Carl playing 12-string on God Only Knows

[Mahalo]

aeijtzsche,

Do you know what the sound is on IJWMFTT on the mono version about 5 seconds in? It is not on the stereo version...

[Jonas]

Tried that as well, Josh. Just saying I ended up having it blasting at the end, but nada.

[guitarfool2002]

aeijtzsche,

Do you know what the sound is on IJWMFTT on the mono version about 5 seconds in? It is not on the stereo version...

More specific on the sound? Is it an instrumental or vocal sound? I hear what sounds like a very faint fuzz tone "hit" around 5 seconds in on mono (hits on "I" and "after "mind" in the lyrics), but it's also there in stereo, right channel even more faint than mono.

[brother john]

If you can't hear the guitar on GOK try listening out for the on-beat chops on the second verse - this is where the guitar comes in, and is particularly apparent when you hear the occasional up-strokes of the plectrum, which are less apparent later in the song.

It doesn't sound much like a 12 string though.

[Mark H.]

Sort reminds me of a 4 string banjo.

[guitarfool2002]

I'm surprised Brian would have Carl playing a chord part on 12-string, specifically a jazzy harmonic part like GOK. Not saying Carl couldn't do it, but with the group of jazz guitarists Brian had for various Pet Sounds sessions I'd think he'd sooner give it to one of them since it fits right into their bag, and Carl was more of a single note guy with his 12-string in the studio...plus the Rickenbacker 12-string isn't known for voicing jazz chords all that well.

[Joshilyn Hoisington]

It is an out-of-the-ordinary usage, I agree. 

So, on the SOT GOK session, during the third track of what they call "early rehearsal" at 1:34 you can really hear the strums when somebody brings up the volume suddenly.  At 1:52 you can hear that Carl (or whoever) keeps playing stabs into the bridge.

At 2:40 you can hear some noodling which confirms it is a 12-string, and then at 3:36-3:46 there's a bunch of noodling.  During the actual used take, the guitar is most noticeable during the second verse, I think.

Craig--what do you think about the IJWMFTT piano break in question here, composition wise?  Something Brian suggested and Randi fine-tuned, or all Randi?

Anybody interested in hearing me play that piano part as I've transcribed it?

[hypehat]

I can really imagine Brian going 'Don, play some bluesy piano, like this [plays approximation], just keep going and ad-libbing in that register for the C section' I wouldn't think something so fluid would require extensive tabulation on BW's part. Although pure speculation, of course.

[c-man]

Craig--what do you think about the IJWMFTT piano break in question here, composition wise?  Something Brian suggested and Randi fine-tuned, or all Randi?

My guess would be the former.  But remember it was Randi who made a key suggestion for the bridge on GOK.

[Chris Brown]

Craig--what do you think about the IJWMFTT piano break in question here, composition wise?  Something Brian suggested and Randi fine-tuned, or all Randi?

My guess would be the former.  But remember it was Randi who made a key suggestion for the bridge on GOK.

True, but with "God Only Knows" Randi wasn't coming up with a new part, just a different way of playing the part that Brian already conceived. I agree that Brian probably gave him the general idea for the "IJWMFTT" piano and Randi fine-tuned it. That part is so off-the-wall that it could have only come from Brian.

[guitarfool2002]

Craig--what do you think about the IJWMFTT piano break in question here, composition wise?  Something Brian suggested and Randi fine-tuned, or all Randi?

Two Craigs in the room at last count!

Very tough call - Conceptually, Brian knew before the session what he wanted sonically, and had a honky-tonk piano ready to go. I see that as a nod to the past, sonically, and he needed a part which fit into the barrelhouse-saloon style while playing modern pop chords. It's quite a brilliant way to do it, where other arrangers and composers might try it and turn it into a comedy or a parody. Brian manages to make the part compelling and relevant in the context of the song.

I believe the part - as most of Brian's rhythm section parts did I'm guessing - existed as a chord chart on the music stand, with maybe a few rhythmic hits and melody lines here and there as cues. I believe Brian suggested the feel over those chords, maybe had Randi try a few variations while rehearsing, and when it was close Brian turned him loose. It's just my opinion, but I do not hear that as a specifically composed part - it sounds like what you'd get if you gave any session pianist a chord progression and asked for an old-time saloon feel.

Absolutely one of *the* highlights of hearing the session tapes...why this was buried in the 1966 mix I'll never quite understand, but Brian is Brian and all we can do is listen.

[Joshilyn Hoisington]

Craig--what do you think about the IJWMFTT piano break in question here, composition wise?  Something Brian suggested and Randi fine-tuned, or all Randi?

Two Craigs in the room at last count!

Yes, I agonized over how to phrase that.  "Craigs, what do you think"...  I figured whoever by that name that felt like answering would answer!

[Sam_BFC]

Anybody interested in hearing me play that piano part as I've transcribed it?

Yeah man...would be cool to see the transcription too!

[TdHabib]

I've been working on the IJWMFTT piano part since I picked it out of the mix, so I'd be interested! And this is a great thread btw...

[Mahalo]

More specific on the sound? Is it an instrumental or vocal sound? I hear what sounds like a very faint fuzz tone "hit" around 5 seconds in on mono (hits on "I" and "after "mind" in the lyrics), but it's also there in stereo, right channel even more faint than mono.

I have a hard time describing the sound but I thinkwe are talking about the same tone. Though I never heard it as fuzzy, I can't seem to think of the right description. I've always heard it louder on the mono version though, not until you pointed me towards the rght channel did I hear it on the stereo.

To harken back to another thread I feel that the stereo can be too crispy clean sometimes depending on the mood I'm in.