FOMM: Love Plus Thirty

The Beach Boys Love You came out thirty years ago this week. Critical consensus calls it "the last great Beach Boys LP", but it's more like a Brian Wilson solo album. It was originally slated to be a BW solo album (called Brian Loves You), and Brian wrote and performed most of the songs with minimal involvement from the other band members.

This was during the mid-70s "Brian is back" period when Brian wasn't actually back, and the songs on Love You reflect that. Complex music with minimal instruments (mostly synthy bass and drum machine) matched with naive childlike lyrics like..

(from "Johnny Carson")
He sits behind his microphone
He speaks in such a manly tone
Ed McMahon comes on and says "Here's Johnny"
Every night at 11:30, he's so funny
It's nice to have you on the show tonight
I saw your act in Vegas, outtasite.

or (from "Solar System")
If Mars had life on it
I might find my wife on it
Venus the goddess of love
Can thank all the stars above
Mercury’s close to the sun
You’ll see it when day is done
Solar system brings us wisdom

These lyrics are, to quote this review, "childlike but not childish", and give a great picture of the mind of Brian Wilson circa 1976/77. I also love the review's description of the album.

The best description of this album, for those who have heard the music of Jonathan Richman, is to imagine Richman suddenly being given the musical talent of Bach, and two days in the studio. Anyone who doesn't love this album will loathe it, but it's their loss. Buy this album.

Presently the only way to buy Love You is in a two-fer tandem with 15 Big Ones, which is one of the worst albums the BBs ever made. Even more unfortunate is that the iTunes/amazon cover art for the CD shows the cover of 15 Big Ones. Buying that album on my 11th birthday (with my own money) taught me the lesson to avoid any album with facial hair on the front cover. This kept me from buying the Beatles' blue album for a while, but has saved me from buying many dodgy records over the years. Love You has their Beach Boys with facial hair photo on the back cover.

The Beach Boys (from Love You)
Johnny Carson
Solar System

Mike Love might love harmony, but Brian Wilson loves you.