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Post by carllove on Dec 21, 2021 13:57:40 GMT
I love pretty much everything Carl wrote; I think that's pretty rare. Sang is one thing, and would get more agreement. Wrote? Honestly I think he was a pretty mediocre writer, with some highs and some lows. Even though I'm not much of a Dennis fan, I think Carl's writing is by far the worst of the three Wilson brothers. Especially by this era of his solo work, I think a lot what he wrote could've been by anyone. Kapitan - How can you not love Dennis after Feel Flows? If anything - so much wasted potential!
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Post by kds on Dec 21, 2021 13:59:15 GMT
I was trying to think of what song Livin with a Heartache vaguely reminds me of - Don't Pass Me By - The Beatles
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Post by carllove on Dec 21, 2021 14:01:33 GMT
Maybe it's Bruce's production? "Goin On" and "Oh Darlin" are wonderful songs that sound SO much better live than on the album. I'm not sure that a better producer could do anything to save this song, though. I do blame Bruce's production generally for the whole album feeling flat. (Though I disagree about "Livin' With a Heartache," which I think is a decent song. Not a great song, but a decent song.) In addition to the ones you named, "Keepin the Summer Alive" is another one that came across better live than on the album. (Stupid lyrics, sure, but a decent song that rocked live.)
Basically I think Bruce removed all the edge from the songs. Not that the Beach Boys were the Sex Pistols or something, but a little bit of an edge was a good counterpoint to the sweet harmonies and melodies, especially on the rock and roll songs. These songs on the album just didn't feel like anyone wanted to be there, no edge at all, just a soft, dull slog.
You nailed it Kapitan! The album is lacking an edge. I actually like "Keepin the Summer Alive" as well. Everytime I listen to this album, I just think of how much better it could have been, because some of the songs are pretty dang good.
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Post by carllove on Dec 21, 2021 14:04:33 GMT
I was trying to think of what song Livin with a Heartache vaguely reminds me of - Don't Pass Me By - The Beatles It reminds me of "You're the Inspiration", by Chicago. Another insipid song by a great band.
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Post by kds on Dec 21, 2021 14:09:22 GMT
I was trying to think of what song Livin with a Heartache vaguely reminds me of - Don't Pass Me By - The Beatles It reminds me of "You're the Inspiration", by Chicago. Another insipid song by a great band. I guess it's kinda like You're the Inspiration, but without being good or memorable. (Not that I'm a gigantic fan of Chicago's AC years, but when they did it, they did it well).
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 21, 2021 14:13:47 GMT
I know I said it before, but to me it sounds like that tepid country-pop of that era. The name that keeps coming to my head is Eddie Rabbit, like "I Love a Rainy Night." (Another song I actually like, though probably mostly from the nostalgia of remembering hearing it on the radio when I was just a little guy.)
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Post by carllove on Dec 21, 2021 14:15:00 GMT
It reminds me of "You're the Inspiration", by Chicago. Another insipid song by a great band. I guess it's kinda like You're the Inspiration, but without being good or memorable. (Not that I'm a gigantic fan of Chicago's AC years, but when they did it, they did it well). "You're the meaning in my life, You're the inspiration" has a tendency to be an ear worm after I hear it!
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 21, 2021 14:15:58 GMT
I think that's pretty rare. Sang is one thing, and would get more agreement. Wrote? Honestly I think he was a pretty mediocre writer, with some highs and some lows. Even though I'm not much of a Dennis fan, I think Carl's writing is by far the worst of the three Wilson brothers. Especially by this era of his solo work, I think a lot what he wrote could've been by anyone. Kapitan - How can you not love Dennis after Feel Flows? If anything - so much wasted potential! I don't dislike Dennis, either. And I definitely enjoyed a lot of the stuff finally released on Feel Flows. But that also highlights one of the issues I have with him: it's not finished! Dennis had some great ideas that died on the vine because he didn't see them through to the end.
The other issue I have is that a lot of his material was too samey for me, the same kinds of slow moving, melodramatic ballads without much in the way of rhythmic drive or melodic/harmonic motion. It's just too often too one-dimensional for me, and the emotional aspect that some feel from it, I don't feel.
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Post by carllove on Dec 21, 2021 14:16:48 GMT
I know I said it before, but to me it sounds like that tepid country-pop of that era. The name that keeps coming to my head is Eddie Rabbit, like "I Love a Rainy Night." (Another song I actually like, though probably mostly from the nostalgia of remembering hearing it on the radio when I was just a little guy.) Yup - I hear that as well. Eddie Rabbit had a great voice!
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 21, 2021 14:21:41 GMT
I often wonder what Carl's role was - if any - in the production of his L.A. (Light Album) and Keepin' The Summer Alive tracks. As we know, Carl was the main producer (wasn't he?) on those early 70's Beach Boys' albums. Then, he kinda had to take a back seat when Brian was brought...back. When Brian stopped producing the band after 1977, Bruce, not Carl was chosen to produce. Was Carl COMPLETELY the "good soldier" and let Bruce produce his songs, or did Bruce maybe respect Carl's producing talents and let him call the/some shots? I think the L.A. (Light Album) songs sound like Bruce productions, as does "Keepin' The Summer Alive", but "Livin' With A Heartache" sounds Carl-produced to me.
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 21, 2021 14:23:58 GMT
I often wonder what Carl's role was - if any - in the production of his L.A. (Light Album) and Keepin' The Summer Alive tracks. ... I think the L.A. (Light Album) songs sound like Bruce productions, as does "Keepin' The Summer Alive", but "Livin' With A Heartache" sounds Carl-produced to me. Quoting the wikipedia entry (which cites the liner notes of the twofer and Craig Slowinski, with bolding my own):
The Beach Boys
Carl Wilson – lead vocals, guitar, Yamaha electric piano, uncredited producer Bruce Johnston – harmony and backing vocals, producer
Additional musicians and production staff
Terry Melcher, Curt Boettcher, Jon Joyce – harmony and backing vocals Steve Ross – guitar Bill House – guitars Billy Joe Walker, Jr. – lead and acoustic guitars Bryan Garofalo – bass John Hobbs – tack piano Gary Mallaber – drums Steve Forman – percussion Steve Desper – engineer, mixing
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Post by carllove on Dec 21, 2021 14:24:18 GMT
Kapitan - How can you not love Dennis after Feel Flows? If anything - so much wasted potential! I don't dislike Dennis, either. And I definitely enjoyed a lot of the stuff finally released on Feel Flows. But that also highlights one of the issues I have with him: it's not finished! Dennis had some great ideas that died on the vine because he didn't see them through to the end.
The other issue I have is that a lot of his material was too samey for me, the same kinds of slow moving, melodramatic ballads without much in the way of rhythmic drive or melodic/harmonic motion. It's just too often too one-dimensional for me, and the emotional aspect that some feel from it, I don't feel.
I can see your point. I do, however, see some variation in Dennis' music. "Forever" is very different from "Before" which is very different from "All My Love/Ecology". He has his ballads, his rockers and his stuff that to me sounds a bit progressive. I feel like a completed "Before" had the potential to be my favorite song ever after "God Only Knows". I totally connect emotionally with his songs. Maybe it's a chick thing?
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Post by carllove on Dec 21, 2021 14:26:16 GMT
I often wonder what Carl's role was - if any - in the production of his L.A. (Light Album) and Keepin' The Summer Alive tracks. ... I think the L.A. (Light Album) songs sound like Bruce productions, as does "Keepin' The Summer Alive", but "Livin' With A Heartache" sounds Carl-produced to me. Quoting the wikipedia entry (which cites the liner notes of the twofer and Craig Slowinski, with bolding my own):
The Beach Boys
Carl Wilson – lead vocals, guitar, Yamaha electric piano, uncredited producer Bruce Johnston – harmony and backing vocals, producer
Additional musicians and production staff
Terry Melcher, Curt Boettcher, Jon Joyce – harmony and backing vocals Steve Ross – guitar Bill House – guitars Billy Joe Walker, Jr. – lead and acoustic guitars Bryan Garofalo – bass John Hobbs – tack piano Gary Mallaber – drums Steve Forman – percussion Steve Desper – engineer, mixing
Good find Kapitan! Ugh - I hate to blame Carl for this songs suckiness though!
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 21, 2021 14:27:13 GMT
I agree about two of those songs, but they're both unreleased/unfinished! That's half my point.
I do think women tend to enjoy Dennis's music more, and I think it's for the pretty obvious reason of his sex appeal. And I've always gotten the impression from straight guys who like it that it's at least partly an "I wish I were him because the women love him!" thing. Seriously, I have wondered many times how his music would have been received had Mike's hairline and personality combined with Carl's physique.
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Post by kds on Dec 21, 2021 14:31:57 GMT
At the risk of generalizing, I also think there's a certain affection for Dennis's music because he passed at a relatively young age.
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