June 12th, 2025 § Comments Off on Brian Wilson § permalink
For those of us growing up in the late 1960s while “rock music” was exploding, the Beach Boys were making old fashioned music. Although they did take their genre to new heights with the quality of their songwriting, recordings, arrangements, and performances.
Brian Wilson was the musical director of the Beach Boys, and after a number of albums he decided to make full use of the best studios and session players in Los Angeles to “produce” their sound, therein setting the gold standard for the recording industry in the process.
There is no question of Brian’s genius and musical influence on the world of music, especially audible on the Beach Boys album, “Pet Sounds,” with its timeless and holy song, “God Only Knows.” I can vouch for a lot of songwriters who pinched a thing or two from that one!
In the mid 1990s I started playing golf at Holmby Park, on the nearly 100 year-old, 18-hole “pony golf course,” next to the Los Angeles Country Club. The park has two Lawn Bowling greens and a children’s play area, and sits below the “ungodly” Spelling/Ecclestone mansion, next to what was Bing Crosby’s house. The Holmby course was saved from “lack of budget” in 1981, by donations from neighbours, Armand Hammer and Hugh Heffner! In 2008 I researched and wrote a history of Holmby Park for the Golf Division of the Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department.
On a few occasions over the years I saw Brian Wilson walking laps around the park. At first he was alone, and usually in a Hawaiian shirt, but the last time I saw him in the 2010s he was in a dressing gown with support following/helping him around. As far as I saw, no one bothered him, or didn’t recognise him. I’m sure those that did were happy to leave him in peace. We were all hoping his walks would contribute to his long good health!
These past few years when I walk our dogs around Holmby Park, I always think of Brian. “Requiescat in pace”
August 26th, 2019 § Comments Off on An Especial Pint With jj frazz II § permalink
A few weeks back I decided to put together a 15 minute “podcast” of various demo recordings that I have produced over the years. I have had the luxury of recording everyday since my parents bought me a Sony Sound-On-Sound real-to-reel tape recorder in the 1970’s, so I have recorded hundreds of songs in my life. Quantity over quality!
This week’s A Pint With jjfrazz II is a flock of covers, special to me, but not ready for prime time. Here are they in all their one take demo goodness.
Anaheim was founded in 1857 by German immigrants as the Anaheim Colony. The heim (home) by the Santa Ana river. By 1870 the area had “scores of vineyards” and 47 wineries. A grape disease in the 1880s forced farmers to switch to orange growing, which lasted until the mid 1950s. Which is also when Disneyland opened.
Ninety years ago, in 1928, Disney released its first major film with fully synchronized sound; Steamboat Willie. Look how far we have come?
January 18th, 2018 § Comments Off on The Hollywood Sign § permalink
The news about putting another sign on Mount Lee, on the Valley side, made me think of my song from my 1994 album, One Moment in Time –The Hollywood Sign.
Hardly a moment goes by without me thinking about Billie Rainbird and Simon Phillips, and what they going through, after losing their home and recording studio to the Thomas Fire in Ojai, earlier this month.
I don’t think I have ever met two more beautiful people than Billie and Simon. There is a lot of love in these two!
January 7th, 2017 § Comments Off on Wrapped Around Your Finger – Dan Hill § permalink
This was Mick Fleetwood’s favourite song, of mine!
While we were producing Dan Hill’s, Seduces Me, for Celine Dion, at the end of 1995, we recorded my song, Wrapped Around Your Finger, for Dan’s solo album; I’m Doing Fine.
We recorded the basics for the song, at my Treehouse studio, in the Dell, Hollywood. I played the keys, acoustic guitar, and bass, then we overdubbed Steve Ferrone’s drums at Record Plant with Steve Churchyard, and Michael Thompson’s guitars, at his Cocoa Butt Studio, in the Baldwin Hills.
Wrapped was top 10 on radio, before it, and the album, were pulled from distribution, after 8 weeks! Oh well…
The Rose Vortex is:
Warren Cuccurullo – guitars, vocals, piano, percussion
Azar Lawrence – tenor & soprano sax
Tommy Mars – electric piano, organ, synth
Alex Alessandroni – piano, synth
Doug Lunn – bass
Joe Travers – drums
with
Munyungo Jackson – percussion
Michael Hunter – trumpet
Rachel Sierra – vocals
Mayuto Correa – percussion
and Savanah Blessing Mandel, Brigitte & Racine – vocals (‘Don’t Blame It On Me’)
