I was going to create a seperate topic for this, but it seems to fit in here too. As of today, how does Brian view the whole "autobiography" debacle?

I've had it said to me by 'an interested party' that  Landy's basic MO was to keep Brian placid with Thorazine, and pump him full of uppers when required for an interview or similar public consumption.  The medications Landy filled Brian with did far more damage than anything he took in the 60s & 70s, and came very close to finishing him as a functioning human being. As it was, Brian was considerably damaged. Remember this next time anyone says "yes, but, he did save Brian's life".

Just how close did Brian come to not functioning as a human being, may I ask? I once read a story about Brian talking to Hal Blaine during this period. Supposedly, Hal mentioned "Good Vibrations", and Brian had no clue what he was talking about.

This Brian interview from 1980 really surprised me the first time I saw it. The physical decline is showing (he looks like he hasn't washed his hair in quite a while) he's very lucid, animated and upbeat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8g0laPq4Oc&feature=related

Whether it was unintentional or not, I think Landy definitely overmedicated him, causing the slurring and other damage that lingers to this day.

If you watch that film closely, Brian is already starting to talk out of the side of his mouth.

There are no words to describe this. I'm speechless. I wish Carl would be able to see it somehow.

In my opinion, Brian is MUCH worse today than ever before. Even in 1981, it's very obvious that Brian was addicted to drugs and various other things, but his personality always came through. Today, he's like a robot...a "yes man".  It makes me wonder what Brian would be like today, if he had been "sobered up" in 1983, but not actually put on any type of medications. His auditory and visual hallucinations would probably be worse though.

Does anybody know the "story" on this recording? When and where was it recorded? It actually sounds more like a disguised drug deal than an interview. I've been listening to this recording lately. It's very interesting. Brian talks quite a bit about songs that never ended up being released by The Beach Boys. He even sings a few lines of Stevie and Still I Dream Of It. Brian also says some very interesting things about Carl. He says that it was "foolish" of Carl to quit the group and do a solo album. He also says that the Beach Boys are Carl's "only source of income". I got the distinct impression that there was some tention between Carl and Brian at this time. Brian also mentions that the Beach Boys are going to play in South Africa, and that Carl will probably be there. These shows are not mentioned in Eric Anniversario's Beach Boys setlist archive.

This is interesting. It almost seems that Carl came back to the group out of resignation and defeat? Are there any interviews with Carl when he talks about any of this? It seems that he kept quiet about a few things. If he didn't play SA for ethical reasons that is cool. Just wish he had written and spoken out a bit more than he did.

No, I think the reason Carl didn't play South Africa was b/c he just wasn't ready to return to the band quite yet (or they weren't ready to meet all his demands or come to an acceptable compromise), b/c they played on without him through several shows in the States after the New Year, including a tour of the South and East in March/early April.  He did talk quite a bit about it, especially in an interview to Geoffrey Himes (published in the Fall of '83 in Musician, and reprinted in an expanded form in Kingsley's Abbott's "Back To The Beach", revised edition).  He came back for a few dates in April, but said they needed a lot of work, hence a weeks' worth of rehearsals and the new show they rolled out in May of '82.

Basically, Carl's demands were:  (1) rehearse regularly and bring some different songs into the show (which they did) (2) stop playing all the lucrative casino gigs (for which he said a compromise was struck:  he would play all such shows booked on the current tour but none in the future...a threat which obviously fell by the wayside eventually) (3) record a new album (for which they tried to get the ball rolling on that year, but since they wanted to get Brian healthy first, it was a couple of more years before they started it).

This is some very interesting information. Thanks for sharing it.  I always had the impression that Carl "took a break" to do a solo album. I didn't know that he actually QUIT the group. Was there ever the threat/consern that Carl would not return to the group?

He didn't sing "Stevie", he sung "Sweetie", which is btw a great song! 

Actually he also DID sing a bit of "Stevie" (the first stanza or so). 

This was reportedly taped December 5th, 1981, in Brian's hotel room in San Carlos, California.  They evidently played two nights in a row, two shows a night, and a show from the 4th (Denny's birthday) circulates, but Denny was back in his hotel "throwing up" according to Bruce (who attributed it to food posioning).  Anyway, some fans found Brian's room and snuck this tape recorder in.  Brian was quite candid and gracious.  The South Africa trip at the end of the month included Brian, but not Carl.  I've never found anyone who has those shows on tape, but they would be cool to have (apartheid aside) b/c they were Jeff Foskett's first gigs with the band.

Thanks a lot for your info!  One of the most interesting parts of this tape is when Brian calls Dennis on the phone. Brian says something about Dennis having the flu.

I really can't help with the answer to your question, but I've always thought that the "Happy days are here again, the sky is blue and clear again" part is pretty much a note for note copy of the verses of "All This Is That".

We're only allowed to list 5? It can't be done!  Here is my list:

1. Oh Lord: There are no words to describe this. For Brian to come up with this during the worst period in his life is nothing short of magical.

2. Oh Darlin': The outtake with Brian singing lead.

3. Rollin' Up To Heaven: This rocks! Great lyrics.

4. Lookin' Down The Coast: Worth hearing just to learn where Al Jardine likes to lay his head. 

5. Sherry She Needs Me: Very good Brian falsetto for the time period. GREAT "classic" Brian backing track from 1965.

6. You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling: Great solo performance from Brian circa 1976.

7.  River Deep Mountain High: An outtake recorded after the KTSA album.

8. Big Sur: Early Landlocked version

9. Proud Mary: A Brian outtake

10. Soul Searchin: A great soul song with a Carl lead vocal

11. Still A Mystery: As somebody else commented, the last time it call came together for the Beach Boys.

12. Deep Purple: From the unreleased Adult Child album.

13. Look: A Smile outtake. Brian Wilson at his peak.

The story goes that Dennis was punched in the throat, and it ruined his vocal chords. You'e got to love that fact that Dennis would still try to sing though. Think about how it would feel to be punched in the throat hard enough to affect your voice. Ouch. It had to have hurt like hell for him to even TRY to sing. But the fact that he would still do it for his audience, says a lot about his charactor.

I've never really liked the way Brian does "GOK". It sounds to forced to me..."You'll never NEED to doubt it, I'll make you so SURE about it". I don't even like the way Carl would sing "But life would still go *on*, believe me".

My thoughts exactly.  By '82, the poor guy could barely speak, let alone sing.

Really?  No exaggeration?

Wow...

Have you heard Dennis sing "You Are So Beautiful" from the American Band video?

Does anybody know the "story" on this recording? When and where was it recorded? It actually sounds more like a disguised drug deal than an interview. I've been listening to this recording lately. It's very interesting. Brian talks quite a bit about songs that never ended up being released by The Beach Boys. He even sings a few lines of Stevie and Still I Dream Of It. Brian also says some very interesting things about Carl. He says that it was "foolish" of Carl to quit the group and do a solo album. He also says that the Beach Boys are Carl's "only source of income". I got the distinct impression that there was some tention between Carl and Brian at this time. Brian also mentions that the Beach Boys are going to play in South Africa, and that Carl will probably be there. These shows are not mentioned in Eric Anniversario's Beach Boys setlist archive.

There is something I've always wondered about this cd/dvd set. Are these the original tapes, or the studio overdubbed version?

I think it would be cool to do a  three cd set. Disc one would be "POB", disc two would be "Bamboo"(or a version as complete as possible, ala "Smile"), and disc three would be a mix of POB/Bamboo outtakes. 

California Dreamin' and Happy Endings aren't from 1981-1985.

"California Dremain'" is...  It was recorded in 1982, and officially released (by Radio Shack) in 1983.  It was remixed and partially rereorded for rerelase in '86, but I believe all the vocals are from the originall '82/'83 version.

Was Dennis included in this session?

Wasn't the session for Still A Mystery and Soul Searchin' one of Carl's last? Which was first, this session, or the one Carl did for the Wilson-Beckley-Lamm album? I have read that Soul Searchin' was supposedly the last song Carl ever sang in the studio. I have also read the same thing for the song "I Wish For You".

Are you talking about the 1977 CBS show when their singing Surfer Girl?

In the 1977 Maryland video, they are singing "Surfer Girl", when Dennis starts to fall. Mike moves out of the way, and Dennis's back hits a keyboard. Dennis also falls again during a later part of the show. When the band comes back onstage for the encore, Dennis falls into his drumset.

Speaking of BW's voice, I was just listening to "This Isn't Love" from the "Roxy" cd, and I was very surprised. Brian sounded very good, in my opinion. It's not quite falsetto, but it's getting there. Hell, it's ten times better than I could ever do, and I'm only 22. 

During Midnight Special in 1979 he keeps interuptting Al drunkedly while Jardine is trying to introduce the Byrds. The 1983 video of him singing You Are So Beautiful is pretty sad.

It made my eyes water the first time I watched. It's weird that he died  not long after that.

Yeah I almost cried when I saw that footage too. That's possibly the saddest piece of Beach Boys footage!!

Can anybody put this up on YouTube?

BB Medley from 81. Baaad!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbX3rKMHYy4

I also remember a 'Solid Gold' version. From memory Dennis was waaaay back of stage. No face. Just long hair flying and sticks out of time to track.

I have two things to say about that American Bandstand video. First, was Dennis even TRYING to mime? Second is, I wonder what Brian was laughing at?

At some point in the Maryland 1977 video, Dennis says "I'd like to dedicate this next song to all the girls...even you, Micheal". 

Who sang lead on Still a Mystery? I was pretty sure it was Carl.

Yea.. Dw was there..NOT..One of their better concerts..!!!!!!!!!!!

How so?

However, this doesn't really answer the SIP issue. Was Carl's involvement another case of feeling the need to "cave in" for group "peace", ala Al Jardine with the cheerleaders?