The Definitive Vocal Credits Thread...

[signum]

After listening to She's Goin' Bald, I really have to stick with the intricately researched and corrected by the board thing that's there. Brian, Mike, Dennis and Al sing the first section and Brian and Mike are the only guys doing the hammy talking bit.

Well I have to differ, but I appreciate the fact that a lot of work has already been done on Smiley Smile and Wild Honey. It's just that the more I listen to them, I find more and more difficulties in trying to decide who is singing what. Some of these I have resolved to my own satisfaction and others I haven't.

For example: "Country Air": I actually thought all the falsetto bits were Brian until recently, but the first two that follow the first two choruses come out from the second from top harmony, not the top part! Which creates a difficulty if Brian sings the top part. They also don't sound exactly like Brian.

What I'm saying is that these two albums are very complicated in terms of lead vocals, I expect more so than we thought.

[John]

I meant 'a thing or twooo' before the first and last choruses, sorry I wasn't clearer. It just sounds like Bruce to me, but you're probably right. How much was actually Bruce involved in WH and SS? I don't hear him anywhere on those albums, I just know he played a organ solo in Wild Honey (song) and bass?

I agree with you epi. In fact I'm certain that that line you mention before the first and last choruses is Bruce. It is not only the "a thing or two" lyrics he sings but "I'm gonna tell that little girl" as well before the first chorus.

Bruce must have been quite involved in "Wild Honey" judging by his vocals. He also is audible on "Let the wind blow" in my opinion-"What would I do without her tell me now" and the last line.

I agree, John, that he can sound like Mike, just that in this case it actually is Bruce on "A thing or two".

After listening to it, that does sound like Bruce, particularly the first one. Everyone hit their copy of Wild Honey and see what you think!

[Andrew G. Doe]

It's Bruce on "A Thing Or Two".

Reason #1 - it sounds like him.

reason #2 - I asked him. 

[John]

Okay, changing it now.

[signum]

It's Bruce on "A Thing Or Two".

Reason #1 - it sounds like him.

reason #2 - I asked him. 

Thanks AGD.

Okay, changing it now.

That's great, John.

I've got my own question about "A Thing or Two" for whoever would help: Are all the chorus falsetto lines by Brian?
The only one I find to be obviously Brian is the second of the three. However I can't imagine the first one as anyone but Brian, and the last one might also be Brian but I wonder if instead it could be Bruce?

[John]

Just settled my long-term  crisis of conscience with Keep An Eye On Summer.

[John]

Okay, everybody: what's left?

[Andrew G. Doe]

Did we do Lost and Found - my memory's not what it once was.

[John]

Ah, no. We'll do that.

Who sings Luau (rehearsal)? Is it Dennis (verses) and Brian (middle-eight)? That's what the regular version is, right?
And Lavender? Close harmony, right? Brian, Mike, Carl and Al? Dennis?

It's been years since I've heard it.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Unless someome wants to jump in, I'll give it a go over the weekend... but top of my head, on "Luau" Dennis sings the "girls will all hula/boys will all sing", i.e the middle-eight, and not the verse.

[John]

The way I remember it, Brian sings the bit that goes "You Don' need to live in the islands...", I think. I should re-buy it really.

[Andrew G. Doe]

You're not wrong. 

[Jay]

Should we do "Soul Searchin'" and "Still A Mystery"?

[c-man]

Should we do "Soul Searchin'" and "Still A Mystery"?

Easy enough:

Soul Searchin':   Carl on lead, Mike on bass, other bvs by Brian, Carl, Alan, Bruce, and Matt.  Falsettos sounds to me like Bruce & Matt together.

Still A Mystery:  Brian on lead, Al prominent in the choruses, Mike on the bass vocal, other bvs by Brian (falsetto), Carl, Alan, Bruce, and Matt.

Great job by all the Boys. 

[John]

What should I do, add them to an odds and ends? What about Mike, Dave and Bruce at NASCAR? Does it count (and I don't mean from a quality point of view)?

[Andrew G. Doe]

Lost & Found

Luau (demo) - group, Dennis, Brian
Surfin' (demo) - group (Mike - bass vocal), Mike
Surfin' - group, Mike
Luau - group, ? Mike & Dennis, Dennis,  Brian
Barbie - Brian (bvs - Carl, Alan & Audree: also allegedly Val Poliuto)
What Is A Young Girl Made Of - Brian (bvs - no-one knows)
Surfin' Safari - group, Mike
Surfer Girl - Brian w/group, Brian
Judy - Mike, Brian,
Beach Boy Stomp (aka Karate) - instrumental
Lavender (demo) - group

[John]

Excellent. I'll get this into the format right now. Thanks.

Lavender - Are all five 1962 Beach Boys singing there? Or is David silent? Is Al there?

[Andrew G. Doe]

Excellent. I'll get this into the format right now. Thanks.

Lavender - Are all five 1962 Beach Boys singing there? Or is David silent? Is Al there?

Recorded 9/15/61, ergo David not present.

[Jonas]

Should we do "Soul Searchin'" and "Still A Mystery"?

Easy enough:

Soul Searchin':   Carl on lead, Mike on bass, other bvs by Brian, Carl, Alan, Bruce, and Matt.  Falsettos sounds to me like Bruce & Matt together.

Still A Mystery:  Brian on lead, Al prominent in the choruses, Mike on the bass vocal, other bvs by Brian (falsetto), Carl, Alan, Bruce, and Matt.

Great job by all the Boys. 

There has been talk that Carl wasnt present for Mystery, I feel like I hear him, but I dont know... :/

[John]

Excellent. I'll get this into the format right now. Thanks.

Lavender - Are all five 1962 Beach Boys singing there? Or is David silent? Is Al there?

Recorded 9/15/61, ergo David not present.

Aha, and are Brian, Mike, Carl, Denny AND Al all singing?

[c-man]

Should we do "Soul Searchin'" and "Still A Mystery"?

Easy enough:

Soul Searchin':   Carl on lead, Mike on bass, other bvs by Brian, Carl, Alan, Bruce, and Matt.  Falsettos sounds to me like Bruce & Matt together.

Still A Mystery:  Brian on lead, Al prominent in the choruses, Mike on the bass vocal, other bvs by Brian (falsetto), Carl, Alan, Bruce, and Matt.

Great job by all the Boys. 

There has been talk that Carl wasnt present for Mystery, I feel like I hear him, but I dont know... :/

An eyewitness has confrimed he WAS there, and he DID sing on it (he & Brian added a part together on one mic).  Mike wasn't at first, but was obviously added on later.  The vocals for those two songs were done at the same session.

[c-man]

Excellent. I'll get this into the format right now. Thanks.

Lavender - Are all five 1962 Beach Boys singing there? Or is David silent? Is Al there?

Recorded 9/15/61, ergo David not present.

Aha, and are Brian, Mike, Carl, Denny AND Al all singing?

Not sure about Denny...he ususally skipped those four-part acepella things like "Hearts". 

[John]

I dunno, he made it for Lord's Prayer and Auld Lang Syne...

[adamghost]

I dunno, he made it for Lord's Prayer and Auld Lang Syne...

I think for Lord's Prayer we decided it was prior to Al being in the group full time (or he had just joined).  With "Auld" we're ID'ing Denny basically on my say-so.  Al Jardine has claimed he is on that track.  I don't know which is less reliable, my ears or Al's memory...

[TimeToGetAlone]

Hmm, have you guys the Adult/Child songs other than the Sunflower sessions ones yet?