From: Michael@Hotmail.com   
      
   "Elmer Pintar"  wrote in message   
   news:13661-41631672-463@storefull-3338.bay.webtv.net...   
   > ..when listening to "Do You Like Worms?" The guy who brought the tapes   
   > to his house is only one example of how Brian is being used as much as   
   > ever, with everyone making money off of him, just as before in 1976,   
   > 1988, and now 2004.   
   >   
   > HOW MUCH of this album did Brian actually produce???  I see lots of   
   > same-old interviews, but I would like to see some proof, some video   
   > footage of him PRODUCING....really really PRODUCING.  Not David Leaf,   
   > not Joe Thomas, not Don Was.  Or are these "co-producers" the ones who   
   > are actually running the whole show, with Brian only requiring a   
   > signature to be the real "producer".  Oh, I'm sure Brian Wilson approved   
   > of the final product.  But it sounds like an album recreated by the   
   > people around him, with Brian as the front man.   
   >   
   > Elmer Pintar<   
      
   Interesting post Elmer. As much as I / We would love to see such footage,   
   think about it for a second: Music production, very much like composition,   
   is a fleeting and a difficult 'muse' to document. The Beatles "Let It Be" is   
   about the closest thing to the artists performing and refining 'raw' tracks   
   that I've seen. And, needless to say - it was heavily editied and recorded   
   at The Beatles lowest period.   
      
   The main problem, of seeing an actual producer 'working his magic' is that   
   film cameras and audio recorders would need to be running 24/7. No artist   
   would feel at ease producing / recording / composing under these conditions.   
   It might be compared to having film footage of Renoir painting or Bach   
   composing a Sonata. Food for thought. But, I do agree with one other   
   curiosity you mention - who actually *did* the producing? I don't think   
   Brian is / was being 'used'. I've seen him live too and while somewhat   
   nervous at first, once the music started he seemed like was having a great   
   time. Look at his side too. Mental illness, drug abuse - we all know the   
   history. The fact that overwhelmed me was I was seeing a real genius, not   
   twenty yards away, playing live. If someone told me 10 years ago Brian   
   Wilson will play live again, I would have laughed in his face. Well, I've   
   never been so happy to be wrong.   
      
   I think the Sea Of Tunes catalogue is one of the most valuable collections   
   in the history of music for this very reason. Sure, the tape machine wasn't   
   running non-stop, but the genius of Brian Wilson has audio documents far and   
   above anything the Beatles have in their vaults. (To say nothing of the SOT   
   audio quality which presents most tracks before 'reduction mixes' / bounces   
   / etc.) In short, some of the SOT discs are *way* better than the Capitol   
   masters. (IMO)   
      
   As much as I'd die to see film of BW producing, say, Sloop John B. - it   
   ain't gonna' happen. Nor the original Smile. (Except for the existing   
   snippets of "Fire")   
      
   All I can say is I'm thankful for what I have in the SOT catalogue - it's so   
   unique that one really doesn't need the video to appreciate it. But, if you   
   hear of any...let us know!!!   
      
   Regards,   
   Mike T.   
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
      
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