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David Leaf

God Only Knows: The Story of Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys and the California Myth Paperback – 30 Jun. 2022

by David Leaf (Author)

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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.

Print length

480 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Omnibus Press
Publication date

30 Jun. 2022
Dimensions

23.4 x 4 x 15.8 cm
ISBN-10

1913172759
ISBN-13

978-1913172756
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Product description

Review

'David Leaf’s matchless The Beach Boys and the California Myth overshadows any book that documents the group’s most successful years.' --The Guardian

'When I championed the first edition of this book in 1978 in Melody Maker, I wrote ‘The definitive story. Probably the best book ever of any aspect of music history. A one of a kind effort, a new genre of journalism by going behind the scenes without sensationalizing.’ In our world, the sequel is almost never better than the original. But in the rock biography universe, David Leaf’s God Only Knows: The Story of Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys and the California Myth is akin to The Godfather Part II. In this massive update, Leaf reveals deeper truths about Mr. Wilson that make his adventures with Brian feel like a page-turning novel.' --Author and music historian, Harvey Kubernik

‘Essential reading for anybody who cares about Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys and the evolution of rock & roll. --Jason Fine, former Editor-in-Chief, Rolling Stone

About the Author

David Leaf is an award-winning writer, director and producer, whose feature credits include the Venice Film festival favorite The U.S. vs. John Lennon, the Grammy-nominated Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of SMiLE, The Night James Brown Saved Boston, and Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is ‘Everybody Talkin’ About Him?). As well as publishing the seminal The Beach Boys and the California Myth in 1978, David wrote the Bee Gees’ authorized autobiography. Leaf is also a professor at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music in Los Angeles, where, since 2010, he has been teaching courses in rock documentary, songwriting and the Beatles.

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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Omnibus Press (30 Jun. 2022)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 480 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1913172759
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1913172756
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 23.4 x 4 x 15.8 cm

Best Sellers Rank: 52,079 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 275 in Biographies about Artists, Architects & Photographers
- 430 in Rock Music
- 439 in Rock & Pop Musician Biographies

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26 ratings

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Andrew G. Doe

Extensive update to an iconic book

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 July 2022

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I bought both previous editions of this when they were published in 1978 & 1985 respectively, so the news that some 37 years later it was being updated was hugely welcomed. Was it worth the wait ? Yes, very much so. Anyone who claims to be a Brian Wilson/Beach Boys fan of any hue needs to read this book. Comprising the full text of both the original version and the later update (so in essence you're getting three books in one), and an extensive update covering the years 1985-2022, this view of the complex world of Brian Wilson from the inside is rarely less than revalatory, sometimes shocking and occaisionally very funny. Brian's emergence from his years of personal troubles, through the horrors of the Landy years 1982-91 to his triumphant completion of the legendary Smile album (and more) is deftly handled by someone who started off as a fan in 1971 and was, by 2004, Brian's friend and confidante. Running parallel with Brian's story is that of David's journey to becoming a respected documentary maker, and this is relevant because were it not for his involvement with Brian, that would most likely never have happened. David's writing style remains engaging and conversational, even when relating the rigours of getting a tribute show or TV special to come to pass (or not, in some cases...). As both a Brian Wilson/Beach Boys fan/researcher/historian of nearly 50 years standing, I'm obviously not even close to objective, but I'll say it again: if you're in any way a fan of Brian and the Beach Boys, you need to read this book. Unhesitatingly recommended.

6 people found this helpful

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Stephen Mosley

Influential & Essential

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 July 2022

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"I'm going to move to California, write a book about Brian Wilson, become his friend, and help him finish SMiLE."

Those words, spoken by the young David Leaf, became a self-fulfilling prophecy for the fledgling author, whose seminal book THE BEACH BOYS & THE CALIFORNIA MYTH was first published in 1978. This beautiful new edition preserves intact both the '78 version and its 1985 "codetta", before bringing things full circle with an update to 2022. Since his first analysis of Brian Wilson's genius, David has indeed become a trusted friend to the composer - and, yes, like the time-traveling hero of Lewis Shiner's novel GLIMPSES, he also helped contribute to the successful resurrection of Wilson's legendarily unfinished masterwork SMiLE. This shift in perspective, from fan to insider - the way the lives of both author and subject eventually intertwine - makes for fascinating reading. Yet, despite David's clear love for Wilson and his music shining through on every page, this never once diminishes his critical abilities. This is an essential book for anyone who has ever been moved by Brian's songs.

3 people found this helpful

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Jana LeBlanc

If You Are A Beach Boys Fan - Buy This Now!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 July 2022

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What truly is the dream of every Beach Boys fan? To be a fly on the wall observing Brian Wilson in the height of his creativity, producing one of his masterpieces. We get that here, in the most current revision of David Leaf’s seminal 1978 opus to the creative genius that is Brian Wilson.

With Brian Wilson Presents Smile, we finally were able to hear the finished, long awaited masterpiece as Brian originally imagined it back in 1966. With David Leaf’s update, we are privy to the circumstances that lead to and the behind the scenes descriptions of how, all of the parts fell together with an unanticipated ease to produce a recording and series of concerts that not only met lofty expectations, but in some way exceeded them.

This alone is worth the price of the book. However, it is the original 1978 edition, with which this release begins, which really shines. The progression is linear, and follows the order of the US releases of the albums of The Beach Boys and is rich in interviews with family, friends and insiders. Audrey Wilson is quoted frequently much to my delight. Bruce Johnston comes across as insightful and honest in his observations and assessments. Everyone within The Beach Boys pantheon, with the exception of Mike Love, is quoted here. Still the greatest delight is in hearing about the process of how such amazing recording prowess was achieved and why it was. This is where Brian Wilson shines. The man who can only hear sounds in mono is also able to hear the sounds in his head before he actually hears them with his good ear. The analysis as to how and why that came to be is brilliant. So Yes, the original edition is important in that it makes us think about Brian’s process and how mind blowing his abilities as well as giving us the details and the from the source information of the history of The Beach Boys.

The second part, from 1985, delves deeply into the fall and rise of The Beach Boys and the effect of the initial treatments of Eugene Landy on Brian. A whole chapter is devoted just to Brian, his mental illness, and what he needs to beak out and become whole again. I felt a bit angered that in this segment, Landy was given a bit of a pass, but then I began to read the update and my disappointments were rectified.

Hindsight is 20/20 and no where is it more apparent than on the various Beach Boy Message boards. While I had seen much praise for David’s original book and the revision, I also heard a lot of blame given to Mr. Leaf for his dismissal and criticisms of Mike Love. Frankly, reading the first book for the first time with this edition, I did not feel that assessment to be fair. As rare and as expensive to acquire as the original book had become, It is my opinion that this view was something that had taken on a life of it’s own via hearsay and second and third hand accounts. Even so, David offers a bit of an olive branch to Mike on pages 321 and 322 and even resists mentioning the exact dialog of Mike’s unfortunate Rock and Roll Hall of Fame diatribe. This indeed elevated David in my eyes, and shows that he was listening to the fans.

My only criticism of this edition, is that the point of view of the formats of the books change so drastically that it is a bit jarring. Thankfully David prepares us with forwards that explain the shift from interviewer and historian, to observational insider, so that does soften the blow. So you get to see what happens through David’s eyes in the final two books, the proverbial fly on the wall. And that is not a bad thing at all. In fact it’s wonderful.

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Bluekahuna55

44 years on!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 July 2022

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A great read for fans of BDW, both the original written by a young man and the updates, written by a more mature version with lots of direct access. As AGD posted earlier a must for all loyal Wilsonian's! Amen

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