Have been very busy lately (with the washing and the ironing...) but I am still intending to add more to my site beachboysgigs.com and have started work on 1962-which you can look at. I have ads and things that I have to scan and add but you know the washing and ironing gets in the way. Anyway view gigs to look at it and if you’ve never been to the site you can look at the complete 1963 and 1964 as well (other years have nothing yet). On the top right of the home page you can also click to read a blog about corrections and additions to the book I did with Jon-I’ve found many shows since the book and Jim Murphy uncovered a lot more early gigs

Thanks Ed-just a question of time

National guard armory September 26 1964

However my dad saw them at Carnegie Hall in November 1972 and someone I know saw them at West orange New Jersey in September 1964

Steve I am envious of you seeing the BBs in their prime-with Dennis.  I never saw them in his lifetime.  Indeed my first show was not until 1988 and it was a fairly forgettable postgame concert with poor sound in 1988. At least I saw Carl (Brian of course was not there that night).

Basically some with credentials escorted Brian and his "minders" in to the convention but neglected to escort them out and they were arrested for "trespassing".  It turned out the minders had a pocketful of pills and they were charged with misdemeanor drug possession but Brian was not charged with anything and was only held three hours.  Pretty silly really-but it made all the newspapers

I think you are right.  Yeah-it's unusual too-in that Brian rarely recorded a straight blues song

August 19, 1962-The BBs played the “First Annual Surfer’s Ball,” at the Hollywood Palladium with Dick Dale.  The next day they appeared at the Tustin Playhouse-with Timi Yuro and Dorsey Burnette for a daytime fashion show. They also made appearances at two KFWB Broadway Store events with Roger Christian.  They played two more such events the next day, as well as on Aug 22, 23 and 24. I assume that BBs did a few songs at each event and signed records. On August 25 they played at The Reseda Jubilee.  This was written up in the LA Times and Jan and Dean were also there. This is the earliest documented meeting of the two groups and the BBs served as the duo’s backing band.

August 1963 the BBs were in the midst of their first summer tour (hardly any of these shows were reviewed by local papers) and played the Palace Park Ballroom in Old Orchard ME on August 14, followed by shows in Brewer ME, Hill NH, Holyoke, MA and Homedale Barnesville and Transfer PA.  On August 21 they played the West View Park Danceland in Pittsburgh, a venue the Stones would play in 1964. The following night they were at the Wheeling Downs Roller Rink in West Virginia and then played Le Sourdsville Lake Amusement Park in Ohio on August 23 and the Midway Ballroom in Cedar Lake, Indiana on August 24.  The BBs were at the Melody Mill near Dubuque, IA on August 25.
In my book with Jon, we have a photo from backstage on the latter day-with Al clearly filling in for Brian, who was back in LA by this time. Indeed, on August 27 Brian was at Goldstar to work on Pamela Jean and After the Game.

Aug 17 1964-Brian was at Western Recorders to record the Jimmy Reed blues song “Baby What Do You Want Me to Do”, listed as “Peep and Hide” for a Bob Norberg single.  He flew to Cleveland with the other BBs to appear at Euclid Beach Amusement Park on August 21.  The next day they played the Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh and then performed for the first time in Evansville, IN on August 23 and in Allentown, PA on August 24. They returned to the Lakewood Ballroom in Barnesville, PA for the second and last time the next night.

Aug 20-21 1965-The BBs played two nights at the Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, CA with Bruce now permanently in place of Brian. Hitliner Magazine called it the “Greatest Ever Held.” Two days later they were at Western to work on the Party album, including the songs Should Have Known Better, Ruby Baby, Satisfaction, Hully Gully and Blowing In the Wind. The BBs were at the Arena in Sioux Falls, on August 24 (The sarcastic reviewer noted “they sang such all-time American greats as ‘Fun, Fun, Fun’, ‘Little Deuce Coupe’ and ‘She’s real fine, My 409’ and ‘there was unadulterated ecstasy over a song titled ‘Little Old Lady From Pasadena.’) Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha on August 25.

Aug 14 1966-The BBs played the Fort William Gardens in Ontario, a show fondly recalled by Paul Shaffer of future Letterman fame.  A reviewer noted that ‘When ‘Help Me Rhonda’ was played, nobody would stay still. The young audience were stomping their feet and hands to the rhythm of the music. They looked spaced out.  The Beach Boys were gleaming and they enjoyed performing their songs.  They were able to create such ecstasy.” The BBs then performed in Minot, ND, Calgary, Victoria and Vancouver.  In Victoria and Vancouver they were joined by Chad and Jeremy and Murry’s group The Sunrays. This lineup also appeared with the BBs in Spokane on August 19.  The tour ended in Portland, OR on August 20 1966. On Aug 24 1966 the BBs (or at least Brian) was at Sunset Sound to make the track edit of Good Vibrations.  The next day the first session for Wonderful took place.

August 1967-Bruce, who’d hardly participated in the recent Smiley Smile sessions, was in England to do Promotion on radio and TV for the BBs.  Asked about rumors that he was unhappy and eager to leave the group, Bruce sarcastically commented, “Sure…That’s why I’m sitting here spending all this time telling you about the Beach Boys and all the work they’re doing!” Meanwhile between Aug 10-17 Al served as an emcee at the preliminaries of the “rock music championship” at the Hullaballoo Nightclub-with John Beck of the Leaves and Sky Saxon of The Seeds.  On August 25 and 26 1967 the BBs played in Honolulu with Brian. Obviously the shows were recorded as Lei’d in Hawaii.  Some time during this period Mike produced a single for the comedy group the Pickle Brothers (who appeared with them at one of the two Hawaii Shows). The track is on a Sea of Tunes boot.

August 1968 the BBs toured with the Box Tops and Pickle Brothers. They were at the Bay Theater in Green Bay, WI on August 15. The reviewer noted, “The rock quintet’s hallmark is smooth, soft voice tunes. Unfortunately, their background band crucified their appealing sound much of the time…But all wasn’t lost. Whenever the band shut up, the Boys came out at their best. That was the case when Carl Wilson sang ‘Surfer Girl’ and when the whole bunch sang ‘Barbara Ann.’ They played at Butler University in Indianapolis the following day, but complained that they were not allowed to use Desper’s sound system because of some union rules that required them to use the lousy house speakers. 

They played in Asbury Park, NJ on August 17 with Brooklyn Bridge as an extra support act and then performed in Madison, before heading to Canada to perform in Winnipeg on August 19, Regina on August 20 and the Edmonton Gardens on August 21, 1968.  Backstage Mike was asked about drugs and replied “I’m already crazy-what would I want to do that for?” Asked about the draft he commented, “I shut the windows and close the doors and don’t forget the weather stripping.” Stampede Corral in Calgary on August 22, Spokane Coliseum on the 23 and the HS Auditorium in Boise, Idaho on August 24.

Aug 15 1969-The BBs were at Sunset Sound without Brian to work on the Al produced single version of Cotton Fields. On Aug 19 they appeared on the Happening TV Show (hosted by Paul Revere and the Raiders), performing live versions of “Cotton Fields” (album version) and “Breakaway”, plus “Johnny B. Goode” with Paul Revere.  They also showed film from their European Tour with silly narration by Mike. An audiotape of this exists and the performance footage may survive but is not available anywhere that I know of.  Aug 22 1969-Brian was at Wally Heider’s Studio on this day to work on America, I Know You with Steve Kalinich.  Other sessions may have taken place at this time for this project, but dates aren’t known.

August 1970 Dennis set off to film Two Lane Blacktop for Monte Hellman. Meanwhile on Aug 14 1970 the other BBs worked on Looking At Tomorrow.  The next day a session was held for Brian’s classic Till I Die and the first (and superior in my opinion) version of Big Sur.  On Aug 17 1970 work was done on HELP is On the Way.

Aug 14-15 1972-An AFM for California Saga- Beaks of Eagles and California exists, which lists them as recorded in Holland.  Apparently, the group did indeed work on this on Aug 14-15. Brian came to the studio to add a vocal. They then left Europe for Chicago on August 15. The Holland sojourn was over. The BBs headed to the Mississippi River Festival in Edwardsville, IL on August 16.  The St Louis Post noted that the oldies got a great reception but “quiet songs like Wonderful and Caroline No were given only polite applause.” They then played in Chicago (17), Hartford, CT (18-with The Kinks, The Doors and Flo and Eddie), and Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City (19-with the Kinks).  The reviewer commented, “The magic was still there for Good Vibrations, Wouldn’t It Be Nice and other classics but when Chaplin sang lead on ‘Wild Honey’, the differences between the new and old sounds were evident and even the ‘old’ voices couldn’t save ‘There’s a Riot Going On’ a schlock rewrite of an old song, Riot in Cellblock 9.’ But the crowd loved it all the same.’”

They then played Allentown, PA (20-with the Kinks and the Orleans) and the Nassau Coliseum, (21-with the Kinks).  Cashbox commented, “Oldies included Wouldn’t It Be Nice, Surfin USA, Heroes and Villains and Blondie Chaplin singing lead on ‘Wild Honey.’ Ricky Fataar handled the vocals on ‘Here She Comes’ and the only non-Beach Boys song ‘Jumping Jack Flash’ closed the show.” The BBs then played the Boston Common (23, 24) and the Hampton Rhodes Coliseum in Virginia (25-with Brownsville Station).  While the BBs were in Boston on August 23 and 24 Mike, Carl, Al and Billy H went to Inter Media Sound Studio to contribute to TM Song for Charles Lloyd’s album.

August 1973 the BBs were on tour and recorded most shows for their Concert album. They played Chicago (14-16), Richmond, VA (18-with Jonathan Edwards-Caroline No and Heroes and Villains used on the LP was taped this night) Nassau Coliseum (19-with Jonathan Edwards-the version of Sloop John B, We Got Love, Help Me Rhonda, Leaving This Town and California Girls used on the LP was taped this night) Schaeffer Center, Foxboro, MA-with Loggins and Messina and Jonathan Edwards (20), Danbury Prison, Danbury, CT (23), Hartford, CT (24-with Jonathan Edwards and Poco) and Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City (25-with Poco and Stanky Brown).  Same old story-the reviewer commented, “The audience was ready for old songs but the Beach Boys consistently played brand new music that began to put the audience to sleep.”

Aug 20 1974-Dennis held a session for My Love Lives On. Two days later the BBs flew to Newark, NJ and performed at Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City on August 23-with The Eagles. They played the Capitol Center on August 24 and in Norfolk, VA on August 25-with The Marshall Tucker Band. There was some controversy between the two bands.  The Bbs were touring with a large carpet and Marshal Tucker protested.  The BBs threatened not to play without it and Tucker threatened not to go on with it there.  They compromised and it was there in DC but absent in Norfolk.

Aug 1975 the BBs were on tour and played the Iowa State Fair with Ambrosia on August 18, Pine Knob (19, 20-with Ambrosia), and Dayton Hara Arena, (21-with Ambrosia).  By this time a lot of the new songs had been excised. The reviewer noted, “Their show started with Sloop John B and the mob went wild. What followed was an evening that could have been called the Beach Boys greatest hits. Each tune was greeted with thunderous applause and yelling.” They then played Wings Stadium, Kalamazoo, MI (22-with Ambrosia), Pittsburgh, PA (23-with Ambrosia) and Allentown PA (24) and New Haven, CT (25) with The Captain and Tennille.

August 14 1976-The BBs played Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh with Peter Frampton and Gary Wright) and the next day at Ohio State University in Columbus, OH.  The reviewer noted, “The song’s seemed like the group’s top 25 greatest hits: Little Deuce Coupe, I Get Around and Sloop John B were just a few of the oldies but goodies the group pulled out of their hat.  Intermixed with the oldies were cuts from their new album 15 Big Ones.  One of the songs ‘Blueberry Hill’ was dedicated to all the senior citizens in the audience ‘the people over 25.’ Around this time Brian taped a long TV interview for Old Grey Whistle Test (Brian mentions he’d be playing the upcoming shows in DC on Aug 30, 31-narrowing the date). Large chunks of this interview were used in the American Band documentary.  Work was still ongoing in the studio. On Aug 18 1976-the BBs worked on a cover of Ruby Baby
And the next day Dennis held a session for “You and I”, followed by a session on Aug 20 for Schoolgirl.   

On Aug 21 1976-Brian worked on a demo of “Marilyn Rovell” and recorded his vocal for the 1965 track of “Sherry She Needs Me”.  While the BBs were on a break from touring, Mike headed to London. He was at the Carlton Tower Hotel in London on August 25 to meet the press and show film of the July 3 Anaheim show.  He was trying to get the TV special shown in England.

August 1977 the BBs, in a very tense and argumentative state, performed with Brian. Ricci Martin opened these shows. They were in Indianapolis (19) Louisville, KY (20) Mississippi River Festival, Edwardsville, IL (21) Des Moines, IA (22) and Pine Knob, MI from August 24-26, 1977. Dennis opened the latter shows-after Ricci Martin’s sets-the only solo dates he did for his album. The reviewer noted that the BBs “were in perfect form, except for one horrendous solo by Carl Wilson (I think he meant Brian) on ‘Love Is a Woman” but it was a Beach Boys crowd and no one seemed to mind…”

August 14 1978 the BBs played the Illinois State Fair in Springfield.  Eleven days later they opened a short tour with Jan and Dean at Buccaneer Stadium in Grand Haven, MI (McGuinn, Clark and Hillman were also on the bill) and the Alpine Valley Music Theater in Troy, WI. The reviewer of the Grand Haven show noted, “Grand Haven worked in harmony but the Beach Boys did not. It was a melancholy sight to witness Brian Wilson, the musical genius and backbone of the Boys for so long, struggle through a lead vocal or turn away from the microphone in disgust, frustrated over his seeming inability to contribute fully.”

Aug 18, 1979-The BBs played at Comiskey Park in Chicago with Blondie and Sha Na Na, the next day they returned to the Mississippi River Festival in Edwardsville.  The reviewer noted, “Perhaps the finest new piece they played was ‘Good Timin’. The harmonies were impeccable and the beat slow enough to savor all the complexities.” They then played the Iowa State Fair on Aug 20 and the Scope in Norfolk, VA on Aug 21. Brian was on this tour but Dennis was out of the band to get straight.  The day after the tour ended, Brian recorded his demo of Night Blooming Jasmine (heard as a bonus on his 88 album reissue).

August 1981-a confusing period with Carl absent and the BBs, at their most dysfunctional with Brian at most gigs and Dennis at some, touring nonstop.  The BBs were in Omaha on Aug 14, the Illinois State Fair (15) Wisconsin State Fair (16) and the Holiday Star Theater, Merrivile, Indiana (17). The reviewer noted, “a malaise prevailed. Mike Love…seemed like a man who would rather be somewhere else…Brian Wilson, drinking and smoking cigarettes constantly during the show, is now a shadow of the man John Lennon and Paul McCartney once called ‘a big influence’ in the musical direction of the Beatles. His voice, once vibrant and wide ranging, now falters. He delivered well on ‘God Only Knows’ but it was a flash performance and for most of the show Brian Wilson’s real greatness as a performer never surfaced.”

The tour continued at Six Flags in MO (18), Red Rocks (19, 20-with Jim Photoglo) Colorado State Fair, (21) Oklahoma City, OK (22-with a very rude crowd- someone threw a jug of beer that hit Brian’s piano and spilled it all over him and someone else hit Al with a soda bottle), Freedom Hall Civic Center, Johnson City, TN (24-with Jim Photoglo) and the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, MD (25). That same day Carl began a second leg opening for the Doobie Brothers in Bismarck.

August 1982-Carl was back touring with the BBs-some shows featured all three Wilsons, though two were in poor shape. They played the various state fairs and did two nights in San Destin Resort in Florida on August 21-22. The show on August 21 was filmed by the Today Show NBC TV and aired 23rd). They also had begun playing after baseball games such as the August 24, 1982 app at the Astrodome, Houston.

August 1983-the BBs toured post Jim Watt controversy.  I don’t think Brian or Dennis were at any of these shows. They played in Nashville (14) Giants Stadium (14) and the Ohio State Fair (15, 16). A reviewer noted, “The group didn’t really have to work too hard. They basked in the warmth of their fans, casually pumping out the good old days. They played nonstop groups of six tunes or so-a string of car songs or surfing songs or just miscellaneous hits like California Girls, I Can Hear Music and Sloop John B…Midway through the show, the band briefly strayed from the already accepted course.  Love sang, or plodded through, a very deliberate, stilted version of John Lennon’s Imagine-or as Love would say it ‘E-maah-gen.” Then they played the Indiana State Fair (17).  The reviewer noted that “two of the biggest surprises of the night were Jardine’s version of the Del Shannon hit ‘Runaway’ and his lead vocals on a cover of the Del Vikings Top 10 hit from 1957, ‘Come Go With Me.’” They then played Sioux City, IA (18-With Bittersweet) Davenport, IA (19) Illinois State Fair (20) CNE Grandstand, Toronto (21) Ottawa, Canada (23) and Windsor Stadium in Ontario (25).

Aug 18 1984-The BBs played a private party at the Republican Convention at the Apparel Mart in Dallas with Brian. Brian was arrested post gig for walking around with improper credentials and kept in jail for over three hours. The next day the band played in Cincinnati without him. They also played Toronto, (20-with Poco), Sherkston Beach, Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada (21-with Poco), Erie Civic Center, Erie, PA (22) and Jones Beach, NY (24, 25- with Poco).  The reviewer noted, “Some of the famous Beach Boys harmonies were rather gritty early on; they sounded like a 33 rpm record playing at 30 rpm. But Wilson, Jardine and Love were terrific together on ‘Wendy’-Love especially-and Wilson’s guitar bridge on ‘I Get Around’ was-like most of his practiced work-strong and consistent.”

Aug 1985-The BBs played the Illinois State Fair, (14) and Iowa State Fair (15). The reviewer commented that, “the newer songs were the only weak spot in the show. There were four of them, all well performed and easily forgotten.  The loudspeaker system too was not crisp enough for a band that specializes in harmonies that interweave like threads in a beach towel.” They then played the State Park Speedway, Rib Mountain, WI (16) Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, NV (18), MGM Grand (19-private party for Jeep) Vancouver (21) Portland, OR (22-after game), Red Rocks (23-with Diane Brown) and Wichita, KS (25-with John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band)

August 1986 was more of the same-this time with Roger McGuinn opening some and Katrina and the Waves or the Beaver Brown Band opening others. Meanwhile Brian was working with Gary Usher. On Aug 19 1986-Brian and Gary held a session for “Spirit of Rock and Roll”. I could go on but I think this is enough.

It’s cool that they play some rarities-my wife is not a fan so I haven’t listened much but when I tuned in they played the Brian produced Ron Wilson song from 1968, which I only heard once before

Thanks it's from McFarland books and is in the editing stage but probably out in fall

Jim, you never know, but not this year!  I have a book coming out about the Rolling Stones though-in the fall.  Similar in format to the Beach Boys book.

Yeah I have more positive reviews but those ones kind of hit the nail on the head about that time-when I first went to a show

Late June 1963 the BBs appeared at the Skate-O-Rama in Downey, CA-with the Blazers and Kathy Marshall.  On June 29 1963 they played the Las Vegas Convention Center. On June 24 the BBs were at United to begin work on the Christmas Album. Sessions continued on June 25 at Western. On June 26 1964-The BBs played in San Jose with Bobby Freeman, Rene and Rene and the Paris Sisters.  They then continued sessions on the Christmas album, which lasted from June 27 to June 30, 1964.  June 24 1966-The BBs played the Cow Palace in San Francisco- with the Lovin Spoonful, Chad and Jeremy, Percy Sledge, The Outsiders (Time Won’t Let Me), Leaves (Hey Joe), The Sir Douglas Quintet, The Sunrays, Neil Diamond, Byrds and Jefferson Airplane. Ralph Gleason, co-founder of Rolling Stone Magazine, was dismissive of the group (foreshadowing the general anti-LA vibe of the San Fran scene) “Personally I can take them on records but in person I find them unbearable.  They look so cliché surfer.” The following day they played the Hollywood Bowl with Love, Percy Sledge, Captain Beefheart, The Outsiders, Neil Diamond, The Leaves, Chad and Jeremy, Byrds, The Sunrays, the Lovin’ Spoonful and the New Motown Sound.

June 1967-the BBs were at Brian’s house working on Smiley Smile. June 25 and 26 they worked on Good Time Mama (this wasn’t released last year as the tape box is missing-though it’s possible, according to Howie Edelson, that it was just a working title for She’s Going Bald) June 28 and 29 they worked on Little Pad and Fall Breaks (Woody Woodpecker Symphony) and on June 30 they recorded With Me Tonight. June 26 1968-This was probably a Dennis session-he is only BB on AFM.  June 28 1968- ID Sound- Brian only, as Producer on I’ll Keep On Loving You and As Tears Go By (Ron Wilson Session)

June 25 1969-Having just concluded their European tour, Mike and Bruce appeared on Top of the Pops to intro film footage shot at Leeds and air a promo-clip of Breakaway.  Bruce remained in England to record Graham Bonney, while Mike arrived back in NYC on June 29.
June 24 1971 the BBs started a new tour at Celebration Island in Pointe Coupee, LA -Without Dennis who was recovering from his hand injury. The BBs played the Beggars Banquet Festival in Toronto on June 26 with Alice Cooper, Bread, Chilliwack, Steppenwolf, Blood Rock, and Lighthouse.  The reviewer gave them a typical (of the time) backhanded compliment: “Who would have thought that the Beach Boys candy coated hits like California Girls would turn out to be the basement level high point of the Banquet.” They then headed to the closing of the Fillmore East on June 27 with Mountain, the Allman Brothers, the J Geils Band, Albert King, Edgar Winters, and Country Joe McDonald.  In my book I related how the BBs almost got kicked off the bill because of some last minute arguments about their non-headline billing. The BBs played in Montreal on June 30 and were apparently rejoined at these shows by Dennis.

June 24-28 1975 the Beachago tour played at the Capitol Center in Landover, MD-the shows were taped for a possible live album by Phil Ramone, which was prevented by the usual contractual hassles.  They were also filmed for the Nov 1975 documentary “Fun, Fun, Fun” hosted by Tom Curtis. Prior to the first show the BBs visited the White House as guests of Susan Ford, the President’s daughter and a big fan. The next night members of the BBs, Chicago and the Pointer Sisters all attended a private screening of Jaws at the Jennifer Theater after the concert-the party lasted till 5 AM. Jun 29 1975-Beachago played the Schaeffer Center in Foxboro, MA.

June 27 1977-A master of the Adult Child album was assembled. June 25 1978 the BBs played The Meadowlands with Stanky Brown, Steve Miller and Pablo Cruise on June 25 1978.  The NY Times praised Brian’s “strong leads” and their performances of songs from Almost Summer (In the middle of each show on this tour, Mike played a solo set of “Almost Summer”, “Cruisin’”, “Everyone’s In Love with You” and “Country Pie.”  Illustrating the dysfunctionality of this period-the Wilsons all left the stage during this mini-set.  Jun 27-28 1978-The BBs worked on Santa Ana Winds and Winds of Change (overdubs). On Jun 29 1978-the MIU album was mastered in final form.

June 25 1981 the BBs were on tour, without Carl, and played at Butler University in Indianapolis, IN with Glen Super. The Indianapolis Star noted that the decision to play only early hits created a set that was monotonous and "there was no production.  They simply came out and did their thing.  Little fanfare, little talk and no attempt to establish rapport with the overflowing crowd-they do that with their music." The tour then moved to Cleveland, OH on June 26. Jane Scott commented in the Plain Dealer, “A big drawback, ironically, was the mastermind of the group, Brian Wilson.  He sat glumly at the piano, almost as if hypnotized.  'C'mon Brian,' one of the group yelled to him when he should have started to play.  When he did sing a song, God only knows it was a mistake.  His voice was rough and tuneless." The tour played Nashville on June 27, Charlotte on June 28 and Charleston, SC on June 30 1981.

June 25 1982 the BBs were on tour with Carl but now minus both his brothers. They play King’s Dominion in Virginia that night and Evansville, IN the next night.  The tour concluded in Charlotte, NC on June 27.  Charles Johnson of the Observer was disappointed by the group's insistence on only playing hits.  He commented, "That emphasis ignored the group's inventive work that followed 'Good Vibrations,' a No. 1 hit in 1966. After repeated commercial and artistic failures in the 1970s, the Beach Boys in concert have returned to their oldest and safest material. Although three of the group's original members...appeared at Carowinds, the group often sounded as if it were only a shadow of it's former self...But Carl Wilson injected style and emotion into his few lead vocals, especially on the lovely 'God Only Knows' and 'Good Vibrations.'”

June 24 1983 Carl was on a brief solo tour to promote Youngblood.  He played the Greek Theater in LA as opener for America on this night and the next. On June 26 they played at Irvine Meadows.  Veronica Young of the Orange County Register commented that Carl “appeared to be having more fun than he has at most Beach Boys concerts…Wilson’s material ranged from mellow originals, strongly affected by a Beach Boys’ influence from the album eras of Pet Sounds, Surf’s Up and the more recent MIU, to some rocky remakes, ranging from a 1957 hit by the Coasters, ‘Youngblood,’ (also the title song from Wilson’s latest LP) to a 1970 gold record by Sly and the Family Stone, ‘Thank You.’” The tour ended with a show at the Old Waldorf Club in San Francisco on June 29 1983. June 28 1984-The BBs appeared on the Tonight Show for the first time in sixteen years. They were interviewed by Joan Rivers-on Brian’s weight loss, James Watt, the upcoming July 4 show and groupies-and then they sang Graduation Day. The next day they played at the Pacific Amphitheater.  Jim Washburn of the Orange County Register singled out Carl’s vocals as “the only proof that the group is still capable of being more than just human jukeboxes.  His hauntingly beautiful ballad ‘Heaven,’ dedicated to his brother Dennis, carried an emotional spark the Beach Boys could certainly use more of.” The BBs played at Candlestick Park on June 30 1984.

June 27 1985 the BBs played in Milwaukee. The next day they were at Lamar University in Beaumont, TX with Joan Jett. They played Oklahoma City on June 29 and Arlington, TX on June 30.  June 28 and 29 1986-Brian Wilson and Gary Usher held sessions for “He Couldn’t Get His Poor Old Body To Move” and “So Long”. Meanwhile the BBs played dates in Canada, New York and Michigan.  June 24 1987 the BBs played in Pittsburgh, PA.  Brian was filling in for Al for a week of dates.  Terry Hazlett of the Observer Reporter commented, “Although Wilson is a brilliant composer, he’s past his performing technique. Looking out of place in an oversized suit, he sang off-key versions of ‘Don’t Worry Baby’ and ‘In My Room’ and seemed to think he was part of a Vegas act instead of a rock show.  He waltzed across the stage and gestured to the audience as if he were a lounge singer.” They played in Milwaukee on June 25 and Cleveland the next night.  Jane Scott commented, “Wilson crisscrossed the stage, singing lead on ‘Help Me Rhonda.’ He wasn’t actually spontaneous-there was the feeling his moves had been carefully rehearsed-but he danced as he moved, sometimes backwards…His voice may be a little colorless and he has no facial expressions but the joy was in knowing that he could do this.” The tour continued with shows in Toronto (27) Maine (28) and Mansfield, MA (29, 30).

June 24 1988 the BBs were in Lennox, MA.  Shel Horowitz of the Union News reported, “Their music deserves better than this treatment. The group…was so lifeless that it seemed like someone had handed out guitars to a bunch of robots, wound them up, and told them to play.  There was not an ounce of creativity: not in the song selection and order, not in the wooden performance and certainly not in the way they chose to massacre their own creative work.  The show was a collection of medleys that completely buried each individual song.” The BBs played Wonderland in Maple, Ontario the next day. They then played in Keene, NH (26) Yankee Stadium (26-night) Vermont (27) Montreal, Canada (28-with Roy Orbison) and Edmonton (30)

June 25 1989 the Beachago reunion tour played Saratoga NY. Michael Hochandel of the Schenectady Gazette reported, “The harmonies were sharp last night and the show overall was above average for them…After the Beach Boys finished with signature surfing songs, Chicago returned and the two bands…crooned ‘Wishing You Were Here,’ than alternated Chicago and Beach Boys tunes deep into oldies land with ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Music,’ ‘Midnight Hour’ and ‘Dancing In the Street.’” The Beachago tour then played four nights at Jones Beach.  Think I’ll stop here. June 29 1990 the BBs played a Canadian tour with Brian in place of Mike. They were in Calgary on June 29 and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan the next day.  Terry Craig of the Star Phoenix reported, “Unlike the previous time the group performed in Saskatoon, the reclusive Brian Wilson joined the band on stage.  However, singer Mike Love was noticeably absent. According to one backstage observer, Love and Wilson are in the middle of an acrimonious battle over control of the group… The four original band members-Al Jardine, Brian and Carl Wilson and Bruce Johnston-were augmented by a 7-piece backing band including television celebrity John Stamos.”  Think I’ll stop here.

Chris Montez is not related to Olivia Harrison but they're both from Hawthorne high

It's still early in the year to hear much about December release-but I won't be surprised if it's download only-  but you never know

Then they wore the white suits from late 67 to mid 1970. I always thought those were kind of squarer in a way then the stripes and really I don't think they needed another uniform by 1967. It was pretty unhip. Luckily the music was so cool

Clearly they are still very popular almost fifty years later and still sell millions of albums to new generations-far from dated they've become timeless and only time will tell how many of our current artists are able to have such career longevity. Will anyone be listening to Taylor swift or even Kanye west in fifty years? Only the future knows

I finished the second part and basically agree with the review you posted-I might have chosen different clips or included other short but revealing interviews-as you are aware guralnick mined a lot out of the short interview Elvis gave during the filming of on tour in 1972-in which he makes very clear his frustration during the movie years (it's on YouTube) but can't argue with what he did use. Clearly he chose not to dwell on the drugs too much-though they Are mentioned and avoided controversial topics like his broken friendship with red and the book published before his death that red had a hand in. The whole 1970 Nixon encounter is also skipped-but it's had enough coverage. I think he wisely kept it mostly about music

Have not seen second part yet-surprised guralnick isn't in it

Yeah my criticism is that they seldom let a full song play and used very little footage-for example no footage from ed Sullivan just stills-after describing peace in the valley why did they not have a clip? And they completely glossed over loving you and jailhouse rock. Oddly longest clip was crawfish

I haven't had a chance to watch it all yet but I saw the first twenty minutes and it was great-I'd seen most but not all the footage-which included rare home movies of red and the guys on the road in 54-56. Lots of audio from rare Elvis interviews as well as audio of Tom petty, Sam Philips, Scotty and others

Also should point out that the lp came out in 1985 but was recorded in 1984. The footage is from July 1984

If anyone has old issues of esq I wrote a two part article about the bbs tv appearances. This was broadcast on a show called ear say in the U.K.

I believe that is what the AFM says....maybe C Man can chime in on this

I also have some positive reviews! But I think it did cause him to realize how muoh he relied on the other bbs. I certainly wish I'd seen him solo though.