Uncanny

More thoughts on PETER AMES CARLIN’S upcoming Brian Wilson biography CATCH A WAVE after reading the first 3 chapters, approximately 50 pages: I should note at the start that the copy of the book I have is an “uncorrected proof.” This means that the final version of the book may contain changes. Also, this proof lacks a index and does not contain the approximately 16 pages of photos that are supposed to be in the final version. Additionally, while it will be hard to “ruin” the story, since most of the major facts surrounding Brian’s life and times are fairly well known, I may drop a “spoiler” or two here and there. So, if you want to read the book with a totally fresh mind, please be forewarned.

Catch A Wave is notable in that it is, to the best of my knowledge, the first true biography of Brian Wilson. Other books, namely those by David Leaf (which I have not read) and Timothy White focused on The Beach Boys as a whole. Still other books have focused on specific albums, i.e. Pet Sounds and SMiLE. Carlin’s book (excluding Brian’s ghostwritten “autobiography”) is the first to place its primary focus on Brian himself. From the outset, I have preferred Carlin’s book to White’s. One major problem I had with White’s book is that his focus was as much on the cultural history of California, as it was on the Beach Boys. White tried too hard to make grand statements and overarching theses. Carlin, at least in what I’ve read so far, seems much more interested in telling the story of Brian’s life and music.

The Prologue starts with Carlin, Brian, Leaf and a few journalists backstage at the 2005 South By Southwest festival panel on SMiLE. Carlin notes how awkward Brian is around unfamiliar people and places. One very positive thing that Carlin notes from the outset is that over the past 40 years Brian has made conflicting statements. Carlin does not assume that just because Brian said something once in an interview that this statement is pure fact. Carlin is obviously aware of Brian’s unusual history of pronouncements and tries to compare Brian’s various statements with those of other people at the time in order to tease out the most likely story. Other authors have failed to capture the complexity of Brian’s life by latching on to one salacious statement or the other, even if all other facts would suggest that Brian is either mistaken, forgetful or having a laugh.

The first chapter begins towards the end of the story, at the dedication of the official State of California Beach Boys landmark in Hawthorne, California. Carlin that deftly brings us back to the beginning by commenting on how the Wilson clan moved from the Midwest to California, land of dreams. Thankfully, he doesn’t spend nearly as much time as White did on the history of Brian’s ancestors. Rather, he quickly goes over that history, bringing us right up to the early 1940s birth of Brian and his brothers. The story of Brian’s adolescence is remarkably flushed out by original interviews that Carlin has conducted with many of Brian’s childhood friends, most of whom have not been heard from much before.

One interesting tidbit, that if I had read about before I had forgotten, is the existence of home-made tapes of Brian, his brothers and assorted friends recorded before the famous “first” Beach Boys rehearsal recorded while Brian’s parents were on vacation in Mexico. The story of these very early tapes (practicing songs, goofing around, jokes, etc.) is extremely interesting and is told here, I believe, for the very first time.

That’s plenty for now. Stay tuned for more…………

PACIFIC PALISADES POST At the “’Bring Back the Beach’ dinner, Heal the Bay's annual fundraiser held this year at the Santa Monica Airport….[m]ore than 1,000 guests paid $500 each for the privilege of dancing to the Beach Boys, bidding on one of Brian Wilson's guitars (which went for $10,000 during the live auction).”

TELEGRAPH UK "It's related to the old Scritti, though it doesn't have the production costs or my home address written on the sleeve like the old records had, which led to all sorts of interesting encounters. Either schoolboys who had run away from minor public schools would turn up, or European anarchists would bang on the door. The lyrics are a mixture of the very personal with references to bits of philosophy and politics. It's nicely mashed up to make a chewy breakfast." -- Green Gartside

LIGHT IN THE ATTTIC PRODUCTIONS

Well, after much waiting, I finally received my advance copy of Peter Ames Carlin's exciting new book, "Catch A Wave." I've only plowed through the first 30 pages or so, but already I can tell that this is going to be an excellent read. I don't have the time right now to relay all of my thoughts on the book. However, if you keep checking back here, look out for more information, thoughts, reflections, etc. on this great biography of Brian Wilson.

BOSTON GLOBE "One of Minutoli's boldest moves occurred in February 2005, when he crashed a tribute concert for Brian Wilson. Minutoli was backstage when one of the keyboard players left his post. Assuming Minutoli was a guest musician, the keyboard player invited him to sit in. Minutoli wound up singing harmony on 'Fun Fun Fun.' 'The party-crashers are watching me with awe,' says Minutoli. 'I get my gift bags, and a guy approaches me and says, Are you the [expletive] who was singing with Brian? I say, No, man, and leave.'"

CALIFORNIA NIGHTS

Track Listing
1. California Nights (Carl Wilson Lead Vocal)
2. Our Happy Home (Brian Wilson Lead Vocal)
3. Barnyard Blues (Dennis Wilson Lead Vocal)
4. Where Is She (Carl Wilson / Mike Love Lead Vocals)
5. You Are So Beautiful (Dennis Wilson Lead Vocals – Studio Version)
6. Okie From Muskogee (Mike Love Lead Vocal – Studio Version)
7. Beatrice From Baltimore (Carl Wilson Lead Vocal)
8. City Blues (Dennis Wilson / Brian Wilson Lead Vocals)
9. Sail On Sailor (Studio Version With Alternate Lyrics)
10. 10,000 years (Dennis Wilson Lead Vocal)
11. Workin’ In A Coal Mine (Mike Love Lead Vocals)
12. Don’t Let Me Go (Carl Wilson Lead Vocals)
13. Foggy Mountain Breakdown (Al Jardine Lead Vocals)
14. Surf City (Mike Love Lead Vocals – Studio Version)
15. Gold Rush (Al Jardine Lead Vocals / Unfinished Song)
16. Malibu Sunset (Brian Wilson Lead Vocals)
17. Hold On (Carl Wilson Lead Vocals)
18. Magic Hands And Feet (Instrumental)
19. Indian Wisdom / Fire (SMILE Sessions / Outtakes)
20. Slow Booze (Dennis Wilson Lead Vocals)
21. I Didn’t Mean To Make You Worry (Dennis Wilson Lead Vocals)
22. Fourth Of July (Carl Wilson Lead Vocals / Alternate Mix)
23. Battle Hymn Of The Republic (Mike Love Lead Vocals)
24. Marcella (Demo)

INS NEWS “If ivory towers were a feature of the pop landscape, then one of the loftiest would have been long occupied by Green Gartside, the man who is Scritti Politti. Once a musical Marxist theoretician, then a chart regular, there is something appealing about Gartside's infrequent appearances above the parapet. White Bread, Black Beer, his first album in seven years, is a fine one: a set of dainty, artful songs much beholden to Brian Wilson's mid-Sixties vocal arrangements.”

DAVID PACK catching up with Darian, music director of Brian Wilson's group, and "Wix" keyboardist for Paul McCartney's band at recent NAMM Show in Anaheim, Calif. Jan 2006

This from the Blueboard: "Inside story: David [Pack] recently met with Brian Wilson for a top-secret MAJOR project of the future...stay tuned!"

Till Gerhard painting SOLAR SYSTEM, 2006
oil on canvas, 86 1/2 x 86 1/2 inches