“David Leaf is quite simply the best at what he does. No one is more knowledgeable about music and pop culture. His writing, producing skills are superb.”

Ted Harbert, former Chairman NBC, President and CEO of Comcast, Chairman ABC-TV Entertainment

Brian Wilson Media

Brian Wilson and David Leaf on Charlie Rose to discuss Beautiful Dreamer

Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson & The Story of SMiLE

Vince Gill, David Crosby and Jimmy Webb perform “Surf’s Up” at 2001’s An All Star Tribute to Brian Wilson at New York’s Radio City Music Hall.

More links to performances from this show are in the Reader’s Guide to God Only Knows.

David Leaf interviews for God Only Knows: The Story of Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys & the California Myth.

The Viewing, Listening and Reading List for God Only Knows: The Story of Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys & the California Myth.The links in this guide are designed help the reader easily find key songs, recordings, performances, interviews and articles specifically referenced in the text.

An Overture from Sir Paul McCartney 

“Words” By Sir Barry Gibb

Welcome

 My California Myth Begins and Is Renewed

“All I Know”: An Introduction from Jimmy Webb

The 1978 edition

Chapter 1: Rhapsody in Blue

(NOTE: Date of appearance incorrect. Their appearance on the Andy Williams Show was October 22, 1965.)

Chapter 2: Five Freshmen

Chapter 3: Let’s Go Surfin’

Chapter 4: If Everybody Had an Ocean

Chapter 5: Don’t Worry Baby

Chapter 6: Please Let Me Wonder

Chapter 7: Pet Sounds

On the 1997 box set, The Pet Sounds Sessions, you can hear the entire album in several different ways, including “vocals only” and “instrumental tracks only.”

Listen to these four “vocals only” versions of key songs from the album, and you get a sense as to the heart and feeling on the record. And why many think of this as almost a Brian Wilson solo album.

 

Chapter 8: Good Vibrations and SMiLE

This is an example of the kind of chanting that Brian loved to do with the Beach Boys or with any group he had gathered.

Chapter 9: Heroes, Villains and No Smiles

Chapter 10: Beached

Chapter 11: Surf’s Up

Murry Wilson

I'm Bugged at My Old Man   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nG5lujg3E8

Chapter 12: Endless Summer

Chapter 13: Brian Is Back

(While this song is not mentioned in the 1978 edition, it is mentioned a in the 2022 update. It’s here both as an example of Brian’s singing at the time, as well as his interest in astrology and astronomy.)

1985 update

Chapter 14: Codetta, 1977-1985

The following bootleg recording is included as it’s a tape I heard in the early 1980s and includes what, to me were/are great Brian Wilson songs as “works in progress.”

Requiem for the Beach Boy

Chapter 15: Retrospective, 1985

Shades of Grey

(Note: This isn’t exactly what the book refers to, but it is charming enough to be included on this list.)

The 2022 Edition

The Author’s Note

Chapter 16: ‘Til I DIe

Brian Wilson’s First Solo Album

CHAPTER 17/Melt Away

Chapter 18/Brian Hits The Road!?

To get a sense of what Brian’s early tours were like you can listen to his

2000 release, Live at the Roxy Theatre, which includes these two new songs.

Chapter 19/The Tribute and the Queen

Chapter 20/Beautiful Dreams and Beautiful Dreamer

  • From Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE, here’s the first track from the studio recording. https://youtu.be/3wWBV3QCbGE   This will then take you through the entire album.

You can find an audio recording of the world premiere from February, 2004 on the web too, but the audio quality isn’t ideal.

Chapter 21/That Lucky Old Sun

Chapter 22/An Epilogue