Forever (Beach Boys song)
Encyclopedia
"Forever" is a song written by Dennis Wilson
and his close friend Gregg Jakobson
. It was released in 1970 as the ninth track on The Beach Boys
' Sunflower
album and features Dennis on lead vocals. The song, along with the rest of the album was produced by The Beach Boys. Brian Wilson
declared, "'Forever' has to be the most harmonically beautiful thing I've ever heard. It's a rock and roll prayer."
The lead vocal is sung by Dennis Wilson. With backing vocals sung by his brothers, Brian and Carl, his cousin Mike Love
and Alan Jardine
. An a cappella
version of the song was included on The Beach Boys' Hawthorne, CA
anthology album.
appeared on their début 1972 album, Spring, featuring Marilyn Wilson, wife of Brian Wilson, on lead vocal. It also featured a new instrumental and vocal arrangement by Brian as well as production by Brian Wilson, Stephen Desper and David Sandler as did the rest of the album. Although the album sold poorly, it has since become a sought-after collectible. The album was later re-issued by Rhino Records in 1988.
On The Beach Boys' 1992 album Summer in Paradise
, "Forever" featured John Stamos
on lead vocal. Stamos had previously sung the song on two occasions; both were on the television series Full House
, in which he played the character Jesse Katsopolis. The first was a recording sung at his character's wedding, while the second was a recording sung for his character's twin sons.
The 1992 music video, titled "Forever by Jesse and the Rippers", featured Stamos predominantly. Three of The Beach Boys members are however briefly shown singing harmonies with Stamos: Carl Wilson
, Bruce Johnston
, and Mike Love
. Brian Wilson
and Al Jardine
did not participate in the video because of their limited relationship with The Beach Boys at the time.
The 2005 Starbucks
compilation album, Sweetheart 2005: Love Songs
, features a cover by Dean Wareham
.
In 2006, the song was also covered by American singer and television host Carnie Wilson
. It's on an album of lullabies entitled A Mother's Gift: Lullabies from the Heart, created shortly after the birth of her daughter Lola. Carnie is Dennis Wilson's niece.
Dennis Wilson
Dennis Carl Wilson was an American rock and roll musician best known as a founding member and the drummer of The Beach Boys. He was a member of the group from its formation until his death in 1983...
and his close friend Gregg Jakobson
Gregg Jakobson
Gregg Jakobson was an acquaintance of Dennis Wilson of The Beach Boys. Together they wrote "Baby Blue" along with Karen Lamm, "Celebrate the News", "Forever" and "San Miguel" for The Beach Boys...
. It was released in 1970 as the ninth track on The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
' Sunflower
Sunflower (album)
Sunflower is the sixteenth studio album by American rock group The Beach Boys, their first on Reprise Records. The album achieved number 151 on the US albums chart during a four week stay, becoming the lowest charting Beach Boys album until 1978's M.I.U. Album equalled it. It reached #29 in the...
album and features Dennis on lead vocals. The song, along with the rest of the album was produced by The Beach Boys. Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
declared, "'Forever' has to be the most harmonically beautiful thing I've ever heard. It's a rock and roll prayer."
The lead vocal is sung by Dennis Wilson. With backing vocals sung by his brothers, Brian and Carl, his cousin Mike Love
Mike Love
Michael Edward "Mike" Love is an American singer/songwriter and musician with The Beach Boys. He was a founding member of the band along with his cousins Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson, and their friend Al Jardine, and continues to perform with the band to the present day...
and Alan Jardine
Al Jardine
Alan Charles "Al" Jardine is a founding member of top-selling American music group The Beach Boys, a guitarist and occasional lead vocalist. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.-Early life:...
. An a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
version of the song was included on The Beach Boys' Hawthorne, CA
Hawthorne, CA (album)
Hawthorne, CA, subtitled Birthplace of a Musical Legacy, is the second anthology collection by The Beach Boys and released through Capitol Records...
anthology album.
Cover versions
A cover version of the song by American SpringAmerican Spring
Spring were a 1970s pop music duo , made up of sisters Diane Rovell and Marilyn Wilson, who had earlier been members of girl group The Honeys....
appeared on their début 1972 album, Spring, featuring Marilyn Wilson, wife of Brian Wilson, on lead vocal. It also featured a new instrumental and vocal arrangement by Brian as well as production by Brian Wilson, Stephen Desper and David Sandler as did the rest of the album. Although the album sold poorly, it has since become a sought-after collectible. The album was later re-issued by Rhino Records in 1988.
On The Beach Boys' 1992 album Summer in Paradise
Summer in Paradise
Summer in Paradise is The Beach Boys' twenty-seventh studio album, their first release of the 1990s and the band's last full album of new, original material. It was released in the United States in 1992 on Brother Records and in the United Kingdom in 1993 on EMI. It has been reported that Navarre...
, "Forever" featured John Stamos
John Stamos
John Phillip Stamos is an American actor, singer and musician best known for his work in television, especially in his starring role as Jesse Katsopolis on the ABC sitcom Full House. Since the cancellation of that show in 1995, Stamos has appeared in numerous television films and series. From 2006...
on lead vocal. Stamos had previously sung the song on two occasions; both were on the television series Full House
Full House
Full House is an American sitcom television series. Set in San Francisco, the show chronicles widowed father Danny Tanner, who, after the death of his wife, enlists his best friend Joey Gladstone and his brother-in-law Jesse Katsopolis to help raise his three daughters, D.J., Stephanie, and...
, in which he played the character Jesse Katsopolis. The first was a recording sung at his character's wedding, while the second was a recording sung for his character's twin sons.
The 1992 music video, titled "Forever by Jesse and the Rippers", featured Stamos predominantly. Three of The Beach Boys members are however briefly shown singing harmonies with Stamos: Carl Wilson
Carl Wilson
Carl Dean Wilson was an American rock and roll singer and guitarist, best known as a founding member, lead guitarist and sometime lead vocalist of The Beach Boys...
, Bruce Johnston
Bruce Johnston
Bruce Arthur Johnston is a member of The Beach Boys and a songwriter, remembered especially for composing "I Write the Songs". Johnston was not one of the original members of the band...
, and Mike Love
Mike Love
Michael Edward "Mike" Love is an American singer/songwriter and musician with The Beach Boys. He was a founding member of the band along with his cousins Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson, and their friend Al Jardine, and continues to perform with the band to the present day...
. Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
and Al Jardine
Al Jardine
Alan Charles "Al" Jardine is a founding member of top-selling American music group The Beach Boys, a guitarist and occasional lead vocalist. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.-Early life:...
did not participate in the video because of their limited relationship with The Beach Boys at the time.
The 2005 Starbucks
Starbucks
Starbucks Corporation is an international coffee and coffeehouse chain based in Seattle, Washington. Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 17,009 stores in 55 countries, including over 11,000 in the United States, over 1,000 in Canada, over 700 in the United Kingdom, and...
compilation album, Sweetheart 2005: Love Songs
Sweetheart 2005: Love Songs
Sweetheart 2005: Love Songs is a compilation album, released under Starbucks' Hear Music label in January 2005 in the United States. Sold in stores, the album features contemporary musicians covering classic love songs.-Track listing:...
, features a cover by Dean Wareham
Dean Wareham
Dean Wareham is an American musician, who formed the band Galaxie 500 in 1987. Born in Wellington, New Zealand, Wareham moved with his parents to Sydney, Australia, before settling in New York City in 1977. Wareham attended high school at Dalton School in New York, and then attended Harvard...
.
In 2006, the song was also covered by American singer and television host Carnie Wilson
Carnie Wilson
Carnie Wilson is an American singer and television hostess, perhaps best known as a member of the pop music group Wilson Phillips.-Early life and musical career:...
. It's on an album of lullabies entitled A Mother's Gift: Lullabies from the Heart, created shortly after the birth of her daughter Lola. Carnie is Dennis Wilson's niece.