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Post by Kapitan on Jan 2, 2024 11:48:25 GMT
Bruce's best years were probably before he joined the Beach Boys. Well, if you want to pick one, I'll count it. Nothing says it as to be a year in the group.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jan 2, 2024 13:19:41 GMT
My first thought was 1965 - when he joined The Beach Boys. That was "the best" thing that ever happened to Bruce. Then he gets an audible part on "California Girls", one of the few times you actually hear Bruce on a record. Not a bad start, not a bad year.
Then I considered 1971, but that's totally based on "Disney Girls". That is Bruce's best song, covered by many over the years, and his shining moment if you will. That song and "I Write The Songs" are probably the only songs that Bruce is really known for. However, Bruce was very unhappy in 1971 for a few reasons, the presence of Jack Rieley being the main one. He would shortly leave the band so I can't go with 1971.
I briefly considered 1980 because Bruce produced a Beach Boys' album (a feather in anybody's hat), Keepin' The Summer Alive, but the album was not a strong one, and Bruce's production contributed to that. Bruce also contributed and sang lead on a song, "Endless Harmony", that was awarded the final slot on a Beach Boys' album, a slot that was usually reserved for Brian Wilson.
I guess I'll go with 1970 but I'm being a little hypocritical - I don't particularly care for either "Tears In The Morning" or "Deidre". However, I know Bruce does and I know a lot of fans do, too. Bruce also got a lead vocal on "At My Window", so Bruce got more action on Sunflower than any other Beach Boys' album. In interviews over the years, Bruce has been very praiseworthy of Sunflower, calling it the band's best "group" album and maybe best album after Pet Sounds. After four or five years, Bruce was really getting integrated into the group (then he would leave a year later ). And, what probably made Bruce most happy was collaborating or working closely with Brian Wilson. So, yeah, 1970 gets my vote.
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Emdeeh
Pacific Coast Highway
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Post by Emdeeh on Jan 2, 2024 15:11:51 GMT
I'm going with 1971 for "Disney Girls" as well, although I considered Bruce's pre-BB career too (some interesting output there, including "Hey Little Cobra").
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Post by lonelysummer on Jan 2, 2024 20:42:53 GMT
My first thought was 1965 - when he joined The Beach Boys. That was "the best" thing that ever happened to Bruce. Then he gets an audible part on "California Girls", one of the few times you actually hear Bruce on a record. Not a bad start, not a bad year.
Then I considered 1971, but that's totally based on "Disney Girls". That is Bruce's best song, covered by many over the years, and his shining moment if you will. That song and "I Write The Songs" are probably the only songs that Bruce is really known for. However, Bruce was very unhappy in 1971 for a few reasons, the presence of Jack Rieley being the main one. He would shortly leave the band so I can't go with 1971.
I briefly considered 1980 because Bruce produced a Beach Boys' album (a feather in anybody's hat), Keepin' The Summer Alive, but the album was not a strong one, and Bruce's production contributed to that. Bruce also contributed and sang lead on a song, "Endless Harmony", that was awarded the final slot on a Beach Boys' album, a slot that was usually reserved for Brian Wilson.
I guess I'll go with 1970 but I'm being a little hypocritical - I don't particularly care for either "Tears In The Morning" or "Deidre". However, I know Bruce does and I know a lot of fans do, too. Bruce also got a lead vocal on "At My Window", so Bruce got more action on Sunflower than any other Beach Boys' album. In interviews over the years, Bruce has been very praiseworthy of Sunflower, calling it the band's best "group" album and maybe best album after Pet Sounds. After four or five years, Bruce was really getting integrated into the group (then he would leave a year later ). And, what probably made Bruce most happy was collaborating or working closely with Brian Wilson. So, yeah, 1970 gets my vote. Yeah, Sunflower is a very Bruce-heavy album, relatively speaking. 1970 gets my vote - even though I think "Deirdre" is a bit too cutesy. My personality is more like the guy in "Tears in the Morning". But I'm surprised I'm not seeing any votes yet for pre-Beach Boys Bruce. I've picked on Bruce many times in the past for his role in the current band - clapping, adjusting his mic stand, wearing shorts, and barely touching his keyboard - only to get smacked down by several members here telling me what a great musician is, all his accomplishments pre-Beach Boys (which I don't know much about, haven't really investigated).
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Post by Kapitan on Jan 2, 2024 20:48:15 GMT
But I'm surprised I'm not seeing any votes yet for pre-Beach Boys Bruce. I've picked on Bruce many times in the past for his role in the current band - clapping, adjusting his mic stand, wearing shorts, and barely touching his keyboard - only to get smacked down by several members here telling me what a great musician is, all his accomplishments pre-Beach Boys (which I don't know much about, haven't really investigated). For me, I just don't really like the kind of music he did. And actually that goes for a lot of his Beach Boys and '70s solo career (such as it was...), too. It's not that he's not a really good musician, it's that he didn't put out a lot of music that I appreciate. He's a very good keyboard player, was a great singer, could play bass, could produce... Very talented. But you know, there are a lot of talented artists who just don't do it for me. So because of that, I will almost certainly pick something from his Beach Boys years, just because I'll enjoy more of that (as it includes the Beach Boys). Surfing at pajama parties or whatever just aren't my thing. I haven't really given that stuff a lot of time.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jan 2, 2024 21:04:18 GMT
My first thought was 1965 - when he joined The Beach Boys. That was "the best" thing that ever happened to Bruce. Then he gets an audible part on "California Girls", one of the few times you actually hear Bruce on a record. Not a bad start, not a bad year.
Then I considered 1971, but that's totally based on "Disney Girls". That is Bruce's best song, covered by many over the years, and his shining moment if you will. That song and "I Write The Songs" are probably the only songs that Bruce is really known for. However, Bruce was very unhappy in 1971 for a few reasons, the presence of Jack Rieley being the main one. He would shortly leave the band so I can't go with 1971.
I briefly considered 1980 because Bruce produced a Beach Boys' album (a feather in anybody's hat), Keepin' The Summer Alive, but the album was not a strong one, and Bruce's production contributed to that. Bruce also contributed and sang lead on a song, "Endless Harmony", that was awarded the final slot on a Beach Boys' album, a slot that was usually reserved for Brian Wilson.
I guess I'll go with 1970 but I'm being a little hypocritical - I don't particularly care for either "Tears In The Morning" or "Deidre". However, I know Bruce does and I know a lot of fans do, too. Bruce also got a lead vocal on "At My Window", so Bruce got more action on Sunflower than any other Beach Boys' album. In interviews over the years, Bruce has been very praiseworthy of Sunflower, calling it the band's best "group" album and maybe best album after Pet Sounds. After four or five years, Bruce was really getting integrated into the group (then he would leave a year later ). And, what probably made Bruce most happy was collaborating or working closely with Brian Wilson. So, yeah, 1970 gets my vote. Yeah, Sunflower is a very Bruce-heavy album, relatively speaking. 1970 gets my vote - even though I think "Deirdre" is a bit too cutesy. My personality is more like the guy in "Tears in the Morning". But I'm surprised I'm not seeing any votes yet for pre-Beach Boys Bruce. I've picked on Bruce many times in the past for his role in the current band - clapping, adjusting his mic stand, wearing shorts, and barely touching his keyboard - only to get smacked down by several members here telling me what a great musician is, all his accomplishments pre-Beach Boys (which I don't know much about, haven't really investigated). Can you be more specific? I think I heard Surfer's Pajama Party and Surfin' Round The World once and I don't really remember them. Are you saying that those two albums rival Bruce's Beach Boys' material? And, the only two songs that stand out from Bruce's Rip Chords and Bruce & Terry recordings are "Hey Little Cobra" and "Three Window Coupe". They are nice songs but, again, are they better than his Sunflower songs and "Disney Girls"? Any hidden gems? I do like "Trophy Machine".
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Post by carllove on Jan 3, 2024 1:53:43 GMT
So we don’t need to choose a year when Bruce was in The Beach Boys, correct?
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Post by Kapitan on Jan 3, 2024 3:07:27 GMT
So we don’t need to choose a year when Bruce was in The Beach Boys, correct? Correct. Any year is fair game for anybody.
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Post by lonelysummer on Jan 3, 2024 3:30:36 GMT
Yeah, Sunflower is a very Bruce-heavy album, relatively speaking. 1970 gets my vote - even though I think "Deirdre" is a bit too cutesy. My personality is more like the guy in "Tears in the Morning". But I'm surprised I'm not seeing any votes yet for pre-Beach Boys Bruce. I've picked on Bruce many times in the past for his role in the current band - clapping, adjusting his mic stand, wearing shorts, and barely touching his keyboard - only to get smacked down by several members here telling me what a great musician is, all his accomplishments pre-Beach Boys (which I don't know much about, haven't really investigated). Can you be more specific? I think I heard Surfer's Pajama Party and Surfin' Round The World once and I don't really remember them. Are you saying that those two albums rival Bruce's Beach Boys' material? And, the only two songs that stand out from Bruce's Rip Chords and Bruce & Terry recordings are "Hey Little Cobra" and "Three Window Coupe". They are nice songs but, again, are they better than his Sunflower songs and "Disney Girls"? Any hidden gems? I do like "Trophy Machine".
I'm not saying that at all; I'm saying others - maybe it was on the Smiley board -chastised me for implying Bruce wasn't much of a musician. They would then throw down an hours long list of all his pre-BB's accomplishments to shame me. Honestly, I don't know that much about the Ripchords, Bruce and Terry, and whatever else he did. It's not my bag. Sometimes I wish we were all in a room having these discussions. I don't have the patience to type hours long responses.
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Post by carllove on Jan 3, 2024 13:28:14 GMT
For Bruce, his best year has to be 1976, since he won the Grammy Award for Song of The Year that year. Not sure how you can top that!
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jan 3, 2024 13:54:24 GMT
For Bruce, his best year has to be 1976, since he won the Grammy Award for Song of The Year that year. Not sure how you can top that!
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Post by carllove on Jan 3, 2024 15:37:59 GMT
For Bruce, his best year has to be 1976, since he won the Grammy Award for Song of The Year that year. Not sure how you can top that! That was a pretty awkward question, since the interviewer was evidently not aware that Bruce’s name was not included in the HOF induction of The Beach Boys. But he would rather have a Grammy - oh wait - he already has one 🤣🤣🤣. Thanks Sheriff - I had never heard that interview.
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Post by Kapitan on Jan 7, 2024 12:57:17 GMT
I think today will likely be our last day for Bruce (which means I ought to get a move on and decide my choice). Please drop a comment and cast your votes if you haven't.
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Post by B.E. on Jan 7, 2024 14:01:11 GMT
This is an easy one for me: 1970. Yes, "Disney Girls" is arguably Bruce's best Beach Boys song, but I think the sum of his contributions to Sunflower are greater and I think Sunflower is the better album. And I think Sheriff John Stone 's point about Bruce speaking so highly of Sunflower through the years and his being more involved pre-Rieley (including working with a relatively more active Brian) is a very good one. I also happen to be a big fan of "Tears in the Morning". I like it as much as "Disney Girls". Probably more.
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nater414
Denny's Drums
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Post by nater414 on Jan 7, 2024 17:33:51 GMT
My pick for Bruce is 1979. He returned to the band at a crucial time when they needed him and helped them complete a terrific album. From his stellar and consistent backing vocals, to the solid production that is gentle yet has great focus on the instrumentation. I think him returning to the band injected some new life and creativity that had been missing. LA is a really solid album, and yes, it’s almost a compilation of music written and produced by the individual members, it needed someone to tie it all together and make the album a nice listening experience and Bruce provided that. I also think Disco HCTN is pretty badass!
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