Adrian Baker

[SMiLE Brian]

What is the backstory of the BBs getting involved with Adrian Baker. Even in 1975 he was an exact clone of Frankie Valli. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYFmdRCIW1U

[Jason]

Let's just say that his association with the Beach Boys coincided with some of their worst live periods...1981-82, 1991, and 1997-2004. Don't get me started on the recordings he did with Michael. Third-rate copycat material at best, absolutely nauseating at worst. "American Girls" comes to mind...seek it out, if you dare.

[Matt H]

Let's just say that his association with the Beach Boys coincided with some of their worst live periods...1981-82, 1991, and 1997-2004. Don't get me started on the recordings he did with Michael. Third-rate copycat material at best, absolutely nauseating at worst. "American Girls" comes to mind...seek it out, if you dare.

Is that the song where all the vocals sound like they are out of tune?

[Jason]

One of them, yeah...

[SMiLE Brian]

Let's just say that his association with the Beach Boys coincided with some of their worst live periods...1981-82, 1991, and 1997-2004. Don't get me started on the recordings he did with Michael. Third-rate copycat material at best, absolutely nauseating at worst. "American Girls" comes to mind...seek it out, if you dare.

I can't believe Mike would agree to do that stuff with him, did Mike get paid or something?

[Jason]

I wouldn't be surprised if he did...

[Nicko1234]

What is the backstory of the BBs getting involved with Adrian Baker. Even in 1975 he was an exact clone of Frankie Valli. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYFmdRCIW1U

In 1981 Baker had a number 11 hit in the U.K. with Beach Boy Gold so was an obvious choice to join the touring group at that time.

His recordings with Mike in the early 1980s were horrendous but some of the later recordings were nowhere near as bad. He did have some arranging abilities and did a good job on Cool Head Warm Heart and the rest of Unleash the Love.

The remakes he did in the late 1990s are nothing like as bad as some people say as well. Ballad of Old Betsy with Mike singing the lead is better than I would ever have expected and Little GTO is a fairly spirited cover.

And would TWGMTR have reached number 3 without his involvement?  

[SMiLE Brian]

First positive comments on Baker ever!

[Nicko1234]

First positive comments on Baker ever!

Not positive just mixed. As I said, the early 1980s recordings were horrendous. Baker's voice didn't really suit The BBs either but he can sing well on the right material.

[Jason]

If you listen to him when he sang with the Michael and Bruce band in 1997-mid-2004, he REALLY sounded bad. Like...BAAAAAAAAAAD. They definitely went uphill after he left.

[Nicko1234]

If you listen to him when he sang with the Michael and Bruce band in 1997-mid-2004, he REALLY sounded bad. Like...BAAAAAAAAAAD. They definitely went uphill after he left.

Yeah, it was certainly a good thing he left the band. I don't think he sounded bad on every song and they were still a decent act at that time but his leaving helped (with Kowalski leaving improving things still further).

Ironically I do remember some disappointment and even anger on the web when he left the touring band. 'Another long term member leaves...What a disgrace!' etc.

[SMiLE Brian]

If you listen to him when he sang with the Michael and Bruce band in 1997-mid-2004, he REALLY sounded bad. Like...BAAAAAAAAAAD. They definitely went uphill after he left.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4l4aqDeR18&playnext=1&list=PL0EA9B1C97F348924

[gfac22]

I never thought Baker's falsetto was as bad as some here claim, but I do agree he didn't fit the BB sound.  But really, I thought he sounded pretty good on some songs, and pretty awful on others.  I feel the same about Foskett.  Good on some, awful on others.

And hey, I like the stuff he recorded with Mike in the 90s.  It's not like they replaced the originals or anything.  Kind of fun to listen to every now and then.

[Mike's Beard]

DEAR GOD! THE HORROR! THE HORROR!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYFmdRCIW1U

[Letsgoawayforawhile]

If you listen to him when he sang with the Michael and Bruce band in 1997-mid-2004, he REALLY sounded bad. Like...BAAAAAAAAAAD. They definitely went uphill after he left.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4l4aqDeR18&playnext=1&list=PL0EA9B1C97F348924

That was total crap. EW!

[Cabinessenceking]

If you listen to him when he sang with the Michael and Bruce band in 1997-mid-2004, he REALLY sounded bad. Like...BAAAAAAAAAAD. They definitely went uphill after he left.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4l4aqDeR18&playnext=1&list=PL0EA9B1C97F348924

God that was aweful. Carl handled it far better in a drunken state during the '78 Australia tour.

Also the Beach Boys performing in front of little more than 50 people (look how few are up near the stage). Slightly embarrassing...

edit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNV-eve42M0

damn I never knew who this Adrian Baker guy was, but goodness how did he get any vocal role in the Beach Boys? Heck, even Mike at 0.55 looks over at Bruce knowing fully that they picked the wrong dude. The end is truly atrocious! This is incredible. How did this talentless singer get a role near the Beach Boys? Yuck!

Also the parrot gets more camera time than most of the bandmembers.

double-edit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPzu4XT4dWs

Mother of Jesus what is?

Neither his music nor his singing does the Beach Boys justice, yet he has been legitimised by having been allowed to play with them during several periods. What a complete disaster this person is. And I assumed I had all the blemishes of the Beach Boys accounted for....

[Rocky Raccoon]

Yeah he is pretty awful, his rendition of "Don't Worry Baby" is pretty much unlistenable.

Also, he's kind of creepy looking, like the police sketch of a serial rapist.

Would you let this man near your children?



*shivers*

[D409]

For more on Adrian Baker, may I refer you to the thread I started on this very subject back in June last year :

http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,13643.0.html

[Sheriff John Stone]

First positive comments on Baker ever!

Not positive just mixed. As I said, the early 1980s recordings were horrendous. Baker's voice didn't really suit The BBs either but he can sing well on the right material.

I really like Adrian's work on "Daybreak Over The Ocean", some of my favorite vocals on the entire album actually.

[Nicko1234]

Yeah he is pretty awful, his rendition of "Don't Worry Baby" is pretty much unlistenable.

Also, he's kind of creepy looking, like the police sketch of a serial rapist.

Would you let this man near your children?

*shivers*

Is this really how low this board has sunk?

[Jason]

Taken care of.

[zachrwolfe]

‍

[SurfRiderHawaii]

For the love of God, can we combine Adrian Baker threads? 

[Mikie]

Best thing Adrian Baker ever did was "Happy Birthday Brian Wilson".

[bgas]

Best thing Adrian Baker ever did was "Happy Birthday Brian Wilson".

I think the best thing Adrian ever did was leave the Beach Boys.