State of the surviving voices

[MBE]

I think Brian sang great in 1971. His voice had been a little lower as early as 1966. He nails the notes here and remember he was almost 30 not 20 anymore. Since 1975 I don't think he's been a great singer. He's OK at times but not anything special vocally. He is more professional in the last ten years or so.

Al sounds pretty good (probably the best out of the original group)  but said as early as 1989 that he couldn't hit the high notes like he had before.

Mike doesn't do the nasal leads so great but when he sings in a lower register he sounds pretty good.

Bruce Hasn't really sounded great since the seventies. He's OK but kind of husky sounding.

David sounds deeper then in his youth but actually he sounds pretty nice overall.

Blondie (at least the last I heard him) sounds terrific.

Ricky sounded good on the 1996 Rutles album but I haven't heard him since then.

[matt-zeus]

I think Brian sounds great when he's not forcing the vocals, two good ones which stick into mind are the 1994 Paley version of 'Gettin in over my head' - lovely vocal - in fact 'You're still a mystery' is good too. Another good one is 'Heavenly lovers' well the verse anyway, the chorus is a bit overwrought. I know these songs were done quite a while ago but this was when he was generally shouting a lot vocally.

[TdHabib]

Since 1975 I don't think he's been a great singer. He's OK at times but not anything special vocally. He is more professional in the last ten years or so.

It's all a matter of opinion but I think the new Gershwin project will do wonders to change this perception, he sounds great as far as I can tell. Then again, the material might not be to some people's liking. It's all good either way.

[Stegibo]

Bruce's voice is in great shape!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CYXC2qxGF4

[Mr. Cohen]

I'll be honest, I can't watch that Bruce video because of how much he touches the microphone. It's irritating and distracting. When you couple it with the occasional quivers in his voice, it's unnerving. So much nervous energy. It's not fun to watch.

[oldsurferdude]

Bruce's voice is in great shape!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CYXC2qxGF4

Just one of the many reasons not to see the M & B show.

[Ron]

I feel bad for Bruce sometimes.  I hear the nervousness in his voice too.

Makes me wonder how many times Mike made fun of whether he's still got it, how badly the song sold, how old he is, blah blah blah everything else before he agreed to let Bruce sing it in that show. 

Personally I think he sounds great.  In the studio, he'd KILL that. 

for the record, I didn't watch the video, just listened to it.  I was born with eyelids I can close over my eyes if I'm around something I don't want to see.  Just sayin'.

[Stegibo]

Bruce said on the BBB board that he had forgotten to set the mic before the song.

[Wylson]

I think Bruce sounds great, absolutely vital part of any reunion - still has a pure voice, capable of singing mid-high parts in the studio. He could easily replicate his 70s sound in the studio.

The more I think about, the more I think the Boys would be capable of producing a great studio sound. Brian comes pretty close just stacking his vocals (e.g. Rhapsody), and with a bit of sweetening from Bruce, bit of body from Al, bit of character and bass from Mike....

[Ron]

I think Al is the most integral part to a reunion recording, his voice has that Beach Boys sound.  I didn't realize his voice was so prominent in so much stuff, but listening to him sing solo, he really sounds authentic.  With him in the mix, it'll really add a lot, I feel. 

[Stegibo]

I wonder how it sounds if Mike would sing "Meant For You" now. 

[Curtis Leon]

It's odd, but I think Brian's vocal sound less... worn, than they did during TLOS. It's hard to put down, but he sounded very... throaty during that album. Like he couldn't clear his throat properly. On BWRG I think the problem's been cleared. Which is odd, to say the least.

[Stegibo]

Another video that shows the great state of Bruce's voice:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoCVwnJbR2A

[Ron]

While searching for ... em.... some recent music online, I found some crazy asian beach boys fan club, I couldn't read a damn thing but the whole page was covered with Youtube videos from the past *week* of the BB's in concert.  I was pleasantly surprised.  I saw them on t.v. a couple times recently, and they were godawful, but in concert, man, they're still very, very good!  Could't believe it.  Of course a lot of it was the rest of the band, but Mike sounded great, and Bruce sounded great. 

[carl r]

As much as I like Darian, I don't think he should sing in a BB reunion - he has never played with them before, and I don't think his voice suits the blend, or would help to recreate the blend (which surely is the aim?). He should play though.

Well I'd disagree with that. I think only the participation of Brian's current band, as well as bringing in Carl's old guys from the late 60s/early 70s, would be the only way to stop the musical backdrop in any reunion sounding like a tinny MIDI file. No Carl, No Dennis, the Beach Boys don't really exist as a band, and the survivors will need a mess of help.

[Autotune]

While searching for ... em.... some recent music online, I found some crazy asian beach boys fan club, I couldn't read a damn thing but the whole page was covered with Youtube videos from the past *week* of the BB's in concert.  I was pleasantly surprised.  I saw them on t.v. a couple times recently, and they were godawful, but in concert, man, they're still very, very good!  Could't believe it.  Of course a lot of it was the rest of the band, but Mike sounded great, and Bruce sounded great. 

Well, some people -specially those who don't go to his shows- were quick to diss Mike's current vocals based on the Dancing with the stars appearance. But, come on, based on TV appearances we could have dissed the BBs in 1963. As you correctly point, there are plenty of examples of Mike's truly great vocals these days. People who've heard him live have been impressed by the effortlessness and coolness of his vocals in the fast songs. Give Mike a chance and he'll rock those songs.

[The Shift]

While searching for ... em.... some recent music online, I found some crazy asian beach boys fan club, I couldn't read a damn thing but the whole page was covered with Youtube videos from the past *week* of the BB's in concert.  I was pleasantly surprised.  I saw them on t.v. a couple times recently, and they were godawful, but in concert, man, they're still very, very good!  Could't believe it.  Of course a lot of it was the rest of the band, but Mike sounded great, and Bruce sounded great. 

Well, some people -specially those who don't go to his shows- were quick to diss Mike's current vocals based on the Dancing with the stars appearance. But, come on, based on TV appearances we could have dissed the BBs in 1963. As you correctly point, there are plenty of examples of Mike's truly great vocals these days. People who've heard him live have been impressed by the effortlessness and coolness of his vocals in the fast songs. Give Mike a chance and he'll rock those songs.

Based on TV appearances, a lot of us here might have walked after Brian's slot on the Queen's golden jubilee show a few years back. When people hear that I'm a BW fan, that's the show they refer to when they tell me he's a brain-dead wreck. That's the evidence they have that makes them experts!

Mike's DWTS slot might have been bad (to some eyes/ears) but should you judge a 50-year career on the strength of a five-minute TV appearance?

[The Heartical Don]

While searching for ... em.... some recent music online, I found some crazy asian beach boys fan club, I couldn't read a damn thing but the whole page was covered with Youtube videos from the past *week* of the BB's in concert.  I was pleasantly surprised.  I saw them on t.v. a couple times recently, and they were godawful, but in concert, man, they're still very, very good!  Could't believe it.  Of course a lot of it was the rest of the band, but Mike sounded great, and Bruce sounded great.  

Well, some people -specially those who don't go to his shows- were quick to diss Mike's current vocals based on the Dancing with the stars appearance. But, come on, based on TV appearances we could have dissed the BBs in 1963. As you correctly point, there are plenty of examples of Mike's truly great vocals these days. People who've heard him live have been impressed by the effortlessness and coolness of his vocals in the fast songs. Give Mike a chance and he'll rock those songs.

Based on TV appearances, a lot of us here might have walked after Brian's slot on the Queen's golden jubilee show a few years back. When people hear that I'm a BW fan, that's the show they refer to when they tell me he's a brain-dead wreck. That's the evidence they have that makes them experts!

Mike's DWTS slot might have been bad (to some eyes/ears) but should you judge a 50-year career on the strength of a five-minute TV appearance?

Now that you mention that one... I said afterwards to my record retailer: well, he did have a classy suit on, didn't he? The shop owner replied drily: yes, but it was starched too much, wasn't it?

[the captain]

Now, Don, we all know that explaining your joke will always ruin it. For shame.

[The Heartical Don]

Now, Don, we all know that explaining your joke will always ruin it. For shame.

I'll forever be in your debt, sweet mr Luther, sir.

[the captain]

That's what I like to hear.

[Curtis Leon]

I hate to bring this up, but I'm still wondering if he actually "destroyed" his voice. I have the hunch he could sing like Holland-era or "Rollin' Up To Heaven" on 15BO and Love You. Just my opinion.

And honestly, he sounds like nearly the same guy on "Please Let Me Wonder", "God Only Knows" (yes I know Carl did the released lead), and things like the bridges to "Surfer Girl" and "In My Room". And I'm not the kindest to judge his vocals. I think the '04 "Surf's Up" left a bit to be desired, especially in the phrasing.

Carl did the lead to Please Let Me Wonder too, actually. And somehow, I rather doubt he could sing Holland-era in his late seventies/early eighties voice. I can hear the Holland era falsetto on Steamboat and Funky Pretty, and let me tell you, you can still hear the 60's Brian on it. Sure, he was definitely singing lower by that point. But I'd have to chalk that up more to age than cocaine or cigs. He wasn't doing so much of it that early long, although it was a problem then. You have to consider the fact that he was 30 something years old now, and wasn't so young anymore. And he always sang in falsetto, too. Which puts a lot more strain on the voice.

[mikeyj]

Carl did the lead to Please Let Me Wonder too, actually.

Huh? That's definitely Brian!

[grillo]

Carl did the lead to Please Let Me Wonder too, actually.

El Wrongo. BW. The only other version I know of has mike trying (and failing) to sing it soft enough for bri.

[Curtis Leon]

Carl did the lead to Please Let Me Wonder too, actually.

El Wrongo. BW. The only other version I know of has mike trying (and failing) to sing it soft enough for bri.

Oh, right. Sorry, had one of those moments. It's Brian doing an impression of Carl, I'd say.