Songs with NO Love

[PongHit]

Not sure why, but I made a list of the biggest BB 'classics' &/or hits that Mike did not contribute lyrics to.  I'll share it with the class:
 
 
Surfer Girl

Surfin' USA

In My Room

Little Deuce Coupe

Don't Worry Baby

The Little Girl I Once Knew

Sloop John B.

God Only Knows

Heroes And Villains

Surf's Up

Sail On, Sailor
 
 

[PongHit]

I guess some people might also add:

 
The Girls On The Beach

Surfer Moon
 
The Lonely Sea

Girl Don't Tell Me

Surf's Up

Vegetables

The Night Was So Young

 . . .

Interesting to notice how many titles on the original list that Mike still sings at every show.  Casual fans probably assume he wrote every word he's singing.

[endofposts]

I think medium-casual fans know that Mike didn't write all the words, at least if they look on the labels and covers.  Brian had more than one main-man lyric contributor over the years.  I think Mike's main problem with Brian's collaborators were when he felt they weren't commercial.  I'm not sure how much of a problem he had with Gary Usher or Roger Christian, other than being a little hurt, maybe.

[c-man]

I'd put "Til I Die" in there.

[PongHit]

I'd put "Til I Die" in there.

Yep, I agree!  Not to mention most of the SMILE album...  & most of the entire PET SOUNDS album...  I think the only lyric Mike contributed to "Wouldn't It Be Nice" was "good night, baby, sleep tight."

[Beach Boy]

He wrote a bit of the bridge too.

[PongHit]

He wrote a bit of the bridge too.

You mean some lyrics?

[Beach Boy]

I think so. At least, he said that. 

[Jay]

To be fair, Brian didn't write Sloop John B. None of the Beach Boys did. The arrangement maybe, but not the words.

[Pretty Funky]

Can I throw in a song I believe Mike did not sing on as a 'no Love' ?
The disco version of 'Here Comes The Night' I recall reading Mike (I think) refusing to sing on as he was anti disco. Ironic considering his willingness to milk any fad going at the time. ie 'Roller Skating Child', 'Brians Back'

Any actual 'hits' with no Love vocal? (or should I go through 101 pages of The definitive vocals thread? ) 

[Chris Brown]

Any actual 'hits' with no Love vocal?

"God Only Knows" is the only one that springs to mind.

[PongHit]

To be fair, Brian didn't write Sloop John B. None of the Beach Boys did. The arrangement maybe, but not the words.

Weren't new words & music added to the traditional tune?

[PongHit]

Some more B-Boys hits/classics with lyrics not written by Mike:
 
 
Barbara Ann

Breakaway

Do You Wanna Dance?

Then I Kissed Her

Come Go With Me

I Can Hear Music

Disney Girls

Rock And Roll Music

Forever

California Dreamin'

The Trader

This Whole World

Why Do Fools Fall In Love?

Long Promised Road

Bluebirds Over The Mountain

Cottonfields

Peggy Sue

Honkin' Down The Highway

Feel Flows


 

[Magic Transistor Radio]

Any actual 'hits' with no Love vocal?

"God Only Knows" is the only one that springs to mind.

I always thought Mike was singing the bop bop bop part

[Aegir]

Mike sings that part live, but I think only Carl, Brian, and Bruce appear on the recording. I think.

To be fair, Brian didn't write Sloop John B. None of the Beach Boys did. The arrangement maybe, but not the words.

Weren't new words & music added to the traditional tune?

"I feel so break up" was changed to "I feel so broke up" and "This is the worst trip since I've been born" was changed to "This is the worst trip I've ever been on", and other small changes of that nature, but it's a folk song and you can do that to folk songs. It's the same musically.

Johnny Cash released a version in 1959 called "I Want to Go Home", changed a few words around, and the song was credited only to Johnny Cash! Not even Traditional arr. Cash.

[Chris Brown]

Mike sings that part live, but I think only Carl, Brian, and Bruce appear on the recording. I think.

Yeah I'm pretty sure that's right, I don't hear Mike anywhere on that recording.

[shelter]

The disco version of 'Here Comes The Night' I recall reading Mike (I think) refusing to sing on as he was anti disco. Ironic considering his willingness to milk any fad going at the time. ie 'Roller Skating Child', 'Brians Back'

How about Celebration's "Disco Celebration" album then? I know Dennis refused to sing on it though...

[mikeyj]

Mike sings that part live, but I think only Carl, Brian, and Bruce appear on the recording. I think.

Yeah I'm pretty sure that's right, I don't hear Mike anywhere on that recording.

Yeah according to Bruce in the Pet Sounds Sessions little green book he says that it's just the three voices on the record.

[PongHit]

I always thought Mike was singing the bop bop bop part

"Bop bop bop" -- Tony Asher's finest moment as a lyricist! 

[PongHit]

OK, so here's my list thus far -- any additions?


 
Surfer Girl

Surfin' USA

In My Room

Little Deuce Coupe

Don't Worry Baby

Barbara Ann

The Little Girl I Once Knew

Sloop John B.

God Only Knows

Wouldn't It Be Nice?

Heroes And Villains

Surf's Up

Sail On, Sailor
 
The Girls On The Beach

Surfer Moon
 
The Lonely Sea

Girl Don't Tell Me

Vegetables

'Til I Die

The Night Was So Young
 
Breakaway

Do You Wanna Dance?

Then I Kissed Her

Come Go With Me

I Can Hear Music

Disney Girls

Lady Lynda

Rock And Roll Music

Forever

California Dreamin'

The Trader

This Whole World

Why Do Fools Fall In Love?

Long Promised Road

Bluebirds Over The Mountain

Cottonfields

Peggy Sue

Honkin' Down The Highway

Feel Flows


 

[Aegir]

Wasn't Lady Lynda a hit single somewhere in Europe?

[PongHit]

Wasn't Lady Lynda a hit single somewhere in Europe?

Ah yes, you're right.  It's hard to know where to draw the line with some of these...  Maybe "Johnny B. Good" should be added too?  I'm looking at the song lists for the Best Ofs, live albums, box sets, etc. ...

[smile-holland]

Wasn't Lady Lynda a hit single somewhere in Europe?

top 10 in the UK.

[PongHit]

Here's a couple more:

"Friends"

"Spirit Of America"

[KokoMoses]

Ok, this is a mean topic!

AND, we're looking to be dragged into court here!

The Beach Boys were never really a traditional, who wrote what, played what insturment, band. Above all, they were a vocal group whos incredible blend of voices was/is beyond magical. Even if Mike didn't write the lyrics to all the listed songs, so what? He still sang all over most of those songs and helped "sell" them as so wonderful.

C'mon, why not keep this up and make a list of songs that Dennis contributed nothing to whatsoever!!! I mean, why not?

Quit hating on Mike.