In The 1970s Beach Boys

Formed in 1961 and reaching their peak in the mid and late 1960s the Beach Boys made little impact on the 1970s charts, But what they did was memorable. In 1970 they joined the Reprise label and released Sunflower LP which had the single Cotton Fields which was a 1940s hit by Lead Belly.
In 1973\ they had a minor hit with California Saga and in 1976 they scored a No. 8 hit with the reissue of Good Vibrations.

More minor hits followed until 1979.

Their next big hit came in 1979 and was called Lady Lynda written by band member Alan Jardine and Ron Altbach based on the music of Johan Sebastian Bach.

 

Interview with Brian Wilson in 1975

Former members

• Carl Wilson – vocals, lead and rhythm guitar, bass, keyboards (1961–98, died 1998)
• Dennis Wilson – vocals, drums, keyboards (1961–83, died 1983)
• David Marks – vocals, lead and rhythm guitar (1962–63, 1997–99, 2011–2012)
• Blondie Chaplin – vocals, bass, lead and rhythm guitar, slide guitar (1972–73)
• Ricky Fataar – vocals, drums, rhythm guitar, pedal steel guitar, flute (1972–74)

Late March 1965 – February 1972	Mike Love – lead vocals Carl Wilson – lead guitar, vocals Al Jardine – guitar, vocals Dennis Wilson – drums Bruce Johnston – bass,keyboards, vocals (replaced Brian Wilson on tours and involved in the studio) Brian Wilson – keyboards, bass,vocals (only in the studio) With supporting musicians at select concerts from 1967–1972: Ed Carter – guitar Daryl Dragon – keyboards Mike Kowalski – drums (joined in 68) Ron Brown - percussion (67 only) Dennis Dragon – drums, percussion (joined in 71) Billy Hinsche – guitar, keyboards (joined in 71) Joel Peskin - saxophone (71 only) Bobby Torres - percussion (71 only)
March 1972 – April 1972	Mike Love – lead vocals Carl Wilson – lead guitar, vocals Bruce Johnston – bass,keyboards Blondie Chaplin – bass, guitar,vocals Al Jardine – guitar, vocals Dennis Wilson – keyboards,vocals Ricky Fataar – keyboards,drums, vocals Brian Wilson – keyboards, bass,vocals (only in the studio) With supporting musicians at select concerts: Ed Carter – guitar Billy Hinsche – guitar, keyboards Mike Kowalski – drums Daryl Dragon – keyboards Dennis Dragon – – drums, percussion (72 only)
May 1972 – 1973	Mike Love – lead vocals Carl Wilson – lead guitar, vocals Blondie Chaplin – bass, guitar,vocals Al Jardine – guitar, vocals Dennis Wilson – keyboards,vocals Ricky Fataar – keyboards,drums, vocals Brian Wilson – keyboards, bass,vocals (only select live shows) With supporting musicians at select concerts: Ed Carter – guitar Billy Hinsche – guitar, keyboards Mike Kowalski – drums Carli Muñoz – keyboards (joined in 73) Dennis Dragon – – drums, percussion (72 only) Toni Tennille – keyboards Charles Lloyd - saxophone and flute (72 only) Robert Kenyatta - woodwinds (73 only) Putter Smith - bass (73 only)
1974	Mike Love – lead vocals Carl Wilson – lead guitar, vocals Al Jardine – guitar, vocals Dennis Wilson – keyboards,vocals Ricky Fataar – keyboards,drums, vocals Brian Wilson – no longer involved in the studio With supporting musicians at select concerts: Billy Hinsche – guitar, keyboards,vocals Carli Muñoz – keyboards Bobby Figueroa – percussion Ron Altbach – keyboards James Guercio - bass
1975 – August 1978	Mike Love – lead vocals Carl Wilson – lead guitar, vocals Al Jardine – guitar, vocals Brian Wilson – keyboards, bass,vocals (select shows) Dennis Wilson – keyboards,vocals, drums With supporting musicians at select concerts: Billy Hinsche – guitar, keyboards,vocals Carli Muñoz – keyboards Bobby Figueroa – percussion,drums Ed Carter – guitar, bass Ron Altbach – keyboards (left in 77) Mike Kowalski – drums (77 only) James Guercio - bass (left in 75) Elmo Peeler – keyboards (joined in 75) Gary Griffin – keyboards (77 only) Sterling Smith – keyboards (78 only) Phil Shenale keyboards (78 only)
September 1978 – 1980	Mike Love – lead vocals Carl Wilson – lead guitar, vocals Al Jardine – guitar, vocals Bruce Johnston – bass,keyboards, vocals Brian Wilson – bass, keyboards,vocals (select shows) Dennis Wilson – keyboards,vocals, drums With supporting musicians at select concerts: Billy Hinsche – guitar, keyboards,vocals Carli Muñoz – keyboards (left in 79) Bobby Figueroa – percussion,drums Ed Carter – guitar, bass Mike Meros – keyboards (joined in 79) Tony Leo - keyboards (79 only) Joe Chemay - bass (80 only)