“Brian’s Back!” That was the word from Beach Boys HQ after it became clear within the group that they’re chief songwriter and spiritual flame Brian Wilson would be back in action in 1976. By mid-year they’re back in the Top 5 for the first time in almost a decade, and Wilson was able to return to the live stage with his bandmates just in time for the Bicentennial.

Things were trending so much in the right direction that Brian settled into the band’s Santa Monica studio to put together a record where he not only wrote most of the material, but where he played almost all the instruments himself - including the Minimoog the band had acquired.

“The Minimoog became our instrument of choice…that was our bass sound for a while during the Sunflower and Surf’s Up era.” singer/guitarist Al Jardine told Rock Cellar Magazine in 2013.

On the song “Roller Skating Child,” Brian places the Model front and center, where it is the most prominent sound on the track apart from the Beach Boys lockstep harmonies. The freedom Brian had to work extensively with synthesizers was a reflection of how appreciative Carl and Dennis Wilson were to have their brother back at the helm.

“The Beach Boys Love You was the most amazing recording. In a way it was Carl’s tribute to Brian. The title of that album is really The Beach Boys Love Brian. Carl wanted Brian to feel appreciated…(and) the Minimoogs are all over the place.”