Going Public is an album by American artist Bruce Johnston. It was released in 1977 during a period where he was no longer part of The Beach Boys from 1972 to 1979.
The tracklist features songs that Bruce has written for The Beach Boys and other artists ("I Write The Songs" was written for Captain & Tennille and turned out to be a much bigger hit when Barry Manilow covered it, earning Bruce a Grammy Award). Produced by Gary Usher (a songwriting partner of Brian Wilson), Going Public showcases a mix of piano ballads and disco tunes.
Bruce has joked about making a follow-up album called "Going Private" and more than 45 years after this album's release, Bruce didn't make another solo record since.
Tracklist:
- "I Write The Songs"
- "Deirdre"
- "Thank You, Baby"
- "Rendezvous"
- "Won't Somebody Dance With Me"
- "Disney Girls"
- "Rock and Roll Survivor"
- "Don't Be Scared"
- "Pipeline"
Troping Public:
- Anaphora: "I Write The Songs":I write the songs that make the whole world sing
I write the songs of love and special things
I write the songs that make those young girls cry
I write the songs, I write the songs - Cherubic Choir: Featured on "I Write The Songs".
- Cover Version: "Deirdre" and "Disney Girls" were previously written by Bruce for The Beach Boys.
- "Won't Somebody Dance With Me" (originally written by Lynsey De Paul)
- "Pipeline", a disco rendition of a Surf Rock song by Chantay's.
- Face on the Cover: The cover picture is dated around 1970 when The Beach Boys were promoting the album Sunflower.
- High-School Dance: The setting of "Won't Somebody Dance With Me"
- Limited Lyrics Song: "Pipeline" (the title is its own lyric).
- Lyrical Cold Open: "Rock and Roll Survivor" and "Pipeline".
- Nostalgia Filter: "Disney Girls" is about reminescing via old Disney films.
- Nuclear Family: "Disney Girls"It'd be a peaceful life
With a forever wife
And a kid someday - One-Woman Song: "Deirdre".
- One-Word Title: "Deirdre", "Rendezvous" and "Pipeline"
- Scatting: Prominently featured on "Pipeline".
- Shout-Out: "Disney Girls" is a shout-out to Walt Disney and also name-drops Patti Page (and her 1957 hit "Old Cape Cod"). It's also been suggested that the bridge ("Hi Rick and Dave, hi Pop, good morning Mom...") is a nod to The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.
- Spoken Word in Music: Some dialogue can be heard on "Won't Somebody Dance With Me"
- Title Drop: On each track of the album.
- Truck Driver's Gear Change: "I Write The Songs", "Won't Somebody Dance With Me" and "Disney Girls" during its last verse.
