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Post by Sheriff John Stone on May 18, 2022 19:48:18 GMT
As soon as I saw the book cover, I couldn't get it out of my mind, especially while staring at it during the video. Surprisingly, the question came up addressing one of the most flawed album cover photos in the history of rock and roll, and I was disappointed that with all of the work Leaf put into this book, he agreed (gave in?) with the publisher and used it as the book cover. It's May 18, 2022, and the more things change, the more they stay the same. The world of The Beach Boys was, is, and will always be insane. It never ends.
Oh, and also disappointed (but not unexpected) to hear how effusive Leaf was in praising Brian Wilson Presents Smile. Jeez, I thought Beautiful Dreamer was enough. Now I gotta read about it again...
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Post by kds on May 26, 2022 12:56:38 GMT
As soon as I saw the book cover, I couldn't get it out of my mind, especially while staring at it during the video. Surprisingly, the question came up addressing one of the most flawed album cover photos in the history of rock and roll, and I was disappointed that with all of the work Leaf put into this book, he agreed (gave in?) with the publisher and used it as the book cover. It's May 18, 2022, and the more things change, the more they stay the same. The world of The Beach Boys was, is, and will always be insane. It never ends.
Oh, and also disappointed (but not unexpected) to hear how effusive Leaf was in praising Brian Wilson Presents Smile. Jeez, I thought Beautiful Dreamer was enough. Now I gotta read about it again...
To be fair, it seems like BWPS was pretty well received by fans, critics, and peers alike.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on May 26, 2022 16:54:05 GMT
As soon as I saw the book cover, I couldn't get it out of my mind, especially while staring at it during the video. Surprisingly, the question came up addressing one of the most flawed album cover photos in the history of rock and roll, and I was disappointed that with all of the work Leaf put into this book, he agreed (gave in?) with the publisher and used it as the book cover. It's May 18, 2022, and the more things change, the more they stay the same. The world of The Beach Boys was, is, and will always be insane. It never ends.
Oh, and also disappointed (but not unexpected) to hear how effusive Leaf was in praising Brian Wilson Presents Smile. Jeez, I thought Beautiful Dreamer was enough. Now I gotta read about it again...
To be fair, it seems like BWPS was pretty well received by fans, critics, and peers alike. Yes, time will tell, but I would expect the history books to show that Brian Wilson Presents Smile was the highlight or apex of Brian Wilson's solo career.
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Post by Kapitan on May 26, 2022 17:09:55 GMT
I'd be almost certain that, however much (or little) is written years from now on that subject, BWPS-TLOS will be be seen as the highlight of his solo career. That encompasses the historically relevant fact (and from a narrative perspective, the most interesting story) of completing a Smile to much press and acclaim through a productive period ending with another generally well regarded new work. (Or maybe through Gershwin.)
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2022 20:59:42 GMT
To be fair, it seems like BWPS was pretty well received by fans, critics, and peers alike. Yes, time will tell, but I would expect the history books to show that Brian Wilson Presents Smile was the highlight or apex of Brian Wilson's solo career. The apex of Brian's solo career was, IMHYEO, That Lucky Ol' Sun.
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Post by Kapitan on May 28, 2022 0:51:14 GMT
Realistically, I think even in the mid-term--let's say 50 years from now--Brian's solo work will be generally considered ... not much at all, if ever, other than by those with a specific affinity.
That would be a solid century after his best work. How many artists from circa 1922 can you think of to discuss and debate their best work outside of their obviously best work?
In other words, we're thinking, clearly we aren't talking the Beach Boys music that literally comprises 100% (or, to be generous, maybe 99.5%) of what the man is known for among the general public. But no, we're wondering what will be considered the best of that other 0-0.5% of his work, the stuff we acknowledge going in isn't really regarded at all by anyone other than contemporaneous nerds.
Fifty years from now, Joe Public who is interested in music will know Brian Wilson was the genius of the Beach Boys, the guy behind Good Vibrations and Wouldn't It Be Nice (or whatever few things he's known by then), and that he had mental health issues. That is what people--those people who care but aren't academics or nerds--will know. They won't be discussing the relative merits of different periods of his solo work.
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Post by kds on May 28, 2022 11:11:46 GMT
Hell, fifty years from now, I could see people saying "Brian Wilson was still releasing music in 2008?"
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on May 28, 2022 11:24:02 GMT
I think there will also be another aspect of Brian's solo career (and intersecting with Brian's Beach Boys' career) that has already emerged and I believe will be even more highlighted in the future, and that is Brian's living/performing with and overcoming mental illness in continuing his career. And there's a bit of irony in that. For several years, The Beach Boys and Brian's family didn't exactly want to make public Brian's mental health issues, and understandably so. Brian was presented as this quirky, funny, and certainly unique artist, the "lovable nut" if you will. Stories surfaced that were told, almost with humor, and that fed into the myth - and for a long time we didn't know the extent of the myth. Well, Melinda came along and put an end to all of that, and I give her credit for it. Melinda presented us with the facts, the medical facts. We got the real diagnoses, the real treatment that was being provided, and we got a truer picture of what Brian was dealing with and how it would be addressed going forward. It was almost like, after all of these years, Brian was now "officially" mentally ill, if that makes sense. He wasn't just this drug addicted rock & roller, with some "problems", maybe concealing something, maybe playing head games to get what he wanted. Even Brian could now talk about it. While Brian always had a sympathetic audience - let's face it, Brian Wilson was always a sympathetic figure - now, in addition to being this brilliant artist, he was a person living with mental illness. That was a huge...transition.
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Post by Kapitan on May 28, 2022 11:29:29 GMT
I agree with you, Sheriff John Stone, but more in the short term than the long term. I think that openness has been especially valuable now. But again, in 50 years? I don't think it will seem like as big a deal, as mental illnesses will have been that much more normalized for that much longer.
If people realize it had been hidden previously, that's the part that might surprise them, the way it can be surprising to learn there was a time cancer was something people didn't talk about. Or, more recently, that gay people hid their sexuality. The brave talking about it of the time becomes commonplace, just normal, soon enough.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on May 28, 2022 12:17:09 GMT
I agree with you, Sheriff John Stone , but more in the short term than the long term. I think that openness has been especially valuable now. But again, in 50 years? I don't think it will seem like as big a deal, as mental illnesses will have been that much more normalized for that much longer.
If people realize it had been hidden previously, that's the part that might surprise them, the way it can be surprising to learn there was a time cancer was something people didn't talk about. Or, more recently, that gay people hid their sexuality. The brave talking about it of the time becomes commonplace, just normal, soon enough.
Yes, you're right, the discussion of mental illness in the future will be less sensational and more normalized and commonplace, to some extent, of course. I think where Brian will be an exception - or more "recognized for it" - is that he was first, a celebrity, and second, this genius musician who provided so much happiness to the world despite his disability. I don't want to appear offensive to others who suffer from mental illness, but that's what separates Brian from, well, the rest. His massive contribution in the field of music. There ain't many like him.
I think Brian, in addition to being on that short list of "greatest songwriters/musicians/artists", will also appear on that list of "people who overcame disabilities" to make great contributions. And, I think there was a time when I don't think he would've made that list (due to the drugs, lifestyle, etc.). Now, it's a no-brainer.
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Post by carllove on Jun 30, 2022 23:45:22 GMT
Anyone receive their copy of the new release yet? David was very gracious in helping me get a copy from Amazon UK - so I will have my copy mid July instead of having to wait until September since I live in the US. I never read the original, so it will all be new to me.
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Post by kds on Jul 1, 2022 12:32:00 GMT
I also never read the original book, but I might get a copy when it's available in the US.
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Post by B.E. on Jul 8, 2022 13:24:23 GMT
Initially, I wasn’t too interested, but the more I think about it, having not read the original, I think I’m going to pick this up. Kindle version is only $10.99. I don’t believe an audiobook version is (or will be?) available.
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Emdeeh
Pacific Coast Highway
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Post by Emdeeh on Jul 8, 2022 13:42:55 GMT
Waiting for the US release. I'm in the midst of reading Stephen King's Dark Tower series right now, so no rush for me.
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Post by kds on Jul 8, 2022 13:59:28 GMT
I might even wait until it becomes an Amazon Marketplace bargain or winds up in the clearance section at Barnes and Noble.
My interest in Leaf's book is pretty much the same interest I had in the original Brian "autobiography" back in 2014 as I felt obligated to check it out as it's part of The Beach Boys story, even though it's mostly BS. I'm not saying Leaf's book is also BS, but he's clearly biased.
I'd honestly be more excited about an updated edition of Peter Carlin's Catch a Wave.
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