'The Beach Boys Love You' | Brian Wilson's 1977 Synth-Pop Oddity

[@ElliotRobertsVideos]

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[@davidaston5773]

THIS WAS A beautiful ride through a late 70s Beach Boys album which is still better than 'the soul less and following trends' albums of the 80s and 90s. As someone who was born in 1978, this is all post facto nostalgia. With BBQ sauce and fries. But, it also points towards what could've been. Instead of becoming a golden oldies group - they could've been trend setters before the trends existed. And to a point they were. And Brian is a curious example of someone inspired by past masters who was also ahead of the times. Or maybe wasn't made for his times? Either way, I'm glad I got to surf, maybe not a California - wave like good ole Dennis, but, I did get, to surf a wave of musical magic - created by a family, who used music, to survive drowning from the unpleasant tides of their own life's pain. As long as there's beaches - there will be people singing and listening to the Beach Boys. And that is a GROOVY thought. David

[@dj71162]

Elliot, can you please cover all of their biopics, such as An American Family and Summer Dreams. In the latter, Mike is played by an actor who looks 40 years old, I kid you not. I actually like the former quite a lot despite it's budget limitations, and explains the history of the band in an engaging, albeit dramatised way.

[@Judahmhughes]

How but another Dylan Video. I’d also love a John Denver video

[@denying634]

1

[@Harvey-ye1ji]

I once heard it said that "the best part of becoming a music fan is realising The Beach Boys are the weirdest fucking band ever"

[@1970mrchristo]

The Beach Boys' Suck!!

[@davasato]

Going through their discography in chronological order is one of the wildest journeys in music.

[@nerderspree]

I relish turning people on to their lesser known side. I once had a friend call them "fluff" so I put on Surfs Up and watched their face melt.

[@chriskozak7356]

Surfs Up is the most bizarre, and the best song I've heard. Ever

[@nerderspree]

@@chriskozak7356 Word. It's easily one of the best songs ever written imo.

[@aledandrian]

Anyone brave enough to dig past the surface of the Beach Boys’ classic hits and even Pet Sounds/Smile eventually realizes they were one of the coolest, weirdest and most innovative bands ever, and this album is peak obscure beautiful Beach Boys wackiness

[@dannyhowells4186]

They really were. So many quirky and beautiful wonders hidden away in their catalogue.

[@AndyJay1985]

I had the love you/15 big ones 2fer cd. I saw brilliance in Love You, but I also thought it was goofy as hell. When I got the Love You album on vinyl, it felt like a lost soul pouring his heart out to me. Considering the Beach Boys' oldies popularity at the time, this and Dennis' solo album, Pacific Ocean Blue, really make you wonder what could have been. 😢

[@LJStudioslj]

Obviously it’s still one of their more popular releases, but Surfs Up is my favorite beach boys album

[@Gabriel2oh6]

@@LJStudiosljfrom 1965 starting with Today, all the way up to Holland in 1973, The Beach Boys put out nothing but phenomenal, underrated and under-appreciated albums (even if we all acknowledge Pet Sounds and The Smile Sessions). Rock and Pop music doesn’t get much better than Sunflower, Surf’s Up, Holland, the quirky, lo-fi and low key albums of Smiley Smile, Wild Honey, and Friends. That era of The Beach Boys was a group that was not afraid to take chances, be versatile, and experiment. Even though they had one last great hurrah with Love You in ‘77, it’s a shame that creative burst was put to sleep after Holland with the oldies and nostalgia craze that hit the waves in ‘74. They’re shows went from being a complete jam to the traveling jukebox meme we saw them become (even if they still had good energy, the song selection became way more predictable).

[@robertbarnhart7791]

​@@Gabriel2oh6I left the same statement before I read your excellent comment, everything from '65 to '73 was incredible. Carl and the Passions is maybe the most overlooked! I was watching a skateboarding video last week and it had 2 songs from that record, I was so stoked haha.

[@scatterkeir]

There's something about the line "honkin' honkin' down the gosh darn highway" which I find inexplicably enjoyable.

[@akaihys]

the first time i listened to this album and heard that line i nearly fell out of my chair laughing

[@WilliamMaranciMashups]

iggy pop being weirded out by brian is insane lol

[@doricetimko5403]

Ive loved Iggy for well over 40years.

[@vladtheimpala5532]

Hahaha whodathunkit? I didn’t think anything could outweird Iggy Pop.

[@Champiness]

Especially since it’s more like he was weirded out by the room-sized hivemind of harmonizing celebrities that Brian had created but which Iggy was somehow immune to

[@stephenellis2866]

Iggy pop is grotesque to look at I don’t even know one song he has done, why was he famous he looks so greasily slimy!

[@lundsweden]

I think Phil Spectre could outweird the both of 'em combined! 😅

[@TheFireSword87]

Since Patti Smith's poem is a sort of center piece for the video. I thought itd be worth highlighting the end of it; "I think they [the Beach Boys] make records and stroll off into the sunset with their hands in their pockets. And i think after everyone's gone. When he's all alone. For no apparent reason. Brian Wilson bursts into tears. Not nessecarily unhappy ones. Manic and monotone. In the privacy of his own barbeque. Maybe it won't last But what do we care My baby and I just want a good time."

[@brandonmclendon5368]

This album is the pure definition of “It shouldn’t work, but it does”. And it’s true, this album is great.

[@Alfonso162008]

Meh, it doesn't sell it for me, honestly. I love and appreciate the effort Elliot gave for making this video, and it's really interesting and as entertaining as his other videos, but at least from what he showcased of the album, it doesn't make me wanna listen to it further. It's not for me lol.

[@JoeScottish]

@@Alfonso162008 agreed

[@mm091540]

Same here. I’ve tried to get into it, but it just sounds like a bunch of drunken uncles howling subpar Phil Spector compositions with questionable lyrics and rather soulless instrumentation

[@robertbarnhart7791]

It's definitely in the top 10 I'd say. Everything from '65 to '73 was amazing though. This album would be the best one after those. Dennis Wilson-Pacific Ocean Blue is up there with any of em too

[@squallleonhart3663]

​@@robertbarnhart7791Yeah definitely their prime during the late 60s and early 70s which is the same for many artist like The Stones and the Beatles members.

[@liamkress5704]

Elliot you’ve outdone yourself. Your presentation style, comedic moments, and overall understanding and love of this album, for all its trials and tribulations, is truly remarkable. You’ve come such a long way, keep up the amazing work. Great video ❤️

[@Pencilman246]

We definitely need more people discovering post-Smile Beach Boys. So many narratives (including the great Love and Mercy) gloss over their late 60s and 70s stuff. Beach Boys Love You isn’t one of my favorites but it does highlight Brian’s creativity and mental state. Great stuff.

[@aledandrian]

Smiley Smile is their best album imo

[@Adrian-mq7sj]

Well Love and Mercy was more a Brian movie than a BB one but I agree. So many people think that Brian carried the whole band when Sunflower showed they worked better as a team. In Holland (my fav 70s of them) they didn't even need Brian to make a soft-rock masterpiece!

[@gagemartin7207]

Feel like most people’s perception of The Beach Boys are the surf stuff pet sounds and straight to Kokomo

[@schtuff.8207]

@@Adrian-mq7sj There's so many fascinating Brian moments still that were glossed over - bizarre collaborations, half-baked projects, the magic green glowing radio, rejected songs, moments of genius - made all the more fascinating by the fact that his mind is falling apart, and he's desperately trying to keep his head above water, and surrounded by a fractured band and business that tries to force him into being a commodity - and eventually succeed. 70's beach boys is a battle with drugs, spirituality, and how capitalism crushes and reshapes genius. Its desperate proof of just how much he wasn't made for these times.

[@bernardbaker6803]

@@Adrian-mq7sj Holland is brilliant and NEEDS to be heard on a great system because the production is fantastic. - like damp wood. Soft rock? No way..................

[@EloraBB]

pointing and clapping at the screen when my name is mentioned

[@ElliotRobertsVideos]

Thank you so much for that video!

[@shoddyworkmanship4934]

During the worst part of my depression I listened to this album over and over. I really related to the music.

[@julianciahaconsulting8663]

did it work or make things worse?

[@shoddyworkmanship4934]

@@julianciahaconsulting8663 Nothing helps.

[@NOWtheband]

Understood.

[@paninovevo1162]

Brother

[@mickeymurphy2487]

I can't believe that someone had the same experience as me but this comment is exactly what I experienced. The feeling of not knowing whether they're laughing with or at you in this album really resonated with me.

[@Withcare11]

I had never head Ding Dang. The amount of detail you put into the making of this song made it infectious. A whole history. And then... All that effort and then the punchline. 56.seconds! All that work to explain a sub minute song that is lyrically sub par. Bravo!

[@callanfox9870]

I think this album goes really well with McCartney 2 and I don’t think I need to explain why.

[@Rickocaster382]

What?!??

[@RyanBedlack]

TEMPORARY

[@theinfamousjw]

Check My Machine should have been a 12" club single in '79

[@AllenJones-w3p]

LOVE YOU gives the group an opportunity to perform songs dealing with subjects other than cars and surfing.

[@boobootittleman7299]

YOU CAN’T AVOID RINGO FOREVER, ELLIOT PEACE AND LOVE 😎☮️✌️🕊️

[@shayhorvath2795]

Ringo Is coming PEACE AND LOVE ❤️ ☮️🥵

[@flamingpi2245]

war and hate

[@watts111]

The fans'll dig it.

[@bigredradish]

YER BABY

[@djkenter6894]

Mike’s reaction to hearing the middle 8 of “I’ll Bet He’s Nice” for the first time always makes me smile.

[@AlekWheeler]

LIFE IN PRISON AS LADYS MAN!

[@Mozart1220]

Mike Love is an ass who would be a wal mart greeter today without Brian.

[@NOWtheband]

Yes, that bit is brilliant! He's a good lad! 🙂

[@bernardbaker6803]

It's a pastiche of BB's previous songs. The whole album is extremely childish and disturbing...........

[@nut311aman]

​@bernardbaker6803 and we're supposed to care?

[@jackmarchant06]

Did not expect a video on Beach Boys Love You, but I’m here for it. It’s such an interesting album I haven’t heard anything like it, love your content!

[@tomjones5650]

😂Guarantee you'll never hear anything similar again. Could be a good thing or a bad thing. Haven't ever figured it out in 47 years yet. Thats❤You?

[@Engineer_Who]

The 8-bit rendition of "Ding Dang" playing over the credits is easily the cherry on top of this cake of a video. Well done yet again, Elliot!

[@cannyvalley]

Perfect end to a perfect video. I actually want a 5 minute version of that 8-bit rendition.

[@NOWtheband]

Maybe you know already but it's from an 8-bit cover of the whole Love You album by Mr. J. Wilson = kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3zMi3SZZbOoibs

[@antebellumstage]

You can't really believe Brian when asking him "what's the meaning of this song" because he has on multiple occasions given different answers for the same songs. So take the "I wanna pick you up" answer with a grain of salt, haha. It's probably just about him taking care of his daughters (i hope). Anyways, best video I've seen in a while, very heartfelt.

[@michaelvessel4604]

I almost feel like Love You is like the Pinkerton of The Beach Boys discography- this strange black sheep of an album that definitely has some super weird and uncomfortable moments lyrics wise and I can totally see why some would be turned off by it, but is also such vulnerable and earnest musical odyssey through someone’s mind and mental state that I can’t help but to appreciate it. Easily one of the most underrated things that Brian Wilson or The Beach Boys ever made and perhaps their last true artistically great moment, great work as always breaking this album down Elliot!

[@reggae-rock-roots]

Great comparison!

[@hannahmoran3660]

That’s a fantastic comparison, so accurate!

[@themattmcclellan]

Good comparison but smile is Pinkerton 😂

[@boscotheman82]

​@@themattmcclellanPinkerton is Smiley Smile, It was made after they scrapped Songs from the Black Hole

[@sajid7363]

blank is the blank of blank, i wouldn't compare the Beach Boys with weezer

[@kingfield99]

'Holland' is a great LP and such a shame it bombed, well worth a listen if you've not heard it .

[@MH90]

Holland's so great, even Mike Love wrote a good song!

[@reillyjamessullivan6940]

My 2nd favorite Beach Boy album behind 'Today!'. Such a gem in the catalog, and such a different sound from the rest. Ricky and Blondie added so much to their sound.

[@darganx]

My favourite Beach Boys tune is on that album, Sail On Sailor!

[@thespiralgoeson]

Holland, Sunflower, Surf's Up, Love You... The Beach Boys made a lot of great music in the 70s, but sadly people only remember their 60s hits.

[@bernardbaker6803]

Holland is superb..............

[@DirtyWorldRecords1]

saw the title and instantly clicked... Then I noticed it was you Elliot! Fantastic! edit: Also, if we want to take 'punk' album way of seeing Love You, Ding Dang would be that song on every punk album that last no longer that 50 seconds or so which makes it a pure blast of power and energy.

[@jasontheredfox]

Did the same lol

[@elfitzedwards]

Same!

[@arthurmilano2920]

Brian’s slight vocal fry in his voice when he first sings “ *god* please let us go on this way” is dead on perfection

[@Balonious_Crunk]

Love this album, same with the other "forgotten" Beach Boys albums from 1967-1974. Everything from Wild Honey in 1967 to The Beach Boys in Concert from 1974 is all top tier, and behind the Pet Sounds - Good Vibrations - SMiLE period, it's my favourite stretch of music from them.

[@Maanebaronen]

I remember bumping into Patti Smith in a crowded street the day after seeing The Beach Boys live. We tried the same short cut and collided. It made for a very funny moment.

[@jamesdean9183]

Elliot, you should absolutely do more Beach Boys videos!! I know the Beatles ones are the ones that get the views but I really really enjoy the Beach Boys videos. I'd love to see more documentary-style videos from you like this one :)

[@microdosrecords]

I LOVE the line in Mona "i know you're gonna love phil spector" It really sums up EVERYTHING to me. Great video!!! Do more beach boys, simply not enough..

[@willwarburton]

i used to collect pictures of the blondie and ricky era beach boys, so seeing a few of the photos pop up here felt like seeing old friends!

[@AllenJones-w3p]

Ricky and Blondie weren't with the group for very long.

[@tuvantrader]

The first thing I noticed about this album was how much Brian’s voice reminded me of Bill Murray.

[@TheFireSword87]

It's only been a day and I still have Ding Dang/Shortenin Bread stuck in my head Thanks for that Elliot

[@ElliotRobertsVideos]

Never underestimate the hypnotic power of Ding Dang

[@dannymoulton4829]

Some people just don't get this album and that's fine. When the great Alex Chilton died a man reminisced about an encounter he had with him. He was a musician in a local opening band and he invited Alex over for a beer. Alex looked through his albums, stopped at Love You and said "you have this piece of crap?" as the guy looked on sheepishly. Alex then proceeded to pick up the guy's guitar and play the whole album.

[@AlekWheeler]

"Mike Love...teaching TM" Good lord.

[@nicholasbuffone175]

He sang about it a lot, too. "He Come Down", "Everyone's In Love With You", Brian himself wrote a whopping TWO songs named after TM clearly inspired by Mike and Al Jardine's shared interest in it, there's a couple more unreleased tracks you can find on bootlegs… It was his whole bag, and a rather mixed one at that. (Jokes aside, "He Come Down" is a joyously raucous pseudo-gospel number with a really great chorus if you can get past the preachy verses, and Brian's takes on the subject - Friends' "Transcendental Meditation" and 15 Big Ones' "TM Song" - are both lovably goofy in his own signature way.)

[@Extreme_Rice]

In the Carnegie Hall concert in the Sail On Sailor box, Mike Love plugs his friend’s TM lesson while they’re fixing the drums in the background.

[@neilsmith9066]

Mike Love could write an album way better then this junk and I love The Beach Boys this album is a a pile of garbage

[@danijelujcic8644]

go back to sleep, Mike

[@iceclimbers22]

Awesome video man. Your presentation and editing are top notch. "Love You" has always been a dark horse favorite of mine from The Beach Boys catalog.

[@koltrane70]

Bru, the only thing I know of this album is THE 4 PART HARMONY ON “THE NIGHT WAS SO YOUNG” IS PEAK

[@piermariocaldarulo2743]

I just got the record on vinyl last week, knowing some background and the songs, but still got blown away. You said in the ending part of the video, Brian’s one of the pioneers of such extended usage of synths for pop songs. I’m so glad he managed to proof his critics wrong at the time, with many considering his brain totally gone. He still had a lot of music inspiration and you can feel how much he had been frozen or trapped to many years before with his mental state, we’ve likely lost an almost entire decade of potential top 100 albums of all time. Thanks for the great video Elliot, cheers from Italy.

[@jimringomartin]

Thank you for this documentary. Very well done. When his book "Wouldn't it be Nice" came out, I waited in line for hours at an Illinois book store for his autograph. When I finally met him, I told him my favorite song was "I want to pick you up". He looked up and smiled stating " yeah, that's a good one". I asked who sang on it and he stated "Me and Dennis". I sang that song to my new born son for years and now I sing it to my wife when she goes to sleep. And yes, I pat her on her Butt, butt.

[@careycarlson1362]

I bought the album, it had a hole punched in the corner, put it on Side 1 for a few seconds, thought oh no, then put it on Side 2 and laid down on the couch and fell asleep in the afternoon sun. The record played on repeat, and as I woke up I was filled with it-- it had seeped into me and I was swept up. Side 1 must have come easily. Then I would sing the whole album in order by heart.

[@SirCommoner]

this might already be the best video i've watched in 2024. my god that review poem is beautiful. she really gets it also your research and analysis are incredible and perfectly paced - i don't feel anything dragging out unecessarily. it feels like really the most amount of interesting, meaningful information about the album humanly possible. in general, your commentary gives so much insight, and is also hilarious at many times as well

[@JasonTryp]

OMG, the saga of "Shortenin' Bread" is hilarious! " The Night Was So Young" has always tugged at my heartstrings, beautiful.

[@JTheLamb]

Yes! Please more Beach Boys coverage! Great job on the complicated research and dynamics that are The Beach Boys and Brian Wilson.

[@calebsmith2362]

If I'm obliged to comment on one KZbin video it surely has to be this one. I've been openly declaring my love for this record for years. I've probably listened to "The Beach Boys Love You" more than any other in their entire catalog. Personally, I like to think of it as being from another band completely rather than approach it as your traditional Beach Boys release. When compiling playlists I tend to replace "Good Time' with "Still I Dream of It", "It's Over Now" and Brian's excellent cover of "You've Lost That Loving Feeling". The later of which remained unreleased until 2013, a shame because it happens to be a phenomenon in itself. With it you get to hear Brian Wilson of the famous Beach Boys, a mainstream act who are known by millions, single handedly inventing post-punk way back in 1977. I was happy you mentioned Mike Love's overwhelmingly positive response to Brian's demos. Universally renowned for his negative feedback regarding Brian's work, it proves he's not all bad. Though I was surprised you didn't mention "Rolling Up To Heaven" when discussing "Ding Dang." How could you miss out on the opportunity to inform the public of it's catchy hook? "Alley-oop, wooh! Suck a big dick." (For the record, I can verify those are the actual lyrics) It's comforting to know intelligent people like yourself can see past the rough edges and recognize this record for it's originality, humor and charm. I've watched most of your Beatles related content but this was all the confirmation I needed that our tastes are very much like mine. Even though I do consider "Let's Put Our Hearts Together" as my favorite by a long shot. Great job.

[@SongbirdAlom]

Oh, I never clicked on a video so fast. your video on Love & Mercy inspired me to check out the movie. Well not only is it one of my favorites, but I've fallen down SUCH a Special Interest Hole regarding all things Brian Wilson. Thank you for all your wonderful output & research! I love your videos.

[@jaydysinger9228]

22:16 "I know you're gonna love Phil Spector" on Mona, Has to be the Most Brian Wilson thing ever. Also, The Night Was So Young is an easy 10 out of 10 song in my book

[@bernardbaker6803]

but similar to 'I Know there's an Answer' as a typical to someone who's had a breakdown - 'arrested development'

[@paullooney3650]

Absolutely great video. As messy as this album is, I think 'The Night Was So Young' is essential, honestly. It's one of those rare moments post Pet Sounds and Smile where you can hear Brian's harmonically complex songwriting in full swing. Especially that chorus, God. On the other hand, it's important to be critical of the band's work and I'm glad that you were here. Their discography is so much more complicated than most classic rock bands. Again, excellent video!

[@cbmx1x1]

That chorus is perfection.

[@lucky_796]

Man you've made me watch a 48 minute video and I didn't even notice! You're real good =) I hadn't listened to this album until watching this but everything you explained flowed seamlessly.

[@RenzWilde-Muzik]

Being a child of massive Beach Boys fans, I became a fan myself as far back as I can remember by listening to all my parents Beach Boys albums over and over. Brian inspired me to pursue music. Even saw Brian play live back in '15 on his Pet Sounds Tour. Thank you for this honest but sensitive video, by acknowledging Brian's mental illness that was certainly exacerbated by his heavy drug use

[@carbilicon]

Their best lyrics have just got to be: "Cool water... cool, cool water... really cools you down." ... JUST TRANSCENDS THE FUCKING UNIVERSE

[@Bururaian]

In an ocean or in a glass Cool water is such a gas

[@neilsmith9066]

😂

[@CrispyDragons]

This is a really great video. You looked at this record from pretty much every possible angle, and you did a fine job of celebrating the album’s strengths without excusing its…uh, weirder parts. I think I understand Brian Wilson a lot more now than I ever did before. By the way, if you ever did a video on Dennis Wilson’s “Pacific Ocean Blue,” I’d watch that in a heartbeat. I’ve always loved that album and wished it would get more attention outside of diehard Beach Boys fans, which is what I am. (And for my money, it’s less…embarrassing to listen to than some of the songs from Love You.)

[@Sean.McCfuzzle]

Ngl you got me into the Beatles more and I love it, I know across the universe (movie) because of you and now it’s one of my favourite’s

[@timetobenotdo]

I’ll never forget seeing this punk dude with a pin and patch filled jean jacket. On the flap of his left breast pocket was a little black pin that said, “Mike Love Sucks”

[@NotJarrett]

Love You is my favorite BBs album (well, probably tied with Pet Sounds) so seeing this in my sub feed from you was like the happiest fever dream, another amazing video Elliot! This album is the reason why I started learning synthesizers, and those have been an obsession of mine ever since 😭

[@ms8596]

OMG!!! Elliot, you're my new hero!! There I was at 14, a classically trained pianist, plus trumpet and drummer with a great appreciation of many types of music, learning about this genius in our midst. A man who grew in stature and complexity beyond anything out at the time, even influencing the Beatles numerous times between '63-early '67. It started with my love of the blues, finding Eric Clapton and Cream, then hearing an interview with Clapton on how Pet Sounds was a major influence on them and how they'd play the album start to finish backstage to get their heads ready for a performance. I then heard how Jack Bruce called Brian, "the new Bach". I had to investigate and find out who this Brian Wilson guy is!. So there I was finding the original Capitol albums (all out of print in the mid-70s) from mail order rarity collectors and feeling the intricacies of Brian's music, his chord selections and changes, the complexity of his arrangements and production. Now I'm getting into the Pet Sounds album and it speaks to me in ways I can't put into words. I follow that with the songs that were released later that were supposed to be on Smile, and my heart hurt for what could have been, Surf's Up being one of my favorite songs ever. Then 15 Big Ones comes out with all the Brian is Back hype. Okay. It's kind of okay, but where's the art? Where's the Maestro with songs that will just blow us away, arrangements that we musicians will eagerly pick apart and realize further why Brian is considered a genius? And then came Love You in my 15th year. This was supposed to be the one we have been waiting for! An album of all new Brian Wilson tunes where, after the exercise of the previous album, now he was going to really be the Brian of '66/early '67. THUD!! I remember when I purchased it in April '77 with such anticipation, and the album cover itself immediately seemed childish, simple. Like something an adolescent would do for a school project. Then I played it. I tried to like it. I kind of got into Airplane, Solar System, and Johnny Carson (with it's contrapuntal style), but it had to be one of my least played albums of theirs, surely only supplanted by MIU in '78. I think what saved me was Dennis' solo album coming out in August of '77, which I immediately liked and played to death. Looking back, thanks to you, I have a wealth of emotions - laughing, sad, to the forlorn of another big "What if?" in Brian's career. I never saw the Patti Smith poetry review of the album, so I'll have to research it. Incidentally, Brian was an early adapter of the Moog. You'll hear it on '71s Day in a Life of a Tree. He had been in contact with Robert Moog in '66, trying to get him to build what became the Tannerin, a portable Theremin-like device for songs such as Pet Sounds' I Just Wasn't Made for These Times, and of course Good Vibrations that originally was supposed to be included on the Smile album. I had done this research a while back as I love the tone of a Mellotron (think Strawberry Fields Forever or most Moody Blues 60s/70s songs) and wanted to see if Brian had used one on any productions, although I never heard that distinct tone of one in any released song or bootleg. This is where I found out about his early connection with Robert Moog. That he would use it to do practically everything in what should have truly been his second solo album (Pet Sounds should have been his first), never surprised me. Incidentally, Brian has commented numerous times how during this period he was literally trying to deepen his voice, as he thought his singing high, including those glorious sailing falsettos, were too "girl-like". And yes, the cocaine, constant smoking, plus the heroin definitely took it's toll, as it did for Dennis too. Again, thank you for putting this together. You brought back all the thoughts I had almost 47 years ago, and how there truly is a childlike quality underneath it all. Ha!! I just remembered there's a picture out there with Brian sitting at a Moog from the real early 70s. I'll have to find it again.

[@joshuabretz9155]

Im so glad you picked this one to review. One of my favorite albums

[@iconicshrubbery]

Elliott: this is the second time I've watched this. Your appraisal of Love You is essential to understanding this 'imperfect' album. And it has brought a smile to my face, with its presentation both of footage and lyrics, lively script, Witty interventions (eg. the cops, your asides.. ). It also has bought tears to my eyes with the insights contributed by Earle Mankey (key component of early Sparks) and Patti's loving poetry. Mostly because now that I understand the album much better, (it is Not merely a bunch of Early synths with iffy lyrics) and you sum it up all so well in the last ten minute Aftermath section. "Love You" is Art, in that it provokes a reaction in the listener beyond that of merely melody. Thank you again, and ❤to all Beach Boys fans, from Spain.

[@moonscore]

Wow, thank you for this analysis. A lot of records get slapped with the “underrated classic” label, but this has to be my #1 by a country mile

[@GabrielRavarini]

Brilliant video! Great work, Elliot! Please, do more videos of The Beach Boys and Brian Wilson as a solo artist.

[@AlexDeLarge1]

I'd love to see you do a video on That Lucky Old Sun. I personally think it's one of Brian's best albums.

[@Rubrickety]

This is the first Elliot Roberts video I've watched, and it took me 40 minutes to finally realize who he looked like: Bret McKenzie of Flight of the Conchords. (A compliment!)

[@lucashoffmannn]

This is gonna be good! I love this Brian Wilson comeback after all he's been through in the 70s. Sometimes I catch myself humming Mona

[@brady9592]

Probably my favorite one liner "Airplane is a moment of calm reflection amongst a parade of intrusive thoughts."

[@75hilmar]

Thanks for this suggestion. I never knew this album.

[@cradio52]

This video was excellent as always, Elliot! I’d looove to see a video on “Orange Crate Art,” that thing is so insanely under-appreciated and under-explored.

[@AllenJones-w3p]

ORANGE CRATE ART forever!

[@nowhere_man5839]

One of the best Beach Boys album reviews I have seen. Thank you Elliot

[@Argonaut121]

I've never really understood why time seemed to have passed the Beach Boys by when they were making such amazing music. Everyone know that Pet Sounds was a masterpiece but Sunflower, Surf's Up and Holland remain among my favourite albums ever by anybody. Then, of course, they became a nostalgia act, which was sad. Great video, by the way.

[@DanielByers-qf9qi]

You speak for me - especially Sunflower as a complete and balanced album - but what I have long called their "middle period" includes distinctive, astounding music. I am in the minority in loving all three movements of "California Saga". As a chorister and composer, I find "'Til I Die" mesmerizing.

[@Argonaut121]

@@DanielByers-qf9qi agreed on all counts

[@darrelltiencken9421]

Agree the middle years are my favorite....ending with Holland.

[@matthewkucharski9163]

This is an album I have loved for a long time. I must say I learned some new facts via your cited research, and your perspective on some of the albums themes were ones I hadn’t considered before. I truly believe you’ve made me love ‘Love You’ more than I already had. Thank you sir!

[@penguincubes3729]

Finally, my favourite album released by the Beach Boys covered!!!

[@adamkushner6793]

Of the post-Love You Beach Boys albums, I think one that deserves reevaluation is LA (Light Album). It has virtually no songwriting or production input from Brian and is bogged down by the 12-minute disco version of "Here Comes the Night" (which I even think is pretty good, great vocals from Carl, it just didn't need to be 12 minutes...) but has Carl and Dennis contributing some really beautiful songs like Angel Come Home, Full Sail, Love Surrounds Me, and Baby Blue. There's also Good Timin' which is Carl dusting off an unfinished Brian song, and then there's Al Jardine's Lady Lynda, a corny ode to his wife at the time but which still has some amazing vocal harmonies and a spirited lead from Al (who I've always thought is such an underrated singer, I've seen him in recent years on tour with Brian and he can still sing like that!) Mike Love's only major contribution is Sumahama which is pleasant even with its clumsy Japanese-inspired lyrics. And then it wraps up with Shortenin' Bread which is just silly fun and the only rocker on the album. I guess that's part of why its reputation isn't great, it's really an album of all ballads to that point (plus the over-long disco interlude which doesn't help) but the songs that are good are really good.

[@ianguessed]

I agree. I was a bit peeved to see LA (Light Album) dismissed in less than a sentence. I loved the Beach Boys from Today in 1965 through to In Concert in 1974 and then sat through three dire albums filled with absolute drivel until their LA (Light Album) swan song which saw out the 70s. Yes, it wasn't filled to the brim with absolute zingers but it had enough good music to completely outclass Love You. I have to agree with a lot of other comments though, this was an excellent video Elliot, but as far as Love You is concerned, you still haven't convinced me to 'stick with it'! One last point if you liked the disco version of Here Comes the Night but thought it was overlong at 12 minutes, you can always listen to the 4:28 7" version.

[@hannahmoran3660]

This is why I love your channel so much, Elliot: I get to revisit albums and films that I thought I knew, and see them in a whole new light. I only became a huge Beach Boys fan a few years ago (they were one of my "pandemic bands"), and I had always known that "Love You" is a polarizing album, but I never really knew the reason why. The fact that it was all three Wilson brothers working together made my heart melt. Brian and his brothers loved each other so deeply and profoundly, even if they were purposely kept apart from one another by various factors. Fantastic job again!!

[@kamiljanicki9393]

I feel completely different about „I wanna pick you up”, I understand it as a man loving his woman so much, and she is co cute for him and he look at her like she was delicate as a little baby The lyrics mostly are just symbolic about that feeling It is just mine understanding though

[@brimmy9756]

Whenever I visit a record store, I always look for this album. 7 and counting.

[@PRDewhurst]

I could have sworn that ‘Good Time’ was sung by Al! Unreal that it was Brian. The timbre and inflection are so Al!

[@PRDewhurst]

And, in fact, that ‘Honkin’…’ was sung by Brian 😳

[@TsukiumisGuy]

I read years ago that Brian said that if he had to he could imatate Als vocals.

[@CraiginOhioUSA]

I'm a new follower. Your long-form videos are well researched, and you hold my attention 100%. I have owned the 2-on-1 CD with "Love You" since it was released. And ignored it. Your video sent me directly to locate it, and now that I know much more about it, it's keeping me entertained. I scanned through your other videos, and I will be watching each one. A lot of guys are making these videos now, but....I am a tough audience. I can immediately see that you have both the passion, and the research skills, and the ability to just face the camera and relay it all. The talent to do that, is akin to performing music or theater, as well as composing it. And being likeable, at the same time. Not to mention editing skills! My most sincere compliments to you, after watching only your most recent video. Thank you!

[@superlove35]

Thank you for this Elliot. Your analysis is good and often spot on. I thank you for giving this brilliant album some attention, however you omitted one KEY important factor: Brian's notorious deadpan sense of humour and dry wit This record is often HILARIOUS. Johnny Carson, for example is everything you said it was, but it is also playful and very funny, even in the almost robotic way they sing Jaw-nee Car-son. And I'll Bet He's Nice is self deprecating humour at its finest. In I Want To Pick You Up, Brian was certainly laughing to himself when he wrote "I want to pat pat pat her on her butt...BUT...she's going to sleep. be quiet" And the baby analogy is very insightful and accurate. After all, what is the most commonly used word in rock n roll? Baby (always in reference to an adult) ! So there is indeed a collective unconscious comparison we all take for granted here: a lover generates the same feelings of pure love and protectiveness we experience with a baby. And also, this was the 70's, the sensibilities and sense of humour were different from today. We were less cynical and more innocent then. People weren't offended by such things, because (whether right or wrong) we believed that overall, people were good. And our minds did not immediately jump to Pedoland when we heard these things. So context is extremely important here.

[@sidemixsessions]

🎯🎯🎯🎯🎯

[@nw1750]

@superlove35 -- thank you THANK YOU for posting this. The ridiculous "2023-magnifiying glass" he uses to skeptically examine the lyrics *really* rubs me the wrong way. You summed it up so much better than I could even hope to.

[@neonfroot]

People were still offended back in the 1970s. But people were more libertine back then. Alot of female models on magazines were underage and it was legal. Kids could buy cigarettes and smoke legally. They could start working fulltime at 15.

[@nemo2327]

Good to see you show love to the Beach Boys! So much more to them then the fun and nostalgia of California, summers, surf, and teenage love. Thank you! You did a good job breaking their history down :)

[@Good_Timin_Podcast]

Great video Elliot! Awesome to see you cover this overlooked and often forgotten album, it’s a fascinating look into Brian’s mind at the time, and as you quoted in the video it’s cool how autobiographical and personal it is. Not sure if you plan on doing any other Beach Boys videos in the future but I would love to see you cover Sunflower sometime too, as I feel it’s the band’s strongest group effort and features some of their best songs they ever recorded. (most of which remain relatively unknown unfortunately) Thanks again for making this! -Jake

[@mariuspoppFM]

Surf's up is better than Sunflower

[@jonathanwhitfield2864]

So glad to see more people acknowledging this record.

[@elyeahed8799]

Elliot, I ADORE your Paul, John, and George vids; and I'd 100% love anything else you'd do in regards to Brian Wilson. Possibly my favorite artist of all time. Thanks for this wonderful vid!

[@briandillon8041]

Thank you for tackling this . The sincere effort brought a tear to my eye.( yours, not theirs) 😢

[@jaronax]

Oh, a video about one of my favourite albums, thank you, Elliot!

[@mr.blue7357]

Hell yeah thanks for doing a video about The Beach Boys!! I freaking love The Beach Boys, Beatles and your channel :)

[@colinwungus5110]

This is incredible. Feeling very vindicated as I’ve been on a beach boys deep dive for the better half of a year and Love You is one I always find myself coming back to. I feel like The Beach Boys are at their best when they can embrace the weirdness and just go with the flow. I have to say that I Wanna Pick You Up is one of my favorites, it’s just so off the wall with such a catchy melody. I love your breakdown of these songs as well as all of your other work, it’s real neat finding someone who can speak to all of your niche interests so thank you for all of your work. Your line at the end was so impactful as well, sending the love of the solar system your way. Great video thank you thank you Love You SHEEEEE’S GOING TO SLEEEEEEEEP

[@tomjones5650]

Little Baby Go To Sleep

[@ricardo_miguel13]

there is a reason why I love The Night Was So Young the most. Pure pet sounds beach boys..or surfs up

[@gerardcousineau3478]

The beach boys love you 1977. Never heard about any of it until today.

[@tylergalindo1278]

The editing for this video had me rollinggggggg. I love you dude. You literally talk about everything I love. Can't tell you how eagerly I was waiting for you to talk about one of my faves.

[@parker9627]

The Beach Boys made some beautiful strange records in the 70’s. Holland is a much more polished record. Lots of hidden gems. Thank goodness Brian got his voice back for Love and Mercy ❤️ You must review that. Rio Grande deserves a video on its own ❤️

[@marty6779]

It's a credit to Brian how he can turn covers into something of his own. Making Short'nin Bread into a stomping rocker. Or "Do You Wanna Dance". When the Chorus hits.... Pure endorphins.

[@antitoastthe2nd]

Fantastic! Been hoping for another beach boys video since your love and mercy review, fantastic to see, would love more beach boys content further down the pipeline! Maybe an album ranking? ;)

[@I81B4UTwo]

A comment on an Instagram post by The Best Show about "Love You" brought me here, and I'm glad it did. Stellar video! Subscribed.

[@HomeboyWorld]

This video just made me a beach boys fan! …finally.

[@nicholasperl]

Welcome :)

[@laurenkendrick]

great video! you're the reason I started listening to the Beach Boys (now one of my very favorite bands) after watching your video on Love & Mercy a few years ago 🙂

[@BlueGeen]

Haven't even started the video yet.This album fucking rules, and I'm excited to watch a video about it. That is all.

[@treeztreez8325]

Never heard any of these songs but know of the group. Thank you, did not know what to expect, I could not stop watching and loved the journey, favorite KZbin video of the year so far!

[@dondevice8182]

Nice job, Elliott- you,are really growing as a filmmaker.

[@JeffCelentano]

Another great and thorough retrospective on one of my favorite albums by one of my favorite artists. Very well done.

[@goldenguys995]

this album is an amazing album and its awesome to see a video discussing it. its not a very well known album and i consider it their last great album. it should be more well known.

[@denniswood1437]

The best analysis of the Beach Boys Love You album I have ever seen. A great if disarming album that hasn't received the love back it deserves. This presentation will make believers that this album is an eccentric masterpiece.

[@schtuff.8207]

I spent a night digging through the Beach Boys 1970's wikipedia again the day you uploaded this, with no idea you'd put this out. Crazy timing! I loved seeing how you interpreted a lot of the same data I was combing over. The 70's Beach Boys is so transparently the darkest time for Brian - both publicly and personally, and it seemed like no one around him gave a shit or the public. The fact that he survived at all is a miracle. He was trapped in a capitalist hellscape, and his own mind - surrounded by abusers and desperate to be a kid again. I think that's something we all can relate to - and this record is a beautifully aching, sad & garrish picture of that. Its what you get when someone's development has, in various ways, been arrested from deep trauma - and yet, he's wiser and kinder and more sensitive than most could ever dream of by putting youth first. What you said at the end made me cry - its this period in a nutshell. Brian said he didn't even remember making M.I.U - he was truly detached. He truly settled into zombie-dom for the better part of a decade after that. 'Loves You' and 'Adult/Child' was his last stabs at being himself for many years. I also want to wholeheartedly thank you for your tasteful choices of backing music. When you used 'Midnights Another Day' from 2008's 'That Lucky Old Sun', it was so perfectly chosen. I hope you do a deep dive into that album at some point - to me, its as great as Smile, but just for the more collected rock & roll part of Brian's psyche - a great blend of reflecting, and also being someone looking with distance from the darkness rather than being buried in it. It fulfilled his lifelong mission to just make 'a good ol rock and roll record', which is quite the understatement with how sophisticated it gets.

[@parkie101010]

This is a really great video. This is one of those mystery albums I own. Not sure how I got it or where it came from but once every few years I’ll put it on…and that will do me. It’s not my jam, but to have a deeper understanding of why it is what it is is appreciated and frankly speaks to the strength of your own content. Thanks!

[@nick.flowers]

Patti Smith writing a review of The Beach Boys Love You is the 70's equivalent of Mitski writting a review of Weezer's Pacific Daydream

[@captainsunshine3d]

what

[@Gildedowlmedia338]

Wow. That’s scarily accurate

[@bonecanoe86]

This is my favorite comment of 2024 so far, good job.

[@mariuspoppFM]

Who the fuq is Mitski?

[@rameybutler-hm7nx]

​@@mariuspoppFM I agree i have no idea who or what those 2 things are. Btw whats a "weezer" is that some new maryjuwanna pill the kids take?😮

[@mcarvalho321]

Amazing video. I loved your comparison of Dennis' vocals in Mona to a "PE teacher trying to woo the librarian in the karaoke". It creates an image of such a pathetic but adorable situation (when he mentions Be My Baby it's like Aretha Franklin in Hey Nineteen but with absolutely none of the cynicism of Steely Dan) that I think really sums up most of the Beach Boys music, especially this one where they where very much past their glory. Beach Boys lyrics were never very profound, actually always being quite simple against the very complicated arrangements by Brian, especially in Pet Sounds (and I mean that as a big compliment, when they sing "I wanna cry" or "sometimes I fell very sad", the very simple lyrics help so much to make the songs even more emotional, as these are very basic emotions). But still, Mike Love or Tony Asher gave a certain sophistication that completely lacks in Brian's lyrics for I Love You, which are even simpler, more innocent and, as I said, pathetic (in the best way possible, of something that causes emotions, sympathy). It probably is an album only appreciated by those who already have a connection with the Beach Boys and Brian, but there are so many moments when he can bring these simple but true emotions through the music that makes it very worth it.

[@theboulderboulded5776]

Would love to see a video on Smiley Smile/Brian's Smile from you Elliot. Hell even one on Pet Sounds would be a cool watch, but something tells me that would be a massive creative undertaking for yah. Informative as always mate.