Musings on the byways of popular culture
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Very sad to hear that Nick Walusko has died at just 59. The Wondermints were a treasured secret among pop-pop obsessives like me in the 90s. I saw them twice, and their gig at the Borderline was one of the very best shows I’ve ever seen.
The Wondermints are best known for backing up Brian Wilson, and an amazing job they did of it too, but I’ll always wish they got to record some more of their own stuff. Now it’s too late.
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What band have or artist has the biggest quality gap between their best and worst album?
It struck me today that The Beach Boys´ Pet Sounds is so far superior to Summer In Paradise it´s ridiculous.
Pet Sounds is pretty much a Brian Wilson solo album, Summer In Paradise is pretty much a Mike Love solo album. However, they were both released by The Beach Boys.
Can anyone else beat this? Mind you, Self Portrait and Landing On Water both sound like masterpieces next to Summer In Paradise.
I hereby officially dare you. 😉
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Here’s a brilliant song – written by Brian Wilson and Russ Titelman, recorded and released by Glen Campbell in 1965. But it wasn’t a hit. Why not? The melody and the production are just beautiful. At a guess I’d say the lyrics just weren’t made for those times.
My Wikipedia research tells me Glen toured with the Beach Boys in early 1965, replacing Brian Wilson. Never knew that, but obviously that’s the connection.
Interesting to note that this was released a year BEFORE the Beach Boys hit mega-stardom with “Good Vibrations”, and THREE years before Glen had his first big hit with “Wichita Lineman”.
And who was Russ Titelman? He was a producer for Warner Bros in the 60’s/70/s – a childhood friend of Randy Newman and that’s where I know his name from, as well as Ry Cooder albums and a bunch of other folks from that period.
The arrangement on “Guess I’m Dumb” sounds very Burt Bacharach to my ears. Glen ‘n Brian ‘n Burt. Marriage made in heaven you’d think.
Here’s the lyrics…
The way I act don’t seem like me I’m not on top like I used to be I’ll give in when I know I » Continue Reading.
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it’s all playing in my head: the orchestration and the five vocal parts. I think it’s going to work. Let’s try it
Although it must be a frightening place – sometimes Brian Wilson’s headspace sounds like pure heaven
