First, the good news. This 50-minute DVD from 1976, which originally aired on television, features Brian Wilson’s return to the stage after a long sabbatical (three years in bed, more in no fit state to play) and lots of rare footage of the group, including skits written by and starring John Belushi and Dan Akroyd.

The concert, from Annaheim Stadium, is broken up by these sequences and more, including footage of cheerleaders and a woman driving a car. You know how it is.

The non-concert sequences, however, are what makes this worth seeing: portly Brian Wilson being interviewed in bed, Dennis Wilson (who died a couple of years later) judging a beauty contest, and the Belushi/Akroyd skit where “Surf Police” come and get Brian from his bed, and try to make him surf. (The guy who wrote all those surfing hits is legendarily phobic about surfing).

As for the concert footage, it’s pretty crap. We get excerpts of a bunch of their hits, but the sound is so very poor that it’s impossible to tell if their trademark harmonies are even intact (I suspect not by this late stage). Performance-wise, Brian sits hidden behind an electric piano, seemingly not doing much except looking bovine, and it’s the loathed Mike Love who takes centre stage, every bit the showman and really quite embarrassing in his sailor’s cap, glittering top and tight white pants.

To be frank, the quality of the video and audio is both piss poor, and we could really expect better from a 1976 documentary about one of the biggest bands in the world: surely this release would have to have been sanctioned by the group? The recent Neil Diamond DVD release from the same year is a case in point, with footage and audio that was quite acceptable.

For some odd reason, there are actually stereo, Dolby and DTS surround options on this DVD, and THEY ALL sound horrid. What’s the point, you may well ask. Well, I know when I look at a DVD cover, and it shows a surround option, I’m immediately suckered into the belief that the audio must be quite good. I’ve now learnt my lesson!

While it’s certainly worth seeing, I couldn’t recommend this slice of history because of its appalling sound and poor video; and there’s a wasted opportunity in the Extras department: there are none. GARY STEEL

Sound Quality: 1  Picture Quality: 2  Overall: 2.5