Sunny Sunday Surfin at the 2023 Birthday of One of the Greatest Songwriters in History Musical Genius Brian Wilson
There are few musicians who are true geniuses, and in an interesting twist of fate, two were born back to back on June 20 and 21, with the other being the magnificent Ray Davies. Today we celebrate the first of the two, the amazing Brian Wilson, founder and creative brilliance of the Beach Boys and beyond!
If you don't know who he was, Brian Wilson (June 20, 1942) was THE composer, arranger, and early bass player for the Beach Boys who gave us the California sound of the 60s - "Shut Down," "Surfin' USA," "In My Room," "Surfer Girl," "I Get Around," "Don't Worry Baby," "When I Grow Up," "California Girls," "Wouldn't it Be Nice," "Good Vibrations," "God Only Knows," and about a hundred other songs that millions surfed to, made love to, and listened to during and after school throughout the 60s. Their soaring intricate harmonies and catchy melodies made the Beach Boys one of the preeminent groups of the 60s, even long after they ceased to sing about hot rods, surfing, and girls, girls, girls.
The Beach Boys were one of the only American acts to top the Beatles on the pop charts consistently during the most prolific period of both bands. With each album the Beach Boys released, Brian set the standard that John Lennon and Paul McCartney tried to top, album after album.
Thinking of the Beatles trying to out-do anyone is pretty astounding in itself! While a combination of Brian's dad's physical abuse and a bit too much LSD did Brian in for many years, he's still given us decades of awesome music since, and even completed SMiLE to world raves and is now again getting the global respect he so richly deserves.
I got to see Brian perform at the Greek Theater in LA in October 2013 along with Al Jardine, and they were magnificent! The intricate lush vocal harmonies were out of this world. He was followed by Jeff Beck, who played some phenomenal guitar sonic tapestries with a band who were incredible on their own. It also was an exceptional performance! For the closer, Brian, Al, and the band came out to join Jeff and his band in a Beach Boy medley extravaganza. I'll never hear "Barbara Ann" the same way ever again, given Jeff Beck's screaming lead!!
More recently, I saw him and Al perform on the Last Pet Sounds tour, which was a trip in itself! He’s aged a lot these past years, and his voice isn’t what it used to be, but it’s still one of the best shows on Earth, mixing obscurities like “Little Honda” with masterpieces like “Surf’s Up.” The entire evening was thoroughly enjoyable, and if you have a chance to see him, it’s worth the price! He’s a musical treasure, and who knows how much longer he’ll grace the stage?
Today I'll give you some of his best! They are mostly early music videos from the 60s and so not live, or lip synched performances in a studio. Still, the first batch are very much live studio performances and not lip synched, with the b/w performances from 1964 when the Beach Boys were hot as firecrackers on the American charts!
This year I cannot find a link to “Long Tall Texan" but you can hear it in the clip of the entire show at the end of this section.
Here’s the whole 22 minute set, in order! The Lost Beach Boys Concert
Live on television in 1962, a video with original member David Marks taking the classic lead line while Carl strums rhythm on “Surfin’ Safari.”
It’s back! This is an amazing live a capella harmonization in 1964 on The Red Skelton Hour backed by an orchestra of Brian’s iconic teenage musing “In My Room” Brian hits the high harmonies perfectly! What a voice.
While I was poking around, I found an entire The Red Skelton Hour show from September 1963 where the original Beach Boys with David Marks made an appearance! It’s all lip synched, naturally, but this is classic footage of a VERY young group who had just begun their climb to the top. Their music begins about 34 minutes into the clip. “Surfin’ USA” and “Things We Did Last Summer” (Carl’s 16, Dennis is 18, and Brian’s 21! David Marks had just turned 15 when they made this appearance!)
From the legendary TAMI Show in Santa Monica in 1964, ”Surfin' USA” – “I Get Around” – “Surfer Girl” – “Dance, Dance, Dance”
Here's a very early and obscure tune that Brian wrote and sang lead. For your enjoyment, since most have never heard of this gem, the original studio version from the Surfin' USA album, "Farmer's Daughter." From the same album, the pensive and beautiful “Lonely Sea”
From the Surfer Girl album, the surfin’ sound of “Catch A Wave” and the beautiful ballad “Your Summer Dream”
From the UK television show in 1964, Ready Steady Go a live performance of "I Get Around" and "When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)" (Brian’s falsetto is amazing in this performance!)
I found it again. Here’s their 1964 The Ed Sullivan Show performance of their classic, “Wendy.” And here’s a 1964 audio-only performance in Sacramento of “Wendy”
I found it again Here’s their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 cranking out their huge #1 hit, "I Get Around"
Here they’re lip-synching one of Brian’s most beautiful tunes on American Bandstand, the incredible “flip side” of “I Get Around,” “Don’t Worry Baby”
Here's an amazingly beautiful gem that Brian wrote and sang for the Beach Boys Today album. "Please Let Me Wonder." Here's a better version of the Shindig performance linked below of "Please Let Me Wonder." (clipped before they cut into "Help Me Rhonda.")
Some clips from multiple Shindig appearances in 1964-65! For your enjoyment, from the Shindig Christmas Special in 1964, the Beach Boys giving us
"Monster Mash” and “Papa Oom Mow Mow"We now move into an April 1965 appearance on Shindig, where they perform "Do You Wanna Dance?”
I found it again. This is a very live (no lip synching!) 7+ minute clip of a medley of hits from a 1965 Shindig of "Fun, Fun, Fun," “Long Tall Texan,” “Please Let Me Wonder,” and “Help Me Rhonda.” (Brian’s voice is breathtakingly beautiful on “Please Let Me Wonder.” Wow.)
Because I found this link last year, from that same show on Shindig in 1965, "Help Me, Rhonda"
This year that performance of “Their Hearts Were Full of Spring” has disappeared, so instead, live on the Andy Williams show in 1966, here’s "Their Hearts Were Full of Spring"
From The Jack Benny Show when it was still shot in b/w, Jack and a gag commercial that leads into the Beach Boys performing “Barbara Ann”
From The Jack Benny Show in 1965 in color, the Beach Boys doing a “live” lip-synched performance where Brian’s not looking so good. For your enjoyment, Brian’s tribute to “the cutest girls in the world!” "California Girls"
A remarkable live version of my personal favorite, and one of my top 10 songs of all time, featuring the truly angelic voice of Carl Wilson. Live in 1967 playing for UNICEF, “God Only Knows” A love song I've bowed to for 50 years.
It’s back! This is a rare score, because Brian hadn’t toured in forever. Because Carl had quit because of “lackluster live performances” and “Los Vegas-type engagements,” Brian began touring again. Here he is singing his masterpiece in 1981 at Long Beach. For your enjoyment, a rare live performance by Brian Wilson of "God Only Knows." From that same tour, at the Mall Park in D.C. on July 4, 1981, here’s “cousin Brian Wilson” singing "God Only Knows." (sorry about the obnoxious ad up front, but Brian’s performance is worth it.)
Here’s a rare short gem, with Carl singing solo, accompanied only by Brian on piano, serenating their mom Audree with "God Only Knows" and here they lipsynch in a faux performance set to the original studio version of “God Only Knows”
I also found an amazing clip of the Beach Boys doing "God Only Knows," "Sloop John B," and "Wouldn't it be Nice" a cappella set to stills. As it's described, these harmonies are phenomenal!
Though Brian wasn't touring with them in this era, the Beach Boys still cranked out an amazing sound! Here's a great live performance from 1969 featuring Carl's voice, "I Can Hear Music."
Here's a rare treat! The Ronettes had a hit with "I Can Hear Music" in 1966. Here's Ronnie Spector and Brian Wilson live in 2000 doing an absolutely fantastic offering of "I Can Hear Music"
From 1968 on The Ed Sullivan Show, the Beach Boys perform a song that Brian said was the best collaboration he ever had with Mike Love. Though not composed in their early years, it's a classic return to the surfing sound of the Beach Boys! "Do It Again." From 1969 in Germany, another live performance of "Do It Again."
Even though Brian wasn’t on this tour, this is still classic BB footage (and I love this version of the band, as it only had one flaw.) From 1969 in France, a complete concert from their 20/20 tour. Live at L’Olympia, here’s 54 minutes of The Beach Boys Live in Paris - 1969
Back to videos set to stills or lip synched:
A cheezy early music video of the Beach Boys lip synching to "I Get Around"
Set to surfing, dancing, and other clips from the early 60s, the flip side of "I Get Around," the awesome "Don't Worry Baby"
Written to honor the memory of JFK after his assassination, “Warmth of the Sun”
In a tribute to their father, here’s Carnie and Wendy Wilson giving us their version of Brian’s “Warmth of the Sun”
From Pet Sounds, "Wouldn't It Be Nice"
Also from the Pet Sounds album, "Here Today." From the same album, the beautiful "Caroline No."
And the old West Indies folk tune rearranged by Brian that went to the top of the international charts, “Sloop John B”Back to live performances!
From my birthday in 1969 on The Mike Douglas Show, a classic BB song followed by the tune Charles Manson sold to Dennis which Dennis reworked and Manson threatened to kill him! For a look at a weird time in their lives, “I Can Hear Music” and “Never Learn Not To Love.” (sorry about the sound quality, but this is the only clip out there this year.)
From July 1969 on The Mike Douglas Show, a 3-part series!
Part 3 with Mike singing and Dennis dancing
Though Brian was not touring with the band, he still wrote and produced all their performance material the whole time. Here's a clip from 1971 of the Beach Boys performing live on The Mike Douglas Show performing “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” From that same show, Carl’s on lead vocals doing Brian's "Cool, Cool Water." (Sorry about the video quality, but the sound’s still great!)
Here’s an audio from that show of the beautiful “Forever,” sung by Dennis. ”Forever.”
In May 1971 they went on The David Frost Show and performed “Wouldn’t” and “Water,” but this year the clip is gone. I found this very short clipped version of "Cool, Cool Water."
From that era of Smiley Smile, a live performance in Central Park in 1971 of one of my favorite Brian Wilson songs! This is a great performance of the remarkable "Heroes and Villains" (I have several fantastic performances of this song by Brian toward the end of this tribute. Be sure to check out the one with the full orchestra!)
From a 1972 London show, performing without Brian, but with Elton John for “Help Me Rhonda,” they crank out a 9 minute live set of Brian's tunes “Do It Again,” “Wild Honey,” and “Help Me Rhonda” (Blondie Chapin singing lead on “Wild Honey” is amazing!)
A rare gem that’s one of my favorite all-time Beach Boy songs! From SMiLE, a “pocket symphony” Brian swore he’d never release, but he relented to the world’s benefit. Here’s the original studio version of the title track from the 1971 album Surf's Up, "Surf's Up"
Though this was long after Brian no longer toured with the group, and wasn't written by him, I figured I'd include the music video for their last #1 hit, "Kokomo" Here a live version of "Kokomo" by the latter day Beach Boys with John Stamos.
Brian and the band in a 1 hour 17 audio-only concert from 1977! The Beach Boys Live in Seattle 1977
This is a real gem of a live concert, more than an hour of all five original Beach Boys with Bruce Johnston, It’s a rare treat since Brian hadn’t been touring in a long time. This clip autoloads all the other parts! Good Timin' - Live at Knebworth 1980 Pt 1”
Last year I had this entire 56 minute 2002 television production on one clip, but this year it’s in thirds. For your enjoyment, an amazing concert of Brian Wilson giving us Pet Sounds Live in London Pt. 1
Pet Sounds Live in London Pt. 2
Pet Sounds Live in London Pt. 3
And if you don’t want to sit through the whole gig, here’s one of the best! “God Only Knows”
From later in 2002, Brian Wilson and Paul McCartney live set to stills performing the song Macca says is his favorite, “God Only Knows”
Though I can’t find the performance of Brian accompanied by Eric Clapton giving us ”Warmth of the Sun” or the closer “Good Vibration,” I found this clip from Live at the Party at the Palace in 2002 featuring Brian accompanied by the Coors doing “God Only Knows”
From the 2005 Live 8 concert in Berlin, Brian at his best! ”California Girls” and “Good Vibrations”
Here's the original studio version of "Good Vibrations"
Here’s a great clip of how “Good Vibrations” was made! “Good Vibrations” – Studio sessions
Two years ago I had an hour and a half of Brian at his best live in Norway in 2007, but it still hasn’t reappeared. Last year I also had an exquisite hour and 22 performance from 2014 at the Venetian in Las Vegas, but it’s also gone. Better luck next year!
This is how good Brian is! Last year I had this in one clip, but this year it’s in two. America honored “the Mozart of Rock and Roll,” as Art Garfunkel put it at the time.
Brian Wilson honored at the Kennedy Center 2008 pt. 1 Brian Wilson honored at the Kennedy Center 2008 pt. 2Here's another tribute of sorts. This is a really good live performance at Farm Aid in 1999 by the Barenaked Ladies of their tribute to Brian, "Brian Wilson"
From their legendary 50th anniversary tour, here’s an entire 1 hour 6 minute 50th anniversary show in Lake Tahoe in 2012! The Beach Boys Live in Lake Tahoe 2012
Last year I had a very slick 1 hour production on QVC from that tour, but it’s disappeared. So instead, here’s a 2 hour and 50 show! The Beach Boys 50th Anniversary Reunion Concert Live at Wembley - 2012
From that tour, one of the better tunes Brian wrote in his post touring years, the beautiful "Sail On Sailor"
On GMA, a pair of classics at Central Park in 2012! ”California Girls” and “Good Vibrations”
We’ll close that historic 2012 tour with a performance at the Beacon Theater in NYC giving us the title song from that new album, “That’s Why God Made the Radio”
Okay. I love his music. Here’s the entire one hour first set at the Beacon! The Beach Boys 50th Anniversary Concert at the Beacon Theater - 2012
Here’s the entire one hour 15 second set at the Beacon! The Beach Boys 50th Anniversary Concert at the Beacon Theater - 2012
Brian’s come back in a huge way the past few years! Here are two shows with original Beach Boys Al Jardine, David Marks, second gen Beach Boy Blondie Chaplin, and a bunch of other great musicians!
From 2011, Brian cranking out an hour and 5 in NYC! Brian Wilson at the Highline Ballroom NYC - 2011
I was at this classic show at the Greek Theater in 2013, hanging with my friend, the awesome keyboard player Paul Haugen! Various clips come and go, and last year I had the entire 2 hour and 30 minute show on one clip but it’s disappeared. However, I did find three clips, all with Jeff Beck’s guitar weaving sonic sounds in the mix. We begin with the great Blondie Chaplin taking the lead vocals on ”Sal On Sailor.” This one is beautiful with Jeff Beck’s guitar taking “lead vocals” on ”Surf’s Up” and the closer’s a great medley of Brian Wilson and Friends Live at the Greek Theater - "Barbara Ann" and “Surfin’ USA” (Jeff Beck SMOKES on his lead on "Barbara Ann." The other guitarists just stare trying to figure out what he's doing! Set list at the video; simply awesome!)
Two years later, Brian Wilson and Friends performed another show at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. This is magnificent! "Heroes and Villains"
Also from that 2015 show, last year I had his performances of "Runaway Dancer" and "Don't Worry Baby, " "God Only Knows," "Good Vibrations," and the encore “All Summer Long," "Help Me Rhonda," "Barbara Ann," "Surfin' USA," and "Fun, Fun, Fun" but this year they’re gone.
We’ll close our show with a great 30 minute medley of parts of Brian’s 2016 tour. Pet Sounds 50th Anniversary Tour – Bristol UK
For our first encore, a masterpiece! This is from his 2016 tour, and is extraordinary. Live in Switzerland on Halloween 2016, an hour and 24 of pure entertainment! Brian Wilson at the 2016 Baloise Session
And for our second encore, the best of the best! From 2004, all 52 minutes of an amazing live performance of Brian’s long awaited masterpiece “Smile”
This is the best in the show! If you don't view any other video in this article, as a punctuation point for those who think Brian is somehow not one of the greatest composers of the 20th century, check this out. It's the original concept for "Heroes and Villains" as only Brian could perform and arrange it. It's the maestro at his best, and breathtaking in its elaborate orchestration and production, all courtesy of our birthday boy. For your admiration and appreciation, the original arrangement of "Heroes and Villains." Simply spectacular!!!
For those who love animation, here's the award winning animated video from the "Smile Sessions" of the first composition by Brian and Van Dyke Parks, "Heroes and Villains"
If you want to know more, here’s a 1 hour 49 minute documentary titled “Beautiful Dreamer – Brian Wilson and the Story of SMiLE”
The 50 minute BBC documentary titled Brian Wilson has disappeared. However, I found this fascinating BBC hour documentary on the making of SMiLE. Brian Wilson SMiLE documentary
Four our closer, a 2 hour and 36 Biography documentary special narrated by Harry Smith in 1999 which tracks Brian’s entire life from a cultural standpoint. We’ll take a journey back to postwar SoCal culture in a richly woven tapestry and get a real sense of the life of this beautiful man in this extremely well done Biography - Brian Wilson
Thanks for all the great tunes and harmonies throughout the years, Brian, and may you live long enough to enjoy all you've done for the world's culture and more! "And we'll have fun, fun, fun in our little deuce coupe and we don't worry baby, 'cause god only knows we have the warmth of the sun and good vibrations as we dance, dance, dance with a SMiLE....."
© Copyright 2023 Robert Wilkinson
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