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Post by esqeditor on Apr 30, 2023 0:28:29 GMT -5
The Summer 2023 edition of ESQ is being sent to the printer this weekend. It features a great interview with Steve Levine that takes us inside the recording studio for the making of 1985's The Beach Boys. We go track by track. Jerry Schilling shares his memories on the transitional phase of the group continuing without Dennis Wilson. And 'Captain Curmudgeon' himself — yeah, Andrew Doe  — recounts the day he was in the studio with The Beach Boys. The issue is especially great with the addition of the album sessionography. As always, Craig Slowinski, John Brode, Will Crerar, and Joshilyn Hoisington did a great job! This edition of ESQ is the first volume of a two-volume set. The Fall 2023 issue will continue its focus on this timeline and period, and will feature interviews with The Beach Boys: An American Band director, Malcolm Leo, musician/songwriter Jeffrey Foskett, and Steven Gaines, author of Heroes And Villains, The True Story Of The Beach Boys. Is your subscription up to date? New to ESQ? ![]() esquarterly.com/erp-subscription/ |
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Post by John Manning on Apr 30, 2023 4:27:23 GMT -5
Looking forward to it, David. That ‘85 album is one of my least favourites but it came at a time when my personal fandom was really bedding in, so a formative era for me; I was 21, and some big life changes were happening, so for bad or worse it’s part of the soundtrack to that era of my life.
I first heard tracks* from it at the U.K. launch of the American band film in London, and I have a vague recollection of mentioning to John Porteous that I thought it sounded great; but, the more I listened, the less I liked. Am willing to have my opinion overturned when I read the Steve Levine interview!
And I’d love to learn more about that American Band film. With a fresh documentary on the horizon, that’s going to be topical.
* at least I think I did; I might be conflating happenings again.
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Post by drbeachboy (Dirk) on Apr 30, 2023 9:27:35 GMT -5
Yeah, I played it a lot when it was first released, but now, probably my least played album, including SIP, but excluding Stars & Stripes. I am not a fan of the 80s production.
Also, why does every lead vocal sound like they have heavy colds? Inquiring minds want to know.😁
As always, it should be a good read. Can’t wait!
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Post by esqeditor on May 16, 2023 19:42:12 GMT -5
The mag should be hitting mailboxes in the U.S.this week, and overseas not far behind that.
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Post by jk on May 18, 2023 12:47:27 GMT -5
And 'Captain Curmudgeon' himself — yeah, Andrew Doe — recounts the day he was in the studio with The Beach Boys. The issue is especially great with the addition of the album sessionography. As always, Craig Slowinski, John Brode, Will Crerar, and Joshilyn Hoisington did a great job! Captain Curmudgeon!! -- that's a bit strong, isn't it? Surely AGD is only curmudgeonly (or "crusty") when folks don't think to consult his Bellagio site first before asking questions (I'm as guilty of that as anyone)...  On a more positive note, it's always good to see Joshilyn and her "brain trust" colleagues getting a plug!  |
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Post by AGD on May 18, 2023 16:02:07 GMT -5
I first heard tracks* from it at the U.K. launch of the American band film in London, and I have a vague recollection of mentioning to John Porteous that I thought it sounded great; but, the more I listened, the less I liked. Am willing to have my opinion overturned when I read the Steve Levine interview! And I’d love to learn more about that American Band film. With a fresh documentary on the horizon, that’s going to be topical. * at least I think I did; I might be conflating happenings again. Ah, you were there too ! I saw the AB doc a few weeks earlier in LA at Malcolm Leo's offices, and what we saw in London was very slightly different: nothing of earth-shattering import, just different background music in one section. |
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Post by lonelysummer on May 21, 2023 14:05:19 GMT -5
As an 80's Beach Boys fan, it's nice to have a whole issue devoted to their most important work of the decade. Looking forward to part 2! And it just makes me frustrated again that they didn't try to follow it up with another studio album. Instead, we got a few singles and a compilation.
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Post by Emdeeh on May 23, 2023 22:54:40 GMT -5
This is a great read with lots of new info.
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Post by boogieboarder on May 24, 2023 9:29:52 GMT -5
…And it just makes me frustrated again that they didn't try to follow it up with another studio album. Instead, we got a few singles and a compilation. That’s probably because Landy and/or Brian decided Brian should start a solo career. The 1986 Brian Wilson / Gary Usher songs could have been the follow up to the 1985 Beach Boys LP, but only one song was presented as a Beach Boys song, on a TV special, “The Spirit of Rock and Roll,” and wasn’t even subsequently released by the band. |
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Post by Mikie on May 24, 2023 10:43:20 GMT -5
…And it just makes me frustrated again that they didn't try to follow it up with another studio album. Instead, we got a few singles and a compilation. That’s probably because Landy and/or Brian decided Brian should start a solo career. The 1986 Brian Wilson / Gary Usher songs could have been the follow up to the 1985 Beach Boys LP, but only one song was presented as a Beach Boys song, on a TV special, “The Spirit of Rock and Roll,” and wasn’t even subsequently released by the band. Well, to be fair, there was this Beach Boys release that included "Spirit Of Rock & Roll". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songs_from_Here_%26_Back |
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Post by drbeachboy (Dirk) on May 24, 2023 11:50:17 GMT -5
That’s probably because Landy and/or Brian decided Brian should start a solo career. The 1986 Brian Wilson / Gary Usher songs could have been the follow up to the 1985 Beach Boys LP, but only one song was presented as a Beach Boys song, on a TV special, “The Spirit of Rock and Roll,” and wasn’t even subsequently released by the band. Well, to be fair, there was this Beach Boys release that included "Spirit Of Rock & Roll". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songs_from_Here_%26_BackStill, it was/is a solo track on a special products Beach Boys CD. New vocals added too. |
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Post by lonelysummer on May 24, 2023 14:20:49 GMT -5
…And it just makes me frustrated again that they didn't try to follow it up with another studio album. Instead, we got a few singles and a compilation. That’s probably because Landy and/or Brian decided Brian should start a solo career. The 1986 Brin Wilson / Gary Usher songs could have been the follow up to the 1985 Beach Boys LP, but only one song was presented as a Beach Boys song, on a TV special, “The Spirit of Rock and Roll,” and wasn’t even subsequently released by the band. It was rumoured at the time that Bruce didn't like the song. |
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Post by Awesoman on May 31, 2023 7:59:08 GMT -5
That’s probably because Landy and/or Brian decided Brian should start a solo career. The 1986 Brin Wilson / Gary Usher songs could have been the follow up to the 1985 Beach Boys LP, but only one song was presented as a Beach Boys song, on a TV special, “The Spirit of Rock and Roll,” and wasn’t even subsequently released by the band. It was rumoured at the time that Bruce didn't like the song. I never thought much of that song myself. Although it is cool that Brian somehow managed to get Bob Dylan to make an appearance on the solo version. |
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Post by boogieboarder on May 31, 2023 9:17:29 GMT -5
That’s probably because Landy and/or Brian decided Brian should start a solo career. The 1986 Brian Wilson / Gary Usher songs could have been the follow up to the 1985 Beach Boys LP, but only one song was presented as a Beach Boys song, on a TV special, “The Spirit of Rock and Roll,” and wasn’t even subsequently released by the band. Well, to be fair, there was this Beach Boys release that included "Spirit Of Rock & Roll". en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songs_from_Here_%26_BackBut “Here and Back” wasn’t released until 2006, and we’re talking about why there was no follow up to the 1985 Beach Boys album. |
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Post by boogieboarder on May 31, 2023 9:19:22 GMT -5
That’s probably because Landy and/or Brian decided Brian should start a solo career. The 1986 Brin Wilson / Gary Usher songs could have been the follow up to the 1985 Beach Boys LP, but only one song was presented as a Beach Boys song, on a TV special, “The Spirit of Rock and Roll,” and wasn’t even subsequently released by the band. It was rumoured at the time that Bruce didn't like the song. Since when are Beach Boys releases determined by whether Bruce Johnston likes them? He wasn’t producing the band in the 1980s. |
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Post by lonelysummer on May 31, 2023 13:55:32 GMT -5
It was rumoured at the time that Bruce didn't like the song. Since when are Beach Boys releases determined by whether Bruce Johnston likes them? He wasn’t producing the band in the 1980s. This was what was reported in Beach Boys Stomp back in 1987. In the same story, Bruce was raving about Happy Endings and how "we haven't sounded this great since Sunflower". Yeah, right. |
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Post by jk on Jun 1, 2023 13:48:25 GMT -5
Since when are Beach Boys releases determined by whether Bruce Johnston likes them? He wasn’t producing the band in the 1980s. This was what was reported in Beach Boys Stomp back in 1987. In the same story, Bruce was raving about Happy Endings and how "we haven't sounded this great since Sunflower". Yeah, right. What???  |
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Post by esqeditor on Jun 1, 2023 23:25:21 GMT -5
Bruce has always been the behind-the-scenes 'producer's producer.'
He produced 1980's Keepin' The Summer Alive LP, knew Randy Bishop (who wrote "Chasin' The Sky"), and brought Steve Levine to the table in 1984 to be the first outside producer to work with The Beach Boys. And anything that Terry Melcher produced you can bet Bruce was in the shadows.
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Post by esqeditor on Jun 15, 2023 2:37:48 GMT -5
The Beach Boys Basement with Steve Lewis
171 David Beard & Giggens In Conversation Part 1
172 David Beard & Giggens In Conversation Part 2
173 David Beard & Giggens In Conversation Part 3
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Post by esqeditor on Jun 15, 2023 2:41:30 GMT -5
GIGGENS coverage
Beach Boys '85 - Interview with David Beard of ESQ - Part One
Beach Boys '85 - Interview with David Beard of ESQ - Part Two
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Post by Rick Bartlett on Jun 15, 2023 8:32:15 GMT -5
These were great interviews and discussions, just tops all the way! The one correction if I may point out, is that it was mentioned that 'California Calling' was never released as a single. I might be splitting hairs, but it was released in Japan and here in Australia as a single. It may be a rarish 45, I've only seen this one I own in decades of rummaging through 45's. Just the same, it was never a hit here, and a wasted opportunity to promote something that should have at least been a minor hit.     |
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Post by esqeditor on Jun 15, 2023 16:21:13 GMT -5
Yeah, our conversation was based on U.S. release. I love that you have this single and decided to post.
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brian65
Grommet
Posts: 22
Likes: 12
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Post by brian65 on Jul 1, 2023 17:59:54 GMT -5
Thanks everyone involved! I love the issue!
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Post by lonelysummer on Jul 3, 2023 21:30:13 GMT -5
I still have to wonder what was up with putting It's OK on the b-side of It's Gettin' Late? Another album outtake like Male Ego might have helped sales a little.
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Post by Matt H on Jul 6, 2023 13:04:22 GMT -5
I still have to wonder what was up with putting It's OK on the b-side of It's Gettin' Late? Another album outtake like Male Ego might have helped sales a little. I agree. Why put a years old song as a b-side? Even if there wasn't an outtake, why not something else from the album? |
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— recounts the day he was in the studio with The Beach Boys.
