Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson dead at 82

Lots of reports coming out in the past hour announcing the death of the genius behind The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson. Aside from Lennon/McCartney, Jagger/Richards and Bob Dylan, no one was more important to the 60s rock revolution than Wilson. Extraordinary talent who pushed the Beatles as much as they pushed him.

RIP, Brian.

I know their songs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YAcOPPRpVY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apBWI6xrbLY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzDNsg8VbIU

I have most of their catalog up until Brian’s drug and mental issues drove him into seclusion in the late 60s. He was never able to deliver that ultimate masterpiece he was driving for with the Smile project, which if fully realized might have become the best album of the era. If you add Good Vibrations to the Pet Sounds album, though, you come pretty darn close.

That 1965-67 period where The Beach Boys and the Beatles kept on one-upping each other with their albums stands as the most fruitful competition of the rock era. With the release of Sgt Pepper, Brian finally threw in the towel.

His release of “Smile” almost 50 years later shows the promise, but also made it clear he was exhausted and correct in finally shelving the project.

Incredibly influential composer abd producer. Very underrated song writer.

Incredibly influential composer and producer. Very underrated song writer.

You aren’t kidding, TTH. “God Only Knows” is one of the most beautiful pop songs ever written.

Shut Down Vol 2 First LP I ever bought. I think it was their 5th album, a wide range of quality.

Incredibly influential composer abd producer. Very underrated song writer. Originally Posted by TexTushHog

Incredibly influential composer abd producer. Very underrated song writer. Originally Posted by TexTushHog

You can say that again! (Sorry, Tush Hog. Just couldn't resist. But I strongly agree!)

You aren’t kidding, TTH. “God Only Knows” is one of the most beautiful pop songs ever written. Originally Posted by TinMan

Strongly agree here, too!

In fact, no less iconic an eminence as Paul McCartney agrees with you here as well.

Even at age 75, I still sometimes listen to Beach Boys songs when driving between my Dallas home and my hill country-area ranches.

GenZers often don't realize how lucky they have it nowadays, insofar as they can listen to as much popular music as they like and pay next to nothing by historical standards.

By contrast, a typical vinyl album cost around $4 back when the Beach Boys first became popular. That was a lot of money in the early-mid 1960s!

-Texas Contrarian; formerly "Captain Midnight" (pre-2022)

By contrast, a typical vinyl album cost around $4 back when the Beach Boys first became popular. That was a lot of money in the early-mid 1960s!

-Texas Contrarian; formerly "Captain Midnight" (pre-2022) Originally Posted by Texas Contrarian

Yep. I still remember my dad couldn't believe I spent that much of my money on one album, when AM radio played music for free. LOL