Questionable choices of lead vocalists for BB songs

[Rotat]

I love Brian's attempts at "sweetening" with his voice. I wonder if there's more examples out there than I can think of. There's In The Back Of My Mind, he sings the middle part with Dennis to help it sound better. He doubles with Carl doing "na na na na na na na"s on Wonderful on Smiley Smile. He sings very brief parts on Good Vibrations to help Carl's vocal out. Love those little touches.

[tpesky]

Getcha Back- I think Mike has admitted this recently and the reason why it has become one of the very few leads he has ever given up in concert.

[Jesse Reiswig]

I'm going to join the small but growing chorus of those on this thread who prefer Brian's lead on the Wouldn't It Be Nice bridge. I knew Mike's vocal for at least a dozen years before I heard Brian's on the Pet Sounds Sessions box, and I instantly thought Brian's was the better interpretation. Absolutely just a matter of personal preference. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Mike's vocal there, I just thought Brian's was even better.

[Rotat]

I'm going to join the small but growing chorus of those on this thread who prefer Brian's lead on the Wouldn't It Be Nice bridge. I knew Mike's vocal for at least a dozen years before I heard Brian's on the Pet Sounds Sessions box, and I instantly thought Brian's was the better interpretation. Absolutely just a matter of personal preference. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Mike's vocal there, I just thought Brian's was even better.

Yeah for me personally I think his voice fits the song lyrically better.  "Maybe if we think and wish and hope and pray, it might come true? Maybe then there wouldn't be a single thing we couldn't do?" it's like a comforting, sweet voice that you can imagine a man would say to his young lady.

[filledeplage]

Also From the Session box; Mike's vocal attempt at "I'm Waiting for the Day", where I think Brian made the right decision to go with his own vocals.

Without a doubt. Love that song, but Mike just doesn't fit it at all.

I remember when I first heard it on the Pet Sounds Sessions and thought that (even as a working vocal) Mike sang it much better than Brian.

Funnily enough, the great man himself said (in the little green PSS book) he didn't like his own voice on IWFTD. 

Both takes are going for a sympathetic feel to match the horn-line and to counter the attack of the second verse; this approach (seems) to bring out Brian's vocal sweetness, where as Mike is a (mere tad) too soft and clips/rushes a few words, while Brian sustains the same words for emotional milking.  Mike does a great job, but seems to struggle/mumble on the actual  "I'm Waiting for the Day" line. 

Reminds me a little of Mike's shared vocal on Who Ran the Iron Horse from 10/66, which Brian later "sweetened" (ie, pretty much sang over) (27/12/66) to pull out that little bit more.

When I saw the Brian/Beck soundcheck, Brian did I'm Waiting For the Day" and my heart nearly stopped. Brian was that good!

Sail on Sailor, has been done by a lot of the BB vocalists, both "ancillary" and, full-fledged.  I don't think anyone can challenge Carl's version, but Blondie, Billy H., Bobby Figureroa and Cowsill, each have done a very respectable job.  Brian is OK, as well.  It isn't a song that is identified to just one lead singer.  But, Little St. Nick, or GOK have a certain stamp.  Maybe people like things to remain the same because they have become listening "creatures of habit." 

[Gabo]

I think 'Sail On, Sailor' should've been sung by one of the original Beach Boys. Preferably Dennis. I like the song, but it just doesn't sound like a Beach Boys song now.

[bluesno1fann]

Dennis gave All I Want To Do to Mike...he should have sung it himself.

I agree  

Initially, I thought the same way.
But gradually I realized that Dennis did the right thing by giving the vocals to Mike.
I can't really imagine Denny singing like that, Mike turned out to be perfect.
It's still my all-time favourite Mike vocal!

 So, you like "All I Want to Do"?

Of course. Why wouldn't I? It's a great song!

I think 'Sail On, Sailor' should've been sung by one of the original Beach Boys. Preferably Dennis. I like the song, but it just doesn't sound like a Beach Boys song now.

I have to disagree. Blondie was perfect for the song.
A lot of BB's songs from that era don't sound like typical BB's songs, but they're still great.
In fact, I kinda wish that Blondie and Ricky never left and continued making superb albums with the BB's after Holland instead of leaving and the BB's making "shudder" 15 Big Ones

[Nicko1234]

I would agree with those saying that Blondie should not have sung Sail on Sailor. Even if just from a commercial standpoint it was madness that Carl or Dennis didn't sing it.

And Dennis did indeed make a good decision in giving All I Want to Do to Mike. His vocals work well (on an average song) both on the record and on the live recording. Though I'm kind of glad that Mike and Bruce's plans to introduce it into the live shows in 2004 never happened as hearing a 60 year old Mike singing it would have been too much.

[Sam_BFC]

When Mike sings his part on WIBN live these days, he often cuts short the 'if' in 'maybe if we hope and wish and pray...'

You've got elongate it old boy 

I don't like it.

[Pretty Funky]

Try to persuade me at your peril but Jack Rieley singing 'Day In The Life Of A Tree' blows chunks!

[Awesoman]

I think 'Sail On, Sailor' should've been sung by one of the original Beach Boys. Preferably Dennis. I like the song, but it just doesn't sound like a Beach Boys song now.

I disagree.  Blondie gave it the lead vocal it needed.  I'll give you that the song does not really sound like a Beach Boys tune, but I'd say the song's production had more to do with that.

[Rotat]

Try to persuade me at your peril but Jack Rieley singing 'Day In The Life Of A Tree' blows chunks!

I'd kill for a take with Brian on vocals! Probably doesn't even exist, but that would be a 'holy grail' type
thing for me to hear if it did. I grew into liking Rieley's vocals and it was Brian's artistic decision to use him, but
I can imagine how perfect he would sound on this. Actually, Dennis would too.

Brian should have realized the emotion in singing it from the heart instead of taking the lyrics too literally.

[Moon Dawg]

Dennis gave All I Want To Do to Mike...he should have sung it himself.

I agree  

Initially, I thought the same way.
But gradually I realized that Dennis did the right thing by giving the vocals to Mike.
I can't really imagine Denny singing like that, Mike turned out to be perfect.
It's still my all-time favourite Mike vocal!

 So, you like "All I Want to Do"?

Of course. Why wouldn't I? It's a great song!

I think 'Sail On, Sailor' should've been sung by one of the original Beach Boys. Preferably Dennis. I like the song, but it just doesn't sound like a Beach Boys song now.

I have to disagree. Blondie was perfect for the song.
A lot of BB's songs from that era don't sound like typical BB's songs, but they're still great.
In fact, I kinda wish that Blondie and Ricky never left and continued making superb albums with the BB's after Holland instead of leaving and the BB's making "shudder" 15 Big Ones

 

 I like it too. A good basic hard driving tune with Mike singing like a "rock & roll madman."

[Summer_Days]

Try to persuade me at your peril but Jack Rieley singing 'Day In The Life Of A Tree' blows chunks!

Jack's vocal is one of the things that kept me from liking the song for a long time. But after a few listens, I finally started to like it. I would have preferred a Brian vocal instead, but hey at least Jack's creaky, wavering voice suits the tree in the song.