Beach Boys

by Badman, Keith

• ISBN13: 9780879308186
• ISBN10: 0879308184
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-10-01
• Publisher: Backbeat Books

Summary

Beginning their career as a popular surf band, The Beach Boys had emerged by 1966 as America's preeminent pop group, the only act able to challenge the success of The Beatles with both mainstream listeners and the critical community. This book reconstructs their evolution to one of the best-produced groups of the '60s, and also profiles Brian Wilson, one of the most gifted songwriters, producers, and arrangers in popular music. The book's easy-to-browse, day-by-day format details their entire concert history, all known recording sessions, their broadcast history, and all records issued in the U.S. and the U.K.

Table of Contents

1961 In Hawthorne, California	p. 8
Al Jardine and Brian Wilson start to play music with Mike Love, Carl Wilson and Dennis Wilson as The Pendletones
The group records demos and then masters, including 'Surfin', at music-publisher Hite Morgan's studio in Los Angeles
'Surfin' single released on Candix label and credited to The Beach Boys
The newly-named group begins playing concerts
1962 Al Jardine leaves	p. 18
The Beach Boys and David Marks replaces him
Capitol Records signs the group
First Capitol single 'Surfin' Safari' released
First major tour is a 40-date Midwest jaunt
First Capitol album Surfin' Safari recorded and released
Capitol agrees to Brian's bold suggestion that he should produce the group and record them in non-Capitol studios
1963 First serious sessions	p. 30
At Western Recorders, Hollywood, and Gold Star, Los Angeles, which become the group's favourite studios from now
Second album Surfin' USA recorded and released, hitting number 2 in the charts
US television debut
'Surfin' USA' peaks at number 3, the group's first Top Ten single
Brian begins to miss some live performances, and embarks on sole production of Beach Boys sessions, often using session musicians
Surfer Girl album recorded and released
David Marks leaves the group
Brian plays more live shows until Al Jardine rejoins the group
Little Deuce Coupe album recorded and released
1964 Shut Down Volume 2 album	p. 46
Recorded and released
First overseas tour, to Australia and New Zealand, supporting Roy Orbison
'Fun Fun Fun' single hits US number 5
Brian detects worrying competition as Beatlemania hits America
All Summer Long album recorded and released, with Brian determined to demonstrate the group's musical strengths
Murry Wilson is fired as manager
'I Get Around' is the group's first number 1 single
Christmas Album recorded and released
Concert album recorded and released, their first number 1 LP
'When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)' and 'Dance Dance Dance' singles recorded and released
Sessions begin for Today! album
Promotional tour of the UK and live dates in Europe
Brian shows strain as the group's success demands ever-busier schedules; he suffers a nervous breakdown and withdraws from live shows
Glen Campbell steps in at short notice as Brian's replacement on stage
1965 Recording sessions	p. 80
For Today! album continue
Brian announces he will cease to appear on stage with the group and intends to focus on composition and studio production
Glen Campbell plays more dates as Brian's stage replacement
Today! album released, with a whole side of Brian's 'new music'
Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) album recorded and released
'Help Me Rhonda' is the group's second number 1 single
Bruce Johnston takes over as a permanent replacement for Brian on live shows and also starts contributing to recording sessions
'California Girls' is a US number 3 single
Unplugged Party! album recorded and released
Brian installs his piano in a sandbox at his new Beverly Hills home
'The Girl I Once Knew' single recorded and released
Recordings are begun that will end up on next year's Pet Sounds album
Brian hears The Beatles' new Rubber Soul album, considers it a challenge, and starts writing songs with lyricist Tony Asher
'Barbara Ann' is a US number 2 and UK number 3 single
1966 The group	p. 106
Makes their first tour of Japan
Meanwhile in California, Brian officially starts work in the studio with the regular session team for the new album, which becomes Pet Sounds
Between tours and one-off dates the rest of the group gathers for vocal recordings
Sessions begin for 'Good Vibrations'
'Caroline No' single released, credited to Brian Wilson
'Sloop John B' single and Pet Sounds album released
Brian begins writing songs with Van Dyke Parks, and sessions start to record their 'Heroes And Villains'
'Good Vibrations' sessions continue
Best Of album released less than two months after Pet Sounds
Sessions begin for a new album, Smile, which Capitol schedules for Christmas release
'Good Vibrations' is at last completed and released, and goes to number 1
Plans begin to create group's own Brother Records
The touring band plays in Europe as 'Heroes & Villains' and Smile sessions continue in California
The group expresses unease with Brian's musical direction and he becomes uncertain about the Smile album; Capitol postpones its release until next year
1967 Sessions for Smile	p. 170
And 'Heroes And Villains' continue
Beach Boys file a lawsuit against Capitol for 'missing' royalties
Brian plans a studio in his new Bel Air home
Brian and songwriting partner Van Dyke Parks part company
Inside Pop CBS TV documentary airs with Brian performing 'Surf's Up'
European tour
Smile album is abandoned
Work on Smiley Smile album starts, mostly at Brian's new home studio
'Heroes And Villains' is finally completed
Beach Boys do not make their scheduled appearance at Monterey Pop festival
Capitol dispute is settled and Brother Records is announced
'Heroes And Villains' single makes US number 12 and UK number 8
'Gettin' Hungry' single, credited to Brian & Mike, fails to chart
Smiley Smile album released, baffling fans and critics and charting at a disappointing US number 41
Wild Honey album is recorded, once more largely at Brian's home studio and with the group now playing their own instruments again
Wild Honey album is released
The group's critical hipness and record sales are in decline
1968 The group	p. 210
And especially Mike, become enthralled by the Maharishi and Transcendental Meditation
Recording sessions are held for the Friends album
Mike flies to India to study alongside The Beatles with the Maharishi
The group's Southern US tour is largely cancelled or re-scheduled following the murder of Martin Luther King
Dennis meets Charles Manson
A mostly ill-attended Beach Boys US tour with the Maharishi is halted after just seven dates
Sessions take place for 20/20 album
Friends album released, but its chart peak at 126 marks the group's worst sales performance to date
'Do It Again' single makes US number 20 and a UK number 1
In a bizarre attempt to boost the group's flagging US sales, Capitol releases the Stack-o-Tracks backing-tracks-only album
European tour takes place, with London performances recorded for a future live album
1969 Recording sessions	p. 238
Begin for a new album, to become next year's Sunflower
20/20 album released
'I Can Hear Music' single makes US number 24 and UK number 10
The Beach Boys' record label Brother Records is again launched
Brian announces that the group has severe financial problems, soon denied by Bruce
European tour takes place, including dates in Czechoslovakia
On tour in London, Carl spots South African group The Flames that includes future Beach Boys Blondie Chaplin and Ricky Fataar
'Break Away' single makes US number 63 and UK number 6
Capitol contract expires with one album still due
Deal with German label Deutsche Grammophon fails
Sessions for the album that becomes Sunflower continue
The Beach Boys sign a new recording contract with Warner/Reprise
Murry Wilson sells entire publishing rights to the group's original songs
1970 Sessions conclude	p. 260
For Sunflower album, the first version of which is rejected by new label Warner/Reprise
Re-recordings and new work follow in the studio
Tour of New Zealand and Australia
'Cotton Fields' single fails to chart in the US but goes to number 2 in the UK and number 1 in Australia
Last Capitol album Live In London released in UK
Warner/Reprise rejects a further version of the new album
Pressure builds as US-only single 'Slip On Through' fails to chart
Warner/Reprise finally accepts the group's revised master tape and the Sunflower album is subsequently released to good reviews but poor sales
Jack Rieley becomes The Beach Boys' new manager
Dennis is filmed for his appearances in the Two-Lane Blacktop movie
Sessions start for next album, to become Surf's Up
The group plays two acclaimed sets at the Big Sur festival in California that mark a return to critical hipness
European tour, with support from Blondie and Ricky's group, subtly renamed as The Flame
1971 Recordings continue	p. 286
For Surf's Up album
Dennis injures his hand badly in an accident and will not play drums again until 1974
Ricky Fataar takes Dennis's place on the drum stool for live dates
Surf's Up album released
The hip-again Beach Boys make the cover of Rolling Stone
Sessions begin for the next album, to become Carl And The Passions - "So Tough"
1972 The group decides	p. 300
To shift their recording base from Los Angeles to The Netherlands
Drummer Ricky Fataar and guitarist Blondie Chaplin officially join The Beach Boys
Sessions continue in California for the new album Carl And The Passions - "So Tough"
Bruce Johnston leaves the group
Carl And The Passions album released
Sessions start in The Netherlands for a new album, which becomes Holland
Warner/Reprise rejects the first version of Holland and so the group replaces 'We Got Love' with the more commercial 'Sail On Sailor'
1973 Holland album	p. 324
Released, including Brian's Mount Vernon And Fairway EP
'Sail On Sailor' single released
Murry Wilson dies of a heart attack at 56
Brian withdraws further from the world while the live band continues to tour
In Concert double-album released, becoming the group's first gold record for Warner/Reprise
Blondie Chaplin leaves The Beach Boys
1974 Chicago's producer/manager	p. 334
James Guercio joins the group as occasional stage bassist and part-time manager
Endless Summer compilation double-album released by Capitol, becoming a great success
Support tour with Crosby Stills Nash & Young
Attempts to record a new album abandoned
Ricky Fataar leaves the group and Dennis returns to the drums
'Child Of Winter' single released, the first new Beach Boys material on record for nearly two years
1975 'Sail On Sailor'	p. 344
Single re-released in the US, making number 49
Capitol releases another successful compilation album, Spirit Of America
'Beachago' US tour sees The Beach Boys and Chicago joining forces
Brief visit to the UK for a show at Wembley Stadium with Elton John
Warner/Reprise also releases a compilation album, Good Vibrations
Psychiatrist Dr Eugene Landy is hired to treat Brian's continuing insecurity
1976 Recording sessions	p. 356
Begin for a new album, to become 15 Big Ones
'Rock And Roll Music', the first Beach Boys single for 16 months, makes number 5 in the US
15 Big Ones marks Brian's 'comeback' and is the group's first studio album since 1973
In the US an NBC TV special and a People magazine cover-story mark the group's 15th anniversary
Dennis works on solo-album recordings, to become Pacific Ocean Blue
Brian begins essentially solo sessions for a new album, which becomes 1977's The Beach Boys Love You
LA Forum show marks 15th anniversary of the first concert by The Beach Boys
Post-'76 Round-Up	p. 371
The Beach Boys Love You album
Dennis's solo album, Pacific Ocean Blue
First Caribou-label LP, L.A. (Light Album)
Carl Wilson solo album
'Beach Boys Medley' single makes number 12
Mike's solo album, Looking Back With Love
Dennis Wilson dies
Beach Boys/Fat Boys single 'Wipe Out' makes number 12
'Kokomo' single goes to number 1
Good Vibrations boxed set
Pet Sounds Sessions boxed set
Carl Wilson dies
Brian's solo album, Imagination, and first solo tour
Hawthorne, CA CD
Brian tours, playing Pet Sounds and, later, Smile
Brian Wilson solo concerts 1995-2004	p. 379
Selected US/UK discography	p. 380
Song recording index	p. 382
Smile recording index	p. 390
Session musicians	p. 391
TV listings	p. 393
Concert location index 1961-1976	p. 394
Special thanks	p. 398
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.