232 US Pop Culture 1969 Part 4

[@chrisrainbow2393]

Another informative episode Steve and there isnt much i can add from the info you have from the UK angle and all i can say is that summer 1969 was when my family purchased our very first record player which was a Dansette and this meant that i could now listen to various records by choice rather than rely on radio. We didnt have many records back then as you can imagine and they were mostly either classical or Gilbert and Sullivan which were of no interest to me but my Dad was a bit more adventurous than my Mum and he did come home with a copy of Ruby by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition which i played and played and he also bought a Roy Orbison single but it was early days for a proper record collection and it was 1972 when my personal collection took off, but until then i could only have access to my parents likes and although i was into modern chart music of the day at this time i was heavily into the Beatles who it seemed by 1969 were on the news daily suing each other and i already had plans to build up a Beatles collection when able., So, i can relate to most of the music artists you have mentioned, i was still mostly at the mercy of radio, but radio did form the basis of what would be in my collection and this of course would include the Beach Boys who in 1969 were really popular in UK and across Europe and we were completely unaware of their decline in their homeland and i put this down to the changing music scene as you have mentioned ( Abbey Road ) which i can understand in some quarters would make the BBs look tame but not so in UK and i cant say why, but maybe its because they were well represented on the radio here back then.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Thanks for sharing the memories, Chris! Having read them, I'm trying to remember the state of my family's record collection in 1969. We had a big "hifi" that my parents bought in the early 60s that was roughly the size of a couch and stood about three feet high. There was very little money for records. My mom had some of the hit Herb Alpert albums and the soundtracks for "Goldfinger" and "Thunderball." I had the first five Monkees albums, but, by 1969, they had pretty much fallen out of favor. My dad had the habit of buying one album and playing it over...and over...and over... In 1969, it was "Joan Baez, Volume 2." He played side two of that album so relentlessly that I remember just standing out in the back yard to get a break from it. Of course, we've talked about the Beach Boys continued popularity in the UK and Europe in the late 60s. Thanks for mentioning that UK fans were unaware of their decline in the US! That's something I had never considered before and, of course, it makes sense. It's a very interesting point! Thanks, once again, for the great feedback and perspective, Chris! Always enjoyed and appreciated!

[@flaredrake8058]

Always happy to visit the Beach Boys basement!

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Thanks, Flaredrake! Good to hear from you!

[@tompepper4789]

I remember back when i was 10 yrs old in 1969 of seeing The Fifth Dimension play the Age of Aquarius, of all places, Disneyland with my parents and I assume my sister. The stage rose up out of the ground and was playing loud. My first experience of live music. A great memory.

[@pauldaniels2019]

I remember that stage!

[@tompepper4789]

@@pauldaniels2019 Fun!

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Wow! The Fifth Dimension at Disneyland doing "Age of Aquarius"! Fantastic! Apart from, maybe, landing on the moon, I can't imagine a cooler and more "1969" experience! Thanks for letting me know about that, Tom! I envy you having seen it!

[@lamontsouth5301]

Hi Steve. Great job! Wow....'69 really had it all. I was 16 at the time and remember all the movies, music, news, etc. I've mentioned this to you before, but maybe your viewers will like this. In September of 1969 I saw the Beach Boys for the first time at the amusement park Lagoon, north of Salt Lake City. Yes...the very one in the song. There were about 5000 people there and they had their new $250,000 sound system, where there were speakers throughout the venue. I thought the sound quality was amazing for a live performance. I was sitting right next to a speaker(I wish I had brought a tape recorder with me). They were now using a small group of horns with their touring band. Also Ed Carter(I did not know who he was at the time) played bass for most of the show, which allowed Bruce to play a baby grand piano or an organ. In Salt Lake, they were always a big draw and remained popular throughout the 60's. Thanks again. I love your singing....but don't give up your day job!. Lamont

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Thanks for sharing that fantastic memory, Lamont! I can't imagine a cooler place to see the Beach Boys than the Lagoon (based on all that I've heard about it.) Nice to know they were a major draw in Salt Lake City in '69! (I know, later in the year, they played to some depressingly small audiences in some parts of the US.) Thanks for the advice on the singing! There were a lot of songs this week that it was hard to resist "having a go" with...but I think my day job is secure! Always great to hear from you, Lamont! Thanks again!

[@skee19]

I loved Bill Murray’s version of “ONE” as Nick the lounge singer on SNL many moons ago. 3 Dog Night a great band . A lot of these songs are FM classic rock staples 55 years later! Great stuff as usual Steve !

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

I alway enjoyed "Nick" on SNL and I think we can be forever grateful that he put words to the Star Wars theme! There's definitely a lot of 1969 music that has "stood the test of time." As I mentioned elsewhere, and as you point out, those songs have gotten so much play over the years that people are still "growing up with them" today. Thanks, as always, for the comments, Mike!

[@gxios]

Brings back a lot of memories, Steve. The Capitol "Close Up" lp was part of a series featuring couplings from many Capitol artists, like Lou Rawls, the Lettermen, and the Kingston Trio. I bought the Beach Boys one, because I wanted to hear the "All Summer Long" album in stereo. I don't think I heard the "Break Away" single on the radio more than twice, and it made no impression on me until a few years later, when a copy was gifted to me. Strange, as it is one of my favorites now.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Thanks for the explanation on "Close Up," George! I had no idea it was part of a larger series that Capitol was doing, or that it was presenting "All Summer Long" in stereo. It makes sense and is good to know! Thanks, too, for sharing that you only heard "Break Away" on the radio a very few times. (With its chart placement, I wondered how many people were aware of it at all in 1969.) As I'm sure you've gathered from these episodes, it's a single I really love. I wonder if, along with "The Little Girl I Once Knew," it's "semi-forgotten" status is part of its strength now: We haven't heard it as much as the "big hits" over the years, helping keep it "fresh." (Just a thought.) Thanks again for the great info and feedback, George!

[@anthonykimball7463]

My favorite song from Nashville Skyline is "Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You". Jubilee Records was reaching the end of its line by 1969. REALLY LOVE those label designs & artwork for both UNI and Parrot! That Blind Faith album cover photo was certainly an "envelope pusher" in 1969 😆, but such an image would never even be permitted these days. Ahh yes, The Band....only Garth Hudson is still around. Too bad we'll never get to see Dennis Hopper's four-hour-plus original cut of Easy Rider. Thanks for including my personal choice for 1969's "Best American Film",Medium Cool, which wasn't even among the nominees for Best Picture that year (a horrible, nearly criminal oversight on the part of the Motion Picture Academy in my view). Thanks very much for yet another informative segment. Also, good on you for showing the original 45 labels of the hit singles. Last random comment regarding this upload...I know Aquarius was the mega-hit for the 5th Dimension, but I much prefer the (somewhat) lesser-known Workin' On A Groovy Thing (which "only" made it to #20 on the Billboard Hot 100).

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Wow! Great feedback, Anthony, and you've hit on a LOT of things I really love and didn't have an opportunity to mention. "Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You" is my favorite off of "Nashville Skyline" too. Along with much else on the album, it reminds me of Jimmie Rodgers. I've often included it in mixes with one of Rodgers' "Blue Yodels." To me, they seem to work well together. I also really love "Workin' On A Groovy Thing." Thanks for reminding me of it and that it was part of the summer of '69! And, I love those label designs too! (I try very hard to make sure I'm showing the original hit single label. It means some extra work, looking up catalog numbers, but I love seeing the original labels and want to be as "authentic to the times" as possible.) Based on your description (and the fact we clearly have much in common, taste-wise), I'm looking forward to checking out "Medium Cool." Thanks for recommending it, and, again, for the great comments, Anthony!

[@michaelthemovieattic]

Great as always Steve! Hard to believe, but Valley of the Gwangi is the only movie that I saw from the ones mentioned. I love Ray Harryhausen movies and stop motion in general. I didn't realize till a couple of years ago that Bob Dylan was the one singing that Lay Lady Lay single. I never liked that song for some reason. I also never cared for the Ballad of John and Yoko. But of course that's just me, I'm sure both are great songs. Abby Road is my favorite Beatles album. Good job on the Blind Faith cover up. Anyway thanks as always for the stuff to check out.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

I think "Valley of Gwangi" is the only one of those movie I saw when it was new, and the only Harryhausen movie I saw on first release. (I saw most of them on TV.) My mom took us to see it at the drive-in in the summer of '69. (I keep waiting for a deluxe Blu Ray edition of it.) Shooting the Blind Faith album cover segment was tough because I kept holding it up, then looking to see if my hand was in the right place and ruining the "take." I had to shoot it about four times before I was able to keep myself from checking! Thanks for the comments and feedback, Michael!

[@pauldaniels2019]

What a time! I remember all that music and movies, even though I was too young to see some of them. Will have to look for that David Frost BBs footage.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Thanks for the comments, Paul! I thought the David Frost footage was pretty cool with all the hip, colorful posters (in addition to the Beach Boys, of course.) Hope you'll enjoy it!

[@raymondgill9796]

Fascinating as always.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Thanks, Raymond! Glad to know you enjoyed it!

[@beanie226]

Great work professionally presented as always , Steve ! Here’s some thoughts from an old guy who was still an undergraduate in college in 1969 : In movies , you accurately describe just how revolutionary, “ Easy Rider “ was . The film not only was successful on a meager budget , but also changed how “young peoples’ “ movies would be made in the future . The scant success of “ Trouble With Girls “ indicates that the old guard in Hollywood still hadn’t figured out kids in the 1960’s even with the decade nearly over . Speaking of kids … Zeffirelli’s “ Romeo and Juliet “ seemed groundbreaking in that it presented the title characters played by actual teenagers ! The previous famous Hollywood version in 1936 would feature a 43 year old Leslie Howard and a 34 year old Norma Shearer as the star crossed couple . In music , I remember hearing The Youngblood’s “ Get Together “ in 1966 as the group was opening for , ( of all people ) , The Beach Boys . It became a hit in 1969 after some NYC radio stations used the song to promote public service spots related to racial harmony . Finally , The Rolling Stones brought in studio help in the person of Ry Cooder , when Brian Jones had , in Keith’s words , “ …drugged and f’d himself into uselessness “ Curiously , it was after working with Cooder that Keith became the most prolific advocate of alternate tunings on the guitar . I love Keith’s playing , but I’ve never heard him acknowledge Ry Cooder’s obvious influence.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Thanks for the sharing the excellent insights and info, Beanie! Good contrast between "Easy Rider" and "The Trouble With Girls." It speaks volumes about how youth culture had changed by 1969. When I was a freshman in high school in 1974, we studied "Romeo and Juliet." (We had to memorize the prologue, which is still seared into my brain.) As a "treat" when we finished, they showed us the movie...the 1936 version. I remember we were warned before hand that "standards of beauty had changed" and not to disrupt things by making fun of the way the characters looked and that they were clearly much too old for the parts. I had no idea that "Get Together" dated back to 1966 or how it became a hit in '69. Really interesting stuff! Likewise, I knew from the liner notes that Ry Cooder recorded with the Stones in '69 but had no idea about the influence on Keith with the alternate tunings. Again, thanks for taking the time to pass along the excellent and interesting info, Beanie! Much appreciated!

[@bchnwgn]

Gwangi and Abbey Road are all I needed to know. Awesome as always, Steve!

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Two of the biggest highlights for me too! Thanks, Chris!

[@paulg845]

Steve, thanks again for a great episode. You talking about the summer of '69, caused me to remember a Pop Festival I went to that summer that has not really been covered much. Living in Maryland I heard about the Woodstock festival but my mom would not let me drive to upstate New York. 2 weeks before Woodstock, August 1st 2nd and 3rd, I attended the Atlantic City Pop Festival at the Atlantic City racetrack with two guys from the band I was in at the time. We had a fantastic weekend and I did not have to sleep in mud or sit in the rain of Woodstock. I would love to see an episode where you do your normal extensive research on the Atlantic City Pop Festival as a topic. I think I got a 3-day ticket for less than 15 bucks. Anyway just an idea for a future episode should you choose. Being able to relive it again with one of your great episodes would be fantastic. Keep up the great work!

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Thanks for letting me know about the Atlantic City Pop Festival, Paul! Somehow, I had never heard about it before. I just looked it up and the line-up is amazing and definitely on a par with the line-up at Woodstock! It's incredible that the festivals isn't more well-known! (It's great that you were actually there. That must have been fantastic...and what a value for $15!) I've made a note of your comments for a future episode and definitely plan to follow-up on it. Thanks, Paul, for letting me know about an important and, seemingly, under-reported piece of 1969 pop culture history! I envy you having been there!

[@paulg845]

@@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444 thank you Steve. I've been to a lot of great concerts since then but it is still the highlight of my life. Creedence Clearwater came on after dark and right before they came on the crowd surged and broke out of the grandstands and the three of us jumped the fence. I was two or three rows deep in front of the stage right in front of John fogerty for the whole set... It was amazing!

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

@@paulg845 Creedence was definitely one of the acts on the roster that caught my attention when I looked the festival up on-line. Especially with the relatively short time they were around as a group (and the fact they're one of my favorites), I was already thinking that was the band I'd most liked to have seen. Seeing it under the circumstances you describe is amazing! I can definitely understand it being a highlight of your life for that alone! Thanks for the follow-up, Paul!

[@johnhammond1572]

Some really fascinating facts here, with "The Doors", "The Who", "The Beatles" and "The Rolling Stones" still dominating the charts on both sides of the Atlantic. Interesting that Glen Campbell's being mentioned almost every week when you announce the charts, he really did have one hell of a career after leaving The Beach Boys. Also some great movie's around in this yeat with "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and "Easy Rider" among the many films I went to see in 1969. Great year great stuff with so much going on Thanks.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Glen Campbell really was having an amazing year (and making some great records.) In addition to the hits, of course, he was also co-starring in the hit film "True Grit" and appearing weekly on his popular variety show "The Glen Campbell Good Time Hour." It's amazing he could find time for all of and, as you say...he had one hell of a career! Thanks for the excellent feedback, John! Always appreciated!

[@joelgoldenberg1100]

1. As I've written elsewhere (and maybe even here!) I saw Chuck Negron, formerly of Three Dog Night, in concert at B.B. King's in NYC in the summer of 2001. He had a great set and I approached him and praised his autobiography, Three Dog Nightmare, afterwards. I told him I was disappointed he didn't perform One, which is in my top-three of TDN songs. Negron said he would perform it in his next set. I later saw him perform it on one of those PBS concert specials, and he had trouble reaching the original notes in the chorus. I once tried singing the song at a karaoke bar, and those notes in the chorus are VERY hard to reach, IMO. 2. Crystal Blue Persuasion is my favorite Tommy James song and a psychedelic classic. 3. I see another one of those copyright anomalies on that Marvin Gaye single- a song that came out in 1969 but is copyrighted 1966, likely as it was written that year and was first recorded by the Temptations as an album track. Still weird to see that 1966 date. 4. Interestingly, The Ballad of John and Yoko was the first Beatles single in stereo in the UK. Get Back was released in stereo in the U.S., but in mono in the UK. 5. I didn't know Billy Swan of I Can Help fame produced Polk Salad Annie. 6. I was curious about the VME arranging credit on the Jackie DeShannon single. Turns out, according to Discogs, it's Vitale & McWhorter Enterprises, "a company formed by the partnership of George Vitale and Dargin McWhorter." 7. One might think that Elvis movie was called Elvis '69 as the actual title is in really small print on one of the posters.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Great, great comments and observations, as always, Joel! If I can call these episodes a "deep dive," your comments provide a DEEP deep (and very interesting) dive. Also, your comments make me pleased that I didn't try to sing "One" in the episode! Way back, nineteen years ago, when my son had his first birthday, I put together a mix of songs with "One" in the title. My wife genuinely found "One is the loneliest number" to be too depressing for his birthday mix and had me replace it. (Those new mothers can be sensitive!) Thanks for explaining the 1966 copyright date on the Marvin Gaye single! I noticed it but didn't figure it out. I missed Billy Swan's credit on "Polk Salad Annie" and the credit on the Jackie DeShannon single. Thanks for pointing those out! With the Elvis movie, I thought, maybe, that big "Elvis '69" on the poster might be an attempt to hide the fact that it was pretty much another in the long (and about to come to an end) line of standard "songs and girls" Elvis movies. It definitely makes it look more "current" and exciting than the movie was! Thanks again, Joel!

[@tedsgotrhythm]

Some great singing in this one Steve! You should do full covers sometime.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

I try to limit my vocals to just doing the titles...Got to be careful about losing subscribers, after all! Thanks for the comments...and for the laugh, Ted!

[@jamiebrewstersmusicalheroe7156]

Capitol released some odd records for the band in the late 60s early 70s. Breakaway one of their best singles should have been a smash. Thanks Steve

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

I suppose Capitol was simply looking for a way to wring a few more dollars out of the back catalog. They sure took a few "strange turns," though! I agree about "Break Away." I think its relative failure in the US probably had more to do with people not paying attention to the Beach Boys in '69 than it did the record itself. Happy that it did pretty well in the rest of the world, at least! Great to hear from you, Jamie! Thanks!

[@betamaxblocker]

You were in very good voice for your song covers! That "Close-Up" double album is so weird. Not only is Bruce prominently featured on the package (despite not being on either the Surfin' USA or All Summer Long albums) but the omissions are a bit odd. Surfin' USA isn't too surprising, omitting Misirlou and Let's Go Trippin', but All Summer Long takes off Hushabye (and Carl's Big Chance) and then moves Don't Back Down to the middle. I also can't tell what Al is holding in his hand on the cover. Nice to see "Valley of Gwangi" and "Medium Cool" each get a shoutout. I never liked "Easy Rider" (though it was the movie that persuaded George Lazenby to give up on being 007 and make the bizarre "Universal Solider" instead) and I can't stand "Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice" either. Great video as always!

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

You're right that the omissions on "Close Up" are, in some cases, very odd choices. I guess it's just because I really don't know how record pressing works, but it always seemed to me that it must be more expensive to omit tracks and create new plates than it would be to just re-use the plates with the original track listings. Changing it, even to reduce the amount of music, seems like it would cost more than just re-pressing it. (Obviously, there's something I don't understand there.) Good question about what Al is holding! I looked at some alternate takes from that photo session. Whatever it is, he's holding it in most of them. I haven't seen "Medium Cool" but, based on viewer feedback, I need to check it out. I don't like "Bob & Carol..." either. At the very least, it hasn't aged well. I've always thought "Easy Rider" has three great scenes: the restaurant where there's tension with the locals, the discussion around the campfire afterwards, and the ending. The ending is, admittedly, garbled and confusing, but I think it's effective and the confusion is, I believe, deliberate and a realistic portrayal of how a situation like that might "go down." For me, the rest of it ranges from "pretty good" to "nearly unwatchable" (the "on-drugs in New Orleans scenes" in particular.) Anyway, thanks, as always, for the great perspective and feedback and sorry for the long-winded response!

[@l.w.8470]

Good morning, Steve. I think you missed a seminal cultural moment in your video. On July 26th, Elvis returned to live performing after an eight year absence from the concert stage. Elvis' return in Las Vegas was both a financial and critical success. Elvis really began what is now a common place event. Major rock stars 🌟 having a Vegas residency.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Yes! I DEFINITELY should have mentioned that! It was a busy summer...but I can't believe I missed that! I've made a note and plan to address it when I do a follow-up "cool stuff" video, probably in late August. Thanks for letting me know I missed it and I will be sure to give you a "shout out" for having brought it to my attention. Much appreciated!

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

I've been looking into the Las Vegas shows in '69 to discuss in a future episode and I'm running into conflicting information. I'm hoping, maybe, you can help. It looks like, maybe, the first show was on July 31 and that there were rehearsals on stage in Vegas beginning July 24. The first place I checked was "Elvis The Illustrated Record" by Roy Carr and Mick Farren. They say the first show was on July 26 and that it came "just ten days after Neil Armstrong became the first man to set foot on the moon." That happened on July 21 GMT. (July 20 in the US.) That makes me think the concert date in the book is an error and they meant July 31. I found pictures of Elvis on stage on July 26th, but it could be a dress rehearsal. All the other sources I found seem to say his return came on July 31. Any idea on what date is correct? Thanks for the help, L.W. and, again, thanks for reminding me that I had overlooked this!

[@daddybog5499]

Hi Steve, I would think most people would say the music they grew up was the best. I actually think I could survive with just the Beach Boys, The Beatles and Rolling Stones. Have any music agents been in contact with you, your singing vocals continue to show your versatility. Continued success with the videos.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

I think you're right about people most liking the music they grew up with. I think there's a difference with music of the late 60s and 70s in that it's continued to be played over the decades, so people have continued to grow up with it, even though it originated long before some of them were born. (My son says about two-thirds of the music he hears in his college dorm is from, roughly, 1967 to the early 80s.) Seems those records have definitely stood the test of time! Thanks for the comments and feedback...and for the laugh about my singing, Don! It's always enjoyed and appreciated!

[@beanie226]

@@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444 The reason for the longevity of 60’s & 70’s music is that us “ boomers” still make up a large portion of the population in most Western countries. It will disappear when we do .

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

@@beanie226 Good point, Beanie. Thanks!

[@MaximumNPP]

Here in the UK it is an absolute guarantee that if you play the local music circuit someone will ask you to play Sweet Caroline and if you go and watch a cover band or a karaoke someone will sing it. It is also a weird thing that the entire venue will shout out "SO GOOD! SO GOOD! SO GOOD!" in the chorus when the song does not go like that. I have no idea why British people do that or how and when that started. Another one is I'm A Believer, the "stomp stomp stomp OY!" thing I absolutely cannot stand. I thought that was another tacky UK thing but they do that in the movie Shrek!

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

It's interesting that you mention that, Nathan! There's a television commercial for Jim Beam Bourbon currently running on American TV that features a bunch of people in a bar singing "Sweet Caroline" and shouting out "SO GOOD! SO GOOD! SO GOOD!" I wondered where that came from, since, as you point out, it's not in the song. Now, I'm wondering if that's something that's also done here, or if somebody putting the commercial together observed it in the UK. (I don't hang out in bars enough to know for sure, which is probably just as well!) I suppose the "stomp stomp stomp OY!" thing might be the same. Maybe it originated in the UK and migrated here? (Again, it's something I've never observed myself. Surely, there's a lot going on in US bars that I'm not aware of!) Very interesting observations, Nathan! Thanks for passing that along!

[@rangergrrrl]

That's a Thunderball tee, yes...? 5:42 Looks like the Guess Who lost their ?...I guess the question got answered... 13:50 I must protest, Steve: there is NOTHING unmemorable about Raquel Welch...

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Good eye on the Thunderball tee! Thanks for the laughs, and I've gotta agree with you about Raquel Welch!

[@robertzastrow4648]

Watching these overviews of certain time frames (like this one, the summer of 1969), wonder what I'll remember if I was around during that time, and what I'll learn (things I didn't know about). More songs/artists to check out, like Oliver, Andy Kim and the Winstons (who I hadn't heard of). Checked out the Ramones' version of "Baby, I Love You", which surprised me in a good way! There's an unreleased snippet of a song Brian Jones was working on , where he plays guitar and sings. It's called "So Far Away Like An Angel". Too bad he didn't finish it. He didn't have a bad sounding voice.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Thanks for letting me know about "So Far Away Like An Angel." I didn't know about it and just checked it out on KZbin. It sounds like he could have developed it into something and, as you point out, his voice isn't bad. (I know he's credited with backing vocals on the very early Stones stuff, but I've never been able to pick him out in any of it.) The closest thing I knew of to a "solo recording" from him was the soundtrack to the 1967 West German film "Mord und Totschlag." (The English title is "A Degree of Murder.") Reportedly, he wrote the music and performed it with Jimmy Page, Nicky Hopkins, Kenny Jones and others. If you haven't heard it, it's pretty undistinguished: mostly just sort of long instrumental blues jams, though he does play a wide variety of instruments. Of course, it's a soundtrack, so it's hard to judge whether it's representative of the kind of work he could have done. "So Far Away..." shows far more potential. Thanks for letting me know about it! (Glad to hear you liked the Ramones "Baby, I Love You." I like it too.) Thanks again for the comments and info, Robert!

[@robertzastrow4648]

@@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444 I've heard about Brian doing the soundtrack for A Degree Of Murder. Haven't seen the movie, but have read that Brian makes a cameo appearance in it. From what I've seen in interviews he's done, Bill Wyman seems to be Brian's advocate, pointing out the instrumental contributions Brian made to various Stones songs. Wyman has also said in interviews that both he and Brian should have received some songwriting credits. If you watch the Stones performance at the 1964 NEMS Awards show in London, the Stones do a cover of Bo Diddley's "I'm Alright". The lyrics are mostly just those two words, with Mick and Keith basically splitting the vocals 50/50. Keith's vocals (pre-years of smoking and drugs, sound pretty good). In the middle of the song, Brian leans into Mick's mic and also sings a few "I'm Alright's". He sounded good.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

@@robertzastrow4648 I've seen that "I'm Alright" performance, which I really enjoyed. I'd forgotten about Brian joining in on the vocals. Thanks for the reminder and for the follow-up, Robert!

[@robertzastrow4648]

@@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444 Just watched an extended version of the 1964 NEMS performance, which also had "Not Fade Away" and"I Just Wanna Make Love To You" before "I'm Alright". The crowd enthusiasm is awesome. Wonder if seeing Three Stones singing, rather than just one, had something to do with that. Wish the group had kept that up. Would have been interesting and fun seeing and hearing Keith, Brian, Bill and even Charlie occasionally joining in on "The Last Time", "Satisfaction", "Under My Thumb," and "Paint It Black". Think the same thing happened when the Beach Boys switched vocalists on songs, like when Dennis sang and played piano on a 1972 live version of "Help Me, Rhonda".

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

@@robertzastrow4648 Yes! I always enjoy hearing other band members join in vocally, even if they aren't technically good. It adds to the excitement "live." Wonder if, maybe, in the very early days, Jagger was insecure enough that he didn't want too many other "singers' popping up in the band? It sure took long enough for Keith to get a lead vocal and I've always thought Bill's "In Another Land" only made the cut on "Their Satanic Majesties Request" because they were desperate for material at the time. (No reflection on the song, which is pretty good. I just think Mick, and probably Keith, were reluctant to give anybody else an "opening" on a Stones album.) Thanks for the follow-up, Robert!

[@jameswatson5370]

Hey Steve, weird question, does your wife ever make any comments on your singing downstairs, assuming she can hear you? :p

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

I'm sure she hears it sometimes. She doesn't comment. She's either very diplomatic...or, maybe, she's just gotten used to hearing weird sounds coming from the basement. Good to hear from you, James!

[@marcofalzone6469]

Imo The summer of '69 in the USA, was so evil, Steve. bested only by 1977.

[@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444]

Thanks for the perspective and feedback, Marco! It was definitely a unique, unforgettable, and in some ways tragic, time in the USA (as was 1977.) Always good to hear from you, Marco!

[@marcofalzone6469]

@@thebeachboysbasementwithst6444 ty Steve. U2.