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Post by ian on Mar 30, 2024 2:37:11 GMT -5
I’ve mentioned before that the publishing world is complicated. When Jon and I did our book, I envisioned taking the story up to at least 1998. But the publisher stated that the book had to be a certain length and no more…so, as those of you who have the book know, the detailed year by year account ended with 1985 and the period 1986-2012 was more of a cursory list of shows with an occasional entry about really notable events. Obviously that was not my choice. Also, We had a lot of photos but I wanted more but again that decision was made by the publisher.
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Post by Autotune on Mar 30, 2024 6:05:40 GMT -5
An interview with Howie was linked a few days ago in which he explains the reason for ending the book in 1980. Can’t find it.
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Post by Rick Bartlett on Mar 30, 2024 6:16:01 GMT -5
An interview with Howie was linked a few days ago in which he explains the reason for ending the book in 1980. Can’t find it. GoldMine Magazine: The book ends in 1980. Many fans are already asking why it omits the next 44 years and doesn’t go to the present day. EDELSON: Look, originally the book was slated to end in 1974 with no contributions from Dave Marks, Blondie Chaplin, or Ricky Fataar. I, (Brother Records President) Jerry Schilling, and the band pushed back hard against it. Like I said, everything is a compromise. A lot of people just don’t realize how much give and take goes into creating a box set... a book..a documentary – really anything that’s worthwhile. Until I was in the business, I absolutely was one of those people who said – and choose whichever band you want – “The people in charge have no idea what they’re doing! They never give us what they want! They’re blowing it! I could have done it so much better!” You know, this completely naïve view of how and why things happen. My line of work is in rock, but I know it’s true in all areas of entertainment. Ken, you know all too well that there are countless variables you need to account for just to get a project rolling, just for funding and approvals – let alone getting it to the finish line, right? There are a thousand little decisions you have to navigate. The people that pick things apart and bitch and moan – it’s like, “Man, if you only knew what it took to get what we got.” You know, how do you argue with someone who has no idea what the actual game is? You just kick ass within the parameters of the project. Now, as a 30-year veteran of the business I can attest to the fact that getting anything done is all a game of compromise. You learn to read the room and choose your battles wisely. In my interviews with the group over the decades – and even for the Genesis book, I’ve covered everything with them. Everything. I had some killer Live Aid recollections I would’ve loved to have seen included. Don’t forget, I was interviewing them during every point of the 2012 reunion, too – fascinating stuff – but ending the book in 1980 seemed like a clean break we could all live with. It ends with an undeniable victory on July 4th at the Washington Monument where all six principal members were still present and accounted for. It’s at that moment, on the cusp of their 20th anniversary, they’ve reached legendary status for two generations. By that point it’s universally acknowledged they’re part of the fabric of rock. The Beach Boys are not going anywhere; They’re Mount Rushmore. After the D.C. event, you get into (Eugene) Landy’s second stint with Brian and Dennis’ final years and death. . . Maybe it was thought that the book would become something else. Listen, if I had my druthers this book would’ve covered everything under the sun and been the size of a refrigerator. I was up to do it all, but at the end of the day it was funded, created, edited and compiled by Genesis with overriding approvals from the band. It wasn’t “my” book. I was only writing it."
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Post by drbeachboy (Dirk) on Mar 30, 2024 7:41:26 GMT -5
Oh sorry, I thought this book was about the band. Released after their 62nd anniversary. So this is a book of album covers, then? My mistake! My brain is dazed and confused. If the corporate body representing the group's interests wants to make a book about their career until 1980, I don't see why they should also have to make a book about lawsuits, country music collaborative albums and dozens of state fair shows just to please you. My understanding is that it is a glorified picture book. The other shit that you speak of was covered quite nicely by Brian and Mike. Besides lawsuits, country music collaborative albums and state fair shows, you had Dennis’ death, which in my mind is a pretty substantial happening, the 85 album, the Live Aid appearance, where Brian probably looked the best he ever had between 1974 and…. Ever! Then you had Kokomo, the 93 unplugged shows and the huge loss of Carl Wilson. There are many important things that happened in what you refer to in your smart-ass reply to me.
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Post by filledeplage on Mar 30, 2024 9:39:24 GMT -5
It's still bothering me that the book only goes up to 1980. My guess: by ending there, they can avoid a lot of difficult topics like: Carl getting so disgusted with the group's laziness that he leaves the group for a year to tour with his own band; the death of Dennis; the return of Landy; lawsuits; how difficult it was to get Landy untangled from Brian; more lawsuits; the death of Carl; the splintering of the remaining Beach Boys; C50 and the way it ended. Just my guess. There could be a valid rationale that they stop at 1980. Why? Because music delivery changed the next year with the inception of MTV and VH1 a few years later. Instead of a DJ - you had a VJ. It seemed to cull video appearances from the 60s bands as well as solo singers. Instead of coming out of an am radio speaker, for audio delivery of music, they had to get dressed up for a video producer for visual music. Newer entertainers from the 80s, often made that video contemporaneous to their tracks. Cable TV changed everything. We "watched" music and the demographic targeted was 18-35+ in that 1980s window. I think it made the movie tracks that the band was involved in, on Still Cruisin' cassette/CD, or Good Morning Vietnam, or Troop Beverly Hills much more complex, right up to Hot Fun in the Summertime done on a film set, and an absolute BB classic. And, of course, Kokomo from the film Cocktail. I think that video/music dynamic galvanized the band into an inter-generational culture. And I'm ok (no, I don't have an advance copy - would that I did 😂) that it goes to 1980 because those early years were so dense with 3-4 albums being released and so much of the setlists, even now, have a lot stuff from the very early days including, 409. It could create a good spot for a Volume 2. We'll see how this one does. I do hope that for those who are marginal fans can get a Kindle or other version for an intro to the band. There are a lot of people who don't purchase hard copies of books any longer, and only read online. They don't want to drag a book on a plane if they travel for business. And even if it is a photo heavy book, (my favorite) it has a broader reach that is less prone to narratives. And it does augment sales numbers. A lot happened between 1961 and 1980. I'm staying tuned. 🎈
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Post by jds on Apr 1, 2024 12:13:06 GMT -5
My understanding is that it is a glorified picture book. The other shit that you speak of was covered quite nicely by Brian and Mike. Besides lawsuits, country music collaborative albums and state fair shows, you had Dennis’ death, which in my mind is a pretty substantial happening, the 85 album, the Live Aid appearance, where Brian probably looked the best he ever had between 1974 and…. Ever! Then you had Kokomo, the 93 unplugged shows and the huge loss of Carl Wilson. There are many important things that happened in what you refer to in your smart-ass reply to me. Even glorified picture books have a utility in terms of re-focusing the group's legacy. 1980 is a good stopping point in terms of evaluating the group as self-contained and dynamic recording artists, at least in terms of how I see the current framing of the brand narrative.
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Post by Emdeeh on Apr 1, 2024 19:27:53 GMT -5
Has anyone who pre-ordered the book gotten a shipping notice yet?
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Post by northcoast on Apr 1, 2024 19:54:03 GMT -5
Has anyone who pre-ordered the book gotten a shipping notice yet?
I have. Coming tomorrow by 10:00 pm eastern US time
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Post by Emdeeh on Apr 1, 2024 22:50:03 GMT -5
It's almost midnight my time, but I just got my shipping notice -- yay!
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Post by John Manning on Apr 2, 2024 1:42:24 GMT -5
Amazon UK: “The Beach Boys has decreased from £50.00 to £39.40”
Folk won’t want me to do another price watching thread but I thought this was interesting: presumably, everyone who pre-ordered from Amazon at £50, right up until yesterday, paid £50, only to see the price drop 20% on publication.
Pre-ordering off Amazon before release/publication day has become highly unappealing.
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Post by captaincookfashion on Apr 2, 2024 2:53:38 GMT -5
Cheaper still in the UK from Awesome Books: £37.36 including postage.
I have just the one previous - and positive - experience buying from them. They appear to have stock; I have received a dispatch notice.
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Post by E on Apr 2, 2024 5:07:16 GMT -5
Amazon UK: “The Beach Boys has decreased from £50.00 to £39.40” Folk won’t want me to do another price watching thread but I thought this was interesting: presumably, everyone who pre-ordered from Amazon at £50, right up until yesterday, paid £50, only to see the price drop 20% on publication. Pre-ordering off Amazon before release/publication day has become highly unappealing. Thanks, John! It'll arrive in time for my wife's birthday - but it's for me!!
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M.I.U. Fan
Kahuna
God's Lonely Man
Posts: 100
Likes: 187
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Post by M.I.U. Fan on Apr 2, 2024 12:32:05 GMT -5
The Book is here. Will take weeks to digest. Open gently, that crackling spine makes me nervous. Lavish illustrations, occasional rare Polaroids. I hope I learn something new.
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Post by northcoast on Apr 2, 2024 15:04:08 GMT -5
Got the book. Some were concerned this was only a picture book. It is loaded with pics to be sure. But a ton of text. This is not something you digest in a day. The first 247 pages takes you from humble beginnings through Smile. Which means the last 150+ pages covers the last 13 years which is pretty typical of any Beach Boys history. Each member of the band gets a lengthy intro and outro to the tome. As a rabid fan, I have not seen maybe 20% of the photos printed within albeit with a cursory glance. And I was hoping since everything ends in 1980 to see more photos from the Washington mall concert on July 4 but alas there is only one half page taken on the stage behind Brian. Gonna take the take the deep dive over the next couple days but right now, I consider it worth the bucks.
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Post by drbeachboy (Dirk) on Apr 2, 2024 15:09:54 GMT -5
Mine is still out for delivery. It is supposed to arrive sometime during the next 2 1/2 hours. Glad to hear to that it is more than a picture book. Also, I’m glad to hear that there are some never before seen photos.
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Post by mikedonn on Apr 2, 2024 16:22:17 GMT -5
I received my delivery notification from Amazon to say it was coming tomorrow. I paid £39 for my copy last week.
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Post by Emdeeh on Apr 2, 2024 16:23:30 GMT -5
My copy just arrived -- it's big (art book size), heavy, and beautiful!
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Post by Malc on Apr 3, 2024 1:20:13 GMT -5
Amazon UK: “The Beach Boys has decreased from £50.00 to £39.40” Folk won’t want me to do another price watching thread but I thought this was interesting: presumably, everyone who pre-ordered from Amazon at £50, right up until yesterday, paid £50, only to see the price drop 20% on publication. Pre-ordering off Amazon before release/publication day has become highly unappealing. My copy is due to arrive today but at least Amazon were generous enough with their £10.20 refund…
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littleleila
Dude/Dudette
Posts: 56
Likes: 79
Favorite Album: Sunflower
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Post by littleleila on Apr 3, 2024 6:01:05 GMT -5
Amazon UK: “The Beach Boys has decreased from £50.00 to £39.40” Folk won’t want me to do another price watching thread but I thought this was interesting: presumably, everyone who pre-ordered from Amazon at £50, right up until yesterday, paid £50, only to see the price drop 20% on publication. Pre-ordering off Amazon before release/publication day has become highly unappealing. Hi John, I also pre-ordered via Amazon for £50 and was charged £50. I have though this morning received a refund notification of £10.60. The amazon pre-order guarantee applies up to the end of the day of release rather than the start of the day of release.
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Post by gigantiskpyjamas on Apr 3, 2024 7:38:08 GMT -5
For those who enjoy seeing people flick through entire books:
(Spoiler alert!)
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bbfinfl
Dude/Dudette
Posts: 77
Likes: 149
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Post by bbfinfl on Apr 3, 2024 11:37:15 GMT -5
Book just delivered. It is heavy and huge!! Can't wait to dig in tonight after work.
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Post by drbeachboy (Dirk) on Apr 3, 2024 11:44:59 GMT -5
Book just delivered. It is heavy and huge!! Can't wait to dig in tonight after work. After perusing through the book this morning, I used it for weight exercises.
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Post by mikedonn on Apr 3, 2024 11:50:06 GMT -5
It's a heavy book. 2.6 kgs! Arrived a short time ago. Some great photos and well presented.
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Post by E on Apr 3, 2024 12:58:57 GMT -5
That is one big, beautiful book with some fantastic photos.
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Post by ian on Apr 3, 2024 14:35:54 GMT -5
I was asked by the publisher to provide some scans, so I am curious to see if they were used and how they turned out
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