Keepin' The Summer Alive

[Andrew G. Doe]

Endless Harmony - This song make me understand why people don't like Bruce. This composition and his rancid vocal style here are ultimate examples of mellow LA smooth wretchedness. The lyrics are so completely phony and bullmerda I can't believe they sang them with a straight face. My lord. Again, this type of attitude, this "Look how great we are" is what turned people off to the BB's, the macho "America's Band" bullmerda. "And we.." this, "And we..." that. You know what guys, you're washed up. Break up now.

All hail Denny for steering clear of this monstrosity. I'd take cocaine too. In fact, I need some after trying to listen to this album.

Heh. Guess which is the only released track from the sessions that Dennis appears on. 

[I. Spaceman]

I know.
 

[Rocker]

I think "Oh darlin'" is a absolutely fucking great song ! Only the sh*t production ruins it (and that imo is also a problem ith the rest of the album)

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

The alternate Oh Darlin is SO much better it's sad. As wonderful of a singer as Carl was, there were times where he'd sound so...I dunno...sleepy...on his vocals. This one, Full Sail, Going South, The Night was so young...I actually hate those leads.

[CosmicDancer]

I think Goin' On is a great song even if it isnt spectacular.  Some Of Your Love is harmless fun and I even kinda like Livin' With A Heartache for wahtever reason.  Other than that, complete sh*t!

[Lorenschwartz]

i once wrote a remake of "oh! darlin'", i titled it "oh, Jesus!"...Seriously!! 2001

[summerinparadise.flac]

This album is probably worth a 2. The title track, Livin' With Heartache and Going On are good and Santa Ana Winds is decent.
However, Endless Harmony is one of my most hated Beach Boys songs. I enjoy most Bruce songs, but come on, a song about "stripe shirt freedom, brave new heroes"? This is the kind of self referential stuff that can make it embarassing to be a Beach Boys fan.

[MBE]

It has grown on me but still kinda lame. Dennis should never have been barred from the sessions, but this is the last BB LP without synth overloads. KTSA is great hate Girls and Endless Harmony. Santa Ana is such a good song but Love's vocal on it is bad and the intro is funked up (but funny). I love the LA Light outake of it.

[the captain]

It has grown on me but still kinda lame.

You've got a gift for understatement. It is kinda lame like Pet Sounds is kinda good.

[Beach Boy]

Another great album, school days, keepin the summer alive, goin on, sunshine, some of your love, ...

wow, so many good songs

[adamghost]

One of the privileges of touring with Alan Boyd was I got to listen to his I-Pod one day in the back of the van.  There were several KTSA outtakes on there that were superior to what was on the album.  "Surfer Suzie" is a kickass track but too retro-surfer goofy for my taste (more than "Some of Your Love").  "I Will Always Love You" was a Carl-sung power ballad that, IMHO, they really should have put on there, because it sounds like a huge CHR hit circa 1980.  It would have been out of sync on the album -- but that's why.  And Brian's version of "Smoky Places" was fun a listen, and a good vocal from him.  I did not think that was true of "Oh!  Darling"  Yes, Brian's vocal had more of an edge to it, but the problem is the song just plods; it's dull as dishwater.

My take on KTSA; title track, Santa Ana Winds are great (I disagree that the L.A. version is better though the processing on Al's vocals very nearly ruins the KTSA version); Goin' On and Endless Harmony are good; Sunshine, Oh!  Darling and WGGT are atrocious.

[matt-zeus]

You must try and steal Alan Boyds i-pod next time you see him!

[Andrew G. Doe]

I thought the liners were pretty good, though. 

Seriously, I've a great fondness for "Santa Ana Winds" (and the 1978 lyric clunks like a clunky thing, so there), the title track and "Sum of Yor Lurrrrrrrrrrrrrrve". Otherwise...

Great BB mystery #52b - why in the name of God did anyone think that "When Girls Get Together" was worthy of audition, never mind inclusion.

[Jonas]

WGGT is a great track, a bit out of place, but still great nonetheless. Would've been much better back during the Sunflower era when it was originally worked on.

[Smilin Ed H]

And it has godawful sleeve art!

[pixletwin]

Great BB mystery #52b - why in the name of God did anyone think that "When Girls Get Together" was worthy of audition, never mind inclusion.

Wow! I thought "When Girls Get Together" is one of the greatest songwriting collaborations between Mike and Brian. Its so uncharacteristic of both of them and yet at the same time there is a strange SMiLE vibe to it.

I can't get enough of this song, personally. 

[Jay]

I think that it's really sad that the last album to feature Dennis on it turned out to be this mess. The title track, and Goin' On are the best songs on the album, and they were both much better in concert. The version of Oh Darlin' with Brian singing is better than what was used on the album, but that's not saying much.  When Girls Get Together is the worst piece of sh*t to ever have been associated with The Beach Boys in any way, shape or form. Words can not describe my hatred of it. 

[pixletwin]

Technically I don't believe Dennis was really on it. I guess that would really make the last "real" BB album L.A.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think Dennis was on KtSA, and if he was, his involvement was minimal.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Dennis played on two sessions for the album: one was the unreleased "Johnny B. Goode", the other was, believe it or not, "Endless Harmony".

[Sheriff John Stone]

Does anybody know why Dennis didn't participate in/contribute to Keepin' The Summer Alive?

[MBE]

He was kicked out of the group from June 79 to May 1980. I think a fan magazine said he played a couple of shows in 11-79 and he did show up for the one session at least. Steve Desper told me Dennis was in bad shape. That Dennis was even crying.

[Jay]

Was Dennis actually banned from being in the studio too, as well as in concerts?

[Beach Boy]

It's pretty interesting that Dennis played in early 1980 with them onstage.

http://members.tripod.com/~fun_fun_fun/1-16-80.html

[Aegir]

Actually, that says "Beach Boys probably present", which is just a guess.

[Beach Boy]

I can't  believe it too but everything is possible.