Bad, but catchy

[Awesoman]

Right, those two tracks. In a previous draft of my post, I said "most of BB'85". Besides the two you mentioned, and perhaps I'm So Lonely, BB'85 was very "modern".

A better word to use: Adult contemporary!

[the captain]

Right, those two tracks. In a previous draft of my post, I said "most of BB'85". Besides the two you mentioned, and perhaps I'm So Lonely, BB'85 was very "modern".

A better word to use: Adult contemporary!

Better still: sh*t.

[Dave in KC]

Luther, I can't help but notice that you bash the 1985 album or SIP every chance you get, here, and over there too. Just wondering, do you have an axe to grind on this matter or don't you realize you've made your point? And made it to the point of exhaustion already. I know you're the author of 3,000 posts here, so we've got you marked down for someone with an extreme dislike for certain BB music. There are no bonus points for repetitiveness!

[the captain]

Your point is taken into consideration. I will not, however, refrain from posting whatever I want, in whatever thread I want. Nor will I comment when others do the same. Thanks.

[Surfer Joe]

Sheriff, I think you and I are very nearly on the same page here...I just keep going back to to Pacific Ocean Blue- a masterpiece that continues to grow steadily in stature, I think- and I play it for non-fans and they're just knocked on their ass by it- and it deepens the mystery that you speak of, why Brian couldn't get that kind of support around him to execute his still-brilliant ideas and fill in those gaps, those things he could no longer do.  Gregg Jacobson?  Tandyn Almer? The other fifty guys from "Sail On, Sailor"? Anyone!!!

Around the time of the 1988 solo album I used to make the observation that a lot of guys from Brian's generation had lost inspiration but still knew how to write a song.  (I won't cite the examples I used to give, because that would start a bunch of separate disputes).  Brian, to me, was the opposite- he seemed to remain as inspired as ever (until Sweet Insanity) but, in a way, had forgotten how to write a song. Or at least how to finish one.  If he'd been paired with any kind of a craftsman like he had so many earlier times the results would have still been amazing.  Even stuff like "Male Ego" has a great spark to it, in my opinion.  But instead of what he needed he was given Landy and his girlfriend, or left on his own. I'm still very thankful for the results, such as they are.

TonyW, you mention "Solar System"- I love it despite those lyrics.  I just listen to the beauty of it and tune out the insanity...

Last note on the Elvis parallel- despite my comments on his movie songs, I think I have almost all the soundtracks.  I used to work on an ABC  show called "The Critic" (later on Fox?  Don't remember for sure) and every day at five P.M. I'd blast a different bad Elvis movie song throughout the studio at top volume while people covered their ears and threw stuff at me.

[MBE]

Fair enough then, that's better than I (mis)remembered.  I still think the Elvis that deserves to be etched in history is the '56 model, but he certainly did some more than worthy stuff much later. I LOVE Elvis in the "Harum Scarum" get up, but wouldn't have wanted him in that turban on a stamp.

The general point, though- (wait, what was my point?)- I guess it was that (as with Brian) a lot of people find great value in what I consider his downfall.  Doesn't make me right or wrong, but if I see a '76 performance or something, I'm looking for some trace of his former greatness, and it's often still there. I hope he'll maintain some dignity.  I often get the idea that other people- real legitimate fans- are watching the chins jiggle or praying that he'll strike a karate pose or forget the words to "Are You Lonesome Tonight" just one more time. O.K., I laugh at that stuff, too. I love the movies, because I accepted a long time ago that that's the way things went and nothing's going to change that- and because there were still very bright spots ahead for him- as with Brian.

And if I couldn't laugh about "Johnny Carson" and so forth I guess I'd have to turn in my striped shirt or something, but it's a painful laugh for me, maybe because I have such a misplaced sense of dignity- especially where my heroes are concerned.  ("Say Say Say" and "Ebony And Ivory" were just agony for me). A great BW melody with Landy's-girlfriend lyrics will always be problematic for me, because there are only going to be so many great BW melodies in this life...the good ones are rare gems.  To me they all deserve Tony Asher or Van Dyke or one of Mike's many great efforts...

Sorry for the long-windedness.

Ok I understand what you mean better, I guess you can look at many things different. 1977 wasn't Elvis' prime nor was it Brian's but I find that people look at them and put the decline at far too early of a date.

[Dancing Bear]

Sheriff, I think you and I are very nearly on the same page here...I just keep going back to to Pacific Ocean Blue- a masterpiece that continues to grow steadily in stature, I think- and I play it for non-fans and they're just knocked on their ass by it- and it deepens the mystery that you speak of, why Brian couldn't get that kind of support around him to execute his still-brilliant ideas and fill in those gaps, those things he could no longer do.  Gregg Jacobson?  Tandyn Almer? The other fifty guys from "Sail On, Sailor"? Anyone!!!

What do you do when Brian Wilson shows up in late '76 with a bunch of new songs and is willing to lead the production like in the old days? You can almost hear the Beach Boys walking over eggshells around Brian.

How to 'support' Brian after 1968 was always a very difficult task. What if you proppose a change in the lyrics and he gives up recording for the next six months?

[lance]

Number One on my list is Goin' On.

Now, before someone jumps on me, I LOVE the melody AND the lyrics of that song. But the instrumental break(sax solo, nostalgo-doowop vocals) just ruins it for me. What's interesting is the production is so RIGHT: IF you're going for a nostalgic cheesey adult contemporary vibe, it NAILS that.
Problem is, I don't think that's what the song is about. The production/arrangement is totally wrong.

But the melody is so strong that for me it just manages to overcome that.

Other songs on the list: I Want to Pick You Up--great melody, cool arrangement, very unusual vibe. But I can't play it for anybody. Everyone's pretty much creeped out by it.

Everybody's in Love With You--so sickly sweet...but I still, you know, once in a while...

Again, I don't want to piss anybody off: but Be True to Your School. I mean, as a sociological study of American jock culture it's interesting, but otherwise I cringe. I just don't relate. Damn it, though, it rocks.

To be honest, the Beach Boys really do have a ton of "bad but catchy songs." The list could go on and on and on.

Sumahama, Lady Lynda, that Our TEam song...