Disco de The Beach Boys: “Good Timin: Live at Knebworth, England 1980 [DVD & CD]”

1980 was the Beach Boys just a little bit past their "post-Endless-Summer" touring prime which is generally considered to be 1975-1977. The good news is that Dennis Wilson is back on tour with big brother Brian as well. Dennis was about to enter a downward spiral at this point and Brian was coming out of one (he would relapse but eventually come clean). Dennis Wilson is the primary reason to watch this DVD. He drums (bashes is more like it), sings, and plays a little piano. He also does what he did best...antagonize Mike Love on stage! There are some genuine moments between the Wilson brothers as well. The DTS mix is great. Carl Wilson was the musical leader of the group at this point and it really shows. I've seen pretty much all the BB VHS/DVD stuff there is and this one ranks right up there.

This is a great DVD if you're looking for something to capture that period from the Beach Boys. One must remember though, that the audio on this performance is HEAVILY edited, probably with new harmonies added in the studio, making their backing vocals sound much better than the actual live performance. (Something used quite commonly now on "live" recordings) I saw them two weeks after this performance, in Washington, DC, and actually had the live FM stereo broadcast of that concert for years on tape. Those live vocals were pretty rough, given how good their vocal performances were just a few years prior. It's also interesting to note that "Wouldn't It Be Nice" was left off the Knebworth recording; probably not even salvageable in the studio. It was butchered in the DC concert as well, with Al Jardine trying to help/force BW through the lead vocals. Knebworth was also the exact same playlist as the DC show. With that said, the energy and musicianship of their live shows from that period comes through on this DVD. The Knebworth concert DVD is a great package and effort, and the audio track IS excellent, although "polished", and gives fans the chance to maybe remember them as that hard rockin' band that they were in the early 70's.

After purchasing the CD, I have since purchased the DVD. I am glad that I did. For any Beach Boys fan this DVD is a must have for your collection. All six members are present including Brian and Dennis Wilson. For those of us who missed the "early" concerts especially those of the mid-late 70's this concert will help fill the gap. The music is fine and the group is in excellant form, in fact they look like they are having fun right along with the audience. The images are very good. Since we no longer have Dennis and Carl Wilson, and the Beach Boys are no more this DVD is a precious keepsake of Americas favorite band.

As a big Beach Boys fan, I found this dvd highly enjoyable. The boys from Hawthorne sound alive and well here (with the exception of Brian and Dennis Wilson, though they can be forgiven since they were battling personal demons at this point), and the overall song selection will not let you down.

"Good Timin' (Live At Knebworth England, 1980)" is from the band's last appearance in the U. K. with the original lineup, though they obviously did know it at time. The band does plauy with a fiery edge as though it was the last time they're performing them. They sound youthful and ibrant on the rockers especially "Help Me Rhonda", "I Get Around", "Surfin' USA", "Good Vibrations", "Barbara Ann" and "Fun Fun Fun". The slow songs are a mixed bag. The best is Carl Wilson's beautiful rendition of "God Only Knows". Al Jardine also turns in a great reading of "Lady Lynda", but Brian sounds whiny on "Surfer Girl" and Dennis' once sparkling voice is unheard on "You Are So Beautiful".

Despite its flaws, this is a really great dvd. It also comes with a nice Al Jardine introduction and song commentary. Here's hoping that the four remaining Beach Boys (Al Jardine, Mike Love, Bruce Johnston and Brian Wilson) get back together soon, since the world needs them in this time of horrible music, courtesy of Britney, Christina and Eminem

Thank God they got this one on film. Although my ultimate fantasy would be an entire concert from the great 1970-71 tour when the boys were traveling with a small horn section and were performing hunks of their repertoire from "Pet Sounds" to "Sunflower", this concert will more than hold me over until that dream is realized one day, hopefully. Having seen The Beach Boys more times than I can count, I had forgotten what a hard working band they were until I saw "Live at Knebworth". Their ability to perform "Live" and with fidelity the gorgeous complex songs that were the soundtrack of our lives growing up in the 60's and 70's is a joy to behold on this DVD. It was the last time all 6 original members of the band (including an obviously nervous Brian) performed together on stage and you can tell the boys are working hard this night to give their British audience a memorable concert. Some of the highlights for me were their performances of Al Jardine's "Lady Lynda" from the L.A. Light album and a faithfully rendered version of Brian's groundbreaking "Good Vibrations" (in spite of grandstanding from the allways creepy Mike Love). It's also apparent in this concert that Dennis is already starting on a downward slide that would ultimately end in his untimely death in 1982. His ragged solo performance of "You are so Beautiful" is a poignant reminder that the end is not far off. Carl Wilson, one of the greatest vocalists in rock history, proves throughout this concert that he was the linchpin that held this band together until his tragic death in 1998 ended once and for all the band as a viable performing entity. So get this DVD put on your Hawaiian shirt pour yourself a cool drink and enjoy!