There have been only a handful of musical geniuses in rock and roll (Dylan, the Beatles, Bowie, Marley, Pete Townshend, the Glimmer Twins, and a few others), and sadly, we lost one of them today in Brian Wilson. Co-founder of the Beach Boys (perhaps the most all-American band ever), Wilson's genius in the studio (it's said he made the studio into an instrument), as well as his creation of the California sound and ability to write songs that are among the most memorable ever are just some of the legacies he leaves behind.
After a nervous breakdown in 1964, Wilson began to concentrate more on his studio work, and man, did it pay off. In 1966 the Beach Boys released Pet Sounds, which was an instant classic, and is widely regarded as one of the ten greatest albums ever. Sadly, Wilson fought mental illness much of his life (probably not helped by his substance abuse), and a good portion of it was during what should have been his most productive years. He did rebound in the 1990's to some acclaim, and won a couple of Grammys.
Wilson's last years were marked by his suffering from dementia, but he did continue to tour until 2022.
There are many tributes pouring in today (as well there should be) by people much more knowledgeable about Wilson, the Beach Boys, and rock and roll than I, so I'll just leave it at though Brian Wilson may be gone, his music will be with us forever--and what a joy that is for all of us.
I wrote about "God Only Knows" in Vol. CLXXXII, and as it's my favorite Beach Boys song (and probably in my top ten tunes of all-time), I'll close with one of the most beautiful (and intricate) pop songs ever written--a stunning and majestic piece of pop pie:
My introduction to this week's tune was my father, though I have to admit he was far ahead of me in his appreciation as I did not enjoy the song much when he played it when I was a teenager, and did not fully appreciate it until I'd gotten into my forties. And the artist as well--Glen Campbell may be one of the most underrated musical performers ever. Not only does he have three songs in the Grammy Hall of Fame (no easy feat), he's also one of the best guitarists that no one ever noticed was a great guitarist (if that makes any sense...).
Glen Campbell was born in Arkansas in 1936 where his family farmed and Campbell and his siblings picked cotton from a young age to help their family financially. Campbell hit the road at age 14 and after a few years of working odd jobs, joined his uncle's band before forming a bar band of his own. In the early sixties, Campbell joined The Champs (of "Tequila" fame) for a spell, before joining the Beach Boys (of "Too Many Songs to List" fame) as a touring member for a little more than a year (he played guitar on their classic album Pet Soundsas well). Shortly thereafter he began his career as a solo artist, and through the mid-seventies was one of the most popular music entertainers in America. He would go on to win four Grammy Awards, be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, sang the theme from True Grit(as well as co-starring in the movie) which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song, and had his own television show from 1969-1972. For his career, Campbell released 60 studio albums (nine #1's on the country album chart and one #1 on the Billboard 200), and 82 singles (with five #1's on the country singles chart and two #1's on the Billboard Hot 100). Campbell was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2010, toured through 2012, and recorded his last album in 2014 before the disease took his life in 2017.
"By the Time I Get to Phoenix" was released as a single in 1967 and was on his album entitled, surprisingly enough, By the Time I Get to Phoenix. The single hit #2 on the Hot Country Singles Chart, and #26 on the Hot 100, while the album was #1 on the country album chart and #15 on the pop albums chart. It is one of Campbell's three songs which have been entered into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
Fun Fact: From the Some People Have Too Much Time on Their Hands Files: A fan approached songwriter Jimmy Webb and told him that the driving timeline for Webb's "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" was physically impossible. Webb later told an interviewer he did not intend for the song to be taken quite so literally.
Every now and again while doing my half-assed weekly research I learn something new, and this week I did once again. Frank Sinatra called "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" one of the all-time great torch songs, and me, thinking a torch song was more along the lines of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On," wondered what the hell Sinatra was talking about. Turns out a torch song is a sad song, often about unrequited love, which in that case describes this week's tune quite well. Campbell deftly weaves with a wrenching vocal the tale of a man who has left his lover, and as he drives across the country he imagines what she's doing as he motors into each different place. There are two things for me which really stand out about this one. First, the protagonist is actually leaving his woman--there's no happy ending here. And second, he's actually sorrowful for the pain he is causing her. "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" isn't for everyone--it's a very slow and very sad song. But if you're looking to find an out of the ordinary gem, this is one for you.
Lyric Sheet: "Though time and time I've tried to tell her so/She just didn't know/I would really go..."
Enjoy:
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Another 70's pop wonder for a child of the seventies....
King Harvest formed in 1970 in Ithaca, New York, migrated to Paris, France, broke up in 1972, and then reunited back here in the States when its band members realized they had a hit single on their hands. Its four founding members met at Cornell University and would remain with the band (with many additional players joining over the years) until King Harvest called it quits in 1976. The four members would reunite in 2012, and for the next three years (minus Doc Robinson who, sadly, passed away in December of 2012) released a new album each year. For its relatively short career, King Harvest has released ten studio LPs, (exactly one of which charted) and had 11 singles (two of which charted). King Harvest got a little love from The Beach Boys (Carl Wilson and Mike Love helped the band get signed to a record deal after their one hit song), played country and western in Scandinavia for a while, and have had their one hit single featured numerous times in films.
"Dancing in the Moonlight" was released in 1972, and after having achieved hit status was quickly put on an album of the same name. It would reach #13 (with a bullet!) on the Billboard Hot 100, while the album peaked at #136 on the Billboard 200. It would also reach #5 on the Canadian charts (so many cool kids in Canada...).
Fun Fact: The song was written in 1969 by Sherman Kelly in response to his having been beaten up badly by a gang, as a peaceful celebration of the good he still perceived in the world. He recorded it with his band Boffalongo (there's a name for you), but had no commercial success. His brother Wells introduced it to his band mates in King Harvest who turned it into the only hit of their career.
I'd be the first to admit that the lyrics for "Dancing in the Moonlight" are a bit dated (no one uses "get it on" as a euphemism for sex anymore or says "out of sight" when something is really cool), and its sentiments may be even more so...but no matter. It wondrously captures an era I lived through, when it still seemed possible to solve the world's ills by simply dancing in the moonlight. The song is catchy from beginning to end, features a soulful vocal from Doc Robinson, and wonderful backing vocals from the rest of the band. It's a beautiful piece of pop nirvana, and if it seems a bit too rosy, to steal a line from Elvis Costello, what's so funny about peace, love, and understanding?
Lyric Sheet: "We like our fun and we never fight/You can't dance and stay uptight/It's a supernatural delight..."
Truth be told, if Rolling Stone hadn't released it's list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" my choice here probably would have been "Good Vibrations" (not a bad choice, either--actually ranked higher on Rolling Stone's list at #6). But Rolling Stone did, I gave it a a rather late first listen, and fell in love with it instantly. Probably doesn't hurt that the song is featured prominently toward the end of one of my all-time favorite movies, Love Actually.
The Beach Boys are another in a long line of bands featured here on FNJ whose bio is a bit long for a blog post. Nonetheless...they (original lineup: brothers Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson, cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine) had their beginnings in the late 50's, had a great run from the early to late 60's, pretty much became a nostalgia act by the mid 70's, and are still together today, though Jardine and Love run separate versions of the band on the oldies circuit. The band has had numerous internal squabbles through the years. Brian Wilson is generally credited as being the genius behind the band, though the rest of the band played crucial roles. Brian had massive mental health issues for a number of years (somewhat coinciding with the band's commercial and critical decline), but in recent times seems to have gained something of a foothold on his problems. The Beach Boys are the most successful American band in history, with thirty-six top 40 hits and over 100 million records sold. They were #12 on Rolling Stone's list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time." Sadly, Dennis Wilson drowned drunkenly in 1983 and Carl Wilson succumbed to lung cancer in 1998. Still, though their fortunes have waxed and waned through the years, they will always be one of a handful of rock and roll artists whose catalog represents much of the best of what rock and roll has to offer, and their influence on the music and on other artists is immeasurable.
Released in 1966 on their seminal LP, Pet Sounds, "God Only Knows" was only released as a B-side (to "Wouldn't It Be Nice") here in the states and only reached #39 (though still with a bullet!) on the Billboard Hot 100. Overseas it was released as an A-side (so many cool kids overseas), and was much more commercially successful (it hit #2 on the UK Singles Chart). Surprisingly, as it's considered one of the greatest albums ever and it's from a very commercially successful band, Pet Sounds only reached #10 on the Billboard 200 and sold a mere 500,000 copies (which is merely 500,000 more copies than I've ever sold).
Fun Fact: Believe it or not, there was much internal consternation over the use of the word "God"--in the 1966 pop world, God was as unthinkable as an expletive. Eventually the band decided the word was being used in the more secular way (i.e., "My God, what the hell is that?"), rather than with any religious connotation and the lyrics were left intact.
This one is a little hard to write about--it's musical structure is way above my meager musical knowledge (Wikipedia gives a nice run down if that's your cup of tea). And Brian Wilson used instruments that aren't exactly your run of the mill rock and roll instruments (French horns, violas, cellos, harpsichords, a sleigh bell). Some have compared it to classical pieces--again, not exactly my forte. So suffice it to say that it has harmonies that the Gods of Rock and Roll personally oversaw, that it's theme of a love that leaves one wondering where one would be without it is one muses would fight over, and that in the annals of pop songwriting I'm not sure there has ever been a better song written and composed. And when Paul McCartney says it's his favorite song of all time...well you know you are listening to something very, very special.
Lyric Sheet: (One of the finest ultra short choruses ever written) "God only knows what I'd be without you..."
One of my great guilty pleasures musically is the Barenaked Ladies. Yup, a lot of their songs could fall into the novelty category. they can be a little too tongue in cheek, and their sound is heavy on the pop, light on the rock, but I couldn't give a good rat's ass. Whether I'm having a great day or a horrible one, I can put on their greatest hits and my day gets nothing but better. Just another in a long line of absolutely delightful performers from the Great White North.
But if there is one song of theirs that is destined for the halls of greatness, it's this week's featured tune, "Brian Wilson." There are literally five different versions of the song, but the most notable ones were the versions released on their Gordonalbumand "Brian Wilson 2000" (which reached number 68--with a bullet!--on the Billboard Hot 100). The Gordon version is about a minute longer and is more acoustic based than "Brian Wilson 2000," which mirrors their live version of the song (it is one of the rare songs that takes on a life of its own when performed live).
Amazingly enough for a song entitled "Brian Wilson," the song references the Brian Wilson, the musical genius behind The Beach Boys long run of hits. Written by Steven Page, it is a paean to Brian Wilson, music, music shops, and a vivid portrait of just how overwhelming suffering from depression can be. And yet...despite it all, still there is good to be found and still there is a sliver of hope. Page's staggeringly heartfelt vocals drive this home in the first couple of acoustically driven stanzas, before the rest of the band joins in and takes it to another level. There's acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and best of all...bongos! Throw in the short and oft repeated chorus of "Lying in bed, just like Brian Wilson did..." and it all adds up to another of those magical moments that makes all the years of listening to music worth the while.
I usually listen to each week's songs a couple of times before I write the weekly post, and as I did tonight all I could do was smiley smile and say, "Goddamn this is a great song."
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