Dennis Wilson, Karen Lamm and me

It was the mid seventies and the Beach Boys were on the infamous "Brian is Back" campaign. He wasn't. He was walking outside back and forth, mumbling  the suite where I interviewed Dennis Wilson. I was stupid and young. My only prerequisite to the interview was to listen to the first Beach Boys solo album, "Pacific Ocean Blue" by the aforementioned Dennis Wilson.

Now, I wasn't the greatest rock and roll critic of the day. In fact. on non-rock and roll matters, I sucked. And Dennis, despite the brilliance of Pacific Ocean Blue was not a rock and roller. Or, so I thought at the time.

I was impressed by his solo album. Not so much by the music but by the immaculate and tactile production. So, here I am in 1975 or 1976, sitting across from Dennis and his wife, the absolutely stunning model of TV sun tan lotions, Karen Lamm . I was stunned to almost moronic thought processes. What makes everything worse,Karen, and I feel I can call her that after our "intimate" contact",  kept talking to me and placing her hand on my knee to emphasize her point. Well, my point was beyond straight at his point. It was bent at the knee. I was chastened, horny and dumb-struck. 

The interview went like this. Dennis, I love your album. It sounds so gorgeous. Probably the best sounding album I have ever heard. Dennis: "You keep talking about how great the album sounds. Why?" Holy shit. I was fucked.  The most beautiful, sexy woman I have ever met was not only talking to me but her hand was on on my knee. (I moved to the US shortly thereafter). 

OK.  I blew it. I knew it  when a phone call came for Dennis from Elliot Gould. He was making a movie with Samantha York (the under appreciated "The Silent Partner"). They arranged a get together while his wife held my scrawny teenage knee in her hand.

Obviously, I didn't get much out of that interview. In fact, I have never seen the publication since the day. Something tells me I should never see it. 

But, I will tell you this. "Pacific Ocean Blue" is a brilliant album. I knew it then., despite my Innocent idiocy and refusal at the time to hear anything but the brilliant production. I hear so much more now. It is NOT a rock and roll record. It is a project of pain and confession and California in all its nakedness.

As great is this album is, and it is, it is when Brian places his vocal distant in the background and his production that Dennis truly sings. Love him. He is who he is.