While touring across Europe in the early 70s, the Beach Boys rolled in to their date in Holland several hours behind schedule. Arriving at dawn for a concert scheduled the previous evening, the band was amazed to discover not only that the entire crowd was still in attendance, but that they cheered louder for the band’s new material than their 60s hits. So when the time came to choose a destination other than California for recording their new LP, the choice was easy. Picking up where 1971’s Surf’s Up left off, Holland is a densely orchestrated and painstakingly recorded album by a band in the twilight of their career. Sadly, Brian Wilson’s impact here is limited -- his only contributions are the album’s opening and closing tracks, as well as the completely bizarre storybook EP Mt. Vernon and Fairway, included with first pressings of the LP and included here as bonus tracks. Thankfully, the rest of the band really steps up to make this a highlight of the band’s otherwise spotty mid 70s output. For those who've enjoyed Pacific Ocean Blue and Bamboo, Holland will be a real treat.
Showing posts with label Dennis Wilson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dennis Wilson. Show all posts
Friday
Beach Boys
Holland - 1973
While touring across Europe in the early 70s, the Beach Boys rolled in to their date in Holland several hours behind schedule. Arriving at dawn for a concert scheduled the previous evening, the band was amazed to discover not only that the entire crowd was still in attendance, but that they cheered louder for the band’s new material than their 60s hits. So when the time came to choose a destination other than California for recording their new LP, the choice was easy. Picking up where 1971’s Surf’s Up left off, Holland is a densely orchestrated and painstakingly recorded album by a band in the twilight of their career. Sadly, Brian Wilson’s impact here is limited -- his only contributions are the album’s opening and closing tracks, as well as the completely bizarre storybook EP Mt. Vernon and Fairway, included with first pressings of the LP and included here as bonus tracks. Thankfully, the rest of the band really steps up to make this a highlight of the band’s otherwise spotty mid 70s output. For those who've enjoyed Pacific Ocean Blue and Bamboo, Holland will be a real treat.
While touring across Europe in the early 70s, the Beach Boys rolled in to their date in Holland several hours behind schedule. Arriving at dawn for a concert scheduled the previous evening, the band was amazed to discover not only that the entire crowd was still in attendance, but that they cheered louder for the band’s new material than their 60s hits. So when the time came to choose a destination other than California for recording their new LP, the choice was easy. Picking up where 1971’s Surf’s Up left off, Holland is a densely orchestrated and painstakingly recorded album by a band in the twilight of their career. Sadly, Brian Wilson’s impact here is limited -- his only contributions are the album’s opening and closing tracks, as well as the completely bizarre storybook EP Mt. Vernon and Fairway, included with first pressings of the LP and included here as bonus tracks. Thankfully, the rest of the band really steps up to make this a highlight of the band’s otherwise spotty mid 70s output. For those who've enjoyed Pacific Ocean Blue and Bamboo, Holland will be a real treat.
Wednesday
Beach Boys
Carl & The Passions - "So Tough!" - 1972
With nearly every one of their LPs throughout the decade being hailed as their "return to form" or "last great" album, it's very easy to dismiss a Beach Boys LP from the 1970s as an over-hyped dud. I know this, because I've done the very same thing, only discovering very recently that Carl & The Passions - "So Tough!" , while not a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination, is an album with a handful of extremely powerful songs, albeit one with an extremely lame title and cover art. Originally issued as a double LP with a reissued Pet Sounds ( ?? )
With nearly every one of their LPs throughout the decade being hailed as their "return to form" or "last great" album, it's very easy to dismiss a Beach Boys LP from the 1970s as an over-hyped dud. I know this, because I've done the very same thing, only discovering very recently that Carl & The Passions - "So Tough!" , while not a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination, is an album with a handful of extremely powerful songs, albeit one with an extremely lame title and cover art. Originally issued as a double LP with a reissued Friday
The Beach Boys
20/20 - 1968
The Beach Boys' 20th and final LP under their original Capitol contract was one that felt much like the odds n' sods collection that it was at the time of its release. Thankfully, the passage of time has worked in the band's favor, and 20/20 is now looked upon fondly as the LP that forecasted the band's early 70s reinvention and the emergence of Carl and Dennis Wilson as the driving forces behind it. 20/20 is notable for containing a couple of tracks from the aborted SMiLe project (what was to be the album's opener "Our Prayer" and the bizarre "Cabin Essence") as well as "Never Learn Not to Love" a composition by none other than Charles Manson. Here's the lowdown, straight from Wikipedia:
Before the album commenced recording, Dennis had befriended a struggling musician named Charles Manson and decided to help him in the music industry by recording his song "Cease To Exist" for the Beach Boys, under the new title Never Learn Not to Love. Manson explicitly told Wilson that the words were not to be altered, though he could do what he liked with the music (in the event, the basic melody was largely unchanged). When "Never Learn Not to Love" was first released by the Beach Boys as a B-side in late 1968, and credited solely to Dennis Wilson - with altered lyrics and a new bridge - Manson threatened Wilson with murder. According to Brian's collaborator, Van Dyke Parks, when Manson once showed up to make good on his threat, Dennis beat him up.
All told, 20/20 is a fantastic, fun album. The highlights are numerous, but my favorites include the Phil Spector-penned "I Can Hear Music" wrapped in a warm blanket of sunny California, and Brian's prophetic "Time to Get Alone", his sole contribution to the album.
The Beach Boys' 20th and final LP under their original Capitol contract was one that felt much like the odds n' sods collection that it was at the time of its release. Thankfully, the passage of time has worked in the band's favor, and 20/20 is now looked upon fondly as the LP that forecasted the band's early 70s reinvention and the emergence of Carl and Dennis Wilson as the driving forces behind it. 20/20 is notable for containing a couple of tracks from the aborted SMiLe project (what was to be the album's opener "Our Prayer" and the bizarre "Cabin Essence") as well as "Never Learn Not to Love" a composition by none other than Charles Manson. Here's the lowdown, straight from Wikipedia:Before the album commenced recording, Dennis had befriended a struggling musician named Charles Manson and decided to help him in the music industry by recording his song "Cease To Exist" for the Beach Boys, under the new title Never Learn Not to Love. Manson explicitly told Wilson that the words were not to be altered, though he could do what he liked with the music (in the event, the basic melody was largely unchanged). When "Never Learn Not to Love" was first released by the Beach Boys as a B-side in late 1968, and credited solely to Dennis Wilson - with altered lyrics and a new bridge - Manson threatened Wilson with murder. According to Brian's collaborator, Van Dyke Parks, when Manson once showed up to make good on his threat, Dennis beat him up.
All told, 20/20 is a fantastic, fun album. The highlights are numerous, but my favorites include the Phil Spector-penned "I Can Hear Music" wrapped in a warm blanket of sunny California, and Brian's prophetic "Time to Get Alone", his sole contribution to the album.
Thursday
Dennis Wilson
Bamboo - Unreleased
Planned as the follow up to the magnificent Pacific Ocean Blue, this second and final Dennis Wilson LP has remained unreleased since his death in 1983. While the majority of the songs here were never finished, Wilson's ambition to make this record more stylistically diverse than its predecessor is still evident. Check out the southern horns and lap steel on the instrumental "New Orleans", or the funky percussion on "Companion". Yet, much like Pacific Ocean Blue this is an aural record of a man losing his grip and falling apart -- which is, oddly, what makes it so appealing. Since the album was never completed, the tracklisting has remained unknown, though the folks over at Dennis Wilson Dreamer have a wealth of information about this album, so be sure to pay them a visit.
Planned as the follow up to the magnificent Pacific Ocean Blue, this second and final Dennis Wilson LP has remained unreleased since his death in 1983. While the majority of the songs here were never finished, Wilson's ambition to make this record more stylistically diverse than its predecessor is still evident. Check out the southern horns and lap steel on the instrumental "New Orleans", or the funky percussion on "Companion". Yet, much like Pacific Ocean Blue this is an aural record of a man losing his grip and falling apart -- which is, oddly, what makes it so appealing. Since the album was never completed, the tracklisting has remained unknown, though the folks over at Dennis Wilson Dreamer have a wealth of information about this album, so be sure to pay them a visit.Monday
Dennis Wilson
Pacific Ocean Blue - 1977
Paradoxically one of the saddest and most uplifiting albums ever recorded. Dennis Wilson, Beach Boys' drummer and brother to Brian, look seven long years to record this LP. Upon its release Brian sang its praises, but Dennis dismissed it as lacking in substance -- looking forward to his next LP Bamboo, which he promised would be even greater. Opening with the beautiful "River Song" about the country living Dennis longed for, Pacific Ocean Blue is an intensely passionate trip through the West Coast lifestyle that consumed him -- rivaling even Pet Sounds in its emotional intensity and orchestral might.
Sadly, this was to be Dennis' lone solo release, as in late 1983, he drowned off the coast of Marina Del Ray, CA. Bamboo remained unreleased until the fine folks at Sundazed/Legacy included it in their Deluxe Reissue of the album last year.
Paradoxically one of the saddest and most uplifiting albums ever recorded. Dennis Wilson, Beach Boys' drummer and brother to Brian, look seven long years to record this LP. Upon its release Brian sang its praises, but Dennis dismissed it as lacking in substance -- looking forward to his next LP Bamboo, which he promised would be even greater. Opening with the beautiful "River Song" about the country living Dennis longed for, Pacific Ocean Blue is an intensely passionate trip through the West Coast lifestyle that consumed him -- rivaling even Pet Sounds in its emotional intensity and orchestral might. Sadly, this was to be Dennis' lone solo release, as in late 1983, he drowned off the coast of Marina Del Ray, CA. Bamboo remained unreleased until the fine folks at Sundazed/Legacy included it in their Deluxe Reissue of the album last year.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)