Dennis Wilson - Pacific Ocean Blue (1977)

Note: the CD I listened to was the 2008 2 CD Legacy Edition.

As the hype sticker reads, this is the "first solo record from any member of the Beach Boys."

This album came to me highly recommended and to me and, as far as the original Pacific Ocean Blue album is concerned, I enjoy it. It's good old-style rock and roll alongside some moody ballads - a nice balance. A bit overly-produced/arranged at times, there's no denying the thoughtful songwriting, which Pitchfork called "a raw, bluesy masterpiece of ocean-worshipping psychedelia" and that's as good of a description as I've come across. The Legacy Edition, though, is another story. Sadly, none of the additional tracks do much for me, especially the second disc which consists of repetitive, bland, gloomy, unfinished song ideas.

While it didn't achieve significant commercial success upon initial release, in certain circles the album is now regarded as something of a cult classic. The 1977 LP was relegated to the cut-out bins and the original CD release in 1991 had a short run. The album was out of print until this 2008 edition came about.

The liner notes/booklet are thorough and enjoyable to read. Plus, if you stick disc 1 into the CD drive of your computer (if you still have a CD drive on your computer), there's a PDF file with a couple of additional essays.

Press of the time:

• Rolling Stone: "This is a truly wonderful and touching album."
• High Fidelity: "The singing and instrumental work are top-notch"
• Billboard: "A bold, experimental venture"
• CashBox: "Wilson has turned in a remarkable performance"
• Record World: "Wilson emerges as a distinct personality."
• Walrus!: "When you are able to mentally slide the excess arranging baggage aside, Dennis' music is appealing."
• Stereo Review: "he makes some really lovely noises. Give this a B-plus and wait for a sequel."

Album chart peaks:

• US Billboard 200: #96
• CashBox: #101

Tracks: Of the original album's 12 tracks, my favorites are River Song, Dreamer, You And I, and the moving Farewell My Friend. My least favorites are Time and Pacific Ocean Blues.

Personal Memory Associated with this CD: None.