Inequity: Material versus Performance or Production

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

I have a Today Duophonic copy that actually sounds pretty great! Same with Summer Days!

My Duophonic Pet Sounds sounds like hell though!

Did Wild Honey only avoid a Duophonic treatment because it was originally issued with a big fat false "STEREO" on the back jacket and center lable???

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

The Night Was So Young, as I understnd it mostly Carl's production, sounds stellar so maybe I'm talking rubbish here.

That's a case where the production was great, the song was great, but the vocal was AWFUL.

[SG7]

That is all true but there are exceptions such as Smile and TLOS. I felt those flowed much better live.

[Sheriff John Stone]

The Night Was So Young, as I understnd it mostly Carl's production, sounds stellar so maybe I'm talking rubbish here.

That's a case where the production was great, the song was great, but the vocal was AWFUL.

Love the vocal! He sings it perfectly, like someone who couldn't sleep, got up at 3:00 AM, poured some milk, and thought about the girl; we've all been there....Carl was in a unique place for 15 Big Ones and Love You, but I feel the emotion.

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

for my money TNWSY is an amazing Carl vocal, and the harmonies are a highpoint for me in BBs group singing. But hey, I guess it's a bit rough around the edges, but understanding where things were at at the time, I wouldn't expect or want it any other way.

I also think Brian's wrecked voice is perfect for Just Once In My Life on 15 Big Ones.

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Love the vocal! He sings it perfectly, like someone who couldn't sleep, got up at 3:00 AM, poured some milk, and thought about the girl; we've all been there....Carl was in a unique place for 15 Big Ones and Love You, but I feel the emotion.
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Spot on Sherrif!

Sometimes it feels like "singing from inside the song" is becoming a lost art!

Carl sings from within the song, and he feels the lyrics (this is why I will NEVER discount the importance of the lyrics in any song) and sings through the feelings they invoke. Perhaps a "perfect" vocal wouldn't have worked?

[LostArt]

Sometimes it feels like "singing from inside the song" is becoming a lost art!

Huh? Somebody call me? 

[tpesky]

Wow interesting thread and I agree with so many people's choices here:

I have always kinda had a soft spot for 15 Big Ones and I think the album should have stuck to the plan of being all oldies, they had enough in the can, but given complete Beach Boys treatment not the half assed job it was given, followed very close by an album of new (or semi new) stuff. Material there, no production. 
Same for KTSA-you listen live to some of those tracks LIVE and it's like completely diff. songs (KTSA, Heartache, Winds, School Days, Goin On) The live band rocked and the album was a huge whimp. (Thanks Bruce). Although I'm gonna give some blame to Carl there, there are numerous examples of him both with the group of solo of sounding so great and rock and roll live, and his album takes are just so whimpy!
Holland to a degree with that muddy sound.
MIU- no good material at all (or at least what they chose to use)  but they sounded the best they had in awhile.
Wild Honey same as others have mentioned.
BB 85 is interesting cause material was a little weak, production sucked, and Al and Carl turn in one of their best ever vocal performances!