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Frederick Chopin bio.

The bit with Al Jardine being all pissy is pretty funny too.

Love this line on page 61:

While Usher and Jardine shared reminiscences, Melcher and the engineers were busy assembling the various songs.

I think the Usher songs are a lot better than the BB85 songs. They are just dated , that's all. 80s production used to bother me, but now it doesn't; it's just a particular flavor. And definitely the Usher songs are better than "Too Much Sugar", which is from the same time period and which he did not work on and even tried to convince them not to put out. I mean, I like "Too Much Sugar"for its quirks but if Brian wants to be a major label artist....that's actually I think the problem with Brian Wilson's solo work. I think he is basically a free-spirited indie artist who is trying to fit major label expectations.

What gets me is the excitement everybody showed for "Let's Go To Heaven In my Car." I ike the verses but I think the chorus is annoying and the production of course is dated, but wasn't dated in 1986-86. But it's just not that good a song, in my opinion. But everyone, from Wilson, to Usher to the Beach Boys to Lenny Waronker were convinced it was a winner. Brian played it at a songwriting conference like it was the second coming of "God Only Knows" and got a standing o. Like...what?. It is a bit absurd. Same with "The Spirit of Rock and Roll." There were like, wars fought over that song. In the end, while it is well-crafted, it is also just mediocre compared to Brian's best.

 And then it never even really got officially released  other than that flabby, lazy 2005 version.

The bit with Al Jardine being all pissy is pretty funny too. It's also interesting how Mike Love seems the most sane of all the Beach Boys compared to Brian and Al. Bruce comes off as a bit nutty, too. Only Carl and Mike seem to treat Usher like a human, although in the background, Mike is secretly trying to rewrite Usher's lyrics so he can wrangle a songwriting credit.  And then, Bruce is all in Usher's face about it. What a weird bunch of people.

But I think that all that stuff (and the BB 85) represents Brian coming out of long inactivity, and naturally his first songs are not going to be as good as what came later. And I think that Paley was a better collaborator because he wasn't trying to force Brian into this commercial mold like Usher was.

I must say that the book definitely makes me wonder how many lyricists have been uncredited over the years.

"Sports Industry For Sale" by New Haircuts & Cutlets

"Manufactured In La La Land" by Hyped Up Movies

"Cubanoid Garrett" by Zavuzeq & Hiss Band

"Paleolithic Monoliths And Stereoliths" by Pez Dispenser TM

"Darts Despised By Drats" by Lilts In Duophonic

Who was present on the "psyche sounds"?

BW, VDP, David Anderle, Michael Vosse, Jules Siegel, Danny Hutton, Arnie Geller and Bob.

Is that Bob Gordon of “Bob Gordon’s Real Trip”?

Yes.

But I do not recall hearing Arnie's voice at all on those particular tapes unless you're referring to the "Lifeboat" tape, which is separate.

Just going by what it listed in the SMiLE Sessions book. 

See? At this point, why even care if you don't get equally polite replies as yours? *facepalm*

Looks like that festival gig is May 4.

I did just go on Amazon and edited my review to make it more clear that I have only read one chapter. 

Ron, I certainly am not about to apologize for my review on Amazon.  There is nothing deceitful or dishonest about what I wrote.  I did not claim to have read the entire book.  I did not claim to have purchased the book.  I said "one chapter" was all it took, and that's the truth.  How you see this as a LIE is beyond me.  I'm guessing that, if I had posted a review stating "I've only read one chapter, but this is a great book from what I've read thus far and I hope everyone buys it!", you'd have no complaints.  Perhaps you should have posted a better (at least somewhat accurate) chapter on this site.

Really really like it!

Try to listen mine!
https://vimeo.com/291674398/description