Mike Love on Brian's singing

[Jim V.]

So I bought this book called The Beach Boys Essential Interviews from Amazon and at near the end of the book was a quite from one Michael Love, which I found interesting. Here is the quote:

"We were all Capitol Records about a year and a half ago, and they were celebrating the 40th anniversary of Pet Sounds and of 'Good Vibrations'. I said to Brian, "Can you still sing like that?" And he said, "No way". Brian had the most beautiful voice, not only his falsetto but just the normal leads that he sang on Pet Sounds and other things. And he doesn't sing that way anymore. So while I'm happy that he's able to go out and enjoy being Brian Wilson and getting some of the accolades from the public and press that he does, I wish he could have retained that capability of singing that he once had. When we did the song 'Getcha Back' (1985), we actually got Brian to sing in the falsetto he was most known for, and it was great. So he still has that timbre, that quality and capability. He just hasn't done it, and he doesn't do it in concert. And for me, that was the greatest strength of the Beach Boys in that era between 1965 and 1967, which was the quintessence of our commercial and creative flowering."
                                                                                                                                                                 -Mike Love, 2008

Anyways, I found that quote very interesting, because it doesn't really seem like the guys in the band would address Brian's vocals very much.

But more interesting is the fact that Mike thinks Brian still has it in him. While typing out that quote, the song "There's So Many" by Brian came on. And the falsetto on that song was quite weak. I do admit he sounded wonderful on "Getcha Back" and on parts in "Melt Away" and the BWPS version of "Surf's Up" (the "children's song" part), but honestly I don't really think he still has it in him to sing like he did in the 60s or even the early 70s. And if he was capable of doing a nice thick falsetto for an extended period, I really wish he woulda been the guy doing that on BWRG cuz Foskett bothers the sh*t out of me on that album, especially on "I Got Rhythm", and with his dumb idea to musically quote "Farmer's Daughter". I know Brian ultimately allowed it, and I know Brian sometimes uses parts of older songs for his new work, but it wasn't done in a Wilson-y way. But enough about that. Back to the vocals.

However, I also must point out, on songs like "Please Let Me Wonder", "Surfer Girl", "God Only Knows" (yes I know its a Carl lead on Pet Sounds), and "In My Room" he really does sound like his old self.

But anyways, it is obvious he can't sing "Don't Worry Baby" or "Surf's Up" like he used to, but do you agree with Mike, that if he really wanted to, he could pull off a classic falsetto? I do think the timbre that he was using on the ballads on BWRG is closer to the "Surfer Girl", "Please Let Me Wonder" style than we have seen in a long time.

And lastly, it do have to give props to Mike for singling out the 1965 to 1967 period. However, 1968-1973 weren't shabby either, as far as Brians (or the groups) material.

[Jay]

That was Al on the "A children's song" part in Surf's up. I know that a lot of people here would disagree with me, but I think that the "falsetto" in Getcha Back sucks. 

[Jim V.]

Oh, I meant the part "I heard the word, wonderful thing, a children's song" not the other part.

[jammer730]

That was a great quote. Props on the Foskett comment by the way. I can't stand the guy's falsetto either. As for Mike's comment, Brian is almost 70 and his voice has taken quite a beating, by means of cocaine, tobacco, Landy drugs, etc. I think the equipment is shot beyond repair, if you know what I mean. Brian's voice is an entirely different instrument. To quote some song I heard, it's sad to watch a sweet thing die. 

On a brighter note, Mike, Bruce, and Al's voices haven't drastically changed, as far as I can tell.

Also, there are people like this guy:

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

G'day indeed

[Andrew G. Doe]

Brian can still throw out a very credible falsetto.

When he wants to... 

[Andrew G. Doe]

That was Al on the "A children's song" part in Surf's up.

Alan was on BWPS ? 

[adamghost]

Probyn described Brian's current falsetto to me as being something like "a force of will" -- e.g. he can do it, but it's work.  And that when he does it, it's louder than God.

[The Heartical Don]

Brian can still throw out a very credible falsetto.

When he wants to... 

Andrew, do you have any idea whether Brian sang wilfully 'rough' from the mid-70s onwards? I mean: 'Back Home' from 15BO sounds like he simply wanted to sing soulful, not 'nice'. Perhaps he did this many more times... assuming that the falsetto on 'The Night Was So Young' is Brian's, I can't really believe that the final words of 'Roller Skating Child', or the dramatically bended '...put...' in the final lines of 'Let's Put Our Hearts Together' necessarily had to be that roughed-up. People who produce a pure falsetto usually can come up with a nice, flat normal voice too.

[Autotune]

Brian can still throw out a very credible falsetto.

When he wants to... 

throwin' ain't singin'

[Myk Luhv]

Why the hell did you make the quote green? Just use the friggin' quote tag instead of making the text basically unreadable.

edit: I want to believe Brian can still sing in a lovely falsetto but I'm frustrated that the only evidence I have to go on is insider testimony that he can when he wants to do so. I want to hear it for myself, you know? Throw us a bone, Brian.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Brian can still throw out a very credible falsetto.

When he wants to...  

throwin' ain't singin'

It's all in the delivery.  

I want to believe Brian can still sing in a lovely falsetto but I'm frustrated that the only evidence I have to go on is insider testimony that he can when he wants to do so. I want to hear it for myself, you know? Throw us a bone, Brian.

Fair point - I wouldn't believe me, either. 

[Chris Brown]

Just going by his recent releases, it's clear that Brian can still pull off some nice falsetto work in the studio - I thought his high part on Rhapsody sounded pretty darn good, especially for a guy who's pushing 70 (not to mention all the other damage his voice has been subjected to).  The "classic" Brian Wilson falsetto is pretty much gone in terms of his leads, but in a harmony stack, there are still moments where his falsetto almost sounds like it used to. 

[TdHabib]

"Live Let Live" from TLOS has a great falsetto lead.

[Louie Napoli]

Brian's vocal is very sweet on "I've Got A Crush On You". To me, it is reminiscent of "Please Let me Wonder". With that song and "The Like in I Love You" I think Brian has pulled off some fine singing at his age. A bit better than "Sherry She Needs Me" no?

[Chris Brown]

Brian's vocal is very sweet on "I've Got A Crush On You". To me, it is reminiscent of "Please Let me Wonder". With that song and "The Like in I Love You" I think Brian has pulled off some fine singing at his age. A bit better than "Sherry She Needs Me" no?

Those are two great examples, especially "The Like In I Love You."  Brian hasn't sung so sweetly since the early 70's, in my opinion.

[Jay]

"We were all Capitol Records about a year and a half ago, and they were celebrating the 40th anniversary of Pet Sounds and of 'Good Vibrations'. I said to Brian, "Can you still sing like that?" And he said, "No way".

It never ceases to amaze me that for the last 30+ years or so, every beach boy(including Brian) has tried to basically ignore(or perhaps fool themselves?) the fact that Brian lost the best parts of his voice long ago, and it's not going to come back. But yet they still had him sing throughout the 70's and 80's.  The version of In My Room from Lakeland 1978 is a good example. But the above quote blows my mind. Why would Mike ask Brian a question like that? I doubt very much that Mike is forgetting how bad the 1981 tour was. The excuse that they had Brian sing because he was a Wilson doesn't cut it with me. Carl was a smart guy, he knew when Brian could and could not sing well.

[Chris Brown]

"We were all Capitol Records about a year and a half ago, and they were celebrating the 40th anniversary of Pet Sounds and of 'Good Vibrations'. I said to Brian, "Can you still sing like that?" And he said, "No way".

It never ceases to amaze me that for the last 30+ years or so, every beach boy(including Brian) has tried to basically ignore(or perhaps fool themselves?) the fact that Brian lost the best parts of his voice long ago, and it's not going to come back. But yet they still had him sing throughout the 70's and 80's.  The version of In My Room from Lakeland 1978 is a good example. But the above quote blows my mind. Why would Mike ask Brian a question like that? I doubt very much that Mike is forgetting how bad the 1981 tour was. The excuse that they had Brian sing because he was a Wilson doesn't cut it with me. Carl was a smart guy, he knew when Brian could and could not sing well.

I wasn't there to witness it obviously, but I would imagine Mike wasn't posing the question to Brian with complete seriousness.  I'm sure they're all aware that Brian can't sing like he did when he was 23 anymore - seems like a very tongue-in-cheek remark to me, nothing more.

[Jim V.]

"We were all Capitol Records about a year and a half ago, and they were celebrating the 40th anniversary of Pet Sounds and of 'Good Vibrations'. I said to Brian, "Can you still sing like that?" And he said, "No way".

It never ceases to amaze me that for the last 30+ years or so, every beach boy(including Brian) has tried to basically ignore(or perhaps fool themselves?) the fact that Brian lost the best parts of his voice long ago, and it's not going to come back. But yet they still had him sing throughout the 70's and 80's.  The version of In My Room from Lakeland 1978 is a good example. But the above quote blows my mind. Why would Mike ask Brian a question like that? I doubt very much that Mike is forgetting how bad the 1981 tour was. The excuse that they had Brian sing because he was a Wilson doesn't cut it with me. Carl was a smart guy, he knew when Brian could and could not sing well.

So I went downloaded the Lakeland 1978 show to hear how bad "In My Room" was. I didn't think it was that bad. However, if that is Brian on the lead of "Wouldn't It Be Nice", well, that might be his absolute worst lead ever. Wow. Worse than "Don't Worry Baby" from Long Beach in 1981. Horrid. I almost believe he wasn't even trying on "WIBN" that day.