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”
Somehow, miraculously, Terry took the time to produce and record, with Dee, the song demo that got me signed to ATV Music, which started my career in music!
The song was “Everyday, Everynight,” an unfinished one, but it had a lot of good energy. So we recorded it anyway, in a studio up on Major Mackenzie, near Kennedy road, north of Toronto. I think we had three hours to learn the song, record, mix, and pack up! Terry directed the session. I don’t remember doing more than one vocal take. I know I had no lyrics written down. Producer Terry Draper on drums. Engineer mixer Dee Long on Bass. Songwriter arranger jjfrazz on CP-70 (the studio didn’t have a piano) and vocals! Terry and JJ on handclaps, and backing vocals! This is the best version I can find. From a very old cassette.
FUNN
Terry Draper put the band “Funn” together, with Dee, myself, Jon Bojicic, and Freddie Coutts.
Bojicic, Jones, Draper, Long, Coutts – Funn
One afternoon while Funn were rehearsing at Swamp Manor, the floor collapsed into the swamp! And we laughed our asses off! How did we not get electrocuted? Mystery.
ESP Studios, Buttonville
ESP Studios, Buttonville. Klaatu Wall of Fame with John Clarke.
Our 1980 studio, ESP, was created by Dee, myself, Frank Watt, and Klaatu’s EMI Records budget for their Magentalane album! Say no more.
AIR Studios
Years later, when we had our studio on Oxford Street at AIR Studios, London, we were approached by the German television series “Tatort,” to record a song for the show. They sent us the song they wanted: “Woman,” by Paul Vincent Gunia. They offered us a good “pound” to produce it, but they wanted the “Klaatu” name. Dee had to be pushed to call Terry and John to ask them to let us do the track. And they said no!
So, I suggested they come to London, and we would pay for it, and they agreed. The result was “Woman,” a song where I finally got to work with Klaatu!
Personally, I love John’s vocal, Dee’s solo, and Terry’s drum fills on the Fairlight!
When Dee called and told me that Terry had passed, I told him that I had just been listening to the “Everyday Everynight” demo! I reached out to Terry a few weeks ago to talk about our past, but did not get a response. I should have called.
Bless him. Sweet, lovely man. Teacher. Seeker. Always remembered in my heart.
The album was produced by Sam Reid (Glass Tiger, Alan Frew), John Jones (Bond, Gary O, Klaatu, Roy Wood, Duran Duran, Alan Frew, Dan Hill, Celine Dion, Fleetwood Mac), and Steve Sidwell (George Michael, Sam Brown, Black, Roger Waters, Kate Bush, Joe Crocker, Robbie Williams, Tina Turner, Sheena Easton, Mick Jagger, Seal (arranger), Lisa Stansfield, Amy Winehouse, Mark Knopfler, Paul McCartney). Pre-production piano by Richard Evans. Pre-production and inspiration, Roy Tan. Engineered by Steve Price, Sam Reid and John Jones. Score written, arranged and conducted by SteveSidwell. Mixed by Steve Price.
The video of “Winner Takes It All.” Filmed in Studio One. Directed and produced by Don Allan for Revolver Films.
The youtube link to “Priceless” by Joey Niceforo (2018)
