The Little Girl I Once Knew

[ghost]

What's the story on this song? How did it even come to exist? Brian is in crazy genius mode here for sure. The silences are a zen mystery. Any cool unofficial versions of this track? I've heard the stereo mix and the alternate take or whatever it is - how about Brian playing it on piano anywhere? I've heard him do it live with his band.

I heard this was John Lennon's favorite Beach Boys song, that he used to love when it came on the radio. John Lennon used a lot of acid. He heard the LSD ecstatically crying from that single.

[bossaroo]

one of my favorites. just heard Brian and co. play it in Atlanta. i was most pleased.
he said it was possibly his favorite production, even if it didn't do well in the charts.

lyrically it seems to pick up where "All Dressed Up For School" left off. did Brian write this one solo?

[Andreas]

I always heard this song as California Girls Volume 2, similar structure, arrangement and even chord sequences, but in all aspects one step ahead.

[Andrew G. Doe]

What's the story on this song?

It's a song... about a girl he once knew... she was small then... but she's not now.

Is all.

[ghost]

I always heard this song as California Girls Volume 2, similar structure, arrangement and even chord sequences, but in all aspects one step ahead.

They are very similar. I'm not up on my facts but just from hearing them alone they seem to be brother & sister companion songs & productions and arrangements. Little Girl has a crazy Bach-on-acid at a carnival sound, California Girls is more like the coolest laid back white spiritual californian groove BrianBach had made by 1965. The first verse is a bit tame - but Mike is just warming us up. The glory is the oceanic harmonies of the second verse and beyond. The first chorus when I hear it - the bass parts sound like moogs but I'm aware that they were all electric basses and organs and pianos and saxophones or whatever else... Brian was making a sort of space sound. It wasn't just the band playing but the reverb that ended up on tape. The reverb Brian's productions got was masterful. Ordinary organs (which sound bland just as they are sometimes) become  watery ocean mirage like mystery sound colors. I would say that organ sound in California Girls, The Little Girl I Once Knew, Good Vibrations [and all the others which were less well known] is a very defining Beach Boys sound. At least for that period of impermanent happenings. Brian Wilson had a sort of Bach thing going on. You knew it for sure when you heard You Still Believe In Me in the room with the Beatles. I was there. Not as I am now, the beast that typeth to you.

What's the story on this song?

It's a song... about a girl he once knew... she was small then... but she's not now.

Is all.

I know what the lyric is most noble sir, but this song is not lightweight fluff like "You're So Good To Me". The musicians know it! Little Girl is one of Brian's coolest tracks. The silence is symphonic.

[Jon Stebbins]

What's the story on this song?

It's a song... about a girl he once knew... she was small then... but she's not now.

Is all.

You could probably go into the once speculated theory that Brian wrote it about his little sister-in-law Barbara Rovell, but that might not be psychedelic enough...i'm not sure.

[Don_Zabu]

I never did like this song.

[ghost]

1:50 in The Little Girl I Once Knew. Please listen. When the keyboard goes back into the arpeggios or trills or whatever I don't know technical terms [I'm a field mouse in a worst road made new by the nightfall's embrace which I find to be most enlightening - god as absolute nothingness - the emptiness of total darkness - the voidness of space] it is like a fucking RAINBOW OF COLORS . Not necessarily pink though, I just wanted to stress to the followers of the Dao of Foskett that Brian is a psychedelic Bach and cannot be a caged bird. He needs to let loose and write more songs about what obviously inspires him most: girls. Brian seems to really dig Melinda. Let's hear some Darlin's for her then, I could get into that. Just some funky songs. You don't think 70 year olds are funky? According to interviews Melinda bakes Brian a pie quite regularly.

[Howie Edelson]

Jon --

When you say "psychedelic" do you mean "Wild Honey"-psychedelic, or, like, The Association-psychedelic???

[Andrew G. Doe]

Or Mike Love-psychedoozy ?

[ghost]

What's the story on this song?

It's a song... about a girl he once knew... she was small then... but she's not now.

Is all.

You could probably go into the once speculated theory that Brian wrote it about his little sister-in-law Barbara Rovell, but that might not be psychedelic enough...i'm not sure.

Haha, that was funny. I'm glad you used an easy going joke and not a mean attack - some smile would do us all well. I find that theory very interesting because of some of my own observations. I won't go into it much here because it's a bit more serious than I'd prefer to be. Personally I am amazed that Brian stuck with Marilyn so long even after becoming "Brian Wilson". Even in the early days I'm sure he could've got any girl, right? Not a bad looking fellow, creative genius, cool mind, obviously makin' a lot of bread, he told you in his song... Marilyn was cute in her teens from what I've seen. I can definitely see Brian's attraction to her and her to him. I am everybody. There is nothing I'm not. I am Jon Stebbins. I am Brian Wilson. I am the clouds and the letdown sunlight magnolia. Who was the roller skating child? That's the new chorus to Cabinessence: Who was the roller skating child, who was the roller skating child, who was the

[Mike's Beard]

"Hey ghost, you feeling that acid yet?" 

[ghost]

"Hey ghost, you feeling that acid yet?"  

Got any more hash joints Clark? Come on I know you do

[Jon Stebbins]

Jon --

When you say "psychedelic" do you mean "Wild Honey"-psychedelic, or, like, The Association-psychedelic???

Both... as well as Tommy Roe psychedelic.

[Jon Stebbins]

I am everybody. There is nothing I'm not. I am Jon Stebbins. I am Brian Wilson. I am the clouds and the letdown sunlight magnolia.

I am the Walrus.

[ghost]

I am everybody. There is nothing I'm not. I am Jon Stebbins. I am Brian Wilson. I am the clouds and the letdown sunlight magnolia.

I am the Walrus.

Did Dennis feel shame for never telling the truth about the Manson fiasco? He could've shed a LOT of light on things but he chose silence and not-knowing. Why?

[drbeachboy]

I am everybody. There is nothing I'm not. I am Jon Stebbins. I am Brian Wilson. I am the clouds and the letdown sunlight magnolia.

I am the Walrus.

Goo, Goo, Goo-chu!

[drbeachboy]

I am everybody. There is nothing I'm not. I am Jon Stebbins. I am Brian Wilson. I am the clouds and the letdown sunlight magnolia.

I am the Walrus.

Did Dennis feel shame for never telling the truth about the Manson fiasco? He could've shed a LOT of light on things but he chose silence and not-knowing. Why?

What did he lie about, exactly? Shed light on what?

[Andrew G. Doe]

I am everybody. There is nothing I'm not. I am Jon Stebbins. I am Brian Wilson. I am the clouds and the letdown sunlight magnolia.

I am the Walrus.

Did Dennis feel shame for never telling the truth about the Manson fiasco? He could've shed a LOT of light on things but he chose silence and not-knowing. Why?

What did he lie about, exactly? Shed light on what?

Didn't lie, just didn't testify. Can't recall offhand if he actually refused, or just made himself scarce at the right time. Guy called Stebbins would know.

As for why, well, you ever seen the police photos from inside 10050 ? That's why.

[ghost]

I am everybody. There is nothing I'm not. I am Jon Stebbins. I am Brian Wilson. I am the clouds and the letdown sunlight magnolia.

I am the Walrus.

Did Dennis feel shame for never telling the truth about the Manson fiasco? He could've shed a LOT of light on things but he chose silence and not-knowing. Why?

What did he lie about, exactly? Shed light on what?

He may have not lied upfront - I don't know everything the guy ever said - but it's hard to imagine he didn't naturally change the truth for different people as one does. I've read fairly extensively on the Manson situation and the profoundly forbidden nature of this topic in the Beach Boys world is astounding. We get interview after interview with these interviewers repeating the same stupid sh*t again and again. Why not say hey Brian, how about that Charles Manson eh? What was it like when he was over your house? Was he cool? Did you play Shortnin Bread with him? Did you fool around with any of the girls? He's said he likes you man, so don't worry about any bad vibes.

That is a fact by the way, I heard a tape of Manson speaking and he mentioned Brian and said he was a cool guy but a hermit, creative reclusive type. (paraphrasd).

[drbeachboy]

I am everybody. There is nothing I'm not. I am Jon Stebbins. I am Brian Wilson. I am the clouds and the letdown sunlight magnolia.

I am the Walrus.

Did Dennis feel shame for never telling the truth about the Manson fiasco? He could've shed a LOT of light on things but he chose silence and not-knowing. Why?

What did he lie about, exactly? Shed light on what?

Didn't lie, just didn't testify. Can't recall offhand if he actually refused, or just made himself scarce at the right time. Guy called Stebbins would know.

As for why, well, you ever seen the police photos from inside 10050 ? That's why.

Plus anything Dennis could've added would have been well after the murders took place. Manson seems to have gotten his lifetime in prison without any needed info provided by Dennis.

[ghost]

I am everybody. There is nothing I'm not. I am Jon Stebbins. I am Brian Wilson. I am the clouds and the letdown sunlight magnolia.

I am the Walrus.

Did Dennis feel shame for never telling the truth about the Manson fiasco? He could've shed a LOT of light on things but he chose silence and not-knowing. Why?

What did he lie about, exactly? Shed light on what?

Didn't lie, just didn't testify. Can't recall offhand if he actually refused, or just made himself scarce at the right time. Guy called Stebbins would know.

As for why, well, you ever seen the police photos from inside 10050 ? That's why.

Plus anything Dennis could've added would have been well after the murders took place. Manson seems to have gotten his lifetime in prison without any needed info provided by Dennis.

Dennis could have testified for or against Tex - whichever side he chose - because he knew him very well as well as other family members. Tex by the time of the murders was out of his mind by all accounts but in the year before he had been a goofy tall Texan momma's boy. Dennis' testimony could have really caused a huge impact so obviously I understand why he chose silence.

Dennis could have also shed a lot of light into the psychology of the family and how sex was used to keep males and sources of useful things subordinate to the overall family under Charlie's swastika third eye. Dennis was kept good and f***ed by Manson's sometimes pretty sometimes homely looking girls - so he'd keep letting them have the car, the pad, the this and that...

[Jon Stebbins]

I am everybody. There is nothing I'm not. I am Jon Stebbins. I am Brian Wilson. I am the clouds and the letdown sunlight magnolia.

I am the Walrus.

Did Dennis feel shame for never telling the truth about the Manson fiasco? He could've shed a LOT of light on things but he chose silence and not-knowing. Why?

What did he lie about, exactly? Shed light on what?

Didn't lie, just didn't testify. Can't recall offhand if he actually refused, or just made himself scarce at the right time. Guy called Stebbins would know.

I think everyone around the Beach Boys, their families, their business agreed that keeping Dennis out of the papers and the courtroom was preferable. Dennis' friend and collaborator Gregg Jakobson told Bugliosi he knew everything that Dennis knew...and he agreed to testify in place of Dennis. Bugliosi was satisfied with that because Gregg is a far more malleable, predictable and procedure friendly entity than Dennis Wilson. Jakobson ended up being a huge help to the prosecution. Dennis may not have been as helpful, I don't know. Yes he knew a lot, but so did dozens of people who didn't testify.

[ghost]

I am everybody. There is nothing I'm not. I am Jon Stebbins. I am Brian Wilson. I am the clouds and the letdown sunlight magnolia.

I am the Walrus.

Did Dennis feel shame for never telling the truth about the Manson fiasco? He could've shed a LOT of light on things but he chose silence and not-knowing. Why?

What did he lie about, exactly? Shed light on what?

Didn't lie, just didn't testify. Can't recall offhand if he actually refused, or just made himself scarce at the right time. Guy called Stebbins would know.

I think everyone around the Beach Boys, their families, their business agreed that keeping Dennis out of the papers and the courtroom was preferable. Dennis' friend and collaborator Gregg Jakobson told Bugliosi he knew everything that Dennis knew...and he agreed to testify in place of Dennis. Bugliosi was satisfied with that because Gregg is a far more malleable, predictable and procedure friendly entity than Dennis Wilson. Jakobson ended up being a huge help to the prosecution. Dennis may not have been as helpful, I don't know. Yes he knew a lot, but so did dozens of people who didn't testify.

Dennis would've ruined Bug's case by being so unruly. He'd forget what not to say and mess up Vince's whole mirage.

[Jon Stebbins]

I am everybody. There is nothing I'm not. I am Jon Stebbins. I am Brian Wilson. I am the clouds and the letdown sunlight magnolia.

I am the Walrus.

Did Dennis feel shame for never telling the truth about the Manson fiasco? He could've shed a LOT of light on things but he chose silence and not-knowing. Why?

What did he lie about, exactly? Shed light on what?

Didn't lie, just didn't testify. Can't recall offhand if he actually refused, or just made himself scarce at the right time. Guy called Stebbins would know.

I think everyone around the Beach Boys, their families, their business agreed that keeping Dennis out of the papers and the courtroom was preferable. Dennis' friend and collaborator Gregg Jakobson told Bugliosi he knew everything that Dennis knew...and he agreed to testify in place of Dennis. Bugliosi was satisfied with that because Gregg is a far more malleable, predictable and procedure friendly entity than Dennis Wilson. Jakobson ended up being a huge help to the prosecution. Dennis may not have been as helpful, I don't know. Yes he knew a lot, but so did dozens of people who didn't testify.

Dennis would've ruined Bug's case by being so unruly. He'd forget what not to say and mess up Vince's whole mirage.

exactly