Questionable choices of lead vocalists for BB songs

[CenturyDeprived]

I find it interesting to think about how Brian (or any of the songwriters in the group, for that matter) went about choosing lead vocalists for a particular song, or for a particular line in a given song. Only the Wilson brothers would write songs that other bandmates wound up singing the main lead vocals on, right? Unless I’m mistaken, all Al, Mike, or Bruce-penned BB songs are sung by themselves.

Sometimes, we (or even the band themselves) might question if the right choice was made at the time.

IMO, most of the time, I think the right decision was made over the years, although as a general gripe I would’ve loved to have heard more Carl/Dennis/Al lead vocals/lead vocal lines in the early years of the band. Side note: I wonder, is the reason that Carl didn’t sing a proper lead vocal until 1964 (“Summertime Blues” shared lead vocal notwithstanding) because was Carl so young that his voice was possibly still changing a bit in the early years in the band? Or maybe he was a bit shy to take on a lead, and Brian didn’t think his little brother was “ready” yet?

Anyway, I’m sure there are many more examples than these, but here are my picks:

-What documented evidence do we have of Brian’s displeasure with Dennis’ “In the Back of My Mind” vocal? I’ve read on this board that Brian didn’t feel his brother quite nailed it, but do we know this from a specific Brian interview? Maybe Brian was using Dennis’ imperfect double tracking as a polite excuse for why he didn’t like the vocal, when maybe in reality he additionally didn’t like it for other reasons? Pure speculation on my part. 

I’m almost a bit surprised there isn’t a 1964 demo version of this song with Brian guide lead vocals… or is there? I’m very glad we have Dennis’ lead on this song as a curiosity, and I go a bit back and forth on whether I think Brian made the right decision with keeping Dennis’ lead vocals on it, instead of Brian singing it himself. IMO, one thing’s for sure – the stereo remix rocks, and is a whole new experience for the song. Also, Dennis’ singing “I tried to run far away” and “I tried to rationalize” is incredibly pleasing to my ear, and maybe the sweetest sounding words he ever sung. I can tell he tried really hard to nail those words.


-Mike’s original lead vocal on “Please Let Me Wonder” is an interesting foray into Brian giving his bandmates a chance to stretch their wings and sing outside of their usual comfort zone… Side B of Today also has Dennis’ aforementioned ITBOMM lead vocal, which seems to be Brian giving Dennis a similar shot at trying a sensitive vocal, the type of which would ordinarily have been sung by Brian himself.  As far as I can tell, after the PLMW experiment, not until “Meant For You” did Brian again give Mike a really sensitive lead vocal on one of his songs. I wonder if Mike’s feelings were hurt over his lead being rejected by Brian, and I also wonder how that incident was handled by Brian.

We don’t have many other examples from the ‘60s where Brian tried, and then rejected a lead BB vocalist for one of his songs, unless I’m mistaken. Even though I like Mike’s vocals here, I think Brian 100% made the right decision by singing this song himself, since he conveyed such overwhelmingly sensitive emotions with his own voice, and his vocals are simply perfect – IMO amongst Brian’s very top songs of all time.


- I fell in love with the BBs in the late 90s/early 2000s, and my first proper exposure to Pet Sounds was with the originally-issued Pet Sounds Sessions box (and the original stereo remixes)… as such, I came to fall in love with Brian’s bridge lead vocal on WIBN, and even though its presence on the original stereo version was only out of necessity/missing elements, I much, much prefer it to Mike’s vocal in that section, even if Mike’s is the “real” version. Hard to say if it’s how the song got hard-wired into my head w/Brian’s vocals in that spot which has colored my feelings about this section, but it’s tough for me to listen to any other version as a result.  What does everyone else think about Brian vs. Mike as the choice of vocalists for the WIBN bridge?

[drbeachboy]

Definitely Mike's vocal. Been listening to it that way since 1966. Brian didn't even go with his own vocal even after having Mike do it, then replaced that with himself, then having to overdub Mike's vocal. I'd say Brian knew what he was doing and made the correct decision. It is my very favorite Beach Boys song, one that I have never tired of over the past 47 plus years.

[Summer_Days]

Definitely Mike's vocal. Been listening to it that way since 1966. Brian didn't even go with his own vocal even after having Mike do it, then replaced that with himself, then having to overdub Mike's vocal. I'd say Brian knew what he was doing and made the correct decision. It is my very favorite Beach Boys song, one that I have never tired of over the past 47 plus years.

Exactly. 'Wouldn't It Be Nice' is my all-time favorite song, and the one that's the favorite is the mono version with Mike on the bridge.

[adamghost]

Bruce sang lead on Al's "At My Window" and Mike sang lead on Al's "California Saga."  Carl sang co-lead on most of Bruce's compositions for the group.  So it's not just the Wilson brothers that let others sing lead on their songs...it seems to have been a general group policy.

[CenturyDeprived]

Bruce sang lead on Al's "At My Window" and Mike sang lead on Al's "California Saga."  Carl sang co-lead on most of Bruce's compositions for the group.  So it's not just the Wilson brothers that let others sing lead on their songs...it seems to have been a general group policy.

You are right, Adam - I totally overlooked those tracks.

And I figured I'd probably be in the minority on my Brian WIBN bridge opinion   But it's hard to say how everybody's feelings about would be if they, like me, heard  Brian's bridge vocal first, and initially fell in love with that version of the song... I'm sure people's opinions/feelings are to some degree wrapped up in how they fell in love with the song. Of course, there's no right or wrong about it - just what we all prefer. For me, the way Brian sings "Maybe iffff" is emotionally unbeatable.

[metal flake paint]

-What documented evidence do we have of Brian’s displeasure with Dennis’ “In the Back of My Mind” vocal? I’ve read on this board that Brian didn’t feel his brother quite nailed it, but do we know this from a specific Brian interview? Maybe Brian was using Dennis’ imperfect double tracking as a polite excuse for why he didn’t like the vocal, when maybe in reality he additionally didn’t like it for other reasons? Pure speculation on my part. 

In a January 1995 Record Collector interview, Brian mentioned that Dennis couldn't double-track his vocal very well, hence Brian thought that Dennis's vocal "stunk." Brian was, however, ecstatic about the song.

[Alan Smith]

Mike really nails the WIBN bridge, IMHO, but I think you make a really interesting comment about what gets hardwired into your head and influences your appreciation.

I was completely obsessed with WIBN when I first got into the BB's, so the album version is definitive for me.  I also spent a ton of time listening to a certain BB's compilation in the early '80s, and even now when I listen to a track on it's original album, I will expect the next song to be that from the comp.

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.

[metal flake paint]

Mike was a questionable lead vocalist during the early sessions for "The Girls On The Beach." Fortunately, Brian had the presence of mind to feature group vocals throughout the song, apart from Dennis's cameo of course.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HpXYO6KdY0s

Gotta say though, Brian and Al's harmonies are great!

[clack]

Mike and Terry Melcher wrote 'Rock and Roll to the Rescue' and gave the lead to Brian.

[Mr. Wilson]

So you feel BW shouldn't be singing lead on R+R Rescue ??   I humbly disagree with you.. I love the song + Brian Carl Alan"s vocals rock.. Go to you tube and check Mike's lead on the same song.. Not even close..

[Jon Stebbins]

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

[Rotat]

I prefer Brian's bridge on Wouldn't It Be Nice myself actually. I know Mike sang the original mono 1966 release, but Brian just has a better sounding voice to me for the part. Mike sounds pretty nasal on it. He does a good job, but I prefer Brian's sweet voice on that part. May be blasphemy but whatever. I do love Mike's vocals on the rest of the album, so I am by no means biased or anything.

Also think Brian's vocal on R&R to the rescue is pretty awesome. One of his best of the 80s.

[zachrwolfe]

‍

[Chris Brown]

I much prefer Brian's vocal on the WIBN bridge over Mike's, always have - I heard it for years with Mike, but once I heard Brian do it, it just sounded "right" to my ears.  Brian's voice brings a sensitivity that Mike's just doesn't have.

[shelter]

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.

[Disney Boy (1985)]

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.

Bruce wasn't an original Beach Boy - do his songs not sound like Beach Boy songs either??

I've always thought Cabin Essence sounded like a song designed for a Dennis lead, but maybe that's just me...

[retrokid67]

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 think he originally was going to sing it but he insisted that Blondie should take it (or maybe it was Carl who suggested it I can't remember), I wish he had sung it in live shows after Blondie left. 

[retrokid67]

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

I agree 

[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!

[shelter]

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.

Bruce wasn't an original Beach Boy - do his songs not sound like Beach Boy songs either??

No, not really. They sound like Bruce Johnston songs.

[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"?

[startBBtoday]

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.

Bruce wasn't an original Beach Boy - do his songs not sound like Beach Boy songs either??

No, not really. They sound like Bruce Johnston songs.

Agree with Shelter.

[drbeachboy]

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.

40 plus years later and we still pigeonhole how they should sound. In hindsight, if their own die-hard fans cannot accept them growing and being different, then I now understand why the general public couldn't either. To think, that I was ecstatic to hear Blondie sing Sail On Sailor at the Wilson/Beck Show this past Fall, only to now realize that an "Original Beach Boy" should have sang it. Wonders how a Al Jardine lead would sound?

[Mike's Beard]

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.

[Alan Smith]

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.