Beach Boys Recap with Glenn Greenberg |
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- Опубліковано 25 січ 2024
- Beach Boys aficionado and writer Glenn Greenberg joins Matt to wrap up the 6-part Beach Boys History here on Pop Goes the 60s. Glenn covers a few points that fill in some gaps in the extensive history of the band.
The Story of Batman - From the Comics to the Movies: tinyurl.com/7u96cs8y
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Hi Matt....wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your excellent series on The Beach Boys. 👍👍
I appreciate that Anthony, thank you!
How can you not like an album with lyrics like "If Mars has life on it I might find my wife on it!"? Really loved this series Matt. Thank you.
Agree with much of this, EXCEPT your take on LOVE YOU. I get why you might not like the the synths, but having been a musician in that era I can tell you that synths were in their technical infancy and Brian wanted to see what he could do with them. And yes, some of the lyrics are cringy, but the melodies and chord changes are typically, unpredictably brilliant. I'LL BET HE'S NICE and THE NIGHT WAS SO YOUNG are just gorgeous pop. And imagine LET'S PUT OUR HEARTS TOGETHER with an undamaged voice or I WANNA PICK YOU UP with less strange lyrics. Same with ROLLER SKATING CHILD. MONA is an escapist hoot. Same with JOHNNY CARSON. You should give the album another listen just for the composition. Some of the modulations are stunning, but effortless. The music to I WANNA PICK YOU UP is mind-blowing - six or seven key changes in the first minute, but you'd never know it unless you tried to play it. But I agree that FRIENDS is an understated masterpiece. PET SOUNDS was a breakthrough, but I"ve listened to FRIENDS much more. It's like Brian was saying "I can blow you away with Gershwin instrumentation (PET SOUNDS) or the basic Wrecking Crew setup." And he did.
Agree completely on "Love You", and I'm not a revisionist, nor do my responses come from any agenda. The album has very obvious warts, but it's the last time Brian was in that kind of command of melody, and the last time an album was all about him. A reporter from The Beach Boys' arch enemy, Rolling Stone, heard the melodies in advance and raved in print that this was going to be a major artistic comeback. Why they didn't put Brian with a lyricist like VDP or Tandyn Alter I'll just never understand. "I'll Bet He's Nice" and "The Night Was So Young"- the two you named first- are also the highlights for me. (And boy, do I hate "That Same Song").
Carl Wilson attempting to perform live on stage in front of hundreds of fans after taking a valium and 2 mai tai's is extremely rock n roll
Nothing more rock and roll than that ... except two Valium and 3 drinks!
But he was very sweet and apologetic about doing so
Brian‘s original falsetto was lost in the 70s. He said in an interview that he was smoking five packs of cigarettes a day, which was very hard on his voice..
The copious amounts of cocaine didn't help matters either. Such a shame, as he had a truly beautiful voice.
A fine wrap up on your Beach Boy series, Matt. I can't help but feel pity for Brian Wilson who despite his incredible musical genius and the adulation he has received from the public and his musical peers remained a fragile, sweet dispositioned man who I believed was always trying to live up to such praise and consequently failed in his own mind to succeed.
I don't know if it's brought up often, but Darian Sahanaja has been a godsend for Brian in terms of anything post-1997.
Love this "post-game discussion" following the great Beach Boys series.
I’ve always enjoyed the chats with Glenn Greenberg. As always, great stuff.
I really enjoyed this discussion and it was an excellent capstone to your series on the band. One point you guys neglected was that Love You was widely acclaimed on release and has gotten props from some heavy-hitters, R.E.M., Sonic Youth, and Lindsey Buckingham to name a few.
The frontman of BMX Bandits (legendary Scottish indie band) made a career out of writing Love You-style songs and co-produced a Brian Wilson tribute album semi-focused on that 70s era with the likes of the High Llamas (Stereolab collaborators!), Jad Fair, and Kim Fowley. Alex Chilton from Big Star is on there too and would perform Love You songs in concert. Patti Smith raved about Love You in Melody Maker. Tony Visconti considers Wild Honey to be as important to him as Revolver, so I can only wonder if he, circa Berlin Trilogy, had still been paying attention to what Brian was doing. (He's said that the basic track for "Heroes" was made with the Beach Boys in mind.)
If I wasn't already a fan of Love You, I would have come away from this video thinking that the critical acclaim had been overblown revisionist pap stemming from the hardcore Brian Wilson fans. There's a grain of truth there, I suppose, given that all the musicians I've named would probably fit in that camp. I don't know if Love You should be spoken in the same breath as Trans-Europe Express (recorded at the same time) and The Pleasure Principle, but it certainly deserves a spot in the electronic/synth-pop canon.
Thank you for the substantive comments, pancake - much appreciated.
Cool discussion but I disagree with the idea of Love You being an ugly sounding album, it’s eccentric and odd for sure but it has moments of infectious happiness and whimsy. It’s a reflection of sorts from Brian, that’s why fans love it so.
Glenn seems to be able geek out over any subject in a entertaining manner. What a great way to end he BB series.
I needed a true BB geek to do this recap! Glenn is it!
@@popgoesthe60s52 I agree and thank you for it!
I don't care what you think about me, but I love "Roller Skatin' Child"...
I respect someone who OWNs it!
This series on The Beach Boys was great. I learned a lot I didn’t know. Anyways, I have a suggestion for a future series. You should do a history on The Monkees. I’d really love it & I would love to see you go through their discography/history up to now.
I second that.
I plan on a Monkees history so stay tuned!
Yes! That would be great.
Hi, this is Chris. I wrote about seeing the Beach Boys promote "Sunflower" at the Whiskey a Go Go in Hollywood, way back when, in your previous segment, my first time seeing them in an intimate club setting.
The next time I saw them was in 1976, when they were in full-blown stadium mode. They were the main attraction in a show that also included Santana and America. It was a great show. (Sadly, they also had Brian lumber out on stage, telling everyone he "was back", when he really wasn't).
Other than the Whiskey appearance, I missed their shows during the ,pre-"Endless Summer" period, when the crowds that showed up, that appreciated their albums at that time..."Surf's Up", "Carl and the Passions...", Holland", would hear the Beach Boys playing them, and then after they walked off stage, in the encore, would come back and knock everybody flat with an hour or more of their golden hits from the '60's. Now THAT is the way to hear the Beach Boys! (That's how I heard some of their concerts were at that time).
The "Endless Summer" triple-platinum selling double album ended all that, and we know why. "American Graffiti" suddenly made nostalgia for the 1950's and 1960's cool in the 1970's. And it was a GREAT movie. So what do you do? It just turned the Beach Boys into an oldies and nostalgia act, and there was no turning back.
I always felt sorry for the kids, in Junior High and High School, who believed "Endless Summer" was "new music". They loved the music, and it was mandatory listening for them. In 1975, Capital put out another double album, "Spirit Of America." Again, the kids dug it, and thought it was new.
When 1976 came around, and word was out another Beach Boys album was about to be released, and the kids were more than primed for it's release. And what were they handed..."15 Big Ones"...Their base of young fans were seriously shocked. In my case, I was seriously shocked going directly from "Holland" to "15...'
Anyway, thank you for covering the Beach Boys in such an entertaining and informative manner.
My pleasure, Chris - thank you for following the whole series.
Really GREAT summary, Chris! You GET it !!
I detested "15" and it was a real drag trying to find anything redeemable ("It's OK" ??) while digging thru the rubbish heap it was, coming after "Holland" and especially right after the big build-up by Rolling Stone (after that rag had rejected them for SO long).
@@burlingtonbill1 Hi! Thank you for your response. That period of the Beach Boys was really so incredible. "Sunflower" through "Holland." "Surf's Up", "Carl and the Passions-So Tough" and Holland" really showed how Carl, Dennis, Mike, Al as well as Blondie and Ricky could really come up with some great stuff, when there was very little input from Brian. If you listen to "Carl and the Passions...", right from the beginning, you can tell they're more interested in artistic growth. Some really nice songs on that album, such as "All This Is That ".
Then "Holland" was the jewel that followed "Carl..." I listened recently to ", Leaving This Town", and that lengthy middle part of the song, with it's gently hypnotic sensation really got to me. That whole album was great. I know they had some problems adjusting to their temporary home over there. But, boy, the album they came up with when they were over there was really a remarkable accomplishment.
The first of the four albums, "Sunflower", Brian totally threw himself into all of it, and you can hear it. The album was wery well-produced, with beautiful harmonies, and lush musical arrangements.
Unfortunately, the album didn't sell well. It was on Billboard's chart for three weeks, and then dropped off. Brian took it very badly, and then just retreated. Had "Sunflower" been a big hit, Brian, newly regenerated, would have gone on to great works, of which we'll never know. But you can't make people buy records in stores, no matter how great the material is, when the interest isn't there.
Would the Beach Boys have gone on to make more artistic albums, had the movie "American Graffiti" not shown up? It would be hard to say. I read somewhere that after the Beach Boys made "Holland", they weren't doing much in the studio.
In the 1970's, the 1960''s music was still cool. All the British Invasion groups and music were still totally accepted. But the music from the 1950's and early '60's was considered passe'. "American Graffiti" changed all that. Most of it's music was from the '50's. Suddenly 1950's music was in. '50's dances, ,'50's clothing, '50's restaurants, '50's TV shows, were all in. Nostalgia was sweeping the country.
And so Capital Records keyed into it, sensing what was in the air, and released a very attractive-looking double album, containing the cream of their 60:s singles and album cuts, and the public ate it up. A brilliant marketing decision for Capital Records, who made millions of of it, and for the Beach Boys, who were now playing stadiums.
The Beach Boys knew who their new huge fan base was, and they knew the fans wanted the hits, not "Surf's Up" or "Feel Flows", etc. Although I do think there was initially some overlapping. I heard a tape of Billy Hinche's, of a Beach Boys concert from 1974, where Carl sung his GREAT song, "The Trader." After all, when you think of it, there really wasn't that much time between "Holland", which came out in 1974, and "Endless Summer",; coming out in 1975. The newer fans, who were hits-oriented, might have heard some of the earlier material. And certainly, EVERYBODY at those shows had heard the hit single "Sail On, Sailor" from "Holland."
But Carl eventually dropped playing "The Trader", and their shows became nothing but a hits machine of oldies.
So then, we were handed "15 Big Ones", an absolute disappointment...and drec...and a special on NBC, which promoted the album, among other things, and the group was now an oldies act that came out with new albums, but none of it equalling their recent great albums...or some of their classic albums from the '60's.
I agree with you about Rolling Stone magazine. It led the charge against them in the psychedelic era, when it first appeared in September of 1967. It's editor, Jann Wenner, never liked them, and the magazine reflected that, and the American public went along with that. (What's interesting, is that, in England, the Beach Boys popularity never flagged. The British could accept the new music, the Doors, Jimi Hendrix, Janus Joplin, etc., and STILL liked the Beach Boys. Not so the Americans. But if you listen to the "Beach Boys '69 Live In London, you'll hear the level of enthusiasm the audience has for them. Very enthusiastic.
Well, I've been writing for quite a while now, but I really feel passionate about how the Beach Boys had been so creative, and then became an oldies act. At their best, they were too good for that.
Anyway,vI don't want to end on a negative note. You're probably aware of their recent boxed sets, which came out recently, about a year apart from each other. The first was "Feel Flows" dedicated to thel "Sunflower" and "Surf's Up" era, with both albums, out takes, many pictures from that era😌and great liner notes. And then the boxed set "Sail On Sailor" featuring both albums:;"Carl And The Passions-So Tough", also with the album, outtakes, many historic pictures from the period, and great liner notes.
Well, that's all from me now. I loved to write about this particularly fertile period in the Beach Boys development.
Let's give credit to Carl for getting clean after that Australian tour in 1978.
Yes, by 1980 he was looking GREAT.
Matt, I just listened to a recent episode of Desert Island Discs on BBC 4. The guest was Graham Nash (who will be 82 on February 2nd). One of the eight songs he chose was God Only Knows. Another was A Day in the Life which he called "the greatest song ever written, I think." Well, I don`t think there is such a thing but those are two brilliant choices.
The last Wilson standing... Amazing 😎👍🏻🎉🥳
I can't help and wonder what role Murry Wilson played in screwing up the Wilson boys. It seems to me he played a big part with their in ability
to cope with success and wanting to escape from reality. Just my thoughts.
Have you ever read "The Letter" he wrote to Brian basically disowning him unless he shaped up and followed exactly what Murry wanted him to do? Crazy stuff. Look for it -- it has been posted on the internet.
@@burlingtonbill1 no but I will. Thanks!
They wouldn’t have made it big without Murry’s contacts & savvy initially, but he couldn’t handle being phased out and went back to being the abusive sh*theel he’d always been.
Nice conclusion to your Beach Boys series, Matt! Agree with a lot of what you and Glenn said about the group. Nice that you threw in what happened to the Association (a group also known for their vocal harmonizing). The "So-called" importance of family throughout the group's history I think is important. I say "So-called" because of how the family members in the group treated each other. Some examples: Murry Wilson selling the Sea Of Tunes Beach Boys catalog, under their noses. Mike suing Al for using the Beach Boys name ( I know Al isn't related to the Wilsons or Love), then suing Brian four to five times. Agree with Glenn that Brian finally finishing Smile seemed to improve his overall well being. Think you have to give credit to Darian Sahanaja (Of the Wondermints/Brian's back up band) for getting Brian to revisit the Smile tapes. Think Glenn is correct when he said whatever Brian tells you, you have to take with a grain of salt. For years, Brian had said that he destroyed most of the Smile tapes. He has also said he never met John Lennon and that when he met Elvis, he punched Elvis! Disagree with Glenn saying Carl could not rock out, ignoring Carl's two solo albums in the early 1980s. Could see the argument about the group breaking up in 1974, but to their credit, throughout the 1970s, they did try evolving their sound. You also didn't mention the band putting on July 4th concerts in Washington, D.C., and how popular those were in the early to mid 1980s. Think the group was surprised at how well That's Why God Made The Radio CD, and 50th anniversary tour was received. I saw them on this tour at Milwaukee's Summerfest in the summer of 2012. About a year later, should have seen Brian, when he was touring with Al, David and Jeff Beck. Think he did play in Milwaukee. Unfortunately (As Glenn noted) the "Beach Boys" performing will go until Mike stops breathing.
I was at that Milwaukee show in 2012. I was very glad to have seen that one. Thanks for the comments Robert!
Agree w/ most of what you said. Darian and Melinda are unsung heroes. It's ironic that the "endless harmony" only seemed to exist on the records and most of the live shows but not necessarily off-stage! When you catch Mike talking about their "family history," he seems almost PROUD of the comparison he makes to the Hatfield & McCoy long-time feud. So you build a "family band" around an unresolvable Wilson-Love feud ????
Great way to close this out Matt. You and Glenn really worked well together in tying a bow on their career. I enjoyed the points I had asked about, namely Kokomo and That's Why God Made The Radio. Wish I had seen that 50th anniversary tour. I suppose there is a video of it I could get. Their high points help me forget their low points, so I "smile" when I think of them.
Thanks for following the series, John.
Love You is by far one of the greatest albums I've ever heard
I don’t know why, but Smile is one of my favourite albums all time. It’s so unique with its varying soundscapes. Yet I do not know anyone personally who feels the same way. Can’t stop listening to that Album (both Brian’s and the box set).
If I had my way in an alternate universe, they would have kept Blondie and Ricky and let Dennis take a more prominent role and cranked up the volume. The recordings of their live shows at the time show a lot of musical muscle that got completely scrapped after “endless summer”.
I agree with you - at least for one more album!
I agree Dennis was more of a rocker than the rest of them. He hung out with Fleetwood Mac, but I could also see him hanging out with Led Zeppelin and the Who. I know Keith Moon loved him
@@impalaman9707 I guess Carl was really into “Bad Company” as well. His solo albums have some pretty rocking AOR moments, actually.
@@lowenbad Probably a Foreigner fan, too
Same with me, Glenn. When I found out about SMiLe bootlegs, I went nuts. I'm still in search of the perfect version of that album.
While I haven't heard all the boots, I'm happy with both Brian's 2004 and Capitol's 2011 albums.
Thank you 👍 Matt and Glenn - excellent recap and I learned so much. Gotta go find that Spanish version of “Kokomo” now. Cheers from Old Highway 66 in Oklahoma. ✅
Hi Matt. An absolutely brilliant series, thanks for all your hard work, it's appreciated. Although you guys were a little harsh on Love You! 😉
I appreciate that, John. Thank you for watching!
This was a well intentioned episode but I found it much too focused on the tragic and well documented dysfunction of the Wilson brothers and surprisingly very light on acknowledging the musical highs the group crafted without leaning on Brian. The best moments of Sunflower, Surfs Up, and Holland came from a group effort that was obviously not all about Brian. Endless Summer and Spirit of America ended this truly. creative period by relegating them to being an oldies fueled touring machine. They found a way to make a solid living but the glimmers of some latter day mojo were sadly squelched. L. A (the light album has some great Dennis songs and Carl’s voice is still one of the great treasures of American rock. Ditching the obvious clunkers and adding some other unreleased stuff would have made this album a fitting close to the last genuinely creative period they had in them.
Did I hear a shout-out to Hoboken Jack? A living legend.
Yep, that's what you heard! Everybody loves Jack!
Thank you, young schmann!
I've never been a huge fan of the Beach Boys, but I've checked out all of this series and found it very interesting. I'd even say that, to me, I find their story much more interesting than nearly all their music. Thanks for the education.
Thank you for sticking with me through this long series. Diehard fans felt a bit short changed because I didn't focus on the music post 1973, which was by design for the observation you made.
@@popgoesthe60s52 I appreciate where you're coming from, but as an older fan who's had their wondrous harmonies in the background most of my life, I appreciate most of the music for the beauty i find in it. (Post '73, I mostly listen to Brian's solo works.)
I'm pretty sure I'm not the first of your viewers to request that you devote a broadcast (or three...lol) to the following bands & events, but I would still be VERY appreciative if you were able to, at some point, cover these:
1) Moby Grape (my favorite American band of the 1960s,fwiw)
2) The Velvet Underground
3) The Monkees
4) The Mothers Of Invention (the original 1965-69 version, not the later 70s lineups)
5) Monterey Pop, Woodstock and Altamont.
Thanks again for the excellent segments you have produced on many great bands...looking forward to whatever you have planned here for the future. 👍
That was a great discussion. I've read a lot of books about the Beach Boys but I learned some things here. You guys talked about the success of the reunion album but didn't talk about the music itself. I personally loved it and consider it to be a late career triumph. I last saw Brian in 2016 when he was doing a 50th anniversary of Pet Sounds. He was very frail and needed help walking. He wasn't really singing by then. The band was great as always. I'm sorry I missed the 50th anniversary tour. RIP to the recently departed Jeff Foskett who brought a lot to the Beach Boys and Brians projects over several decades. This Beach Boys series is probably the best thing yet on your channel. Gonna be tough to top it for sure. Cheers Matt.
It's a pity many of Dennis's songs never saw the light of day while he was alive. Many of them were of far superior quality to what the rest of the band was churning out, including Brian. 'Carry Me Home', for example, is an absolute masterpiece, easily one of the Beach Boys' top 5 songs, yet it languished in the vault for 50 years. Disgraceful.
Long live the memories of Dennis & Carl Wilson. xoxo The Clarences
So heartening watching Brian present Smile at the Warner Theatre in DC 10/04
And then Jackson Brown and Bonnie Raitt jump up on stage to join the 2nd set.
The beach Boys LOVE YOU: this guys is so far off the mark , and downright insulting in his statements. The album is not ugly. I knew nothing of this album when it was gifted to me 2 years ago., and so there was no "revisionist" attitude involved. My first reaction was "what the heck IS this?" Because it sounded so different from what I expect from a Beach Boys record. But after a few listens, I fell in love with it. It is so creative and FUN. To suggest that listeners could only love this album out of some childish desire to be contrarian is ludicrous.Yes, i is strange, otherworldly, dark and somewhat raw and therein lies it's beauty. A lot of post punk and new wave records fit that same description. To discount LOVE YOU as simply an "ugly record" is just plain dumb.
Some music just strikes people in a certain way. I wouldn't say "you are off the mark" with regard to any album because that would be presumptuous. Their is no accounting for taste, as they say....
@popgoesthe60s52 That doesn't account for the take presented here. The presumptions made are pretty insulting to be honest. The underpinning demo's are excellent and show complexity similar to the songs he had done earlier. Brian just used the available technology and by the cheapest and quickest means possible.
@@nathanbyrn2710 Being “insulted” by an opposing opinion on a piece of music, suggests an over-emotional response, which is not evidence. The demos are a separate matter that do nothing to support your argument and everyone used the available technology at the time - obviously. These are straw man arguments that are off topic.
@@popgoesthe60s52 I'm not insulted by an opposing opinion. I'm saying that the presumption's made of why people like the album are insulting. Like or dislike is an opinion, but as to WHY people like it and the presumptions made are insulting. I mentioned the demo's because it demonstrates the foundation's of the songs and is a good indication of where they COULD of gone in another era of Brian's creative phases.
@@popgoesthe60s52 Matt, I've been watching your channel since its inception. I love your vids, and for my money, your channel is the best one in its category. I've praised you a lot in the comments.This is the first time I've said anything critical. And so I say this with all due respect, Matt. nathanbyrn is right. What is insulting is NOT the guest 's take on the album, which is just another opinion, and fine with me. However, it is he, the guest who fails to acknowledge that his is only an opinion. He does not acknowledge that "there is no accounting for taste." Rather, he implies that one cannot genuinely, earnestly love this record and makes a sweeping judgement about any fan of your show who happens to genuinely dig this delicious record. It was presumptuous of him and downright condescending. I guess I would have liked to see you call him on that. Maybe I should have just sucked it up, but I wanted to express myself on this, maybe because Brian Wilson is so close to my heart. Stand up for us freaks and outsiders next time! Anyway still LOVE YOU, Matt and love Pop Goes the 60s. And LOVE YOU kicks ass!
I enjoyed this and the 6 part series, I watched them all. I was happy to see you touch on Brian's 1st solo album which I still like a lot. It's amazing how many bad decisions were made by band members, I kept thinking these guys really need a manager to help them make SMART decisions. The Beatles were in a similar position after they lost Brian Epstein, formed Apple and became businessmen. Having a guiding hand can be a very good thing.
Yes, that's one of the biggest differences. The late Jack Rieley (manager thru Surf's Up & Holland) was quick to point that out.
love your beach boys vids man wow
Thank you, Evander. Much appreciated.
17:00 You could say Brian took medical retirement. And *Lennon* retired from public life & recording in 1976. Except he came back in 1980 - - like *Sinatra* retired in 1971 & came back in 1973. When retirement is that short we have to start calling it a hiatus instead. At the time, perhaps performers were sincere in quitting & didn't foresee missing the action.
Could be a video topic of *Retirees* there, if you find enough candidates. *George Harrison* had at least one hiatus that lasted longer than Lennon's, without announcing retirement as far as I recall.
It may be that none of the pop & rock crowd stayed true to their word in retirement. Greta Garbo is a hard act to follow.
Good discussion Matt - I just wondered at what time of life did you first listened to "Love You" ? I was 15 when this came out and first listened to it, so perhaps that is why I like this album and even the later 70's albums. I thought and still feel that the "The Night was so Young" is a such a beautiful track and a real highlight of the record. Sunflower, Surfs Up and Holland I absolutely love whatever the history behind the recording of them.
Love all of you shows Matt
Finally---someone who sees things my way! I always thought "Love You" reminded me of a Sesame Street record! The songs are so simplistic and child-like, I could imagine a muppet singing "Solar System", "Airplane", or "Johnny Carson"! And you like 15 Big Ones better--so do I! That album wasn't all oldies---the originals were very mature and sophisticated by comparison to "Love You"--at least to my ears!
If you're referring to Ringo IV with "Drowning In the Sea of Love", it was not a Disco album, and that song was R&B!
A cover of the old Joe Simon song? Gotta check that out.
It is.
@@petesawchuk
@@rjaraneta913 Found it - had no idea Arif Mardin whipped up an R & B record for Ringo. Reminded me of how much I love the original Joe Simon version w/ Gamble &nHuff in charge!
Arif Mardin produced two albums for Ringo, Rotogravure and Ringo the IV.
@@petesawchuk
@@rjaraneta913 Thx RJ. Boy, no one can say Ringo hasn't done it all & then some!
Terrific conversation!! And I would've said that even if I wasn't name-checked 3 times! 😊
Nice to meet you Jack!
In many ways, it all started with you, Jack! Thanks for loaning me that box set all those years ago!
I love this channel and all your videos Matt, but boy did I disconnect with literally everything that was said about the “Love You” album - it was if you were discussing a completely different album than the one I know - in every way. And listening to your guest, I can’t help wondering if he has played the album more than once or twice in his lifetime. Oh well - all of us can’t agree on everything all of the time. 🧐. Take care.
@TomCwimprock - I've listened to LOVE YOU numerous times, attempting to understand what its defenders like about it so much.
Different courses for different horses. Loves You has always been and continues to be a polarizing album.
@@glenngreenberg2712 I can't figure it out either! As I said previously, thanks for having the courage to say what I've believed all along -- it HAS to be the UGLIEST sounding BBs album EVER. "Ugly" just isn't why I seek out Beach Boys music !
Great chat and Beach Boys series, Matt! One day someone will write the definitive biography of the tortured genius, Brian Wilson, but a series like yours is always welcome and appreciated in the meantime.
Very well done.
I understand your critiscm of Love You but i love the abrasive sound of the synths- especially on the first two tracks
Hey Matt/Pop goes the '60's. PSA, I'm guessing you all are aware that Brian lost his wife, Melinda a day or two ago. in case you didn't, i thought it may be impactful to any content you may be soon to release. keep up the good work..
Great Stuff! Has all of Sea of Tunes(my favorite boot) been completely released on official releases? Thanks and great job! If not, I wonder which ones have not.
Really, really interesting interview.
Never noticed how Dennis did in fact end up looking like Manson....but yeah, wow. Now I can't not see it. I agree I think the Love You album doesn't deserve all the overblown praise that it's got over the decades since its release. Great point on getting the "wrong" message of Endless Summer. And yeah., even though Mike Love was.....well, Mike Love.....he did have a lot to deal with at that time. Whoa....hadn't seen that clip or heard about that Carl story about the camera or Brian saving Good Vibrations onstage.
As for Kokomo.....is it as bad as Brian fans say it is? No. Of the band's four charttoppers: I think it's better than I Get Around, but not as good as Help Me Rhonda (personal fave) or Good Vibrations (their most important). And, I'm sure it was Landy that kept Brian away from it, which is a shame. Brian on Kokomo would have been great.
Landy.....there are things he did that obviously worked for Brian. Look at his weight alone. But obviously he went too far. Way too far.
Great video!
I appreciate the comments, John. Thank you.
Say what you like about "Kokomo"....it gets one of the most enthusiastic responses from the audience when played at Beach Boys concerts, even to this day in 2024!
Very enjoyable discussion...particularly about the Landy years. Oh to be a fly on the wall during that era.
I do wish a Lewisohn would come onto the scene to write the definitive biography of Brian Wilson. The good and the bad although as they only surviving Wilson and not, unfortunately, a reliable witness, Brian would be tough to interview at the length necessary for a 1000 page plus work. Sadly, it seems that at any point past Pet Sounds that Brian would have been a very difficult one-on-one sit down with even the most skilled historian or researcher.
This was, no pun intended, a nice coda to your BB series. 👍
Thank you, Neal!
Hey Matt, I just want to thank you on you’re wonderful series on The Beach Boys. This last chapter of the series was the icing on the cake. Just a superb interview. If you don’t mind me asking I couldn’t help noticing the wood display cases for your albums in the background. Where did you purchase them or did you have someone personally design them. I think they look awesome and I would really like to have a couple of these myself. Thanks again. Dan
Hi Dan! At some point I will probably do a mini tour of my music area including the album racks. I know a finished carpenter and I did a simple design with a lower tier on wheels so I can access them easier. It's far more efficient to store albums on bookshelf where you can only see the spines, but I like this way so when people come over, it's easier to go through them. I built them about 20 years ago and the supplied only cost me $200 at the time. Now it would be more than double.
Thanks for the response Matt. I need to figure something out. I’ve got a lot of records, around 800 hundred and they are in plastic totes. Thanks again
@@dancranford5391 IKEA and Target both have some very good options for albums. I took one that is supposed to stand upright, and I laid it down and put in a bottom so it is similar to my custom album display.
Thanks a lot Matt, I’ll check out your suggestions. Keep up the great work on your channel, it’s very creative and entertaining.
One more small thing. On your recap you guys were pretty spot on on your observations of The Beach Boys of the mid to late seventies. Things like Here Comes The night and albums like MIU were abysmal. But there was at least one song from that era that you didn’t touch on. That was the tune Good Timin’ off the LA Album. Where did that come from? In my opinion it was one of the best and most harmonious tunes in their catalog.
I was never much of a Beach Boy's fan, other than liking their popular songs, so the series was very informative. It's a shame they had to get messed up with drugs, but sadly they are hardly alone in that regard for bands from the 60's.
Hi Matt,this special chapter dedicated to the Beach Boys was simply terrific,thank you very much for this beautiful video!!
I noticed that in your music room,just behind you,there's a marvellous Lp of one of my favorite bands: "You Could Be Born Again" by the Free Design!!
Are you going to do a video or two about them? That would be like a dream to me,your knowledge of the sixties and seventies is simply amazing,and I think you would do a great job with The Free Design!!
Many greetings from Italy!!
Sergio
Welcome back, Sergio and thank you for following this series. You will be seeing the Free Design in the first half of 2024 so stay tuned!
That is great news, can't wai
@@popgoesthe60s52
Wooowww,I am really looking forward to it!!!
Thank you once more for your amazing work!
Sergio
Matt this Recap Episode with Glenn is the icing on the cake to the 6 episodes you did on the Beach Boys, Excellent in depth analysis👍 The thing that comes across to me about The Beach Boys as a band is that they should have known when to call it a day so to say instead of this constant struggle to be relevant musically after the 60's, one can only think what may have been of The Beatles had they continued in the 70's. Another amazing aspect (Like Keith Richards) Brian Wilson is still around!!! -Unlike Syd Barrett, Peter Green,Skip Spence -Brian can honestly say He made it through. Just out of coincidence I was just watching a documentary of Worst Drug Addict Hollywood Actors, and one that caught my attention was Actor Gig Young who was also a patient of Eugene Landy, Young besides being a great TV actor, also starred alongside with Elvis in Kid Galahad, Game Of Death with Bruce Lee, and was in Sam Peckinpah's Movie Bring Me The Head Of Alfredo Garcia, and won an Oscar for his performance in They Shot Horses Dont They. -Gig Young's alcohol and drug problem got so bad that he got fired from his role in Mel Brook's Blazing Saddles, Which Gene Wilder would end up getting his part. -in 1978 Gig Young finally ended up shooting his newlywed wife and then Shooting himself in an apparent Murder/Suicide. -As for the song Kokomo I really like that song, everytime I hear it I imagine myself getting on a plane to a beachside paradise and with a tropical drink in your hand - but I didnt know about the Spanish version of Kokomo- I got to check it out!!! Cheers 🍹
Thanks Ernie!
There was a time, in 1964-1965, that The Beach Boys and The Beatles were the main American and British guitar bands, respectively. Their sounds and careers diverged greatly after that, and somehow the Beach Boys seemed less and less of a guitar band, compared to the Beatles, with their use of studio musicians playing on their songs more than the actual band members.
I've read the comments section, and have been surprised by some of the depth of feelings expressed. The Beach Boys are probably my second favourite band after The Beatles, and contradictory views to my own are often interesting. Glenn is very defensive of The Beach Boys' late '60s material, which I rate as their best along with 1971's Surf's Up. It's some of the most enjoyable and quirky music of that era, and has stood the test of time far better than most of the bands who tortuously tried to be psychedelic and cutting edge. I'd say that Pet Sounds through to Surf's Up, and to a lesser degree Holland, are excellent albums, with Sunflower being really strong, and Glenn champions that. So, when he refers to their late '70s music as "ugly" we know he's not coming from a place of hatred, or a determination to be controversial. My personal opinion is that, sadly, they did little or nothing of value after Holland, and by the early 1980s they were actually unlistenable. However, they had a great run of creativity for many years and were highly prolific, too. It's just sad that they continued to make albums well past their best, which have had a negative impact on their legacy.
I think it is fair to say they made albums way past their prime. Some fans simply can't handle any negative comments about their heroes.
Brian's greatest achievement was the Pet Sounds LP followed up with the Good Vibrations single. When Brian heard Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane on the radio, it broke him mentally. He knew that he would never be able to produce anything as relevant as what was going on with Beatles, Stones, Dylan, The Doors. Smile is painful to hear, the sound of an artist desperate to be relevant.
Had SMiLE been completed on time, it would have come out BEFORE the so-called magnum opus "Sgt. Pepper." Can't agree with your Brian revisionism.
I have loved the series. I'm not getting the "ugly" thing at all though. Even if all the other songs were ugly ( they are not), there's no way "the night is so young" , "Ill bet he's nice", or Airplane" are ugly. Yes, like 15 big ones the voices aren't always at their best, but the recordings are still full of charm, and "Love you" is one of my favourite albums, and when I first fell in love with it, I had no idea about the "Brian is back" producer issues. I think it is a marmite album certainly, but really cant see the ugly album argument at all.
Hey Matt, I just wanted to say great job on this whole series, have enjoyed it very much! Also if anyone else here loves The Beach Boys and wants to hear more history and discussion about the band, I cohost a weekly podcast on my channel where me and several other passionate fans talk about everything Beach Boys, from the songs and albums to the individual members and and pretty much anything you can imagine that relates to America’s band. If that sounds interesting to any of you we’d appreciate it if you check us out! Thanks again for doing this series Matt -Jake
Hey Jake, thank you for that! I will certainly check out your channel!
@@popgoesthe60s52 of course, and thank you! I hope you enjoy!
Smile was so far ahead of it’s time that it had to be shelved until Pro Tools was introduced.
Very interesting.
Is that Brian's now Wife speaking under a secret identity on that Diane Sawyer interview?
Matt, would you consider doing one more Beach Boys episode, on the box sets ? Ever since the Good Vibrations box in 1993 they've introduced us to so many great unreleased songs. I'd be interested to hear what you think of some of these songs, why they were left off albums at the time, which album they should have been on and, if they had been included at the time, which songs you would have bumped from that album to make way for them.
What a fantastic video have a wonderful weekend ❤😊❤😊❤😊❤😊
Nothing adds up to anything after the Sail On Sailor 45. It's just an oldies act.
42:00 god thats horrible. No wonder Carl allegedly went back to drinking, he mustve carried a lot of guilt about that decision. It would be bad enough if it was a friend, but it was his brother.
I quite like Love You, I consider it a lot better then the albums surrounding it, better then 15 Big Ones, and the albums that followed.. I love the opener, Carl's vocals, doesn't seem that depressing to me, Al lead vocal on Honkin Down The Highway aren't depressing either, quite upbeat.
I would prefer if the band followed the path of Love You as opposed to the next three forgettable albums, I would like getting "adult child' as opposed to "MIU" or "lA"
Sorry, had to stop the video when you guys started deriding The Beach Boys Love You. An amazing album. Maybe you guy's are the contrarians.
Some people can't bear to hear an opposing opinion. You are one of them. No need to apologize.
@@popgoesthe60s52 I have no problem with an opinion. I had just watched your White Album video and, although I may no agree with every single opinion stated in it, I still enjoyed it. However, in this one you guys really seemed to be ganging up on this album, and those who enjoy it, with no balance or nuance. Maybe someday this album will click for you...
@@raletti75 For you to feel "ganged up on” underlines my earlier comment that some people simply can’t take any negative criticism without being offended in some way. As for nuance, it may not be the positive nuance you crave but we spent 10 full minutes discussing the lp in detail. The reason this recap was even done was because people asked me to cover certain things (like 'Loves You’) that I didn’t go over in the original 6-part series. Be careful what you ask for!
Johnny Carson is fun 👍🏻😎
When Brian Wilson was interviewed for the great PBS series The History of RocknRoll in the 90s it sounded like he had a stroke. His ideas were lucid and interesting, but his speech was very slurred
There's been a lot of speculation that Brian suffered a stroke at some point in the late 1980s or early 1990s, but his camp has always denied it.
Both can be true. Brian can be the geniuse of the band and almost entirely responsible for there success, while also being mentally unstable and crashing out by the early 70s. Mike Love helped write some classic Beach Boy songs but also fought Brian on what he wanted to do with Pet Sounds and Smile. He was also the lest talented member and pretty unlikable. Its not like people are greatly exaggerating to prop up Brian.
Ringo had a disco album? Which one?
Before you automatically lump me into the pro-Brian/"I hate ML" crowd, consider this quote from Melinda Wilson's obit (1-30-24): "Beach Boy Mike Love claimed she interfered in the band’s efforts to have a full reunion. However, Brian credited her with getting his life back together." THAT tells me Mike was toxic for Brian, Melinda recognized that and became his much-needed protector! I pray he finds a healthy way to cope with this huge loss and that it DOESN'T involve going back on the road with the "Mike, Bruce & Friends Endless Tour" !
Drugs were toxic to Brian.
I find it interesting that Carnie Wilson allegedly referred to Melinda as "Melandy." Sometimes, it's hard to know what to believe.
@@kpoleary1 I did not know that! Interesting.
I wasn't on anyone's side, but I HATED Kokomo from the first time I ever heard it. Have to change the channel any time it comes on the radio.
Personally I can't stand the smarmy ML vocal.
The current Beach Boys touring group is really a tribute band. Entertaining but not the real thing.
Hi Matt
I don’t understand how people can say “Love You” is a masterpiece. It’s interesting from a historical perspective, especially if you are into the Beach Boys/ Brian Wilson story, but it’s not a fun listen for me.
That said, Dae Lims recently created an interesting authentic AI mix of “Let’s Put Our Hearts Together” from “Love You” to sound like a Pet Sounds outtake, and it’s kind of amazing. It kind of shines a light on the actual songwriting on “Love You”, which is still somewhat in tact.
39:10-- there's a UA-cam clip of the band KISS taking requests in their non makeup period. Yikes!
That doesn't surprise me!
Hi Matt. Just read Brian Wilson's Wife has just passed away..........Is this Correct?
Sadly, yes. It makes me very worried about Brian, because he's never handled death well, and this one is probably the worst blow he's ever been dealt.
Is the woman in the shadow Brian's second wife?
No she is a former Landy employee.
Once the Beach Boys release a box set of 15 Big Ones, Love You [Adult/CHiLD] much of that unreleased material properly mixed will be a revelation similar to SMiLE sessions box set, gaining a greater appreciation for that period in their career.
Is there a plan to release those?
@@popgoesthe60s52 My guess is it's on deck after their recent release Sail On Sailor covering - Carl And The Passions / Holland. But no official announcement.
That's a box I WON'T be buying. Nothing tops the Feel Flows box.
If they had today's technology they could have done it easily 🤷🏻
I agree with Glenn: Love You and 15 Big Ones were terrible albums.
But 15 BIG ONES is better! 😊
@@glenngreenberg2712 I agree 15 big ones has a few good songs.
@@dadaveda "It's OK" and ...... ? Certainly NOT "Rock & Roll Music" !!!
@@burlingtonbill1 yeah, maybe one good song!
Every time a member died or was permanently out band always got worse. 1962 to '73, love you, light album, 2011 smile + final album good enough!
All the studio albums after Holland(with the exception of My Diane from M.I.U. and a few songs on L.A. Light) are dreadful. Of course that's just MY opinion😊
FINALLY! Someone describing "Love You" TRUTHFULLY! The ugliest-sounding Beach Boys LP ever! You know what those voices are capable of, and you AREN'T getting it !!! And I say this coming from being a continuous fan since 1964!
Well said, Bill. We've gotten some emotional push back due to the review of _Loves You_ , but one cannot like everything!
Watching your videos it shows that The Beach Boys ended in 1969. As far as influence and creativity goes. Pretty sad ending. Again it shows how the Beatles were superior to all these bands. After 1970 it was all about rehashing their old songs and making a paycheck. Really a sad ending to The Beach Boys.
What about surf's up and Holland? They are incredible
Lol. Glad you enjoyed them. Incredible isn’t the word I would use. Horrible would better describe it.
"Love You" was a catastrophe of an album ... a CATASTROPHE!. And it made being a Beach Boys fan or even a fan of Brian Wilson the very worst thing one could be. Good Lord ... the lyrics on that album alone. Awful, awful, awful. And you're right about "That Same Song" from the previous album ... although that track was much much better when performed (as on television) with a full Gospel Choir.
Love You is a weird dreadful album. I tried giving it another chance after watching Elliott Robert's video but man, that album is pretty freaking terrible! Garbage
Sorry to be negative, just being honest. Wow, really bad. Another great video Matt! 👍👍