Pacific Ocean Blue
Encyclopedia
Pacific Ocean Blue is Dennis Wilson
's only solo album
, released in 1977. After several attempts, starting in 1970, to release his own project, some of which made it to the finished album, Wilson recorded the bulk of Pacific Ocean Blue in the months spanning the fall of 1976 to the following spring. Recalling the time Wilson spent working on the album, co-producer
Gregg Jakobson
said, "This was when he fully accepted himself as an artist. Brian had shown him chords on the piano, but as he'd become more proficient the music that came forth was not derivative of that. Having his own studio helped tremendously. With a little encouragement, and the right tools, Dennis took off."
Wilson became the first member of The Beach Boys
to undertake a solo
project. Released in August 1977, Pacific Ocean Blue received glowing reviews for its depth and emotion. It has allegedly been praised by his older brother Brian Wilson
, but in a 2008 interview with Pitchfork Media, Brian denied knowing that Dennis had recorded an album at all. The album also performed encouragingly in the U.S. charts peaking at #96 for a 12 week chart stay, and eventually went on to sell almost 300,000 copies.
It is also notable that Dennis' hard living had begun affecting his looks and more importantly his singing voice, which now delivered grainy and rough, yet still deeply soulful, vocals. Despite Wilson's pledge to record an even superior follow-up, entitled Bambu, his continuing decline into substance abuse
and personal problems ensured that the album remained unfinished at the time of Wilson's drowning death in December 1983.
Thus, this album, alongside his pioneer
ing work with the Beach Boys, remains a focal point of Dennis Wilson's legacy, even being referred to as a "lost classic." The album has appeared on several "Best-of" lists including Robert Dimery's "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die
," and Mojo
's "Lost Albums You Must Own" and "70 of the Greatest Albums of the 70s" lists. In 2005, it was ranked #18 in GQ
's "The 100 Coolest Albums in the World Right Now!" list.
Issued by Caribou
/CBS Records
on CD
in 1991, Pacific Ocean Blue went out of print
within a year due to ongoing disagreements over copyright
ownership; the album was virtually unavailable for more than fifteen years. Copies of the extremely rare
1991 CD sold for over $200.
Legacy Recordings
released a special
30th anniversary, 2-disc edition of Pacific Ocean Blue on June 17, 2008. It includes material from the Bambu sessions. A limited edition 180-gram vinyl
multi-LP
box set was also released on the Sundazed
label.
Notable on the reissue is the inclusion of the song "Holy Man", recorded for Pacific Ocean Blue in 1977, in two versions. Wilson had completed work on the instrumental backing track but abandoned the song before recording the vocal. For the reissue Taylor Hawkins
of the Foo Fighters
was recruited to record a vocal version in Wilson's style, guided by producer Gregg Jakobson's memory of Wilson's original unrecorded vocal melody.
Despite missing the UK Album Chart on its original 1977 release, the expanded reissue of Pacific Ocean Blue entered the UK album chart at #16, also reaching #5 on the Norway album chart. In addition, the package managed to attain a high of #8 on Billboard's Top Pop Catalog Albums
chart.
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...
's only solo album
Solo album
A solo album, in popular music, is an album headlined by a current or former member of a band. A solo album may feature simply one person performing all instruments, but typically features the work of other collaborators; rather, it may be made with different collaborators than the artist is...
, released in 1977. After several attempts, starting in 1970, to release his own project, some of which made it to the finished album, Wilson recorded the bulk of Pacific Ocean Blue in the months spanning the fall of 1976 to the following spring. Recalling the time Wilson spent working on the album, co-producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
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...
said, "This was when he fully accepted himself as an artist. Brian had shown him chords on the piano, but as he'd become more proficient the music that came forth was not derivative of that. Having his own studio helped tremendously. With a little encouragement, and the right tools, Dennis took off."
Wilson became the first member of 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...
to undertake a solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
project. Released in August 1977, Pacific Ocean Blue received glowing reviews for its depth and emotion. It has allegedly been praised by his older brother 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...
, but in a 2008 interview with Pitchfork Media, Brian denied knowing that Dennis had recorded an album at all. The album also performed encouragingly in the U.S. charts peaking at #96 for a 12 week chart stay, and eventually went on to sell almost 300,000 copies.
It is also notable that Dennis' hard living had begun affecting his looks and more importantly his singing voice, which now delivered grainy and rough, yet still deeply soulful, vocals. Despite Wilson's pledge to record an even superior follow-up, entitled Bambu, his continuing decline into substance abuse
Substance abuse
A substance-related disorder is an umbrella term used to describe several different conditions associated with several different substances .A substance related disorder is a condition in which an individual uses or abuses a...
and personal problems ensured that the album remained unfinished at the time of Wilson's drowning death in December 1983.
Thus, this album, alongside his pioneer
Innovator
An innovator in a general sense, is a person or an organization who is one of the first to introduce into reality something better than before. That often opens up a new area for others and achieves an innovation.-History:...
ing work with the Beach Boys, remains a focal point of Dennis Wilson's legacy, even being referred to as a "lost classic." The album has appeared on several "Best-of" lists including Robert Dimery's "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die
1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die is a musical reference book edited by Robert Dimery, first published in 2005. The most recent edition consists of a list of albums released between 1955 and 2010, part of a series from Quintessence Editions Ltd...
," and Mojo
Mojo (magazine)
MOJO is a popular music magazine published initially by Emap, and since January 2008 by Bauer, monthly in the United Kingdom. Following the success of the magazine Q, publishers Emap were looking for a title which would cater for the burgeoning interest in classic rock music...
's "Lost Albums You Must Own" and "70 of the Greatest Albums of the 70s" lists. In 2005, it was ranked #18 in GQ
GQ (magazine)
GQ is a monthly men's magazine focusing on fashion, style, and culture for men, through articles on food, movies, fitness, sex, music, travel, sports, technology, and books...
's "The 100 Coolest Albums in the World Right Now!" list.
Issued by Caribou
Caribou Records
Caribou Records is a record label which distributed some of the Brother Records releases by The Beach Boys. It is owned by James William Guercio, who also owns Caribou Ranch recording studios, and was the longtime manager of the band Chicago....
/CBS Records
CBS Records
CBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties owned by CBS Television Studios. The initial label roster consisted of only three artists; rock band Señor Happy and singer/songwriters Will Dailey and P.J...
on CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
in 1991, Pacific Ocean Blue went out of print
Out of print
Out of print refers to an item, typically a book , but can include any print or visual media or sound recording, that is in the state of no longer being published....
within a year due to ongoing disagreements over copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
ownership; the album was virtually unavailable for more than fifteen years. Copies of the extremely rare
Scarcity
Scarcity is the fundamental economic problem of having humans who have unlimited wants and needs in a world of limited resources. It states that society has insufficient productive resources to fulfill all human wants and needs. Alternatively, scarcity implies that not all of society's goals can be...
1991 CD sold for over $200.
Legacy Recordings
Legacy Recordings
Legacy Recordings is Sony Music Entertainment's catalog division. It was founded in 1990 by CBS Records under the leadership of Jerry Shulman, Richard Bauer, Gary Pacheco and Amy Herot to handle reissues of recordings from the vast catalogues of Columbia Records, Epic Records and associated...
released a special
Special edition
The terms special edition, limited edition and variants such as deluxe edition, collector's edition and others, are used as a marketing incentive for various kinds of products, originally published products related to the arts, such as books, prints or recorded music and films, but now including...
30th anniversary, 2-disc edition of Pacific Ocean Blue on June 17, 2008. It includes material from the Bambu sessions. A limited edition 180-gram vinyl
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
multi-LP
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
box set was also released on the Sundazed
Sundazed Records
Sundazed Records is a record label based in Coxsackie, in the Catskills of New York. It specializes in obscure and rare recordings from the 1950s to the 1970s.Label founders Bob Irwin and his wife Mary started the label in 1989...
label.
Notable on the reissue is the inclusion of the song "Holy Man", recorded for Pacific Ocean Blue in 1977, in two versions. Wilson had completed work on the instrumental backing track but abandoned the song before recording the vocal. For the reissue Taylor Hawkins
Taylor Hawkins
Oliver Taylor Hawkins is an American musician, best known as the drummer of the rock band Foo Fighters....
of the Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters
Foo Fighters is an American alternative rock band originally formed in 1994 by Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl as a one-man project following the dissolution of his previous band. The band got its name from the UFOs and various aerial phenomena that were reported by Allied aircraft pilots in World War...
was recruited to record a vocal version in Wilson's style, guided by producer Gregg Jakobson's memory of Wilson's original unrecorded vocal melody.
Despite missing the UK Album Chart on its original 1977 release, the expanded reissue of Pacific Ocean Blue entered the UK album chart at #16, also reaching #5 on the Norway album chart. In addition, the package managed to attain a high of #8 on Billboard's Top Pop Catalog Albums
Top Pop Catalog Albums
Top Pop Catalog Albums is a fifty-position weekly albums chart produced by Billboard magazine which ranks the best selling catalog titles, regardless of genre. Billboard defines a catalog title as one that is more than eighteen months old and that has fallen below position 100 on the Billboard 200...
chart.
Track listing
- "River SongRiver Song (Dennis Wilson song)"River Song" is a song written by Dennis Wilson and his younger brother Carl Wilson. It served as the opening track for Dennis Wilson's 1977 debut solo album Pacific Ocean Blue. The song was released as a single in Europe with the B-side being "Farewell My Friend". The single however, failed to chart...
" (Dennis WilsonDennis WilsonDennis 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...
/Carl WilsonCarl WilsonCarl 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...
) - 3:44 - "What's WrongWhat's Wrong"What's Wrong" is a song written by Dennis Wilson, Gregg Jakobson and Michael Horn. It was released as the second track on Dennis Wilson's 1977 solo album Pacific Ocean Blue.-Musicians:*Michael Andreas - tenor saxophone*Hal Blaine - drums...
" (D. Wilson/Gregg Jakobson/Michael Horn) - 2:22 - "Moonshine" (D. Wilson/Jakobson) - 2:27
- "Friday NightFriday Night"Friday Night" is a song written by Dennis Wilson and Gregg Jakobson. It was released as the fourth track on Dennis Wilson's 1977 solo album Pacific Ocean Blue.-Performers:*Earle Mankey - guitars*Ed Tuleja - slide guitar...
" (D. Wilson/Jakobson) - 3:09 - "DreamerDreamer (Dennis Wilson song)"Dreamer" is a song written by Dennis Wilson and his close friend Gregg Jakobson. It was released as the fifth track on Dennis Wilson's 1977 solo album Pacific Ocean Blue. The track, as with the rest of the album, was credited as being produced by Dennis Wilson and Gregg Jakobson...
" (D. Wilson/Jakobson) - 4:22 - "Thoughts of YouThoughts of You"Thoughts of You" is a song written by Dennis Wilson and Jim Dutch. It was released as the sixth track on Dennis Wilson's 1977 solo album Pacific Ocean Blue.-See also:*Dennis Wilson*Pacific Ocean Blue...
" (D. Wilson/Jim Dutch) - 3:02 - "TimeTime (Dennis Wilson song)"Time" is a song written by Dennis Wilson and Karen Lamm-Wilson. It was released as the seventh track on Dennis Wilson's 1977 solo album Pacific Ocean Blue.-See also:*Dennis Wilson*Pacific Ocean Blue...
" (D. Wilson/Karen Lamm-Wilson) - 3:31 - "You and IYou and I (Dennis Wilson song)"You and I" is a song written by Dennis Wilson, his former wife Karen Lamm-Wilson and close friend Gregg Jakobson. It was released as the eighth track on Dennis Wilson's 1977 debut solo album Pacific Ocean Blue. The song was released as a single in the United States with the B-side being "Friday...
" (D. Wilson/Lamm-Wilson/Jakobson) - 3:25 - "Pacific Ocean BluesPacific Ocean Blues"Pacific Ocean Blues" is a song written by Dennis Wilson and his cousin Mike Love. The title track, it was released as the ninth track on Dennis Wilson's 1977 debut solo album Pacific Ocean Blue. The track, as with the rest of the album, was credited as being produced by Dennis Wilson and his close...
" (D. Wilson/Mike LoveMike LoveMichael 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...
) - 2:39 - "Farewell My FriendFarewell My Friend"Farewell My Friend" is a song written by Dennis Wilson. It was released as the tenth track for his 1977 solo album Pacific Ocean Blue. The song was released as a single in Europe as the B-side of the "River Song" single. The single however, failed to chart. The track, as with the rest of the...
" (D. Wilson) - 2:26 - "RainbowsRainbows (song)"Rainbows" is a song written by Dennis Wilson and Carl Wilson as well Stephen Kalinich, who provided the majority of the lyrics for the song. It was released as the eleventh track on Dennis Wilson's 1977 solo album Pacific Ocean Blue...
" (D. Wilson/C. Wilson/Steve Kalinich) - 2:55 - "End of the ShowEnd of the Show"End of the Show" is a song written by Dennis Wilson and Gregg Jakobson. It was released as the twelfth and final track on Dennis Wilson's 1977 solo album Pacific Ocean Blue.-See also:*Dennis Wilson*Pacific Ocean Blue...
" (D. Wilson/Jakobson) - 2:55
Disc One
- "River Song" - 3:44
- "What's Wrong" - 2:23
- "Moonshine" - 2:27
- "Friday Night" - 3:10
- "Dreamer" - 4:23
- "Thoughts of You" - 3:04
- "Time" - 3:32
- "You and I" - 3:25
- "Pacific Ocean Blues" - 2:37
- "Farewell My Friend" - 2:26
- "Rainbows" - 2:48
- "End of the Show" - 2:57
- "Tug of Love" (Dennis Wilson/Gregg Jakobson) - 3:44
- "Only With You" (D. Wilson/Mike Love) - 3:57
- "Holy Man" [instrumental] (D. Wilson/Jakobson) - 4:24
- "Mexico" (D. Wilson) - 5:31
Disc Two: Bambu (The Caribou Sessions)
- "Under The Moonlight" (Carli MunozCarli MuñozCarlos C. Muñoz, better known as Carli Munoz or Carli Muñoz , is a self-taught American jazz pianist.Although born and raised in Puerto Rico, his music of choice was jazz, European avant-garde and American pop music...
) - 3:55 - "It's Not Too Late" (Carli Munoz) - 4:22
- "School Girl" (Dennis Wilson/Gregg Jakobson) - 2:31
- "Love Remember Me" (D. Wilson/Jakobson/Steve Kalinich) - 4:04
- "Love Surrounds Me" (D. Wilson/Geoffrey Cushing-Murray) - 3:40
- "Wild Situation" (D. Wilson/Jakobson) - 2:41
- "Common" (D. Wilson) - 3:34
- "Are You Real" (D. Wilson/Jakobson) - 3:38
- "He's a Bum" (D. Wilson/Jakobson) - 2:50
- "Cocktails" (D. Wilson/Jakobson/John Hanlon) - 3:00
- "I Love You" (D. Wilson/Jakobson) - 2:02
- "Constant Companion" (Munoz/Rags Baker) - 3:22
- "Time for Bed" (D. Wilson/Jakobson) - 3:07
- "Album Tag Song" (D. Wilson) - 3:45
- "All Alone" (Munoz) - 3:44
- "Piano Variations on "Thoughts of You"" (D. Wilson) - 3:03
- "Holy Man (Taylor HawkinsTaylor HawkinsOliver Taylor Hawkins is an American musician, best known as the drummer of the rock band Foo Fighters....
Version)" (D. Wilson/Jakobson/Taylor Hawkins) - 4:25
Personnel
- Dennis WilsonDennis WilsonDennis 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...
— Strings, Drums, Keyboards, Vocals, Producer - Carli MunozCarli MuñozCarlos C. Muñoz, better known as Carli Munoz or Carli Muñoz , is a self-taught American jazz pianist.Although born and raised in Puerto Rico, his music of choice was jazz, European avant-garde and American pop music...
— Piano, Keyboards, Moog synthesizer, percussion, Producer - Carl WilsonCarl WilsonCarl 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...
— Lead guitar, Vocals - Bruce JohnstonBruce JohnstonBruce 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...
— background Vocals - Hal BlaineHal BlaineHal Blaine is an American drummer and session musician. He is most known for his work with the Wrecking Crew in California. Blaine played on numerous hits by popular groups, including Elvis Presley, John Denver, the Ronettes, Simon & Garfunkel, the Carpenters, the Beach Boys, Nancy Sinatra, and...
— Drums - Chuck DomanicoChuck DomanicoCharles Louis Domanico , better known as Chuck Domanico, was an American jazz bassist, playing both acoustic and electric bass on the West Coast jazz scene.Domanico was born in Chicago...
— Bass - Ricky FataarRicky FataarRicky Fataar is a South African multi-instrumentalist of Malay descent, who has performed as both a drummer, and a guitarist. He gained fame as an actor in the comedic television movie, The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash, a spoof on the actual history of The Beatles, and for his performance as a...
— Drums - John HanlonJohn Hanlon----John Hanlon is a New Zealand singer and songwriter and is not to be confused with John Hanlon the record producer, recording engineer and mix engineer residing in California USA who works primarily with Neil Young....
— Guitar, Engineer - Gregg JakobsonGregg JakobsonGregg 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...
— Producer - James JamersonJames JamersonJames Lee Jamerson was an American bass player. He was the uncredited bassist on most of Motown Records' hits in the 1960s and early 1970s , and he is now regarded as one of the most influential bass players in modern music history...
— Bass - Earle MankeyEarle MankeyEarle Mankey was a guitarist for the seminal band Halfnelson, later called Sparks...
— Guitar, Engineer - Dean Torrence — Background Vocals
- Steven Moffitt — Chief Engineer
- Michael Andreas — Horn
- Lance Buller — Horn
- Sterling Smith — Keyboards
- Tommy Smith — Drums
- Dave Hessler — Bass
- Ed Carter — Bass, Guitar
- Bobby Figueroa — Drums
- Wayne Tweed — Bass
- Manolo Badrena — Percussion
- Janice Hubbard — Horn
- Bill Lamb — Horn
- Charles McCarthy — Horn
- Stephen Moffitt — Engineer
- Eddie Tuleja — Guitar, Vocals
- Sid Sharp — Live strings ensemble
- Alexander Hamilton's Double Rock Baptist Choir
External links
- Official Site (2008 reissue)
- Buddyhead's review/interview of "POB/Bambu" reissue