The Beach Boys
Live at Knebworth 1980

Brian Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Carl Wilson, Mike Love, Alan Jardine, Bruce Johnston
with special guests and Dennis on drums, piano, keyboard and as a singer

Live at Knebworth 1980

Supporting Musicians:
Ed Carter, Guitar
Joe Chemay, Bass
Mike Meros, Keyboards
Bobby Figueroa, Percussion/Drums

Remix Produced and Engineered
by Mark Linett
Original Audio Producer: Bruce Johnston

    Here you have it, the final stage of the Beach Boys live in concert.

Fans can now choose between four different entities the band evolved from: the early, rough charm of "Concert!" (1964); the confident, popular polish of "Live in London" (1968); the down-but-not-out daring of "In Concert" (1974); and now the ultra-professional, somewhat heartless finality of "Live at Knebworth" (1980). The real drawing point for fans here is the presence of all five Beach Boys: Brian Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Carl Wilson, Mike Love, and Al Jardine, performing in what is billed as their last time playing together in the UK. How is it as a listening experience? About what you'd expect from this time in their careers: carefully programmed audience entertainment, only one step removed from present-day tours. The Beach Boys still try out new material on the audience, including then-current singles (an electrifying School Days, which sounds ten times better here than on the studio version), and up-and-coming songs (Keepin' The Summer Alive), but rely heavily on the tried-and-true hits, with each band member getting their place in the spotlight. Brian sings "Sloop John B", Al transitions somewhat awkwardly from "Cotton Fields" to "Heroes and Villains", Mike owns "Be True To Your School", Carl rips into "Darlin'", and Dennis tackles an abbreviated "You Are So Beautiful". The dialogue feels well-rehearsed (even the "impromptu" audience sing-along of "Happy Birthday" to Brian) :--: this track is only on CD but not on DVD :--:, but every number rips along confidently, the playing and harmony vocals are tighter than ever, and the band seems to be having a genuinely good time. It's bittersweet to hear Carl and Dennis's voices again come out of the speakers, and sad to have Brian's vocals pushed to the background during most of the concert, but as history it's good to have, and overall an worthwhile CD and DVD, too.

01 The Beach Boys - Intro (Good Timin')
02 The Beach Boys - California Girls
03 The Beach Boys - Sloop John B
04 The Beach Boys - Darlin'
05 The Beach Boys - School Days
06 The Beach Boys - God only knows
07 The Beach Boys - Be true to your school
08 The Beach Boys - Do it again
09 The Beach Boys - Little Deuce Coupe
10 The Beach Boys - Medley: Cotton Fields / Heroes and Villains
11 The Beach Boys - Keepin' the summer alive
12 The Beach Boys - Lady Lynda
13 The Beach Boys - Surfer Girl
14 The Beach Boys - Help me Rhonda
15 The Beach Boys - Rock 'n' Roll Music
16 The Beach Boys - I get around
17 The Beach Boys - Surfin' USA
18 The Beach Boys - You are so beautiful
19 The Beach Boys - Good vibrations
20 The Beach Boys - Barbara Ann
21 The Beach Boys - Fun Fun Fun

originally released October 14, 2002 (England Only)
CD: Eagle Records, England - EAGCD155 [CD Only]

CD: Music Club, England (2006) - MCCD 598 (LC 13235)
EAN: 5014797295988

DVD: Live at Knebworth 1980
FNM - Falcon Neue Medien, Germany - Catalog-No. 0243

Regional Code: all
Sound Format: Dolby Digital 2.0
Picture Format: 4:3
Running time: 70 min