Spark in the Dark/David Leaf exaggerations...

[Jay]

Another oddity is the booted isolated vocals on Till I Die. During the ending Brian and Carl sing some really high notes. Carl's part is higher than Brian's. Brian nails it but Carl's voice gives out at the end.

[Jay]

Sometimes I find it a little annoying when people speak in detail about recordings that I'll probably never hear in my lifetime. But then again, I feel fortunate when people occasionally tell me things "off the record", when not many people can openly talk about such recordings. Kind of a paradox, huh?

I can understand that - there's the element of one-upmanship, a slight eliteism. Not intentional, on my part - just want to share.

Oh, I wasn't trying to call out anybody in particular on it. Believe me, I'm very greatful for any information I can get. I can always hear something in my mind if I try hard enough and I have some details to work from. 

P.S.: That's a great avatar. I keep meaning to tell you. It reminds me of an old Presidential painting from the 1700's. lol

[Jim V.]

I pretty much like Lucy Jones--not a gem or anything, but fun enough to hear.

Could you describe it in any more detail? AGD's description is usually "shouty", but I don't really know what that means. To me, a "shouty" Brian vocal from his cleaner vocal era is something like "You're So Good to Me". Whereas, I'd say a late '70s shouty vocal is like "Back Home" or something. So which category would it fall into? Or neither? I just wish I could get a better idea of it in my mind.

I gotta say though, I think for all of us that haven't heard this stuff, I wouldn't totally give up hope. The 50th anniversary is upon us, and it looks like SMiLE is kicking butt, so I think we are gonna see a cool vault release. Therefore, I don't think it seems crazy to hope that we will get "California Feelin'" from '74 and the re-recorded "In the Back of My Mind".

By the way, could somebody spill the details on this version of "In the Back of My Mind"? Like what year was it recorded? Was it just a piano demo or more fleshed out? What was the quality of Brian's voice?

I gotta say though, it seems like realllyyy rough stuff like "Spark in the Dark", we probably won't hear. I hope "You're Riding High on the Music" and "Lucy Jones" will be heard too, and maybe if its a really extensive compilation those might be included. But honestly, just hearing "CF" '74 and "ITBoMM" would totally hit the spot for me.

[Joshilyn Hoisington]

Well, Brian doesn't sing much on Lucy Jones.  I thought he sounded pretty weird on there, and then Alan told me that it's actually Steve Kalinich singing the leads and it all made sense.  Brian may double him at times and I think he does some backing "Womps."  The recording is just Piano and several vocal tracks, the piano style very much like a "This Car of Mine" thing.  Shouty is not the word I would use, Steve's voice is pretty light.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Well, Brian doesn't sing much on Lucy Jones.  I thought he sounded pretty weird on there, and then Alan told me that it's actually Steve Kalinich singing the leads and it all made sense.  Brian may double him at times and I think he does some backing "Womps."  The recording is just Piano and several vocal tracks, the piano style very much like a "This Car of Mine" thing.  Shouty is not the word I would use, Steve's voice is pretty light.

Hmmm... how about 'ragged', then ?

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

So the description then is of Kalinich singing, not Brian?

[Joshilyn Hoisington]

So the description then is of Kalinich singing, not Brian?

Right, unless AGD has picked some Brian out of the mix that sounds especially ragged to him.  I just think it's the sound of a guy who is not necessarily a consummate pop singer, with no offense intended.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Ahh hell...then I have no interest then. Gotta hear Brian leads!


So, then...what's the deal with "You're Ridin' High on the Music"?

[Mike's Beard]

I remember that. Hearing the "1975 Brian voice" on He Come Down is one of the most perplexing thing I've ever heard.

I know, right? Even more mystifying is that the high part he did on the same song, he sounded like he did on Sunflower. Same phenomenon happened on 'Funky Pretty' ("Pretty Funky Gone" sounding like 'classic' Brian, and his part in the tag sounding like his backups on MIU!)

Brian sings a high part on "He Come Down"? Have I been mistaking him for Al all this time?

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

I remember that. Hearing the "1975 Brian voice" on He Come Down is one of the most perplexing thing I've ever heard.

I know, right? Even more mystifying is that the high part he did on the same song, he sounded like he did on Sunflower. Same phenomenon happened on 'Funky Pretty' ("Pretty Funky Gone" sounding like 'classic' Brian, and his part in the tag sounding like his backups on MIU!)

Brian sings a high part on "He Come Down"? Have I been mistaking him for Al all this time?

Yes he does, although him & Al didn't really sound that much alike on this one.

[Jim V.]

Ahh hell...then I have no interest then. Gotta hear Brian leads!


So, then...what's the deal with "You're Ridin' High on the Music"?

Yeah, anybody got any info on this one?

And once again, any info on "In the Back of My Mind"?

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Listening to HCD right now...the part that Brian is most audible comes at about 3:38 or so, on the left channel, is a lower pitched "EEEEeeee" sound (the loud one in the center is obviously Mike) and sounds like his 76 self (right down to the rasp). The part right before (the "Yes I believe it" parts), Brian is singing on top but is buried in the mix...it's in the center channel this time, with Al being on the left side but mixed loudly. In fact, if you listen closely you can hear Brian's voice go lower in pitch until he hits the lower note mentioned previously. After the short little break, he's doing the back up "aahs" right behind 'He came down to make Heaven my home'. Maybe comparing it to Sunflower was a bit of a stretch...listening to it now and playing around in Audition, it sounds more like his Love You -era falsetto. He isn't audible in the closing section.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Listening to 'Marcella'....Brian's part is in the tag singing "Marcella Hey" or "Marcella Babe"...can't quite make out the second batch. Sounds like MIU era Brian without the rasp...in comparison, Al's part is the "doobie doobie DOOOoooo".

[MBE]

Posted this on another thread but meant it for here. It fits there too so I didn't take it off.
Sweet Mountain has Brian doing some great vintage falsetto and also has him doing his gruff voice. Actually tonally Sweet Mountain and He Come Down are almost like 1976 Brian but more on key and slightly less coarse. Hearing the interviews with Brian from the seventies his speaking voice really didn't change until 1974 but even then it was only slightly compared to 1976. I would bet Brian could sing very well until 1975. He has writen good songs since, some of his vocals since are nice, but Brian only knocks me out as a singer pre 1975. I'm obsessed with his and Dennis' sudden vocal changes too and also how Brian gained so much weight from 1972-75.

[runnersdialzero]

I remember that. Hearing the "1975 Brian voice" on He Come Down is one of the most perplexing thing I've ever heard.

I know, right? Even more mystifying is that the high part he did on the same song, he sounded like he did on Sunflower. Same phenomenon happened on 'Funky Pretty' ("Pretty Funky Gone" sounding like 'classic' Brian, and his part in the tag sounding like his backups on MIU!)

"OOOO FUNKAY" sounds like MIU? I don't ba-understand.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

"OOOO FUNKAY" sounds like MIU? I don't ba-understand.

Wrong part.

[donald]

"OOOO FUNKAY" sounds like MIU? I don't ba-understand.

Wrong part.

I like the spark in the dark line on FP.     Corn Nuts hurt my teeth.

[runnersdialzero]

"OOOO FUNKAY" sounds like MIU? I don't ba-understand.

Wrong part.

Which part then, d00d?

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Right channel, singing "Funky Girl Why" (or something like that). Compare that to his vocals on, say, "Woncha Come Out Tonight". The "ooo funkay" part though sounds weird, like it was sped up a bit.

[SloopJohnB]

Right channel, singing "Funky Girl Why" (or something like that). Compare that to his vocals on, say, "Woncha Come Out Tonight". The "ooo funkay" part though sounds weird, like it was sped up a bit.

But we established a while ago that it was Billy Hinsche...

http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php?topic=9411.0

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

*smacks forehead*

Other parts are still Brian, though. But yeah, I had completely forgot about that.

[SloopJohnB]

Yeah, I was just referring to "Funky girl why / come back".