Brian's shouty vocals

[Curtis Leon]

Well, there's an entire black era of Brian vocals, from 1973 to 15 Big Ones. What demos he had recorded are either locked in the vaults or lost. So basically we jump from Holland era straight to 15 Big Ones. That's the reason why you don't see a gradual decline. There's just a lack of released documents from the main period of vocal decline. As for how it happened.... Well, 5 packs of cigarettes and cocaine a day for about a year could ruin ANYONE's voice. It's a miracle he could still sing at all.

There's Brian's duet with Jan Berry on "Don't You Just Know It" from 1973.  Don't know if this is from early, mid, or late 1973, but it's available on the Jan & Dean Fun City CD, as well as iTunes, Amazon, and various other places on the web.  Brian doesn't sound hoarse yet, but his vocal sounds somewhat spoken and shouty and he sounds absolutely nothing like he did a few years earlier.  To me, it almost has a "confused" sound to it, as in "why am I singing this?"  

Others on this board may be able to offer more insight into this recording, as I only heard it for the first time a few months ago.  Had I heard this vocal from BW back in 1973, I would have been quite surprised and described it as "disturbing", but his singing voice here is very closely related to his spoken parts on Mt. Vernon and Fairway on Holland, which, back then, I also considered "disturbing" as well as close to unlistenable.  I think it's fair to characterize the singing on Don't You Just Know It and the spoken parts on Mount Vernon and Fairway as sounding like that of a person suffering from some form of mental illness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zi9voOrzzB0

Actually, I wasn't surprised when AGD said it was recorded in 1970. Brian's just singing it in a different way than usual. The tone of his voice sounds just like Sunflower era.

[Curtis Leon]

I posted about this a long time ago, but I can recall hearing two different versions of the Jan Berry duet, the finished version (which I think is cool) and a version with a less polished vocal from Brian (or perhaps it was just a single track, I really don't remember...my impression was it was a different take).  Point being, on the less polished version, it was really obvious Brian was having trouble crossing over into falsetto and hitting some of the high notes.  A lot of stabs at certain notes and squirrelly vocal transitions.  It sounded like he was really struggling, or at the very least had a bad cold or something. 

Yes. By that era, Brian began to struggle with pushing into the falsetto range... I sometimes wonder if that was why he didn't sing lead very often. Background harmonies are relatively easy. Lead puts a lot more strain on the voice.

Also, Billy, no worries! Lots of people call me by my last name. 

[Custom Machine]

Brian's singing on this song is virtually unlistenable to me.  It was a silly song when first released in 1958, but by the early 70's it would have been considered, by the standards of the day, totally dumbass.  Perhaps Brian felt the same way and sang it as a favor for his buddy, Jan Berry, but I'm unconvinced that Brain was in a positive frame of mind when he recorded this.  Maybe I'm reading way too much into this, but after listening to a playback of this song, I can picture Brain wondering, "What was I thinking, maybe I am insane," before he later admonished Van Dyke Parks to convince him otherwise.  (And the date he did that is very much in question.)

Yes, some of the vocal intonations are reminiscent of Brian's voice during the Sunflower era, especially on background vocals, but can anyone seriously claim to have heard a BW lead vocal anywhere near this bad during that period?

Although Jan & Dean sites say this recording is from 1973, I'm not doubting that it could have been recorded in 1970.  AGD - can you provide any more info as to the source indicating that this was recorded in 1970?

[Mike's Beard]

To clear up the mystery of how Brian sounded when he spoke between 73-75; listening to his vocal performances on Mt.Vernon and Fairway and Child of Winter, I can only assume he had the voice of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. 

[Curtis Leon]

To clear up the mystery of how Brian sounded when he spoke between 73-75; listening to his vocal performances on Mt.Vernon and Fairway and Child of Winter, I can only assume he had the voice of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. 

Nah, he was using vibrato on those two tracks. His REAL speaking voice would be the intro to "California".

[Andrew G. Doe]

Brian's singing on this song is virtually unlistenable to me.  It was a silly song when first released in 1958, but by the early 70's it would have been considered, by the standards of the day, totally dumbass.  Perhaps Brian felt the same way and sang it as a favor for his buddy, Jan Berry, but I'm unconvinced that Brain was in a positive frame of mind when he recorded this.  Maybe I'm reading way too much into this, but after listening to a playback of this song, I can picture Brain wondering, "What was I thinking, maybe I am insane," before he later admonished Van Dyke Parks to convince him otherwise.  (And the date he did that is very much in question.)

Yes, some of the vocal intonations are reminiscent of Brian's voice during the Sunflower era, especially on background vocals, but can anyone seriously claim to have heard a BW lead vocal anywhere near this bad during that period?

Although Jan & Dean sites say this recording is from 1973, I'm not doubting that it could have been recorded in 1970.  AGD - can you provide any more info as to the source indicating that this was recorded in 1970?

Brad Elliott's discography.. Hence 'reportedly'.

[adamghost]

I gotta say, just based on my impression of where Brian's voice was at on that rough take, I'd expect it to be closer to '73 than '70.  If you charted a line of the decline of Brian's voice, that's just about where I'd imagine him to be around '72-'73 (with Dec. '74 now established as the point where Brian's old voice finally crossed the line into the new one).

[grillo]

Pretty sure BW's vox are from 70-71, and Jan finally added his a couple years later, and to me they sound fine. I'm sure Bri didn't really give too much of a crap about this tune, but he seemed to like Jan, and if Jan needed some help on one of his new songs BW was happy to help. It may not be Brian's greatest vocal performance, but for some goofy cover of a goofy tune it seems good. I do think you're reading too much into it if you think you can hear the mental breakdown (or whatever) thru his singing on this.
Average song=Average singing

[jackstar74]

I don't know why but whenver anyone brings up Brian's voice on the Carl and the Passions....no matter how many times I listen to it, I cannot pick out his voice on ANY song. I doubt he's audible.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

He is VERY audible on the 2 or 3 songs he's on, but you have to know what to listen for. Once you realize which parts are his, it's very obvious.

Another example...he's doing the "what's in her head"* line on the tag of Marcella.



*= I think that's the lyric.

[Mike's Beard]

Brian's vocals are all over Marcella. The "Doobie doobie do" part is also him. I also have a suspicion that's him behind Al on the first two "One arm over my shoulder".

He's doing a growling harmony behind Carl's double tracked lead on "Mess of Help".

He's singing mid range on He Came Down. Blondie and Carl's screams are drowning him out. 

[Pablo.]

This may be what I refer to as his "Ozzy" voice.  

Yeah, that's a great analogy. I always link Ozzy and Brian when it comes to chemical damage.

To me, the chorus of "We wish you a merry Christmas" (from the Arista album)finds him shouting, maybe to try to hit some notes (can't believe how they used that song on the Epk, since he fails big time on a "WISH")

Maybe we should start a "Brian slurry's vocals" ie, the "ever afterrrrrrr" on "Fairy tale" (surely a favorite of AGD!)

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

And the flowers DIIIIIIEEEEEEDDDDD. God, that was hideous.

Brian's vocals are all over Marcella. The "Doobie doobie do" part is also him. I also have a suspicion that's him behind Al on the first two "One arm over my shoulder".

He's doing a growling harmony behind Carl's double tracked lead on "Mess of Help".

No, that was Blondie behind Carl.

As for Marcella...I think the high part was Bruce,although it could've  been Brian, too. My understanding is that Brian's part doesn't kick in until about 2:58.  Listen on headphones...it'll be on the left channel. The doobie doobie part is Al.

[Mike's Beard]

My "Mess of Help" comment was based solely on the twofer booklet info, which I know can't be taken as gospel.

My ears tell me that's Brian's doobies on Marcella, but I'm perfectly willing to admit I could be wrong.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Huh huh huh huh you said "doobie".

[punkinhead]

doobie do or not doobie?

wasnt a alternate lyric to a smile song?
the telephone lyrics to cabinessence?

[Jon Stebbins]

My "Mess of Help" comment was based solely on the twofer booklet info, which I know can't be taken as gospel.

Now there's an understatement.

[Curtis Leon]

For me, I can always hear him in the opening vocal blend. You know, the "Hey-a Marceelllaaa" and in the backing vocal harmonies behind Carl's verses.

[adamghost]

We had a huge discussion over who was doing the singing in "Mess of Help" on the vocal thread.  The conclusion was there are three vocal tracks, the most prominent two of which are Carl.  The third one could possibly be Brian or Blondie, but it's so far back it's impossible to tell, and it's most likely Carl as well.

[MBE]

I think it is Brian on the Doobie Do part myself. He sings high harmony of "Mess Of Help" but is mixed a bit low. "Don't You Just Know It" I always thought he was trying to sing kind of like he did on "Bakers Man". I did ask Brian and Jan both about the track but they only remembered that they had done it. You can hear Brian's voice sounding very good in 1971 on Til I Die, Awake, and Won't You Tell Me. His vocals on the Spring LP are also quite good.

Going on to 1972-73 there is less around but what you can make out on So Tough and Holland is fine. We have all debated on the Daddy Dear Suzy home recording from 1972 but to me it is Brian and he sounds fine. From 1973 we also have the Fairy Tale performance at home. It's low volume and quality but again he sounds fine and his speaking voice isn't at all raspy.

From 1974 we have Battle Hymn, Child Of Winter, and Rollin Up To Heaven. On all he still sounds clear to me. California Feelin and Lucy Jones are the missing link.

I asked Jimmi Sieter about Brian's voice when he worked with him on the Why Do Fools Fall In Love single in 1975. From what I hear he sounds a bit gruff but Jimmi said he didn't feel Brian was overtly hoarse or off key. Help Me Rhonda sounds a bit like MIU which isn't bad but lacks the purity heard on Rollin Up To Heaven. Then we have Back Home 1975 which is very hoarse and from there it was pretty bad through 1998 except for the MIU stuff both Beach Boys and Spring and some of the Paley demos (especially the almost clear Brian on GIOMH).. Since 1999 he sounds professional most of the time (some of the post 94 shows and GIOMH excepted) but he's not a particularly great singer anymore. Not bad but not great.

[rab2591]

'Goin' Home'

One of the only songs I don't really like on TLOS - because of the shouty vocals....

[matt-zeus]

This may be what I refer to as his "Ozzy" voice.  See also "Fantasy Is Reality/Bells Of Madness".  It's a strangely brassy, shrill sort of sound that he'd never really had before. 

I've always heard a lot of similarity between Ozzys current voice and Brians current voice (or certainly his 80s/90s voice), very similar timbre and tone and times - sadly Ozzys voice is pretty much defined by autotune these days. I'm a massive 70s Sabbath fan and Ozzys vocals on those first 8 albums are fantastic. As another voice connection I always thought Ozzys and Roy Woods voice were very similar...

[Curtis Leon]

I think it is Brian on the Doobie Do part myself. He sings high harmony of "Mess Of Help" but is mixed a bit low. "Don't You Just Know It" I always thought he was trying to sing kind of like he did on "Bakers Man". I did ask Brian and Jan both about the track but they only remembered that they had done it. You can hear Brian's voice sounding very good in 1971 on Til I Die, Awake, and Won't You Tell Me. His vocals on the Spring LP are also quite good.

Going on to 1972-73 there is less around but what you can make out on So Tough and Holland is fine. We have all debated on the Daddy Dear Suzy home recording from 1972 but to me it is Brian and he sounds fine. From 1973 we also have the Fairy Tale performance at home. It's low volume and quality but again he sounds fine and his speaking voice isn't at all raspy.

From 1974 we have Battle Hymn, Child Of Winter, and Rollin Up To Heaven. On all he still sounds clear to me. California Feelin and Lucy Jones are the missing link.

I asked Jimmi Sieter about Brian's voice when he worked with him on the Why Do Fools Fall In Love single in 1975. From what I hear he sounds a bit gruff but Jimmi said he didn't feel Brian was overtly hoarse or off key. Help Me Rhonda sounds a bit like MIU which isn't bad but lacks the purity heard on Rollin Up To Heaven. Then we have Back Home 1975 which is very hoarse and from there it was pretty bad through 1998 except for the MIU stuff both Beach Boys and Spring and some of the Paley demos (especially the almost clear Brian on GIOMH).. Since 1999 he sounds professional most of the time (some of the post 94 shows and GIOMH excepted) but he's not a particularly great singer anymore. Not bad but not great.

I thought we only had the 1971 version of Rollin' Up to Heaven?

[Jay]

You know, the more I listen to it, the more I begin to think that Brian's part in Rollin Up To Heaven isn't really all that good. Yes, he still has a very high pitched/falsetto voice. But, it's rather...."squeaky". I'm not sure how to describe it. It's like Brian has lost his control over the pitch of his voice. He can still sing quite high, but it's now nasally and "mouse like".

[MBE]

Nope it's fall 1974 the bootleg was misdated. I can't agree that he sounds anything but good there. He wasn't 20 anymore but if he kept this voice for another 20-25 years I don't think we would be having this discussion.