Gershwin Album

[Ganz Allein]

Your signature hurts my eyes.

His newish subtitle looks like "I steal from the rich and give to the poor Global Moderator"

[Bean Bag]

And I can't follow the logic in not being able to like Smile  or Love You and at the same time dislike GIOMH  or "Silent Night"

For me, it's the same guy...same creative source.  So that's my logic...but I can understand liking one over the other -- Love You, as you said, has an enthusiastic exuberance.  Love You also excels in having a more unified appeal (save Good Time).  But it's the same page or section in his journal at that time.  GIOMH is pages torn from different journals, so to speak.

But, I just cannot imagine disliking GIOMH...not if you're inclined to like albums like Love You.  It's Brian 15-25 years later...that's all.  I do wish it were more unified and not pieces of albums -- albums that should have been released in context at their time.

[Fall Breaks]

For me, it's the same guy...same creative source.  So that's my logic...but I can understand liking one over the other -- Love You, as you said, has an enthusiastic exuberance.  Love You also excels in having a more unified appeal (save Good Time).  But it's the same page or section in his journal at that time.  GIOMH is pages torn from different journals, so to speak.

Excellent description.

But, I just cannot imagine disliking GIOMH...not if you're inclined to like albums like Love You.  It's Brian 15-25 years later...that's all.  I do wish it were more unified and not pieces of albums -- albums that should have been released in context at their time.

Yes it's Brian 15-25 years later, (arguably) the same person who made Love You, and as I said, there's similarities. But while both LY and GIOMH both sound rushed, LY, to me, is good rushed while GIOMH only is rushed. And while, for example, "Roller Skating Child" is quirky and somewhat bizarre, "You've Touched Me" is just bland. I just can't like everything Brian has done just because I do like Love You.

Do you like "Just Say No" as well? (Serious question!) 

[Sheriff John Stone]

But, I just cannot imagine disliking GIOMH...not if you're inclined to like albums like Love You.  It's Brian 15-25 years later...that's all.

Yes it's Brian 15-25 years later, (arguably) the same person who made Love You, and as I said, there's similarities.

I don't think the Brian Wilson of 1976 is the same Brian Wilson of 2004, and I don't see many similarities either. Check out the Mike Douglas Show interview, conducted just a few months before Love You was recorded, and then check Brian's interviews in 2004.

The Brian Wilson in late 1976 was writing a lot of new songs, playing piano and bass in concert, was somewhat thoughtful in interviews, and was committed to The Beach Boys. Brian Wilson in 2004/today is, well, not doing those things.

[Fall Breaks]

But, I just cannot imagine disliking GIOMH...not if you're inclined to like albums like Love You.  It's Brian 15-25 years later...that's all.

Yes it's Brian 15-25 years later, (arguably) the same person who made Love You, and as I said, there's similarities.

I don't think the Brian Wilson of 1976 is the same Brian Wilson of 2004, and I don't see many similarities either. Check out the Mike Douglas Show interview, conducted just a few months before Love You was recorded, and then check Brian's interviews in 2004.

The Brian Wilson in late 1976 was writing a lot of new songs, playing piano and bass in concert, was somewhat thoughtful in interviews, and was committed to The Beach Boys. Brian Wilson in 2004/today is, well, not doing those things.

SJS, I know what you mean. Something with Brian was definitely lost during the second Landy spell. What I meant with similarities was between LY and GIOMH. The rushed, clunky sound (not the same clunky though; once again, LY is good clunky )... Hm, maybe that's all the similarities I can think of.

[Bean Bag]

I completely understand what you all are saying.  

Here's my secret.  I imagine "1977 Brian and the Boys" performing it.  I can hear which parts Dennis would do and which parts Carl would take.  And Mike (a la "Airplane") in there with Al takin' a lead or two.  Nicotine laced, mooged-up 1977 Beach Boys.

Less polish and more beards.  Minimal production -- maximum cocaine.  Seriously.  Try it with TLOS too.  You'll love these albums!

[Mr. Cohen]

I always thought "Good Kind of Love" would've fit perfectly on Love You with the right production. Put a moog bass on it and get that clunky Love You piano sound on there and you would think it was '77.

[Bean Bag]

That's what I'm talkin' about!

Just listening to "You've Touched Me" off of GIOMH, one of the aforementioned "bland" tracks off that record.  The fade...."touch me....touch me ...just touch me...Touch me my Girl!"  Totally here that funk on Love You.

Great stuff

[Mr. Cohen]

Again, we're on the same wavelength. I have a secret soft spot for "You've Touched Me". Yes, the performance is sloppy and the production could have been better in a few places, but it's a good Brian song. It's like a latter day "Friends". While it's not as good as that song from a writing perspective, saying a song it isn't as good as "Friends" isn't an insult in my book. The vocal arrangement of "Friends" would be hard for anyone to top.

[Fall Breaks]

Ok, that I can do. And understand. I practice the "imagination listening" technique myself - like picturing Carl singing "Live Let Live" for instance. Yes, that approach heightens the experience of GIOMH... (Mike singing "The Waltz"?) but it's also a bittersweet experience imagining all the could have been's.

[absinthe_boy]

But, I just cannot imagine disliking GIOMH...not if you're inclined to like albums like Love You.  It's Brian 15-25 years later...that's all.

Yes it's Brian 15-25 years later, (arguably) the same person who made Love You, and as I said, there's similarities.

I don't think the Brian Wilson of 1976 is the same Brian Wilson of 2004, and I don't see many similarities either. Check out the Mike Douglas Show interview, conducted just a few months before Love You was recorded, and then check Brian's interviews in 2004.

The Brian Wilson in late 1976 was writing a lot of new songs, playing piano and bass in concert, was somewhat thoughtful in interviews, and was committed to The Beach Boys. Brian Wilson in 2004/today is, well, not doing those things.

Ah but that's comparing one 1976 interview with 2004. There were some 2004 (and later) interviews where Brian is on good form, very open and communicitave.

Check out the VH1 Classic Special, he's clearly having fun being interviewed...isn't scared to criticise Mike Love and is joking with the interviewer and crew. Brian on a good day of course. Catch him on a bad day and you'll get little more than grunts.

That's manic depression for you.

[Mike's Beard]

This may sound horribly melodramatic but I sense something inside Brian died during the second Landy era.  Nowadays he just seems like a little kid trapped inside an old man's body, perfectly willing to be led by the hand into whatever musical ventre his management decrees.  I hope the Gershwin project is different in that the idea to do it came from Brian himself and it is something he truly wants to do.  If so that would be great ,if not it's BWPS all over again.  I am looking forward to it big time.

[Amy B.]

I don't think the Brian Wilson of 1976 is the same Brian Wilson of 2004, and I don't see many similarities either. Check out the Mike Douglas Show interview, conducted just a few months before Love You was recorded, and then check Brian's interviews in 2004.

The Brian Wilson in late 1976 was writing a lot of new songs, playing piano and bass in concert, was somewhat thoughtful in interviews, and was committed to The Beach Boys. Brian Wilson in 2004/today is, well, not doing those things.

It seems like Brian was high on something in the Douglas interview. He was talking about the evils of cocaine, but he seemed like he had some in his system! And we all know he's on mood-regulating drugs now, so that affects his ability to give interviews... but not all the time. Some of his modern interviews are good. And in a lot of the 70s footage of Brian in concert, he seems...not too happy. I don't think Brian is altogether happy now, but nor do I think he'd necessarily be better off if he could go back in time to 1976.

[Bean Bag]

Ok, that I can do. And understand. I practice the "imagination listening" technique myself - like picturing Carl singing "Live Let Live" for instance. Yes, that approach heightens the experience of GIOMH... (Mike singing "The Waltz"?) but it's also a bittersweet experience imagining all the could have been's.

I'm listening to "the Waltz" right now....I can hear them sharing the lead.  Dennis on "she had a body you'd kill for..."  And the "whoop doo-bee doop" vocals, I can totally hear that gruff vocal blend, a la "Sheeee's going to sleeeeep" from Love You's "I Wanna Pick You Up."

Yeah, it's very bittersweet, I hear ya.   

[Bean Bag]

This may sound horribly melodramatic but I sense something inside Brian died during the second Landy era.  Nowadays he just seems like a little kid trapped inside an old man's body, perfectly willing to be led by the hand into whatever musical ventre his management decrees.  I hope the Gershwin project is different in that the idea to do it came from Brian himself and it is something he truly wants to do.  If so that would be great ,if not it's BWPS all over again.  I am looking forward to it big time.

I used to feel that way too, but not anymore.  I think the "something died" in Brian long before the Landy era.  There's pre-SMiLE and post SMiLE Brian.  Pre-SMiLE is brilliant and driven...Post-SMiLE is brilliant and scared.  He's certainly morphed a bit over the years.  Emerging in the late 70s as the infamous "performing Teddy-bear" Brian, then into skinny fitness-Brian...but it's still the "brilliant and scared" Post-SMiLE Brian.

What seems to have changed with Brian since the 70s is this -- he's not left to wallow with his demons.  He's "cared for."  So he's not writing about himself as much.  Which stinks a little, suffering artist less-so.  I like songs about flickin' cigarette butts in the toilet, and telling himself he's not allowed to laugh...cuz that'll mean something if he does.     But I like songs about Saturday morning, smelling barbecue blow all over town too.

[Mike's Beard]

I know only his nearest and dearest can know for sure, but does anyone on the board think Brian still possesses the ability to look after himself or do they think if left to his own devices would he hit early 80's rock bottom again?

[Roger Ryan]

I know only his nearest and dearest can know for sure, but does anyone on the board think Brian still possesses the ability to look after himself or do they think if left to his own devices would he hit early 80's rock bottom again?

No idea how he would handle himself for a great length of time, but it's not like he's constantly monitored; he often dines alone or visits places on his own. Certainly back in '06, when Melinda was away from home, he would show up at Scott Bennett's apartment when the desire struck him to work on music.

[Andrew G. Doe]

I know only his nearest and dearest can know for sure, but does anyone on the board think Brian still possesses the ability to look after himself or do they think if left to his own devices would he hit early 80's rock bottom again?

My feeling is that Brian is capable of more than we give him credit for. When it suits. 

[Sheriff John Stone]

I am saying this, more thinking out loud than purposely criticizing Brian or judging him, but...

I think Brian ALWAYS needed someone to "monitor" him. Was he EVER a responsible person when it came to finances, his diet, his hygiene (post 1969), his marriage, his work habits (post 1964), and, most importantly, his abuse of drugs. From reading several books on Brian/The Beach Boys, it appears that Brian always had people doing things for him (because he wasn't capable?), and, when left TO HIS OWN DEVICES, he took drugs (for whatever reason you want to attach).

It's interesting that Brian NEEDED a conservator or a wife in his later life to keep him functioning appropriately. But, I wonder if Marilyn didn't marry him, or if Brian remained single, would've he needed a conservator when he was 24 years old?

[Fall Breaks]

I know only his nearest and dearest can know for sure, but does anyone on the board think Brian still possesses the ability to look after himself or do they think if left to his own devices would he hit early 80's rock bottom again?

No idea how he would handle himself for a great length of time, but it's not like he's constantly monitored; he often dines alone or visits places on his own. Certainly back in '06, when Melinda was away from home, he would show up at Scott Bennett's apartment when the desire struck him to work on music.

Although I haven't thought about it before, that does surprise me when I read about it. In a good way.

And that says a lot about the general picture of Brian these days, when fans (or at least one fan, me) gets pleasantly surprised reading that a grown man actually goes places on his own and eats dinner on his own sometimes. Gets you (or at least, again, me) thinking.

[The Heartical Don]

I know only his nearest and dearest can know for sure, but does anyone on the board think Brian still possesses the ability to look after himself or do they think if left to his own devices would he hit early 80's rock bottom again?

No idea how he would handle himself for a great length of time, but it's not like he's constantly monitored; he often dines alone or visits places on his own. Certainly back in '06, when Melinda was away from home, he would show up at Scott Bennett's apartment when the desire struck him to work on music.

Although I haven't thought about it before, that does surprise me when I read about it. In a good way.

And that says a lot about the general picture of Brian these days, when fans (or at least one fan, me) gets pleasantly surprised reading that a grown man actually goes places on his own and eats dinner on his own sometimes. Gets you (or at least, again, me) thinking.

Nice call. I'd say that there is a huge difference between a guy in his 30s, traumatized by child abuse, slowly nearing middle age, and under heavy pressure to deliver, and a 67-year old man, freed from bad psychological/pharmacological treatment, and being pretty much in a position where he can do what he wants to do and does not really have to fear judgment on his achievements any more. This makes it possible that he can enjoy a good fat hamburger every now and then (after all, a bit of a belly is fine at that age), and a beer, without relapsing into having to 'score' stuff. Perhaps he has the sensibility now that others, lucky to be mentally more stable in their prime, always had: one beer is fine, three or four will make me sleep not that well and will make me feel worse in the early morning.

Sort of contentment usually reserved for the elderly, to summarize. Should I have to choose between another SMiLE and a nervous Brian, and no SMiLE-like work but a stable and happy Brian, I would unconditionally opt for the latter. As would all sensible people.

[Mike's Beard]

I think the one positive aspect we can all agree on is he is  more comfortable 'being' "Brian Wilson".  He no longer wants to hide from the world it seems. And yes if Brian never recorded another note in his life but could have peace of mind I wouldn't complain.  He's already gave us so much.  Anything now is strictly a bonus.

[The Heartical Don]

I think the one positive aspect we can all agree on is he is  more comfortable 'being' "Brian Wilson".  He no longer wants to hide from the world it seems. And yes if Brian never recorded another note in his life but could have peace of mind I wouldn't complain.  He's already gave us so much.  Anything now is strictly a bonus.

My thoughts exactly. I watched with glee the interview on Grammy Night, he was so at ease, and Al in his vicinity... light years away from the guy under Landy's control, acting so stiff and tense because of bad overmedication and God knows what else.

[Andrew G. Doe]

I am saying this, more thinking out loud than purposely criticizing Brian or judging him, but...

I think Brian ALWAYS needed someone to "monitor" him. Was he EVER a responsible person when it came to finances, his diet, his hygiene (post 1969), his marriage, his work habits (post 1964), and, most importantly, his abuse of drugs. From reading several books on Brian/The Beach Boys, it appears that Brian always had people doing things for him (because he wasn't capable?)

Hey, if someone was quite willing to cook for me, run my errands, do my laundry, keep my finances in order and so on, hell, I wouldn't be dumb enough to say "no thanks".

[Rocker]

I think the one positive aspect we can all agree on is he is  more comfortable 'being' "Brian Wilson".  He no longer wants to hide from the world it seems. And yes if Brian never recorded another note in his life but could have peace of mind I wouldn't complain.  He's already gave us so much.  Anything now is strictly a bonus.

My thoughts exactly. I watched with glee the interview on Grammy Night, he was so at ease, and Al in his vicinity... l

You know when they first started to "hang out" together all of us were wondering about a reunion and there were enough rumourse out there. But it's been a while since we last heard such a rumour and that (as well as the Grammy-video) make me think that Brian and Al really are just....hanging out. No pressure, not for a special project or promotion. Just as friends. That would be cool because it'd mean that something that must've disturbed Brian for at least 12 years (his relationship with the Beach Boys) is mending and he therefor (and Al probably too) feels alot better about his past.... Just my opinion of course