Did Love You have the BBs name on it cuz...

[kookadams]

The Love You album was orig intended to be Brians first solo album in 77 but it was a BB album because of their contract? And in 77 when they signed with columbia/epic they were still on wb, is that why miu took almost a yr to be released from when it was recorded??

[phirnis]

Was this really ever planned to be a solo album? In any case I'm glad it ended up the way it did. Never been a big fan of solo albums to begin with and I'm sure Love You is all the better for having the other guys' voices as well as Carl's "mixdown production" skills on it. To me it's every bit as much a BB album as Pet Sounds.

[Lowbacca]

Was this really ever planned to be a solo album?

Yup - Brian Loves You.

To me it's every bit as much a BB album as Pet Sounds.

Yes!

[HeyJude]

Is there any strong evidence they were seriously considering releasing this as a Brian Wilson solo album? I remember a discussion of this years ago, and the theory that makes sense to me is that it was going to be a Beach Boys album titled “Brian Loves You”, which then changed to “The Beach Boys Love You.” 

Other than in the early pre-recording stages as perhaps a vague floated idea, I can’t imagine this was going to be a Brian solo album. The other BB’s are still on numerous tracks (and some of the BB’s sang some of Brian’s vocals in early/rough takes). More importantly, the band knew they owed Warner one (and later two as it turned out) more album, and I’m not sure a solo Brian album would have even counted toward their deal.

[Lowbacca]

I was under the impression that Brian considered most of the songs in their early stages for a solo album. Then it became a BBs album rather quickly. I would like to know a time frame on the issue, as well.

[kookadams]

Well think about how many albums were recorded from early 76 to late 77- 15 big ones, love you, adult child, and miu..... that was a busy time for them, lot of turmoil .

[Dancing Bear]

...cuz when most of the leads are sung by other members of the Beach Boy while Brian is still a band member, it's kind of surreal to label it a solo album. Even in the bizarre world of the Beach Boys.

[Lowbacca]

...cuz when most of the leads are sung by other members of the Beach Boy while Brian is still a band member, it's kind of surreal to label it a solo album. Even in the bizarre world of the Beach Boys.

Huh? At that point (actual production/recording) it hadn't been considered as a solo project for quite some time. I don't get what you're saying.

[Dancing Bear]

...cuz when most of the leads are sung by other members of the Beach Boy while Brian is still a band member, it's kind of surreal to label it a solo album. Even in the bizarre world of the Beach Boys.

Huh? At that point (actual production/recording) it hadn't been considered as a solo project for quite some time. I don't get what you're saying.

I was teasing. Some people claim that LY is a BW solo album, and others claim that LY is a Wilson Brothers album. Funny world.

[Lowbacca]

...cuz when most of the leads are sung by other members of the Beach Boy while Brian is still a band member, it's kind of surreal to label it a solo album. Even in the bizarre world of the Beach Boys.

Huh? At that point (actual production/recording) it hadn't been considered as a solo project for quite some time. I don't get what you're saying.

I was teasing. Some people claim that LY is a BW solo album, and others claim that LY is a Wilson Brothers album. Funny world.

Well, Love You is very much in the BW spirit. Hints of BW solo craziness remain. It's in the songs. But of course it's a BBs record.

[phirnis]

Funnily enough, none of BW's actual solo records were even half as "crazy" as Love You.

[Lowbacca]

Funnily enough, none of BW's actual solo records were even half as "crazy" as Love You.

Of course not. After all, his solo career started much later. Vastly different circumstances. Kind of a different man (and artist), as well.

[Nicko1234]

If it had been a solo album, and certainly if Brian had sung all of the lead vocals, then it would have needed a masochistic record label to have chosen to release something that was always going to be a commercial failure.

Sweet Insanity would have been just as weird in its own way but, by this point, no masochistic record label was forthcoming.

[Smile4ever]

To me it's every bit as much a BB album as Pet Sounds.

Which, ironically, was also basically a Brian Wilson solo album. 

[phirnis]

Sweet Insanity, forgot about that one. Probably on the wrong side of "crazy" (personally I'd prefer to call it eccentric), although it does have its moments.

What's strange, to me, about his work past 1977 is that he never again did something as inventive as Love You in terms of arrangements. He seems almost as good as ever when it comes to vocal arrangements while in terms of backing tracks he seems to have "lost it" after Love You.

[phirnis]

To me it's every bit as much a BB album as Pet Sounds.

Which, ironically, was also basically a Brian Wilson solo album. 

Don't think so at all. Wouldn't be remotely the same without the other guys' voices.

[Lowbacca]

To me it's every bit as much a BB album as Pet Sounds.

Which, ironically, was also basically a Brian Wilson solo album.  

Don't think so at all. Wouldn't be remotely the same without the other guys' voices.

I think Smile4ever referred to the themes, and writing. From that point of view, he/she is quite right. After all, almost all of the tracks were conceived by Brian and Tony Asher (Asher translating Brian's ideas). Those are all Brian songs. Remember, "Caroline No" was even released as Brian's first solo single. Brian wanted to make that particular album. The BBs were his vessels, so to speak.

[phirnis]

I see. Guess I just really don't like the idea of solo albums, it's not any of you guys' fault.

[metal flake paint]

"I want to call the album "Brian's In Love" [laughter]. I don't think they (The Beach Boys) will go for it though."

Brian Wilson interviewed by Bob Harris, 1976.

[puni puni]

many interviewers around the time asked BDW 'why dont you go solo?' clearly he did ponder the idea. from what i understand, it seems that the album known as 'new album' was supposed to be the beach boys' 1977 release while 'brian loves you' was going to be his solo outing released concurrently just as dennis was doing

[Mike's Beard]

Brian was in very poor voice in 1977. Love You needed the other guys voices.

[kookadams]

If love you aint a punk rock album I dunno what is/

[phirnis]

I can't hear the punk thing at all with regards to side 2. I mean, Let's Put Our Hearts Together, The Night Was So Young... those are not even remotely close to anything punk. I think Love You is essentially "quirky millionaire" music, in the best way possible, that is.

[kookadams]

Very raw album and a major bookend in the BBs quality output . 62 thru 65 being the signature 'golden years' if you will, 66-7 the creative peak, 68-72 the progressive era and 77 the last grasp of brilliant air... I think that bout sums it up.

[Alan Smith]

Re your MIU q's: on, err, realising they owed Warners an album, the TM axis and Brian split to Marharishi Uni,IL, produced a Christmas album then submitted late '77, to which Warner's said no way, so new lyrics and some new songs were slapped together springish '78 and submitted, accepted cranked out as MIU.