The Beach Boys Olympia Show, 1969

[c-man]

Beyond awesome.  Yes, that's Daryl Dragon on keyboards, plus Eddie Carter on bass/tambourine.  Not sure who the percussionist is.  Bruce told me that when they played Europe in those days, they would hire local horn sections rather than bring their U.S. horn section along. 

A million and one thanks for posting this!

[tpesky]

I was particularly impressed by the "slow" medley there, moving pretty seamlessly between most of the songs, attention to harmony there. I was also amazed at how involved Bruce was during the live show, switching instruments and playing an awesome organ. Quite a far cry compared to today's shows.

[Ian]

The setlist is the same as the June 2 1969 show in Rotterdam-though the order was slightly changed.  They would have ended with Good Vibrations and then done their standard encore of Johnny B. Goode.

[oldsurferdude]

...and yeah, Mike is really WEIRD in this.  I'm kinda liking it though!

Saw them several times in this configuration-the real Beach Boys, that is. Myke's exhibitionism and attire is extremely annoying as it was back then as well.  His "material" is as flat as cardboard and I love how the audience and the rest of the group barely put up with the asshole.

[SloopJohnB]

Very, very nice - thanks for uploading this! 

[ReggieDunbar]

WOW!!!!

And vocal tag on I can hear music is fantastic!

//RD

[c-man]

OK, so I just finished watching Part 5...the background players (horns & percussion) are from Britain...technically still "local", in a way.  I'm sure that was a way of saving money, on their part...just bring the charts from America, hire backup players in England, and take them to the continent, rather than brining over 6 extra guys from the U.S.

OK, so there's no Part 6...shame.  But we're fortunate to have most of it!

[pianoman]

I shall worship you from now on, sir! This is one hell of a Christmas gift!  I was very surprised when they said Murry was in the audience. And I loved the heavenly reverb on the vocals and on Denny's drums on "Do It Again". And Carl Wilson - what a professional - you can tell he put all his heart into playing and singing. The medley was very surprising to me - did they perform it regularly during that tour?
 

[ReggieDunbar]

I have one million thoughts about this 45 minute gem!!
Here's some to start with:

Bruce is a true entertainer actually taking more space than Al
Mike does great leads, and asks for Steve Desper(?!)
Pompidou, you gotta love it!
Dennis, a proffessional drummer but very absent from the set

[c-man]

I shall worship you from now on, sir! This is one hell of a Christmas gift!  I was very surprised when they said Murry was in the audience. And I loved the heavenly reverb on the vocals and on Denny's drums on "Do It Again". And Carl Wilson - what a professional - you can tell he put all his heart into playing and singing. The medley was very surprising to me - did they perform it regularly during that tour?
 

Yes, the slow song medley was a regular staple of the '69/'70 shows.  Kind of a successor to the fast medley they did in '66-'67.

[Rocker]

I shall worship you from now on, sir! This is one hell of a Christmas gift!  I was very surprised when they said Murry was in the audience. And I loved the heavenly reverb on the vocals and on Denny's drums on "Do It Again". And Carl Wilson - what a professional - you can tell he put all his heart into playing and singing.
 

Carl stole the show for me ! But Al had some great moments as well. His voice on the beginning of "Cottonfields" just blows my mind. He shows a great rythm on that.
Bruce all in all does a very fine job. Dennis is very good on drums but on the other hand has nothing to sing unfortunately. Mike does a very good job singing but his banter and actions (working on Carl's mic during "Darlin") are a pain though not as bad and annoying as later.
BTW I think they did a great job on "Break away". Never heard a pure liveversion in good quality before.



EDIT:
I just got a crazy idea. What do you think about this concert and the Good Vibrations in Central Park / London on one DVD ? If there wouldn't be the complete version of the lost concert with the Beatles' and Lesley Gore's set, I'd say put that on there as well

[hypehat]

Thanks so much for uploading this, man. Merry Christmas indeed!

Trying to figure out whether it's just the language barrier, or whether Mike Love has such a horrific sense of humour he can f*ck up the surefire crowdpleaser 'hey guys, you're on the telly!' before Do It Again...  

Oh jesus, i just lost it over Mike's 'sex machine' comment...... 

[James Hughes-Clarke]

Unbelievable!  I'm almost hyper-ventilating.  And still only on part 1....

[Doo Dah]

Much appreciated Don - this is the good stuff! Great harmony and fine production, in a kind of unplugged style. Personally, I love the b&w - it just gives it a timeless feel, in front of an old theater stage set.

Anyone know whether this was meant for television release, stateside or Europe?

Hopefully this stays up for awhile - I downloaded it quickly just in case!

[XY]

Mike does great leads, and asks for Steve Desper(?!)

Desper was with them for the December 1968 European Tour. Perhaps he mixed this show as well and was responsible for the echo-effects on GOK + DIA for example.

[Mike's Beard]

Great permformance thank you! As has been noted already, Mike really was a jackass here.

[punkinhead]

Good stuff, keep it coming in time for a New Years gift?
MANY THANKS



Maybe Mike was just pumped up because he just started "his fasting stage" earlier in the day. 

[James Hughes-Clarke]

Mike does great leads, and asks for Steve Desper(?!)

Desper was with them for the December 1968 European Tour. Perhaps he mixed this show as well and was responsible for the echo-effects on GOK + DIA for example.

Would also explain effect on the drums at the start of Do It Again  (never knew they ever 'reproduced' that live) + other little touches like the reverbed vocal at the start of Cottonfields.  Oh and Mike's 'thunder'  (how weird was that!!)

[phirnis]

Thank you for sharing, this was very entertaining!

One of the weirdest things about this performance was Bruce Johnston getting a solo spot in order to perform "The Nearest Faraway Place".

[busy doin nothin]

Fantastic concert, thanks so much.

I have to say, although Mike's voice was an essential part of the BBs sound and he contributed some great lyrics and even one great piece of his own songwriting (Big Sur), I believe at least 75% of the Beach Boys "uncool" image is solely his fault, dating back to this late 60s period.

This is really a great concert -- the highlights for me were Cottonfields and God Only Knows.

Denny's drumming is awesome, but too bad he wasn't given a single lead vocal.  He didn't even come up front for THWFOS.  The failure to feature him is my one real criticism.

[punkinhead]

Fantastic concert, thanks so much.

I have to say, although Mike's voice was an essential part of the BBs sound and he contributed some great lyrics and even one great piece of his own songwriting (Big Sur), I believe at least 75% of the Beach Boys "uncool" image is solely his fault, dating back to this late 60s period.

This is really a great concert -- the highlights for me were Cottonfields and God Only Knows.

Denny's drumming is awesome, but too bad he wasn't given a single lead vocal.  He didn't even come up front for THWFOS.  The failure to feature him is my one real criticism.

Agreed with you on Mike

 
The lack of Denny has got to be some sort of fault of Mike Love's.  

[ReggieDunbar]

Fantastic concert, thanks so much.

I have to say, although Mike's voice was an essential part of the BBs sound and he contributed some great lyrics and even one great piece of his own songwriting (Big Sur), I believe at least 75% of the Beach Boys "uncool" image is solely his fault, dating back to this late 60s period.

This is really a great concert -- the highlights for me were Cottonfields and God Only Knows.

Denny's drumming is awesome, but too bad he wasn't given a single lead vocal.  He didn't even come up front for THWFOS.  The failure to feature him is my one real criticism.

Agreed with you on Mike

 The lack of Denny has got to be some sort of fault of Mike Love's.  

MUST argue with you on this one. Looking at popular bands in 1969.... The Beach Boys were really unhip wearing matching clothes and hardly found the gain switch on the amp....Mike Love was the only one with some creativity and ego to wear hip clothing. (which he stopped with late seventies and never went back to...) Music and charts is about the songs and production. And you sure as hell can't blame Mike for the production so blaming 75% of the unhip image on him is very harsh.

[Mike's Beard]

Not to jump on the Mike bashing bandwagon, but if his antics here were typical of his behaviour of this period then he definitely was hurting the band image wise. The dippy jokes, the drunken uncle at a wedding dancing and those stoopid robes make him appear ridiculous. In fairness though, with the exception of the odd nervous bit of chatter from Bruce, nobody else was prepared to MC and interact with the audience so credit must be given there. Just show a little restraint Mike.

[Uncomfortable Seat]

squares hatin' on Mike . . .

[oldsurferdude]

Fantastic concert, thanks so much.

I have to say, although Mike's voice was an essential part of the BBs sound and he contributed some great lyrics and even one great piece of his own songwriting (Big Sur), I believe at least 75% of the Beach Boys "uncool" image is solely his fault, dating back to this late 60s period.

This is really a great concert -- the highlights for me were Cottonfields and God Only Knows.

Denny's drumming is awesome, but too bad he wasn't given a single lead vocal.  He didn't even come up front for THWFOS.  The failure to feature him is my one real criticism.

Agreed with you on Mike

 The lack of Denny has got to be some sort of fault of Mike Love's.  

MUST argue with you on this one. Looking at popular bands in 1969.... The Beach Boys were really unhip wearing matching clothes and hardly found the gain switch on the amp....Mike Love was the only one with some creativity and ego to wear hip clothing. (which he stopped with late seventies and never went back to...) Music and charts is about the songs and production. And you sure as hell can't blame Mike for the production so blaming 75% of the unhip image on him is very harsh.

Maybe, however, he alone as the "lead singer" would be categorized as unhip in the then world of music. The geek nasal bleating, the bald head, the "look at me!" clothes, the jack ass humor,  all took its toll and virtually sealed his fate as an onstage jerk who was not to be taken seriously in music circles at that time and in the future.