DISQUS

Tom Watson · 2 years ago

I admire Brian Wilson, I really do - he's brilliant. But strangely enough, I've never become obsessed or spent much time listneing to his work.

I've actually heard more Blondie Chaplin!

But a belated happy birthday to the big guy - the harmony king.

Neil Gilroy · 2 years ago

Brian Wilson wrote some of the best songs of the 60s. For me, many of them stand up far better than the Beatles classics.

I also love the 'story' of the band. How many acts go from being inredibly successful to ignored as fast they did? After Pet Sounds and the delay with Smile -> Smiley Smile they became a 'B' act which is such a shame. If only Brian Wilson had held it together and continued with his musical growth the pop landscape could be different today.

Thats not to say anyone should ignore the groups late 60s/early 70s output (Sunflower especially) - but if you take away the Smile rehashes and handful of new Brian Wilson songs, the rest of the groups contributions never matched those of Brian.

the shamus · 2 years ago

The rest of the group's contributions didn't overwhelm Brian's post-Smile work, I agree, but it did complement it nicely. Which is why, no matter what Brian says today, he's never had a band that interpreted his work as well as the Beach Boys. I'd also argue that Dennis' "Pacific Ocean Blue" is a better solo album than any of Brian's work, including the recent re-imagining of Smile, which doesn't really work well for me, except for the fact that I'm glad he was finally able to embrace the work after so many years.

Bob Wallace · 1 year ago

Type your comment here.
You are not alone and very fortunate.It's all about how great it makes you feel.Here are two great quotes from Brian Wilson,"never let the listener become bored" and "cover the listener with love under the guise of a three minute record".

I agree Dennis had "it" as well.

Marcia Marks · 1 year ago

What a beautiful message!
I happened to read your article a FULL YEAR LATER while trying to find the date of Brian's birthday in relation to Paul McCartney's - interesting correlation, isn't it?!

In regards to your own message:
You are not alone.
The Beach Boys moved many of us.
And, there are still people just discovering them today (such as my husband). It hits like a ton of bricks - that magical moment for all of us when we make our own first connection with a Beach Boys song, and the brain just says, "Wow".

Anyway, I enjoyed your own ability to put into words what so many of us feel about Brian Wilson and the rest of the Beach Boys. It would be nice to think that Brian understands how connected all of us atill are to him.

The night I turned thirty many years ago, I found myself, in a twist of fate, alone as the clock ticked down the seconds to midnight. That birthday number was especially harsh for me, but the moment the second hand hit "12", Surfing USA came on the radio... My "friends" had, once again, not let me down, and ushered me into adulthood.

We all have our own Beach Boys stories. Thank you for writing yours.
Marcia

PS. The Beach Boys were never a "B" act...