The Definitive Vocal Credits Thread...

[MBE]

All I can think of is somebody slowing Wonderful down but on the session tapes it sure sounds like they are there.

[Aegir]

http://download.yousendit.com/B696388E2E470375

The first 20 seconds or so of Wonderful, pitched down 18.25 percent.

[Ebb and Flow]

Considering the backing vocals in question are on the same exact track as one of Carl's leads, I think they're the girls.

[MBE]

The download made it obvious that it is indeed Marilyn and Diane.

[John]

I love this thread!

[Andrew G. Doe]

"Wonderful" 'stoned' middle-eight:

"Everybody should just start comin' on.. comin' on, just be a cool guy... don't think you're God (pause) vibrations... let's go for the record... it's cool"

[from the session tape]

Errrr... and now, a slightly more accurate version:

"Everybody should just start coolin', quit comin' on, just be a cool guy, and don't think you're God [pause] vibrations, just don't fool around, just cool it... just cool it"

[John]

Ha, thanks!

[pixletwin]

http://download.yousendit.com/B696388E2E470375

The first 20 seconds or so of Wonderful, pitched down 18.25 percent.

That sure doesn't sound like any Beach Boy I know. 

I stick by my vote with 100% surety now. It is Marilyn and Diane.

Thanks Aegir. Good work.

[Magic Transistor Radio]

Not in that section, by the way.  At the very end of the song before the fade out.

As in:

Let the rain fall
Let the grass grow
Let the moon glow
On The fallen snow
But don't take her out of my life
Please keep her a part of my life

Is it possible that there is a quick rotation of vocals here between perhaps Brian, Carl and/or Al? I just get the sense that one person is not singing straight through here.

[No. Fourteen]

I agree.  Not sure who's singing what.

Just going from memory, which is NOT the best way to figure these things out!

[John]

Hmmmm... my very shaky take on it was:

Let the rain fall = Brian and Mike together.
Let the grass grow = sounds like Carl.
Let the moon glow = Brian
On The fallen snow = Carl and Brian?
But don't take her out of my life = Brian in his first "macho" rough voice appearance (except Baker Man )
Please keep her a part of my life = Brian with Carl perhaps.

It does sound like a relay, but it might be because some parts are double tracked and some aren't?

[John]

Okay, since a lot of the previous quandrys are solved, let's stick a pin in "Let The Wind Blow" for now. I think either way, the basic credit is accurate, since I don't hear Al or Denny on it anyway.

[adamghost]

Wow, that's Alan on "Be Here In The Morning?"  I actually went to my IPod to disprove this in my arrogant little way, but on a close listen I have to admit it could well be Alan doing his best BW imitation.  Those two really did sound amazingly similar in the upper register, especially considering they weren't related.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Please, not again ! 

Can't recall when, but a few years ago we almost came to blows over who was singing this. Turn's out, it is Alan.

BTW, Murry's contribution was the bass note on the word "full".

[Guy]

Agreed, nothing to add.

[No. Fourteen]

Mike's not on this one much, is he?

Least vocal involvement from Mike on a Beach Boys album?

[John]

He was in Rishikesh, I think, for a lot of it. Something like that.

I think in terms of lead vocals, his  tally of one on L.A. Light Album is his least involved....

Are we happy with that? Transcendental Medititation is both Brian and Al, right?

[Guy]

Are we happy with that? Transcendental Medititation is both Brian and Al, right?

Yes.

[John]

Thanks, definitely two voices there, I'd say.

[Andrew G. Doe]

I've no arguement at all with those attributions.

BTW, Mike was in Rishikesh 2/28/68 - 3/15/68, thus he's vocally absent from "Little Bird" & "Friends".

[John]

That's interesting. How come they needed Murry for "Morning"?

[No. Fourteen]

He was in Rishikesh, I think, for a lot of it. Something like that.

I think in terms of lead vocals, his  tally of one on L.A. Light Album is his least involved....

but is he even doing back-up on any of the other songs?  Are "Meant For You" and "Anna Lee" the only songs he performed on? 

[Guy]

That's interesting. How come they needed Murry for "Morning"?

It's a pretty low note, right? Perhaps even Mike couldn't hit it. Or... he wasn't around.

Keith Badman mentions Mike's absence from the Friends session, can't remember if it's any other reason than his stay in Rishikesh. According to Wikipedia  Mike only contributed on those two songs.

[Andrew G. Doe]

He was in Rishikesh, I think, for a lot of it. Something like that.

I think in terms of lead vocals, his  tally of one on L.A. Light Album is his least involved....

but is he even doing back-up on any of the other songs?  Are "Meant For You" and "Anna Lee" the only songs he performed on? 

Odd, very odd... could have sworn I was typing in English.

OK, in simple steps.

Mike was away in Rishikesh from February 28th to March 15th, therefore he wasn't at any vocal session held during that time (still with me ?), that is those for  "Little Bird" (2/29) and "Friends" (3/13).

The next vocal session was on March 18th for "When A Man Needs A Woman". Mike was back, so he sang on it. From March 30th to April 4th further vocal sessions were held at ID Sound for "Wake The World", "Be Here...", "Meant For You", "Anna Lee" and "Transcendental Meditation", all of which Mike was on. because he was in LA and not India. There were a few more sessions later in April, but he wasn't on those either because the band were on tour.

Hope that's clear now.

[Andrew G. Doe]

That's interesting. How come they needed Murry for "Morning"?

It's a pretty low note, right? Perhaps even Mike couldn't hit it. Or... he wasn't around.

Keith Badman mentions Mike's absence from the Friends session, can't remember if it's any other reason than his stay in Rishikesh. According to Wikipedia  Mike only contributed on those two songs.

Wikipedia, bless it, is wrong in this instance. He's clearly audible on the chorus of "Wake The World" and the "no calls for Korthof" bit of "Be Here...".