Customer Reviews

Live Knebworth 1980

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This is a great cd, but the Editorial Reviews/Album Details section on the amazon page which credit this as "The Last Ever Live Performance from the Original Lineup that Includes all Three Wilson Brothers on Stage Together" is false. I myself saw the Beach Boys do a new years eve concert at the forum in Los Angeles on 12/31/1980 and can attest with assurance that Carl, Brian and Dennis (the 3 Wilson Bros.) were all on stage and all performing for the whole show. In addition there were many other shows in the early 80's (I've seen 15 Beach Boy related concerts in my lifetime) which included all three. There were times with Brian missing and a brief time with Carl missing and Dennis had yet to be "kicked out" so there were times when all three were there. Regardless this is a great sounding cd, but one should be aware of that false claim.

In response to the other review, this isn't the last time the original line-up performed together, as it has been marketed, but the inside blurb says that it is the last time they played together IN ENGLAND. which is good enough for me.
As for the CD, it's surprisingly good. I was a few months from being born when it was recorded, and the Beach Boys were way past their peak, but it's still good. Best bit? Brian Wilson's verse in Surfer Girl...

It says last ever RECORDING of the original line-up. Or perhaps it should read last ever OFFICIALLY RELEASED RECORDING.

Wow, it's 75 degrees in the midwest, summer is near, and we have new (at least newly released) Beach Boys music. Recorded on one of their most acclaimed tours in 1980, and with the participation of all the original Boys + Bruce Johnston, this is a hidden gem. The guys are in great voice, clearly engaged and fired-up, and the set-list still had a few surprises. Also most interesting is hearing the on-stage banter, especially from a clearly fired-up (and raspy!) Dennis Wilson. There are supposedly hundreds of recorded concerts in the vaults, and lets hope they keep 'em coming!

I expected this album to sound terrible, but the band is in great form and really rocks (I never thought I would say this about the Beach Boys). The vocals are really amazing and the arrangements are "true" to the recordings, but new and energetic. Brian sings the bridge on Surfer Girl, which is amazing, I have to say. This is WAY better than any of the other live albums, both for the classic stuff and the few album cuts.