Dennis Wilson's Pacific Ocean Blue appreciation*

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by smilin ed, Sep 9, 2015.

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  1. pool_of_tears

    pool_of_tears Searching For Simplicity

    Location:
    Midwest
    And, the song "Be With Me" from 20/20, shows that even in 1969, Proves that Dennis had mastered those elaborate productions, like Brian once created.
     
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  2. RickA

    RickA Love you forever Luke, we will be together again

    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    I remember reading an excellent article about the "Pacific Ocean Blue" project and the researcher / coordinator who stated there is about an albums worth more of unreleased music.

    He also stated he was impressed on how well cataloged his tapes were compared to even the Beach Boys. Either case would love to hear this.

    Rick A.
     
  3. PacificOceanBlue

    PacificOceanBlue Senior Member

    Location:
    The Southwest
    Yeah, and apparently there are preserved recordings of some of Dennis' rehearsals for the short POB tour that was ultimately aborted.
     
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  4. PacificOceanBlue

    PacificOceanBlue Senior Member

    Location:
    The Southwest
    Agreed. IMO, nothing from The Beach Boys during that era was as consistent as Pacific Ocean Blue. It is no surprise that certain parties in The Beach Boys camp were resentful of Dennis' solo album results; it essentially eclipsed the band's uneven efforts from the period.
     
  5. PacificOceanBlue

    PacificOceanBlue Senior Member

    Location:
    The Southwest
    There is certainly enough material in the archives for some sort of Dennis Wilson multi-disc set. It seems that it was very difficult to get the POB Legacy Edition green-lighted, so one suspects that any future Dennis Wilson project will be a challenging to get off the ground. One would hope that his children who are involved with his legacy will work towards getting something produced.
     
  6. oldsurferdude

    oldsurferdude Forum Resident

    Location:
    detroit, mi. 48150
    Just one item to remember upon attempting to listen to LBWL:yikes:, you'll spend hours, days, months, perhaps whole years wondering how you could have used your time to better advantage. Same scenario plays out on all the luHvster's output whether it be solo or with the group. :evil:
     
  7. ShockControl

    ShockControl Bon Vivant and Raconteur!

    Location:
    Lotus Land
    I spent some time with this album recently. The music is good but the lyrics are weak. There is one stupid rock track that I kept skipping, maybe track one or two.
     
  8. smilin ed

    smilin ed Senior Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    Durham
    Rumour has it,
     
  9. Dark Horse 77

    Dark Horse 77 A Parliafunkadelicment Thang

    Even a limited edition would be nice. I'm sure it would sell out to us uberfans.
     
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  10. Mechanical Man

    Mechanical Man I Am Just a Mops

    Location:
    Oakland, CA, USA
    This fact was addressed in a quote in one of the popular Beach Boys bios, I which I could remember which one or who said it-- double albums only had to attain half the sales of single albums to achieve RIAA gold status.
     
  11. pool_of_tears

    pool_of_tears Searching For Simplicity

    Location:
    Midwest
    I vaguely recall that
     
  12. Maggie

    Maggie like a walking, talking art show

    Location:
    Toronto, Canada
    Yes, and this is one of the reasons why I doubt Carl & The Passions outsold Pacific Ocean Blue, even though it charted higher. Each sale counted double, because it was packaged with Pet Sounds.

    As an aside, and ironically, this is probably also the reason why the reissue of Pacific Ocean Blue coupled with the Bambu sessions charted so high when it was reissued in 2008. Each sale counted double.
     
  13. drbeachboy

    drbeachboy Forum Resident

    As I stated earlier, there is no listing on the RIAA site for 1973 album The Beach Boys In Concert. It is actually referring to the 1964 album, with the certification dating February 1965.
     
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  14. pool_of_tears

    pool_of_tears Searching For Simplicity

    Location:
    Midwest
    It did break the top 40, though. And I can't imagine it not selling enough to qualify for a gold record. Oh well, it's their best live album overall :)
     
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  15. Vincentrifugal

    Vincentrifugal Forum Resident

    If I remember correctly Sam Goody in Paramus NJ had two copies, in summer 1977. I bought one, and I never saw the album in any other record department in stores like Bamberger's or Korvetts etc. I don't think it sold very well at all.
     
  16. katstep

    katstep Professional Cat Herder

    That would be track 2, What's Wrong. A truly lame song that I always skip too. Weak lyrics? Compare it with what else was going on at the time and it's pretty heady fare for a "pop" album.
     
  17. ShockControl

    ShockControl Bon Vivant and Raconteur!

    Location:
    Lotus Land
    Don't know offhand what else was going on at the time, but I'm comparing it to my own standards of good lyrics. I feel that the music and the overall vibe of the songs would demand better lyrics. They are not terrible but not up to snuff, in my opinion. Still, a good album.
     
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  18. smilin ed

    smilin ed Senior Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    Durham
    Would be nice to see. It was good to see some of his music highlighted on Made in California.
     
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  19. Arkay_East

    Arkay_East Forum Resident

    Location:
    ATX
    This thread is timely for me :)

    I have had a gatefold vinyl copy of POB that I inherited from a friend a few years ago. I played it once, discovered it was pretty dirty and put it away.

    Last night, I cleaned it up along w my long neglected copies of Surf's Up and Holland. I listened to SU first and was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed the album much more than I remembered. Then the kids went to bed and pulled my armchair up to the stereo, plugged in the headphones and spun POB.

    :bigeek:

    Holy Christ on a cracker. Mind completely blown. Talk about sucked in. This album is devastatingly beautiful. I'm so glad I took the time to sit with it. I am not exaggerating when I say it went directly to the top of my list of favorite Beach Boys projects. IMO it edges out Pet Sounds which has been king of my Beach Boys related world since college. So good. So damn good.
     
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  20. head_unit

    head_unit Senior Member

    Location:
    Los Angeles CA USA
    I had not heard the album in a very long time, since borrowing it from the public library where I used to live. Now I heard it via Spotify, and it was really lovely. In a kinda sorta way, a companion to Al Jardine's A Postcard from California (which I just read was rereleased with 2 bonus tracks, so I'll have to dig that out).

    Having loved California since a trip here at age 4, and realizing one of my life goals to transplant myself here out of the cold, these albums are like a soundtrack to myself (well parts anyway) along with "California Dreaming" (anyone's version).
     
  21. Arkay_East

    Arkay_East Forum Resident

    Location:
    ATX
    Right. I hadn't given POB much thought in quite a while. Side 2 really sucked me in. The way "Time" just opens up after the first minute or so ... It gains momentum and then the album just never lets up until the last note. There are some really psychedelic things going on in the arrangements. Not what I expected.
     
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  22. Clarkophile

    Clarkophile Through the Morning, Through the Night

    Location:
    Oakville, ON
    I get that. Much like his drumming, Dennis's messages are simple and straightforward. It's within the context of the music itself -- and especially the manner in which the lines are sung -- that the lyrics become ennobled and meaningful.
    Looked at that way, the delivery of a line like "The sea air is flowin' through my room again/Like the thoughts of you fill my heart with joy again" becomes emotionally compelling. It is sung with great sadness, possibly a sense of regret. It is only a remembrance of joy.

    The fact that this tender and reflective passage leads into a heavier dramatic section filled existential musings was no accident, I would wager. It's not the non sequitur it might appear to be at first glance.
     
  23. ShockControl

    ShockControl Bon Vivant and Raconteur!

    Location:
    Lotus Land
    I understand your point. With lyrics, there is certainly a difference between simple/direct and simple-minded. I'm not suggesting Dennis is the latter. I do think that very simple, heartfelt lines can take on a deeper meaning through delivery and musical arrangement. For example, the line "If you find love, hang on to each caress" from Sammy Cahn's "Only the Lonely" sounds trite on its own, but within the context of the song, with the melody, and Frank's delivery, and Nelson's arrangement, it is very poignant.

    I drove around for a week with "Pacific Ocean Blue" and "Bamboo" on repeat in the car. There were just several occasions in which I found myself wanting more lyrically. I don't have a good example offhand. It is possible that I am thinking primarily of tracks from "Bamboo."
     
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  24. rob68

    rob68 Senior Member

    Location:
    Michigan
    Great album.

    Does anyone have the single CD version with 3 bonus tracks, and if so, is it a jewel case, digipak or just a cardboard slipcase?
     
    Last edited: Sep 15, 2015
  25. Andy Lee

    Andy Lee Active Member

    Location:
    North Shields, UK
    What were the bonus tracks? I had the first CD release then bought the POB/Bambu double digipak
     
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