Ten days in Beach Boys history (Dec 18-27)...

[Ian]

Dec 21 1963 the BBs played in Sacramento, CA. This show was originally scheduled for Nov 23, but was re-scheduled in light of the JFK tragedy.  Although the BBs had played there twice before, this was BW’s first app there with them. The shows were recorded for their first live album-which combines songs recorded this night with others taped in the summer of 64.  Fred Vail’s intro to the show comes from this night.  Dec 27 1963 the BBs opened a two day stand at the Terrace Ballroom in Salt Lake City.  Dec 18 1964-the BBs allegedly taped their app on the Bob Hope TV special on this day-singing ‘Dance, Dance, Dance.’  They were in Tulsa the next night for a show and they again were on the road the 23rd bound for Houston when Brian snapped.  He made a recovery that night for the show-but then was on a plane back to LA the next day.  Luckily there was no show planned for Christmas Eve, but a Mississippi show set for Christmas Day had to be scuttled.  Glen Campbell showed up in Dallas on the 26th and played that night and the rest of the tour.  He got a rude welcome after his second show on the 27 in Omaha, when the group’s guitars were stolen.  Dec 22 1965 the group began work on vocals for “Sloop John B”.  Dec 21 1966 the group added vocals to the “Do You Like Worms” track. On Dec 22 they worked on “Heroes” including, allegedly, the Swedish Frog bit.  Dec 18 1967 the BBs were interviewed on BBC radio while in the UK for a few days.  Mike and Bruce stuck around long enough to attend the Beatles party on the 21st at the Royal Lancaster Hotel for their Magical Mystery Tour Show-which aired on Boxing Day.  John L showed up in costume as a 1950s rocker.  Dec 17 1968 the BBs were in Milan, Italy to tape a TV app, before heading back to London to tape a segment for Top of the Pops on Dec 18 (which languished in the vaults).  Dec 1969-The BBs worked on music for their first post Capitol album-including Dennis’s “Lady” (Dec 26) and “Susie Cincinnati” (Dec 24). Of course-neither song ended up on Sunflower.  Dec 17 1970 the BBs played at the Royal Albert Hall.  They then headed to Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Brussels.  According to NME, they were tentatively scheduled to play shows in Yugoslavia, Scandinavia, Rome and Montreux, but these seem to have been canceled.  A poster advertising a BB app at Montreux on Jan 2 1971 exists, but it didn’t happen.  Dec 18 1973 the BBs played at Brooklyn College, followed by a show at MSG in NY on Dec 19 that ended with an alleged fight between Blondie and Steve Love that led to Blondie quitting soon after.  Dec 18-22 1974 the BBs played in Fresno, Bakersfield, San Fran, Sacramento and Santa Barbara.  This was the end of Ricky Fataar’s time with the group.  The show in Sacramento featured an impromptu “Happy Birthday” for Carl.  Dec 17 1975 the BBs played in Portland, OR.   Dec 17 and 18 1976 Brian played his first Seattle shows with the BBs since 1970. He also joined them in Vancouver on Dec 21, again for the first time since 1970.  He was also at the San Diego show on Dec 27 1976-his first app there since 1965.  Dec 17 1977-a damaged, fractured BBs played at the University of Oregon, having survived a near breakup and still not talking much.  They were back in San Diego on Dec 26 and at the LA Forum on Dec 27 1977. Late Dec 1978-was spent working on the LA Light album, while Dec 1979 found them at work on Keepin the Summer Alive.  Dec 1980 saw Carl finishing work on his first solo album. While Dec 1981 found Carl out of the band and the Beach Boys embarking on a very ill advised trip to Sun City, South Africa, then racked by apartheid, with Brian, Dennis, and new member Jeff Foskett.  Dec 24 1983 the BBs recorded vocals for the Four Seasons collaboration “East Meets West.” 

[c-man]

Ian...do you know the location of the 12/24/83 recording session for the "East Meets West" vocals?  There's a photo in the recent Record Collector (the one with features on Brian, Mike, and David) with a photo from a NYC studio session for that song...wondering if that was then, or if they were in L.A., like I would imagine they'd be on Christmas Eve...

[Ian]

That bit of info is from an interview with Bruce in 1985-who mentioned that the song was done about three days before Dennis died-hence the date-though I suppose that leaves a little room for error- certainly not as good as having an AFM sheet handy-perhaps better to say sometime around Dec 20-24. 

[MBE]

What issue of Record Collector was that?

[metal flake paint]

What issue of Record Collector was that?

Issue 341, October 2007, with Marc Bolan on the front cover.

[Ian]

I have seen that photo somewhere else as well-though can't recall where right now...

[MBE]

Thanks I managed to find one.

[Ian]

By the way-for those interested-if you have your Keith Badman tome-you'll see that he lists the Amsterdam show on Nov 18 1970, Rotterdam Nov 19 and Amsterdam again on Nov 20-I thought this was suspicious. I obtained the ads for the shows from a Dutch paper (thanks to Smile Holland and friends)-the Nov 20 was at the Hague.  I also heard about a Belgian show he lacked-looked in the Belgian papers and the ad for the Nov 21 show was prominently displayed. The Amsterdam show was the one where they didn't show till very late but the loyal fans stayed. I have a tape of the Nov 19 Rotterdam show and they tell the audience the story

[MBE]

Any guesses as to the three songs Dennis sang on the late 1970 UK tour? Foever and Lady are a given, but what could the othe be. Sound Of Free? Slip On Through? Little Bird?

[Christian]

"It´s About Time".

[MBE]

Well Carl would have sung that. I only know he sang three because of a newspaper review in the Badman book.

[smile-holland]

Any guesses as to the three songs Dennis sang on the late 1970 UK tour? Foever and Lady are a given, but what could the othe be. Sound Of Free? Slip On Through? Little Bird?

A friend of mine told me that one of the songs they played in Amsterdam or Rotterdam (The Netherlands) was Sound Of Free. But I can't find any confirmation/proof on that.

[Ian]

The interview that appeared in the Dec 19 1970 Record Mirror mentions him singing "Forever" onstage and also mentions that the Sound of Free single was recieved well in the UK (though I am not sure that means he performed it live)..By the way Dennis says in that interview that he recorded his single exactly three days before leaving for London (which would mean Nov 13 1970 and suggests that Sound of Free was recorded at the session for Settle down or is it possible that this was the working title?) and it was released on his birthday Dec 4.  

[smile-holland]

The interview that appeared in the Dec 19 1970 Record Mirror mentions him singing "Forever" onstage and also mentions that the Sound of Free single was recieved well in the UK (though I am not sure that means he performed it live)..By the way Dennis says in that interview that he recorded his single exactly three days before leaving for London (which would mean Nov 13 1970 and suggests that Sound of Free was recorded at the session for Settle down or is it possible that this was the working title?) and it was released on his birthday Dec 4.  

Can't tell you.

But in addition to UK-releases and all:
BB:                     Tears In The Morning / It's About Time         SS 2181
Flame:                 See The Light / Get Your Mind Made Up        SS 2183
Dennis&Rumbo:     Sound Of Free / Lady on Stateside               SS 2184

[Ian]

By the way-Badman was right and wrong about the Rotterdam show- he stated that the radio station said they'd air it in two parts but it never happened. Actually, They did air one part-that is what I have.  They opened with Cotton Fields, followed by Aren't You Glad, Country Air, Vegetables and Bruce singing Tears in the Morning.. Unfortunately the second half was promised but may not have aired..so that is all that exists.  The Dennis part is not on my tape

[MBE]

Settle Down is the name of a folk song writen by New Christy Minstrel Mike Settle circa 1964. I wonder if Dennis ran through it or if it is his own track.

[Ian]

I should add that I have reviews of early 70s shows where Dennis sang "Forever", "I've Got a Friend", "Lady" and "Barbara"...There must be live versions of these tunes in the BB archives-they should be on an archival live compilation (wish!)

[c-man]

I should add that I have reviews of early 70s shows where Dennis sang "Forever", "I've Got a Friend", "Lady" and "Barbara"...There must be live versions of these tunes in the BB archives-they should be on an archival live compilation (wish!)

I've heard that there are no multi-tracked 1971 shows in the vaults, which is a pity, as that was a really great live year, one where Dennis often did at least two songs a show.