Underrated + underappreciated BB background vocals on lesser-known BB songs

[CenturyDeprived]

There are lots of songs in the BBs catalog where backing vocals are KILLER, during songs which might otherwise be considered subpar, or at least on songs which are not very well-known and are rarely talked about.

I hope that one day the ENTIRE catalog of BB songs, obscure or otherwise, will be released with instrumental-only, all vocals-only, and instrumental w/backing vocals-only (similar to Wouldn't it Be Nice from the Pet Sounds Sessions box)... not that this is likely to happen, but I can dream.

Examples:

Make it Big: I just happened to notice just how killer the backing vox are throughout Make it Big (I could go on about how much I dig this song in general, despite it being super cheesy in spots - the tag of the song alone is killer, with Mike doing what sounds to almost be a falsetto while trading off with Brian), but in general the backing vox on this song sound super like classic BB backing vox, with their voices sounding like they could have come straight out of the '60s.

Rock and Roll to the Rescue: some really neat counter melodies that Mike is doing during the group intro before Brian's main lead kicks in.

Endless Harmony: all the vox on this song, lead or otherwise, are rad...but especially the group backing vox.

Other examples? I'm sure there are many, but in particular I'm thinking of songs that have rad backing box, but the songs themselves are not necessarily considered top-shelf BB tunes (everyone and their mom knows that Kiss Me Baby has killer backgroud vox, for instance... I'm not looking for examples like that! )

[Lee Marshall]

Passing By.  Not just an instrumental.  The voices are instruments too.  Wishing You Were Here.  Chicago.  Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me.  Elton.  I Write the Songs  David Cassidy.  One More Tomorrow.  Henry Gross.  Help Me Rhonda.  Johnny Rivers.  California Girls.  David Lee Roth.  The Show Must Go On.  Pink Floyd.

NONE of those songs would have sounded anywhere near as great as they did/do without the voices of 1 or more of the Beach Boys.  Carl and Brian especially made songs happen/lifted songs off of the sheet music.  More recently?  Brian aided Neil Diamond's efforts on Delirious Love.

BB's BACKGROUND vocals were not limited to the Beach Boys alone.

[NateRuvin]

I think the backing vocals on Gethca Back are spectacular. Brian's falsetto sounded just like the old days. Great harmonies.

[Sheriff John Stone]

The one that stands out to me is Brian's "The First Noel". The song is just plugging along, nice but nothing special. Then, at the 3:20 mark, Brian hits "the note" and the song comes into its own. There is a keyboard riff and a beautiful instrumental break, and out of the break comes some of the most gorgeous and heartfelt harmonies. It is so Brian...one of the highlights of his solo career...I listen to that part over and over...

[NateRuvin]

Now that I think about it, the live version of Lady Lynda from Knebworth also has some of the best harmonies I've ever heard.

[Ebb and Flow]

The backing vocals on Pom Pom Playgirl (as heard on the recent "Keep an Eye On Summer" compilation) are pretty amazing and really made me appreciate the song more.

[Sjöman]

I hope that one day the ENTIRE catalog of BB songs, obscure or otherwise, will be released with instrumental-only, all vocals-only, and instrumental w/backing vocals-only

I would also like instruments + lead vocal only.

Try to sing the backing vocals yourself if you can!

[Bittersweet-Sanity]

I think the backing vocals on Gethca Back are spectacular. Brian's falsetto sounded just like the old days. Great harmonies.

Yup, that's probably the quintessential underrated bit of Beach Boys backing vox. I actually think the falsetto done in this karaoke version of Getcha Back is better than Brian's (he sounds kind of ragged). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03tJyRpJUwI At the end of the day tho, I prefer Brian's cause it does have a warmth & familiarity to it.

Re: Make it Big. Luv Bruce's "do what you want, do what you wanna" lines during Mike's verse. Also adore Al's backing vocals at the end of Where I Belong, and Bruce's "Girls are always ready. sum-sum-summer, summer of love!" during the chorus of Summer of Love.