Carl Wilson's "Long Promised Road"

The South Bay Window Surfers-- the remaining original Beach Boys: Brian Wilson, David Marks, Bruce Johnston, Al Jardine, and Mike Love

There's a great new clip at YouTube for Beach Boys fans, especially their early '70s period-- an early music video for the Carl Wilson song "Long Promised Road" from the Surf's Up album.

Except for a brief appearance of the other Boys at the very end, it's all footage of a still-beardless Carl (see the Sunflower album cover) walking down a (European?) street. Carl's not exactly the movie star his brother Dennis was, and it's mostly shot after shot of him schlumping along. But it's awfully good to see him again, the Beach Boy who never really got his due.

Musically, the video is extremely interesting, in that an earlier, stripped-down mix of the song is used; free of the early synth overdubs that sounded like farting through a fuzzbox, it's actually a better track. I don't know if non-fans will care at all, but for longtime admirers of the Boys and especially the youngest Wilson brother, it's a treat. You can watch it here.

P.S. With the recent death of Billy Preston, I'm reminded of the rumor in the BB community that Dennis Wilson co-wrote "You Are So Beautiful."