Independence Day Party 1981

In 1983 Reagan's stodgy Interior Secretary James Watt vetoed the idea of allowing the Beach Boys to perform a 4th of July show on the National Mall.. He must have heard this recording... The audio quality is absolutely wretched... The performance? Despite giving it their best, the rest of the band fails to overcome Brian Wilson's obvious deficiencies. Less than a year later, after Brian overdosed, his brother, Mike Love and Al Jardine told Brian they would only release his share of the earnings for a 1982 tour if he quit the band and sought counseling.This release does a disservice to both the group's and Brian's legacy... The only obvious reason for its release appears to be M-O-N-E-Y..I would've given it one star (I hate it) but for the fact that Brian is a part of it (sort of)...Happily, I got to attend a stupendous performance featuring Brian, Al Jardine and former Beach Boy Blondie Chaplin fronting an incredible toruing band that played Pet Sounds in its entirety to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the album's release... OK so, he is more weird than ever, BUT he is still Brain Wilson and he brought it all to Baltimore's Hippodrome Theater last Tuesday night.Pass on this pricey CD and apply the savings toward a couple of seats to see Brian if he is headed for your town soon!

This is like an unearthed artifact that suddenly appears. Some context. The Beach Boys had played the Mall for July 4th the year before, and came back for 1981. I was there on the Mall that day. The show was fantastic and great fun, and I think this recording captures that sense of fun. More context, The country had just inaugurated Reagan in January, and the country was taking a turn to the right. The Beach Boys would not return to the Mall the following year replaced by... Wayne Newton!So, I think the Boys saw the writing on the wall, in terms of the lifestyle they represented going out of fashion. As to some of the criticisms, I'd like to respond to a couple. First, as to the "rushing" through the set. That's actually a BB trait. They roll through songs. Also, I am pretty sure they had been given a window in which to play, there was other stuff scheduled throughout the day. Also, the complaints about the sound quality are dead on. I would look at this more as a "memory piece", and you can't blame anyone for the quality. It just is what it is. I applaud the company for getting this out at all. And actually, I think for a radio broadcast, the vocals hold up surprisingly well.One other thing, there are some complaints about Brian's vocals. People just don't recall how amazing it was to see the guy on a stage. Now he tours all over, but he basically hadn't been seen on stage by many people for years. So, a little consideration, please. Also, as to Brian, he starts a bit shaky, but he got much stronger, which would be typical (and is still the case, I just saw him a month ago, and the pattern still holds).For sound quality, get the Knebworth release. My guess is those tapes were cleaned up. But this release is quite true to the Beach Boys sound at that time, a bit rough around the edges, but very dynamic. But be realistic about what this is: it is not a polished up recording, but a raw and real artifact from America's musical past.Edit: After listening to this a couple more times, I believe that the tape speed was increased just slightly so the concert, which lasted about an hour and a half, I believe, would fit onto one disk. That would account for the comment made by another reviewer that they seemed to be tearing through these songs. The question, I guess, is if it is still worth it, with the sometimes ragged vocalizing, the possibility of tape speed increase, etc. It is to me. Just be aware of what you are ordering.

First let me say that I LOVE The Beach Boys. I grew up with The Beach Boys and attended many of their concerts thru the years. I have tickets to see them again in November. Now to this cd. The sound is awful. It sounds like it was recorded on a cheap Walmart tape recorder. I can't believe that someone did not take the time to mix the sound and make a decent cd. This cd is a disgrace to The Beach Boys. Don't waste your money on it. If you want a live concert cd - buy The Beach Boys 50th anniversary.

They must have all been under the influence of one or more substances...Absolutely the worst concert of The Beach Boys I've ever heard. And it wasn't due to sound problems alone. Mostly, it's simply a really bad performance on the band's part. Like other reviewers, I too chucked this CD in the thrift store pile with other useless junk. Their concert the following year for 4th of July in D.C. was far superior despite Dennis being too drunk, but I don't see anyone releasing that concert on CD or DVD.

The sound quality was less to be desired. All the songs seemed so rushed,maybe because Dennis on drums was so jacked up on coke and alcohol. This album wasn't the best choice to make into a live album, please Amazon if there's to be another live concert album by the Beach Boys please do it justice and promote a well recorded concert album. Quite honestly it sounds Like someone had a cassette recorder doing the recording. Just a note to add, all the original beach boys weren't present for that concert. Carl Wilson quit/left the group on 81 to May of 82 due to the bands poor sound and lack of proper rehearsals for shows and to work on his own album. I suppose that's why Brian sang his parts through out the show. Carl's voice is extremely tuff to miss and it wasn't on this CD.

I must say I do like this even though it has a somewhat bootleg quality to it. In collecting their live material I look for the odd tracks that aren't included in the usual setlist of their concerts. Long Tall Texan was brought back and if you don't have their version of Back In The U.S.S.R. with Ringo this one will have to do. The editorial review states that Carl was in attendance here but I tend to think not since Brian took over the lead vocals in God Only Knows and Good Vibrations. Carl probably was off promoting his first solo album at the time. Agreed 1981 was no significant year for them but at least it's good to see some more product put out from the Beach Boys during the decade that produced basically two studio albums of all new material.

Very good as a live document as to where the band, and Brian, were at in 1981, Carl had left (temporarily thankfully) even though the sleeve notes say he's in the line up, Brian is there but probably shouldn't have been, his vocals are extremely ..... erm, not very good! Another semi official(?) release, and there's been a few of them recently, and another one for collectors/completists really, I'd direct any casual fan looking for a live Beach Boys record to go to the 100% official In Concert from 72/73.

Their Music is Still perfect and as fresh as when first performed, sit back relax and hear as you should,fully recommended