The Beach Boys: Good Timin'- Live at Knebworth, England 1980

I saw the slightly edited version of this concert on cable twice recently, with the first time having been Christmas night. It was close to midnight, so the day was almost over. What a way to bring it to an end. We were clapping, singing, and dancing along. I had the CD, but to actually see it was a completely different experience.By 1980, these guys had been through quite a few turbulent times- squabbles inside the group, Brian's mental illness and drug abuse, Denny's drug and alcohol abuse, the departure and return of Bruce Johnston... However, you tend to not focus on any of that so much when you are listening to the music at this concert, which was the last time all six of them would perform together on stage in the UK. I was amazed by how different their sound was. Although the sunny feeling of their music was still present, there was a rough edge to it, which sounded good. For instance, "Little Deuce Coupe" sounded like a hard rock song. They also performed their latest song "Keepin' The Summer Alive". Carl Wilson, who wrote it and sang lead, was so into it, he broke one of the strings on his guitar.You could sense some underlying tension on stage at times. During "Surfer Girl", you could see Mike get apprehensive when Dennis left the drums to stand next to him. The two were known for having a very volatile relationship. Carl's mind seemed to wander at times. He would take an absence from the group for about a year, starting in 1981. He wanted to go out on his own, and pursue other kinds of music. Al and Bruce seemed just happy to be there, while Mike seemed to get his biggest kick out of conversing with the audience. As for Brian, he sang a few lines of "Surfer Girl" and "Sloop John B", but he was mostly concentrating on playing piano. Denny was wild on the drums, giving it all he had. He was highly animated the entire time.Although it was a cold and rainy night, the crowd was not fazed by it. They were having a great time. I had a great time too, watching it. The music of the Beach Boys has a way of making you get on your feet, and this concert is no exception. It is a must-have, if you are a fan like I am.

The Beach Boys have been unfairly trivialized for their superficial, fun-in-the-sun approach to their art, but the criticism is both unfair and ironic. Behind the wave catching and gettin' around, the Wilson brothers, their cousin, Mike Love and their friends Al Jardine and, later, Bruce Johnston, could match any obviously dark band for its share of turmoil, volatility and pain. Furthermore, their music, thanks in part, but by no means completely, to brother Brian, is actually some of the most profoundly moving, innovative and relentlessly melodic material America has produced.Okay, so there's the legend.And here at Knebworth, we get a chance to witness the final embers of that creative fire. I was expecting less from Brian, who actually turns in an okay bridge to Surfer Girl and seems fairly in command of his keyboard. Dennis, just as I remember him, is liquid on feet and iron behind his drums. When he's up front, he's barely holding on, the apparently huge amount of alcohol and/or drugs threatening to wash him away. There's an unsettling instability to him that made me anxious, as it did when I saw him and the Beach Boys live in 1980 (without Brian). But when he's playing, he anchors the entire band, let alone himself. It's an amazing contrast. Mike's self-indulgence and dumb stage humor are less annoying, more benign than in many shows I've seen. He's also in good voice, unlike Dennis, whose vocal cords were so ravaged by abuse by then that even doing his Joe Cocker bit was beyond him. (To hear incredible Dennis singing - and writing - go back three years to his magnificent Pacific Ocean Blue.) Al and Bruce are as ever, solid and capable, while not really standing out. Bruce has no solo singing and Al just manages to hold on while the band rushes through Heroes & Villains. (The stellar, more recent performances of Heroes by Brian and his own band do the song much more justice.) And then there's Carl, who was always most moving to me in concert back in those days. God Only Knows alone would justify the purchase of this DVD. But for my all time favorite moment, let's go back to Dennis and Surfer Girl: In the front line, singing between Mike and Carl (I think) he announces the entrance of Brian's solo voice, "And now ladies and gentlemen, Brian Wilson!" Brian comes in with the bridge, "We could ride the surf together..." (Nice metaphor for the Beach Boys' journey.) As Brian takes off into these lines, the camera comes back to Dennis, thankfully, catching an indescribably precious smile that reflects a depth of pride, love and gratitude toward his older brother that cuts through everything else. It's a sublime moment.If you're a lover of the Beach Boys, you have to have this show. If not, it's a good start, although, as I said - along with everyone else commenting on it - it's really more of an ending.

My greatest appreciation about this concert DVD is that it offers one the chance to see the Wilson brothers: Brian, Dennis, and Carl, along with their cousin Mike Love, and their long time friend Al Jardine, (and others as well). They were all there and they all sang so for that I gave the concert five stars. To me, if anyone of them were missing, then the Beach Boys would be incomplete. This may be one of the last recorded performances which included all five of those Beach Boys.It really saddens me that Dennis and Carl are no longer here. It is fairly rare to see Dennis sing, despite some comments from other reviewers regarding his singing. Too bad, that there aren't more vocal performances from him. In general, I have to agree with other reviewers that this concert wasn't their best performance, and that they didn't look too good. You have to bear in mind, that these are not their prime glory years.In my opinion, at their finest, all five had great vocal ability, fine enough for each of them to sing lead. I'm sure that many may recall the many excellent CD recordings of times past, from Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Carl Wilson, Al Jardine, Dennis Wilson, and others.On 1080 high def TV, the DVD quality is fuzzy or grainy, like other older DVDs.For an "older" concert (1980), I thought the audio sounded fine through the TV speakers."God Only Knows" where Carl and Dennis are now.

I have always loved the Beach Boys music, and wanted to be able to observe them in their original band......the music on this DVD to me was good, but I preferred the sound off their records. I was not able to determine who sang the high notes on these songs, but could make a guess.

I've never seen the Beach Boys in concert so I thoroughly enjoyed watching this show. The songs are powerful for their message to find joy in life and I don't ever want to lose that. I wouldn't say they are top showmen but no one harmonizes like the Beach Boys and their sound carries their message, Carl especially. Dennis puts an incredible amount of energy into his drumming which adds so much to the energy of the songs. Mike seems less than confident as a front man but if I closed my eyes I could hear the leadership in his voice. I'm happy I bought this and know I will watch it again.

a

I've wanted an audio of this concert for some time. Great concert, great service. Thanks.

This was for a gift but the individual I bought it for already had it. Amazon and the supplier worked closely to help me return it and get my money back. Great service.