Tune X Podcast

Greg Kean as Brian Wilson It’s Hallowe’en. And a big part of this fall holiday: scary movies. And what movie could possibly be scarier than…Summer Dreams: The Story of The Beach Boys, the made-for-TV movie that originally aired in 1990 on ABC-TV. Does the fact that the movie begins with three disclaimers have any indication as to the quality of the film? Who wouldn’t want to see Steven Gaines’ Heroes and Villains: The True Story of The Beach Boys come to life? Will Buckwheat ever be let back into the band? The answers to these and many more questions will be discussed by Lisa and Sean as they discuss the wonders that is this epic biopic of America’s Band! (Or, maybe is it that if you say you’ve watched it, you’re a couple of liars because nobody would admit to watching it?) Recorded September 28, 2025 SHOW NOTES TV promo for Summer Dreams: The Story of The Beach Boys Summer Dreams: The Story of The Beach Boys – full movie!

As were all fans, we were devastated to hear on June 11, 2025, the news of Brian Wilson’s passing. A few days later we sat down and recorded our thoughts, still processing the news. Feel free to share your thoughts and feelings with us as well. Our aim was to keep things as positive as we could for episode 26, and we hope we at least somewhat succeeded. Thank you, Brian, for…everything. Recorded June 14, 2025

…and that mystery is that of the long lost Smile album. Making a valiant attempt to unravel that mystery is David Leaf, who join Lisa and Sean in this special extended episode to talk about his new book, SMiLE: The Rise, Fall & Resurrection of Brian Wilson. David talks about the book, why he wrote it, his thoughts on Smile, and other things Brian Wilson. Recorded March 16, 2025 SHOW NOTES Order SMiLE: The Rise, Fall & Resurrection of Brian Wilson by David Leaf: US | UK Watch Beautiful Dreamer: Brian Wilson and the Story of SMiLE

Been a while! But Lisa and Sean discuss the three major Beach Boys career-spanning documentaries. What worked? What didn’t? Who did it the best? Who did it the worst? Recorded December 24, 2024

In this lengthily-titled episode, Lisa and Sean discuss not just songs that are signposts for the beloved Pet Sounds album, but also songs that theoretically could be Pet Sounds aftershocks. Recorded June 22, 2024 SHOW NOTES Darian Sahanaja’s cover of “Do You Have Any Regrets“

On the 25th anniversary of their first Brian Wilson concert, your hosts talk about their experience at the show and how things have changed (and stayed the same) — for both Brian Wilson and them personally — in the last quarter-century. (Please note that this episode was recorded before the sad and unexpected news of Joe Thomas’ death.) Recorded April 27, 2024

Hot takes is what this episode is all about: Lisa and Sean talk about some…well, unpopular…opinions about The Beach Boys. Do you think “Good Vibrations” is a hack job that should have been given to The Pickle Brothers? Or maybe that Country Love blows That Lucky Old Sun out of the water? Perhaps “Ten Little Indians” should have been a #1 hit. If that sounds like you, then you just might feel right at home listening to this episode! Recorded March 16, 2024 Show Notes: Sean and Ferg in an in-depth discussion about 15 Big Ones The Atari 2600 Game By Game Podcast – Ferg’s podcast My Weird Record Collection – Sean’s new podcast

Brian Wilson conceived of the Smile album 58 years ago, abandoned it 57 years ago, and debuted a finished version of it 20 years ago to the day. To commemorate the anniversary of the first public performance of the legendary masterpiece, Lisa and Sean look at the 2004 album in comparison to the original versions as presented on The Smile Sessions in 2011. NOTE: This episode was recorded on February 3, 2024, before the latest news about Brian Wilson’s current situation was made public. We will address that in our next episode, but in the mean time, our love goes out to Brian and his family and friends; it goes without saying that we wish him all the best.

Because Lisa and Sean felt the need to talk about The Beach Boys and record the conversation, here is episode 19. Life got in the way of the episode being released in a timely manner after recording, but they look back on Beach Boysy things that happened in 2023 and talk about their hopes for Beach Boysy things in 2024. Recorded December 17, 2023

While on a weekend trip to Harbor Country USA, Sean and Lisa took some time to discuss a topic they’ve been tossing around since long before this podcast was even thought of: that sensitive topic of…Beatles envy. It can’t be denied that the jealousy is there; even Brian Wilson himself said that when The Beatles arrived in America, “We were jealous as hell.” Is the jealousy warranted? Did The Beach Boys still stand tall on their own? The world may never know. Recorded September 16, 2023 SHOW NOTES: Bruce Spizer – https://www.beatle.net/ The Endless Summer – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnWdu0x1nDM

In this long-overdue episode, Lisa and Sean discuss the recent GRAMMY Salute to The Beach Boys aired this spring in celebration of the band’s 60th anniversary, and the baffling ignorance shown by the Recording Academy’s shortsightedness in recognizing The Beach Boys and other bands over the years. And while we’re at it, we take a look at 25 Years Together: A Celebration in Waikiki. Recorded June 25, 2023 SHOW NOTES: Make The Beach Boys Channel on SiriusXM permanently year round! – https://www.change.org/p/make-the-beach-boys-channel-on-siriusxm-permanently-year-round Aretha Franklin paying tribute to Carole King at the Kennedy Center Honors – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfEb9Sb6Ge8 How to Speak Hip by Del Close and John Brent – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1f-9r4WFPEw&list=PL5BFEE776011A4689 The Beach Boys, 25 Years Together: A Celebration in Waikiki – https://youtu.be/cuYeV2bV0P0 The Paley Center for Media’s entry for 25 Years Together – https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=your&p=181&item=B:09746 “The Spirit of Rock’n’Roll” (Brian doing a duet with Bob Dylan on the unreleased album Sweet Insanity) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R21WiHjDRrs

A little over a year ago, we discussed some of the, well…not great…moves and decisions that The Beach Boys made over the years. This time, however, we’re going in the opposite direction. What did they get right? Drop in on our conversation in which we discuss just a handful of the good things that The Beach Boys have done. Some you may disagree with, but we’re sure you’ll find some common ground! Recorded March 25, 2023 Show Notes Tune X Podcast on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@Tunexpodcast1252 The Beach Boys – 25 Years Together [full concert] – https://youtu.be/cuYeV2bV0P0

After a brief winter hiatus, we are back with a deep dive into The Beach Boys’ 1965. And not just 1965, but also earlier events and circumstances that shaped that year that proved to be a turning point in both the lives and the sound of the group. Recorded February 19, 2023 Show Notes Online version of David Leaf’s A Viewing, Listening and Reading List for God Only Knows: The Story of Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys & The California Myth Our notes — all 24 pages of ’em! — used for this episode! (PDF format) “Shored Up“ by Paul J. Macarthur, Houston Press – July 20, 2000 “Gigs” section of Andrew G. Doe’s web site The Beach Boys In Concert: The Ultimate History of America’s Band on Tour and Onstage by Ian Rusten and Jon Stebbins The Beach Boys on The Andy Williams Show “California Girls” and surfer sketch on The Jack Benny Hour The Beach Boys perform “Barbara Ann” on The Jack Benny Hour Eastern Air Lines commercial from 1971 (only the part with The Beach Boys!) “The Lost Music of Bond,” from James Bond Radio Photo album for this episode

Last time, your hosts talked about the new version of David Leaf’s book, God Only Knows: The Story of Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys & the California Myth. This time, they talk to the author himself! David, Sean, and Lisa talk Brian, fandom, and…southern California cuisine?? Recorded November 19, 2022 Show Notes Purchase God Only Knows: The Story of Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys & the California Myth here! A Viewing, Listening and Reading List for God Only Knows download A Reader’s Guide to God Only Knows: The Story of Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys & the California Myth Spotify playlist for the book: Vocal Magic Spotify playlist for the book: Pet Sounds, the Prequel Spotify playlist for the book: Ballads Spotify playlist for the book: Uptempo Tunes Spotify playlist for the book: Blowing Minds

DAVID Leaf, that is! In this episode of Tune X Podcast, Lisa and Sean share their observations on Leaf’s newest update to his classic book, God Only Knows: The Story of Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys & the California Myth. Recorded October 2, 2022 Show Notes Purchase God Only Knows: The Story of Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys & the California Myth by David Leaf Purchase Cooking with The Dead: Recipes and Stories from Fans on the Road by Elizabeth Zipern Chapter 8 of Autobiography of a Schnook (To go directly to “Dick Dale, The Beach Boys and the ‘Sloop John B’ Myth,” skip to 59 minutes.)

Your hosts, at Paradise Cove on August 2, 2022Lisa and Sean discuss their adventures in visiting various Beach Boys-related locations, particularly in Southern California. Recorded August 26, 2022 Show notes: Photo album of Sean and Lisa’s visits to Beach Boys sites “How my epic vacation fails became a motto for this coming school year” by Heidi Stevens

We hit the Siriux XM radio dial, that is, and turn it to channel 105: The Beach Boys Channel! Lisa and Sean share their observations of this tragically temporary all-Beach Boys option on satellite radio, and they tune right in everywhere they go. Recorded July 20, 2022 Show Notes Petition to Make The Beach Boys Channel on Sirius XM permanently year round! Do you agree with the record store’s assessment of this 1981 mammoth blockbuster?

We swear, we did not intend to time the release of this episode so that it lands on Brian Wilson’s birthday; we recorded this in late May and just…got hung up in post production. But here we are now, as summer is about to begin, as we discuss not one, not two, but eight records’ worth of music: four classic double-album Beach Boys compilations that arguably may have paved the way for the reissue of Sounds of Summer. Ninety-six songs covering the best of a mere eighteen-year period! Recorded May 30, 2022 Show Notes: Endless Summer commercial Endless Summer artwork Spirit of America artwork The Beach Boys “perform” “Beach Boys Medley” on American Bandstand Sunshine Dream artwork “Sifting Sands: Ten Years of Harmony,” by Brad Elliott, from the Add Some Music fanzine

It’s May 16. Gee, what topic do you THINK this married couple is going to talk about? Well…if you still can’t guess, then…Pet Sounds. Given that an entire encyclopedia could be made about the revolutionary album, Lisa and Sean decided to narrow the scope a bit. They start with a bit of discussion about their experiences with the 1990 CD. Also, they have some experience that not a heck of a lot of people have been through: they actually got to be part of a performance of the album in front of a paying audience, and they talk about the experience. A splendid time is guaranteed for all. This is the BEST trip we’ve ever been on. Recorded April 24, 2022 Three guitars, a ukulele, a bike horn, a bike bell, an iPad, and a plush giraffe (not all pictured) are just some of the things you need to put in your car when you’re about to perform Pet Sounds with a group of talented friends.The labels on Sean’s beloved Rickenbacker 12-string to help him find his positioning for “That’s Not Me” and “Sloop John B.” (He still managed to screw it up!)

Hi-ho, Tune X Podcast here! This episode is released on the day of the 45th anniversary of the release of The Beach Boys Love You, an album that polarizes Beach Boys fans the world over. To mark the occasion, Lisa and Sean discuss the album with a special guest — in a way we promise you you’ve never heard. So, it’s time to play the music, light the lights, put on makeup, dress up right, and get things started! Recorded March 26, 2022 Show Notes “Airplane” as covered by Jack Madani What Do the Planets Meme on Instagram The Beach Boys Love You in 8-bit music Endless Summer Quarterly – Spring 2007, Issue #76, The Beach Boys Love You Carol Channing outside the Shubert Theatre in Times Square – July 26, 2010 Carey Anne Farrell on Facebook Carey on Twitter Carey on Instagram Carey on YouTube Carey on Bandcamp Danger Noodle (Carey’s band) on Bandcamp Forward March by Carey Anne Farrell