Dennis Wilson became the first Beach Boy to release a solo album with this soulful slice of broken down brilliance. 'Pacific Ocean Blue' was a very personal reflection of Wilson's search for truth. He considered: "There's no escape from being honest. On the inside, we're always honest. On the outside, we can bullshit. Inside, there's no escape, and I just..., that's how I felt...I think there are a lot of sick people that need a lot of help...people who have to be educated, have to grow. I feel through art.....it can be a great deal of help, like Brian in the sixties with what he did and what he can do. I wish he would get off his ass and do it again...I have great faith in life itself. I'm religious, and I'm not religious. I get stoned, and I don't get stoned. I smoke a cigarette, and I don't smoke a cigarette. I live my life, period. I take it as it comes, and I take responsibility for it. I don't think I should judge people, but I think it's time for people to stop fighting. It's such a profound question that a master would have trouble answering it. Maharishi would say, 'Meditate'. All I say is : 'Enjoy life, try to be an example'."
Carli Munoz, Gregg Jakobson and Dennis Wilson produced the sessions at the Beach Boys' Brother Studios in Santa Monica, California. Steven Moffitt was the chief engineer with Earle Mankey and John Hanlon assisting at the helm and on guitar. Dennis Wilson not only plays drums and sings, he tries his hand at violin, piano, tuba, clavinet, oboe, moog and harmonica; with Munoz on piano, keyboards, moog synthesizer, and percussion; Carl Wilson on lead guitar and vocals; Eddie Tuleja on guitar and vocals; Ed Carter on bass and guitar; Sterling Smith on keyboards; Manolo Badrena on percussion; Dean Torrence and Bruce Johnston on background vocals; Chuck Domanico, Dave Hessler, James Jamerson and Wayne Tweed on bass; Tommy Smith, Bobby Figueroa, Ricky Fataar and Hal Blaine on drums; Michael Andreas, Lance Buller, Janice Hubbard, Bill Lamb, Charles McCarthy on Horns; Sid Sharp worked the live strings ensemble; and vocals were contributed by Alexander Hamilton's Double Rock Baptist Choir.
Wilson said: "Gregg Jakobson stood by my side and supported me and assisted lyrically. James William Guercio supports me 100%. he stands behind me completely...I take full responsibility. I want to be....I want to meet with everyone in the field, want it to be different. It think music belongs on a personal level, instead of the mindless corporation ordering the artist 'do this, do that, do this'. People have to meet, discover, grow, build...I just don't stop recording. You're talking to, if there ever was, a freak or somebody completely into it, I am home here at the studio or playing music on the road. When I go to the shack that I stay at, I hate it. Music is everything."
'Pacific Ocean Blue' peaked at number ninety-six on the US album chart; but it sold over three hundred thousand copies, which was better than 'The Beach Boys Love You', released that same year. Nevertheless, it went out of print within a year due to contractual disputes. Wilson reflected: "I never liked guys who were soloist drummers. I like the hypnotic rhythm that's consistent -- something you can get lost in. It's a perfect feel. The feeling within that rhythm is something I like very much. Then it makes the whole song and program work together. The thing I love about music is, if you play and let go of yourself it becomes timeless."
www.pacificoceanblue.net/
"River Song"
"A few years ago, I was in the High Sierras walking by this river that was very small and it kept getting bigger and bigger....that's the guitar sound on the track. And then thinking, Los Angeles vs. the High Sierras, it just makes me sick to think of what's happening here. That's the lyrical idea; Carl assisted on some of the lyrics. Musically, it came from the river...Ninety per cent of those voices are mine."
"'Dreamer' is about Christ. Musically, I played the bass harmonica on that; I played practically everything on it."
"Tug of Love" (Dennis Wilson/Gregg Jakobson)
"Only with You" (D. Wilson/Mike Love)
"Holy Man" [instrumental] (D. Wilson/Jakobson)
"Mexico" (D. Wilson)
'Pacific Ocean Blue'
full album:
0:00 - River Song (Dennis Wilson/Carl Wilson)
3:47 - What's Wrong (D. Wilson/Gregg Jakobson/Michael Horn)
6:12 - Moonshine (D. Wilson/Jakobson)
8:43 - Friday Night (D. Wilson/Jakobson)
11:55 - Dreamer (D. Wilson/Jakobson)
16:19 - Thoughts Of You (D. Wilson/Jim Dutch)
19:26 - Time (D. Wilson/Karen Lamm-Wilson)
23:00 - You And I (D. Wilson/Lamm-Wilson/Jakobson)
26:28 - Pacific Ocean Blues (D. Wilson/Mike Love)
29:08 - Farewell My Friend (D. Wilson)
31:35 - Rainbows (D. Wilson/C. Wilson/Steve Kalinich)
34:25 - End Of The Show (D. Wilson/Jakobson)
'Bambu' (The Caribou Sessions)
Wilson spent the rest of his life working on the follow-up, 'Bambu'; which remained unreleased until 2008, when it was included in a deluxe re-issue package with 'Pacific Ocean Blue'.
"Under The Moonlight" (Carli Munoz)
"It's Not Too Late" (Carli Munoz)
"School Girl" (Dennis Wilson/Gregg Jakobson)
"Love Remember Me" (D. Wilson/Jakobson/Steve Kalinich)
"Love Surrounds Me" (D. Wilson/Geoffrey Cushing-Murray)
"Wild Situation" (D. Wilson/Jakobson)
"Common" (D. Wilson)
"Are You Real" (D. Wilson/Jakobson)
"He's a Bum" (D. Wilson/Jakobson)
"Cocktails" (D. Wilson/Jakobson/John Hanlon)
"I Love You" (D. Wilson/Jakobson)
"Constant Companion" (Munoz/Rags Baker)
"Time for Bed" (D. Wilson/Jakobson)
"Album Tag Song" (D. Wilson)
"All Alone" (Munoz)
"Piano Variations on "Thoughts of You"" (D. Wilson)
"Holy Man (Taylor Hawkins Version)" (D. Wilson/Jakobson/Taylor Hawkins)
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