Customer Reviews

Good Timin: Live at Knebworth 1980

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In the extensive catalogue fashioned by the Beach Boys in their 40-plus years, no live recording of their period as the No. 1 touring band in the world from 1975-1980 had been available for purchase. There were the early years (Concert-1964), middle (Live in London-1969) and the Blondie-Ricky period (In Concert-1973). Finally, thanks to Bruce (who produced the live recording for Brother Records), that omission has been filled. "Good Timin'" is a concert performed in England just a few weeks before their legendary appearance in Washington for the first 4th of July concert in 1980 (which aired on HBO that summer). This is one of the rare concerts in which all six Beach Boys appeared (Bruce had just recently rejoined the band, Brian was back on the road and Dennis had cleaned up his act -- temporarily, as it turned out-- to assume his place on drums). The set list was their usual at the time, with the notable omissions here being "Wouldn't It Be Nice" and, oddly, "Good Timin'". However, we do get, for the first time on any Beach Boys record, Dennis' solo concert staple "You Are So Beautiful" as well as a shortened version of "Cotton Fields" (single record version) that Al does in a medley leading into "Heroes and Villains". There is also the rousing pre-intro to "Help Me, Rhonda" (where Dennis moves to the piano and shouts to the 45,000 in attendance: "Eat your heart out, Elton John!" and "Are you ready?!") as well as the all the staples: "California Girls", "Sloop John B.", "Good Vibrations", "Fun, Fun, Fun", etc. All the Boys are in top voice, showing off their a cappella skills and demonstrating yet again why they hold a premier place in rock history. Had this recording been released 20-some years ago, it could have soared to the top of the charts, thus cashing in on the group's overwhelming popularity at the time. Instead, we have a robust 1-hour,10-minute party that will make fans eager to own the accompanying VHS/DVD which will be released later this month in the U.S. A must-have for all Beach Boys aficionados.

A live show from 1980-- if I'm not mistaken, the last tour to feature Brian, Dennis and Carl. By this point, the Mike Love touring jukebox concept (i.e. play the same surf and car songs over and over again) was already in effect, but the Wilson brothers kept the set honest-- its a pretty good mix or early and later material.

The performance itself is extremely high quality-- by this point, the touring band was tight, and their execution is relatively flawless. The vocals are top notch, as you would expect (although Brian sounds a bit shaky here and ther). Highlights for me are pretty varied, certainly Mike's shout of "BRIAN WILSON!" after the first line of "Sloop John B", the new material ("School Days", new to the Boys at least and "Keepin' the Summer Alive") comes off really well, and Dennis' impassioned "You Are So Beautiful" are all really great, and there's really no going wrong with "Heroes and Villains" in my book.

Several tracks were cut from the live show-- "In My Room", "Good Timin'", "Catch a Wave", "Some of Your Love", "I Write the Songs", "Santa Ana Winds", and "Wouldn't It Be Nice"-- these I suspect would have distinctly improved the show, though they would have biased away from the surf & car stuff, which I suspect was the intent by the track selection. Personally, I would've rather had the whole show on a double, but that's just me.

Truth is, the show doesn't really grab me enough to make me come back to it over and over again. Good enough, but not great.

This concert is one of the last ones to feature Brian and Dennis both. It also is one of the last ones to still include material that was new at the time (it was taped 6/21/1980 in Knebworth, England) and because a few songs did better chartwise in the U.K. than in the Boys' home country, you get versions of "Lady Lynda" and "Cotton Fields". Despite those exceptions, though, the band had begun to turn into the "oldies jukebox" and most of the material is pre-"Pet Sounds".

Performancewise, it veers a bit but for the most part the vocals are good and the instrumental passion is there actually improving some songs over the studio versions. It's obvious that the band was still "working out" the set, though (Al Jardine asks "Are we gonna do a medley thing again?" prior to starting "Cotton Fields").

PEAKS:
Dennis shouting "Eat your heart out, Elton John!" as he took the piano spot for "Help Me Rhonda" (Elton was the headliner for his "Captain Fantastic" tour and debuted the album for the first time live that day). "Keepin' the Summer Alive" BURIES the studio version...the guitars smoke and the acappella break is tight. "Lady Lynda" was only on bootlegs in live shows before this and is good (Al's a little weak on some of the verses but the final group acappella coda shimmers..especially after someone (Mike?) shouts "one more time.." and they do it again)
"Do it Again" is tough-edged.Carl puts in a fine vocal on "Darlin'", "School Days" is fabulous live, and the "fun/sun" portion of the show sounds better than it often does. "Help Me Rhonda" benefits from a great Ed Carter guitar solo..Mike Meros on organ is all over the keyboard for "Surfin' U.S.A.".."I Get Around" is stellar..and an extended "Good Vibrations" has the crowd really into it.

VALLEYS:
The final encore on "Fun Fun Fun" is actually the WEAKEST performance of the 'encore set' (track 19 and up). "Barbara Ann" has a flaccid vocal from Bruce (I believe...it doesn't say but it SOUNDS like him). Mike is painfully nasal on "Be True to Your School". As others have noted, the CD should NOT have been named "Good Timin'" when it's not on the disc (Also, after the liners talk up "Santa Ana Winds" it's not wise to omit that track also. Two bad moves in choosing which ones made the cut)

BOTTOM LINE:
This is not their best official live show (that's "In Concert 1973") but it is the only non-bootleg to have "School Days","Cotton Fields","Keepin' the Summer Alive","Lady Lynda","Rock and Roll Music" or Dennis' version of "You are So Beautiful" and they all sound pretty decent. A good one to get AFTER you already have "In Concert 1973" and the twofer with "Concert (1964)/Live in London". It's only essential if you have those two and want more...

True, this was recorded 23 years ago, and yet the sound quality and performances are tight and fun. Keep in mind that while the Beach Boys lost favour in the states from 1967 on, they continued to be extremely popular in Britain and throughout Europe for the rest of their careers. For me and some of my closest BB friends, this CD is extremely welcome: for some time I've had homemade off-the-TV recordings of the BBs' 7/4/80 show, in which Mike Love's vocals are unusually off-key, and their 7/5/81 show, in which Brian fails at carrying the vocals on many songs because Carl was touring solo to promote his own album. This tour was THE LAST to promote fresh material. Beginning in the 80s the BBs mainly did the "Endless Summer" tour, sprinkling a rarity here and there among an oldies set. The only lack in this CD is Bruce Johnston's solo piano cover of "I Write The Songs", which was apparently added to the set list shortly after this. Buy this, or better -- buy the DVD instead, hook your TV up to the stereo, and enjoy watching the performance as well.

I mistakenly found this album today-I did not even know it had been released. After listening to it I found it superior to every live recording the group had ever done. The recordings are fresh, the group is in fine form, and the entire group is present including Brian Wilson. Why this had not been released years ago is a mystery to me. If you are a Beach Boys fan this CD is well worth the time. To hear the entire group together again makes it well worth the price and more

An absolutely first-rate performance, probably the last time the original Beach Boys played together, including Bruce Johnston. I never tire of this music, as uplifting today as ever. The music is so clear for a live recording that at first I thought it was a studio dub, but then I remembered reading that their amps went directly into the sound board as opposed to being miked individually. Just great, great, great.

This is historic cd, as it doucments the last time all 5 original Beach Boys (plus late bloomer Bruce Johnston) performing live on a UK stage together. It has some very good moments but also quite a few flaws. This documents the band's troubled leader Brian Wilson at his worst. He is essnetially a backing musician here, his chubby frame hidden behind a piano for the majority of the cd (he brifly moves over to the electric piano on "Help Me Rhonda", but that's not important), and he contributes brief lines on "Sloop John B" and "Surfer Girl". The rest of the band is in tip - top shape. Carl gives the single best liveperformance of his career with his stunning performance of "God Only Knows", Al gives us an interesting "Cottonfields"/"Heroes And Villains" medley, Mike Love owns the show, Bruce Johnston doesn't really contribute much, and Dennis performs a beautiful version of "You Are So Beautiful".

Overall this is a very good album, though it does not rank anywhere 1973's "In Concert" and defintely shows signs of their decline which brought them to becoming nothing more than a traveling jukebox.

...performing at its peak. Many (certainly not all) of the Beach Boys' in-concert standards are included. Sure, the band members squabbled, like many siblings (and cousins) we know, which is also one reason why Brian Wilson hated touring. But this never stopped the Boys from putting on a great concert.

Knebworth may also be our best opportunity to hear the exquisite voice and wonderful energy of Carl Wilson, who served as the artistic "heart" of the band during the "post-Brian" era, until his untimely death from cancer in 1998 at age 51. Carl's lead on Darlin', God Only Knows and several other songs here is breathtaking.

For Beach Boys fans, this CD (along with the DVD) is a must-own.

Good Timin captures the band's June 21st, 1980 concert at England's Knebworth House. By then deemed a travelling oldies jukebox, the California boys still show that they have enough gas left in their little deuce coupe for one last great album.

This album features many expected hits and a few surprises. Do It Again gets an extended guitar workout for the intro, as does Help Me Rhonda, in which Dennis Wilson shouts out, 'Elton John, Eat Your Heart Out'. This, in my opinion, is the best performance on the album. There is also a scorching five - minute medley of Cotton Fields and Heroes And Villians. During the Heroes And Villians half, Brian Wilson throws in a verse from Bycycle Rider, a Smiley Smile outtake that developed into Heroes And Villians. Surfin' USA is full of vibrance and energy not heard on the original single, and the finale of Joe Cocker's You Are So Beautiful, Good Vibrations, Barbara Ann, and best of all, a scorching Fun, Fun, Fun is a fan's dream.

Good Timin' is actually an extremely well - crafted live album that would be good for both casual and obsessive Beach Boys fans. My only complaint is that my favorite Beach Boys tune, Don't Worry Baby is excluded from the album.

This fabulous DVD bring all The Beach Boys together and they are in fine form. If you are a Beach Boy fan this is a must buy. I had never seen Dennis playing in concert throughout my lifetime and it is a treat to watch him bashing away on those drums with passion. I saw The Beach Boys here in Australia back in 91 and Brian here last year and I though both concerts were fantastic and this DVD brings back some great memories for me personally. Carl seems so much to be enjoying himself and it is evident by the way he sings in this concert, he is a stand out. It is a bigger thrill seeing the original band members playing together as well. I love this DVD and I will continue to play it and play it until my neighbours get sick of me. Long live The Beach Boys and thank god for there music.