The Monster Mash

[ReggieDunbar]

Given the time of year...  I started browsing around for nice versions of The Monster Mash!

After spending some time listening to the different versions it struck me...
The Beach Boys version is the best! You can call me biased... but in a bigger view... its got the one with the best
phrasing during the lyrics and no doubt best backing vocals!

//RD

[LeeDempsey]

The Beach Boys got to know "The Monster Mash" very well -- because they backed up Bobby "Boris" Pickett at some concerts at which they shared the billing.  Bobby apparently didn't tour with his own band, and would use whatever band was on the concert bill as his backup band.  Not an unusual practice at the time for one-hit wonders who used session musicians on their records.  The BBs even did the same for Jan & Dean.

Lee

[bgas]

The Beach Boys got to know "The Monster Mash" very well -- because they backed up Bobby "Boris" Pickett at some concerts at which they shared the billing.  Bobby apparently didn't tour with his own band, and would use whatever band was on the concert bill as his backup band.  Not an unusual practice at the time for one-hit wonders who used session musicians on their records.  The BBs even did the same for Jan & Dean.

Lee

How history might have been changed, if the BBs had done this in the beginning, instead of, somewhat ineptly, trying to play their own instruments at shows!

[Jon Stebbins]

The Beach Boys got to know "The Monster Mash" very well -- because they backed up Bobby "Boris" Pickett at some concerts at which they shared the billing.  Bobby apparently didn't tour with his own band, and would use whatever band was on the concert bill as his backup band.  Not an unusual practice at the time for one-hit wonders who used session musicians on their records.  The BBs even did the same for Jan & Dean.

Lee

How history might have been changed, if the BBs had done this in the beginning, instead of, somewhat ineptly, trying to play their own instruments at shows!

That makes no sense. Since they DID play their instruments on their records in the beginning, and pretty much for the first few years...you're saying they should have hired someone else to play behind them live? Sounds like a wacky thought process. But then again, this is a wacky place.

[drbeachboy]

But then again, this is a wacky place.

Jon, you ain't just whistling (Trombone) Dixie.

[Andrew G. Doe]

But then again, this is a wacky place.

Looney Tunes central, sho' 'nuff.

[Rocker]

The Beach Boys get alot of respect from me for playing their instruments themselves live and making quite a good job out of it plus singing these at times awfully complex vocal arrangements and nailing them. The Beatles for example had enough to do trying to play the instruments and even in the studio they often sounded shitty (just onelisten to "Roll over Beethoven" should make clear what I'm talking about). Brian or Murry, maybe both, made sure that the Beach Boys' stage act sounded pretty good. Especially considering how young and unexperienced they were

[bgas]

The Beach Boys got to know "The Monster Mash" very well -- because they backed up Bobby "Boris" Pickett at some concerts at which they shared the billing.  Bobby apparently didn't tour with his own band, and would use whatever band was on the concert bill as his backup band.  Not an unusual practice at the time for one-hit wonders who used session musicians on their records.  The BBs even did the same for Jan & Dean.

Lee

How history might have been changed, if the BBs had done this in the beginning, instead of, somewhat ineptly, trying to play their own instruments at shows!

That makes no sense. Since they DID play their instruments on their records in the beginning, and pretty much for the first few years...you're saying they should have hired someone else to play behind them live? Sounds like a wacky thought process. But then again, this is a wacky place.

I'm saying: I've heard them described, more than once,  by the bands they were playing with in 1962, that their instrumental capabilities were laughable. So, since there were evidently quite a few shows where they would come in and simply play their "hit" or that and one other song, what if they had just had the other bands play their parts while they concentrated on their vocals. And they could practice their instruments more at home until they got better. Which, of course,  they did anyway. (got better)
Now, I was only 8 in 1962, and halfway across the country; so I didn't experience their shows, and don't know how good, or bad, they were instrumentally. If there's someone here that saw them from January thru December of 1962, speak up! 
But it was a "what if", anyway. see? 

[Jon Stebbins]

The Beach Boys got to know "The Monster Mash" very well -- because they backed up Bobby "Boris" Pickett at some concerts at which they shared the billing.  Bobby apparently didn't tour with his own band, and would use whatever band was on the concert bill as his backup band.  Not an unusual practice at the time for one-hit wonders who used session musicians on their records.  The BBs even did the same for Jan & Dean.

Lee

How history might have been changed, if the BBs had done this in the beginning, instead of, somewhat ineptly, trying to play their own instruments at shows!

That makes no sense. Since they DID play their instruments on their records in the beginning, and pretty much for the first few years...you're saying they should have hired someone else to play behind them live? Sounds like a wacky thought process. But then again, this is a wacky place.

I'm saying: I've heard them described, more than once,  by the bands they were playing with in 1962, that their instrumental capabilities were laughable. So, since there were evidently quite a few shows where they would come in and simply play their "hit" or that and one other song, what if they had just had the other bands play their parts while they concentrated on their vocals. And they could practice their instruments more at home until they got better. Which, of course,  they did anyway. (got better)
Now, I was only 8 in 1962, and halfway across the country; so I didn't experience their shows, and don't know how good, or bad, they were instrumentally. If there's someone here that saw them from January thru December of 1962, speak up! 
But it was a "what if", anyway. see? 

Hey man, you've been talking to Paul Johnson and Eddie Bertrand too much.

[bgas]

The Beach Boys got to know "The Monster Mash" very well -- because they backed up Bobby "Boris" Pickett at some concerts at which they shared the billing.  Bobby apparently didn't tour with his own band, and would use whatever band was on the concert bill as his backup band.  Not an unusual practice at the time for one-hit wonders who used session musicians on their records.  The BBs even did the same for Jan & Dean.

Lee

How history might have been changed, if the BBs had done this in the beginning, instead of, somewhat ineptly, trying to play their own instruments at shows!

That makes no sense. Since they DID play their instruments on their records in the beginning, and pretty much for the first few years...you're saying they should have hired someone else to play behind them live? Sounds like a wacky thought process. But then again, this is a wacky place.

I'm saying: I've heard them described, more than once,  by the bands they were playing with in 1962, that their instrumental capabilities were laughable. So, since there were evidently quite a few shows where they would come in and simply play their "hit" or that and one other song, what if they had just had the other bands play their parts while they concentrated on their vocals. And they could practice their instruments more at home until they got better. Which, of course,  they did anyway. (got better)
Now, I was only 8 in 1962, and halfway across the country; so I didn't experience their shows, and don't know how good, or bad, they were instrumentally. If there's someone here that saw them from January thru December of 1962, speak up!  
But it was a "what if", anyway. see?  

Hey man, you've been talking to Paul Johnson and Eddie Bertrand too much.

HA HA, Quit it.... ( I'm not quoting Larry Tremaine here)    More reliable sources than those guys...

[Smilin Ed H]

Somebody been hitting the sauce here?