Brian's worst vocal

[The Heartical Don]

Good Time. Too sharp, too childlike.

[Wirestone]

Basically, anything where he's trying to "rock" out.

-- Night Time
-- Concert Tonight
-- Hotter
-- I'm Broke

All dire.

To my mind, there's a world of difference between these songs -- where Brian is awkwardly failing to sing in a style that just doesn't fit him at all -- and tunes where he's singing around or through his vocal limitations. The latter, while sometimes painful, are almost always interesting and have nice moments. The first group are just embarrassing.

[runnersdialzero]

Good Time. Too sharp, too childlike.

[MBE]

Good Time. Too sharp, too childlike.

I love that era of his singing myself. Notice how he uses almost his whole range as he does all the lead on it. 19667-74 really has some of Brian's best singing because he's older and a bit more mature. It wasn't quite the same as on the early Beach Boy sides- the pre 1966 vocals are perhaps more effortless-but honestly I think he sounded slightly different because he matured. I think had he taken care of his voice in his thirties the way he did in his twenties it would never have gotten so nasal, gruff, or slurred (we have Landy to thank for the last part). I doubt he could hit it today like he did in his youth, but he would sound more professional, more like "Brian".

[hypehat]

-- I'm Broke

Oh my god, I forgot about that. That's HORRIFYING.

[b00ts]

-- I'm Broke

Oh my god, I forgot about that. That's HORRIFYING.

Brian has done some good rock and/or roll vocals recently. "Goin' Home" and, to a lesser extent, "Morning Beat" from TLOS evince a new, growly vocal style. Very cool.

Reading back over this thread, it struck me once again how much better Brian's vocals have gotten since GIOMH, which was the nadir of his careless vocal style.

[seltaeb1012002]

Hey does anybody remember that version of "Don't Worry Baby" from 1995 where Brian sang the lead live in Las Vegas? He did it in the original key if I can remember. Anybody know if that is floating around the interwebs anywhere? Possibly? Maybe?

I'd love to hear that!

[Wirestone]

Hey does anybody remember that version of "Don't Worry Baby" from 1995 where Brian sang the lead live in Las Vegas? He did it in the original key if I can remember. Anybody know if that is floating around the interwebs anywhere? Possibly? Maybe?

I'd love to hear that!

The vocal on that is 90 percent Matt Jardine. Brian is singing along but not especially audible.

[runnersdialzero]

Good Time. Too sharp, too childlike.

This still makes me sad.

[seltaeb1012002]

Hey does anybody remember that version of "Don't Worry Baby" from 1995 where Brian sang the lead live in Las Vegas? He did it in the original key if I can remember. Anybody know if that is floating around the interwebs anywhere? Possibly? Maybe?

I'd love to hear that!

The vocal on that is 90 percent Matt Jardine. Brian is singing along but not especially audible.

Ahh, gotcha. Thanks.

[Menace Wilson]

When I played the original version of "Saturday Morning In The City" for my wife, she said it sounded like a clown with blood coming out of his mouth.

[Wirestone]

Hey does anybody remember that version of "Don't Worry Baby" from 1995 where Brian sang the lead live in Las Vegas? He did it in the original key if I can remember. Anybody know if that is floating around the interwebs anywhere? Possibly? Maybe?

I'd love to hear that!

The vocal on that is 90 percent Matt Jardine. Brian is singing along but not especially audible.

Ahh, gotcha. Thanks.

The way it sounds, roughly, is the way the falsetto sounds in "Warmth of the Sun" from Stars and Stripes Vol. 1. Brian is singing that falsetto part, believe it or not, but kind of in the shadow of the younger Jardine. It sounds good, actually, but less distinctive than you might hope.

[seltaeb1012002]

Hey does anybody remember that version of "Don't Worry Baby" from 1995 where Brian sang the lead live in Las Vegas? He did it in the original key if I can remember. Anybody know if that is floating around the interwebs anywhere? Possibly? Maybe?

I'd love to hear that!

The vocal on that is 90 percent Matt Jardine. Brian is singing along but not especially audible.

Ahh, gotcha. Thanks.

The way it sounds, roughly, is the way the falsetto sounds in "Warmth of the Sun" from Stars and Stripes Vol. 1. Brian is singing that falsetto part, believe it or not, but kind of in the shadow of the younger Jardine. It sounds good, actually, but less distinctive than you might hope.

Very interesting. I noticed Brian was sprinkled throughout S&S on the high parts (though admittedly I don't think I've ever listened to the whole album). I'm hoping we get a little bit of that on the new album.

[Bean Bag]

His version of "Good Vibrations" on the Mike Douglas Show during the Brian Is Back campaign was the one performance of his that ever had me cringing. He was nervous but you could tell he really wanted to hit those notes... but it just wasn't happening and it was just devastating to watch.

Different strokes for different folks.  Personally, I thought it sounded awesome.  It was amazing, because here's this incredibly technical song, a production masterpiece, and the guy has the BALLS to go out there and play it with just a piano and a raw, doesn't give a sh*t 'husky' voice.  I would hold that up there as one of his best performances I've ever seen. 

It's like somebody saying they're going to perform "Beethoven's 5th, anybody got a piano?  I'm a little drunk.  I think I can pull it off, though. "

Yes, awesome post!  I agree.  I can totally understand why someone would find it devastating, too.  It's powerful regardless.  But...I come down more on your side of the fence.  I was held captive watching it.  I wanted more.  I love how he ends too..."ok, that enough..."

[Bean Bag]

When I played the original version of "Saturday Morning In The City" for my wife, she said it sounded like a clown with blood coming out of his mouth.

   That might be the funniest thing I've ever read!!!!!!!

[Bean Bag]

Good Time. Too sharp, too childlike.

There's VERY few Beach Boy songs I don't like...this is one.  "don't like" maybe a little strong, but...I don't know why...Good Time bothers me.  Well, it shouldn't be on Love You...that I know.

[Jim V.]

Hey does anybody remember that version of "Don't Worry Baby" from 1995 where Brian sang the lead live in Las Vegas? He did it in the original key if I can remember. Anybody know if that is floating around the interwebs anywhere? Possibly? Maybe?

I'd love to hear that!

The vocal on that is 90 percent Matt Jardine. Brian is singing along but not especially audible.

Hmm, I'd still be interested in hearing that anyways...how bout it Wirestone, ol' pal??

[Wirestone]

Hey does anybody remember that version of "Don't Worry Baby" from 1995 where Brian sang the lead live in Las Vegas? He did it in the original key if I can remember. Anybody know if that is floating around the interwebs anywhere? Possibly? Maybe?

I'd love to hear that!

The vocal on that is 90 percent Matt Jardine. Brian is singing along but not especially audible.

Hmm, I'd still be interested in hearing that anyways...how bout it Wirestone, ol' pal??

Ha! Believe it or not, the song was on a cassette tape that fell into my hands back in the late 90s. Not sure if I even still have it. Perhaps its time for some closet cleaning.

[Cabinessenceking]

She's Got Rhythm..."Laaaaaaaaast night I went out disco dancin'". Yike's...
Worst unreleased...I'm beggin You Please"...This poor guy has been sick for such a long time now.
So glad he seems the happiest he's ever been.

^
this one

[Jim V.]

Hey does anybody remember that version of "Don't Worry Baby" from 1995 where Brian sang the lead live in Las Vegas? He did it in the original key if I can remember. Anybody know if that is floating around the interwebs anywhere? Possibly? Maybe?

I'd love to hear that!

The vocal on that is 90 percent Matt Jardine. Brian is singing along but not especially audible.

Hmm, I'd still be interested in hearing that anyways...how bout it Wirestone, ol' pal??

Ha! Believe it or not, the song was on a cassette tape that fell into my hands back in the late 90s. Not sure if I even still have it. Perhaps its time for some closet cleaning.

Fair enough. 'Tis cool. I wouldn't wreck my house looking for it. I do, however, remember it being on the interwebs at some point back in the day, because I had it. But I don't know where it went.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

When I played the original version of "Saturday Morning In The City" for my wife, she said it sounded like a clown with blood coming out of his mouth.

Now I just pictured BW as Pennywise from IT.

[NHC]

"Don't Worry Baby" from the 1981 show. What's remarkable, though, is how he instantly switched over to an equivalent harmony when he gave up trying to hit the high notes...

Yeah, that always impressed me, like the guy still it together enough to do that mid-song. Pure instincts, I guess.

[NatureShowInStereo]

his vocal on Dont worry Baby live in 1981?

First thing that came to my mind.

[Nicko1234]

Brian`s vocal on the `Why oh why` section of Soul Searchin` on GIOMH is horrendous. How he could be allowed by his overseers to include this instead of Carl`s original is beyond belief.

[MBE]

Good Time. Too sharp, too childlike.

This still makes me sad.

Well I think it's fantastic vocally.