They claim that about 50 years ago there was this special night at the Tivoli Theater. The “Jewel of the South” had been sold out for weeks and about 45 minutes before Louis Armstrong, or whoever, was to appear, incomparable John Robere had pulled out all the stops on “The Mighty Wurlitzer” and the excitement was keen. This tuxedoed dandy – he was even wearing spats – escorted his lovely to their seats and, lo and behold, a strange man was laid across both of them.
The dandy told him to get up. The man only blinked. The rake then punched the prostrate guy in the ribs with his cane, ordering him to get up. Nothing doing. Finally they got the manager, Clyde Hawkins, who also ordered the man up. The stranger only blinked. Clyde got down in the man’s face and shouted over “The Might Wurlitzer” decibels, “Get up! What are you … Where’d you come from!” and the man managed to barely move one arm, pointing upwards and groaned, “The baa-alcony ….”
Now if you think that was something suffice it to say that will all but be forgotten in two short weeks from now. On Sunday, May 7, the greatest musical genius in both my life and yours will take center stage when Brian Wilson – the greatest Beach Boy ever and the composer of maybe my favorite song of all time – brings the Pet Sounds World Tour to Chattanooga.
Brian Wilson wrote most of the legendary Beach Boys songs and I know all of them by heart, lord knows I do. It has been exactly 50 years since he wrote his Opus, an album called “Pet Sounds” and the collection has not only been called “the greatest album in all of music,” but is regarded by many as the greatest achievement in the entire era of rock ‘n roll.
Side I begins with “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” and “You Still Believe In Me.” Every track is fabulous and “Sloop John B” flips to Side 2, where “God Only Knows” captured my heart 50 years ago and its glow has never dimmed. That’s the Beatles Paul McCartney's favorite song too. There’s “I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times, and “Caroline, No.”
McCartney was so staggered by the genius of Brian Wilson he has often said “Pet Sounds” inspired another all-time classic, Sgt. Pepper’s Band. "It was Pet Sounds that blew me out of the water," McCartney told Beach Boys' biographer David Leaf. "(I) bought my kids each a copy of it for their education in life – I figure no one is educated musically 'til they've heard that album. ... It more than holds up. It's better than ever."
Pet Sounds was released on May 26, 1966, and – quite horribly – Brian then disappeared for 25 years. He suffered nervous breakdowns, obvious mental despair and the self-agony that many brilliant people have known. His depression is legendary and that made him all the greater in my eyes since I know something about mental disease myself.
In 1971 he totally stepped aside. “I felt I had no choice. I was run down mentally and emotionally because I was running around, jumping on jets from one city to another on one-night stands, also producing, writing, arranging, singing, planning, teaching—to the point where I had no peace of mind and no chance to actually sit down and think or even rest."
He had panic attacks, turned to drugs both legal and illegal to quell the demons. The Beach Boys got Glenn Campbell to step in as a replacement but there was a horrible void in Brian Wilson’s life for over 20 years. With help and kindness and courage he has worked his way out of his shadows. He even got treatment for stage fright!
And now, at the age of 74, his Animal Sounds Tour is a sellout wherever it goes. Before he’s in Chattanooga he’ll work the Lincoln Theater in Washington and will be in Knoxville the night before he graces Chattanooga. The great part about the tour is that, yes, they are doing LA, Chicago, New York and Atlanta but Wilson wants desperately to honor the heartland of America – Hersey, Pa., Tulsa, Worchester, Mass., Newark …. places like Knoxville and Chattanooga, where they also know every word to Brian Wilson’s songs. (In Nashville all three nights with the Nashville Symphony are sold out.)
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A limited number of tickets are still available at the Tivoli but you’d better bring your satchel. Four tickets together in the right center orchestra are $185 apiece. Want two seats on Row C? Bring $230 apiece. Want to venture up to the balcony? Those are $114 each. All remaining tickets – even singles – are expected to be sold this week. (Your best bet is to go to the Tivoli box office to buy tickets so you can see a diagram on where open seats are located.)
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“Pet Sounds is a landmark album. For me to say that I was enthralled would be an understatement. I had never heard such magical sounds, so amazingly recorded. It undoubtedly changed the way that I, and countless others, approached recording. It is a timeless and amazing recording of incredible genius and beauty.” – Elton John
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Here is video of "God Only Knows".
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