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Poll
Question: Rate Wouldn't It Be Nice?: My Own Story
5 - 9 (19.1%)
4 - 2 (4.3%)
3 - 8 (17%)
2 - 5 (10.6%)
1 - 6 (12.8%)
0 - 17 (36.2%)
Total Voters: 38

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Author Topic: Wouldn't It Be Nice?: My Own Story  (Read 52410 times)
Charles LePage @ ComicList
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« on: February 20, 2006, 07:27:04 PM »

Discuss, review and rate Wouldn't It Be Nice?: My Own Story, released October 1, 1991.

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Bubba Ho-Tep
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« Reply #1 on: February 21, 2006, 09:35:31 AM »

I like it.

Sure, it's twisted, but you do get some great anecdotes, hopefully some of which are true. My favorite part is Brian's overnight trek through the wilderness. I thought the weightloss portion of the book was very motivational and inspirational, but the overall angry tone of the book is a turn off, and the Landy worshipping plain creepy.
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artie
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« Reply #2 on: February 21, 2006, 09:57:38 AM »

It is my understanding that Brian did not write word-one of this; it was all done by Landy with Todd Gold. Hence the creepiness and Landy worship.

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Emdeeh
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« Reply #3 on: February 21, 2006, 10:20:30 AM »

That book is BOGUS!
« Last Edit: February 21, 2006, 02:23:06 PM by Emdeeh » Logged
Jason
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« Reply #4 on: February 21, 2006, 11:04:54 AM »

This book is an embarassment in every possible way. Brian's human, but he's not capable of that kind of hatred.
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I. Spaceman
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« Reply #5 on: February 21, 2006, 11:21:23 AM »

A lot of it is from Brian, if you consider stories told by him to Gold.
The Stones and Elvis anecdotes are him, for sure.
But other stories, such as the Alice/Iggy story, are from Danny Hutton.
And other stories are from other people, all mashed together into Brian's "voice".
From Landy's entrance in, it's pretty much all by Landy, though.
Plenty of bad info cribbed unashamedly from other books.
Still an essential read.
2 and a half.
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Reverend Joshua Sloane
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« Reply #6 on: February 21, 2006, 12:08:21 PM »

I've been trying to find a copy for entertainments sake.
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Mark A. Moore
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« Reply #7 on: February 21, 2006, 01:12:53 PM »

Brian's personal obersations, in this book, about Jan Berry in the studio, are very revealing.

1. The connection through Lou Adler has been affirmed by Lou . . . to me, and to other interviewers.

2. Brian makes a few powerful statements about Jan as a producer . . . and when you add those to what Brian said about Jan, on the record, in 2002 . . . it helps affirm that not all details of Wouldn't It Be Nice are bunk.

In 2002, Brian acknowledged that Jan Berry was the one who taught him how to cut cleaner backing tracks in the studio . . . which is a nice tag to what he says in WIBN.

Because of the Landy situation . . . the co-writer situation with Gold . . . and all of the acrimony surrounding the group . . . people just tend to write the whole thing off. But there is some very useful and accurate information in that book (along with all the bad stuff). Depends what you're looking for.

M.



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scooter
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« Reply #8 on: February 23, 2006, 04:04:56 AM »

the definitive Brian Wilson bio has yet to be written, and WIBN is not it.
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Sir Rob
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« Reply #9 on: February 23, 2006, 04:14:48 AM »

Funny how some people who attack this book are nevertheless all to eager believe the parts of it which suit their own agenda.  The bit about Brian trying give Carnie and Wendy heroin for instance.
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Andrew G. Doe
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« Reply #10 on: February 23, 2006, 05:08:52 AM »

Funny how some people who attack this book are nevertheless all to eager believe the parts of it which suit their own agenda.  The bit about Brian trying give Carnie and Wendy heroin for instance.

Maybe they believe those parts because they're confirmed by other sources ?
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Mitchell
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« Reply #11 on: February 23, 2006, 05:33:09 AM »

I actually enjoyed reading this book. I took it all with a grain of salt, and it's a shame that Brian didn't write it, but I loved reading about his experiences growing up and being anxious around girls (and eventually courting the Rovells) and all that.
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« Reply #12 on: February 23, 2006, 05:36:34 AM »

I think the book is useful up to the point where it obviously becomes an informercial for Gene Landy.
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Sir Rob
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« Reply #13 on: February 23, 2006, 06:13:41 AM »

Funny how some people who attack this book are nevertheless all to eager believe the parts of it which suit their own agenda.  The bit about Brian trying give Carnie and Wendy heroin for instance.

Maybe they believe those parts because they're confirmed by other sources ?

Yes, but I'm pretty sure (not having the thing open before me, you understand) there are other parts confirmed by other sources that they're not so willing to believe.
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RobtheNobleSurfer
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« Reply #14 on: February 23, 2006, 01:47:01 PM »

Mark Moore and Pirate probably have the most balanced view of the "auto"bio.

Yes, he didn't actually write it , but guess what folks? No celeb actually writes their own autobiography! That's why you always a second author credited!

I used to be among those who dismissed this book outright, until I actually re-read it.  Gold does try to write it in Brian's voice (if not his verbiage) up to about 1976, and then he writes it in Landy's voice.  And although Gold plaguarizes Steven Gaine's reporting in H & V (is Gaines the only person who DIDN'T sue over WIBN?), there are some things that could have only come from Brian - particularly the SMiLE-era. Listen to BWPS, Maybe Brian was trying to communicate what his initial artistic intentions were when describing his LSD flashbacks?

If you're a newbie and you find this book, get it, read it, and decide for yourself how much is true and how much of it isn't.
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Andrew G. Doe
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« Reply #15 on: February 24, 2006, 10:39:27 PM »

1, Brian has stated under other in court that his only involvement was to "drop off a bunch of tapes" to Gold. I'm reliably informed that in those tapes, the majority of Brian's answers were "yes", "no" or "I don't remember". Gold himself admitted as mich on a Billboard article.

2. Gold stole large chunks of the Gaines and Leaf books and put the words of others into Brian's mouth. He then justified it by saying he had to flesh out Brian's sometimes terse responses.
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XY
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« Reply #16 on: February 25, 2006, 12:08:02 AM »

The most entertaining BB book out there. 5 stars.
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runalot
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« Reply #17 on: February 26, 2006, 10:47:40 PM »

Quote
I've been trying to find a copy for entertainments sake.

Got mine used of amazon.com for like $12 total.

it was a good read and I wasn't even aware of the ghostwriting and "lies" until after. Still, a great 'n sad time while reading it.

7/10

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runalot
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« Reply #18 on: February 26, 2006, 10:49:46 PM »

Quote
I've been trying to find a copy for entertainments sake.

Got mine used of amazon.com for like $12 total.

it was a good read and I wasn't even aware of the ghostwriting and "lies" until after. Still, a great 'n sad time while reading it. I like some of the early 1980's rare photos that I'm sure the Beach Boy estates wants to keep hidden forever (a la '77 Elvis)... Brian was a big wreck to look at.

Landy, love him or hate him, saved his life. I think there's more reason to appreciate Landy than hate him.

7/10

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RobtheNobleSurfer
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« Reply #19 on: February 27, 2006, 01:46:27 PM »

1, Brian has stated under other in court that his only involvement was to "drop off a bunch of tapes" to Gold. I'm reliably informed that in those tapes, the majority of Brian's answers were "yes", "no" or "I don't remember". Gold himself admitted as mich on a Billboard article.

2. Gold stole large chunks of the Gaines and Leaf books and put the words of others into Brian's mouth. He then justified it by saying he had to flesh out Brian's sometimes terse responses.

Then what did he use to flesh out Brian's reluctant responses? I agree that Gaines and Leaf were heavily plaguirized, but  the SMiLE chapter, especially when LSD trips are described seem like they could have come from Brian.  Did Tood Gold interview anyone else for the book and if so would he have filled in the gaps with, say Danny Hutton's recollections?
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shelter
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« Reply #20 on: March 01, 2006, 07:40:39 AM »

1, Brian has stated under other in court that his only involvement was to "drop off a bunch of tapes" to Gold.

Didn't he also say that he never even read the book?
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« Reply #21 on: March 05, 2006, 08:05:35 PM »

Not only that, but referred to it as "all lies and bullshit".
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Bubba Ho-Tep
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« Reply #22 on: March 10, 2006, 11:36:14 AM »

But when can you believe anything he says anyway?

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paulisdead
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« Reply #23 on: March 10, 2006, 11:55:25 PM »

I was thinking about getting this book and I had few quearys about it:

1) How much does Brian go into SMiLE?  Dead Horse

2) Does he talk about 70's much (unlike McCartney's book)?

3) How much does he go into Pet Sounds?

4) Is it well written or is it fluff (or written fluff)?

5) Does he go into his shakey relationship with Mike or is that just a post-BWPS thing?
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« Reply #24 on: March 11, 2006, 12:14:43 AM »

I was thinking about getting this book and I had few quearys about it:

1) How much does Brian go into SMiLE?  Dead Horse

2) Does he talk about 70's much (unlike McCartney's book)?

3) How much does he go into Pet Sounds?

4) Is it well written or is it fluff (or written fluff)?

5) Does he go into his shakey relationship with Mike or is that just a post-BWPS thing?

What does it matter? It's all false anyway.
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