David Leaf

On February 20, 2004, Brian Wilson walked onstage at London’s Royal Festival Hall to unveil his long-delayed masterpiece – the Holy Grail of Rock – Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE. It was a night that that exceeded all expectations.SMiLE: The Rise, Fall and Resurrection of Brian Wilson is an oral history of that journey, music’s creation, near-death, and rebirth. It looks closely at the events of 1966-1967 and 2003-2004, as well as including an anthology of brand-new essays about SMiLE, combining to provide a ‘fly on the wall’ account of events leading up to that fateful night. That instantly legendary performance in 2004 in turn led to the recording of Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE, a worldwide tour, and the rebirth of an artistic soul.Drawing upon the author’s in-depth interviews with Brian, his collaborator Van Dyke Parks, Brian’s band (especially Darian Sahanaja), close friends, family, and so many others who were part of the trip, David Leaf tells how Brian Wilson rose to greatness, almost fell off the edge of the earth, then unexpectedly came back to reclaim his place as one of the most influential musicians of the twentieth century.There are two Beach Boys narratives. One is about a family band and their greatest hits, an amazing body of work the group primarily recorded between 1962 and 1966. Those records, composed, arranged and produced by Brian Wilson, have brought joy to the world for over six decades.This book is the other story.SMiLE is the story of a genius revealed.

The story of the Brian Wilson's legendary SMiLE album from Beach Boys authority David Leaf.This is the first book to tell the full story of Brian Wilson and SMiLE, including the details of the original SMiLE recording sessions and their increasingly legendary status as well as the final release of the album, the accompanying concerts and film, and its afterlife.The book is an oral history of SMiLE, as told by those who were there: in 1966-1967 and 2003-2004.

Originally published in 1978 as The Beach Boys and the California Myth, this groundbreaking study was both the first full-length book on the band and the first to recognize Brian Wilson as one of the most significant and influential artists of the 20th century. Covering the turbulent family strife and internal conflicts as well as giving proper attention to the remarkable music, the book was an instant classic. An intimate look at Brian's rollercoaster of a life and career, it's told through the eyes of those who were there during Wilson's most legendary productions including Pet Sounds and Good Vibrations. Revised and updated, God Only Knows covers the decades since the 1985 edition, including Brian's first acclaimed solo album, his startling return to live performing, the landmark Pet Sounds tour, the "All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson" (which Leaf wrote and produced) and the triumphant and miraculous Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE world premiere in London. Filled with surprising revelations, insight and behind-the-scenes detail, this indispensable book written by renowned Brian Wilson expert David Leaf also features forewords by Jimmy Webb, the Bee Gees' Barry Gibb and Melinda Wilson, Brian's wife.

This is the 19th book from author and popular music historian Harvey Kubernik. His comprehensive compilation of interviews and conversations with rock, blues, folk, soul, reggae musicians, singers, songwriters, and recording engineers, photographers, cinematographers, documentary movie makers and distributors whose creative works matter, and who share their insider stories, techniques and inspiration with readers and viewers. This is the definitive volume for fans, collectors, music and film students to cherish and share anyone who follows rock 'n' roll facts and stax of wax from the fifties into our current century. For the ever-growing audience of people who love to see and hear their favorite stars performing live in arenas, concert halls, outdoor concert venues, and now on screen in theaters, on TV and in productions and formats designed for home entertainment, here is the real-to-reel backstory behind many of the music DVD's and movies you have on your shelves and in rotation on your home library. This book includes dialogues with acclaimed Oscar winners D. A. Pennebaker, Murray Lerner, Albert Maysles, Morgan Neville, John Ridley, and Curtis Hanson alongside commentary about noted directors Michael Lindsay-Hogg, Allan Arkush, Colin Hanks, Quentin Tarentino and Martin Scorsese. You'll also learn about filmmakers and screenwriters David Leaf, Leslie Ann Coles, and Travis Edward Pike, plus the often-overlooked rock 'n' roll contributions of native Americans. You'll be reminded again of the pioneering television efforts of Ed Sullivan and Dick Clark with photography displayed in the pages by Henry Diltz and Heather Harris. This 508 page book, illustrated with a total of 220 photos, documents and artifacts, is mandatory for anyone who loves music and available screen productions with the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, the Doors, Otis Redding, Bob Marley, the music of Motown, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Brian Wilson, James Brown, the Bee Gees, John Lennon, the Supremes, Ike and Tina Turner, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Band, Paul Butterfield, and the sounds of Laurel Canyon, including the Mamas and the Papas, the Byrds, Crosby, Stills and Nash, and the famed studio recording musicians, the Wrecking Crew. Harvey examines seminal music television shows and the ongoing influence and impact of "American Bandstand," " Shindig " " Shebang " and "Upbeat." There's even a whole chapter on the sacred music George Harrison and Ravi Shankar presented in their Concert for Bangladesh charity event that will celebrate a 50th anniversary in 2021.This is the one you've been waiting for Harvey Kubernik is your tour guide on this journey through the past that you can still see, hear and own in 2020.

A history of the iconic rock-and-roll band draws on interviews with all four members and their photograph archives, offering insight into their music, their high-energy stage performances, their decision to remove their makeup, and their triumphant reunion. Reprint.