The Beach Boys - Sunflower
On this week's episode we discuss Sunflower, the1970 LP by the Beach Boys.
The Beach Boys' songwriting was mainly Brian Wilson's department, especially after their masterpiece, Pet Sounds. But on 1970’s Sunflower, all members contributed to the songwriting, instrumentation, vocals (with some help from other background singers and members of the great Wrecking Crew ), and even the production. And they are fine contributions indeed. Though this was their lowest selling album at the time of its release, it was hailed by many in the rock industry as their best post-Pet Sounds LP, and in retrospect is considered one of the best albums of the 1970's, and included on manynlists of all-time greats. Sunflower is a collection of fantastic songs that branches out from the "typical" Beach Boys sound, to include songs that embrace soul and R and B, and anticipated the advent of Chillwave decades later
No recommended on this episode.
THINGS WE DISCUSSED ON THIS EPISODE
A young Brian Wilson knocking out a tune or two on his piano in 1959.
The Beach Boys Circa 1964 in all of their striped-shirted glory.
Pictured (L to R)
Back Row: Carl Wilson, and Al Jardine, and Denis Wilson.
Front Row: Mike Love and Brian Wilson.
Bruce Johnson was not yet a member of the band.
The 1970’s era Beach Boys in all of their “hippy” splendor.
Pictured (L to R)
Back Row: Mike Love and Brian Wilson.
Middle Row: Carl Wilson, and Al Jardine and Denis Wilson.
Front Row: Bruce Johnson
In December 1964 Brian Wilson married 16 Marilyn Rovell. That same month, the BEach Bosy flew from Los Angeles, CA to Houston, TX for what would be the first date on international tour. d
However, on the flight to Houston, he suffered a breakdown that he attributed to marital issues. He played the Houston show and returned to LA the following day, essentially retiring from touring for the foreseeable future.
Session guitarist for the Wrecking Crew and future country music legend Glen Campbell was touring with the Beach Boys as a guitarist on the tour when Brian Wilson quit. He and took over bass duties for the remained of the tour.
Considered an instant classic upon its release, “Good Vibrations” showed what Brian Wilson could accomplish by concentrating on song writing and studio craft. Unlike any of the band’s previous recordings, “Good Vibrations” was record in short interchangeable fragments over several months in four major Hollywood studios, that were then assembled into a whole through tape splicing. It was an extremely complex way to record a pop single and at the time, it was the most expensive single ever recorded t with production costs estimated to be in the tens of thousands of dollars.
It paid off. “Good Vibrations” became the band’s thirs 1 single in the US and their first number 1 in Britain. Here they are performing the song live on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1968.
Brian Wilson and Mike Love in the studio circa 1970.
An outtake from the photo session for Sunflower.
Here’s the Beach Boys performing “it’s About Time” and “Forever” from Sunflower during the Schaefer Music Festival in Central Park. Thee Schaefer Music Festival was a recurring music festival held in the summer between 1967 and 1976. The 1971 concert was filmed for an ABC television special broadcast in August , 1971 called Good Vibrations in Central Park.
Listen to the absolutely beautiful A Capella version “Forever” below.
In May of 1971, the Beach Boys performed “Wouldn't It Be Nice” and “Cool, Cool Water” on The David Frost Show.
