He would contribute songs to Beach Boys albums through 1979s L.A. (Light Album), but never again would he scale the solo heights of his 1977 album. On Dec. 28, 1983, Dennis drowned. He was 39. But Pacific Ocean Blue would see greater days.
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Through the 1960s, Dennis Wilson was the sex symbol of the Beach Boys. He was a genuine surfer, he was the drummer, he was tall and muscular and had a mischievous smile. He seemed to attract trouble (you can fire up Google and look into his connections with Charles Manson; I wont go into them here) and few took him seriously as an artist in his own right. Pacific Ocean Blue Dennis Wilson Rar Full Of UnconventionalRich in arrangement, palpably emotional, soulful to the extreme, and full of unconventional changes and structures, Wilsons material in the 1970s rivaled that of his older brother Brian. In fact, considering Brians withdrawal from band activities and his frequent absence from the studio, it is fair to suggest that Dennis was the most important composing Wilson in the Beach Boys in the 1970s (though younger brother Carl also contributed some dynamite songs). Contributing a song here, a few songs there, Dennis amassed quite a collection of compositions from 1968 through 1974. But it was 1977s Pacific Ocean Blue that really showed that Dennis had come into his own. Brian Wilson had a solo single under his belt (1966s Caroline, No, from the Beach Boys Pet Sounds album) and Dennis Wilson had a 1970 single released (Sound of Free Lady), but none of the other active members in the 1976-77 configuration of the band had released anything outside of the Beach Boys name. Other than Brian Wilson, none of the Beach Boys had widespread household recognition (and even then, Brian Wilson was no John Lennon or Mick Jagger). Why not contribute these songs to a Beach Boys album Surely theyd get more attention that way In 1976, the Beach Boys launched the Brians Back campaign. After Brians well-chronicled decline into drug abuse, depression and mental illness, the Beach Boys soldiered on and became songwriters and producers in their own right. But the release of the greatest-hits compilation Endless Summer and the love for the classic goodies in live shows forced a demand for a new Brian Wilson product. After the services of Eugene Landy were secured and Brians health and activity improved, the albums 15 Big Ones and The Beach Boys Love You were released. ![]() That would probably have been all well and good, provided the quality of those albums had satisfied the group members. But Dennis and Carl were particularly unhappy with the song selections, performances and production on 15 Big Ones, and that had them riled up a bit. Theyd been carrying the torch since 1967-68, theyd been writing and producing quality material, why take the back seat to recordings like TM Song and Blueberry Hill and the rest The brothers knew that this material wouldnt live up to the Brians Back hype and expectations (could any music have lived up to it), and that a lot of it didnt live up to a standard theyd been bringing to Beach Boys records since the Friends album. So Dennis took his quality songs and he crafted his masterpiece. Pacific Ocean Blue peaked at No. U.S. charts, which is pretty respectable considering the content (funky, emotional songs going against disco and punk) and the lack of name recognition. Pacific Ocean Blue Dennis Wilson Rar Series Of MarvelousFrom album opener River Song and its amazing vocal layers and straight-from-the-heart emotional immediacy to the moody soundscape of Moonshine to the beautiful ballad Thoughts of You to the funky rock of Pacific Ocean Blues and the life-affirming zest-for-life composition Rainbows, the 1977 record was a series of marvelous, brilliant, jaw-dropping aural tapestries. Pacific Ocean Blue had fans and critics alike dizzy in anticipation of future works. And while Dennis did work on a follow-up album, the unfinished Bambu, his personal life, his drug demons and his emotional and mental issues piled up on him. He would contribute songs to Beach Boys albums through 1979s L.A. On Dec. 28, 1983, Dennis drowned. He was 39. But Pacific Ocean Blue would see greater days.
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