Mike's Best

[bcdam]

As much as Mike has been (sometimes rightfully) bashed, I thought it might be interesting to explore some of his best work - from vocals to songwriting to lyrics. I'm a little biased towards his late 60s-early 70s lyrics/songs, but I'd be interested to see if there's anything else that's worth another look.

Just some off the top of my head:

Aren't You Glad (I love how effortlessly he sings that song)
Big Sur (harmony-laden Landlocked version is great, Holland version not as much)
Meant For You (such a peaceful and meditative vocal performance)
All I Wanna Do (surprisingly heartfelt and deeply meaningful lyrics - one of my favorite 70s BB songs)

And, let us not forget the "goodnight baby, sleep tight baby" which got him co-writing credits on Wouldn't it Be Nice. (half kidding)

What's worth revisiting?

[Slow In Brain]

Lyrics to Pacific Ocean Blue and Only With You

[I. Spaceman]

Check out Mike's lead vocal parts on Kiss Me Baby. Astounding.

[Chris Brown]

Check out Mike's lead vocal parts on Kiss Me Baby. Astounding.

Yeah he was in fine voice during that era for sure.  I dig his voice on the alternate "Please Let Me Wonder" too.

[oldsurferdude]

As much as Mike has been (sometimes rightfully) bashed, I thought it might be interesting to explore some of his best work - from vocals to songwriting to lyrics. I'm a little biased towards his late 60s-early 70s lyrics/songs, but I'd be interested to see if there's anything else that's worth another look.

Just some off the top of my head:

Aren't You Glad (I love how effortlessly he sings that song)
Big Sur (harmony-laden Landlocked version is great, Holland version not as much)
Meant For You (such a peaceful and meditative vocal performance)
All I Wanna Do (surprisingly heartfelt and deeply meaningful lyrics - one of my favorite 70s BB songs)

And, let us not forget the "goodnight baby, sleep tight baby" which got him co-writing credits on Wouldn't it Be Nice. (half kidding)

What's worth revisiting?

Oh, let's see...hmmm, I like the lyrics and lead vocal to the RRHF speech, DFWTF quote, and Who's gonna hear this sh*t diatribe among others-maybe there's a box set of this stuff in the works. Stay tuned all you Myke fans.

[runnersdialzero]

"All I Wanna Do" would probably be top 10 material if I made such lists, and it was a song he wrote the basis of. Nice jerb, Mikey ^_^

Also, in b4 oldsurferd00d

Edit: Damn, mere seconds too late.

[bcdam]

Check out Mike's lead vocal parts on Kiss Me Baby. Astounding.

Yeah he was in fine voice during that era for sure.  I dig his voice on the alternate "Please Let Me Wonder" too.

Absolutely. I should have clarified that I was looking for post-67 tracks - I think Brian could have elicited an amazing vocal performance from Mike (or indeed a homeless person with some rhythm) in his sleep in the early-mid 60s.

[Mikie]

Lyrics for the "Today" and "Wild Honey" albums.   "Big Sur" (slow 4/4 version).  "All I Wanna Do".  Kinda cool to listen to his bass vocal isolated on "Forever", "Add Some Music", and "Breakaway".

[Runaways]

Big Sur was the best song he wrote i think.  I love both versions, harmony one more, but still classic.

[I. Spaceman]

Oh, let's see...hmmm, I like the lyrics and lead vocal to the RRHF speech, DFWTF quote, and Who's gonna hear this sh*t diatribe among others-maybe there's a box set of this stuff in the works. Stay tuned all you Myke fans.

I don't get this. Mike Love is a major member and creative contributor to the greatest American rock and roll band of all time. He has brought joy to many, many people with beautiful vocal and lyrical contributions to some of the finest pieces of music ever recorded. Compare that accomplishment to being an old, ranting, bitter person on an Internet messageboard, spreading nastiness against someone who really doesn't deserve it, someone without whom this board would not even exist. Then ask yourself how you can live with yourself, mate, why you bother continuing, how you sleep at night. Just a suggestion.

As for post-67 Mike, another great one, I think, is his ragin' rock vocal on Denny's sex-rock romp All I Want To Do. Love his lead on Airplane too.

[oldsurferdude]

Yor're absolutely right, Space Cadet- it's a message board! Unless the rules have changed, it's still ok to submit an opinion. Whether you agree or not is of no consequence, and you can always ignore my posts if they upset you so much. Cheerio, matey.

[Wirestone]

I am a big fan of "Cool Head, Warm Heart," actually.

[ohthosegirls]

Besides the other mentioned, which I mostly agree with, I would pick Country Pie & Alone On Christmas Day off the top of my head.

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

I am a big fan of "Cool Head, Warm Heart," actually.

Didn't Mike write that one about OSD? 

[RONDEMON]

Still think the Hall of Fame speech is his crowning achievement.

I don't think he has any bad or half-assed leads post-Pet Sounds. Lots of variety with singing (literally - like on Meant for You/Big Sur)
His voice sounds great through effects (used rarely of course on All I wanna Do/Student Demonstration Time).


It's not until 15 Big Ones where his voices starts to get overly nasally/shrill on leads.

[bcdam]

Still think the Hall of Fame speech is his crowning achievement.

I don't think he has any bad or half-assed leads post-Pet Sounds. Lots of variety with singing (literally - like on Meant for You/Big Sur)
His voice sounds great through effects (used rarely of course on All I wanna Do/Student Demonstration Time).


It's not until 15 Big Ones where his voices starts to get overly nasally/shrill on leads.

Agree with you totally, with the exception that "Student Demonstration Time" is one of the worst songs in the catalogue...

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

"Airplane" features one of my favorite Mike leads....

[Ron]

Something about Mike's Swag on "409" always struck me as about the coolest he ever sounded.  He sounds more like a bad-ass on that song than any other one... something about the casual way he sings the vocals, it's similar to how "Danny & the Juniors" sang things like "Rock & Roll is here to stay" and "At the Hop". 


"Well; I saved my pennies and I saved my dimes...
Before I knew there would be a time....
When I would buy a brand new 409...."

that.... is legend.  If you played somebody that song, then said "Here, that's the man who sang that" they'd fawn all over him.

His most impressive vocal would be to me though the aforementioned "All I wanna Do"... amazingly he showed shades of that Wilson magic even though he's not really a Wilson.  It's one of those rare instances where his voice reached the beauty of his cousins'. 

Others that jump out, you'd be remiss not to mention "California Girls".  Such a huge part of the pop music of the 60's, and he's the singer that did it.  That's such a memorable, and imitable vocal, everybody and their brother can sing that and when they do, they try to sound just like Mike did. 

If you look at his 'bass' vocals (wouldn't it really be a barritone?) almost every one of them without exception is pretty good. 

Another thing I think that's worth mentioning is the trick he and Brian used to play where they'd trade vocals.  Two jump to mind, "Catch a Wave"... Mike sings the lead, then the low line going into Brian's "Those who don't... just have to put it down!".  Another would be "Little Deuce Coupe"... Mike sings lead, then for the chorus immediately dives down into a bass vocal line, and lets Brian take the falsetto melody for the chorus.  The way their voices weaved back and forth on tracks like that was nothing short of magic.

Finally I'll mention one of the most mind blowing uses of his voice ever: "Let Him Run Wild"....

"I Guess You Know I!......"

".... waiiiiiited, for you girlllllll......."

Gives me goosebumps everytime I hear it. 

[phirnis]

"Big Sur" - Holland version is very underrated imho; pure poetry set to music; love the group humming in the background

"Good to My Baby" - one of my favorite vocals of his for some reason

His lead vocals on the Lei'd in Hawaii recordings and 1967 rehearsals sound incredibly "laid-back" (in a good way)

[Nicko1234]

As previously mentioned Mike wrote some good songs with Dennis (Sound of Free, Only With You and Pacific Ocean Blues). Bizarre that only 1 of them ended up on a Beach Boys` album. He also contributed to some other fine songs in the late 60s/early 70s including All I Wanna Do, All This is That, He Come Down and Big Sur.

During the wilderness period I would say that much of Mike`s best songwriting has come away from the group when he has been able to forget about the formula. Stuff like I Don`t Wanna Know, Daybreak, You`re Looking Better, Glow Crescent Glow, Sad Sad Summer, Pisces Brothers, Cool Head Warm Heart etc.

Some of the songs that he only sang on such as Country Pie (should have been released by the BBs) and One Good Reason are also worth a listen.

The latter is here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2i3U1FCoHLU

[Disney Boy (1985)]

Viggie. For those who haven't heard it, seek it out forthwith. THE great lost Mike Love song, on a par with Big Sur.

[Lonely Summer]

There are so many during the hitmaking years, but my favorite of the lesser knowns is All I Wanna Do. It's a classic on an album full of classics. Not one weak track there IMHO. Mike really is a much more versatile singer than generally known.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Don't forget, Let the Wind Blow and Anna Lee, The Healer were mainly Mike's compositions.

[runnersdialzero]

Don't forget, Let the Wind Blow and Anna Lee, The Healer were mainly Mike's compositions.

Both great songs, too. An additional +2 against the "Mike was a talentless hack who never wrote a piece of music in his life and only leeched off of Brian's talents" camp.

[Waspinators]

All the songs mentioned are wonderful. I love the Holland version of Big Sur, and even enjoy his spoken word bit on Beaks of Eagles. I love his youthful voice and American Graffiti-esque delivery on Heads You Win, Tails I Lose and Surfin' Safari. I also tend to get shivers hearing his bass part on the verse harmonies of Wouldn't It Be Nice (doo, do-doo...) and his lead on That's Not Me. Gotta love his bass bit on the bridge of I Can Hear Music too.