Bright lights (Carl Wilson) (LP 4864 - 4865)

Carl Wilson  Carl Wilson (Vinyl, Caribou Records, 1981) ****  

Carl Wilson  Youngblood (Vinyl, Caribou Records, 1983) ****  

Genre: Rock, pop

Places I remember: Real Groovy Records

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Heaven (CW)

Gear costume: Seems So Long Ago (CW), Givin' You Up (Youngblood)

They loom large in his legend (The Album Collection playlists): Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6; Part 7; Part 8

Active compensatory factors: Carl Wilson, who sadly passed away from lung cancer in 1998, only produced two solo albums (he was also part of a trio with Gerry Beckley and Robert Lamm). That's because he knew his position in life was as a member of The Beach Boys first and foremost.

His first solo album, simply called Carl Wilson, is a great effort which displays many of his talents - from the rocker to the quieter side - all is convincing to my ears. I love this record, yes partly because I love the idea of Carl Wilson. He's not the radical genius of Brian and he's without the bad boy/self-destructive tendency of Dennis, instead he's the middle presence (his vocal range as well as his influence on the band).

Side two of the album has more of the kind of Beach Boys material that fans would gravitate towards, but I also enjoy the grittier songs on side one. It's not a perfect record, but Carl's vocals are definitely one-of-a-kind.

The same approach is used for Youngblood - as one critic said "It's guitar-based mainstream rock, with soul and gospel roots, a far cry from the blue-eyed barbershop harmonies popularized by the Beach Boys".

BTW - Carl is the only Beach Boy on these two records.

Where do they all belong? I'm on the lookout for the Beckley Lamm Wilson album - Like A Brother.

Darkness goes and softness shows a changing style (Bruce Johnston) (LP 275)

Cass Elliot Cass Elliot (Vinyl - RCA, 1972) **

Genre: American pop/rock 

Places I remember: Chaldon Records and Books (Caterham-on-the-hill) 

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Disney Girls




Gear costume: I'll Be There 

Active compensatory factors: Obviously, Cass Elliot has become a tragic figure, dying young at 32 from a heart attack, but her vocals can instantly recall the sixties when she was Mama Cass.

Here, she's in full on glamour mode, singing standards with lush backings - not really my thing.

What made me take a punt on the album was seeing the immortal Disney Girls on the track listing. In this case she's also got Bruce Johnston and Carl Wilson appearing with her. Magic ensues!

Where do they all belong? Back to those Mamas and Papas' greatest hits packages. 

You never need to doubt it (The Beach Boys)

The Beach Boys The Beach Boys Medley/ God Only Knows   (Capitol, F 5030 1981)

I'm not a fan of the medley stuff that emerged after Stars on 45 hit it big. The Beach Boys (Mike Love's idea I bet) were one of many who jumped on the medley bandwagon. Although it reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the band's highest charting hit in the U.S. in over five years, it's still a bad idea. It kinda cheapens each song in turn and is ultimately an unsatisfying listening pleasure.

Hidden gem: The real gold is on the B side. Carl Wilson leaves us with a peerless collection of brilliant vocals on BB songs and he puts his heart and soul into God Only Knows.

I hear the sound of a gentle word (The Beach Boys)

The Beach Boys Good Vibrations / Let's Go Away For While (sic)  (Capitol, F 5676 1966)

This is a NZ pressing and I guess that's why there's a goof with the B side title. Sloppy work but there you go. Pretty purple Captol label though innit?

Voted the best single of ALL TIME!! by Mojo Magazine. I am not about to argue (but Strawberry Fields Forever/ Penny Lane is not to be sneezed at folks).

Like millions around the world I love this song and I hear it a lot - it crops up on an expanding number of collections and still sounds wonderfully fresh.

I miss Carl Wilson and his gifts from God. When he sings GV I am lifted. Listen to the song as sung since his death and you'll hear what I miss.

Hidden gem: I wouldn't label Let's Go Away For Awhile a hidden gem. Not really. It's an instrumental and is probably more suited to a B side than Pet Sounds but it's probably sacrilege or something to suggest that.