaled nine songs, plus an instrumental jam, and no encore. Considering the band's age and the fact that I paid nothing, I wasn't expecting to be blown away. But the guys seemed so tired and bored, like they really didn't want to be there.

I know exactly what the problem was, why the band didn't deliver -

THEY NEEDED MORE COWBELL!!

The time to come out with an all new album was in the wake of Kokomo's success; instead, we got another compilation. Carl said in an interview back then that Capitol only wanted 3 new songs, and the BB's gave them 5.
By the time the guys - primarily Mike - got around to doing a new studio album,  all the momentum was gone, and SIP became their all time worst seller.

I saw Dion one time in a huge arena at an oldies show when I was a kid.  He was the main gig, and about half the audience left before he finished... he refused to sing anything old or classic, was just playing a bunch of pretentious sh*t nobody wanted to hear. 

Was this during his singer/songwriter phase in the early 70's, or his Contemporary Christian phase in the 80's?

Love the Hermits. Seems like Peter Noone kept a steady but low profile re-recording the hits for movie soundtracks over the years. On a whim a few years ago l rented The Brave Little Toaster on DVD (thanks Video Underground) and it came with this disproportionately hilarious behind the scenes featurette covering the two straight-to-video sequels. Noone appears about halfway through to talk jokingly about the history of the band, with recording footage mixed in. Had to keep rewinding the part where he talks about the Herman's Hermits business cards costing £9.

The featurette's on youtube (albeit with Little Richard's music muted out) and I'd dare say this is more entertaining then the films themselves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dh7Wz0lUoA

Peter seems to limit his recording these days to one-off tracks that are posted on youtube, spotify, etc. A couple years ago, he did a real nice song with a duo called The Red Button - "Ooh Girl". Last year, he recorded a remake of "Friday on My Mind". Says he has no interest in doing another album because people don't buy them anymore.

If so, what has to happen differently?

Feel free to use your own criteria, but for me, this means:

(1) Break up within ten years of formation.
(2) Pruduce top ten albums until the end.
(3) Garner critical acclaim at the time.

No.

I know it's hip to knock 80's era Beach Boys now - "f---- all that patriotism, apple pie, baseball, mom stuff!  I want something edgy! Something 'out there'!" I lived through that era, I was a young guy back then, and I was eager for each new release. When I heard Problem Child, I thought it would be a hit. I mean, what could go wrong? Song in a hit movie, Terry Melcher producing and writing, great vocal performance from Carl. The 80's production never bothered me. I was listening to 80's CHR and AOR radio, and that sound was all over the place. I knew the hippie/counterculture era Beach Boys were a thing of the past. I didn't have a problem with that. I didn't have a problem with the overall image. Al, for example, seemed to have taken a couple decades off his appearance once he cut his hair short again, and shaved off the beard. To me, they seemed healthier and happier than they had been in the post-Brian is Back years of the late 70's.
So yeah, I want Problem Child on vinyl, or compact disc, or dub plate....whatever.

From Mike, on FB:

Mike Love
February 6 at 8:24 PM  ·
It’s so hard to believe my cousin by blood, but brother in music, Carl, has been gone so long.  I miss his spirit, his energy, his perfectionism, his voice, I just miss my cousin. We are all blessed to have you in our lives and your voice to carry us forward inspiring hope joy & Love.
Rest in Song Cous, I’ll Love you forever more
Mike

Nice words from Mike.
It still boggles my mind that Carl passed on so young. Of all the Wilsons, he seemed to be the least damaged by drugs.

In all seriousness, that's a great idea for a release. I wrote in the 'new 1985 footage' thread that the Beach Boys need to do a re-release of BB85 due to the recent 80s nostalgia kick that has been going on. But a "Best of the 80s" album would sell so much better, and make more sense. I know it'll never happen, but it sure would be nice.

A best of the 80's comp seems like it would be very easy to market to a casual audience, but perhaps difficult to agreeably curate. I'd venture to say that 80's nostalgia is here to stay, albeit at maybe less of a height than it was a few years ago. A Made In USA meets Outrun kind of aesthetic (no pun intended) would make a fitting cover design I think.

I remember seeing about a themed Monkees comp coming out a few years ago that portrayed them as more of a psychedelic band. Anyone know how successful this was at attracting a curious crossover audience. Seems like it'd be a similar campaign for an 80's Beach Boys summary.

The Monkees album was titled Summer of Love. I thought it was a great idea, but the actual album didn't follow through 100%. They included songs from the first two albums which weren't psycadelic at all. I imagined a comp focused on PACJLTD, Headquarters, Head, and BB&M.
Us hardcore BB fans probably wouldn't care for an 80's comp that included Come Go With Me (recorded in the 70's) and The Beach Boys Medley, but I suppose the record labels would want to include anything resembling a hit from that era. I would be okay with that as long as they also dug up some rarities like Chasin' the Sky. How about Barbie (Living Doll)? I know it was all Brian, but it was released under the Beach Boys name.

I'll agree that Come Go With Me would be a bit of a stretch on this collection. Yeah it was a hit in the 80s but it'd make me shake my head in a similar fashion to when I see bars use Oregon Trail imagery to promote 90's nights. That being said, including Living Doll and/or Chasin' The Sky would make the difference for me between buy and pass.

Side note: Living Doll b/w Barbie seems like rather low hanging fruit for the RSD release no one asked for.

It's not much of a song, but still, it's Brian, I'd like to have it on vinyl.
At the time of release, a friend said "I'm gonna have to buy a Barbie doll", lol. "Well, maybe I can give it to my niece".

In all seriousness, that's a great idea for a release. I wrote in the 'new 1985 footage' thread that the Beach Boys need to do a re-release of BB85 due to the recent 80s nostalgia kick that has been going on. But a "Best of the 80s" album would sell so much better, and make more sense. I know it'll never happen, but it sure would be nice.

A best of the 80's comp seems like it would be very easy to market to a casual audience, but perhaps difficult to agreeably curate. I'd venture to say that 80's nostalgia is here to stay, albeit at maybe less of a height than it was a few years ago. A Made In USA meets Outrun kind of aesthetic (no pun intended) would make a fitting cover design I think.

I remember seeing about a themed Monkees comp coming out a few years ago that portrayed them as more of a psychedelic band. Anyone know how successful this was at attracting a curious crossover audience. Seems like it'd be a similar campaign for an 80's Beach Boys summary.

The Monkees album was titled Summer of Love. I thought it was a great idea, but the actual album didn't follow through 100%. They included songs from the first two albums which weren't psycadelic at all. I imagined a comp focused on PACJLTD, Headquarters, Head, and BB&M.
Us hardcore BB fans probably wouldn't care for an 80's comp that included Come Go With Me (recorded in the 70's) and The Beach Boys Medley, but I suppose the record labels would want to include anything resembling a hit from that era. I would be okay with that as long as they also dug up some rarities like Chasin' the Sky. How about Barbie (Living Doll)? I know it was all Brian, but it was released under the Beach Boys name.

In my car is an absolute tune as well. Would have liked to have that available

Agreed...I have a serious obsession with In My Car.

Me too - great song!  Marred only by ludicrous 80s drum sound.

I liked the solo version he sang on the tv show

Just thought I'd bump this with track listing for a proposed home compilation/Playlist.

My thoughts:

1. Chasin' The Sky
2. Runaway live 1982 from the Sunkist LP
3. East Meets West with the Four Seasons
4. Happy Birthday America
5. Happy Endings with Little Richard
6. Lady Liberty
7. Rock 'n' Roll To The Rescue
8. California Dreamin'
9. Still Cruisin'
10. Somewhere Near Japan
11. Island Girl
12. In My Car
13. Kokomo
14. Make It Big
15. Wipe Out with the Fat Boys
16. Problem Child
17. Crocodile Rock
18. The Spirit of Rock and Roll (Brian's original 1986 version) - bonus track

Possible additions/bonus tracks/substitutes
There are official released alternate edits etc for a few of these - Somewhere Near Japan, Make It Big, Wipe Out, Rock 'n' Roll to the Rescue, California Dreamin' + the Spanish Kokomo with Brian appearing. There is the Bob Dylan version of Spirit if you prefer that.

I think from these 18 official release (except Spirit, although there is a later official release of that song) songs most people could come up with a pretty pleasing 12 track 80s/early 90s playlist without touching any of the 1985 album tracks.

I can tell you the first track I'd be dropping, but I reckon you could guess.

Yeah, I could take a guess, but I think I'd Wipe Out on that.

I remember watching Problem Child on tv just so I could hear the Beach Boys song. It was buried in the closing credits. Same thing with Let's Go to Heaven In My Car in Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol.

I borrowed a vhs of The Telephone and watched it repeatedly to try to find where Happy Endings appears - it may have been at the end, but at the time I just could not hear it at all.

I've seen that one often in the cheapo bins, but never been able to bring myself to buy it.

I remember watching Problem Child on tv just so I could hear the Beach Boys song. It was buried in the closing credits. Same thing with Let's Go to Heaven In My Car in Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol.

The only explanation I can come up  for the relatively dull songs Brian contributed to the album is he was saving better stuff for his solo album. I like this album a lot, and if it had a Melt Away, Meet Me in My Dreams Tonight or There's So Many instead of the Brian songs they used, it would be a 5 star album for me.
It's interesting how the 80's for casual Beach Boys fans always means Kokomo, like it was the only thing they did in that decade. They were visible throug the whole decade, doing July 4th concerts, on various tv shows, and a few new records. They weren't the only band from the 60's to have a surprise hit in the 80's. I will always remember the summer of 1983, watching MTV, and seeing the video for Come Dancing by the Kinks every couple hours. I vividly remember hearing Your Wildest Dreams by the Moody Blues all through the summer of 86 - the video for that certainly helped sales, too. The 80's had a lot of 60's nostalgia going on, so it made sense that some of the old bands were having hit singles with cross generational appeal. The Monkees reunion in 1986 was a huge deal.

And the blue spine tape directly below the BB tape is likely a Beatles tape, probably Rubber Soul:



And below that probably Sgt. Pepper:

Rubber Soul was the first cassette I ever bought. I still have it, too.

I wish any of the BBs individually (or collectively) had the ability to do what McCartney can do. But none of them at this stage have the willingness and/or ability to write, perform, and record something with no outside help. Al has had his own studio literally at his home for over 40 years and he's mustered one solo album. Mike has done a bunch of solo stuff in recent years, but most of it is remakes of old tracks, and has obviously needed a plethora of outside musicians and producers to make it happen.

I don't picture them doing something without some outside help via co-writers, co-producers/engineers, additional musicians, etc.

They all had the past year to do stuff individually or collectively, and they did very little. Brian early on last year did that Colbert thing that was clearly shot on a smartphone in the span of like an hour. Mike cut that one awful song with his touring band, and then did sporadic live dates. I'm not sure what Al did.

They managed to *not* get the "Feel Flows" set greenlit earlier, so I guess if delaying something is considered an accomplishment, they did that.

The only Beach Boys that could do a totally solo album are Brian and Carl, and Carl won't be recording new stuff any time soon.
Brian could years ago, but I doubt he could play the drums today in 2021. Well, he might be able to play a snare drum with a pencil.

As soon as I started seeing Mike do fundraisers for Satan, aka Donald Trump, i threw out all my Beach Boys records, cassettes, 8 tracks, cd's, and books.

Finding out about Dennis befriending Manson had the opposite effect. "Dennis was buds with Manson? That's cool! I gotta hear more Beach Boys music!"

BTW, my favorite Dennis song is "Never Learn Not to Love" aka "Cease to Exist".

 

Instead of calling it Still Cruisin', how about Best of the Beach Boys - 80's playlist? They could take the new songs from the album, plus Kokomo, and surround  them with other 80's recordings - Getcha Back, California Dreaming, Rock 'N' Roll to the Rescue, Where I Belong, It's Gettin' Late, Keepin' the Summer Alive, Goin' On. If they really want to stretch it, Come Go with Me and The Beach Boys Medley were hits in that decade.
I would buy a comp like that. Get Mike and Brian to contribute some recollections of the individual songs.
Mike: Kokomo was our first number one in 22 years, a worldwide hit that outsold Good Vibrations, Help Me Rhonda, I Get Around. It was our biggest hit ever, and I wrote it, with a little help from our producer Terry Melcher, Papa John Phillips, and Scott "San Francisco" Mackenzie. Of course, it didn't hurt that it was in a Tom Cruise movie where he nails the Adventures in Babysitting girl, Elisabeth Shue. Just being in the presence of such a fabulous babe would have me wanting to unleash the love.
Brian: Goin' On is a song I wrote with Mike. That song has merit.
Mike: Rock 'N' Roll to the Rescue is another one I wrote with Terry Melcher (he used to produce Paul Revere and the Raiders - Good Thing, baby, yeah! - and The Byrds - to everything Turn, Turn, Turn. Terry decided that my cousin Brian should sing this one. Brian was being treated at the time by Dr. Eugene Landy. It's a drag Brian burned out his brain on drugs - both he and Dennis had major substance abuse issues. I never did; I preferred to meditate instead of medicate. Dr. Landy wanted co-writing credit on this song, and I humbly told him to stick that where the sun don't shine.
Brian: In My Car. That's a cool song. That song has merit.
Mike: Getcha Back. That was the first song I wrote with Terry. We wanted it to sound like Hungry Heart, but Steve Levine's production took all the balls out of it. My cousin Brian impressed us all with his falsetto singing on this track - the best vocal performance he'd recorded since he messed up his mind and body with hard drugs. Did I mention that I meditate every day?
Brian: Keepin' the Summer Alive. Cool song.

I guess I'm the only one that yearns to hear something like:
I was reelin' and rockin' with Barbara Ann,
singing California Girls and holding hands,
on a surfin' safari to the shores of Kokomo

Now here we are in 2021,
still having good times and fun, fun, fun
in my 409 we just go, go, go