Wasn't a fan back in the day, but came to appreciate his work with The Beach Boys and solo stuff as I got older. Incredible talent, RIP.
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RIP Brian Wilson
- Thread starter jnewmark
- Start date
things happen in 3's? Sly Stone, 82, Al Foster, 82, now Brian Wilson, 82. (I never saw Sly or Brian but I did see Al Foster twice in Miles' early 70s band.) I think he was the last to go...
Many of our groundbreaking musicians are passing away.
That generation is rapidly dwindling.
No one lives forever in this world
That generation is rapidly dwindling.
No one lives forever in this world
While I'm not a huge Beach Boys fan, I appreciate Brian's contributions to music. RIP, good sir.
I grew up listening to the Beach Boys, I was 7 the first time I heard them on the radio.
Surf music was all over AM radio in the early 60s, both instrumentals like “Wipe Out” and songs with vocals like the Beach Boys. They were so popular that other surf acts soon arrived on radio was well. Jan and Dean are the best known...“Surf City” (written by Brian Wilson and Jan Berry) went to #1 in 1963 before any Beach Boys single did!
By the time I saw the Beatles on TV on February 9, 1964 when I was only 9 years old, I had already had Surfin’ Safari, Surfin’ USA, Surfer Girl, Little Deuce Coupe and Be True To Your School burned into my brain. All were top ten hits before the Beatles first appeared on Ed Sullivan.
It wasn’t until 1964 that the Beach Boys had their first #1 hit, it was “I Get Around” in May 1964. “Surfin’ USA” only reached #3 but at the end of 1963 it was listed as the #1 best seller for the entire year, the only time that happened for them. From 1963 to 1966, only three of their singles didn't make the top ten and one was the Christmas record “Little St. Nick”. They only faded from AM radio after the release of “Good Vibrations” as a #1 single in late 1966. With 1967 albums from Cream and Jimi Hendrix reaching #4 and #5 in the Billboard charts that year ended the Beach Boys ride at the top of the charts.
In 1974 while the Beach Boys were recording for Warner Brothers, their old label Capitol released the 2-LP compilation “Endless Summer” which went to #1 without a single song from after 1966. It was actually the first Beach Boys record I bought, I was 19.
Although Brian Wilson’s main instrument was actually the piano, he played bass with the band both live and on records until he tired of touring and was replaced by his friend Bruce Johnston on the road and Carol Kaye in the studio until they were dropped by Capitol and signed with Warner Brothers.
P.S. He and Sly Stone died at the same age just days apart. Coincidence or conspiracy?
Surf music was all over AM radio in the early 60s, both instrumentals like “Wipe Out” and songs with vocals like the Beach Boys. They were so popular that other surf acts soon arrived on radio was well. Jan and Dean are the best known...“Surf City” (written by Brian Wilson and Jan Berry) went to #1 in 1963 before any Beach Boys single did!
By the time I saw the Beatles on TV on February 9, 1964 when I was only 9 years old, I had already had Surfin’ Safari, Surfin’ USA, Surfer Girl, Little Deuce Coupe and Be True To Your School burned into my brain. All were top ten hits before the Beatles first appeared on Ed Sullivan.
It wasn’t until 1964 that the Beach Boys had their first #1 hit, it was “I Get Around” in May 1964. “Surfin’ USA” only reached #3 but at the end of 1963 it was listed as the #1 best seller for the entire year, the only time that happened for them. From 1963 to 1966, only three of their singles didn't make the top ten and one was the Christmas record “Little St. Nick”. They only faded from AM radio after the release of “Good Vibrations” as a #1 single in late 1966. With 1967 albums from Cream and Jimi Hendrix reaching #4 and #5 in the Billboard charts that year ended the Beach Boys ride at the top of the charts.
In 1974 while the Beach Boys were recording for Warner Brothers, their old label Capitol released the 2-LP compilation “Endless Summer” which went to #1 without a single song from after 1966. It was actually the first Beach Boys record I bought, I was 19.
Although Brian Wilson’s main instrument was actually the piano, he played bass with the band both live and on records until he tired of touring and was replaced by his friend Bruce Johnston on the road and Carol Kaye in the studio until they were dropped by Capitol and signed with Warner Brothers.
P.S. He and Sly Stone died at the same age just days apart. Coincidence or conspiracy?
Smooth_bass88
vaxx!
- Oct 31, 2006
- 12,122
- 16,793
- Disclosures
- have been on nationally released albums, charting on the Billboard 200
Brian Wilson was a musical genius. End of story. SMILE
I had the very good fortune to see Brian Wilson at Fairport Convention's Cropredy Festival in 2018. It started out with just him - very frail looking - on piano and faltering vocals, gradually adding a band, including Al Jardine, playing all the hits and then Pet Sounds in it's entirety. They finished with Good Vibrations and encored with Wouldn't It Be Nice, by which point I was genuinely ecstatic and unashamedly moved to tears. An utterly joyous experience I always remember as the best gig I ever saw. Absolutely glorious.
I'm so glad I was there for that.
RIP Brian. Thanks for all the wonderful music.
I'm so glad I was there for that.
RIP Brian. Thanks for all the wonderful music.
Glad I got to see him a few years back. A friend of a friend toured with him for 20 years and got us comps when they came through Portland.
As much as he's venerated I still don't think he gets his due for the genius he brought to American pop music.
As much as he's venerated I still don't think he gets his due for the genius he brought to American pop music.
The stars of the 60s and 70s, that were born in the 40s are now leaving us in this new century. I think an era is passing that will never happen again. Not to sound like a boomer, but there are so few artists now that are truly Musical geniuses like Brian Stevie, Paul, Prince. Yes, there are very talented people making music today. But the era of a nationally famous act that has appeal across multiple ethnic and age group is far more rare today.
Highly recommend watching the film Love & Mercy, which dramatizes Wilson's creation of the Pet Sounds album.
A monumental talent - I mean, he pushed the Beatles forward, for crying out loud.
A monumental talent - I mean, he pushed the Beatles forward, for crying out loud.
One has to wonder what will replace all these incredible masters. It doesn’t feel like any of these shoes are refillable.
Smooth_bass88
vaxx!
- Oct 31, 2006
- 12,122
- 16,793
- Disclosures
- have been on nationally released albums, charting on the Billboard 200
Just listened to Robin Young’s interview with Brian Wilson from about 2002 (Here and Now on NPR). He was a beautiful soul full of love but was also deeply troubled. Thankfully he eventually found peace and happiness.
I really don't know what to say about his passing. The word liberation comes to mind. He was indeed a troubled soul but such a genius. He is free now. God speed my brother.
I saw him back in 2016 in Toronto. I was lucky as he was still not in too bad shape. You hit the right word, frail. Same for me, I heard and saw once one of my idols and glad I could be there.I had the very good fortune to see Brian Wilson at Fairport Convention's Cropredy Festival in 2018. It started out with just him - very frail looking - on piano and faltering vocals, gradually adding a band, including Al Jardine, playing all the hits and then Pet Sounds in it's entirety. They finished with Good Vibrations and encored with Wouldn't It Be Nice, by which point I was genuinely ecstatic and unashamedly moved to tears. An utterly joyous experience I always remember as the best gig I ever saw. Absolutely glorious.
I'm so glad I was there for that.
RIP Brian. Thanks for all the wonderful music.
His harmonies and tricky bass lines are masterpieces. I know, he wasn’t the bass player on those iconic lines but what a composer!
