Beach Boys Mythbusters

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

THE place to debunk old BB myths. If this goes the way I expect it to, I may sticky it. In this thread, let's gather all of the misconceptions and such about the BB/BW, and the actual factual information that discredits them. This is perfect for both newbies and long term fans who, well, just didn't know.

I'll start...

Myth: Little Red Book was recorded during the SMiLE sessions.
Fact: In actuality, LRB was recorded in 1968. The multitrack master is on a "Friends" album project reel from 1968. Confirmed by Alan Boyd.

[MBE]

Myth: Brian stayed in bed for three years.
Fact he continued to record and produce sporadically and left the house semi regularly.

[mikeyj]

Myth: Brian stayed in bed for three years.

On the back of my copy of Heroes & Villains it says, "Brian Wilson: the man who stayed in bed for twenty years."

[Magic Transistor Radio]

The Beach Boys never existed. Everyone on this board is part of a mass experiment for the mentally insane. It is all in your head, sonny!

[Wrightfan]

Myth: Mike Love alone killed SMiLE
Fact: It's MUCH more complicated then that.

[Wirestone]

Myth: There was such an album as "Remember the Zoo."
Fact: No there wasn't.

[Jon Stebbins]

Myth - Hal Blaine played drums on all the Beach Boys hits
Fact - Dennis Wilson played the drums on...
Surfin Safari
409
Shut Down
Surfer Girl
Catch A Wave
Hawaii
Little Deuce Coupe
In My Room
Fun Fun Fun(partial)
Don't Worry Baby
I Get Around
Wendy
Little Honda
When I Grow Up To Be A Man
Dance Dance Dance
Then I Kissed Her
You're So Good To Me
Wild Honey
Do It Again(basic)
I Can Hear Music
Student Demonstration Time
Rock and Roll Music
Its OK(partial)
Honkin' Down The Highway
Good Timin'

And many many many many more....

[TdHabib]

Maybe it's a mis-fact but it could fit in...

Myth (widely-spread): "Breakaway" was the final Capitol single
Fact: the second version of "Cottonfields" was actually their last Capitol single of their first signing

[Andrew G. Doe]

Myth: "Sloop John B" was included on Pet Sounds against Brian's wishes as it was the current hit single.
Fact: #1 - "SJB" is included on an early track list Brian handed to Capitol in mid-February. It was his idea.
         #2 - Pet Sounds was mastered April 16th, at which point the single was #13... but when the album was compiled a few days earlier, it
                 was only #35. So unless someone was psychic in the Tower... 

[Wirestone]

Myth: Brian retreated from the studio and his guiding producer role the instant Smile was shelved.
Fact: Despite the Beach Boys production credits, Brian was the main influence on the three immediate follow-up albums: Smiley Smile, Wild Honey and Friends.

(Folks on the board know this, I think, but the world as a whole sure doesn't.)

[DonnaK]

Happened to find this old postcard online while looking for something completely different....the card has Brian drowning instead of Dennis, they worded it drawned....take a look see.

http://www.cardcow.com/150038/the-beach-boys-ronald-reagan-presidents-ronald-reagan/

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

TY for that list, Jon...I didn't know Dennis drummed on I Can Hear Music or Good Timin'.

[Pretty Funky]

Myth: 'Kokomo' would have been bigger than 'Good Vibrations' with or without it being included in 'Cocktail'
Fact:

[Wirestone]

Myth: Brian worked with Mike Love as his exclusive lyricist until Tony Asher came on the scene.
Fact: Multiple talented creators -- Gary Usher, Roger Christian, Jan Berry -- worked with Brian on early BB records and outside projects. Mike was never exclusive.

Myth: Mike contributed only fun and sun lyrics.
Fact: Mike not only wrote the trippy words to Good Vibrations (one of his finest moments as a wordsmith), but he contributed much lyrically to Today! and Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!), which include some of Brian's most yearning pre-PS work.

[A Million Units In Jan!]

Myth: Brian cancelled a session in May that was to be the final mixing session for SMiLE.

Fact: There is NO proof that this session was intended for any mixing at all.

[punkinhead]

Myth: 1976- Brian's Back
Fact: "no he's not" said little Nicola

[Magic Transistor Radio]

Myth: Dennis had no musical talent
Fact: Dennis was a genius in his own right

Myth: Dennis abused substances pretty much from Charles Manson years to his death.
Fact: Dennis was clean from 1973 - 1976. Probably off and on from 1969 -1973 (?)

[Magic Transistor Radio]

Myth: 1976- Brian's Back
Fact: "no he's not" said little Nicola

Myth: I am the walrus
Fact: The walrus was Paul

[punkinhead]

that he was   

[urbanite]

Fact:  Mike was the big stud of the group with the ladies.

[mtaber]

Myth: Dennis would sleep with any female with a pulse.

Fact: Well, they say every myth is based on fact...

[Pretty Funky]

Myth: Dennis would sleep with any female with a pulse.

Fact 2: There was not a lot of sleeping!

[The Shift]

Happened to find this old postcard online while looking for something completely different....the card has Brian drowning instead of Dennis, they worded it drawned....take a look see.
http://www.cardcow.com/150038/the-beach-boys-ronald-reagan-presidents-ronald-reagan/

Myth: "The Three Wilson brothers, together for the first time in years, were welcoming Brian Wilson back to the group after a long hiatus. Sadly, he soon was drawned at a California beach similar to the places he had won his fame with car and surf oldies."

Fact: not only was it Dennis who drowned, but he didn't drown on a beach.
Fact: At the time Brian won his fame, those "car and surf oldies" (cos all his car songs revolved around the beach, right?) were actually newies.
FAct: Mike & Bruce are the ones whose fame still revolves around oldies.


Sorry... busy day at the office.

[lupinofan]

Happened to find this old postcard online while looking for something completely different....the card has Brian drowning instead of Dennis, they worded it drawned....take a look see.

http://www.cardcow.com/150038/the-beach-boys-ronald-reagan-presidents-ronald-reagan/

I've got a Readers' Digest various artists box set which includes "Fun, Fun, Fun," the potted biog to which says that CARL drowned in 1983. It was issued years before Carl really died.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Myth: Brian sang God Only Knows on the outtake on the Pet Sounds Box Set.
Fact: It was a mistake, much like Brian singing Be Here In There Morning and that Daddy Dear song.