Kalinich's California sensibilities
Introduction: This is the first installment on a brand new release featuring 22 various artists celebrating the words of Stephen Kalinich. Each day, there will be new insight into the recordings on the compilation, with images and (in some cases) accompanying video.
Stephen John Kalinich is a poet of grace and peace. He has enjoyed a rare association with Brian Wilson, Dennis Wilson and The Beach Boys. His work with the group made its debut on the Friends album in 1968 (“Little Bird” and “Be Still”). Those songs marked the beginning of friendships, and a spiritual linkage and embodiment with The Beach Boys and their associates that endures to this day.
California Feeling, a new compilation dedicated to Kalinich’s career-spanning prose, has just been released on the MsMusic Records label. For ardent Beach Boys fans, the collection brings together many familiar names: The Honeys, David Marks, Carnie & Wendy Wilson, Carl B. Wilson, Alan Boyd, (Brian Wilson band member/Wondermint) Probyn Gregory and Adam Marsland’s Chaos Band. As impressive as this list is, the 20-plus recordings gathered together – some with Kalinich taking the lead – are an impressive amalgam of tracks that represent one man’s life perspective full of honest substance wrought from some of life’s most beautiful, and at times, most difficult experiences. Either way, Kalinich’s lyrics are full of inspiration and love.
Here is an overview of Kalinich’s work with the group members of The Beach Boys. Take note: the compilation title track – as recorded by The Honeys – is a song that The Beach Boys pursued over a four year period; it was recorded and released by Brian Wilson (with alternate lyrics) in 2002 and by Al Jardine in 2010 with the original lyrics.
The Beach Boys — Friends (1968)
“Be Still” (Dennis Wilson - Stephen Kalinich)
“Little Bird” (Dennis Wilson - Stephen Kalinich)
Stephen John Kalinich — A World of Peace Must Come Must Come (1969…released in 2008)
Poetry album with musical backing and co-production by Brian Wilson
The Beach Boys — “Child of Winter” (Brian Wilson - Stephen Kalinich)
[single released 12/23/74 available on Christmas With the Beach Boys]
“California Feeling” (Brian Wilson - Stephen Kalinich)
11/12/74 – demo recorded by Brian Wilson
12/24/77 master #1 and 12/29/77 master #2 (8/28/78 and 9/01/78) – co-produced by Carl Wilson and Bruce Johnston
American Spring — “California Feeling” (Brian Wilson - Stephen Kalinich)
[Summer 1977 unreleased]
(Marilyn Wilson and Diane Rovell)
Dennis Wilson — Pacific Ocean Blue (1977)
“Rainbows” (Dennis Wilson - Carl Wilson - Stephen Kalinich)
Dennis Wilson — Bambu sessions (1977)
“Love Remember Me” (Dennis Wilson - Gregg Jakobson - Stephen Kalinich)
[recorded March and December]
The Beach Boys — Hawthorne, CA: Birthplace Of A Musical Legacy (2001)
“A Time To Live In Dreams” (Dennis Wilson - Stephen Kalinich)
[recorded November 1968]
The Beach Boys — Classics selected by Brian Wilson (2002)
“California Feelin’” (Brian Wilson - Stephen Kalinich)
*Recorded in 2002 by Brian Wilson with some alternate lyrics
Brian Wilson — Gettin' In Over My Head (2004)
“You've Touched Me” (Brian Wilson - Stephen Kalinich)
“A Friend Like You” (Brian Wilson - Stephen Kalinich)
Dennis Wilson — Pacific Ocean Blue/Bambu Legacy edition (2008)
“Love Remember Me” (Dennis Wilson - Gregg Jakobson - Stephen Kalinich)
Al Jardine — A Postcard From California (2010)
“California Feelin’” (Brian Wilson - Stephen Kalinich)
www.esquarterly.com/bellagio (session information source)
Come back tomorrow for installment two, in which Marilyn Wilson-Rutherford, Ginger Blake and Stephen discuss the title track.
© David M. Beard/All Rights Reserved
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