The Definitive Vocal Credits Thread...

[mikeyj]

I concur with AGD on this, although I'm less sure that the bass part isn't Mike (but I'm not going to go listen because...well...I don't want to dream about bad '80s Beach Boys songs two nights in a row).  Here's a question, though...how is it that Brian is the only BB on the song when there's a detailed description of the vocal session -- with all the guys there (or all except Carl, I can't remember) -- for "Wipe Out" described in McFarlane's "Wilson Project" book?  I agree that's what it sounds like, I just don't understand how it's possible.

Yeah VERY good point. Never thought of that one. Unless the guys vocals from that session weren't used for some reason? I know it's a minor thing, but it's McParland by the way.

[Andrew G. Doe]

I think the answer is Eugene E. Landy. It's possible that Usher wasn't aware that the track was released how it was. Remember, it was reportedly going to be cut with Run-DMC.

[Andrew G. Doe]

"Island Girl" - Brian prominent in the intro. Plus, the vocals are also a kinda relay race, thus:

Ray oh ah ha
Ray oh ah ha
Radio ah ha
You know
Ray oh ah ha
Radio ah
[Alan]I'm gonna make her mine
Bom bom bom ba ba bom bom bom bom

[Carl]I went to Trinidad
I didn't Know just what I had
'til I Found her

She wears a pretty smile
That compliments her shapely Style
and I found her

[Alan]Island girl she's oh so pretty
Island girl I like her plenty
Island girl I'm gonna make her mine

Island girl she makes me happy
Island girl she kinda sassy
Island girl I'm gonna make her mine

[Mike]Everybody's got an island fantasy
[Mike & Alan]For me it's like a Caribbean odyssey
All the people live and love there by the sea
[Alan - bass Mike]Near the sparkling wather 'neath the coco-palm tree

[Alan]Island girl she make me happy
Island girl she kinda sassy
Island girl won't you show me the way

She's fine so fine all mine
She's so good to me
And I know (i know) our love (or love) so free (so free)
That it was meant to be

Island girl she make me happy
Island girl she kinda sassy
Island girl won't you show me the way

She's a real beauty from the Caribbean
Long dark hair flowin' in the breeze
She's the kinda beauty makes you come alive and
We can live together for eternity

[Carl]Every now and then I get this silly grin
When I'm there in her company
She says I'm crazy that I'm also very lazy
I know she loves me

[Alan]Island girl she make me happy
Island girl she kinda sassy
Island girl won't you show me the way
Island girl won't you show me the way
Island girl won't you show me the way

[MBE]

Personally I hear Mike, Bruce and Al at certain points but Brian is way out front.

[c-man]

I think the answer is Eugene E. Landy. It's possible that Usher wasn't aware that the track was released how it was. Remember, it was reportedly going to be cut with Run-DMC.

I remember when the Boys accepted some award in early '88...I think it was the Amercian Music Awards, presented to them by Glen Campbell & David Lee Roth...Mike had a hard hat on...one of them (Mike or Al, I think), said they wanted to thank the Fat Boys for "wiping us out"...which I've always wondered was a subtle allusion to having their group vocals wiped in favor of a Brian-only performance...just a thought that crossed my mind...

[John]

"Wipe Out" bass vocal - I really don't think it's Mike. I hear many voices on that song, but only one Beach Boy - Brian. Those who scoff at Brian doing a credible bass vocal, I refer you to the 1973 version of "Shortenin' Bread"

Yeah, I wasn't sure about this, but added it anyway. I'll take it back out again, and add it if/when there's more confirmation one way or the other.

[CosmicDancer]

I agree on Wipeout having the "wall of Brian" treatment on the vocals. 

[southbay]

"Wipe Out" bass vocal - I really don't think it's Mike. I hear many voices on that song, but only one Beach Boy - Brian. Those who scoff at Brian doing a credible bass vocal, I refer you to the 1973 version of "Shortenin' Bread"

I concur with AGD on this, although I'm less sure that the bass part isn't Mike (but I'm not going to go listen because...well...I don't want to dream about bad '80s Beach Boys songs two nights in a row).  Here's a question, though...how is it that Brian is the only BB on the song when there's a detailed description of the vocal session -- with all the guys there (or all except Carl, I can't remember) -- for "Wipe Out" described in McFarlane's "Wilson Project" book?  I agree that's what it sounds like, I just don't understand how it's possible.

Not saying Brian can't do a credible bass vocal, esp. with studio treatment.  I just don't think it's him on THIS one. Usher gave a detailed description of the February 27, 1987 vocal session and noted Brian came in, handed out parts ("Here's you part Mike") and Al, Mike and Bruce added their parts.  It is possible, but one would think unlikely, that Brian would would sing Mike's bass part, especially since Mike was there singing at the session.  Did Brian later re-record the vocal at another session?  That is not noted anywhere in the book.  The "Project" is certainly not a bible, but does give descriptive deatil of Brian's recording sessions up until the Wilson/Usher falling out in June 87.   And another thing...it just SOUNDS like Mike.  Granted, Brian is everywhere else on that song.

[adamghost]

I concur with AGD on this, although I'm less sure that the bass part isn't Mike (but I'm not going to go listen because...well...I don't want to dream about bad '80s Beach Boys songs two nights in a row).  Here's a question, though...how is it that Brian is the only BB on the song when there's a detailed description of the vocal session -- with all the guys there (or all except Carl, I can't remember) -- for "Wipe Out" described in McFarlane's "Wilson Project" book?  I agree that's what it sounds like, I just don't understand how it's possible.

Yeah VERY good point. Never thought of that one. Unless the guys vocals from that session weren't used for some reason? I know it's a minor thing, but it's McParland by the way.

It's dyslexia/don't bother to look anything up week for me, apparently.

[signum]

I have only heard the last three songs on "Still Cruisin'" but I thought I'd mention how the person singing the answering lines to Brian's "Oh, we could be married" etc. in "Wouldn't it be nice" sounds to me exactly like Carl. I know this was discussed a lot before, but that is how I hear it. At least the second line: "then we'll be happy", sounds definitely like Carl.

[adamghost]

I wondered about that as well (the response line being Al).

[shelter]

I did, sorry.  (Speaking of Brian/Al unison, I love the LIVE AID version of "Wouldn't It Be Nice," with them both singing the lead (Al mixed a little higher).  One of the best live versions I've heard

Seriously? I thought that version was embarrassing... The band is all over the place during the part where the song slows down, like every member is singing in a different key and/or tempo, and the drumming is just awful... Had me yelling "just stick to your parts, dammit!" to my screen once or twice...

I also got the impression that Brian's mic wasn't even on during Live Aid... When you see his lips moving, it doesn't seem to match with any of the voices you're hearing...

[signum]

I wondered about that as well (the response line being Al).

I'm certain the second response is Carl. He seems to sing it in quite a plain voice, if that makes sense, without trying to sound unusual like on the "Wild Honey" album particularly, but also unlike the way he sang before "Pet Sounds". He also clearly sings the solo line "Hoist up the John B sail" in the middle of "Sloop John B" and that seems to be in the same ordinary type of voice.

[John]

I dunno, I've got the accapella version again, I'll go check it out.

[John]

Believe it or not, I haven't yet had to check these things the way I like to, so in the interim, can someone give me the info for  "Summer In Paradise"? When you guys reach a consensus, I'll do it like the other albums. Thanks.

[signum]

I dunno, I've got the accapella version again, I'll go check it out.

I've now relistened to all the versions of "Wouldn't It Be Nice" on the "Pet Sounds Sessions" and to me anyway they sound like Carl singing those responses. He sings softer on the last version on the box set, but louder on the other versions. I agree with whoever said that he sounds clearly like Carl on the word "happy", but I admit the first response does sound a bit Al-like, as I think you said John.

As for "Wipe Out", which I've now heard (along with the "Still Cruisin'" album), could there be two bass vocalists? The "do do do"s sound almost like Mike but slightly wrong, as if he's forgotten the way he used to always sing. I can't tell if they're really by Brian. The "ba ba ba"s could be anyone as far as I can tell (e.g. Brian or Mike).

Also, the three-part backing harmonies are strange. The middle part is loudest and a bit shaky, and sounds more like Brian than anyone else. The other two parts are soft and sound like either could well be Bruce (with one of them Al presumably), the top part alone being in falsetto.

[signum]

Sorry, John. As I was posting, I just read your latest post. "Summer in Paradise" next then (which I've heard none of).

[Aegir]

I'll try doing Summer in Paradise at some point today. Not right now, though, because I'm listening to Sunflower and it would be criminal to stop listening to Sunflower to listen to Summer in Paradise.

[signum]

I'll try doing Summer in Paradise at some point today. Not right now, though, because I'm listening to Sunflower and it would be criminal to stop listening to Sunflower to listen to Summer in Paradise.

I quite agree, Aegir. After I listened to "Still Cruisin'" for the first time last week, I spent most of the week since that listening to the Pet Sounds and Good Vibrations box sets. And "Still Cruisin'" wasn't actually terrible. "Summer in Paradise" gives me bad dreams already.

[John]

Sorry, John. As I was posting, I just read your latest post. "Summer in Paradise" next then (which I've heard none of).

This is all I've heard / seen - the nightmareish Summer Of Love. It's a monolithic helping of awfulness. Be warned.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=hIPS9CEKsWs

[Andrew G. Doe]

I also got the impression that Brian's mic wasn't even on during Live Aid... When you see his lips moving, it doesn't seem to match with any of the voices you're hearing...

On the tape I made of the BBC stereo radio broadcast, he's clearly audible - as he is on the TV sound, come to that.

[adamghost]

in the interim, can someone give me the info for  "Summer In Paradise"? When you guys reach a consensus, I'll do it like the other albums. Thanks.

It sucks.  Don't buy it.  Consensus?

[Andrew G. Doe]

Yup. Dire.

[NightHider]

I didn't see this listed back on page 26.   Who did the whistle for Time To Get Alone?

Also, It was a lotta paging to find that.  Any chance to compile the album detail to its own thread for the completed albums somewhere or has it been done already and I can't find it?  Thanks to all....

[Aegir]

Okay, I know not alot of people like this album, but just Mike Love intended, it really was the soundtrack to my summer. During the summer of 2006, I would listen to it twice a day, on my way to and from work. It's really not that good when you compare to anything else in the catalogue, but it's a necessary piece of history, and hey, it's the Beach Boys so it has to be good, right? Carl's voice is a saving grace on most of these tracks.

Summer in Paradise [US]

Hot Fun in the Summertime: Mike and Carl, with Bruce on prominent high harmony
Surfin': Mike and Carl
Summer of Love: Mike
Island Fever: verses - Mike, with Bruce on prominent high harmony, choruses - Mike, with Carl on last line
Still Surfin': Mike
Slow Summer Dancin' (One Summer Night): verses - Bruce, choruses - Al
Strange Things Happen: verses - Mike, choruses - Al on the "everytime I touch my baby" part, Carl on the wordless vocal part
Remember (Walking in the Sand): verses - Carl, choruses - Al and Carl, with Mike on bass vocal
Lahaina Aloha: verses - Mike, choruses - Carl, with Mike
Under the Boardwalk: intro/verses/bridge/outro - Mike, choruses - Carl and Mike
Summer in Paradise: Mike
Forever: John Stamos, with Mike on "together my love" response vocals and Carl on "my my my my my my my" and tag towards end

Summer in Paradise [UK] (I only bothered to list the different recordings)

Island Fever: verses - Mike, with Carl prominent on high harmony, choruses - Al, with Mike on last line
Strange Things Happen: verses - Mike, choruses - Al on the "everytime I touch my baby" part, Carl on the wordless vocal part
Remember (Walking in the Sand): verses - Carl, choruses - Al and Carl, with Mike on bass vocal
Under the Boardwalk: intro/verses/outro - Mike, choruses - Carl and Mike, bridge - Al, with Mike on bass vocal
Summer in Paradise: first verse - Mike, second verse - Roger McGuinn, choruses - group
Forever: John Stamos, with Mike on "together my love" response vocals and Carl on "my my my my my my my" and tag towards end

Those UK tracks were a real chore. It's one thing to listen to Summer in Paradise, it's a whole 'nother thing to listen to a big chunk of it twice.

I think this proves, though, that I like Summer in Paradise more than any of you, which makes me the ultimate Beach Boys fan.