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DaveG

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Socrates1
Does anyone actually like the Beach Boys?

Absolutely, and unapologetically. They were a huge musical part of my teen years and their music will always be special to me, whether Mike Love is a tool or not. I grew up in SoCal, so the beach was where I spent many of my summer days.

Same here, I absolutely love (no pun intended) the Beach Boys - specifically the early years and when I was a pre-teen.
Growing up in Santa Monica in the 60's, my older sister and I used to listen to all that stuff...I have fond memories of singing Catch A Wave word for word.
Like early Beatles and Stones, most of those songs are like mini time capsules that take me back.
As for Mike Love - he's an idiot.

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Rip this joint, gonna save your soul, round and round and round we go......

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dmay

[www.rollingstone.com]

Fascinating article, thanks for posting!

Drew

I just realized who Mike Love reminds me of ... the Cowboy!

[www.youtube.com]

Drew

I read that interview with Mike Love and came away feeling that it just reinforced what has been a common theme for years with that guy. He is a bitter man that has been consumed by his negative feelings. Song writing credits he felt were owed him, never appreciated enough, I got screwed. Well, that is not going to ever change what happened decades ago. Who ever said the record business was fair? I remember that RRHOF spewing from Love where he just lost it. What a dick.

More importantly, Mike Love was a member of a really good band. He can diss Brian Wilson all he wants. Blame Wilson's dad for being a selfish and self serving. Brian Wilson was a very creative visionary guy and it's all there to listen to. Beach Boys harmonies were amazing. Fantastic arrangements. Sure they ripped off Chuck Berry licks, but who didn't? The Beach Boys had a fanstatic textured sound. Much enhanced by the brilliance of The Wrecking Crew of course. Bottom line is The Beach Boys made some killer records.

The Beach Boys were as much a part of my childhood as the Beatles, the Stones, Motown, Stax. It was about transistor radios, little one speaker AM car radios. Going down to the record store on your bikes with pals when you 10-13 years old and buying 45's played on crappy phonographs at distorted volume, and singing along. Songs like I Get Around, Surfin USA to name a few. Sure the Beach Boys didn't have the guts in their sound that the Stones did, but not many bands did. They were still a rocking outfit albeit with a cheesy look. I was 10 in 1963 and just loved all the great tunes that were being made back then. What a time to grow up!

While "Best of" albums are a catalogue of what a band created, The Very Best Of The Beach Boys Sounds of Summer is a killer collection. If you don't have any Beach Boys albums get that one first. They were a great band. Too bad Mike Love can't accept the past for what it is, and just stop the blame game.

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More Hot Rocks

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Socrates1

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DaveG

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Socrates1
Does anyone actually like the Beach Boys?

Absolutely, and unapologetically. They were a huge musical part of my teen years and their music will always be special to me, whether Mike Love is a tool or not. I grew up in SoCal, so the beach was where I spent many of my summer days.

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mr_dja

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Socrates1
Does anyone actually like the Beach Boys?

Yes. I do. For many years they were my favorite act above both the Beatles & the Stones. They're not that high in my listening now but I still give their "Endless Summer" greatest hits album a spin on a regular basis. Fun & Happy listening to my ears.

Peace,
Mr DJA

Which one of you is Don Was, and which one of you is the little old lady from Pasadena?

The Beach Boys didnt do Little Old Lady From Pasadina

Not entirely correct. Jan and Dean, whose career wouldn't have ever taken off if not for all kinds of support from Brian Wilson and The BB, plus the Wrecking Crew, released the 45. However, in 1964, the BB recorded it for Beach Boys Concert, a seminal record. That cemented the song.

Moreover, Roger Christian co-wrote the song. Christian also co-wrote, among others, Don't Worry Baby, an absolute masterpiece, Little Deuce Coupe and Shut Down. Christian, an original Los Angeles radio Boss Jock in the 60's, also co-wrote Dead Man's Curve.

I've been lucky to have several conversations with Melinda Wilson, Brian's wife. Without getting into specifics, Mike Love is even more of a motherf---ing a--hole now and in the last 15 years than he ever was when the band was intact. And that's saying something.

Always loved the Beach Boys-- great American music. Was fortunate to catch them a couple years ago on their 50th anniversary tour and they were so enjoyable. I look forward to Mike Love's autobiography due out later this year---should be hysterical !

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bob r
Always loved the Beach Boys-- great American music. Was fortunate to catch them a couple years ago on their 50th anniversary tour and they were so enjoyable. I look forward to Mike Love's autobiography due out later this year---should be hysterical !

Brian has a new autobiography coming, as well. It was supposed to come out last year, but his co-author, Jason Fine, either quit or was fired just a few weeks before it was supposed to be turned over to the publisher. Jason was appointed editor of Rolling Stone a few months later, so maybe he didn't have time to do any revisions or polishes, even though the book was mostly done. Maybe it will work to the Wilsons' advantage, since they can go over Mike's book and address any specific issues they deem offensive.

Not really a good advert for TM then?