The Beach Boys
Label: Capitol
Released: 1973
It was hard (so tough) to be a Beach Boy in the early 1970s. Shunned by the cognoscenti as musical Methuselahs, the greatest beards in all of rock watched their albums languish in stores. The members themselves felt stifled by the business and that warm California sun, so in the summer of 1972 they relocated to Amsterdam hoping to find inspiration as they recorded their next LP. They were joined by Blondie Chaplin and Ricky Fataar of The Flames, and band Svengali Brian Wilson, who arrived after only three attempts to coax him onto a plane. This act of creative cleansing turned into an eight-month ordeal, capped by then-label Warner Bros.’ dismissal of the finished release as weak. In retrospect, perhaps that’s a tad harsh. The aspects may not have been right, but as “Funky Pretty” proves, there were gems amid Holland’s gloomy murk.
—Cory Frye
|
|
March 8th, 2010 at 10:14 am
Woo-hoo! I’m on a big Beach Boys kick & have spun this very song a couple three times in the last week while adding the “The Flame” album to my wish list. Nevertheless, Stig O’Hara.
March 8th, 2010 at 11:09 am
Not a bad song. But the album cover shown is not “Holland” but “Carl and the Passions - ‘So Tough’”.
March 8th, 2010 at 11:11 am
The Holland album has been a fave of mine since it came out in 1972. Sail On, Sailor - California - The Trader - Leaving This Town - Only With You are great songs. I can do without the Mt. Vernon and Fairway part, however.
I saw The Beach Boys in November 1972. It was the second show of the Holland tour, if I remember correctly. Great show. Blondie and Ricky provided a great sound for the band. And if you can find a copy of The Flame (produced by Carl and on the Brother label), grab it. Great power-pop a la Badfinger.
March 8th, 2010 at 11:24 am
LOOOOOVVVVVVEEEE early 70s Beach Boys. In fact, Holland was their last creative album. Pure genius. Was never the same after this album. Mike Love turned the group into a touring jukebox of early 60s nostalgia which has lasted…. well, pretty much right to this day!!
March 8th, 2010 at 11:37 am
I know I am alone in this…the brickbats thrown by my friends is proof…but I just don’t get the Beach Boys…never have, never will. Having said that, the release of Smile a few years ago…totally re-recorded by Brian and his touring band…was a treat and pure genius from Mr. Wilson and Van Dyke Parks. This DFD offering just doesn’t do it for me…
March 8th, 2010 at 11:49 am
I agree with Geoff as I never have liked much of their stuff either. They were too much of a commercial music rated group just like the socalled Monkees…I just don’t get it either…..
March 8th, 2010 at 11:52 am
Agree with Geoff.
March 8th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
This was a great version of the band and I had the pleasure to see them perform several times in the early to mid seventies. “The Beachboys Live In Concert” album is a great testiment to those good times (and includes a live version of this song.)
March 8th, 2010 at 12:45 pm
The beauty of DFD. Sometimes we get something we like, sometimes not. We all have artists we get and some we don’t. For me, the Beach Boys were a great sound in the 60’s and I still like the tunes. Some of the material released later by them works for me, some, such as this song doesn’t. I had trouble getting my ears around this one in the seventies and still can’t get excited about it. Keep the music flowing…I always look forwar to the daily treat…even if I don’t like it.
March 8th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Just like Geoff, driftwood101 and AndrewT, I never “got” The Beach Boys, either - and I can’t tell you how many people I’ve met who have said: “I didn’t like them until the day that I suddenly realized what a genius Brian was; now I’m a big fan.” To the man, they would all go on to tell me that “someday” I would realize it myself. I never believed them because, to me, The Beach Boys were dorky and unserious at their very best.
Then it happened.
In the late 80’s or early 90’s all of their LPs were re-released as two-fers and I decided to crack open The Beach Boys’ mystery by buying their first two LP’s and then listening consecutively, week by week, through to ‘Smile’. I gave them a fair shot and listened with completely open ears.
By the time I was through I had been irrevocably convinced that Brian Wilson was an **eff’ing genius** - a Southern Californian Gershwin. I had heard many other people say the same thing over the years and I always thought that they were exaggerating - but I was wrong; The Beach Boys are one of the great bands - on the same tier as The Beatles, Stones, Kinks and The Who - and they are also, arguably, the only “great” band to have come out of America in the 60’s.
I never, in a million years, thought that I’d ever be saying that, but it’s true; they are - and I’m glad that I finally “got it”. It sure took me long enough, though.
Thank you, Cory Frye!
March 8th, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Well, this song has never been at the top of my Beach Boys list. From the Holland Album California Saga is right at the top (and yes, it is the wrong cover at the top of this coloumn) - great to be reminded of it!
March 8th, 2010 at 3:39 pm
Regarding the cover: “Holland” was reissued on a two-fer with “Carl & The Passions — So Tough,” which is probably why the latter appears.
March 8th, 2010 at 4:42 pm
Yo, Stinky, what about the Byrds? I like this song very much and have always loved Surfs Up which came out 2 year prior.
March 8th, 2010 at 4:50 pm
I had never heard this song before, and would consider it a mediocre Beach Boys tune. That said, I do like the band and recently saw Brian Wilson in concert (much preferred to the so-called “Beach Boys” with Mike Love). It was a really great show as Brian had surrounded himself with an excellent group of musicians and singers who were able to duplicate the original Beach Boys sound and harmonies note for note. I think that as he was running through all of the songs, it really hit me what a true genius he was. We were close to the stage and watching Brian and his quirky behavior, such as forgetting the words to his own songs despite a teleprompter, and suddenly getting up and walking off the stage in the middle of songs was also entertaining.
March 8th, 2010 at 6:57 pm
I love Brian’s work, he was and is a genius. I’ve never cared for that bald-headed choad Love, I always thought he was an egotistic asshole.
The album Holland was a mixed bag, but the pure Wilson magic is definitely within.
The album cover shown-Carl & The Passions “So Tough” also had a few gems within.
It was a warmer day here today, and was a damn good day for some Beach Boys music!
Thanks DFD!!
March 8th, 2010 at 9:57 pm
Brian Wilson IS a genius…the intricate harmonies that he heard in his head and then take after take, cut after cut, coaxed out of the voices of the other Beach Boys, sound like NO other vocal group then or now. So many of their classic tunes, “When I Grow Up To Be A Man”, “In My Room”, “Help Me Rhonda”, “Barbara Ann”, ” Good Vibrations”, “Sloop John B” etc. still are wonderful to listen to at any time of day or night. I grew up in southern California, San Diego to be exact, and for many years they were so much a part of the musical soundtrack of my life and they still are! I have always liked this song to…Blondie Chaplin’s voice blended so well into Brian’s style and, yes, the “Smile” album is wonderful too!
March 8th, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Music ‘dudes’, guitar freaks, into Steely Dan, Hendrix, SRV, Froyd, etc crap (not really crap but hear me out) don’t get Brian. Ya gotta let go of your ego, let go of your eggo, or whatever. Brian’s chords, melodies, pure voice,etc.-wonderful! & every lp Brian ever touched had at least a couple amazing songs on it. Bring on the Smile Sessions box set!!!!!
March 8th, 2010 at 10:26 pm
Well said stanley!
March 9th, 2010 at 12:04 am
Does anyone else hear that this could be from a Todd Rundgren album?
March 9th, 2010 at 1:58 am
There’s always something worth listening to with the Beach Boys
March 9th, 2010 at 9:42 am
I was one of the faithful back then, I bought all the albums on the original vinyl. I thought Holland was a very strong album, and loved the addition of Blondie and Ricky (later of the Rutles) to the group. I saw the Flame open for the BB at the Whisky in 1970. The Flame did a killer version of Gimme Shelter, with Blondie doing the Merry Clayton vocal parts. The BB also did a great show, they did the songs from Pet Sounds, Sunflower, etc.
The Flame’s album is available as an import. It seems to be mastered from an original vinyl copy, but is still a terrific album. Check out “I’m So Happy” and the other great songs.
Blondie did a solo album many years back and also teamed up with David Johansen on one of DJ’s LPs, but has fallen off my radar. Anyone know where Blondie’s at these days?
March 9th, 2010 at 5:40 pm
This song dons’t ring a bell,sorry. I do really like the beach boy’s
March 9th, 2010 at 6:03 pm
The 70’s BB stuff has always been overlooked and underrated, in my opinion.
But I AM a fan, and I do get it. Sorry for those of you that don’t. As for them being the onlt great American Band of the 60’s. Whooooa. The Four Seasons,
The Ronettes, Four Tops, Supremes,Temptations,Miracles,CCR, Turtles,Lovin Spoonful,Mamas & Papas,Impressions,VU,Springfield,Love,Spirit,Doors,Airplane, and many, many more.
March 9th, 2010 at 6:56 pm
You folks have put up an entertaining bunch of comments, thanks everybody.
Here’s a few of my 2 cents:
Yes, it’s a little Todd-ish.
Yes, the Beach Boys are great.
Yes, folks love to bash Mike Love, but I’m sick of it. Leave him alone. (It wasn’t Mike who turned them into a nostalgia act; it was the success of the Endless Summer compilation, and fans wanting to only hear the hits.)
Yes, Brian is a genius, so what. I’ve seen Brian live once (Pet Sounds) and the BB live twice, and they are BOTH great live music experiences.
Yes, they showed the wrong lp artwork, and that bugs me. Do your homework, people. At least they didn’t put that artwork with a track from Pet Sounds, which was included in the So Tough vinyl set.
To Stinky: I was agreeing with you up to the point where you lost it - “only great american band of the sixties”? Are you on crack? I love ‘em too, but c’mon.
I have a copy of The Flames lp, but haven’t yet played it; shame on me. I will.
Dennis, Carl, rest in peace.
March 9th, 2010 at 6:59 pm
forgot to mention, when I saw The Band at House Of Blues on Sunset they were joined by Joe Walsh and Blondie Chaplin. Great show.
March 9th, 2010 at 10:33 pm
It’s stinky with a small ’s’, david peters - and they don’t call me that for nothing.
I qualified my assertion that the BBs were “the only great band ….” by adding “arguably” - so, it’s arguable. I guess that the term “great” needs a clearer definition and we’ll probably all have our own ideas as to what would constitute that.
For instance, The Byrds would have been a “great” band if Gene Clark hadn’t left but when he did he took all their excellent songs and The Byrds’ potential “greatness” with him. Left alone, they became a damned good, but not “great” band - and this is from someone who has always loved them.
Ditto for The Lovin’ Spoonful; their “greatness” got nipped in the bud over a pot bust. They were right on the verge of entering the major leagues when they broke up. Damn good band? Absolutely. One of the “greats”? Nope.
It’s all down to definitions. Great harmonies? Great songwriting? Great arranging? Great musicianship? Great performing? Great producing? Great airplay? Great image? Great popularity? Great social impact? Great sales? Which one of these - or which combination of these constitute “greatness”? There was a “great” producer behind The Ronettes who made them into whatever they came to be and a “great” songwriter and vocal arranger behind The Mamas and Papas, but is that enough to warrant overall “greatness”? I don’t know the answer.
Maybe the answer would reveal itself if I actually did some crack. [/snark]
All that aside, it’s “great” to know that we’re all reading (and reacting to) each others posts!
March 10th, 2010 at 11:54 am
“So-called Monkees”?
March 11th, 2010 at 1:23 pm
This isn’t one of their best…but you can’t deny the BB’s influence on all of pop and rock ‘n’ roll. Brian is a genius, and the fact that the Beatles almost shit their pants when they heard Pet Sounds is proof enough for me.
April 8th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
I’m a huge fan of the BBs but rarely listen to FP … but, having done so as I read through the comments, I am reminded of how much I enjoy listening to Brian’s music and the BBs voices … they make songs I have no affinity with become enjoyable listening experiences. Something about Brian’s music and that vocal blend …