Sunday, December 12, 2010

Smiley Smile



What we have here is a very strange album. The “Beach Boys” had just released “Pet Sounds.” Critics loved it but the fans didn’t know what to think of it. Forty years later it’s considered one of the greatest albums ever. Now with Brian Wilson on a high (no pun intended) he was going to work on his masterpiece, a symphony to God, “Smile.” Brian started writing with Van Dyke Parks. Parks lyrics were different from the normal Beach Boy lyrics, they were more abstract. Mike Love even asked Parks what the hell the lyrics ment. Parks said it don’t mean anything, it’s good poetry.During the making of the album, Brian Wilson was doing a lot of drugs and things got out of hand. He was recording a song called “Fire.” Down the block a fire broke out in a store. Brian Wilson thought his music had so much power that it cause the fire. Well he couldn’t unleash a power like that on the world so he shelved the project.

From what I read, none of The Beach Boys were too wild about “Smile.” Which brings us to “Smiley Smile.” What The Beach Boys did was to get some of the “Smile” tracks, some new stuff and rerecord the whole thing. It makes no sense. If they didn’t like it why bother doing it again. Only thing I can think of is that they needed material and this was around.

If fans didn’t know what to think of “Pet Sounds,” they were really baffled about this. This is the weirdest Beach Boy album ever. It’s really basic, stripped down. The only thing that saved the album at the time was “Good Vibrations” was included on the album. A song Brian Wilson begged the record company not to put on the album.

Forty years later, opinions have changed on “Smiley Smile.” Critics now love the album.

(painting by Ralph Rumpelton)


Monday, December 6, 2010

Goverment Building

I went down to apply for the Star program today. I had to go to Town Hall for this. I walk into the building and stop at the first office I see which was right by the door. I asked them were I had to go for the Star program, nobody answered me. Nobody even looked up. So I yelled, “anybody know where to go for the Star program.” Finally somebody looks up at me all pissed and told me to go to the info office on the second floor.

I didn’t want to say anything to them so I went upstairs looking for the info office. Now I’m thinking, wouldn’t it make a lot of sense to have the info office right by the front door when people come in so they’re not wandering around the building. Who’s gonna know the info office is on the second floor? I got lost looking for it. Then when I got to the info office, they told me I had to go to another building. All was not lost cause when I got to where I had to go, the people were really nice and helped me out.

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Softball with Chris Matthews

I was watching “Hardball With Chris Matthews” the other night. What has happened to TV! For a show that’s suppose to be serious, I couldn’t stop laughing. Mathews was talking about Charlie Rangel. Instead of saying Rangel’s a disgrass, Matthews was talking about the right wing media and how they’re all over Charlie. The papers had funny pictures of Charlie on the front page (just like I put a funny pic of Matthews here) and they wouldn’t give Charlie a break. The Democrats are compassionate and feel for Charlie. Never mind the guy is a crook and got what he deserved.

The bottom line is MSNBC sticks up for the Dems and FOX sticks up for the Reps. no matter how bad the crime is. Too bad there’s not a channel that calls it down the middle and have both the left and right on it so current events can be discussed.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Drive The Girls Crazy

You to can look just like Frank Sinatra. Walk in singing “Highway To Hell” and walk out singing “Dooby, Dooby, Doo.”

The Dinosaurs