"California Feelin'" 1974

[Jay]

AGD has also described the CF demo the same way that Carlin did.

Yup. 

Which means, either they chopped up the tape...or the Brian Wilson saga just got a lot more interesting.   

[Jim V.]

There isn't another take is there?

[Ovi]

Such a fascinating track to hear, because of Brian's vocals. One second you'd swear he could still nail Surf's Up, and the next his voice sounds so darn close to the 15 Big Ones one.

[runnersdialzero]

There isn't another take is there?

Maybe they're referring to Brian's "CANTCHA FEEL IT?!?!" stuff, specifically. The first part isn't Brian's most serious attempt at a vocal, but I'd say it feels more loose than outright "goofy" or anything.

[MBE]

AGD is this MIC version the demo you heard?

[Dave Modny]

Such a fascinating track to hear, because of Brian's vocals. One second you'd swear he could still nail Surf's Up, and the next his voice sounds so darn close to the 15 Big Ones one.

The interesting thing -- to me anyway -- is that I'm now pretty much convinced that Dennis was worse off for wear in late '74, vocally, than Brian was, and using these precious morsels such as CF, Child Of Winter and Rollin' Up To Heaven vs., say, Barnyard Blues and a few live audience recordings of Dennis from that era as the litmus tests (I guess the jury is still out as to when *exactly* that vocal for My Love Lives On was done). That is, perhaps surprisingly, I think Brian was still closer to his "younger self," with the better potential of "turning back" than Dennis was had things turned out differently. On the other hand, it really wasn't a case of just a straight spiral downward for either of them in the immediate years to come. There were moments of peaks and valleys as we already know (though there was also an obvious point of no return for Dennis just a few years later).


I'll also say this much: Even if the CF demo had zero musical merit, it's an amazing piece of the puzzle, and it's the best example we have yet from that era. The one we've all been waiting for -- for about as long as internet message boards and mailing lists have existed -- and the real dead sea scroll of BW vocals. Now...if we can only hear that In The Back Of My Mind remake! 


(Mind you, this is just my own personal opinion. FWIW.)   

[Rotat]

I'm addicted to the 74 demo version now. It is not taken seriously and just so much fun to listen to yet there's some strong emotion in there here and there (just listen to that fantastic outro to the song! Brian can obviously hit high notes pretty well at this point). I have to agree I love the Randy Newman type style done with this song. Makes it quite beautiful. Brian didn't screw it up enough for it to sound totally goofy IMO.

However I also love the Beach Boys version. The MIC version sounds fantastic and in my mind, that is the definitive version to me. The vocals sound amazing and it is so "Beach Boys" in style that it is almost a crime this was never released on an album AND as a single. "California Feelin" even the title is so beach Boys and sounds really commercial to me too. Maybe by 1978 it wouldn't have done well on the charts, but earlier in the 70s,I have no doubt it'd be at least a decent sized hit.

[CenturyDeprived]

I'm addicted to the 74 demo version now. It is not taken seriously and just so much fun to listen to yet there's some strong emotion in there here and there (just listen to that fantastic outro to the song! Brian can obviously hit high notes pretty well at this point). I have to agree I love the Randy Newman type style done with this song. Makes it quite beautiful. Brian didn't screw it up enough for it to sound totally goofy IMO.

However I also love the Beach Boys version. The MIC version sounds fantastic and in my mind, that is the definitive version to me. The vocals sound amazing and it is so "Beach Boys" in style that it is almost a crime this was never released on an album AND as a single. "California Feelin" even the title is so beach Boys and sounds really commercial to me too. Maybe by 1978 it wouldn't have done well on the charts, but earlier in the 70s,I have no doubt it'd be at least a decent sized hit.

I love the BB's full-band version... BUT, the little BW bit where he says "like most days" seems almost like a joke that was tagged on there, and I question if it would've been included as part of the song if the song had been released back then. It makes me cringe a bit... then I go back to liking the song when Carl's vocal comes in.

[Rotat]

I'm addicted to the 74 demo version now. It is not taken seriously and just so much fun to listen to yet there's some strong emotion in there here and there (just listen to that fantastic outro to the song! Brian can obviously hit high notes pretty well at this point). I have to agree I love the Randy Newman type style done with this song. Makes it quite beautiful. Brian didn't screw it up enough for it to sound totally goofy IMO.

However I also love the Beach Boys version. The MIC version sounds fantastic and in my mind, that is the definitive version to me. The vocals sound amazing and it is so "Beach Boys" in style that it is almost a crime this was never released on an album AND as a single. "California Feelin" even the title is so beach Boys and sounds really commercial to me too. Maybe by 1978 it wouldn't have done well on the charts, but earlier in the 70s,I have no doubt it'd be at least a decent sized hit.

I love the BB's full-band version... BUT, the little BW bit where he says "like most days" seems almost like a joke that was tagged on there, and I question if it would've been included as part of the song if the song had been released back then. It makes me cringe a bit... then I go back to liking the song when Carl's vocal comes in.

Oh I agree. I was really confused when I heard that intro BW bit, because I've been familiar with the BB's version of California Feelin on boots for years and never heard that part before. I don't think it should have been tacked onto the intro of the song like that, but then again it does fascinate me how BW's vocals are so similar to the 1974 Brian here for it being done in 1978.

[LeeDempsey]

I love the 1974 demo version.  I remember hearing it for the first time over at Alan's house a few years ago.  But at the time I didn't read a lot into it being some sort of "missing link" between the classic Brian voice and the post-cigarettes-and-cocaine Brian voice, because I immediately recalled Brian's voice on the original "I'm Bugged At My Old Man" -- and the particularly lines "but I got suspended...from school" and "and he doesn't even know where it's at."  He could do that put-on voice way back then.

Lee

[mikeddonn]

I'm addicted to the 74 demo version now. It is not taken seriously and just so much fun to listen to yet there's some strong emotion in there here and there (just listen to that fantastic outro to the song! Brian can obviously hit high notes pretty well at this point). I have to agree I love the Randy Newman type style done with this song. Makes it quite beautiful. Brian didn't screw it up enough for it to sound totally goofy IMO.

However I also love the Beach Boys version. The MIC version sounds fantastic and in my mind, that is the definitive version to me. The vocals sound amazing and it is so "Beach Boys" in style that it is almost a crime this was never released on an album AND as a single. "California Feelin" even the title is so beach Boys and sounds really commercial to me too. Maybe by 1978 it wouldn't have done well on the charts, but earlier in the 70s,I have no doubt it'd be at least a decent sized hit.

I love the BB's full-band version... BUT, the little BW bit where he says "like most days" seems almost like a joke that was tagged on there, and I question if it would've been included as part of the song if the song had been released back then. It makes me cringe a bit... then I go back to liking the song when Carl's vocal comes in.

Oh I agree. I was really confused when I heard that intro BW bit, because I've been familiar with the BB's version of California Feelin on boots for years and never heard that part before. I don't think it should have been tacked onto the intro of the song like that, but then again it does fascinate me how BW's vocals are so similar to the 1974 Brian here for it being done in 1978.

Where does that Brian intro line come from? Could we not have heard the full version of that on the box too?  It would not have been on a final version as it sound rushed, as in trying to fit it in before Carl starts singing.  I'm sure if it had been released it would have been all Carl.  I've always loved the song.

[mikeddonn]

I love the 1974 demo version.  I remember hearing it for the first time over at Alan's house a few years ago.  But at the time I didn't read a lot into it being some sort of "missing link" between the classic Brian voice and the post-cigarettes-and-cocaine Brian voice, because I immediately recalled Brian's voice on the original "I'm Bugged At My Old Man" -- and the particularly lines "but I got suspended...from school" and "and he doesn't even know where it's at."  He could do that put-on voice way back then.

Lee

Brian also sounded pretty good on "Matchpoint of Our Love" for a guy who's voice was apparently shot to pieces by then!  Had he wanted I'm sure at that point he could still have a good go at singing most of the songs he had sang before.  The 80s was when the biggest damage occurred IMO. 

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Point of no return for Brian vocally was in the  early sessions for what became LA Light, where he really started going downhill. His MIU-era voice was basically his 1974 voice with a bit more wear. With a few exceptions, his voice sounds like it made a logical progression. 1976-early 1977 was an anomaly.

[runnersdialzero]

The beginning of the '78 "California Feelin'" is from Brian's initial attempt at the lead vocal until Carl did it. A full Brian vocal and a full Carl vocal exist (the latter of which is the one on the bootleg and the one that features on most of this mix).

[mikeddonn]

Thank you for that Runners. I take it there wasn't much more worth salvaging from the rest of Brian's take?

[Jim V.]

Thank you for that Runners. I take it there wasn't much more worth salvaging from the rest of Brian's take?

We don't know for sure, as I'm nearly positive runners himself hasn't heard it. However, Adam Marsland (aka adamghost) heard it and apparently he didn't think it was very good.