Murray Wilson

[Dave James]

Hard to believe, but da bastids are currently offering The Many Moods of Murray Wilson on CD. For those who did not pass Intro to Beach Boys 101, Murray is the father of the brothers Wilson. This album was made so that Murray could prove to number one son Brian that he was equally gifted musically. Needless to say, his efforts fell somewhat short of, say, Pet Sounds. I'm almost tempted to get this much in the manner I'm tempted to get William Shatner's The Transformed Man.

Up over and out.

[Chuck Nessa]

Better go with the Shatner.

[JSngry]

The Only Mood Of Murray Wilson: http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2005/10/im_a_genius_too.html

Not for the squeamish...

[AllenLowe]

well, Mr. Beach Boy Sr. and his wife were both from another planet - years later someone asked the wife what Charles Manson was like, as he'd spend a bit of time around her with son Dennis.

"Charlie," she said, "had such a nice smile."

Edited March 22, 2009 by AllenLowe

[Dave James]

Jim - Thanks for posting that link. I'd heard of the MW rants, but I'd never actually listened to them. Now that I have, I recall they did a reasonable job of capturing this on the Beach Boy made for TV biopic from several years back.

Interestingly enough, the picture that's included on the site is of Murray and his Beach Boy wannabes, The Sunrays. They were the one hit wonders who penned and performed the tune I Live For The Sun which Murray produced. As surf tunes go, it's not that bad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1faaM8fRUSQ

Up over and out.

Edited March 22, 2009 by Dave James

[GA Russell]

Thanks for that youtube link, Dave. I had the Sunrays' album (the one and only album as far as I know).

They had a second song that was played on New Orleans radio called Andrea. I've got no idea how big it was nationally. Here's the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRKW04JVPxw...feature=related

I remember that the liner notes of the album made a big deal about Murray Wilson, as if kids were going to buy the album because Brian Wilson's dad produced it and managed the group.

[Stereojack]

Hard to believe, but da bastids are currently offering The Many Moods of Murray Wilson on CD. For those who did not pass Intro to Beach Boys 101, Murray is the father of the brothers Wilson. This album was made so that Murray could prove to number one son Brian that he was equally gifted musically. Needless to say, his efforts fell somewhat short of, say, Pet Sounds. I'm almost tempted to get this much in the manner I'm tempted to get William Shatner's The Transformed Man.

I can't believe that anybody thought this record was worth reissuing! I heard it years ago and was underwhelmed. At least "The Transformed Man" has plenty of comic value. "Many Moods" is a straight bland album of easy listening instrumentals, and I suspect that it was issued to shut Murray up!

[AllenLowe]

for all his dopiness, some of Murray's commentary is pretty good - at one point he says to one of the boys, "whatsa matter? Make too much money, buddy?"

[Teasing the Korean]

The only reason to have the Murray album is for the record cover, and on a CD you won't get that. Keep digging the used crates for a copy. The cover is stunning, deserving of a much better record inside.

The Transformed Man is actually an excellent album. The songs are thoughtfully paired together, and the arrangements by Don Ralke are really interesting. I really love that album, and I don't mean on a camp level.

The record store that time forgot, Cheapo Records in Central Square in Cambridge, used to have amazing amounts of old stock that was sealed. The had a sealed copy of the Murray Wilson in the early 90s for like $6.99, and like an idiot I didn't buy it. I eventually found a copy a thrift store.

[jostber]

Cool cover and liner notes too:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XdsczoFfSuY/R8No.../MW_Booklet.jpg

A humble man offers his music to the people.

Edited March 22, 2009 by jostber

[AllenLowe]

well, I have a theory that Brian is really Murray and that, in fact, there is no Brian Wilson; whoever "played" him was just a front because Murray was too old to be in a rock and roll band (and let us not forget his reminder that "I'm a genius too").

I mean, has anyone here ever seen Murray and Brian in the same room?

and for all we know, Murray might have written most of the Beatles' stuff -

Edited March 22, 2009 by AllenLowe

[JSngry]

Cool cover and liner notes too:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_XdsczoFfSuY/R8No.../MW_Booklet.jpg

A humble man offers his music to the people.

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

i've heard it...interesting lp...not the quintessential mood lp by all means,--contributions from Brian/Mike love and one song by Al are of note to beach boys collectors....

[Guest Bixieland]

Being a fan (of Brian and the boys) I might pick this up. As easy as it is to hate Murry -- and having never been delivered a blow by a 2x4 by the guy personally -- I guess I can find a place for him. Without his insane drive I can't imagine there would have been a Beach Boys -- which I find to be one of the, if not the only, truly satisfying rock and roll experience I can think of. I can listen to Brian's work over and over and over and still hear something interesting. 99.9999% of pop/rock -- while at times great -- is just a passing fancy to me. Not so with Brian and Dennis. I can't imagine my life without that music...and, I guess, have to give Murry a nod for that.

[JSngry]

OTOH, if Brian hadn't have been so fucked up from having <Murray as a dad, he might have been able to focus enough to finish Smile the first time around, and who knows what would have happened after that.

Maybe. but maybe not. I just find it hard to "thank" an abusive father, or to presume(?) that whatever greatness his sons achieved (and don't forget Carl, the real hero of the immediate post-Brian years) was because of the abuse instead of in spite of it.

But that's just me.

[Dan Gould]

OTOH, if Brian hadn't have been so fucked up from having <Murray as a dad, he might have been able to focus enough to finish Smile the first time around, and who knows what would have happened after that.

Maybe. but maybe not. I just find it hard to "thank" an abusive father, or to presume(?) that whatever greatness his sons achieved (and don't forget Carl, the real hero of the immediate post-Brian years) was because of the abuse instead of in spite of it.

But that's just me.

I totally agree. Credit to Murray for anything beyond introducing music to his kids and any early encouragement is perverse.

And I tend to doubt any early encouragement was without its own psychological damage.

[Guest Bixieland]

Well, I didn't mean to imply that Murray gave Brian the talent, but he pushed the hell out of him. Brian at his peak was a slave-driver in the studio...not like Murray, but a perfectionist nonetheless. No doubt Murray's abuse destroyed his son's mental stability. Which lead to Brian's own self-destructive behavior, costing us SMiLE et al. Very true. But it's possible that we wouldn't have had any of the stuff, from Surfin' Safari to Pet Sounds -- had Murray not been such a royal a-hole. Brian could have said, screw this...I'm gonna sell cars. It's impossible to say, but I always imagined it was Murray who basically said, "no...this is my chance dammit...you boys are going to play! I'm going to call my connections. Now, rehearse dammit!"

My bad for not mentioning Carl. He was the rock that held that group together -- absolutely. Great singer and made/produced some solid tunes. I've been into Denny's Pacific Ocean Blue recently, and I couldn't call Brian the sole genius with that masterpiece fresh on my mind.

[jazzhound]

I have a sealed copy. after hearing the samples at Amazon I am glad I never opened it. and didn't pay more than a buck .

[AllenLowe]

well, one could argue that Brian's one-ear deafness made him the musician he was - as he does tend to mix his stuff to one side -

[Guest Bixieland]

Brian's talent definitely came from God. He was born with it. As Mike Love said.."he'd learn these four freshman arrangements, very difficult arrangements, and he'd hand 'em out to the singer who could handle that range. These were very difficult parts -- it would take everything to learn just your one part -- he had all of them in his head."

That's incredible. Listening to the Freshman's arrangements...they're all over the place. The Freshman spent hours working on just one word in a lyric, and then would move to the next. For some, relatively untrained kid to "crack those codes" on the spot is scary. Like Rainman counting the toothpicks that fell on the floor. That's not normal.

Then you add in the fact that he was also creating original melodies and arrangements, producing the tracks and creating original works of art. He was an institution all to himself. Too bad he essentially cracked when he was only 24/25.