Posted on 07/10/2008 4:07:04 AM PDT by Apollo 13
Hi everyone -
yesterday evening I turned off the TV, poured myself a fine beer, and put 'Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE' in the CD-player. I even toed in the speakers a bit, and adjusted all settings carefully. And man (and woman), was I blown away again by music that I know for the most part (in quantity) and for the most part of 35 years. It's a miracle anyway that Brian Wilson, with his history of stark depression and maltreatment by a very badly qualified psychologist who prescribed the wrong medication to him, found the strength in himself (no doubt aided by a doting new wife) to not only present the whole of 'Pet Sounds' (a daring move that prompted a whole slew of bands doing likewise, playing classic albums live, I mean); but also to finish the most famous unreleased album of all time, 'SMiLE', originally intended for a 1967 release, then released in a very hippy-dozy remake known as 'Smiley Smile', and then 'released' a gazillion times by profiteering bootleggers. The story of the finalization in 2003/2004 is utterly fascinating in itself; Brian phoned original collaborator Van Dyke Parks (he knew his number off of the top of his head after decades still!); Parks said 'yes', and then they did it in two or three weeks. After rehearsals, it was premièred in London, in February 2004, at the prestigious Royal Festival Hall (one of the most beautiful concert locations in the whole world). I was lucky to be present there. Everyone was shaking with nerves, because no one knew what to expect - would Brian and the band pull it off? My God, they did, and how! Standing ovations of 15 minutes... and in the intermission it seemed the most normal thing in the world ordering a beer with Paul Weller, Richard Ashcroft, Jonathan Ross, Sir Paul McCartney, and Sir George Martin standing next to you and in for a bit of chitchat with you. After the show we all went to the Travel Inn Lodge, where Brian's whole band was enjoying British Bitter beer (I cherish my photos). In short: the experience of a lifetime. So: yesterday I gave the album a spin, and again I could jump for joy at the sheer invention, the audacity, the structure (three 15-minute suites), and the way the band emulated that famous Beach Boys sound of yore. Personally, I find the inclusion of a female voice (the gorgeous Taylor Mills) a masterstroke, it lends a touch to the whole enterprise that was lacking in the all-male group in the 1960s. After 'SMiLE', I could do only one thing: pour another beer and put on Charles Ives' 'Three Orchestral Sets' (another must-have, on the Naxos label, available for a snip). And, a bit giddy through the beverage intake, I thought: 'SMiLE' is every bit as good as Ives' record. 'SMiLE' will become a classic in the true classical sense, and it will be performed by other singers and ensembles for centuries, long after all superficial debate ('it's not the Beach Boys' and such garbage) will have died a most welcome death. I could go on and on about my love for Brian Wilson, Van Dyke Parks, and the Beach Boys. I have all, but truly all of their stuff. It's truly ageless; and it's much better than the Beatles ever could be.
I’m a BB/Brian Wilson fanatic too. I ditto all you said!
Good Vibes.
Hi everyone -
yesterday evening I turned off the TV, poured myself a fine beer, and put 'Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE' in the CD-player. I even toed in the speakers a bit, and adjusted all settings carefully. And man (and woman), was I blown away again by music that I know for the most part (in quantity) and for the most part of 35 years.
It's a miracle anyway that Brian Wilson, with his history of stark depression and maltreatment by a very badly qualified psychologist who prescribed the wrong medication to him, found the strength in himself (no doubt aided by a doting new wife) to not only present the whole of 'Pet Sounds' (a daring move that prompted a whole slew of bands doing likewise, playing classic albums live, I mean); but also to finish the most famous unreleased album of all time, 'SMiLE', originally intended for a 1967 release, then released in a very hippy-dozy remake known as 'Smiley Smile', and then 'released' a gazillion times by profiteering bootleggers.
The story of the finalization in 2003/2004 is utterly fascinating in itself; Brian phoned original collaborator Van Dyke Parks (he knew his number off of the top of his head after decades still!); Parks said 'yes', and then they did it in two or three weeks.
After rehearsals, it was premièred in London, in February 2004, at the prestigious Royal Festival Hall (one of the most beautiful concert locations in the whole world).
I was lucky to be present there. Everyone was shaking with nerves, because no one knew what to expect - would Brian and the band pull it off? My God, they did, and how! Standing ovations of 15 minutes... and in the intermission it seemed the most normal thing in the world ordering a beer with Paul Weller, Richard Ashcroft, Jonathan Ross, Sir Paul McCartney, and Sir George Martin standing next to you and in for a bit of chitchat with you.
After the show we all went to the Travel Inn Lodge, where Brian's whole band was enjoying British Bitter beer (I cherish my photos). In short: the experience of a lifetime. So: yesterday I gave the album a spin, and again I could jump for joy at the sheer invention, the audacity, the structure (three 15-minute suites), and the way the band emulated that famous Beach Boys sound of yore. Personally, I find the inclusion of a female voice (the gorgeous Taylor Mills) a masterstroke, it lends a touch to the whole enterprise that was lacking in the all-male group in the 1960s. After 'SMiLE', I could do only one thing: pour another beer and put on Charles Ives' 'Three Orchestral Sets' (another must-have, on the Naxos label, available for a snip).
And, a bit giddy through the beverage intake, I thought: 'SMiLE' is every bit as good as Ives' record. 'SMiLE' will become a classic in the true classical sense, and it will be performed by other singers and ensembles for centuries, long after all superficial debate ('it's not the Beach Boys' and such garbage) will have died a most welcome death. I could go on and on about my love for Brian Wilson, Van Dyke Parks, and the Beach Boys. I have all, but truly all of their stuff.
It's truly ageless; and it's much better than the Beatles ever could be.
A few questions from a relative newbie:
1. how could my piece appear twice (well, it’s rather good, so that’s no problem...)?
2. how can I construct words in italics?
Tks in advance, A13.
Yes, it is rather good. And it appeared twice because the poster, A Perfect Stranger, did you a favor and reposted it for you and ADDED PARAGRAPHS, which makes it so much easier to read.
Lovely piece, in any event.
Thanks Auntie -
I did not know that. I like condensed long pieces of text myself, but since a lot of you think otherwise, I will observe paragraphs in the future.
So: tks again, and now go bake me a nice cherry pie...:)
Thanks PF -
I know now why you duplicated my text. Many, many thanks for taking the trouble. I learned something for the future.
And by the way: Brian Wilson will release an all-new CD on September 2, titled ‘That Lucky Old Sun’. Since I already have a live recording of it (from London, last year), I can promise it’s really good.
Cheers again, A13.
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