billt98
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Post by billt98 on Apr 5, 2022 12:12:15 GMT
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Apr 5, 2022 12:40:37 GMT
I bought David Leaf's book when it came out in 1978. I remember sitting on my bed reading the book while listening to one Beach Boys' album after another. I was in the process of discovering the group's album catalogue and Leaf's book was the perfect complement. Without kidding, I literally memorized sections of that book. Fascinating reading, and I was getting hooked on Brian Wilson big time. Through message boards, I realize David Leaf's book has been criticized by being too pro-Brian, and in some ways, anti-the rest of the guys. I don't agree. As many "stories" of the band have surfaced through the decades, and how things eventually played out, I still find the book to be mostly...accurate.
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 5, 2022 13:05:48 GMT
I have an old copy too. My recollection was that it was pretty pro-Brian, but it has been a long time since I've read it. One thing that I recall--and I should dig it up to confirm the specifics--is that my copy was defective: it omitted a section and instead had other pages duplicated!
Regardless, considering how much has happened in the intervening years--Brian's solo career (including as a touring artist), BWPS, the reunion, etc., not to mention the previously unreleased stuff that has come out, shedding more light on what the group was doing through the years--it will be interesting to read what's new. I'm also curious to see whether or how much he revises the previous parts. (Obviously I'll need to reread the old one to judge that.)
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Apr 5, 2022 13:16:42 GMT
Regardless, considering how much has happened in the intervening years--Brian's solo career (including as a touring artist), BWPS, the reunion, etc., not to mention the previously unreleased stuff that has come out, shedding more light on what the group was doing through the years--it will be interesting to read what's new. I'm also curious to see whether or how much he revises the previous parts. (Obviously I'll need to reread the old one to judge that.)
That's going to test my opinion on Leaf's...accuracy. While I'm a big fan of Leaf's original edition of the book, I'm not sure how he will handle Brian's subsequent solo career. If Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson And The Story Of Smile is any indication, I might struggle with parts of this new, revised edition. Also, I have pretty firm opinions on the 2012 reunion and how things played out, and I don't think they fall in line with David Leaf's. We'll see.
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 5, 2022 13:33:44 GMT
Oh I agree entirely. And the fact that Leaf is (or at least was? He seemed to be distanced after the Smile stuff, but I've obviously got no clue as to why) Brian's friend colors the whole project, of course.
But whatever a person thinks of the quality of Brian's solo releases, the merits of BWPS, and so on, that it all happened is very interesting and would have been surprising, I think, to someone in the late 70s, when the first book came out. Or even the mid-80s.
However, I did think Beautiful Dreamer was a bit nauseating.
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Post by kds on Apr 5, 2022 14:22:51 GMT
Soon after 2012, when I wanted to read about the Beach Boys story, this book came onto my radar. But, since it was out of print, and at the time, the used copies on Amazon and eBay weren't so cheap, I opted for the Peter Carlin book. And, after reading more about Leaf's book, and his more -ista leanings, I'd kind of forgotten about it. I might check out the new edition though.
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billt98
Denny's Drums
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Post by billt98 on Apr 5, 2022 15:55:03 GMT
One thing that I really like about Beautiful Dreamer is that Lauren Daro was in it along with Michael Vosse and David Anderle. Those guys have all passed since so it's nice to have them on film, so to speak, talking about Brian & SMiLE.
The narrative that we find in Brian Wilson related books seems to be kind of established and accepted to a large degree, a rehash. I think that one reason for this may be that the authors are relying on the same few experts to help them make sense of things and fill in the gaps. Authors also rely on previously published works for info and so there's not a whole heck of a lot of unique insight coming through.
I'll be looking forward to Leaf's book. There may be a few anecdotes that reveal something new. But one thing I'm sure of is that there will be plenty of melodramatic redemptive storylines in that book's pages.
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 5, 2022 15:57:46 GMT
One thing that I really like about Beautiful Dreamer is that Lauren Daro was in it along with Michael Vosse and David Anderle. Those guys have all passed since so it's nice to have them on film, so to speak, talking about Brian & SMiLE. I agree. However much I may dislike some--Daro, specifically--the more information on record, the better.
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 5, 2022 17:14:02 GMT
One thing that I recall--and I should dig it up to confirm the specifics--is that my copy was defective: it omitted a section and instead had other pages duplicated! I pulled up my copy from the basement to confirm this, and sure enough, pages 97-112 (which deal with Smile) are duplicated, with the second page 112 going directly to 129 (which has us in 1969). I remember being frustrated that it skipped over one of the more fascinating periods in the band's history, 1967-69.
My copy is the 1985 edition.
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Post by lonelysummer on Apr 5, 2022 18:37:13 GMT
I have the 1985 edition, but before that, I had checked out the original from our library. I was obsessed with this book, i kept reading and re-reading it. Hindsight reveals its flaws.
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Post by Kapitan on Apr 5, 2022 18:48:00 GMT
Hindsight reveals its flaws. Isn't that always the way? I think usually--not just in rock-band bio books, but in anything meant to be nonfiction--time tends to shine a light on biases, omissions, exaggerations, etc. That's partly why I am interested in whether or how much the existing sections are revised. Or are they largely going to be as-is, with new material tacked on the end?
(Without rereading it, I can't even say precisely what could or should be redone.)
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Apr 5, 2022 20:57:56 GMT
Hindsight reveals its flaws. Isn't that always the way? I think usually--not just in rock-band bio books, but in anything meant to be nonfiction--time tends to shine a light on biases, omissions, exaggerations, etc. That's partly why I am interested in whether or how much the existing sections are revised. Or are they largely going to be as-is, with new material tacked on the end?
(Without rereading it, I can't even say precisely what could or should be redone.)
Like I posted above, lonelysummer, like you I was obsessed with the book and kept reading it and re-reading it. Now, admittedly, it's been several years since I pulled it out and read it yet again. But, I really can't remember much (repeat, much) that Leaf wrote back then that was PROVEN to be false. Yes, the general tenor of the book was that several people and circumstances - especially some of The Beach Boys - "held back" Brian. Personally, over the years, through reading, seeing, and hearing just about everything I could get a hold of, I have, should I say, removed more blame from others and placed more on Brian, not ignoring his mental health issues. There were plenty of other details, though, that I think Leaf got right. But, then again, I've based that opinion on strictly outside sources like other books, magazines, message boards , etc. So, before I definitively dismiss what Leaf wrote or still believes, hey, who really knows the truth.
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2022 16:54:51 GMT
Enjoy.
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2022 17:15:41 GMT
Isn't that always the way? I think usually--not just in rock-band bio books, but in anything meant to be nonfiction--time tends to shine a light on biases, omissions, exaggerations, etc. That's partly why I am interested in whether or how much the existing sections are revised. Or are they largely going to be as-is, with new material tacked on the end?
(Without rereading it, I can't even say precisely what could or should be redone.)
Like I posted above, lonelysummer, like you I was obsessed with the book and kept reading it and re-reading it. Now, admittedly, it's been several years since I pulled it out and read it yet again. But, I really can't remember much (repeat, much) that Leaf wrote back then that was PROVEN to be false. Yes, the general tenor of the book was that several people and circumstances - especially some of The Beach Boys - "held back" Brian. Personally, over the years, through reading, seeing, and hearing just about everything I could get a hold of, I have, should I say, removed more blame from others and placed more on Brian, not ignoring his mental health issues. There were plenty of other details, though, that I think Leaf got right. But, then again, I've based that opinion on strictly outside sources like other books, magazines, message boards , etc. So, before I definitively dismiss what Leaf wrote or still believes, hey, who really knows the truth. In many people's eyes, he strongly advanced the myth that the band hardly played on the songs 1963-67: The Beach Boys (1985 update), p. 72.
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Post by Kapitan on May 18, 2022 17:42:50 GMT
A person could get seasick watching that video: there is a subtle up-and-down motion in the camerawork that, once you see it, you can't unsee.
More importantly, thanks for posting it. Interesting hearing about the revised version, and glad to hear how much new content is included.
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