Hi ~ can we talk ? heh

Everybody knows the problem with the Beach Boys, their music and their image.

Those who are terminally 'hip' want no connection...
Those who are over-exposed are weary
Those who are under-exposed are blissfully ignorant
etc. etc. etc....

But what's the real scoop ? I mean, beyond all the hype and rumors...beyond all the ghost writing and Rolling Stone contributor mentality?

There was a time when the Beach Boys were actually a Surf Band. You know.... loud blasting R&R instrumentals with honkin' sax, pounding drums, plenty of reverb, Fender gear...and steps.

Ok, fine...you knew that. I knew it too because I saw them very early in the game. The Beach Boys first show in Portland. This is the period when they still wore white levi's and Pendleton shirts and Carl still used the SB Strat. This was when they had Dave Marks on rhythm guitar - when the band was still GUITAR based.

AS I recall...plenty of Instrumentals! REMEMBER, this was before SURFIN' USA was even a hit. They were still ridin' on the strenght of Surfin' Safari and 409.

They still used tilt-back Fender Showman amps with single 15's.

I guess all the smooth porfessionality came later, because these guys were just rippin' thru one loud number after the next. No stage banter, no Help Me Rhonda, no matching white guitars, no big introduction, no screaming girls..........just loud-axe SURF MUSIC.

Of course when I say loud, I think you know I don't mean by todays standards..... I mean Fender amps turned up as loud as possible and Denny wholloping the drums like only Denny could do.

Here's a little picture from the same period... I hope it serves as a reminder of a time that's been largely forgotten. And this is understandable for a band that has covered so much ground over so much time.

That is a neat pic with David Marks on rhythm, and Carl playing a Strat...you rarely see a tweed late 50's Bassman actually used as a bass amp!

Jack Booth
(aka WoodyJ)

The Mariners (1964-68, 1996-2005)
The Hula Hounds (1996-current)
The X-Rays (1997-2004)
The Surge! (2004, 2011-2012)
Various non-surf bands that actually made money (1978-1990)

He is your density.......destiny.

Do you think they had a little carrying case for David Marks to ride to gigs in?

Louie7
I see white socks and black shoes! Oh boy that brings back memories. Oh yeah, I see head hair too!
Did you know the beach boys were originaly called the Pendeltons up until the name change in 1961? That is why they wore the pendelton shirts.
Joel

that is such a cool pic

i live, eat, breathe, and dream the beach boys(man, that sounded so gay) and that picture made my day!

The Tremblors on Facebook!

The Tremblors on MySpace!

OK Louie7
I'll ask since noone else is taking the bait.
How do you seem to know so much about the Beach Boys?
Are you somehow affiliated with the group? Relative or something?
Inquiring mines and such.
Joel

I thought Al Jardine joined after David Marks smarted off to Murry Wilson and took a hike. I saw Brian Wilson perform Pet Sounds (and lots more) at the Santa Barbara Bowl a few years ago... ULTRAAWSOME!! Better than any previous Beach Boys show I'd seen. He played the bass the same way. Ever notice that there is no conventional drumming in Pet Sounds? It sounds more like Martin Denny's percussion than any rock. Caroline No opens with an upside Sparkletts bottle being played as a drum.

Louie7
you got Llamas?
Me to I have a five male pack string.
Joel

I should say that above all, the main attraction (with the Beach Boys) for me, was the guitars and guitar based music.

No offense to Al, but there's no question that Marks is the superior guitarist. It's a shame (IMO) that Marks chose (unwisely) to leave The Beach Boys, because he's a great guitarist, and actually does sing; contrary to popular mythology.

If anyone doubts his guitar prowess, take a listen to his lead work on the NASCAR 76 Union Beach Boys (Mike, Brooce & Dave) CD from the late 1990's... If anything he does a better showing than Carl (RIP).

Remember that most of the really flashy guitar leads on the BB's early albums was either Glen Campbell or Billy Strange (among others)..and though quite competent, Carl was never really a 'flash' guitarist. He willingly admits this in several commonly available magazine interviews.

Anyway, the point is...... that after a certain point (approximately around the time of God Only Knows and Wouldn't It Be Nice) Brian moved decidedly AWAY from guitar based compositions. Which is fine...UNLESS you're a guitar fanatic, like ME !

L7

...good words...

Ya know, one of the truly interesting things about the BB's recordings of the early days is the fact that many of their hits were recorded using studio cats, AND then alternate versions of the same songs using JUST the Beach Boys themselves.... one case in point is Dance, Dance, Dance.

Of course, the session musicians version is the release version and it's hot. But the alternate version featuring the BB's themselves is surprisingly adept and listenable...and I'm sure could have easily substituted for the preferred version without too many objections.

Naturally, all of this was BRIANS call. And he was usually always right on the money.

For me, one of the most appealing qualities of the early BB's is the infectious Rockin' Beat (thank you Hal Blaine). It still gets me up and movin'.....

Sometimes, however, Brian had lapses of judgement....case in point....

MISERLOU

It's been pointed out by various common-taters that The Beach Boy's version of Miserlou is listenable, but bloodless and subdued - lacking the 'excitement' of more firey performances, such a Dick Dale.

However, one only has to listen carefully with headphones to the session masters of this recording to discover that WAY back in the mix, you can hear the guys screaming thier heads off ~ almost like a live performance quality. You can also hear Mike Love blasting away on sax.

Now although Mike Love was a better sax player than he's given credit for, I can see why his part was mixed OUT....and in all likelyhood the room ambiance (ie: the screaming and yelling and such that WOULD have given this track some fire) was mixed out as a result.

It's a shame, really, cause the performance is quite good..even though we'll probably never know who played that guitar solo. It's clearly not Carl, as we're led to believe. It's definately not Dick Dale, who was rumored to have 'done' the guitar duties for this track. Billy Strange told me that he didn't do it...which pretty much narrows it down to Glen Campbell....I guess.

Anyhow..... there's plenty of surprizes in store as audio archeologists keep diggin' around these areas.

Oh, by the way...the same things is generally true for 'STOKED' and 'SURF JAM'....the session master has WAY more stuff on it, in the way of ambiance, noises, comments, and general rowdyness. Surf Jam in particular is like WAYYYYYYYYY outta control. THey tidied it up considerably for the release version (but it's still nutty wild even on the album! )

L7

L7

Last edited: Feb 27, 2007 19:01:59