Current Record Collector-issue

[Amy B.]

Regarding Mike's comments...

My take on it is that Mike rarely (if ever) can give an opinion without mentioning some sort of indifference "he" had with it (either POB, Smile, GIOMH, BW88 etc) or how he would have done it differently, or some sort of shortcoming.....unless he had direct involvement (i.e. Warmth of The Sun, Kokomo, and Endless Summer).  He always seems to have a wall up where he can't hide his feelings (JEALOUSY).  I do understand how he must feel, and sometimes feel he is crapped on unnecessarily, but here he should have been bigger than that and said something like...."I think Dennis was a great song writer and this album reflects that. He had a big heart that is obviously reflected in his songs and his arrangements.....I am extremely happy for him and his family for this success and wish it would have happened sooner...." or something like that.  He should be blown away and happy for his cousin, instead he points out Dennis's shortcomings as a song writer. 

Even if you don't want to come off this way, or don't necessarily feel all of that, its the "classy" thing to do. 

Yes, exactly. I don't have the article, but if this is some kind of tribute to Dennis, you don't pay tribute to someone by saying, "Well, he was good, but he had his shortcomings! But that's just my opinion. You know, I never really got what he was doing." If you don't "feel" his music, say, "You know, a lot of people were affected by his music," or "He used his music to express himself, and a lot of people thought it was beautiful," or something like that. I mean, he was your cousin, you knew him since birth, basically... you really don't understand at all where he was coming from? He did get the feelings thing right, though.

[the captain]

I don't know, while I agree the comments weren't exactly glowing, I've heard worse from both Mr. Love and Mr. Johnston. I guess, frankly, their responses were exactly what I'd have guessed them to be. It's kind of funny to see people seemingly shocked / upset every time they make such comments. It happens every time they make comments. It's not a big deal; it's just who they are, obviously.

[Pretty Funky]

I'm pleased to see at least Mike has heard it!
Remember he claimed he never read the Wilson (Landy) book or heard Brians SMiLE.

I think artists are under a bit of pressure to add a bit of meat to their quotes. Give a album to anyone on the street to listen to and they may say they like it or not and we leave it at that. However just because they are 'in the biz' a one line quote is deemed unacceptable.

Had Mike just said 'it's not my style' he would probably be taken to task here for being jealous and dismissive. 

[Aegir]

I'm pretty sure the quotes are from archival interviews where they were asked to give their opinion on Dennis's music, and they aren't directly speaking on the POB re-release.

[TdHabib]

No disprespect to Mike, but when I know Dr. Love is going to speak on a particular subject (SMile, Brian's mental problems, Dennis...etc.), I close my ears because I know that a) slightly arrogant and/or b) ruffle me, along with other people's, feathers...

[Sheriff John Stone]

shelter, I re-read Mike's comments to see what you were referring to, and I don't understand your post. I will take it one sentence at a time:

Musically, he had a style of writing, which was very emotional and a bit more melancholy. And, of course, me being Mister Optimism, I wouldn’t say I could relate to all those things.
Didn't he say the same thing about Brian's music on the Endless Harmony DVD? And saying you can't relate to melancholic music because you're 'Mister Optimism', that's just absurd.

I don't think it is absurd; it is his honest opinion. I understand his point, and it's a valid point.

Before I get hammered, let me say that I love - LOVE - Pacific Ocean Blue. It is easily the best Beach Boy's solo album, with Carl's Youngblood a distant second. I have enjoyed POB immensely for 31 years; I purchased it it 1977 on the day it came out. But it is melancholy. The songs (and the lyrics) are mostly melancholy. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I like melancholy songs - see Brian Wilson, The Doors, some Dylan, Lou Reed, etc.

Dennis, like Brian, could make being sad sound like fun, or at least fun to listen to. But, there are some people who don't care for that stuff. It's a downer for them. I know some people like that. I have played POB for them several times over the years and they are turned off by the fading memories, loving someone in another way, love coming and going again, whale killing, saying farewell to a friend, and the end of the show. It's over!

Oh, I can't get enough of the stuff. I like to "feel" when I'm listening to music. I enjoyed suffering with Dennis. Hell, sometimes I thought I missed Karen Lamm-Wilson as much as he did! But, some people - like Mike Love - JUST DON'T RELATE TO IT.....

[MBE]

Yeah that Mike quote sound like the one from the 1992 Goldmine. Perhaps he just repeats himself if not. As far as what he said, he can say whatever he wants. If he started talking some PR bullmerda it would be false. I don't agree with him on many things, but he has the right to say them.

[Howie Edelson]

I did an extensive two-hour interview with Bruce a couple of years back which spanned the group's entire history. He had zero recollection of appearing on POB, and told me that I would know more about it than he would.

I believe the term he used for people like me/us whose interests lie beyond the current county fair circuit, striped and/or Hawaiian shirts was "five-percenters."

He remembers everything about jamming with Phil Spector in 1958.

[Dancing Bear]

Mike and Bruce's quotes are ok, they're entitled to have an opinion. What Sheriff John Stone said.

[Mr. Wilson]

5 percenter"s......The man doesnt know his OWN audience..!! All ya get at county fairs in this day + age is looky loos + free seater"s...JEEZ.. I went to a Mike + Bruce show in Bonnelli Park Ca..Near Pomona ca.. REALLY OLD CROWD..!1 wheelchairs + people that  had NEVER seen the BB in their prime..lots of LOWRIDER latino"s..That wouldnt buy a BB cd if their life depended on it..It was a lethargic crowd of OLD Farts...And i am one myself....The band played lethargic + uninspired.. This was summer 2002..Ive seen them since in a small place and they were better but still...Not quite there.. And the so called 5 percenter"s..Made Disney Girls a CLASSIC...I think its way above 5%...MOST people who go to BW show"s + BB small shows..Are the HARD CORE FANS..... Im sick of BJ pandering to the lowest common denominator of fans...Wish we In USA..Got the same kinda shows..England got this year..that would be an event..Id even GO...!!

[shelter]

I believe the term he used for people like me/us whose interests lie beyond the current county fair circuit, striped and/or Hawaiian shirts was "five-percenters."

I wonder if mr. Johnston realizes that he probably owes a bigger percentage of his income to the 'five-percenters' than to the other 95%... Most of whom probably only have a greatest hits comp and maybe a copy of Pet Sounds.

[Dancing Bear]

Whoever read Mr. Johnston exchanging jabs in the Male Ego Board knows the guy has a weird sense of humour. I say, bring it on!

[Amy B.]

I did an extensive two-hour interview with Bruce a couple of years back which spanned the group's entire history. He had zero recollection of appearing on POB, and told me that I would know more about it than he would.

Really? Because in the POB liner notes, it says, "God Bless You, Bruce." I assume that's Dennis's thank you to Bruce Johnston? And if so, it must have been a big deal for Bruce to be on the album (he didn't say "God Bless You" to anyone else).

[Jon Stebbins]

I did an extensive two-hour interview with Bruce a couple of years back which spanned the group's entire history. He had zero recollection of appearing on POB, and told me that I would know more about it than he would.

Really? Because in the POB liner notes, it says, "God Bless You, Bruce." I assume that's Dennis's thank you to Bruce Johnston? And if so, it must have been a big deal for Bruce to be on the album (he didn't say "God Bless You" to anyone else).

Howie is right...Bruce hasn't been complimentary towards POB. He will say he thinks DW sang great on Angel Come Home... and how he taught him how to play the piano in Japan. The "God Bless You" is typical of Dennis being generous. Bruce was on one song, "End of the Show", and I guess it meant a lot to Dennis. Carl was on at least 4 or 5 tracks on POB but Dennis couldn't thank him because he was breaking a contractual rule by having Carl participate in the sessions.

[MBE]

Bruce coming back in 1978 helped the Beach Boys decline no question in my mind at all. He is square plain and simple. He did some nice songs his first run,  but when he came back he pushed them first into disco, then into the county fair crowd he loves so much. Yet I will say they have done good shows in the USA recently. I just would avoid an outdoor show like the plauge.
http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,3688.0.html
Here is a review of the best show that Mike and Bruce probably ever did Stateside. I will say Bruce seemed to be the only one who kept pushing people to dance and throw beach balls and crap. Mike and rest seemed to understand that they were playing music that deserved to be listened to.

[Sheriff John Stone]

Bruce Johnston knows exactly what sessions he played/sang on. Who is he trying to kid. Like I said in an earlier post, Bruce, Brian, and Al have given some of the loopiest interviews, containing some of the most illogical comments I have ever read. And the reason is simple - politics. Group politics. Those guys - and I will include Mike Love in this - don't know from day to day, week to week, whose side they want to be on. They are afraid of pissing so and so off, wanting to work with so and so, wanting to be in a group with so and so, and, after awhile, they don't even know how they  HONESTLY feel anymore. Also like I said, Mike's interviews, while too self-centered, seem to make the most sense. The others, I take with a grain of salt - unless they get my blood pressure too high!  

[MBE]

Like him or not Love is consistent.

[TdHabib]

Like him or not Love is consistent.

I still get peeved at things Love says, but I'm gradually become more lenient of Mike and disliking/hating Bruce more and more these days. The days of the arty, Brian loving man worshiping at the alter of Pet Sounds and giving Dennis credibility have faded into the sunset. I understand he has more money than any person needs, doesn't need to tour and could be on any side he wants. Why he's on Mike's camp, why he is giving digs to Brian now and then and why he's putting Dennis' work down is behind me. Maybe he needs to take a few weeks off of the road, sit back in an easy chair and listen to Sunflower, and remember the old days where he was Brian's pal and wrote "Deirdre." Till then I'm just a dreamer.

[MBE]

I guess that's how most feel once they learn more about Mike and Bruce. Mike surprises you because he's not nearly as bad as him image, but Bruce seems truly like he has a split personality. I don't mean that unkindly, but that's what I observe.