David Leaf

[Lonely Summer]

David Leaf used to be all over anything BB's or BW related; he wrote the liner notes to all of the Capitol cd's, has written liner notes for some of Brian's solo cd's, but it's been years since I've seen his name anywhere. Has he been banished from the kingdom, or did he just move on to other things?

[Pretty Funky]

http://www.schoolofmusic.ucla.edu/leaf-david

[jeffh]

It's my understanding that his wife recently passed away.

[37!ws]

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/latimes/obituary.aspx?pid=179551250

[Lonely Summer]

thanks, guys

[Sound of Free]

That's very sad his wife died so young. It was a nice tribute David penned for her obituary.

[Jim Murphy]

As one of her heroes was Robert Francis Kennedy, perhaps this insight from the Greek poet Aeschylus, which Bobby Kennedy admired, may bring some small measure of comfort.

"Even in our sleep, pain, which cannot forget, falls drop by drop upon the heart, until, in our own despair, against our will, comes Wisdom from the awful grace of God."

Rest in Peace, Eva Lois Easton-Leaf.  And may God welcome you home, surrounding you in His eternal love.

[Cam Mott]

I had no idea. Very sad.

[JK]

As one of her heroes was Robert Francis Kennedy, perhaps this insight from the Greek poet Aeschylus, which Bobby Kennedy admired, may bring some small measure of comfort.

"Even in our sleep, pain, which cannot forget, falls drop by drop upon the heart, until, in our own despair, against our will, comes Wisdom from the awful grace of God."

Rest in Peace, Eva Lois Easton-Leaf.  And may God welcome you home, surrounding you in His eternal love.

What a wonderfully touching post. I'm sure it will bring comfort.

[Cool Cool Water]

It's my understanding that his wife recently passed away.

Very sad news. I met David a few times on VIP Brian Wilson concerts throughout the years. A nice, down to earth guy well known in the BB circle. His tribute was really nice I thought to his late wife.

[Gerry]

I think David was very instrumental in bringing Brian to the general public. For a long time his book, "The Beach Boys and the California Myth" was a bible for me.I hope that there was no falling out.

[Peter Reum]

There would not be a Brian Wilson if David hadn't been a quiet friend and supporter in the Landy Era and beyond.

[Lonely Summer]

I think David was very instrumental in bringing Brian to the general public. For a long time his book, "The Beach Boys and the California Myth" was a bible for me.I hope that there was no falling out.

I think I annoyed my girlfriend back in 1983 because my face was stuck in that book for days at a time. I couldn't help it, it was addicting. And I eagerly grabbed the updated version when it came out in 1985.

[The Shift]

Was it really 33 years ago? I had the later version and I think it help turned fandom to obsession. "Keep the flame" David told me on a couple of occasions (PS2002 tour). Still keepin' it, kids permitting.

[Lonely Summer]

Was it really 33 years ago? I had the later version and I think it help turned fandom to obsession. "Keep the flame" David told me on a couple of occasions (PS2002 tour). Still keepin' it, kids permitting.

What was nice about the updated version was how Leaf could look back on his own obsessive fan quest to try to save Brian with some perspective. I have to admit, I had the knee-jerk reaction to hate Mike (and maybe Al) after reading the first edition of the book. Glad I grew out of that.

[Steve Latshaw]

California Myth was actually first published in 1978 - so it's almost 40 years old.

One of the fascinating sections of the book is at the end, where David Leaf lays out his wish list for what might be the best kind of future for Brian, from a professional standpoint.  Beginning in 1998, all of it, pretty much, came true.

[phirnis]

California Myth was actually first published in 1978 - so it's almost 40 years old.

One of the fascinating sections of the book is at the end, where David Leaf lays out his wish list for what might be the best kind of future for Brian, from a professional standpoint.  Beginning in 1998, all of it, pretty much, came true.

That is indeed fascinating. Did the list by any chance involve BW finishing Smile as a solo artist?

[Steve Latshaw]

<<That is indeed fascinating. Did the list by any chance involve BW finishing Smile as a solo artist?>>

Leaf talks about Brian being allowed to record and release whatever he wants, regardless of standard commercial expectations, and among other things, live solo performances of Pet Sounds, Adult Child and Smile, among other things.

[Lonely Summer]

California Myth was actually first published in 1978 - so it's almost 40 years old.

One of the fascinating sections of the book is at the end, where David Leaf lays out his wish list for what might be the best kind of future for Brian, from a professional standpoint.  Beginning in 1998, all of it, pretty much, came true.

Don't you mean 1988?

[Lonely Summer]

<<That is indeed fascinating. Did the list by any chance involve BW finishing Smile as a solo artist?>>

Leaf talks about Brian being allowed to record and release whatever he wants, regardless of standard commercial expectations, and among other things, live solo performances of Pet Sounds, Adult Child and Smile, among other things.

Unfortunately, IMO, Brian has NOT been allowed to record and release what he wants, because someone is always pushing their vision of what they think will sell - for example, the AC sound of NPP. It seems there is always someone involved that is pushing that agenda - "we gotta make something that can get airplay, something to appeal to _____________ demographic", instead of just letting Brian follow his muse. So the albums come out, they don't sell, because radio stations don't play new music by 60-70 something musicians; Brian does a few tv appearances playing some of the new stuff; a few songs are added to the setlists for that years tour; and then the following year, the new stuff is gone and it's back to all oldies, until there is another new album to push. Is this really what Brian wants, just cranking out product because it is expected of, and touring year after year, playing those old songs we used to abuse the Beach Boys for playing?

[Emily]

<<That is indeed fascinating. Did the list by any chance involve BW finishing Smile as a solo artist?>>

Leaf talks about Brian being allowed to record and release whatever he wants, regardless of standard commercial expectations, and among other things, live solo performances of Pet Sounds, Adult Child and Smile, among other things.

Unfortunately, IMO, Brian has NOT been allowed to record and release what he wants, because someone is always pushing their vision of what they think will sell - for example, the AC sound of NPP. It seems there is always someone involved that is pushing that agenda - "we gotta make something that can get airplay, something to appeal to _____________ demographic", instead of just letting Brian follow his muse. So the albums come out, they don't sell, because radio stations don't play new music by 60-70 something musicians; Brian does a few tv appearances playing some of the new stuff; a few songs are added to the setlists for that years tour; and then the following year, the new stuff is gone and it's back to all oldies, until there is another new album to push. Is this really what Brian wants, just cranking out product because it is expected of, and touring year after year, playing those old songs we used to abuse the Beach Boys for playing?

Honest question, Lonely Summer, is the above opinion based on first-hand knowledge? Cause I agree that some of his albums (Imagination comes to mind) don't seem to be thoroughly Wilsonian, but some other solo work he's done does - given that he's no longer in his twenties and techniques have changed. I imagine in any case he likes to be making music. And he does refer to writer's block a lot, so it might be for the best either way.

[Fire Wind]

I tend to assume Brian himself has standard commercial expectations.

[phirnis]

<<That is indeed fascinating. Did the list by any chance involve BW finishing Smile as a solo artist?>>

Leaf talks about Brian being allowed to record and release whatever he wants, regardless of standard commercial expectations, and among other things, live solo performances of Pet Sounds, Adult Child and Smile, among other things.

Interesting! Live solo performance of Adult/Child - I'm still waiting for that, patiently.

[Steve Latshaw]

<<Don't you mean 1988?>>

No. 

[HeyJude]

<<That is indeed fascinating. Did the list by any chance involve BW finishing Smile as a solo artist?>>

Leaf talks about Brian being allowed to record and release whatever he wants, regardless of standard commercial expectations, and among other things, live solo performances of Pet Sounds, Adult Child and Smile, among other things.

Unfortunately, IMO, Brian has NOT been allowed to record and release what he wants, because someone is always pushing their vision of what they think will sell - for example, the AC sound of NPP. It seems there is always someone involved that is pushing that agenda - "we gotta make something that can get airplay, something to appeal to _____________ demographic", instead of just letting Brian follow his muse. So the albums come out, they don't sell, because radio stations don't play new music by 60-70 something musicians; Brian does a few tv appearances playing some of the new stuff; a few songs are added to the setlists for that years tour; and then the following year, the new stuff is gone and it's back to all oldies, until there is another new album to push. Is this really what Brian wants, just cranking out product because it is expected of, and touring year after year, playing those old songs we used to abuse the Beach Boys for playing?

Other people certainly sometimes have a stronger hand in some of Brian's albums; I'd certainly love to see a true "Love You" esque "Brian solo" album with him singing and playing everything and sounding less polished.

But the trajectory you describe above (new album, TV appearances, no radio airplay, new album songs dropped from the setlist by the next tour, etc.) is common for people from Brian's era who are still putting new stuff out. The same thing is true of McCartney. That type of typical trajectory for a new album project is going to be true regardless of the quality of a Brian album or whether he does it totally "pure" with nobody else's input, or if he has a producer he's working with. Unless he had some sort of Johnny Cash/Rick Rubin sort of career resurgence and reinvention anyway.

In some cases, it's a choice between what product we get, and nothing. McCartney's solo albums have been spotty, but I go with it, because I think the point is to keep creating. Some stuff is more self-indulgent (McCartney's "Fireman" stuff, the classical pieces, techno/dance remixes, etc.), other stuff is a bit rote, some has a stronger producer hand (Nigel Godrich). Same with Brian. The Gershwin thing was a pet project of his. The Disney thing was more cookie cutter. TLOS had a strong stamp of a co-writer that didn't sound very Brian-like to me. "Smile" was obviously very Brian, albeit in a 2000s context. Live albums, live DVDs and Blurays. NPP is an odd duck a bit, a lot of different stuff going on. But he's still creating, and I think *that* part of it is still good.

Maybe nobody around Brian thinks a "solo Brian at a piano" album (or some other wholly Brian project with no other strong hand) is a good idea, I don't know. But I don't think Brian is strongly inclined to do something like that either. I think he likes and wants the collaborators (whether writing or producing or whatever) around him, so that's the product we're going to get.

I certainly hope Brian's agent and Brian himself come around to doing a super quirky, stripped-down, "all-Brian" project, though. I'd be happy with even a "Hotel Tape" sort of scenario, just perhaps more formed and structured (and obviously without other guys there). I'd love to see him just pick out a dozen songs, play them on piano a bunch of times by himself, and put that out. New songs, covers, whatever.