Leon Russell/Beach Boys comment

[guitarfool2002]

Thanks for the great info, that definitely solves another question about Beach Boys mythology - Glen did not play on Good Vibrations. Why or how he has said he did through the years is up for debate.

One similar question: There was a contract that lists among others Glen Campbell (gtr) and Russell Bridges (Leon - organ) for sessions related to a list of songs including "I Get Around" and "Don't Worry Baby", the specific one dated 7/23/64 with Leon and Glen with Steve Douglas as the leader.

I took a quick glance at it and thought it was a Beach Boys session, but that is not the case...so what exactly was this session?

[Andrew G. Doe]

Thanks for the great info, that definitely solves another question about Beach Boys mythology - Glen did not play on Good Vibrations. Why or how he has said he did through the years is up for debate.

One similar question: There was a contract that lists among others Glen Campbell (gtr) and Russell Bridges (Leon - organ) for sessions related to a list of songs including "I Get Around" and "Don't Worry Baby", the specific one dated 7/23/64 with Leon and Glen with Steve Douglas as the leader.

I took a quick glance at it and thought it was a Beach Boys session, but that is not the case...so what exactly was this session?

Can't recall exactly now, but I researched that - it was a session for one of Gary Usher's studio knock-off groups. I see that AFM sheet, and another that I pointed out to young master Tedesco as misleading, are still on the Wrecking Crew movie site.

EDit: OK, pulled it from the depths of my archives. The session dated 5/20/64 was for The Catalinas Fun Fun Fun LP, produced by Terry Melcher while the 7/23/64 one was for The Knights Hot Rod High, produced by Usher. Finally the 7/10/64 session was for The Beach Boys Song Book by The Hollyridge Strings.

[guitarfool2002]

Thanks for the great info, that definitely solves another question about Beach Boys mythology - Glen did not play on Good Vibrations. Why or how he has said he did through the years is up for debate.

One similar question: There was a contract that lists among others Glen Campbell (gtr) and Russell Bridges (Leon - organ) for sessions related to a list of songs including "I Get Around" and "Don't Worry Baby", the specific one dated 7/23/64 with Leon and Glen with Steve Douglas as the leader.

I took a quick glance at it and thought it was a Beach Boys session, but that is not the case...so what exactly was this session?

Can't recall exactly now, but I researched that - it was a session for one of Gary Usher's studio knock-off groups. I see that AFM sheet, and another that I pointed out to young master Tedesco as misleading, are still on the Wrecking Crew movie site.

Yes, thanks for the info! When I saw it, it seemed to be one of those knock-off hot-rod type of studio group cover projects, but it looks for all the world like a Beach Boys session as it appears on the website. It is misleading. It's good to have confirmation for sure.

It's also maybe a caveat to not take every session sheet at face value, as there are indeed some on that site like "Classical Gas" that seem to be unrelated to the actual session, but that is the exception. I can look at those sheets all day, they're fascinating!

[Jon Stebbins]

I think that's one of the biggest problems with Wrecking Crew memories, the fact that they played on the various knock-off versions of Beach Boys songs and have often conflated that with the actual BB's versions. Tedesco backing them up with faulty evidence isn't helpful. Regarding those specific tracks...there are only BB's playing on the Don't Worry Baby session (I've heard the multi-track) no session musicians participated in that, I Get Around also has the core BB's playing on it (Brian keyboards, Dennis drums, Carl guitar, Al bass) with Blaine on timbales, Pohlman on extra bass, and two saxes by Jay and Steve. BTW, Leon is on the Why Do Fools Fall In Love session on Shut Down Vol. 2...that's probably his first BB's session...1/64, and probably the only one he played on SDV2. Elton needs to get with the truth program.

[Andrew G. Doe]

"WDFFIL" was the first 'real' full-on BB session to use the Crew extensively (that we have documentation for):

Steve Douglas
Frankie Capp
Hal Blaine
Ray Pohlman
Jimmy Bond
Bill Pitman
Tommy Tedesco
Plas Johnson
Jay Migliori
Leon Russell
Al DeLory

[Fall Breaks]

Known "GV" sessions (yellow = AFM documented):

2/17 - as "#1 - untitled"
4/9
5/4
5/24
5/25 - this session might be spurious: the AFM sheet for the 5/24 session (which granted ran past midnight) is dated the 25th
5/27
6/2 - as "Inspiration" - 9am-2pm
6/2 - as "Inspiration" - 2pm-5pm
6/12 - as "Inspiration"
6/16 - 1pm-8pm
6/16 - 5pm-9pm
6/18
9/1
9/12 - vocals (obviously, this session, and the next, won't have AFM documentation)
9/21 - vocals

When was it given the title "Good Vibrations"? I've always thought the call out "Okay Good Vibrations take one" from the SS/WH two-fer referred to the very first take ever of the song, but I'm wrong then, I take it?

[Roger Ryan]

"Inspiration" was just a working title given to one of the sections of "Good Vibrations" in order to keep track of them (since this was the first time Brian was working in modular form and had many variables that could potentially end up in the song). Similar to how "Iron Horse" or "Home On The Range" were titles given to individual segments of "Cabin Essence".

[JaredLekites]

Leon Russell played every instrument on Pet Sounds. He sang most of the vocals too. 

[Andrew G. Doe]

Known "GV" sessions (yellow = AFM documented):

2/17 - as "#1 - untitled"
4/9
5/4
5/24
5/25 - this session might be spurious: the AFM sheet for the 5/24 session (which granted ran past midnight) is dated the 25th
5/27
6/2 - as "Inspiration" - 9am-2pm
6/2 - as "Inspiration" - 2pm-5pm
6/12 - as "Inspiration"
6/16 - 1pm-8pm
6/16 - 5pm-9pm
6/18
9/1
9/12 - vocals (obviously, this session, and the next, won't have AFM documentation)
9/21 - vocals

When was it given the title "Good Vibrations"? I've always thought the call out "Okay Good Vibrations take one" from the SS/WH two-fer referred to the very first take ever of the song, but I'm wrong then, I take it?

It's logged as "GV" on the 4/9 AFM.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

"Inspiration" was just a working title given to one of the sections of "Good Vibrations" in order to keep track of them (since this was the first time Brian was working in modular form and had many variables that could potentially end up in the song). Similar to how "Iron Horse" or "Home On The Range" were titles given to individual segments of "Cabin Essence".

I remember when people thought "Inspiration" was an unheard Smile track

[Andrew G. Doe]

"Inspiration" was just a working title given to one of the sections of "Good Vibrations" in order to keep track of them (since this was the first time Brian was working in modular form and had many variables that could potentially end up in the song). Similar to how "Iron Horse" or "Home On The Range" were titles given to individual segments of "Cabin Essence".

I remember when people thought "Inspiration" was an unheard Smile track

Mainly 'cause Andy Paley said so. 

[Fall Breaks]

So the callout "Okay Good Vibrations take one" would most likely stem from the 4/9 session then?