'Brian Wilson Comes To My House' blog entry - Holland-era cassette recording

[PaulTMA]

http://mywalloftapes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/brian-wilson-comes-to-my-home.html

I did not see a thread on this, apologies if I've missed one which already exists and it has been staring me in the face.

But this is something of a a find, huh?

[Chocolate Shake Man]

Glad it's back. This song comes around every few years - seemed to be first heard by many in the A&E Bio and was an unsolved mystery (for a while many didn't know it was a cover) and there's great debate over whether it's Brian or Al. Thanks for this.

[Amazing Larry]

It's totally Brian. How could anyone mishear it?

[PaulTMA]

This very same recording?  The writer of this blog says all the tapes he uploads for are from his personal collection.

[Mikie]

Paul, Hanszun's had this up for grabs for a few years now.  If you search elsewhere on this board, you'll see another good sized thread on this subject.

[18thofMay]

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[Andrew G. Doe]

It's totally Brian. How could anyone mishear it?

Because it's Alan ?

[Eric Aniversario]

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Wow, that's crazy, I've been looking for the search function for years!  Thanks!!!  Not being sarcastic, either, I really could not find it!  For some reason those buttons just blend into the background for me!

[brother john]

Anyone remember what the name of the song is?

I would say its Brian for the following reasons:

1. It sounds like Brian
2. Al doesn't write songs (at least not like the first one on this tape)
3. Brian does write songs like this so it unsurprising that he would relate to it.
4. The obsessive 'And then it goes like this' it was Brian had the breakdown/drug habit/paranoia not Al
5. The subject matter of the lyrics - child-like, idealist, introspective - just what BW likes
6. Just because there's a snippet of Susie Cincinnati at the end doesn't mean that Al had anything to do with the first song, or even that he's singing what we hear of SC.

There are other things but I need to get into my bath now.

[Wirestone]

I would say its Brian for the following reasons:

1. It sounds like Brian
2. Al doesn't write songs (at least not like the first one on this tape)
3. Brian does write songs like this
4. The obsessive 'And then it goes like this' it was Brian had the breakdown/drug habit/paranoia not Al
5. The subject matter of the lyrics - child-like, idealist, introspective
6. Just because there's a snippet of Susie Cincinnati at the end doesn't mean that Al had anything to do with the first song, or even that he's singing what we hear of SC.

There are other things but I need to get into my bath now.

The song is not by BW. It is an old standard. Please read the old threads.

[Eric Aniversario]

I would say its Brian for the following reasons:

1. It sounds like Brian
2. Al doesn't write songs (at least not like the first one on this tape)
3. Brian does write songs like this
4. The obsessive 'And then it goes like this' it was Brian had the breakdown/drug habit/paranoia not Al
5. The subject matter of the lyrics - child-like, idealist, introspective
6. Just because there's a snippet of Susie Cincinnati at the end doesn't mean that Al had anything to do with the first song, or even that he's singing what we hear of SC.

There are other things but I need to get into my bath now.

I agree with all of this...sounds like Brian to me.

[brother john]

I would say its Brian for the following reasons:

1. It sounds like Brian
2. Al doesn't write songs (at least not like the first one on this tape)
3. Brian does write songs like this
4. The obsessive 'And then it goes like this' it was Brian had the breakdown/drug habit/paranoia not Al
5. The subject matter of the lyrics - child-like, idealist, introspective
6. Just because there's a snippet of Susie Cincinnati at the end doesn't mean that Al had anything to do with the first song, or even that he's singing what we hear of SC.

There are other things but I need to get into my bath now.

The song is not by BW. It is an old standard. Please read the old threads.

Yes, I noticed that as soon as I posted my reply and amended it accordingly - god, you people are quick on the draw...!

Whatever, its still the voice of Brian Wilson singing.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Anyone remember what the name of the song is?

I would say its Brian for the following reasons:

1. It sounds like Brian
2. Al doesn't write songs (at least not like the first one on this tape)
3. Brian does write songs like this so it unsurprising that he would relate to it.
4. The obsessive 'And then it goes like this' it was Brian had the breakdown/drug habit/paranoia not Al
5. The subject matter of the lyrics - child-like, idealist, introspective - just what BW likes
6. Just because there's a snippet of Susie Cincinnati at the end doesn't mean that Al had anything to do with the first song, or even that he's singing what we hear of SC.

There are other things but I need to get into my bath now.

1. In part, but no-one says "gosh-darned" like ACJ.
2. Al wrote "Susie Cincinnati" which is the other song on the tape. The first one is very old ("Daddy Dear").
3. Brian didn't write "Daddy Dear".
4. Alan was inhaling then as well.
5. Moot point.
6. As established, he didn't, and nor did Brian.

[PaulTMA]

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Thanks, hang yourself.

[Runaways]

That sounds nothing like Al to me, everything like Brian. 

[Chocolate Shake Man]

I'm a little bit unsure to be honest. The singing sounds like Brian and the talking sounds like Al and the Susie Cin really throws me for a loop although if it was Al you'd figure he'd know the lyrics better. I ultimately give the edge to Brian, though. Al could (and probably still can) do an excellent job of mimicking Brian (maybe unintentionally but he sure does do it -- before my ears were more sensitive to BB voices I was sure that it was Brian singing that "toothpaste and soap" bit Don't Go Near the Water) but he never quite captured the sweetness (see the falsetto on Be Here in the Morning for example of this lack of sweetness, which is still excellent) and that seems to be on display here. I will admit though that I don't feel secure enough to stridently argue either way.

[Mr. Cohen]

Another reason I think Brian is singing - look at how well the singer handles adjusting to all the mistakes. That means whoever is playing the piano is singing. And it definitely sounds like the way Brian plays piano. Plus, you'd think Al wouldn't have that much trouble remember the chord progressions of his own song! The constant stop-start playing is also in line with everything else on the tape.

[smile-holland]

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Thanks, hang yourself.

totally unnecessary remark, sir

[Yorick]

And Hans borrowed the tape recorder to Brian (not AL!) so he could record at home!

[Jason]

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Thanks, hang yourself.

Try that again and you're banned.

[18thofMay]

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Thanks, hang yourself.

WOW glad I missed that!!

Ok so I have listened again for about the 50th time and it is Brian.
Firstly the range and ease of the vocal is Brian.
The phrase and tone of the vocal and speech is Brian. Listen to the way he say's;
"it goes Daddy dear..."
"oh Sh!t"
"it goes"
"Then it goes"
"no need for birds"
"I forgot the darn song"
"fly"
"kind of touching little song"
Listen to the dar,dar dar de dar part.. classic Brian in both phrasing and tone.
And lastly the piano style is Brian, pounding away.

Listen in the background at 1.25 what is leaking through? Whistling and a female voice.

[Magic Transistor Radio]

It could be more then one voice. It seems that I hear Carl talking toward the end. Also, are we sure this is 1974? I will also state that just because the words are different on Suzie Cinncinatti doesn't mean its not Al. He could have changed the lyrics like he does often to his songs. Plus, if it is 1974, it may have been a few years since he sang it, or listened to it. So maybe he did forget his own song. Having said that, much of the vocals throughout the tape sound like Brian to me.

[Mikie]

Who said 1974?  The "Holland" era wasn't 1974!  How 'bout 1972?

[37!ws]

It definitely sounds a LOT like Brian, but there are some giveaways that it's definitely Al...listen to the way the word "children" is sung, and compare it to, say, his "Surf's Up" coda.

And it's definitely not Brian on piano -- Brian has a unique way of playing piano...hard to put it into words, but he wouldn't play like that...

[18thofMay]

It definitely sounds a LOT like Brian, but there are some giveaways that it's definitely Al...listen to the way the word "children" is sung, and compare it to, say, his "Surf's Up" coda.

And it's definitely not Brian on piano -- Brian has a unique way of playing piano...hard to put it into words, but he wouldn't play like that...

I hear that piano and it jumps out at me that it is Brian! The "No need for birds, no need for birds, no need for birds" and the "little on little one" part are the clincher for me. And when he says "it's kind of a touching little song", sounds like Carl/Brian.