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

Rating:
Summary: A Highly Worthwhile Live DVD
Review: As a big Beach Boys fan, I found this dvd highly enjoyable. The boys from Hawthorne sound alive and well here (with the exception of Brian and Dennis Wilson, though they can be forgiven since they were battling personal demons at this point), and the overall song selection will not let you down.

"Good Timin' (Live At Knebworth England, 1980)" is from the band's last appearance in the U. K. with the original lineup, though they obviously did know it at time. The band does plauy with a fiery edge as though it was the last time they're performing them. They sound youthful and ibrant on the rockers especially "Help Me Rhonda", "I Get Around", "Surfin' USA", "Good Vibrations", "Barbara Ann" and "Fun Fun Fun". The slow songs are a mixed bag. The best is Carl Wilson's beautiful rendition of "God Only Knows". Al Jardine also turns in a great reading of "Lady Lynda", but Brian sounds whiny on "Surfer Girl" and Dennis' once sparkling voice is unheard on "You Are So Beautiful".

Despite its flaws, this is a really great dvd. It also comes with a nice Al Jardine introduction and song commentary. Here's hoping that the four remaining Beach Boys (Al Jardine, Mike Love, Bruce Johnston and Brian Wilson) get back together soon, since the world needs them in this time of horrible music, courtesy of Britney, Christina and Eminem

Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: Great show, not much more to say.. you'll hear almost every commercial hit of the band, including "God only knows", probably one of the best music compositions of the history of music. Great sound guaranteed !!

Rating:
Summary: Good, good show
Review: Mike Love is his usual dork-on-speed self, talking over song endings, making light of certain songs, and just generally being and idiot on stage. Dennis Wilson looks completely wasted and manages to stumble through half of the bands material. (even making a mistake with a false ending on a song) Brian looks, and acts like a zombie pounding chords on the piano. (You even get to see Al walk over to Brian to check and ask if he's okay) Al Jardine gives a terrific performance handling the vocals and rythm guitar. Carl Wilson gives a stellar performance singing and playing guitar. What does this mean? Nothing, just get the DVD its a good, good show.

Rating:
Summary: The Beach Boys on a hot night
Review: Thank God they got this one on film. Although my ultimate fantasy would be an entire concert from the great 1970-71 tour when the boys were traveling with a small horn section and were performing hunks of their repertoire from "Pet Sounds" to "Sunflower", this concert will more than hold me over until that dream is realized one day, hopefully. Having seen The Beach Boys more times than I can count, I had forgotten what a hard working band they were until I saw "Live at Knebworth". Their ability to perform "Live" and with fidelity the gorgeous complex songs that were the soundtrack of our lives growing up in the 60's and 70's is a joy to behold on this DVD. It was the last time all 6 original members of the band (including an obviously nervous Brian) performed together on stage and you can tell the boys are working hard this night to give their British audience a memorable concert. Some of the highlights for me were their performances of Al Jardine's "Lady Lynda" from the L.A. Light album and a faithfully rendered version of Brian's groundbreaking "Good Vibrations" (in spite of grandstanding from the allways creepy Mike Love). It's also apparent in this concert that Dennis is already starting on a downward slide that would ultimately end in his untimely death in 1982. His ragged solo performance of "You are so Beautiful" is a poignant reminder that the end is not far off. Carl Wilson, one of the greatest vocalists in rock history, proves throughout this concert that he was the linchpin that held this band together until his tragic death in 1998 ended once and for all the band as a viable performing entity. So get this DVD put on your Hawaiian shirt pour yourself a cool drink and enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: Bittersweet
Review: There are two words that describe this dvd: bittersweet. While it's a joyous occasion to see the band onstage again, it's sad knowing this would be one of the last times the group would be performing onstage in the UK.

There's an extremely high level of emotion on this dvd, as well as some tension. Mike Love takes over most of the show, making the rest of the group seem like a backing band. Dennis Wilson is good here but his use of drugs becomes increasingly evident with each performance. Al and Carl give the best performances. Al dlievers strong renditions of "Cottonfields", "Heroes And Villains" and "Help Me Rhonda, and Carl's heavenly voice shines above the rest on "God Only Knows". Bruce Johnston remains hidden for the most of the show, but this would change later in the tour when he got his own solo spot. Brian Wilson, overweight to the nines at this point, sits perched behind a piano for most of the show, contributing a few lines on "Sloop John B" and "Surfer Girl". The main complaint I have is the sound. The band's backing vocals on "God Only Knows" seem to be buried in the mix. These differences aside, this makes for a very good dvd.

Rating:
Summary: A lot of tension.
Review: This concert is great for historical purposes, not musical. It's the last time the 5 guys stood on a stage and for good reason - they hated each other's guts. Bruce is the only guy smiling at this show. Dennis is drunk off his rocker. Brian sings the first verse of Sloop John B then vanishes. Mike is the angry attention hog. Carl is depressed by the whole situation but still sings and plays magically. Al, thank God for Al, wearing a suit, ramains composed and turns in the best over-all performance - the glue that holds it all together.
If your a fan, you need this. It's way more interesting in terms of personal dynamics than musically. It represents their darkest times yet somehow they still all played and sang their hearts out. Good stuff.

Rating:
Summary: Impressing historic document
Review: This concert is impressing in many ways. In the first place of the music. These guys show us how popmusic has to sound with their beautifull harmonics and inventive chordchanges. Lot of their most beautifull songs are on this DvD though there is so much more.
Sad however is the tension between them. You'll see an angry Carl that wants to attack Mike Love after the last one demolishes Surfergirl by singing and winking extremely corny. Dennis just prevents him from doing so. Otherwise this concert would surely have ended in a fight between them. Brian seems far from the world so does Dennis. It's obvious that Mike Love is on stage to impress the girls and not for making music. It's a pitty that it all had to end like this, nevertheless it's not hurting the quality of the music.
I'm glad I saw Brian in The Hague (Holland) with his Band/Orchestra The Wondermints performing Beach Boys Classics but also the very impressive Smile album. It was a great event!

Rating:
Summary: Good for the nostalgia
Review: Who ever filmed this concert must have known that this was a very special show. This is one of the best concert dvds that I've seen. This concert features all 5 original members ( plus late bloomer Bruce Johnston ) performing onstage together for the last time in the U. K.

The boys were in fine form that memorable evening. The song selection is a mostly a hits - heavy set of oldies including "California Girls", "I Get Around", "Be True To Your School", "Fun Fun Fun", and particularly hot versions of "Help Me Rhonda" and "Barbara Ann". They also perform a few satisfying but not as well - received newer numbers, including the pretty "Lady Lynda" and a smokin' "Keepin' The Summer Alive". The band members themselves are top notch musically. Brian Wilson remains secluded behind the piano for the whole show, but contributes some lead vocal work on "Sloop John B", as well as on the heartbreaking performance of "Surfer Girl". The late Carl Wilson is just amazing on "God Only Knows", and Dennis Wilson's drumming is among his best. Unfortuneately, years of drug, cigarette and alcohol abuse seem to have caught up with him. But his voice still sounds beautiful on his lone solo number, a cover of Joe Cocker's "You Are So Beautiful".

This is a perfect show. Sad and joyful all at once. All the songs you enjoy plus some other, less familliar numbers. However, I did notice some lyrical differences between this dvd and the cd, particularly on "Lady Lynda". On the cd, the a capella part is performed as, "Won't You Lye Lady, Sing Your Song Of Love", while on the dvd it's "Won't Lye Lady, Won't You Marry Me". These minor differences aside, this is a perfect dvd.