15 Big Ones is a really corny album. It's over-produced, has way too many covers, isn't a full-fledged Brian Wilson album on any level with Pet Sounds. The production is pretty similar to Mark Hudson's (he has commited production overkill on many Ringo albums.)The production was an attempt to sound retro while taking advantage of the current recording technology and production trends. Therefore, even though this album is a tribute to rock and roll, the album doesn't rock. Any time that the Beach Boys really rocked, it was when the instrumental and vocal rawness rose above the production values. Mind you, there's not one bad instrumental sound or bad vocal. In fact, this album is really quite enjoyable despite the gripes. It's a really well-made prodcut. It just doesn't have quite enough soul. Carl still manages to get soulful and Brian does some pretty good, but slightly ragged singing. Just Once In My Life has the most emotional vocals from Brian and Carl. It's probably the best song on the album. The second best song Had To Phone Ya... which happens to be a Brian original. I also really enjoy That Same Song. It's a happy mixture of corny music and wonderful lyrics that talk about how music went from Gregorian Chant to Rock over time. A song like That Same Song almost makes 15 Big Ones feel like it's a lesser version of a concept album. Mike Love doesn't add much to this album. His originals are lame and his vocals don't make matters better for the cover of Rock And Roll Music. Carl's leadership and songwriting is missing on this album. He's relegated to his old role of best vocalist.
Once you get past that commercial stuff, we get to the real art. We get the REAL Brian Wilson. He was back and he delivered the goods! This album has production that works, fun lyrics, rocking songs, intricate instrumentals and vocal harmonies, and some songs that even have the same emotional power as the songs from Pet Sounds. Best of all, this album actually ROCKS. Even with the complex chord progressions and layers of synths! The lyrics are mostly simple, but fantastic. From the childlike fascination in the stars of Solar System to the fantastic love song The Night Was So Young. Solar system is actually a marvelous song and you feel Brian's wonderment evoked through his vocals. Brian actually sings the best vocals on the album. He sings with a true passion and more emotion that nobody would've expected back then. He did a wonderful and beautiful job on the vocals for The Night Was So Young and Let's Put Our Hearts Together. Both songs are actually pretty moving and poigniant. I Wanna Pick You Up and I'll Bet He's Nice have really sentimental lyrics and Brian and Dennis both provide great, ragged vocals. Carl's vocals are the best on the latter song, though. Carl Wilson sings a great lead vocal for Let Us Go On This Way and Roller Skating Child. He has soul that goes back to Wild Honey and it sounds like he's having a lot of fun. Mike even sounds pretty good during Roller Skating Child. Mona does EVERYTHING that 15 Big Ones failed to do. It's a fantastic tribute to rock and roll before The Beatles. I could imagine Phil Spector loving it... and being flattered for the mention of some of the songs he produced and his name. Great job, Brian. Johnny Carson is this great bluesy... um... rocker about... Johnny Carson! The lyrics are funny, but brilliant. Once again, Carl steals the show. He sings with such convincing soul... and Mike did another decent job. Honkin' Down The Highway has a great lead vocal from Al who sings the song's somewhat silly lyrics with fun and passion. Airplane has great instrumentals and harmonies... It actually would've been a good song for Bruce to sing during the choruses. Both Honkin' Down The Highway and Airplane actually sound like classic Beach Boys songs. The only song that i don't really like is Love Is A Woman. The synths are great, but this song is too much like the stuff from 15 Big Ones... You'll hear why. Ding Dang is better and way more fun. It's a nifty little rocker with catchy lyrics and more fun vocals from Carl. The Night Was So Young is the best song on the album. Everything about it is GREAT. Carl turned in fine lead vocals, the harmonies are perfect, Brian's couple of lead vocal parts and his falsetto vocals are fantastic. Long story short, this is a great Brian Wilson album and every song has fantastic lead and harmony vocals from the group. I CAN'T complain about the music OR production... everything is tastefully done down to the experimental use of synths and keys... so go listen to Love You. You will feel the love and you will love this wonderful album.
November 14, 2008 |  | The Dramatic Return Of Brian Wilson |  |
This is another in the Capitol/Brothers Records 2000 releases which pulled together their 1970s albums [see also Carl & The Passions "So Tough" and M.I.U. Album].
In the 6 pages of liner notes covering the album 15 Big Ones, Dennis Diken opens by saying "In 1976 the words that were planted on the lips of Beach Boy fans all over this whole world were "Brian is back." Apparently under severe pressure from Warner Brothers to produce not only an album but a hit as well as part of the contract signed back in 1970, Wilson returned to the fold to help formulate this collection of songs, which was released in July 1976.
Not only did it do well on the album charts, it also contained a single hit [actually released a couple of months earlier] covering Chuck Berry's Rock And Roll Music. Rising to # 5 Billboard Hot 100 that summer, b/w The T M Song, it was their first Top 10 since Good Vibrations a decade earlier. As with the original vinyl album, there's a page in the notes showing the names of all those involved with each track.
For the only moderately successful The Beach Boys "Love You" album, Peter Buck (who nevertheless claims this is his personal favorite Beach Boys LP] provides the detailed liner notes which includes track-by-track background information. As with the earlier CD Carl & The Passions "So Tough"/Holland", the sound reproduction is perfect. An essential addition to any serious Beach Boys collection.
August 12, 2007 | | Brian is back with 14 songs and a raspy voice | |
On Love You - Brians voice takes some getting used to here. He went from a sweet falsetto to a raspy croak after 3 years of heavy drug use. However he is back in action with loads of new songs and a mediocre Brian is better than no Brian.
January 30, 200715 big ones was the return of brian wilson to the producers chair & major involvment in the studio,some fun in the sun songs are on the album with 1/2 oldies,1/2 originals,just sit back and lie in the sun!"love you"is brian back in full form bb fans have come to love this album.From "roller skating child" to "solar system" the album reflects brian's genius and sense of humor.
October 2, 2005Triumphantly,Brian Wilson is back with his Beach Boys bandmates! It is 1976,and the Beach Boys are now 30ish,bearded and "Beach Men". The girls will never forget how handsome they all were a decade earlier. One of the 15 BIG ONES is a cover of Chuck Berry's ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC,earlier covered by The Beatles. THE BEACH BOYS LOVE YOU was released in 1977,a year after 15 BIG ONES. I vaguely remember,as a child in the 70's,seeing the Beach Boys on American Bandstand performing RARM. These are the group's fifth and sixth non-compilation albums,respectively,on the Brother label,a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Fans were very happy when Brian rejoined his bandmates. For several years,beginning in the mid-60's,he was battling depression and drug addiction. So he put on a few pounds,big deal! He's back!
July 27, 2005More reviews at Amazon.com ...
