There is a Tony Bennett song called "If I Ruled The World", and there's the old cliche', "If I was king of the world...". Well, I wish I could make both of those concepts come true, and then apply them to constructing a new Beach Boys' album, a 60th Anniversary album, probably the final Beach Boys' album. This would be my model:
The Beach Boys - Sunset
01 a Brian Wilson/Whoever song
02 a Brian Wilson/Whoever song
03 a B. Wilson/M. Love song
04 a B. Wilson/M. Love song
05 a B. Wilson/M. Love song
06 a B. Wilson/M. Love song
07 an Al Jardine song
08 a Bruce Johnston song
09 a David Marks song
10 a Dennis Wilson song
11 a cover
12 a cover
- Produced by Brian Wilson & Joe Thomas
- Released November 1, 2021 (or early spring 2022)
Two Brian Wilson/Whoever songs - I would go back into the vaults and select the best two BW songs available. The search could go all the way back to the Beach Boys' years, BW1988, Sweet Insanity, the Paley Sessions, or the various BW/Joe Thomas sessions. Wherever. Whenever. There is a very good chance that Brian will not be recording any more solo albums, and, if there is a Beach Boys' reunion album, that might be the last album that Brian works on. So, there's no reason to be "saving" songs for future projects. What future projects? Posthumous releases?
Four B.Wilson/M. Love songs - If there is any truth to Mike Love's complaints about the That's Why God Made The Radio sessions, and I believe there is, then the only way that Mike would consent to another Beach Boys' album is if he is "allowed" to work with Brian. But, what exactly does that mean, or specifically, HOW MANY new songs will it take to please or satisfy Mike? I came up with a number, four. That would be one-third of the album's total. Ultimately, it would come down to Brian & His Wifeandmanagers. Brian's going to have to agree to work with Mike. And, that is far from a given; it's a long shot. If anything prevents the band from recording a reunion album, it will be that issue. It will be the failure to come to an agreement for Mike and Brian to work together on new songs. Personally, I think Mike deserves that right, that choice, that ultimatum. I don't particularly like it, but I understand it. As the only group member who stayed with band for all sixty years, yes, Mike has earned the right to make those conditions. I can't blame Mike for wanting one last chance to recapture the magic, maybe create some good old Beach Boys' music, maybe stumble into a hit. Of course things have changed from 1964 to 1976 to 2012 to 2020 - in a multitude of ways. Despite what he says, Mike is aware of that, but can't he/they even try? Now, Brian Wilson being Brian Wilson, he's earned the right to choose, too. Brian is entitled to work with whomever he chooses; I'm not questioning that. I just wish that Brian would go along with it, work with Mike, humor the guy, for just four songs, one last time. Maybe Brian could take the songs that Mike has been working on and re-configure or re-write them. Maybe Brian has a few ideas of his own. Maybe Brian and Mike could come up with a basic idea for a song - music and words - and then Joe Thomas and Scott Totten and Darian and the rest could flesh it out in the studio.
An Al Jardine song - Al mentioned in a recent interview that he has a song that features a Carl Wilson vocal. Great! Bring it on. That would kill two birds with one stone. You get an Al song and at the same time bring Carl into the album. And I have no problem including a Carl Wilson vocal on this last album. Is the Al song "Waves Of Love"? Probably. "Waves Of Love" isn't a great song; it's an OK to good song. Add the Beach Boys' vocals, tweak the lyrics, let Brian and Joe work their magic, and you have a respectable Al Jardine-led Beach Boys' song. Like Mike, Al deserves it, too.
A Bruce Johnston - I have one qualification for the album - no re-recordings - so that would eliminate "She Believes In Love Again". C'mon, Bruce, don't you have one, just one good song in your repertoire that you would like to be recorded, to be heard? Why wouldn't Bruce WANT to contribute a new song, one last song? Bruce always thought of himself as a songwriter and producer. Here is the chance, a great way to wrap up a songwriting career.
A David Marks song - I am not overly familiar with Dave's catalogue, but I have heard some of his material and was impressed. A reunion album would be the perfect vehicle for David to feature one of his songs. Like Bruce, I'm sure David has at least one good song that he would like to record, and a bonus would be with The Beach Boys. Maybe David could inject some energy or rock & roll into the proceedings with his guitar prowess. At the very least, a David Marks' song would add to the unity and "group aspect" of the album, something that I think was missing from TWGMTR (more on that later).
A Dennis Wilson - Due to the nature of a 60th Anniversary album, a last Beach Boys' album, and an album where you might be reaching a little bit for quality material, I think a Dennis Wilson song (featuring a Dennis lead vocal) would not only be appropriate but desirable. Maybe they could select an unreleased Pacific Ocean Blue song or a Bambu song, I'm thinking something like "Tug Of Love", and use Dennis' lead vocal with The Beach Boys' harmonies; keeping the original backing track or supplementing it or re-recording it would be optional. The Monkees did something similar on their recent Christmas album with Davy Jones, integrating him into the songs/album.
Two cover songs - Hey, why not? All of the guys love 'em. Brian has been talking about a rock and roll album for ages. Covers have been a large part of the band's history. Now, the choice of covers is essential, of course. But, yeah, if they're done well and sequenced efficiently, two covers would be acceptable.
With That's Why God Made The Radio, Capitol Records wanted an album that sounded more current than nostalgic. I mostly agreed with that. They wanted it to be somewhat artistic/adult and less "fun", mostly with the subject matter of the songs. I could accept that although I felt the album should've employed slightly more rock and roll and more good old Beach Boys' music. The decision was made to NOT include Carl and Dennis Wilson on the album. I had no problem with that. And, finally, it was decided that all of the songs (except for "Daybreak Over The Ocean") would be Brian Wilson compositions, with no songs from other group members. I did not agree with that.
A 60th Anniversary album should be and could be different from That's Why God Made The Radio, and at the same time be as artistic and fulfilling. Many Beach Boys' fans appreciate the band's 1967-1973 period. However, that era is distinct in two ways. The first three albums - Smiley Smile, Wild Honey, and Friends - were Brian Wilson-produced/driven albums. In 2021, that is no longer possible. The other albums - 20/20, Sunflower, Surf's Up, and Holland - were more band-driven and less Brian Wilson-influenced. In 2021, those type of albums are possible. That's the direction I would go. I would make a 60th Anniversary album a GROUP album. Not BW-dominated, but songs from all members. Give Blondie a line or two/part. Let it rock, make it fun, make it adult, make it sentimental. Bring back Carl and Dennis one last time. Make it something for everybody.
Due to a variety of circumstances, mostly age, a last Beach Boys' album, a reunion/anniversary album, is in my opinion, the perfect vehicle for all of the aforementioned. Now, in order to pull something like that off, Joe Thomas' leadership and production is essential. With Stars & Stripes, Imagination, TWGMTR, and No Pier Pressure, Joe made the guys, and especially Brian, sound good. We know that Brian is the wild card, the most unpredictable member, and the one part that could make the album a disappointment - or a success. I would feel a whole lot better knowing that Joe Thomas was in charge of quality control. He could "unify" all of the quirks and smooth out the rough spots. Even with the guys approaching 80 years old, I think Joe could still pull it off.
So, there you go. My plan for the 60th Anniversary Beach Boys' album. I'll be here all day. The Cincinnati Kid, if Capitol Records should call, feel free to give them my email address. I work cheap (cough...for free). Just save me a seat at the table in BRI's board room.