You may have noted a bit of a Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) theme on this website in tribute to the time of year in the northern hemisphere – by contrast, here in South Africa, it has been a bitingly cold winter with some places getting snow for the first time in years. We also are having a special Summer Nights!! chat on the evening of July 16 (early morning July 17 in Europe) and hope that you can join some in for some music and social chat.
Archive for June, 2007
Summer Chats
Saturday, June 30th, 2007Brian’s Hidden Beauties XXIX: And Your Dream Comes True
Wednesday, June 27th, 2007
When Brian and his band came on stage for the first SMiLE show in London in February 2004, there was an eerie anticipation on how the band would start for the first (non-SMiLE)  part of the show. They begun with a short a-capella piece that just about summed up the mood in the audience, And Your Dream Comes True.
David Leaf described the song as a “lullabye to summer”, but it also shows Brian’s ability (as well as Mike as lyricist) to evoke a sense of anticipation in a truly romantic and beautiful fashion, as well as the group’s wonderful harmonic blend. It may be a minute long but it evoked the moments that make a lifetime.
The Many Muses Of Brian Wilson
Tuesday, June 26th, 2007Brian Wilson – singer, backing vocalist, vocal arranger, producer, lyricist and composer. Brian has played all of these roles during his musical career, and mastered many of them; just think about the backing vocals arranged and sung on Linda Ronstadt’s version of Jimmy Webb’s Adios, or the aching solo vocal on songs like Your Summer Dream or Blue Christmas, let alone the production genius on Pet Sounds and many other places.
But here is a question for a pub discussion or fan convention- which do you think is Brian’s most important role amongst all of these? I guess I am biased, as I have always had interest in the songwriters (the song, not the singer….) and I would have to say that I believe that, when it all comes down, Brian will most be remembered as a composer.
Why do I say that? I believe that the melodies that combined rock n’ roll and the harmonic sensibility of the Four Freshmen helped shape the Californian dream that made the Beach Boys famous and made a not insignificant contribution to American and world culture. I believe that those aching tunes that inspired lyrics and moods that evoked the deepest emotion of the gain and loss of love have inspired and sustained many generations, and will continue to do so. And ultimately it is the man’s ability to write songs from Lonely Sea to What Love Can Do that have been the soundtrack of mine, and many lives, that has meant the most to me.
What do you think? What is Brian’s most important muse?
Dispatches From The Frontline
Sunday, June 24th, 2007Brian’s Norway show from June 17 is online at http://www1.nrk.no/nett-tv/klipp/263631. Some mixed reviews here, but have a look for yourself.
And if Brian wasn’t busy enough already, there are some Vancouver shows in August (River Rock casino, Richmond) Â between the end of his current World hits tour (July 8th) and his Lucky Old Sun London residency (September 10) .
20 Years Alone
Thursday, June 21st, 2007In reflecting on Brian, and his 65th birthday yesterday, it is worth noting another little-noticed landmark that passed this year. April 8 this year was the 20th anniversary of the release of the single, Let’s Go To Heaven In My Car, an event that in retrospect marked the start of the Brian’s solo career. Yes, there was the strange anomaly of Caroline No being released as a solo single in 1966, plus a fair bit of outside production and writing, but before 1987, most of what Brian did was for the Beach Boys. After 1987, he hardly did anything as a Beach Boy. You can read some more reflections on Brian as a solo artist in a blog post from a few months back, and it’s worth repeating the observation that we’re getting to close half Brian’s musical career being solo.
You Say It’s Your Birthday….Well, It’s My Birthday Two Days Later
Wednesday, June 20th, 2007
Happy Birthday, Brian Wilson. It’s maybe hard to believe that he is 65 today, but also amazing that he spends this birthday on the road (in Belgium, to be precise). Thanks for a thousand lifetimes of fantastic music and the soundtrack of my life.
More reflections on Brian in days to come, but for today, here is a list from Wikipedia of some of the people Brian shares a birthday with (full list and more info on the Wikipedia page).
You Say It’s Your Birthday….Well, Here’s A Review
Monday, June 18th, 2007
Happy 65th birthday, Sir Paul! And what better to celebrate this landmark than to review Paul McCartney’s new opus, Memory Almost Full, which was released at the beginning of the month.
The first thing to comment about the album is to note Paul’s bravery in releasing this on the independent Starbucks label. The music is even available on the independent music download site, eMusic, which is where I downloaded my copy. It is also less than two years since the last Macca album, Chaos And Creation In The Backyard, which indicates a prolific period for Paul, possibly inspired by recent turbulence in his life?
In a way, the new album appears to be a continuation of the careful songcraft that characterised Chaos And Creation In The Backyard. There is a sense of more adventure, particularly in the attempts to rock out (notably Nod Your Head), and consequently a lessening of the quality control. But there is also a sense that Paul has a lot to say, especially on The End On The End, when Paul confronts his own mortality head-on in a way that manages to be poignant and thought-provoking in a way that only that Macca could do. And while Paul would never say it directly here, it does seem that the happy memories and pain of the loss of Linda, and the drama of the marriage to Heather, are sitting somewhere close to the surface.
The melodycrafter of scores of classic Beatles ballads is still there, and most notably Ever Present Past and See Your Sunshine, there is clear evidence of a master songwriter. Overall, it’s not Paul’s greatest work, but it is a real gift to have him here and so prolific in 2007, and this is definitely worth seeking out. Happy birthday and thanks for all the tunes.
P.S. As a postscript to all the recent Beatles activity, it’s worth noting the Beatley dominance of the upper end of the Amazon.com chart.  As I write, the Wilbury’s collection, the Lennon Darfur album and Memory Almost Full are all in the top 5. In contrast, the Beach Boys Sound Of Summer and Warmth Of The Sun are drifting around the 100 mark- not too bad but not the same as the Beatley stuff. But it’s all good publicity for classic pop n’ roll and can only help in getting people to listen to Beach Boys music.
Another Wilbury Twist
Sunday, June 17th, 2007
You probably all know the Wilburys’ story -five music legends, including an ex-Beatle and possibly the most iconic American musician of the 60s, get together to make simple music in an ego-free environment, and what was meant to be a Harrison B-side spawned two cult albums. In between the albums, we sadly lost Lefty Wilbury (Roy Orbison), and since the second album (perversely called Volume 3), George Harrison also sadly passed away. And in that seems to be the story why there hasn’t been a proper CD re-issue until now, as the rights seemed to be tied up in George’s estate, which meant that the original CDs were changing hands for silly amounts of dollars, yen or whatever currency you chose.
But all that has been righted now with this comprehensive CD re-issue, which covers both albums, with the Volume 3 album conveniently on the third disc, while the second disc is a DVD with band history and their promo videos. There are bonus tracks on both CDs, including two previously unreleased songs on Disc 1. One could probably quibble that there could have been more comprehensive liner notes, but overall this is comprehensive Wilbury package as you would want and are ever likely to get.
You may well know the music, especially the first disc, but a number of things strike you about the music. Firstly, even although Harrison was apparently the driving force in the band, he plays a very understated role throughout, especially on the second album. Secondly, Dylan is certainly a significant presence, and the disc shows a side of him that is hardly ever showcased (one has to go back to Nashville Skyline for something similar), as the good-time pop writer and ensemble singer. Remember this was the period he was releasing Oh Mercy and Under The Red Sky which are both pretty serious works. It certainly shows another side of him during what seemed like a prolific burst at the tailend of the sixties.
Finally, there are the songs – often simple, straightforward rock-and-roll songs, but played with heart, passion and skill. My favorite was, and remains, Orbison’s aching, poignant Not Alone Any More -it still sounds as good almost two years later.
It’s great to have this collection at last- an essential part of Beatles, Dylan and general rock music folklore. Now can we please have Let It Be on DVD and a re-issue of Pacific Ocean Blue. Thanks….
Darfur And Disney
Saturday, June 16th, 2007
The Amnesty International campaign to save Darfur have put together a compilation of John Lennon covers- well worth seeking out as it is creating awareness of a major tragedy of our time. There is an interesting line-up of artists and songs including U2 doing Instant Karma, and REM doing #9 Dream, probably my favorite Lennon solo song (yeah, I’m a softie).
Also a reminder that the podcast series for the Warmth Of The Sun is still going strong. Find out in the latest edition why Disney Girls is a protest song!
If You Fall Down….
Friday, June 15th, 2007A bit of discussion on the message board about the Mountain Winery show where Brian fell down on stage and stopped the concert for a while, before coming back and finishing the show. Also some talk about Al who will no longer be joining Brian on his European shows. Brian certainly has a busy summer…he will be spending his 65th birthday on the road, and we wish all all the best once again for these shows.