Customer Reviews

The Beach Boys - Nashville Sounds: The Making of Stars and Stripes [VHS]

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Probably the last time you will see Brian, Carl, Al, Mike,and Bruce recording and performing together. Rodney Crowell's Sail on Sailor and Tammy Wynette's In My Room are added bonuses. Directors Alan Boyd and Steve Monroe capture the mood of the band's recording in 1996. Excellent sound and video footage of them in the studio and at Fan Fair 1996 in Nashville.

Ladies and Gents...to think I almost passed on this DVD because of the few less-than fully enthusiatic reviews (the idea of Mike Love giving "phrasing" suggestions to Willie Nelson as described in one review nearly turned me away by itself). I buy a lot of music DVD's, and too many are disappointing, to be sure. But this one is outstanding. The quality of the sound, the excellent harmonizing, the history: put this one on to lift your spirits, enlighten young people, or impress visiting dignitaries. You will be pleased. As another reviewer implied, Junior Brown's treatment of "409" is worth the price of admission alone.( And the Mike Love/Willie Nelson "discussion" is not nearly the put-off as it might sound in this forum). You will certainly watch this one many many times.

There aren't a lot of Beach Boys fans who liked the "Stars & Stripes" album.

But even if - ESPECIALLY if - you didn't like the album, this thing has some redeeming value.

The Beach Boys' harmonies, that were buried under the country stars' vocals, are highlighted on the performances on the DVD. In fact, in many cases they are "shown" recording them, and you can hear them without the rest of the record.

You get to see four of the original Beach Boys together for probably the last time, working, talking, playing together, and it's kind of fun...especially seeing Brian Wilson in good health and spirits.

Finally, it has probably the last available footage of an actual live concert with Brian, Mike, Al AND Carl...worthy for that alone.

It ain't a great thing, but it is historically important. You won't hate it near as much as "Stars & Stripes".

This DVD is very entertaining, because everybody really seems to be having fun. The highlight for me is Junior Brown's sonorous "409". Other highlights are Lorrie Morgan's "Don't Worry Baby", James House's "Little Deuce Coupe", and Kathy Tricolli's "I Can Hear Music". When I heard this last cut the immortality of Brian Wilson's music hit home...again. All I could think is that this song has the universality of Schubert's "An Die Musik". Many of Brian's songs have this universal quality and to watch the new generation carry the songs with such emotion shows that these songs will be part of the American experience for a long, long time. A bonus is watching Mike Love make a fool of himself interrupting Willie Nelson to explain to him how he should sing "The Warmth of the Sun". Fortunately, Willie ignored him and made the song glow.

The DVD is well worth having as pure entertainment and a lot of American musical history

I purchased this DVD for one song / video ... "I Can Hear Music" by Kathy Troccoli with the Beach Boys on harmony. Absolutely terrific and flawlessly performed.

But I found that I really enjoyed several of the remakes by other stars. I'll list my favorites. "Little Deuce Coupe" remade by James House. This guy is a crackup and a great singer with a rock-a-billy style. "Caroline, No" really explores Timothy B. Schmit's wonderful voice. I really enjoyed Timothy from the days he sang "I Can't Tell You Why" with the Eagles.

Junior Brown gives a rendition of "409" that's just great. While I still prefer the original, I like the different spin Junior put on it. "Long Tall Texan" is great as done by Doug Supernaw. And the tongue-in-cheek music video with Supernaw on a burro wearing a carnival sombrero is flat hilarious. You will laugh!

Next, "Be True to Your School" by Toby Keith is probably the best remake of this song I've heard. Very energetic and upbeat.

Finally, "I Can Hear Music" by the lovely and talented Kathy Troccoli. If you haven't heard Kathy do this song, do yourself a favor and buy the DVD right now! Kathy has done work with Taylor Dane and recorded Dianne Warren songs and is one of my favorite Christian singers (check out Kathy Troccoli's "K.T.", IMHO, her finest compilation).

Watching the DVD, you can tell all the performers had a lot of fun working on this project. There is also some footage of a live music festival at the very end. Great entertainment!

one note: Widescreen might have been a good option in addition.

This DVD is worth the price alone to hear the guys put together(off the cuff) background harmonies for the classic Caroline No, which was originally released with only Brians lead vocal. Priceless!! Al Jardines son honorably provides the old Brian falsetto on a few songs. I wish it would have focused more on just the Boys but man can these guys still harmonize.... Check it out, now!!

On this DVD you will hear why The Beach Boys are the best harmony band of ALL time. Backstreet b, -N-stink cannot hold a candle to The Beach Boys. Brian Wilson is a rare talent who can play, sing, arrange vocals, write and arrange music. The Beach Boys have probably put out the most diverse music of all time in their long careers. Lets see where all the other boy bands are in a few years. It takes talent to achieve long lasting fame!

I can't believe the review above dismises Lorrie Morgan's "Don't Worry Baby" as cheerleader-peppy. This song is haunting. It's a nice twist to have this song sung from a woman's point go view, and with a woman's voice replacing the falsetto.

All in all a pretty entertaining CD - except for the concert footage which is a bit boring.

Lovely Lorrie Morgan and kitchy Junior
Brown [Jamieson Brown, Jr.] lead an all-
star cast in producing NashVegas salute
to/with the surviving Beach Boys. Especi-
ally Junior Brown's '409' is outstanding
here. The Beach Boys were the best! And
at least they were American, not Brits
like the slimey 'Beattles', et, al!

After renting this disc, I decided that I wanted to add it to my personal collection. Imagine my shock when viewing the disc that I purchased (from another online site) titled simply "Nashville Sounds" that did not include the Tammy Wynette ("In My Room") or the Fan Fair in-concert version of "Barbara Ann." Though I can personally do without the Tammy Wynette tune, I do miss not having the "Barbara Ann" segment that included a large number of the artists featured in the other individual segments. The one listed here on Amazon appears to be the longer, more complete one so I would advise anyone interested in purchasing this disc to do so here, rather than by trying to save a couple of bucks by buying it elsewhere.