Q for Alan Boyd regarding Dennis Wilson song

[SurfRiderHawaii]

As far as a release of Dennis' pre-Caribou material is concerned - It's been proposed and suggested and requested.

Mahalo for listening Alan, and requesting!!!!!!!!  I promise to buy 8 copies if it comes out!

[Andrew G. Doe]

The fabled demo cassette version of "SOS" is, er, fragmentary.  From what Steve told me way back when, my impression is that he recorded a pretty complete version with Brian in late 1971.

[Roger Ryan]

The fabled demo cassette version of "SOS" is, er, fragmentary.  From what Steve told me way back when, my impression is that he recorded a pretty complete version with Brian in late 1971.

Mr. Desper very graciously played me (over the phone) his copy of SOS a couple of years ago which he thought dated back to '71. To my ears, the backing track sounded the same as the released version and the lead vocal still sounded an awful lot like Blondie (Mr. Desper was of the impression that the tape he had pre-dated Blondie joing the group and that it could not have been him). The most noteworthy difference heard on Desper's tape vs. the HOLLAND version was the addition of more complex backing vocals; kind of a call-and-answer on the chorus that reminded me of rolling waves.

[punkinhead]

So there's a tape that exist with the hypnotise me Van Dyke? I've only read about it

[c-man]

The fabled demo cassette version of "SOS" is, er, fragmentary.  From what Steve told me way back when, my impression is that he recorded a pretty complete version with Brian in late 1971.

Mr. Desper very graciously played me (over the phone) his copy of SOS a couple of years ago which he thought dated back to '71. To my ears, the backing track sounded the same as the released version and the lead vocal still sounded an awful lot like Blondie (Mr. Desper was of the impression that the tape he had pre-dated Blondie joing the group and that it could not have been him). The most noteworthy difference heard on Desper's tape vs. the HOLLAND version was the addition of more complex backing vocals; kind of a call-and-answer on the chorus that reminded me of rolling waves.

Were the lyrics the same?

[Dove Nested Towers]

Thanks for your replies, Alan and A.G.D.,

You can count on me for 8 1/2 copies (or more!) if things ever miraculously align for a
release of Dennis's early Caribou recordings.

"Fragmentary", ehh? Intriguing adjective.

The wave-like backing vocals on the 1971 version heard over the phone from the gracious
Mr. Desper sound very nice. Interesting that something that added denseness to the track,
like on the longer, alternate "All This is That" which had more vocals and the instrumental
solo, was discarded for the released version.

[c-man]

Thanks for your replies, Alan and A.G.D.,

You can count on me for 8 1/2 copies (or more!) if things ever miraculously align for a
release of Dennis's early Caribou recordings.

"Fragmentary", ehh? Intriguing adjective.

The wave-like backing vocals on the 1971 version heard over the phone from the gracious
Mr. Desper sound very nice. Interesting that something that added denseness to the track,
like on the longer, alternate "All This is That" which had more vocals and the instrumental
solo, was discarded for the released version.

If you're referring to the version of "All This Is That" with the alto sax (I think that's what it is) solo on the end...it wasn't discarded for the released version.  It was recorded 21 years later, during a rehearsal for the brief but brilliant "Unplugged" tour the Boys embarked on 15 years ago this fall.

[Dove Nested Towers]

Thanks for your replies, Alan and A.G.D.,

You can count on me for 8 1/2 copies (or more!) if things ever miraculously align for a
release of Dennis's early Caribou recordings.

"Fragmentary", ehh? Intriguing adjective.

The wave-like backing vocals on the 1971 version heard over the phone from the gracious
Mr. Desper sound very nice. Interesting that something that added denseness to the track,
like on the longer, alternate "All This is That" which had more vocals and the instrumental
solo, was discarded for the released version.

If you're referring to the version of "All This Is That" with the alto sax (I think that's what it is) solo on the end...it wasn't discarded for the released version.  It was recorded 21 years later, during a rehearsal for the brief but brilliant "Unplugged" tour the Boys embarked on 15 years ago this fall.

As Ed McMahon always said so disinctively "I did not know that!"

That's pretty impressive for a latter-era recording. I have tapes of some of that material, but didn't
know that song had been re-worked (or an original arrangement restored). Thanks!

[Ganz Allein]

The fabled demo cassette version of "SOS" is, er, fragmentary.  From what Steve told me way back when, my impression is that he recorded a pretty complete version with Brian in late 1971.

Mr. Desper very graciously played me (over the phone) his copy of SOS a couple of years ago which he thought dated back to '71. To my ears, the backing track sounded the same as the released version and the lead vocal still sounded an awful lot like Blondie (Mr. Desper was of the impression that the tape he had pre-dated Blondie joing the group and that it could not have been him). The most noteworthy difference heard on Desper's tape vs. the HOLLAND version was the addition of more complex backing vocals; kind of a call-and-answer on the chorus that reminded me of rolling waves.

The released version has call-and-answer vocals on the third verse, answer-like vocals on the last chorus, and swelling (rolling wave-like?) backgrounds on parts of both bridges.  Is it possible that Mr. Desper has an unreleased mix of the '72 version with more prominent backing vocals?  Maybe, as with TTGA, the previous backing track was used as a guide for the rerecorded version.  But that would contradict Ricky's quote (in Badman's book) that Carl phoned Brian during the tracking session, and Brian told him how he should play the piano part.  Are there logs for '71 SOS sessions?  And are those earlier lyrics available for public consumption?

[SurfRiderHawaii]

Thanks for your replies, Alan and A.G.D.,

You can count on me for 8 1/2 copies (or more!) if things ever miraculously align for a
release of Dennis's early Caribou recordings.

I believe Alan is referring to  pre-Caribou recordings - "Sound of Free" up to late 1970's BB sessions.  Jon S. mentioned there was enough still in the can of Caribou stuff for an additional release.

[Dove Nested Towers]

Thanks for your replies, Alan and A.G.D.,

You can count on me for 8 1/2 copies (or more!) if things ever miraculously align for a
release of Dennis's early Caribou recordings.

I believe Alan is referring to  pre-Caribou recordings - "Sound of Free" up to late 1970's BB sessions.  Jon S. mentioned there was enough still in the can of Caribou stuff for an additional release.

My mistake, I meant to say pre-Caribou. Mr. Boyd made a very descriptive and tantalizing post
a while back about that material, the Dennis/Dragon album fragments, etc. I believe there is a
re-make of Lady/Fallin' in Love, speaking of Caribou recordings, similar to the re-recording of
"Only With You" on the Legacy POB set. Oh sh*t, I mean shoot, my mouth is watering again!

May it somehow someday come to pass...

[c-man]

Thanks for your replies, Alan and A.G.D.,

You can count on me for 8 1/2 copies (or more!) if things ever miraculously align for a
release of Dennis's early Caribou recordings.

I believe Alan is referring to  pre-Caribou recordings - "Sound of Free" up to late 1970's BB sessions.  Jon S. mentioned there was enough still in the can of Caribou stuff for an additional release.

My mistake, I meant to say pre-Caribou. Mr. Boyd made a very descriptive and tantalizing post
a while back about that material, the Dennis/Dragon album fragments, etc. I believe there is a
re-make of Lady/Fallin' in Love, speaking of Caribou recordings, similar to the re-recording of
"Only With You" on the Legacy POB set. Oh sh*t, I mean shoot, my mouth is watering again!

May it somehow someday come to pass...

Dennis was supposed to have re-recorded "Lady" as "Flowers Come In The Spring" in '76.

[Roger Ryan]

My apologies for not replying sooner. The lyrics to the "early" version of SOS sounded identical to me. That combined with my opinion that the lead sounded just like Blondie made me think that Mr. Desper actually had an early mix of the '72 session. There's an earlier thread somewhere where this is discussed and I believe Mr. Desper concluded that he didn't think there was anyway he could have obtained a '72 session tape (he was under the impression that Carl was doing the lead). The backing vocals I heard over the phone were quite different from anything that's on the HOLLAND version, so I would say it's more than just an early mix with the same elements.

[Ganz Allein]

My apologies for not replying sooner. The lyrics to the "early" version of SOS sounded identical to me. That combined with my opinion that the lead sounded just like Blondie made me think that Mr. Desper actually had an early mix of the '72 session. There's an earlier thread somewhere where this is discussed and I believe Mr. Desper concluded that he didn't think there was anyway he could have obtained a '72 session tape (he was under the impression that Carl was doing the lead). The backing vocals I heard over the phone were quite different from anything that's on the HOLLAND version, so I would say it's more than just an early mix with the same elements.

No problem.  Thanks for your reply.  To bring the subject back to Dennis, was his one vocal attempt on SOS wiped before Blondie sang it?  If not, has anyone ever heard it?  I'm sure he would've sounded great doing the lead.

SOS sure is a mystery.   If the BBs had already recorded a version of it with Steven Desper, why does no one seem to have heard of the song until Van Dyke produced the (in)famous tape?  And are there logs of any pre-Holland tracking/vocal sessions for SOS at all?  Also, when does Ray Kennedy claim to have worked on the song with Brian?

[c-man]

This really probably should be moved to a new "Sail On Sailor" thread, but here's what Ray Kennedy had to say about his involvement with the tune:

"Danny Hutton, one of the original singers of Three Dog Night, called
me in 1970 when I was singing with Jeff Beck and said, "Hey, we need a
hit song." So I went over to his house, and Brian was there in a
little room with a piano and they stuck me in that room with Brian. We
were there for three days and ended up writing "Sail on Sailor," which
was originally intended for Three Dog. We went in and cut the basic
tracks with Three Dog Night; we hadn't slept in about a week. Then
Brian got up with a razor blade and cut the tapes and said, "Only Ray
Kennedy or Van Dyke Parks can do this song." And he left. We all stood
there looking at each other going, "What?"

He called me every day after that, and I wouldn't talk to him. Three
or four years later, I heard it on the radio and went, "Who's that?"
It turns out the song came out on the Beach Boys' "Holland" album. "