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1974
| |
| May | Brother Studio officially opens its doors for business. |
| summer | Dennis buys a sailing boat, The Harmony. |
| June |
Capitol release double compilation Endless Summer, covering the years 1962-65, which proves the phenomenon of the year. Backed by the Beach Boys' acclaimed live show, it becomes their second chart-topping album. |
| July |
double album pairing of Wild Honey with 20/20 is issued by Warners and charts respectably at #50, doubtless hitching a ride on the star of Endless Summer. Not to be outdone, Capitol reissues "Surfin' USA" as a 45, backed with "The Warmth Of The Sun" and watch it reach #36, easily outclassing any Warners' single to date. |
| August | Dennis & Barbara divorce. |
| fall |
the band, Brian included, attempt a new studio album, initially at Guercio's Caribou Ranch at Nederland, CO before moving to Brother Studio. Neither they nor Warners are happy with the results and the project is abandoned (a later fire which destroys the Colorado studio's control room allegedly also destroys the tapes of these sessions, excepting those taken back to Los Angeles for further work: there is reason to doubt this is the case). Ricky Fataar leaves the band, joining Joe Walsh's Barnstorm. Dennis resumes live drumming. |
| October |
Friends/Smiley Smile pairing on Warners' is released and charts at 125. Alan, Carl & Dennis contribute signature backing vocals to Chicago's top-20 hit "Wishin' You Were Here". Dennis meets Karen Lamm (born Barbara Karen Perks, June 21st, 1952, Indianapolis, IN), former wife of Chicago's Robert Lamm, for the first time. Hite Morgan, first Beach Boys producer, dies in Las Vegas, NV. He was 68. |
| December |
"Child Of Winter/Susie Cincinnati" single, the first new Beach Boys material for nearly two years is released two days before Christmas and, unsurprisingly (especially as the pressing is rumored to be just 5000), fails to chart. The A side bears Brian's first production credit for some seven years. In their end of the year poll, Rolling Stone makes the Beach Boys band of the year, entirely on the strength of their live show. |