Originally published in 1978 as The Beach Boys and the California Myth, this groundbreaking study was both the first full-length book on the band and the first to recognize Brian Wilson as one of the most significant and influential artists of the 20th century. Covering the turbulent family strife and internal conflicts as well as giving proper attention to the remarkable music, the book was an instant classic.An intimate look at Brian's rollercoaster of a life and career, it's told through the eyes of those who were there during Wilson's most legendary productions including Pet Sounds and Good Vibrations.Revised and updated, God Only Knows covers the decades since the 1985 edition, including Brian's first acclaimed solo album, his startling return to live performing, the landmark Pet Sounds tour, the "All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson" (which Leaf wrote and produced) and the triumphant and miraculous Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE world premiere in London.Filled with surprising revelations, insight and behind-the-scenes detail, this indispensable book written by renowned Brian Wilson expert David Leaf also features forewords by Jimmy Webb, the Bee Gees' Barry Gibb and Melinda Wilson, Brian's wife.

eBook - ePub
God Only Knows
The Story of Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys and the California Myth
- 400 pages
- English
- ePUB (mobile friendly)
- Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub
About this book
Trusted by 375,005 students
Access to over 1.5 million titles for a fair monthly price.
Study more efficiently using our study tools.
Information
Table of contents
- Cover
- Title Page
- Contents
- An Overture from Sir Paul McCartney
- A Note from Melinda Wilson
- “Words” by Sir Barry Gibb
- Welcome
- My California Myth Begins and Is Renewed
- “All I Know”: An Introduction from Jimmy Webb
- The California Myth
- Introduction to the 1978 Edition
- 1. Rhapsody in Blue
- 2. Five Freshmen
- 3. Let’s Go Surfin’
- 4. If Everybody Had an Ocean
- 5. Don’t Worry Baby
- 6. Please Let Me Wonder
- 7. Pet Sounds
- 8. Good Vibrations and Smile
- 9. Heroes, Villains and No Smiles
- 10. Beached
- 11. Surf’s Up
- 12. Endless Summer
- 13. Brian is Back
- 14. Codetta, 1977–1985
- 15. Retrospective, 1985
- Author’s Note to the 2022 Edition
- 16. ’Til I Die: The Battle for Brian Wilson
- 17. Melt Away: Brian Wilson’s Personal Renaissance Begins
- 18. Brian Hits the Road!?
- 19. The Tribute and the Queen
- 20. Beautiful Dreams and Beautiful Dreamer
- 21. That Lucky Old Sun
- An Epilogue: With Love and Mercy
- Myths and Legends
- Acknowledgments: 1978, 1985, 2022
- Copyright
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can cancel anytime from the Subscription tab in your account settings on the Perlego website. Your subscription will stay active until the end of your current billing period. Learn how to cancel your subscription
No, books cannot be downloaded as external files, such as PDFs, for use outside of Perlego. However, you can download books within the Perlego app for offline reading on mobile or tablet. Learn how to download books offline
Perlego offers two plans: Essential and Complete
- Essential is ideal for learners and professionals who enjoy exploring a wide range of subjects. Access the Essential Library with 800,000+ trusted titles and best-sellers across business, personal growth, and the humanities. Includes unlimited reading time and Standard Read Aloud voice.
- Complete: Perfect for advanced learners and researchers needing full, unrestricted access. Unlock 1.5M+ books across hundreds of subjects, including academic and specialized titles. The Complete Plan also includes advanced features like Premium Read Aloud and Research Assistant.
We are an online textbook subscription service, where you can get access to an entire online library for less than the price of a single book per month. With over 1.5 million books across 990+ topics, we’ve got you covered! Learn about our mission
Look out for the read-aloud symbol on your next book to see if you can listen to it. The read-aloud tool reads text aloud for you, highlighting the text as it is being read. You can pause it, speed it up and slow it down. Learn more about Read Aloud
Yes! You can use the Perlego app on both iOS and Android devices to read anytime, anywhere — even offline. Perfect for commutes or when you’re on the go.
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app
Please note we cannot support devices running on iOS 13 and Android 7 or earlier. Learn more about using the app
Yes, you can access God Only Knows by David Leaf in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Mezzi di comunicazione e arti performative & Biografie in ambito musicale. We have over 1.5 million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.