When dinosaurs roamed the earth…
An obscure Brian Wilson gem–impossibly brilliant, impossibly stupid, engraved in my 16-year old heart forever.
269: Brian Wilson, ‘Sandy’/’Sherri She Needs Me’/’She Says That She Needs Me’
269: Brian Wilson, ‘Sandy’/’Sherri She Needs Me’/’She Says That She Needs Me’
031: The Beach Boys, ‘Little Saint Nick’
I live in the only non-Christian country in the Western world, where Yuletide is quite conspicuous in its absence. But who can resist the greatest hot-rod carol ever?
Continue reading...293: Sam Robson, ‘Warmth of The Sun’ (Beach Boys A Cappella)
55 years ago I dreamed a dream. Last week the tapes arrived.
Continue reading...230: The Beach Boys, ‘Here Today’ (“Pet Sounds” Unsurpassed Masters Vol. 14)
We can follow the process of recording “Pet Sounds” take-by-take.
But God Only Knows how such beauty is created.
158: Paul Simon, ‘Surfer Girl’
‘Surfer Girl’ is a schlocky, heartfelt ballad of unrequited teenage love, Brian Wilson clawing his way out of the gooey larva of his California pubescence. Paul Simon works his magic on it, tapping the genius that is Brian, elevating it to a work of great beauty.
Continue reading...004: The Beach Boys, ‘Kiss Me Baby’
Jeff’s latest musical fantasy, the origin.
The realization–currently in the oven. Stay tuned.
118: Brian Wilson, ‘Surf’s Up’ (“SMiLE”)
The Beach Boy’s unreleased 1966 “SMiLE” was rumored to be Brian Wilson’s unfinished masterpiece. Its legend grew larger than the Loch Ness monster, more beautiful than Shangri-La, more elusive than the Yeti, richer than El Dorado, more profound than the Shroud of Turin, more holy than the Grail. Now it’s been reassembled and issued, 37 years later. Was it worth the wait?
Continue reading...