TIRnRR # 1293: GOOD VIBRATIONS! Brian Wilson and the Legend of Summer: 7/6/2025
Welcome to a special edition of This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl: GOOD VIBRATIONS! Brian Wilson and the Legend of Summer. We've assembled some music in tribute to the genius of Brian Wilson; we have performances by Wilson solo and with the Beach Boys, and covers of some of Wilson's songs. But also some original music created by other artists inspired by Brian Wilson, some unrelated songs about summer, and some that just seem to fit. The songs were chosen for their flow, their feel...
...Their vibration.
THE BEACH BOYS: Good Vibrations (Capitol, Smiley Smile & Wild Honey)
GARY FRENAY: It's Like Heaven (Northside, File Under Pop Vocal)
MICHAEL SIMMONS: Sail On, Sailor (single)
P. P. ARNOLD: God Only Knows (Sequel, The First Cut)
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: Girls In Their Summer Clothes (Columbia, Magic)
RASPBERRIES: Cruisin' Music (RPM, Power Pop Volume Two)
--
Brian Wilson did not invent summer, but he was a primary auteur in crafting its myth, its legend, its iconography in pop culture and pop music. One obvious example of that mythmaking is the promise offered in a song Wilson co-wrote with Jan Berry, an impossible promise that seemed plausible in its pure pop context:
Two girls for every boy.
JAN AND DEAN: Surf City (EMI, Surf City: The Best Of Jan And Dean)
THE KRAYOLAS: Surf's Down (single)
BRIAN WILSON: Night Time (Rhino, Brian Wilson)
LISA MYCHOLS AND SUPER 8: Don't Worry, Baby (Jem, VA: Jem Records Celebrates Brian Wilson)
NELSON BRAGG: We're Gonna Laugh About It (Big Stir, Mèlodie De Nelson: A Pop Anthology)
SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE: Hot Fun In The Summertime (Epic, Greatest Hits)
--
Success breeds jealousy. Murray Wilson was jealous of his son Brian. And when Murray's...abrasive characteristics forced the Beach Boys to fire him as their manager and would-be Svengali, Murray attempted to retaliate by grooming another group, the Sunrays, to steal the Beach Boys' thunder. The Sunrays' success was fleeting and limited.
But there was some success.
THE SUNRAYS: I Live For The Sun (Time-Life, VA: Classic Rock: Bubblegum, Garage And Pop Nuggets)
AMERICA: God Of The Sun (Rhino, The Definitive Pop Collection)
BRIAN WILSON: You Still Believe In Me (Sanctuary, Brian Wilson Presents Pet Sounds Live)
THE RUBINOOS: Watching The Sun Go Down (Yep Roc, From Home)
CURT BOETTCHER: It's A Sad World (Rev-Ola, Chicken Little Was Right)
THE RAMONES: Surfin' Safari (Captain Oi!, Acid Eaters)
--
Brian Wilson is acknowledged as a genius, rightly so. But he often worked with collaborators, particularly in crafting lyrics. He worked with Roger Christian, Tony Asher, Van Dyke Parks, among others. And he worked with his cousin, Mike Love. There were certainly negatives in that relationship. But it's important to remember that Mike Love was indeed part of this story, and he deserves credit for his role in helping Brian Wilson conjure this magic legend of summer, and the warmth of the sun.
THE BEACH BOYS: The Warmth Of The Sun (Capitol, Surfer Girl & Shut Down Vol 2)
THE YELLOW BALLOON: Springtime Girl (Sundazed, The Yellow Balloon)
MIKE BROWNING: Summer Sun (single)
THE ISLEY BROTHERS: Summer Breeze (EMI, The Essential Isley Brothers)
THE SMITHEREENS: Girl Don't Tell Me (Sunset Blvd, Covers)
THE FLAMIN' GROOVIES: Good Laugh Mun (Grown Up Wrong!, Between The Lines: The Complete Jordan/Wilson Songbook '71-81)
--
Family is important, or at least it should be. The Beach Boys were three brothers, a cousin, and a next door neighbor. They called their record label Brother. They named an album Friends. Family and friends. As Brian's son-in-law Rob Bonfiglio reminds us: There's no one else I'd rather love.
ROB BONFIGLIO: No One Else I'd Rather Love (Kool Kat Musik, VA: Pop Aid 3: A Pop Compilation To Benefit Those Affected By The California Wildfires)
AL JARDINE, FAMILY AND FRIENDS: Heroes And Villains (Not Lame, VA: International Pop Overthrow Vol. 4)
BRIAN WILSON FEATURING CARNIE AND WENDY WILSON: Do It Again (MCA, BRIAN WILSON: I Just Wasn't Made For These Times)
LAURIE BIAGINI: Just Another Daydream (n/a, Stranger In The Mirror)
SIXPENCE NONE THE RICHER: I Just Wasn't Made For These Times (Silent Planet, VA: Making God Smile [An Artists' Tribute To The Songs Of Beach Boy Brian Wilson])
THE TRADE WINDS: I Believe In Her (Varese Sarabande, VA: The Warmth Of The Sun: Songs Inspired By The Beach Boys)
--
The legend of summer was not confined to California. Across the country and around the world, sun-starved hearts answered the call to celebrate. Man, we even heard the call in between blizzards here in Syracuse, New York.
THE TEARJERKERS: Syracuse Summer (Futureman, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 3)
EUCLID BEACH BAND: There's No Surf In Cleveland (Sony, VA: Cleveland International Records 1977-1983)
20/20: Drive (Bomp, VA: The Roots Of Powerpop)
BRIAN WILSON: Surf's Up (Nonesuch, Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE)
DOUG POWELL: 'Til I Die (Silent Planet, VA: Making God Smile [An Artists' Tribute To The Songs Of Beach Boy Brian Wilson])
R.E.M.: Why Not Smile (Warner Brothers, Up)
--
Artists do not create in isolation. They draw inspiration from other artists, other art. And if Brian Wilson were here with us this evening, I betcha he would tell you:
THIS is The Greatest Record Ever Made!
THE RONETTES: Be My Baby (Abkco, The Best Of The Ronettes)
THE RECORDS: Darlin' (Demilo, VA: Smiles, Vibes & Harmony [A Tribute To Brian Wilson])
THE HONEYS: He's A Doll (Capitol, The Honeys Collection)
JEFFREY FOSKETT: Surfer Girl Lullaby (New Surf Limited, Sunnys Off)
BRAD JONES: Let's Pretend (Ginger, VA: Raspberries Preserved)
ERIC CARMEN: Top Down Summer [2018] (single)
--
Speaking of artists influencing other artists: The Beach Boys and the Beatles. Brian's increasingly accomplished pop genius inspired Rubber Soul. Rubber Soul inspired Pet Sounds. Pet Sounds inspired Revolver.
THE BEATLES: For No One (Apple, Revolver)
THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF THE ALL: Love Tonight (Cherry Red, Greetings From Planet Love)
BRIAN WILSON: Meet Me In My Dreams Tonight (Rhino, Brian Wilson)
THE ANDERSON COUNCIL: I'd Love Just Once To See You (Jem, VA: Jem Records Celebrates Brian Wilson)
THE PARADE: Sunshine Girl (Time-Life, VA: Classic Rock: Bubblegum, Garage And Pop Nuggets)
JASON BYRD: I'll Be All Right (The Paisley Pop Label, Busy Day)
--
If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, what can we say about pastiche? If it works, it can touch the divine. It can transcend. Just like before, it can walk by the shore in the moonlight.
THE FIRST CLASS: Beach Baby [single version edit] (Cherry Red, Beach Baby: The Complete Recordings)
JASON HARROD: In My Room (Silent Planet, VA: Making God Smile [An Artists' Tribute To The Songs Of Beach Boy Brian Wilson])
JOHNATHAN PUSHKAR AND RICHARD BARONE: I Get Around (Jem, VA: Jem Records Celebrates Brian Wilson)
JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS: Fun, Fun, Fun (Blackheart, Good Music)
MICHAEL SIMMONS: First Days Of Summer (Crab Apple, First Days Of Summer)
BRIAN WILSON AND FRIENDS: Our Prayer (BMG, Brian Wilson & Friends)
THE BEACH BOYS: Wouldn't It Be Nice (Capitol, Pet Sounds)
--
It was nice. Thank you, Brian. It was very nice indeed.
Thank you for joining us for this celebration of the genius and impact of Brian Wilson. The sun still shines. There are still girls on the beach. And I'll still listen in my room. The legend of summer continues. This is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl.
THE BEACH BOYS: Pet Sounds (Capitol, Pet Sounds)
JEFFREY FOSKETT: Summer Love (New Surf Limited, Sunnys Off)
GENERAL JOHNSON AND JOEY RAMONE: Rockaway Beach (On The Beach) (Forward, VA: Godchildren Of Soul--Anyone Can Join!)
TIRnRR FRESH SPINS! Tracks we think we ain't played before are listed in bold
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