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Beach Boys - Endless Harmony: The Beach Boys Story

1 disc
Region 1 USA/CA (info)

Intelligently assembled with over 40 songs dispersed throughout, ENDLESS HARMONY works not just as a rockumentary but as an important historical document of American music. It was obviously a labor of love for director Alan Boyd, who has also produced several other works about the Beach Boys. Carl Wilson died just a few months after filming was completed, making this an especially poignant journey for the group's many fans. This refreshingly down-to-earth film gives plenty of attention to the drug and psychological problems of brothers Dennis and Brian Wilson and their sufferings at the hands of their abusive dad and manager Murray. All of the surviving members (including Brian) tell their stories themselves, from the early surf days to their experimental PET SOUNDS sessions, leading up to and beyond their controversial gig at Ronald Reagan's 1985 presidential inauguration. There are testimonials from Sean Lennon, Elvis Costello, Glenn Frey, Jackson Browne, and Barry Gibb; along with lots of concert footage and rare home-movie-style promo films of the boys goofing around in pools, parks, and European cities. This film also provides a rare chance to hear alternate versions of classic songs, including very different renditions of "God Only Knows," "Good Vibrations," and "California Girls."
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Additional Info

Manufacturer Part Number (MPN): 92353
Credits

Beach, Boys
Critic Reviews

"[T]he old black-and-white TV show footage is wonderfully kitsch, while the poignant Dennis eulogy suggest he could make for a fascinating film."
Mojo