Beach Boys History - Is It Relevant?

[mikeyj]

mikeyj, I don't think I'm making my point clear, and I have to take responsibility for that. What I'm saying is that I don't think anybody told Brian what to and what not to WRITE. I think he had complete freedom to go into the studio AT ANY TIME and record ANYTHING he wanted. Actually, I think they all would've been thrilled if he did that. I don't think there was anyone in the group/family/record company who was saying, "No Brian, you can't write that. You should be writing this". I think people were/are too afraid of Brian to do that. They might "monitor" his producing, talk him into doing another vocal take, of course write words for him, and suggest ideas/subject matter for songs. But when Brian has an idea for a song, I think everybody keeps their distance and lets him go. And that's how it should be.

Now, as far as those songs you mentioned above, not to sound SMiLE-like, but obviously HE GOT THE SONGS DONE. If you're talking about getting the songs released, that's a different animal. Brian and the Beach Boys have been getting songs and albums rejected since Sunflower! But, Brian had the idea to do these "Big band" songs, he wrote them, and he went into the studio and recorded them. Nobody said, "No, Brian, you can't do that". The record company (rightfully, in my opinion) rejected them. That's what I'm talking about when I mentioned Brian's producing being called into question. Those songs were hurtin' production-wise.

I recently read on this board that Mike Love didn't approve of the Big Band songs. I never heard that before. Not saying its not true, just never heard it. And, like I mentioned, Brian recorded them anyway.

Okay Sheriff, I see what you're saying. Sorry about the confusion!! I agree with most of what you said though. As for Mike not approving the big band songs, well I don't know what/who to believe anymore!! I do remember reading it somewhere in a book (not that that means anything), just can't remember which one.

[MBE]

Mike was away when he recorded those Adult Child Big Band songs, and it was a 1988 Brian interview (don't remember which one) where I read him saying that Mike thought he was f---ing around. I assume Mike was turned off most by Life Is For The Living as it is kind of crazy. The only other song I know of that Mike didn't like was Old Man River, and I think it was mainly because Brian kept working on it obsessively. In that case I bet Mike  wanted to do of Brian's new songs instead. Remember he was still writing a lot through 1970.

[Dancing Bear]

As for the Big Band songs, I think I initially read that Mike didn't like them in the Carlin book, and it makes sense.  Stuff like "It's Over Now" and "Still I Dream of It" were pretty depressing, even by Brian's standards.  Mike probably felt that they were just more of what he liked to call Brian's "ego music".  The fact that they had zero commercial appeal probably didn't help matters either. 

ION and SIDOI were far from the worst offenders in the track list, if you analyse the album through a 1977 commercial viability filter. In the inner politics situation of mid-late '77, I can see how "Adult Child" might have been vetoed by Mike'n'Al. But we shouldn't discard the notion of Warner shouting "What the F*ck?!?" while listening to the master.

[MBE]

Mike may have had doubts but I think it was Warner's who ultimately decided it would not come out.

[petsite]

I am glad this thread sparked some great comments. I remember listing to our TOP 40 station here in Houston when LOVE YOU was released. The disc jockey had been a friend of Brian's in  LA before coming here so he loved the music. So what track did he play to listeners on his big Friday night show? "Lets Put Our Hearts Together". The guy loved the track. And the listeners called in complaining about who the f was that? He would go on to play it over the next couple of weeks until management told him to stop. But the guy introduced me to Brian and I will always be grateful.

I only wish that the love Brian has from fans today (read younger) was there in the 1970's. It sure was lonely back then!

Bob

[Sam_BFC]

back in 1985 SWD was adamant that the original lyrics - which were taped over - were significantly different and, as he said "much better".

Is that just referring to the lyrics at the end of the verses or the entire thing?...what could be better than 'I'm a cork on the ocean'??

[Andrew G. Doe]

The whole thing, was my impression.

[Sam_BFC]

Wow don't supppose we'll ever know what they were...just like we'll never hear how Surf's Up part II sounded at the original SMiLE sessions...or what the vocal sessions for Look/I Ran entailed.

Thanks Mr Doe.

[Ian]

I think it has to be stated though-that is a subjective opinion.  I happen to think, and many agree, the song is pretty perfect as is. My opinion though is irrelevant.  Steve Desper is a supremely talented engineer-but I don't think he'd suggest that he is a talented songwriter. It's irrelevant what his opinion is about song lyrics.  Brian wrote it and if he likes the other lyrics, who is really qualified to second guess him.  Even Carl-with all due respects to his vocal talents, never matched Brian's songwriting ability-nor did he ever suggest that he did. So is Carl's opinion worth more than Brians either?  Brian may have had personal problems at the time-but he was still quite capable of being in sound mind about what was good.

[Roger Ryan]

Exactly. If "'Til I Die" contained lines like "I have a friend named Bob; he has a job", I would be mourning the so-called "better" lyrics. But the lyrics to the released version of "Til I Die" are the best Brian ever wrote on his own and are among the best lyrics the Beach Boys ever vocalized in my opinion. Perfection, really, in terms of consistency of metaphor and theme.

[Amy B.]

Can you get much better than, "I'm a cork on the ocean, floating over the raging sea"? Not in my opinion.