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Post by SMiLE-Holland on May 17, 2019 15:45:53 GMT -5
You're all welcome.
There are more articles on it's way. A few more with Carl, Mike, or Marilyn. And some more general ones regarding the famous December 1970 concert, Grand Gala, and their stay in The Netherlands. Even some reviews on Western Justice, including interviews with Jack Rieley (which is not really BB anymore, but interesting enough). It takes some time though to translate them. So be patient...
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Post by lizzielooziani on May 17, 2019 19:55:05 GMT -5
I'd also like to thank you, Smile-Holland, for your posts, particularly the one featuring Marilyn. The only other print article I recall offhand with her was that Rolling Stone article a few years later.
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Post by SMiLE-Holland on May 22, 2019 14:56:52 GMT -5
Continuing with a Mike Love interview. Apart from Carl and Marilyn this is the only Beach Boy of which I could find an interview. Starts out with the regular blabla on groups move to The Netherlands. But it gets a bit more interesting at the end. Based on the interviews content we can date it to June 7th 1972, the day they performed for the Dutch TV show “Eddy Ready Go”.
As usual, pictures first (4 of them), and the translation below.
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Veronica Magazine, 15/07/1972; p.16-18
‘Mike Love of the Beach Boys:
I want to give lessons in Transcendental Meditation in The Netherlands’(author: Rob H. L. Bakker, pictures: Paul Vreeker) The Netherlands is hot! We can draw this conclusion if we take the number of young tourists and the number of foreign artists and groups that honour our country with a (work)visit. Whereas the border offices mainly process the hip people with their loaded backpacks, other swingers [in this context the meaning of a ‘swinger’ is “a lively and fashionable person who goes to a lot of social events”] now arrive on the airports. By plane they mainly come from England and the United States. Between the many tourists we kind find many top artists. The last couple of weeks The Netherlands were visited by Don McLean, America, Neil Diamond and six Beach Boys, among others. All of them with the magic sound of “Holland, Amsterdam, Paradiso” between their ears. Every dignified star want to have performed in The Netherlands at least once. One actually isn’t taken seriously, if you haven’t been in The Netherlands, based on interviews and conversations with – among others – above mentioned artists. The Beach Boys really went nuts. They upgraded the Netherlands as their summer residence. They’ll stay in The Netherlands the whole summer to record a double album. They have procured ten very comfortable mansions, an identical number of fast cars, and their own studio with among other things a 16 track recorder.A while back the Beach Boys caravan, including wifes, kids, road managers, managers, and other personnel arrived at Schiphol [Airport Amsterdam]. Actually without anyone noticing it, without anyone giving it any attention. “What draws the Beach Boys to The Netherlands right now?” This question was asked to Mike Love, the bearded lead singer of the Beach Boys, in the NOS-studio’s. Mike Love, dressed in a blue overall and a lumberjack shirt, makes himself nice and comfortable, sips from a bowl of vegetable soup, and says: “We came over to Europe to record an album. Until shortly it wasn’t clear in which country we would stay. We were questioning whether it would be France or The Netherlands. But at the end the outcome was The Netherlands. In the first place this was due to the marvellous cooperation of our new record company W.E.A. (which used to be Kinney), which is represented by Negram in Haarlem [city in The Netherlands]. They were very helpful finding houses, transportation, etc. etc. for us. Secondly The Netherlands is situated the most central. Apart from recording the double album, we also want to do a lot of live performances. We’ll probably do performances in Norway, Italy, England and The Netherlands, but probably also during festivals and the like in other European countries. From the Netherlands we can easily reach all these countries by plane. The Netherlands have excellent flight connections with all of Europe. The most important reason though is that the work environment in The Netherlands is the best. Culturally The Netherlands has an outstanding reputation. I believe that there is less and less cultural differences between The Netherlands and the U.S.. The Netherlands is free, tolerant, and as far as we can judge very friendly. We’re not harassed. And what also makes it easy here is that almost everybody speaks English, so it’s easy for us to get in contact with a lot of people. According to me the Dutch are also on a higher level intellectually. In a much earlier stage they are able to imagine another philosophy or demeanor. The Dutch can absorb with much interest in the bigger problems and conflicts [of life / in the world]. They give you free choice as much as possible in your do’s and don’ts and try to understand what you mean. And on top of that this country is very beautiful with it’s parks, woods, flowers and cities.” Mike Love thus ends his ode to the ‘lower countries’. As already said one of the main tasks of the Beach Boys is to produce a new double album. On their one-but-last album it already became clear that the American formation was searching for a new direction. Their latest album “Carl and the Passions – So Tough”, which was released on “Brother Records / Reprise”, makes it clear that they’re continuing the chosen path. Mike Love: “We’ll continue this chosen path on the to be recorded double album. This is mainly due to the fact that drummer Ricky Fataar and guitarist Blondie Chaplin ere added to the group. They have caused a more harder approach in the [our] music. Blondie especially, the heavy guitarist, has changed the group’s [musical] style. Two compositions on “Carl and the Passions – So Tough” are from them. On those [songs] you can clearly hear it. It’s the songs “Here She Comes” and “Hold On Dear Brother”. The new records will be a follow-up of the chosen direction. We don’t know yet what will end up on the album and what will be the name of the album. Dennis Wilson will travel to the Canary Islands first to write songs there and to get some [new] ideas. I’m going to Norway for at about ten days to meditate. And you can imagine that the Dutch atmosphere can be heard on this album”, says Mike Love, while he’s enjoying a strawberry icecream, as sort of a desert after eating his vegetable soup. The Beach Boys have sold at about 70 million albums in the past years. That leaves them on second place behind the Beatles. Can this enormous success be explained? Mike Love: “You shouldn’t ask me. We just record an album, and everytime it appears to be selling like crazy. Even when we headed for a more rock/jazz/R&B kind of direction the album sales were as they used to be. I can’t explain why it’s like that.” According to Mike Love. After much insistence he wants to mention the titles of two songs that will end up the new album. These are “Earthquaketime” and “Phoenix Dream”. Mike Love: “These songs are about transcendental meditation and it’s consequences. It’s a technique that helps you learn to recognise your place in the world..” Mik Love wants to continue on meditation, but after a couple of minutes draws the conclusion we’d better exchange thoughts about that at a later time. He invites me to come over to his house in Bloemendaal, so he can explain and educate in the practice [of meditation]. The talkative lead singer of the Beach Boys appears to be a true apostel of transcendental meditation. He says: “I’m planning on giving lessons {in TM] in The Netherlands. The only thing I’m still thinking about is the way how, but perhaps I can organise something.” After this we consider the interview as ended, and we continue talking about small talk, studio’s, America and transcendental meditation. During this conversation Mike Love says: “I have been walking around with a plan for 2 years now. And I’ve never talked about it with a reporter though. But now it’s time to let it happen. I’m planning on recording a large, classical work, together with a conductor. The name of the suite will be “Atlantis Rising”. As you know Atlantis is a sunken paradise. “Atlantis Rising”is the title that gives an overview of the history from the Middle Age up till now.” Mike Love has chosen this title, because – in contrary to others – he believes that the world becomes better and better. “I especially have a lot of trust in the new generation”, says Love, “at least they demonstrate to be convinced of us having to live in harmony with nature. More and more people are convinced that we have to live side by side with nature instead of at cost off nature. With this yet to be made piece of music we want to bring under words a change of mentality en give a push in the right direction.” Then a lovely girl announces that it’s time for the dress rehearsals. The Beach Boys leave, with in their coattails wifes and children, to studio 6, were test recordings are made for “Eddy Ready Go” of N.C.R.V. [broadcast company]. For the umpteenth time they have to playback “You Need A Mess Of Help To Stand Alone” for a TV program. Enough reason to degrade the test recording to a laughing stock. Later onduring the definite recording they do their very best. Everything on routine; “You Need A Mess Of Help To Stand Alone” is the umpteenth single with which the Beach Boys storm the hitparade. And the follow up [single] is already planned. Marcella. < subtitle below the group picture: The Beach Boys during the recording of “Eddy Ready Go” in the NOS studio’s >
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Post by SMiLE-Holland on May 22, 2019 14:59:48 GMT -5
... and just for kicks another pic from that performance on the Eddy Ready Go show on June 7th 1972. Mirrored compared with the one shown in the Veronica magazine - can't say which one is right. I Carl left or right handed?
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Post by Emdeeh on May 22, 2019 15:23:52 GMT -5
Carl was left-handed, but played guitar right-handed, so the photo directly above is flopped correctly.
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Post by craigslowinski on May 22, 2019 20:59:05 GMT -5
Blondie also plays right-handed (and maybe actually is right-handed).
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Post by Al S on May 23, 2019 1:47:36 GMT -5
I get the feeling Carl left his axe at home and stole Al’s somewhere between the dressing room and the stage.
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Post by E on May 23, 2019 10:36:42 GMT -5
"And I’ve never talked about it with a reporter though. But now it’s time to let it happen. I’m planning on recording a large, classical work, together with a conductor. The name of the suite will be “Atlantis Rising”. As you know Atlantis is a sunken paradise. “Atlantis Rising”is the title that gives an overview of the history from the Middle Age up till now."
"According to Mike Love. After much insistence he wants to mention the titles of two songs that will end up the new album. These are “Earthquaketime” and “Phoenix Dream”.
If only. Fun is in, it's no sin...
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Departed
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Post by Deleted on May 23, 2019 16:16:04 GMT -5
This is an interesting article about this time in the band's history and about Mike Love and his frame of mind and his situation within the group. The Beach Boys were trying new things and still in the mind set of creating new songs about where they were at that time. There was little talk of them being an "oldies" band at this point, and Mike and everyone seemed to be on board with this. For Mike to talk about "Atlantis Rising" and the two songs is a testament to this and that he was part of this band, trying to stay "current" and established itself with being "with the times".
But things sure did change in the next 2-3 years, when Capitol Records approached Mike about doing a compilation album in 1974. ENDLESS SUMMER and in 1975, SPIRIT OF AMERICA introduced a new generation of younger fans to their older music. And this changed everything. At the same time, the band did become a very "in demand" live act for several years, and were playing bigger and bigger shows. When was it? In 1975, I think, they were named by ROLLING STONE Magazine, as the Live Band of the Year or something (AGD, can you check this?). Anyway, ENDLESS SUMMER and SPIRIT OF AMERICA gave them a renewed popularity based on the older material, and I'm sure many wish it would have never happened, and wished the Beach Boys' as a band, would've explored other avenues, instead of becoming the "oldies" band they became. Sure, they did play some of the newer material here and there (like "Long Promised Road" and "Feel Flows") into the late 1970s, but after about 1981 or 1982, even those songs disappeared from the set list.
My first Beach Boys' show was in December, 1976. 15 BIG ONES had been out in the summer, and "Rock And Roll Music" and "It's O.K." had been on the radio, and the band was doing a long set, which included "Long Promised Road", "Feel Flows" and "All This Is That". They were also pushing their latest single and performed "Everyone's In Love With You". Brian Wilson was at this show, wearing his long blue velvet robe (There's a photo of him in that robe from this show in the David Leaf book), and they also played "Airplane" which had been recently recorded for LOVE YOU. Nonetheless, Mike was in his "gold sparkle gazelle" period, and jumped around the stage like a man possessed, along with Charles Lloyd (who was dressed in war paint) blowing his sax. Anyway, within a few years it was 99 percent oldies, with just a new song here and there.
To go back to the mindset of 1972-1973, and to have let the band continue (without ENDLESS SUMMER happening)...and seeing what would have happened--makes the mind wonder!!
And many kudos and thanks to SMiLE-HOLLAND for sharing these articles with us. Good to have more information about this period in the band's history!!
Dogbone
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Post by Cam Mott on May 23, 2019 16:53:07 GMT -5
And people think Mike didnt want to "F**k with the formula". Hhrrmmpphh.
Kudos S-H
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Post by E on May 24, 2019 5:45:22 GMT -5
Can't help think that their lack of any new studio product between Holland and 15 BO (for a myriad of reasons) didn't help.
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Post by Mikie on May 25, 2019 12:47:50 GMT -5
Let's stay with the premise of the thread, OK? Other comments have been moved to the 'CBS' thread. Dank je.
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Post by SMiLE-Holland on May 25, 2019 13:57:38 GMT -5
My next post will go back to late late 1970 regarding the delayed Amsterdam concert. An event that would confirm that the European audience appreciated the group music, also their recent output. And would later become a serious factor for the Boys to consider a longer stay in Europe.
I'm still busy translating a few articles and reviews that deal with that time frame. Might take a few days more before I'm finished (in between family life). But here's a little cliffhanger to get you warmed up. Here's Bruce lying on a bench at Schiphol Airport mid. December 1970. But why?...
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2019 3:28:52 GMT -5
My next post will go back to late late 1970 regarding the delayed Amsterdam concert. An event that would confirm that the European audience appreciated the group music, also their recent output. And would later become a serious factor for the Boys to consider a longer stay in Europe.
I'm still busy translating a few articles and reviews that deal with that time frame. Might take a few days more before I'm finished (in between family life). But here's a little cliffhanger to get you warmed up. Here's Bruce lying on a bench at Schiphol Airport mid. December 1970. But why?...
I think he was hoping to meet up with the guy who sold him that pair of shoes to get a REFUND!!
Dogbone
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Post by SMiLE-Holland on May 27, 2019 9:38:07 GMT -5
Bruce on a bench at Schiphol Airport… here’s the story.
I found this article in a couple of regional newspapers.
What happened that day? On the same page of that newspaper was the main article regarding a 1 hour country-wide strike, after an appeal by several unions, as a response to the Governments proposal for wage cuts. Actions were held by employees of harbor, construction- and metal, textile companies, as well as public transport and taxi companies. And specifically by luggage and transport employees at Schiphol Airport. An unpleasant surprise for many foreign travelers, among which a Beach Boy. It wouldn’t be the first delay the BB would endure that month.
This made me curious on the occasion of Bruce’s visit to The Netherlands, only days before the whole group would perform. First thing I did was to consult Keith Badman’s Beach Boys diary. Despite several errors in that book, it still gives a reasonable overview of the Boys’s day-by-day whereabouts.
The picture was taken on Tuesday December 15th. Here’s what Badman had to say about that day.
So apparently Bruce was travelling separately from the Beach Boys. And according to Badman he travelled alone (with girlfriend) to Amsterdam to do several promotional activities. You’ll see in several pictures below that Bruce was there for the different activities, and apparently didn’t even have the time to change clothes (just kidding - but he does wear the same jacket the whole day - must have been cold)! But the info isn’t totally correct. I can base that theory on a couple of facts.
1. Bruce performed Tears In The Morning for the AVRO TV Show TopPop that afternoon. It was broadcasted that evening. This is confirmed by a Dutch fan I know very well, who did not only see the broadcast but also made an audiorecording of it. Badman is inaccurate though regarding the way this performance was brought. It wasn’t playbacked. He sang a live vocal and played piano over a pre-recorded track. An audio recording has surfaced (recorded directly from TV). For those who want to hear it:
And here’s a picture from Muziek Expres magazine from February 1971 of Bruce during his performance (in colour, in contrary to the TV-broadcast which was black and white).
2. But there’s more. I found this article in another newspaper, published the day after the Beach Boys first concert in Amsterdam (December 18th, the one that got delayed due to fog).
An interesting article, even without the fact I picked out. Based on this article I conclude that it wasn’t just Bruce, but the whole group that was expected to perform on AVRO’s Toppop on December 15th. Badman missed that info. I don’t know what happened in England causing the rest of the Boys to get stuck in London. Was there a strike as well? I don’t know. But for whatever reason the other Beach Boys couldn’t or wouldn’t come over to The Netherlands on the 15th, leaving Bruce (who – if we can believe Badman on his info – came over from Paris) to do the promotional job.
So now that I have corrected Badman on a couple of points, I should also thank him. Regarding the mentioning of the Radio Veronica single. Yes, the jingle that I had always pinpointed to February 1972, when the group was in The Netherlands for the Grand Gala Du Disque performance. This time I was wrong. And Badman’s info is confirmed on a archive website of the Veronica broadcasting company itself. Bruce indeed visited the studio, and not only recorded a jingle, but also had a lengthy radio interview with “Klaas Vaak” (nickname of DJ Tom Mulder).
Here’s a picture of Bruce visiting the Veronica studio that day, standing next to DJ Lex Harding.
And here’s more info on the radio interview (only the relevant parts are translated).
According to another article I found regarding their Amsterdam concert and the Sunflower album (too lengthy to show here now) a press conference with the group was also planned
So that’s the story of December 15th 1970. One can only imagine if all these promotional activities had been done by the whole group instead of Bruce alone. But Bruce definitely did a good job that day, despite all the hurdles. I know the opinions on Tears In The Morning differ, but it was a huge hit in The Netherlands, and Bruce’s performance definitely helped giving it a #6 position in the Dutch charts.
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Post by Emdeeh on May 27, 2019 11:16:47 GMT -5
I find the idea of a Who and Beach Boys collaboration fascinating, especially considering where both groups were musically at the time.
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Post by ian on May 27, 2019 14:00:41 GMT -5
Smile-holland will recall that you got me the corrected info on Bruce’s toppop performance for my book. I also listed (based on articles in England) at the time-that the BBs were scheduled to tape something for radio Luxembourg on dec 14 and a tv appearance in Belgium on December 16-prior to the save rave-but I wasn’t able to ever confirm those two appearances.
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Post by craigslowinski on May 27, 2019 14:03:09 GMT -5
I find the idea of a Who and Beach Boys collaboration fascinating, especially considering where both groups were musically at the time. Yeah...I can kinda imagine some of the "gentler" (yet still with rocking elements) Who songs of the era, such as "Getting In Tune" and "Behind Blue Eyes", bathed in Beach Boys harmonies...
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Post by ian on May 27, 2019 14:30:08 GMT -5
Got to wonder how firm a plan that was-I wonder if it wasn’t just Bruce and BBs fanatic Keith moon talking while smashed on ale one night
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Post by drbeachboy (Dirk) on May 27, 2019 14:33:42 GMT -5
Got to wonder how firm a plan that was-I wonder if it wasn’t just Bruce and BBs fanatic Keith moon talking while smashed on ale one night It definitely would have made for one interesting sounding album, I think.
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Post by SMiLE-Holland on May 27, 2019 15:27:03 GMT -5
Smile-holland will recall that you got me the corrected info on Bruce’s toppop performance for my book. I also listed (based on articles in England) at the time-that the BBs were scheduled to tape something for radio Luxembourg on dec 14 and a tv appearance in Belgium on December 16-prior to the save rave-but I wasn’t able to ever confirm those two appearances. Hey Ian, Yeah, we had quite some contact those days on Dutch articles you provided, finding additional info and translating them for you. Can you believe it was 10 years ago already? As I recently found a few Dutch websites that opened digital archives of many national and regional newspapers, I was able to find a lot more information than I had at the time. That's why I decided to give you all an update.
I'm really curious about the Belgium / Radio Luxembourg appearances. As he Dutch article mentions a lengthy hold up in London (just corrected an error there; it should be 15 hours, not 15 minutes) prior to Bruce's arrival in Amsterdam, I wonder if that influenced the Radio Luxembourg appearance. Perhaps we should find a digital Belgium (or U.K.) newspaper archive as well...
Klaas
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Post by Emdeeh on May 27, 2019 15:37:08 GMT -5
Got to wonder how firm a plan that was-I wonder if it wasn’t just Bruce and BBs fanatic Keith moon talking while smashed on ale one night I think that's the most likely scenario. Again, to SMILE-Holland, thank you so much for posting these articles and pix from this intriguing period in the BBs' history!
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Post by AGD on May 27, 2019 17:01:06 GMT -5
Got to wonder how firm a plan that was-I wonder if it wasn’t just Bruce and BBs fanatic Keith moon talking while smashed on ale one night Always keep in mind that Keith was a huge fan of the early surf/cars/girls material. He hated Pet Sounds.
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Post by jay on May 28, 2019 5:59:50 GMT -5
Got to wonder how firm a plan that was-I wonder if it wasn’t just Bruce and BBs fanatic Keith moon talking while smashed on ale one night Always keep in mind that Keith was a huge fan of the early surf/cars/girls material. He hated Pet Sounds. Which is slightly confusing, given the use of strings on his version of "Don't Worry Baby".
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Post by ian on May 30, 2019 20:37:08 GMT -5
Klaas I agree about Belgium. The papers I consulted turned up ads for the December 21 1970 show and the fact that the May 1972 show was canceled but I wish I had access to other Belgian sources. As you know there is that Dutch article about a 1969 tv appearance in Belgium but up to now I haven’t found more information on that mysterious appearance
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