Customer Reviews

Pacific Ocean Blue

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This might sound like Beach Boy-sacrilege, but I'd rather see Pacific Ocean Blue back on CD than any issue of Brian's mythic Smile (which I caught on the tour from Wilson & co here). Not that Smile is bad, but it's nowhere near Pacific Ocean Blue as far as I'm concerned. This album is now going for ridiculous prices- the 1991 reissue fetching close to $200 & not living in area where broadband exists, downloading this is not an option. So I depend on an ancient tape with other bootleg material. This is the kind of album I dream about & wonder if it's all just a dream...

Dennis Wilson was the second genius songwriter in The Beach Boys- to be fair Carl and Love co-wrote/wrote many classics- but Dennis came to fill the void left by Brian from the late 60s onwards. It's unfair to compare Dennis to Brian, but Dennis was coming up with string-soaked odes to valium like Cuddle Up, country-soul like Forever & the Vietnam-outtake Carry Me Home (later covered by Primal Scream on their Dixie-Narco e.p.). Apart from Sunflower (1970), The Beach Boys albums post-Pet Sounds were hit & miss affairs- the highlights often being a Dennis track (if not a slight Brian return). Most of Pacific Ocean Blue was written with co-Forever-songwriter Gregg Jakobson- though the title track was written with Mike Love and River Song was co-written with Carl & slowly recorded over the 70s (several tracks intended for POB and the unreleased follow-up Bamboo found their way onto Beach Boys records, e.g. Love Surrounds Me, Baby Blue). Pacific Ocean Blue came out in 1977 and is one of the great records of the 1970s, scrub that, of all time...

Dennis offered the ultimate statement- hypnotic piano-driven songs, achingly sincere vocals, a different kind of musical experimentation. It makes perfect sense next to such albums of the era as Exile on Main Street, Manassas, On the Beach, Greetings from LA and No Other. Every song is utterly wonderful- this would happilly be my desert island disc: it's the kind of album that would make the ideal final purchase. Nothing much comes close to it- though perhaps it's just it's hard to find nature that makes me think that!

The songs are gorgeous, my favourite track being Time- which nods at the universal qualities apparent in Dennis' work and has sax/flugelhorn that reminds me of 1980s David Sylvian or late-period Talk Talk for some reason! It seems absurd to talk about an album you can't buy- but one like California (American Music Club), Star Sailor (Tim Buckley) & Time Fades Away (Neil Young) that should be available on CD! Can you believe that there are two books about Dennis Wilson at the moment (Dumb Angel, The Real Beach Boy)- so perhaps there might be an audience for this cd? (do you think so! DOH!)It seems odd when a lot of Beach Boys junk (e.g. Mt Vernon & Fairway) are widely available- as are some dull late Beach Boys works.

Pacific Ocean Blue is probably caught in licensing-limbo, which is a tragedy as it's not available- just that fact is depressing enough! Perhaps someone like Rhino- who did a great job with The Velvets'Loaded & Fleetwood Mac's Tusk should reissue this? I'd settle for the same quality reissues as the No Other & On the Beach reissues last year. Though with the unreleased Bamboo, the Lady (Fallin' in Love)/Sound of Free single, Carry Me Home and other songs such as You Are So Beautiful, Morning Christmas, San Miguel & other rumours, there's enough here for a box-set! Pacific Ocean Blue is the musical equivalent of a Richard Brautigan novel, & the best California-songs until 60 Watt Silver Lining by Mark Eitzel. A masterpiece, & probably worth the collectors prices you'll pay for it right now...REISSUE!!! SOMEONE!!!! PLEASE!!!!!

Dennis lived the life Brian could only imagine. Dennis had musical talent? Who knew?!!! This album's music somehow caught the reflection of a soul, whose feelings were as deep and wide as the "Pacific Ocean Blue". Compare this to anything Carl ever did,and one sees quickly that the "wild one" stood nearest to big brother Brian in sensitivity---they were,in some ways, two reflections of the same heart. I have this album on vinyl. I play it often. No other music,including Brian's, is quite as emotionaly sublime. In every song, you get the sense you're listening to someone swimming hard toward the watery surface of himself, so he can call for help; not caring if anyone hears or not. We call an act,such as this, Art. Don't pay an exorbitant price to the gougers who have listed their copies for upwards of $300.00. Be patient. Music this good will find a way to it's audience.

I got a remastered CD of Pacific Ocean Blue from CiscOdisc about a year ago and I have not been able to put it down. Normally I don't get obsessed like that with an album, but as the months went on, I couldn't stop listening as Pacific Ocean Blue slowly unfolded. It's a masterpiece, and it's utterly heartbreaking.

Listening to Dennis's tracks on the Beach Boys '70s albums will give you an idea of what POB is about, but it tops them. It's a total vision. Despite his hard-partying life, Dennis had a tender heart and was a master balladeer. Although there's some great, sunny rockers here, POB is mostly the sound of a thunderstorm brewing up over the ocean and then blowing down a lone driver on a dark Pacific Coast Highway. It's obvious that his love life was going through some tumultuous times during the writing of these songs. All the songs are immaculately produced with a full band, with bells, bass harmonica, strings, piano, mellotron, and lots of (uncredited) Beach Boys harmonies (I'm positive that's Carl in "River Song!"). And then there's Dennis's voice--wow. The "gravel-and-honey" sound he cultivated over the years is both sweet and powerful.

Since POB has been out of print for years, and the discs on Amazon's marketplace are outrageously expensive, my advice is to Google: "Dennis Wilson, Dreamer" and do a search for CiscOdisc's remastered Pacific Ocean Blue. They even stuck some bonus demos on there. Check out the "Dreamer" web site. This album is essential listening--not just for Beach Boys fans--for everyone.

It's definitely worth seeking out. After you hear it, you'll be listening to Dennis's Beach Boys tunes a lot closer forever after.

Before you pay the $120 - $299 for the "used and new" versions of this brilliant album, you should know that Caribou/Epic/Legacy (Sony/BMG) has announced that they will release a double-CD version of Pacific Ocean Blue on April 15, 2008 and most assuredly will be available here on Amazon. This version will include a second CD with the aborted Bambu/Bamboo album Dennis was working on.

There will be a limited-edition 180g vinyl multi-LP box set available from the always-groovy Sundazed label. Here is the press release from Legacy:

BEACH BOY DENNIS WILSON's long out of print PACIFIC OCEAN BLUE: LEGACY EDITION returns in deluxe package
1/22/2008 4:34:00 PM

Eternal Beach Boy Dennis Wilson's 1977 solo album, the first solo album by any Beach Boy - out-of-print and unobtainable for more than a decade except as a pricey collectors item or bootleg - will return to circulation on the occasion of its 30th anniversary, and the 25th anniversary of its creator's untimely death in 1983, at age 39. The double-CD PACIFIC OCEAN BLUE: LEGACY EDITION arrives in stores April 15th on Caribou/Epic/Legacy, a division of SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT. A limited edition 180-gram vinyl multi-LP box set will also be released at the same time, on the Sundazed label.

Most bands would feel fortunate to have a songwriter as good as Dennis Wilson in their ranks. That Dennis was the second-best songwriter in the Beach Boys was amazing, as was the band's failure to appreciate him as such. Bursting with creativity, this album is the result of years of songwriting, only a small trickle of which wound up on Beach Boys records. An absolute classic, and so much better than anything the Boys did in the 70s up 'til this point (with the exception of "Sunflower," which is another Dennis showcase).

Not only does this CD deserve to be back in print (certainly more than, say, the "MIU Album"), but also the tracks for Dennis' uncompleted second solo album, "Bamboo." I haven't done the timing, but I think they'd fit onto one disc. How 'bout it?

It's 1970. Brian Wilson has retreated to his room and the rest of The Beach Boys found themselves without a leader. It was during this time (the post-Capitol era) that Dennis found himself beginning to write...a lot. With songs like 'Forever,' and 'Got To Know The Woman,' he would emerge as a creative force within the group.

In 1977, he finally got around to recording a solo record and, oh man, what a record it is! If it were available in greater quantity, I'm sure this would be considered one of the greatest albums of all time. Now let's go over the album, track-by track.

1. River Song--One of the most incredible songs I've ever heard...it'll blow you away! It has a very 'Wall Of Sound' feel to it--with great orchestration, and a gospel choir singing backup.

2. What's Wrong--A doo-wop-style rocker. Something you will find yuorself singing along to.

3. Moonshine--The first of MANY ballads on the album (Dennis was very ballady throughout his musical career).

4. Friday Night--Dennis' homage to his youth, hanging out on Friday nights wih the "white punks."

5. Dreamer--A song about Jesus. Take the lyrics with a grain of salt, but the rhythm of the music is great. There's some dixieland jazz influence in there, as well.

6. Thoughts Of You--Dennis had recently divorced his wife Karen Lamm, and wrote this ballad for her.

7. Time--Another ballad. Great horn section and guitar solo.

8. You And I--A Stevie Wonder-influenced song co-written by Karen Lamm. The song is about Dennis and Karen. Most consider this the album's weakest song, but I disagree.

9. Pacific Ocean Blues--An eco-rock song (what do you expect...Mike Love wrote the lyrics). The music has a Joe Walsh-like influence. The gospel choir returns to sing backup, and they do it well.

10. Farewell My Friend--A beautiful ballad written in memory of one of Dennis' close friends, Otto Hinsche. This song would be played at Dennis' funeral.

11. Rainbows--A nice, light pop song. Listen for the mandolin on this track.

12. End Of The Show--An interesting commentary. Dennis said that the world (in 1977) was changing vastly and this song was, essentially, saying farewell to it.

Now that I've gone over each track, I've only one more thing to say--This record is long out of print and EXTREMELY hard to find. Get it if you can. Because you'll be missing out on a life-changing musical experience if you don't.

Dennis really did a great job with this album. It wasn't totally unexpected considering some of the songs he turned out for the Beach Boys. He certainly added his own unique style to a song--soulful and profetic quite often.
I have the original album...just wish they would put it out on CD!

This album is the real deal."Pacific Ocean Blue" would be the only officially released Dennis Wilson solo album of his carrer.It is a gem in every respect.I like this album for the same reasons I like "The Band", Bob Dylan, Van Morrison,etc. It is absolutley overflowing in soul, something in which American popular music is truly lacking in today.People always wonder why the great musicians and artists always went thru such horrible things in their lives and why they could not just straighten up their life use their talent and live happily ever after.The pain of life is the great artists paintbrush.Angonizing pain equals unprecedented beauty. The first track on this album "River Song" is about how insane city life is and how attracted Dennis was to the existence of the river.It just flows,nothing will stop it,it just flows.The song has gospel singers in the backround and the whole song just rocks.You can tell he had been working on this song for years.and he had.The third track "Moonshine," is one of the best on the album and one of my personal favorite songs period.The backround vocals are just heavenly and it is quite evident that Carl Wilson was involved with this album though uncredited.You couldn't ask for much more in two minutes time than "Moonshine"."Dreamer" is another standout track that sounds so much like "the Band" to me it scares me.The middle part of the song still blows my mind how it just comes out of left field and all and all it is a brilliant song with great lyrics and a killer band sound."Thoughts of you" is so sad and yet so real that it haunts my dreams.Literally.I'm sorry if anyone disagrees with me, but this song is what music is supposed to be.You will not here anyone singing like this on "American Idol".This is a man singing for his life,which no surprise he lost six years later.It is one of the saddest and beautiful songs i have ever heard.You can't learn to sing with that kind of soul in a music school.It is something gained only from years of both experience in music and life.Look at Ray Charles.Anyway "Rainbows" is another great one on the album with a mandolin and killer backround [...] to think of it there is not a bad song on this album and anyone who truly loves music should own this.Check out his unreleased album "Bamboo" as well.

The best album produced by any of the beach boys during the 1970s. Full bodied music with lyrics to match. Dennis comes out from behind Brian's shadow with this album. Pacific Ocean Blue & Rainbow are my personal favouries. The opening of Pacific Ocean Blue makes you sit up and pay attention and appreciate the listening experince. A sheer pleasure;unfortunatley due to short supply of the CD only a few are able to experience such talent.
If only his second album was completed!!! Would someone plesae rerelease this Cd!!!!!

this album rocks. i have it . the songs are well realized. sounds like brian wilson meets wish you were here era pink floyd with a little bit of hotel california era eagles thrown in.has all the crazy 70s analog synthesizers and it's actually heavy sounding. nothing you would expect from a beach boy. with all the 'best of' beach boys compilations out there becoming redundant, let some industry exec somewhere have the 'huevos' to initiate the release of this lost masterpiece...