American Band movie--a question about it

[The Song Of The Grange]

I've got a question for the BBs sages. I haven't been able to find much info on the production of the American Band movie. What I am wondering specifically is when the voice-over narration was recorded (for instance, BW's narration that plays over the top of the "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow" scene.) I know the movie was released in 1985, would it be safe to assume that the BB's voice-over's and filmed interviews were done in 1984, or was the production of the movie spread out over many years?  Thanks for any info.

[punkinhead]

I've got a question for the BBs sages. I haven't been able to find much info on the production of the American Band movie. What I am wondering specifically is when the voice-over narration was recorded (for instance, BW's narration that plays over the top of the "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow" scene.) I know the movie was released in 1985, would it be safe to assume that the BB's voice-over's and filmed interviews were done in 1984, or was the production of the movie spread out over many years?  Thanks for any info.

I think we've discussed Brian's involvement on the film and that based on my (and others on the Board)'s observation, most footage was taken from the 'bedroom scene' era of Brian and that Brian wasn't involved that much because of Landy, thus using old footage/interviews...but that's just my opinion based on observation.

[Jason]

Judging from how Brian looks in the referenced scene, I'd say it was mid-1976.

[MBE]

A lot of it is 1976 special outtakes. Much of the rest is from The Old Grey Wistle Test.

[metal flake paint]

Some snippets come from this interview with Bob Harris:

http://www.globalimageworks.com/clip-brian-wilson-interview-beach-boys-1874_023?id=45092&search_string=brian+wilson&submit_x=0&submit_y=0&search_type=all&startrow=0

[The Song Of The Grange]

Thanks so much for the info! This board is a pretty amazing resource.

[STE]

Wow, I had never seen the full interview, thank you so much for the link!
I love how he speaks of "Hey Little Tomboy", "My Solution" and "Mount Vernon and Fairway", of all songs!

[stack-o-tracks]

Other people can actually get the interview to load?! It just loads forever for me. 

[rogerlancelot]

Other people can actually get the interview to load?! It just loads forever for me. 

I signed up for an account with them (Global Image Works) and am slowly downloading the thing in MOV format. I'll let you know if it works! Piping hot clam chowder enemas.

[stack-o-tracks]

Other people can actually get the interview to load?! It just loads forever for me. 

I signed up for an account with them (Global Image Works) and am slowly downloading the thing in MOV format. I'll let you know if it works! Piping hot clam chowder enemas.

Sweet, thanks. It actually started playing though, surprisingly. Been trying for a couple days.

Fascinating interview. Is there more stuff like this?

[rogerlancelot]

That was fantastic! Odd that the audio only worked in the right channel (Brian's deaf ear of course). I think I'll convert it into a mono AVI..... Oh, and that clam chowder thingy!

[STE]

I'm actually downloading them without having an account..   
But lots of goodies there, too bad many are silent.


And yeah, some take ages to start playing...

[Ian]

American Band uses interview footage shot for the 76 special (Brian in bed, his birthday, Dennis and Carl in the studio discussing Murry, etc) also footage shot in 1980 for the Twentieth Anniversary special (Dennis on his boat, Carl on the beach, etc) and some footage shot in 1981 for another TV show (Carl discussing why he left the band, etc) and some linking footage actually shot in 83-84 (such as Al and the Hawthorne Football team)

[The Shift]

…lots of goodies there, too bad many are silent.

Not wrong!  Type "Beach Boys" into the search field and see what comes up:

http://www.globalimageworks.com/clip-brian-wilson-in-recording-studio-1874_026?id=45094&search_string=beach+boys&submit_y=10&search_type=all&startrow=0

… for example…

[Matt H]

…lots of goodies there, too bad many are silent.

Not wrong!  Type "Beach Boys" into the search field and see what comes up:

http://www.globalimageworks.com/clip-brian-wilson-in-recording-studio-1874_026?id=45094&search_string=beach+boys&submit_y=10&search_type=all&startrow=0

… for example…

This website is awesome!  In that first clip, the lady at the end looks like the woman that is referred to in a caption in WIBN as Alexandra or Gene's Mother.

The last clip on that first page is hilarious.  Brian: Culture Club is my favorite band that I have heard recently....especially Boy George, how he dresses up like a girl.....we could do that.

[Jason]

Piping hot clam chowder enemas.

Unreleased Zappa album title? 

[guitarfool2002]

Great film archive site, but a few quick points on that firehat clip.

Obviously it's not a film of "Fire" as labeled, because the film was shot by Dennis inside the control room of Western #3. Two very interesting things to look for in that clip:

Van Dyke Parks wearing a firehat:


Brian and a mystery engineer or assistant engineer also wearing the hats. Can anyone identify the engineer with the white shirt, tie, and firehat behind Brian?

[onkster]

I could swear Van Dyke said he did not attend the fire sessions. But there he is.

Or...did he attend the fire sessions, didn't like what he saw happening, then split the project?

Can anybody clarify?

[Andrew G. Doe]

It's been established almost since the footage was released on An American Band 26 years ago that this is not the "Fire" session: aside from the presence of people who weren't there (Mike, Carl, VDP), the AFM for "Fire" states it was recorded at Gold Star, as does the Siegel article.

However... when I interviewed him in the control room of Western Three back in late March 1985, Chuck told me a funny little story about the "Fire" session, and it wasn't until I was back at the hotel that it hit me, with almost physical force, that as it was recorded at Gold Star, why was he there, engineering ?  So, unless I totally misunderstood/mistranscribed from the tape what he was saying, maybe there was a further "Fire" session. Go figure.

It's late now, but tomorrow I'll post what he actually told me.

[bgas]

It's been established almost since the footage was released on An American Band 26 years ago that this is not the "Fire" session: aside from the presence of people who weren't there (Mike, Carl, VDP), the AFM for "Fire" states it was recorded at Gold Star, as does the Siegel article.

However... when I interviewed him in the control room of Western Three back in late March 1985, Chuck told me a funny little story about the "Fire" session, and it wasn't until I was back at the hotel that it hit me, with almost physical force, that as it was recorded at Gold Star, why was he there, engineering ?  So, unless I totally misunderstood/mistranscribed from the tape what he was saying, maybe there was a further "Fire" session. Go figure.

It's late now, but tomorrow I'll post what he actually told me.

This night is going to seem almost 40 years long.

[The Shift]

… it wasn't until I was back at the hotel that it hit me, with almost physical force, that as it was recorded at Gold Star, why was he there, engineering ?  So, unless I totally misunderstood/mistranscribed from the tape what he was saying, maybe there was a further "Fire" session. Go figure.

Could the clip have been from a mixing session, maybe when the crackling sound effects were added? Might explain why everyone's stood around doing nothing, ie, no sign of any instruments actually being played. Presence of Al & Carl etc also… shouldn't they have been touring when Fire was actually recorded?

Other guess would be a session for one of the bells & whistle style variants?

Just shots in the dark…

[punkinhead]

It's been established almost since the footage was released on An American Band 26 years ago that this is not the "Fire" session: aside from the presence of people who weren't there (Mike, Carl, VDP), the AFM for "Fire" states it was recorded at Gold Star, as does the Siegel article.

However... when I interviewed him in the control room of Western Three back in late March 1985, Chuck told me a funny little story about the "Fire" session, and it wasn't until I was back at the hotel that it hit me, with almost physical force, that as it was recorded at Gold Star, why was he there, engineering ?  So, unless I totally misunderstood/mistranscribed from the tape what he was saying, maybe there was a further "Fire" session. Go figure.

It's late now, but tomorrow I'll post what he actually told me.

Mr. Doe, besides your fantastic book and website, what other research have you done over the years? Who and when have you interviewed folks from the BB-Universe? I'd love to read this stuff if it's posted anywhere 

[guitarfool2002]

… it wasn't until I was back at the hotel that it hit me, with almost physical force, that as it was recorded at Gold Star, why was he there, engineering ?  So, unless I totally misunderstood/mistranscribed from the tape what he was saying, maybe there was a further "Fire" session. Go figure.

Could the clip have been from a mixing session, maybe when the crackling sound effects were added? Might explain why everyone's stood around doing nothing, ie, no sign of any instruments actually being played. Presence of Al & Carl etc also… shouldn't they have been touring when Fire was actually recorded?

Other guess would be a session for one of the bells & whistle style variants?

Just shots in the dark…

I'm thinking the same thing. Short of hearing the actual story about Chuck Britz, the first thing I had in mind was asking when did they add those sound effects to Fire, and given that this film was Western I thought perhaps this was that session.

A mix session would be a possibility, but so would a vocal session. Or any number of sessions where Brian wanted the folks around him to don fire hats, and we have no way of knowing exactly how many times he made that request.

I also found it humorous that I wrote above the photos "obviously it's not a film of "Fire" as labeled", only to see the very next response ask about "Fire"... However, in light of this forthcoming information from Chuck Britz, the clip may damned well be "Fire" after all! Ironic.

[Andrew G. Doe]

It's been established almost since the footage was released on An American Band 26 years ago that this is not the "Fire" session: aside from the presence of people who weren't there (Mike, Carl, VDP), the AFM for "Fire" states it was recorded at Gold Star, as does the Siegel article.

However... when I interviewed him in the control room of Western Three back in late March 1985, Chuck told me a funny little story about the "Fire" session, and it wasn't until I was back at the hotel that it hit me, with almost physical force, that as it was recorded at Gold Star, why was he there, engineering ?  So, unless I totally misunderstood/mistranscribed from the tape what he was saying, maybe there was a further "Fire" session. Go figure.

It's late now, but tomorrow I'll post what he actually told me.

Mr. Doe, besides your fantastic book and website, what other research have you done over the years? Who and when have you interviewed folks from the BB-Universe? I'd love to read this stuff if it's posted anywhere 

Over the years I've interviewed/spoken to:

Brian
Carl
Dennis
Alan
Bruce
David
Scott Bennett
Darian Sahanaja
Probyn Gregory
Nelson Bragg
Jack Rieley
Steve Kalinich
Chuck Britz
Steve Desper
The Honeys
Dan Rutherford
Barbara Charren-Wilson
Ed Roach
Jasper Dailey
Sharon Marie
Mark Linett
Alan Boyd
Gene Landy
... and others who requested anonymity.

[The Shift]

... and others who requested anonymity.

Okay we'll spare you having to break the confidences but what did Chuck say that time?