Here’s my weekly reminder to tune into Little Radio today from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM PST for Sinking with Sylvia (and Sometimes Todd).
As you may know, Todd and Sylvia indulge me and give me one request each week. On October 18th my request was Dennis Wilson’s “Rainbows.” Wilson is often referred to as The Real Beach Boy (which is the title of a DW bio). He was the extroverted, athletic brother who loved the beach and ocean. Dennis has a fascinating story that only starts with being Carl and Brian’s brother and the drummer in the Beach Boys. He also befriended the Manson family, starred in the film Two-Lane Blacktop with James Taylor, dated Christine McVie from Fleetwood Mac and fathered a child with Shawn Love who is (allegedly) his cousin Mike’s daughter. Tragically, Dennis succumbed to his vices and drowned in late 1983. He would have turned 63 next week.
Fortunately for us music nerds, Dennis left behind a body of work. Perhaps his best (and best known) song is “Forever” from the Beach Boys’ fantastic Sunflower album. However, “Rainbows” comes from Dennis Wilson’s only officially released solo record, Pacific Ocean Blue. I’d been on the hunt for an original copy of the album for a very long time. Last Christmas, much to my delight, I unwrapped a copy on Christmas. The production and some of the arrangements make the record a product of the late 1970s. I picked “Rainbows” because it’s got such a euphoric feeling. It’s a love song with upbeat lyrics about loving and living life. There’s a lot of great piano work on the record and some heartfelt lyrics. You probably a pretty nasty bastard if you can listen to “Farewell My Friend” without getting a little choked up. The record is definitely worth owning and in desperate need of being reissued. Whether or not you should fork over an obscene wad of cash (as I’m sure my girlfriend did) for an original copy of the LP is a personal decision.
See a list of all Beach Boys songs featuring Dennis on lead vocals at Wikipedia.
Visit this very informative Dennis Wilson site (they’ve got a lot of info on getting a bootleg of the best version of his unreleased second solo album, Bamboo)
Watch the trailer for Two-Lane Blacktop HERE
Watch Dennis in the studio during “River Song” HERE
As you may know, Todd and Sylvia indulge me and give me one request each week. On October 18th my request was Dennis Wilson’s “Rainbows.” Wilson is often referred to as The Real Beach Boy (which is the title of a DW bio). He was the extroverted, athletic brother who loved the beach and ocean. Dennis has a fascinating story that only starts with being Carl and Brian’s brother and the drummer in the Beach Boys. He also befriended the Manson family, starred in the film Two-Lane Blacktop with James Taylor, dated Christine McVie from Fleetwood Mac and fathered a child with Shawn Love who is (allegedly) his cousin Mike’s daughter. Tragically, Dennis succumbed to his vices and drowned in late 1983. He would have turned 63 next week.
Fortunately for us music nerds, Dennis left behind a body of work. Perhaps his best (and best known) song is “Forever” from the Beach Boys’ fantastic Sunflower album. However, “Rainbows” comes from Dennis Wilson’s only officially released solo record, Pacific Ocean Blue. I’d been on the hunt for an original copy of the album for a very long time. Last Christmas, much to my delight, I unwrapped a copy on Christmas. The production and some of the arrangements make the record a product of the late 1970s. I picked “Rainbows” because it’s got such a euphoric feeling. It’s a love song with upbeat lyrics about loving and living life. There’s a lot of great piano work on the record and some heartfelt lyrics. You probably a pretty nasty bastard if you can listen to “Farewell My Friend” without getting a little choked up. The record is definitely worth owning and in desperate need of being reissued. Whether or not you should fork over an obscene wad of cash (as I’m sure my girlfriend did) for an original copy of the LP is a personal decision.
See a list of all Beach Boys songs featuring Dennis on lead vocals at Wikipedia.
Visit this very informative Dennis Wilson site (they’ve got a lot of info on getting a bootleg of the best version of his unreleased second solo album, Bamboo)
Watch the trailer for Two-Lane Blacktop HERE
Watch Dennis in the studio during “River Song” HERE
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