Top Ten Bands I will Listen to in Hell (not according to me!)

Salon.com has posted one of those snarky lists of bands that a particular person hates, by one Sean Beaudoin, who is surely getting his share of badly misspelled, hate emails, comments, tweets by this time. Missives along the lines of "You hate Creed. Creed is the best. You our nothing butt a hater!" I won't join in the outrage, though I am a fan of most of the artists listed. In fact, I make no secret of putting the Beach Boys in my all-time top two. But I agree with Sean on another of the bands (yes, it was I who sent him the above-quoted Creed email). Even though Sean is wrong Wrong WRONG when it comes to the Beach Boy's, he makes a fair point about Creed. And he writes well, and humorously about his hates. Sean is entitled to his opinion and he appears to have done the prerequisite listening homework in making these judgments. Which makes me wonder how he can slag off whole careers instead of focusing on particular artistic "missteps." But it was a fun read.

Here is his list of the ten bands he (Sean Beaudoin) will hear in hell, along with a link to the article!

In order from 1 to 10:

Counting Crows
Beach Boys
Billy Joel
Weezer
Eric Clapton
R.E.M.
Oasis
Sting
Creed
Pearl Jam

Here is the link to the article if you want to check it out. It is a good read!

the ten bands I will be forced to listen to in hell

Set the wayback machine to August 12, 1995....

I got the thrill of a lifetime when I joined Bruce Johnston on his keyboard at the Beach Boys concert on August 12, 1995. I am too the left of Bruce. Joining us is my buddy Roy Burkhardt from Harmony House! One of the best nights of my life!

The tune, of course, is "Barbara Ann." Also onstage are John Stamos and David Cassidy!

By the way, I have posted a Spotify playlist from last Saturday's Beach Boys concert featuring their entire set list in order. Enjoy!

Beach Boys Set List at DTE Energy Theater June 30, 2012

The Beach Boys at DTE June 30, 2012

If you have ever cared about the music of Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys then there was no other place to be than last night at the DTE Energy Theater (the Venue Formely Known as Pine Knob)! I make no secret that I believe this catalog of work to be the most important in American Popular Music and consider the Beach Boys the Greatest American Band. Their music is woven into the tapestry of American Popular Culture in a way that no other artist can lay claim. (Berry Gordy's Motown catalog arguably comes close). It is easy to spot the Beach Boys influence in artists as diverse as The Ramones, The Shins, Sinead O'Connor, of course the Beatles, the list goes on and on.


The Beach Boys proved last night that they owned harmony singing like no other band, and that includes the Eagles and Crosby, Stills and Nash. Backed by Brian Wilson's touring band, the core of which is the LA Power Pop quartet "The Wondermints" as well as a couple of refugees from the Love-Johnston "Beach Boys" they provided spirited yet note-perfect backing. This backup aggregation can sing their asses off, and they effectively double the Beach Boy's vocals giving the tunes a full sound unheard since these tracks were recorded up to half a century ago.  The audio was accompanied by a giant video screen which showed appropriate scenes from the history of the Beach Boys.

The only thing missing from last night's celebration were the two younger Wilson Brothers, Dennis and Carl who passed on way before their time. Yet, they were there in spirit as the Beach Boys' accompanied video's of their signature. Perhaps the emotional highlight of the show as first Dennis appeared on the screen, singing his great composition "Forever" backed vocally and instrumentally by the Beach Boys. Pictures of Dennis appeared and the tune ended with the words "Dennis We Love You" on the screen. Then it was Carl's turn, as the screen portrayed him taking his angelic vocal turn on "God Only Knows" again backed by full band. There were more than a few teary eyes in the crowd after this tribute.

The two main Beach Boys, Brian Wilson and Mike Love have both turned 70, and age showed on a couple of tunes, but this did not detract from their otherwise strong vocal presentation. Al Jardine literally sounds like he always did. He really brings the classic BB sound. Bruce Johnston shone on his 1971 composition "Disney Girls." Honorary Beach Boy Jeff Foskett, doubled by "Love-Johnston Beach Boy" Scott Totten nailed the falsetto tags that highlighted many a Beach Boy's classic. They also sang the parts that were once handled by the late Carl Wilson. Surprisingly, the Beach Boys secret weapon might have been David Lee Marks who unwisely left the band after their first five albums after feuding with then manager (and Brian's father) Murray Wilson. His ringing guitar licks reminded the crowd of his bandmate and "across the street" neighbor Carl, and he led the band through the instrumental "Pet Sounds" from that classic album to open up the second set. No vocals in that tune, yet still a highlight!

That tune was followed up the the sight of the Beach Boys gathered around Brian's white concert grand, as they did a semi-acoustic version of "Add Some Music To Your Day" from 1970s "Sunflower" release. This tune, as it did on the original vinyl, showcased each BB's contribution to their vocal mix.

All in all, a breathtaking evening of music.

Altogether the Beach Boys played 47 songs in a 2 hour and 45 minute show. No opening act. Setlist is below.

Go, if you have the chance. This might be the last chance to see and hear these legends. If it is, then they certainly went out on the highest note imaginable. I can imagine seeing this show again, if they tour in next year. I would probably catch a Brian live show since I like to periodically worship at the "Church of Wilson." Doubt that I would watch a "Love-Johnston" Beach Boys show as it can't possibly match this. So this might be it for me. Nearly 50 Beach Boy/Brian Wilson shows starting in 1974 and (maybe) ending in 2012. Lotta memories for me. But there will supposedly be a live DVD and CD from this tour. And there is YouTube and torrents and the original vinyl. This music will live on.

Love and Mercy to you and your friends Tonight!

Setlist

1 Do It Again
2 Catch A Wave
3 Hawaii
4 Don't Back Down
5 Surfin' Safari
6 Surfer Girl
7 Come Go With Me
8 Why Do Fools Fall In Love
9 When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)
10 Please Let Me Wonder
11 Wendy
12 Getcha Back
13 Then I Kissed Her
14 Disney Girls
15 Isn't It Time
16 Kiss Me, Baby
17 California Saga: California
18 Cotton Fields
19 Be True To Your School
20 Ballad of Ole' Betsy
21 Still Cruisin'
22 Don't Worry Baby
23 Little Deuce Coupe
24 409
25 Shut Down
26 I Get Around

Intermission

27 Pet Sounds
28 Add Some Music To Your Day
29 Heroes And Villains
30 Sloop John B
31 Wouldn't It Be Nice
32 I Just Wasn't Made For These Times
33 Sail On Sailor
34 All This Is That
35 That's Why God Made The Radio
36 In My Room
37 Forever
38 God Only Knows
39 Good Vibrations
40 California Girls
41 Help Me Rhonda
42 Rock N Roll Music
43 Do You Wanna Dance?
44 Surfin' USA

Encore

45 Kokomo
46 Barbara Ann
47 Fun, Fun, Fun

Happy Father's Day from the Listening Room

My relationship with my Father, who passed away on Pearl Harbor Day 1997 was "complicated" at best. My parents split up before I was born. My Dad moved away to California to seek a career in acting. He remarried and had a second family. I had a long distance relationship with my Dad. One short uncomfortable visit from him when I was five. A 3 week trip to LA when I was 9. A weekend in Michigan when I was 11.  A few phone calls. A few letters. And then, 15 years of total non-communication. After a family tragedy when I was 24, we reconnected. My renewed relationship with my Dad was marked, at first, by a sense that I had that he felt guilty about how things went down. I tried to tell him that I had no hard feelings toward his being absent.

There were times I actually convinced myself that I believed it.

I have tried to be the exact opposite toward my kids that my Dad was toward me. Caring, involved, giver of gifts and initiator of activities. Coach of their sports teams. Trying to provide them with everything I never had. And.......I feel at times that I am steering the boat of Fatherhood into a squall of anger, defiance, rage, sullenness, you name it. Which, I guess that means I am about the same as every other Dad out there!

So, Happy Father's Day from Chadwick's Listening Room! And here is a short Father's Day playlist!

"Papa Was A Rolling Stone"

"Color Him Father"

"Daddy Could Swear, I Declare"

"My Dad"

"Father and Son"

"Father To Son"

"Theme From the Courtship of Eddie's Father"

"Cats In The Cradle"

And Finally, Brian and the Beach Boys with "I'm Bugged At My Old Man!"

I'm sure I have missed a few, probably one of  your favorites. Sorry!

Beach Boys New CD

"That's Why God Made The Radio" aka the new Beach Boys cd hit the racks yesterday. Is it any good? Does it rank with the best work of Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys? Let's answer the second question first. The Beach Boys best work ranks with the best albums recorded by any of the so-called "giants" going back to Edison's "Mary Had A Little Lamb" (covered by McCartney and Wings in the 70s). When your peak work,  "Pet Sounds" gets compared to "Sgt.Pepper" "Exile On Main Street" "Blonde on Blonde" "In The Wee Small Hours"...you can see how difficult a task it is to assess a new work by Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys. Does it rank up there with their best. Probably not. If McCartney puts out a worthwhile album, it is probably not gonna equal "Pepper" or "Abbey Road." However, "TWGMTR" is, nevertheless, a worthwhile and rewarding listen and gets a high recommendation from this old Beach Boys fan.

First of all, the fact that we even have new Brian Wilson and the Beach Boy's music in 2012 is remarkable. The last "proper" Beach Boy's album was "Summer In Paradise" which went straight to the cut-out bins in the early 90's. Brian was not on board for that disc. Even as a fan, I didn't find much on that outing to recommend. For the Beach Boys to pull together a work as enjoyable as this release, not to mention beautiful in parts, is amazing. There are moments here that refer back to their best work.

Back in 1998, Brian recorded a solo album with country music producer Joe Thomas. The album, "Your Imagination" did successfully revive Brian's career to a degree with that effort's main criticism being a certain "sterility" to the backing instrumental tracks. Brian's vocal's were top-notch as were the vocal arrangements but the backing's had a certain "Middle-of-the-Road" quality to them. The Wilson-Thomas partnership broke up in a haze of bad vibrations, acrimony and litigation. The roots of this album are the demos that Wilson and Thomas wrote for the never-recorded followup. It seems that all but one track, the Mike Love penned "Daybreak Over The Ocean" stem from those demos. One reviewer, in assessing the new album said it was as if Brian released a new solo album and invited the other Beach Boys to contribute vocals. Not such a bad thing if you ask me.

With the exception of a couple of lyrical efforts by Mike Love to pretend that "Smile" and the last 45 years had never happened, "Spring Vacation" and "Beaches In Mind," (easily skippable in  the cd format by judicious use of the "ff" button) the album has an almost "autumnal" perspective. It seems that, at one point, Brian was working on a project that would be his swan song to recording and some of the lyrics were written from the perspective of a writer who realizes that his life's days were dwindling down to a precious few.

The album starts off with the gorgeous "Think About The Days" whose wordless vocal, and minimal instrumentation (piano and....is that a French Horn I hear?) add up to one of their most melancholy, yet beautiful pieces ever.

This intro is followed by the single, which is the title track and the bouncy "Isn't It Time" which features a vocal by Al Jardine who sounds like he hasn't aged a moment since he waxed "Cotton Fields" in 1968.

The tunes getting the most attention  are probably the "mini-suite" which closes the album. "From There To Back Again" "Pacific Coast Highway" and "Summer's Gone" flow from one to another, like the "Large Medley" on Abbey Road.  "Summer's Gone has a Wilson/Thomas/Jon Bon Jovi (?!?) writing credit!

"Summer's gone/it's finally sinking in
One day begins
Another ends
I live them all and back again."

Sadly beautiful.

Could it have been better? Brian is in strong voice with his battered vocal instrument fitting the lyrical perspective of these tunes. Al Jardine sounds like a much younger man. His "solo/Beach Boys" tune "Don't Fight The Sea," featuring as it does a vocal by beloved Wilson brother Carl, would have fit nicely on this album (maybe in place of one of the Love penned tunes?). More Al would have been nice. Honorable mention to Jeff Foskett who picks up the Carl's mantle with his wonderful voice taking the parts Carl would have sung. He also sings the falsetto parts the younger Brian would have nailed. It's time to make him a full fledged Beach Boy (if you wanna keep him on salary that's fine-give him the "title" of full fledged band member. He has earned it!.

If Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys go out on this note, it will be a fitting and appropriate way to call it a career.  At least, they would be ending it on a high note, with strong echoes of their greatest work. If they record again, I hope they meet the standard set by this album.

Highly recommended to those who already love the Beach Boys and are familiar with their body of great work!

Mojo Magazine's 50 Greatest Beach Boy Songs

The great rock magazine, Mojo, outa the UK just hit the newstands with their Beach Boys issue, in celebration of the Beach Boy's current world tour and imminent album release. They countdown the top 50 Beach Boys songs which I have reduced to a Spotify playlist. You also get a cool tribute cd called "Pet Sounds Revisited" with bands like the Flaming Lips covering every song on that classic 66 release.

I have posted the entire 50 song playlist on Spotify!

Mojo's 50 Greatest Beach Boys Songs


Here is the list below:


Mojo - The Beach Boys 50 Greatest Tracks - June 2012

A Mojo Contributors Favourite Beach Boy Tracks, To Be Followed Soon By A Readers Edition.

Format #. Title - Where To Find It

1. Surf's Up - Surf's Up/Smile (2011)/Brian Wilson Presents Smile
2. Good Vibrations - Smiley Smile
3. God Only Knows - Pet Sounds
4. California Girls - Summer Days (And Summer Nights)
5. 'Till I Die - Surf's Up
6. Caroline No - Pet Sounds
7. Heroes And Villains - Smiley Smile/Smile (2011)
8. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) - Pet Sounds
9. Wouldn't It Be Nice - Pet Sounds
10. I Get Around - Little Duce Coupe
11. Cabinessence - 20/20/Smile (2011)/Brian Wilson Presents Smile
12. Feel Flows - Surf's Up
13. I Just Wasn't Made For These Times - Pet Sounds
14. You Still Believe In Me - Pet Sounds
15. Don't Worry Baby - Shut Down Volume 1
16. Sail On Sailor - Holland
17. Let's Go Away For A While - Pet Sounds
18. Surfer Girl - Surfer Girl
19. In My Room - Surfer Girl
20. I Know There's An Answer - Pet Sounds
21. Do You Like Worms - Smile (2011)
22. Our Prayer - 20/20
23. I'm Waiting For The Day - Pet Sounds
24. Pet Sounds (Instrumental) - Pet Sounds
25. Fun, Fun, Fun - Shut Down Vol 1.
26. The Warmth Of The Sun - Shut Down Volume 2
27. Surfin' USA - SummerDays (And Summer Nights)
28. Disney Girls - Surf's Up
29. Darlin' - Wild Honey
30. Here Today - Pet Sounds
31. I Can Hear Music - 20/20
32. You're So Good To Me - Summer Days (And Summer Nights)
33. Break Away - 20/20
34. Barbara Ann - Party!
35. All Summer Long -  Little Deuce Coup
36. Tears In The Morning - Sunflower
37. Sloop John B - Pet Sounds
38. Cool, Cool Water - Sunflower
39. When I Grow Up To Be A Man -
40. Cuddle Up - Carl And The Passions/So Tough
41. Long Promised Road - Surf's Up
42. Let Himk Run Wild - Summer Days (And Summer Nights)
43. Little Deuce Coup -  Little Deuce Coup
44. That's Not Me - Pet Sounds
45. Wild Honey - Wild Honey
46. Do It Again - 20/20
47. Vega-Tables - Smiley Smile/Smile (2011)
48. Help Me, Rhonda - Today
49. Wind Chimes - Smiley Smile
50. Forever - Sunflower

That's Why God Made The Radio

The Beach Boys this week released their first single in their "reunion" mode with Brian Wilson, Al Jardine and David Marks back on board joining Mike Love, the one constant member since 1961 and Bruce Johnston who, but for an absence from 1972 to 1979 has been a member since 1965. The first Beach Boy's record to feature Brian since the early 90's starts off with Brian's strong lead over a very 50's sounding piano/organ combo. Nicely layered vocals build to a climax sung with gusto by the whole group. Mike Love's nasally lead is nary to be heard on this track but we do hear his fine bass vocals in the mix. This video contains the lyrics to this comeback tune. Avert your eyes from the photo of the group sitting around a piano looking scarily ancient.

I'm assuming it's a Wilson-Love co-write though I have not found a songwriting credit for the tune.  Rolling Stone called it "cosmic, korny but undeniably beautiful." Will it get radio airplay? Probably not. Who cares? Who listens to the radio anymore? Watch it on you tube, listen on spotify, download to your phone. It sounds like summer!


The album is out June 5, and this is the title track. Other titles on the record include: ‘Think About The Days’, Isn’t It Time,’ ‘Spring Vacation,’ ‘Private Life Of Bill And Sue,’ ‘Shelter’ ‘Daybreak Over The Ocean,’ ‘Beaches In Mind’, ‘Strange World,’ ‘My Life Suite’, and ‘Summer’s Gone.’

The Beach Boys tour kicked off a couple of nights ago in Tucson, AZ. The reunited BB's played 42 tunes, nearly all hits. They will play DTE Energy Theater on June 30th!. I'm going and, on the strength of this tune, looking forward to the album.

By the way, erstwhile BB Al Jardine's "Postcards From California" hit the racks a couple of weeks ago with 3 bonus tracks after being released digitally last year. A fine, if somewhat low-key effort, that was recorded over a period of years, "Postcards" is much, much better than anyone would assume that a solo Al Jardine album in 2011 would have any right to be. Here is "Don't Fight The Sea" a tune that features the classic the vocal talents of Brian, Mike,  and late, great Carl Wilson. This was an unfinished Beach Boy's track from 1978. Give it a listen!

The Deaths of Ronnie Montrose and Robert Sherman

I wanted to mention a couple of notable deaths in the music world yesterday, of two men who had very little in common.

First, and in no particular order, the great Disney songwriter Robert Sherman, who, along with his brother Richard Sherman, wrote some of the most beloved movie tunes of all time. I am gonna throw out three for you: "It's A Small World," "Supercalifragilisticexpialadocious," and "Spoonful Of Sugar." There, at least one of those is now stuck in your head! Amazingly,  he was still active and working on a new Disney film at the time of his death at the age of 86. Quite a run for this little known but gifted tunesmith. Here's a cool Sherman Brother's tune from the popular Merlin Jones series of films in the 60's. The title tune from "The Monkey's Uncle" featuring Annette and The Beach Boys. Sadly, Annette herself was stricken with MS sometime ago and rumor has it that she is no longer able to speak.

Another notable musical figure to pass from the scene was Ronnie Montrose. Ronnie is probably best well-known for starting the band "Montrose" after leaving the Edgar Winter Group, and discovering a young Sammy Hagar who was his first lead singer.  The first Montrose album was really a genre classic and is sadly overlooked on today's (mostly awful) classic Rock Radio. Ronnie could shred, as he demonstrated below on this Montrose classic with Sammy on vocals "Bad, Motor Scooter."

Ronnie had more than one  arrow in his guitar "quiver." He was capable of playing with great melodic restraint, as demonstrated to such fine effect on many records with Edgar Winter and, especially the two albums he cut with Van (The Man) Morrison, "St. Dominic's Preview" and "Tupelo Honey".  Here is Ronnie backing up Van Morrison on a classic tune by the Cranky Old Bastard.

Farewell Robert and Ronnie! You made your marks on our little world of music and will be remembered for a long time!