Sean Callaghan
Bio
Neurodivergent, Writer, Drummer, Singer, Percussionist, Rock Music Star Wars and Disney Devotee.
Stories (113)
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'All Summer Long'
With The Beatles dominating the American Charts, The Beach Boys and Brian Wilson in particular faced a tough creative challenge. They would have to make a real good song to compete with the Fab Four. The All Summer Long album came out 4 months after Shut Down Volume 2 on July 13th 1964 and can be considered the high point of the early Beach Boys era. Prior to the recording sessions for the album Murry Wilson was fired as the Beach Boys manager by Brian after his fathers aggressive tone and out of style creative suggestions were impeding on Brian's musical development. The album was recorded at United Western Recorders in Hollywood. Brian had been disappointed in the quality of Shut Down Volume 2 and wanted the album to be of a higher quality. Most of the instrumentation on the album was played by the band. A situation that would become less common as Brian slowly began to feature more members of the legendary "Wrecking Crew" of session musicians on future albums.
By Sean Callaghanabout a year ago in Beat
Hope For The Future
To all my many wonderful friends through the years, To say I am terrified of what the next four years will bring would be an understatement. However, If one thing has become clear to me it is that even through the most difficult of times a true friend will always be there. Growing up It was hard to make friends and many of the people whom I thought were my friends were only using me. It was not until I came to the Vanguard School that I finally met "my" people. Not everyone at the Vanguard School was my friend but those who were became my friends for life.
By Sean Callaghanabout a year ago in Humans
'Shut Down Volume 2'
In February 1964, A group of four young men from Liverpool England landed on American soil. The Beatles' arrival in the US signaled a seismic shift in American pop culture. American bands such as the Beach Boys struggled to find a way to compete with the new sound from England.
By Sean Callaghanabout a year ago in Beat
'Little Deuce Coupe'
Coming three weeks on the heels of their Surfer Girl album. The Beach Boys fourth album Little Deuce Coupe is a very early example of what would later be known as a concept album. Collecting a few car themed songs the Boys had already released with new songs written mostly with Los Angeles disc jockey and car enthusiast Roger Christian.
By Sean Callaghanabout a year ago in Beat
'Surfer Girl'
The Beach Boys' third album Surfer Girl was highly significant, in that it was the first album to be fully produced by Brian Wilson who would continue to be at the helm thoughout their most successful period. It was recorded at United Western Recorders where most of their classic hits would be recorded. Also, Al Jardine, who had earlier left the band to go to college, returned to the fold, bringing more vocal and guitar power to the band.
By Sean Callaghanabout a year ago in Beat
'Surfin' USA'
The success of the Surfin' Safari LP convinced the Beach Boys and Capitol Records to keep the formula going for a second LP, Surfin' USA. Nick Venet returned as producer, though the oldest Wilson brother (Brian) was also heavily involved in the production.
By Sean Callaghan2 years ago in Beat
'Surfin' Safari'
The Beach Boy's debut album, Surfin' Safari was released on October 1st 1962, but their origins go back to early November 1961. Wilson parents, Murry and Audree went on a business trip to Mexico City, leaving their three sons at their home in Hawthorne California with an emergency sum. Oldest Brother, Brian Wilson was a musical prodigy who loved the harmonies of the 50s vocal group The "Four Freshman", Younger Brother, Carl Wilson was an aspiring guitarist who loved practicing to Chuck Berry records. Middle Brother, Dennis was a surfer and suggested to Brian that he write a song about Surfing. Brian convened his brothers, First Cousin Mike Love and Brian's High School Friend Al Jardine and used the emergency money left for them along with an additional 300$ lent by Al's Mother Virginia to rent or buy musical instruments. Brian and Mike composed the tune Surfin'. When Murry and Audree returned home, Murry was initially furious that the boys had "Wasted" their money but was quickly won over by the quality of Brian and Mikes' song. They recorded a version of Surfin' for Hite and Dorinda Morgan of Candix Records. They initially wanted to call their group The "Pendletones" after the popular pendolton shirts many surfers favored. Label promotions man Russ Regan changed their name to the Beach Boys without the groups blessing. Surfin' was released as a single on Candix Records on November 27th 1961 , was a local radio hit in the Southern California Market and sold more than 40'000 copies
By Sean Callaghan2 years ago in Beat
The Rise and Fall of Splash Mountain
Tony Baxter: Creator of Splash Mountain One day in the early 1980s, while driving on the L.A. freeways, Disney Imagineer Tony Baxter had a dilemma. The America Sings attraction in Tomorrowland with it's cast of dozens of Audio-Animatronic figures was set to close at Disneyland. On the opposite end of the park, the "Bear Country" section featuring the Country Bear Jamboree was failing to attract guests. At the same time Walt Disney Attractions, President Dick Nunis was lobbying WED Enterprises (Now Walt Disney Imagineering) to build a log flume attraction arguing that every amusement park had one. suddenly Baxter came up with an idea put a flume ride in Bear Country based on the Disney film "Song Of The South" in which the design aesthetic would allow them to use the America Sings AA's since Marc Davis the designer of America Sings had also worked on "Song Of The South".
By Sean Callaghan2 years ago in The Swamp
The Sherman Brothers
Robert B. Sherman was born on December 19th 1925, his brother Richard M. Sherman was born three years later on June 12th 1928. Their father was Al Sherman, a Tin Pan Alley songwriter who wrote popular optimistic standards for performers such as Eddie Cantor. As little boys, Richard and Bob would invite neighborhood kids to see plays written by Bob and performed by Richard. Bob's best friend in school was Samuel Goldwyn Jr. son of legendary film mogul Samuel Goldwyn. Bob aspired to be a writer from a young age and Dick aspired to be a songwriter. At age 17 Bob joined the army where he injured his knee after getting tangled in barbed wire. He was one of the first allied troops to liberate the Dachau Prison Camp. What he saw there scarred him for the rest of his life. The Brothers entered Bard College. Richard was briefly married to a fellow student and had a daughter. They took an apartment over a cleaning store and lived together. Their first song collaboration was called "Gold Can Buy Anything But Love" it was recorded by Gene Autrey. Richard joined the army reserve but never saw action. Robert met his future wife Joyce Sherman at a movie date and he asked her to marry him after the date. Richard met his second wife Elizabeth around this time. Richard and Bob wrote the song "Tall Paul" which was recorded by Annete Funicello, star of the Mickey Mouse Club television show which brought them into Disney's orbit. They wrote the song "You're Sixteen" originally sung by Johnny Burnette and covered by Ringo Starr formerly of the Beatles in 1973.
By Sean Callaghan2 years ago in Beat
'Long Road Out Of Eden'
In February of 2001, Don Felder was fired by the Eagles. He was replaced by Nashville session guitarist Steuart Smith. Also added to the touring band in 2001 were Will Hollis and Michael Thompson on keyboards. Scott Crago remained on drums and percussion from the Hell Freezes Over tour.
By Sean Callaghan2 years ago in Beat
