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Post by kds on Dec 24, 2023 2:05:29 GMT
Al's a tough one. He's got the most consistently good voice, even if it was never as good as Carl or peak Brian. He was never a prolific writer.
But, I'll go with 1973, for his contributions to California Saga.
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nater414
Denny's Drums
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Likes: 35
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Post by nater414 on Dec 26, 2023 22:20:45 GMT
My pick for Alan's best year would be 1978.
During a time that the Wilson brothers were going through personal turmoil, Al's professionalism helped the band continue, both onstage and in the studio.
I think MIU is very well produced, all things considered. Al's vocals on that album are stellar. Al also co-wrote 'Almost Summer' that year, which would go on to be a moderate hit.
When I watch the footage from Australia from that year, Al seems like the MVP, holding the entire show together.
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Emdeeh
Pacific Coast Highway
Posts: 520
Likes: 532
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Post by Emdeeh on Dec 27, 2023 4:43:41 GMT
I've considered the years already picked for Al's best. I thought seriously about 1984 for his contributions to BB '85 ('84 being the year it was recorded) and I love his 1965 leads, but I'm going with 2012 for his outstanding vocals and his vital contributions to the harmony stacks in TWGMTR.
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Post by carllove on Dec 27, 2023 5:04:33 GMT
When I saw The Beach Boys in concert in 1986, Al was the stand out for me. His voice blew me away. I was so impressed. I still remember it to this day. Only reason I can give. One of the best vocal performances I have ever heard (and yes, Carl was there). So for me Al’s peak was 1986.
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 27, 2023 12:39:08 GMT
I'm really struggling on this one! The Feel Flows era is my favorite of Al's, and I'd say he was most productive as a songwriter in those few years, too. But that's the problem: it's a few years, and at least for me, no one stands out above the others. 1969-71 are all really strong.
Of course I already mentioned 2012 as a good candidate, too, and it's hard to ignore how he stepped up in the latter 70s with MIU. Most likely I'm going with one of those earlier years I mentioned, but I still don't know which.
Today is probably our last day on Al, so please chime in. (As always, it's fine if discussion crosses official subjects, though.)
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Post by B.E. on Dec 28, 2023 1:46:45 GMT
This is tough. There's not a clear winner no matter which way I approach it. I honestly could talk myself into (or out of) any of the following: 1965, 1972, 1978, 2010, 2012, and 2015. But I think I'll go with my gut...1965. This year made all the rest possible for Al. And in addition to all the pros listed by Sheriff John Stone , he also performed "Runaway" live in 1965. I love that choice (although, my favorite version is the one recorded in 1982/released in 1986). Beyond that, the mid 60s - with Today! arguably being its peak and Party! being most overlooked - is my favorite era of Beach Boys group vocals, and Al was right in the middle of it!
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 28, 2023 14:10:50 GMT
But I think I'll go with my gut...1965. This year made all the rest possible for Al. And in addition to all the pros listed by Sheriff John Stone , he also performed "Runaway" live in 1965. I love that choice (although, my favorite version is the one recorded in 1982/released in 1986).Thanks for mentioning that version of "Runaway". It's my favorite, too! Not many people own(ed) that Sunkist album or even heard that version of "Runaway". Apparently the group was going to release it as a single. Somehow it got nixed. I don't know the whole story behind it...
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 28, 2023 16:45:49 GMT
I'm adding yet another new year to the mix, giving us six different years suggested for Al's best year. (Carl had seven years suggested; Mike just four.)
1969. But if you'll grant me just a little leeway, I'm going to pretend I'm Eastern Orthodox and put the new year a few weeks later than we do here in the west, which gives me a few more songs!
During 1969, Al co-wrote and/or at least partly recorded (and/or sometimes co-produced) "Our Sweet Love," "At My Window," "Loop de Loop," "Susie Cincinnati," "Cotton Fields," "Back Home," "Walkin," and "I Just Got My Pay." He also sang a prominent lead part in "Break Away," recorded and released that year. And if I can have just a couple of weeks into January 1970, I could add some recording of "Good Time" and "Feet."
In other words, while he was already a great singer, this looks to me like the first year that Al was truly becoming an active songwriter and aspiring producer. (I do recognize that he had quite a few co-writes on Friends: five, to be exact, which has to be a record. But with several of them basically full-group credits and so few credits before and immediately after, I have to wonder how many of those songs he significantly contributed to.) No, a lot of these songs were not actually released in 1969--or even 1970, for that matter. A few made it to later albums, a few had to wait for archival releases after decades of booting. But all the same, Al was in the studio working in a newly prominent way (and often working with Brian Wilson, something Mike Love wasn't really doing much of by this time).
So I'll say Al's best year was 1969.
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 28, 2023 16:48:28 GMT
As of now, we've got a tie for Al, with two votes apiece for 2012 and 1965. Will we get another vote to break the tie at the top? To give another year a second vote and expand the tie? Add another year to the mix? Last call for votes, just a few hours until I'll publish our tally and move on.
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 28, 2023 19:36:40 GMT
Al Jardine's best year was ... 1965 and 2012, with two votes apiece. We also had votes for 1969, 1973, 1978, and 1986. By having 1965 as one of our winners, that makes two Beach Boys sharing that year as their best as voted by the board: Mike Love had an overwhelming majority with 6 of 9 votes for 1965.
Up next, our second Wilson brother:
What was Dennis Wilson's best year?
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 28, 2023 21:20:43 GMT
For Dennis Wilson's "best year" I'm going to vote for 1977. In that year, Dennis released his only solo album, Pacific Ocean Blue. I love Pacific Ocean Blue. Period. It's Dennis's best collection of songs. It's his best music. It's also the best solo album from any Beach Boy. And, it still holds up today. It still sounds current. I can put the album on any time and still get caught up in the emotion. I do have to deduct some points because the songwriting and some of the recording of Pacific Ocean Blue was spread out over years, not just 1977.
Dennis also popped up on another album in 1977 - The Beach Boys Love You. While "Mona", "I'll Bet He's Nice", and "I Wanna Pick You Up" don't contain Dennis's best vocals, it's still good to hear him in the mix. Also, we can't forget "Morning Christmas", another DW classic. That song had its origins in 1977, as did "Baby Blue" and some other Bambu songs. I'm also aware of and deducting some points for Dennis boycotting the 1977 M.I.U. sessions. With all the criticism Mike Love has received (and much of it warranted), not enough has been said/written about Dennis Wilson's lack of being a team player.
Runner-up for Dennis Wilson's best year is 1970. In that year, he either wrote/co-wrote and/or released the following songs:
- Slip On Through - Got To Know The Woman - It's About Time - Forever - Lady - Sound Of Free - San Miguel - I'm Going Your Way
Not too shabby. I always thought that Dennis could've released a kick-ass solo album somewhere around 1970-1973. He had the material and he could perform it. He improved significantly as a singer. Brian was still writing some very impressive stuff, but nobody could touch Dennis as far as being prolific in the early 1970s. The Manson...experience...might've affected Dennis's psyche in untold ways, but it didn't seem to keep him from composing great music. Due to licensing and copyrights and other "fees and red tape", it'll never happen, but a Dennis Wilson comp (both solo and with The Beach Boys) from 1968-1973 would blow away a lot of general music fans.
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Post by kds on Dec 28, 2023 22:35:19 GMT
I'm going with 1970 for Dennis's (gone 40 years today) best year, for the songs that Sheriff mentioned. Plus, Dennis's voice was in top shape.
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Post by lonelysummer on Dec 29, 2023 3:22:22 GMT
I'm going with 1970 for Dennis's (gone 40 years today) best year, for the songs that Sheriff mentioned. Plus, Dennis's voice was in top shape. Yeah, I think that was his best year. I've never felt the love for POB that most fans do. It's a much better record that LY, it feels fully formed and complete. It's a mature statement from a mature artist, unlike the stuff the group was cranking out in 76/77/78. But I'm not absolutely slack-jawed, blown away by POB the way the rest of the BB community seems to be. The Sunflower era stuff on the other hand is brilliant. Yes, it helps that his singing voice was in good shape at the time. Last winter, I spent a lot of time in my car just playing the Feel Flows cd's over and over. If I was to pick a high point for the group, it would be Sunflower. Pet Sounds is Brian's baby, even though they sang on it. Other albums in later years would usually have at least one of the key members absent, or barely there. Sunflower has everyone contributing.
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Emdeeh
Pacific Coast Highway
Posts: 520
Likes: 532
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Post by Emdeeh on Dec 29, 2023 4:42:44 GMT
As much as I love POB, I'm going with 1970. Those songs are so awesome! It was an amazing experience as a fan to watch Denny's musical growth in real time and realize that Brian's younger brother had worthy songwriting chops of his own.
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Post by jk on Dec 29, 2023 14:39:39 GMT
As much as I love POB, I'm going with 1970. Those songs are so awesome! It was an amazing experience as a fan to watch Denny's musical growth in real time and realize that Brian's younger brother had worthy songwriting chops of his own. My choice too (after due consideration).
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