The Smiley Smile Message Board

I need to get the OK first, but I think we may have the definitive "scoop" as to who it actually is.

Some here may need to sample crow pie. Possibly me... possibly not.  ;)

Be Prepared:

Crow Pie
* * * *
1 crow
stuffing of your choice
salt and pepper
shortening
flour
2 Pie crust mixes
2-3 hard-boiled eggs
* * * * *
Stuff the crow. Loosen joints with a knife but do not cut through.
Simmer the crow in a stew-pan, with enough water to cover, until nearly tender, then season with salt and pepper. Remove meat from bones and set aside.
Prepare pie crusts as directed. (Do not bake)
Make a medium thick gravy with flour, shortening, and juices in which the crow has cooked and let cool.
Line a pie plate with pie crust and line with slices of hard-boiled egg. Place crow meat on top. Layer gravy over the crow. Place second pie dough crust over top.
Bake at 450 degrees for 1/2 hour.

(Collected by Bert Christensen, Toronto, Ontario, found on http://bertc.com/subfive/recipes/threecrows.htm)

You leave the feathers on ??!??!!!!!!  :o

OK.

So.

Friend of mine, of many years standing and whom I trust implicitly, played the "Daddy Dear/Susie C" tape for Alan, and he said, without prompting or hesitation, that it was him. Now, contrary to popular belief, I don't often do this, but I feel that in this instance I'm justified in saying...

Told ya.  ;D

Nice to know for sure now...and it makes perfect sense. Sounds like Al's style of piano playing anyhow. Obviously there was the confusion over the vocals and it's great to finally have a confirmation from Al himself.

By the way, has anybody else here heard the version of "Daddy Dear" that was fleshed out with more instruments, etc.? I really love it and would love to find out who was responsible because I'd be interested in checking out more of their work.

Nice result AGD.

I hope that folk like it just as much now they know it's not Brian!

And actually I pluck the feathers and use them to make alluring pyjamas.

I think I need to run over to McDonalds.  That crow pie aroused my appetite!  (for a hamburger, they probably don't serve crow)

I sure wish I could hear this somehow, 'specially as I've never heard of it before!

part of the recording is on the A&E Bio of Brian

I was originally guessing  Brian but now we know.  Why was Al saying "then it goes...then it goes?"  Was he high or nervous or both?  That is why I thought it was Brian.  

Yup...looks like we're owed a round of beers*



*= I can't drink, so I'll take "other" substances, thank ya :D

Because Alan's memory has a stellar record...I'll continue trusting my ears on this one. I will say that if he admitted he was on some sort of illicit drug that may have impaired his speech pattern, then I'll begin to budge.

But... ya gotta agree, no-ne, but no-one says "goshdarn !" like Alan.  ;D

Pretty sure in 1972, Brian would use an epithet whose first syllable rhymes with 'duck'.

I'm with Jonas on this one. That's Brian's piano playing by the way, octave bass and all. Listen to Brian's singing at the beginning of the Spring Promo with Diane and Brian. You'll hear it, we did. :)

Question: why, assuming it was Brian,  play "Susie Cincinnati" ?

I used to agree with 100% of what AGD says but it is know 99.99%.. I hear Brian, the way he fumbles through the lyrics and the theme of the song was very Brian.Carl also says goshdarn a fair bit and if Al says it and Carl says it I wonder where they got that from??? It sure sounds like him!! But if Al says it's him well..... Goshdarn I dont know??

I will have to answer your question with another question, why not? :3d

It's not just the voice, we all agree Al can nail Brian's voice. Now to me, its the speech pattern, the way he talks, not just the things he says. I hear the voice of an emotionally frail person, someone who's been gone and back more than once...and most likely gone at the moment of the recording. Whoever it is, he's not there...my words cannot describe it, and most likely will not be able to convince otherwise...but thats what I hear.

If memory serves, theres a cut between the two songs, what if, now WHAT IF, its Brian on Daddy Dear and Al on Susie Cincinnati? I MAY perhaps budge on that story as well. But until someone builds a time machine and takes me back, or even has video evidence, or something concrete...these ears hear Brian.

Extremely fair point.

I have not heard the susie cincinnati part and my only recording of Daddy dear stayed on my work computer where I am no longer employed. But i forgot the darn song.... It is 99% Brian!!Listening to it now. Cause i found it!!

I was thinking if we played it for Brian he would say it was him. Honestly we have to get Brian and Al in one room and play it and let them fight it out! After all both Al and Brian (who went into detail with me about it) claim Be Here In The Morning. Honestly I feel it's both of them on that one. Daddy Dear I think could be Al but if so I never heard him sing so much like Brian or sound so wired.

Just had a listen after years of reading about this debate (thanks!), and firstly Daddy Dear is a great song. I wish the BBs had recorded a full version, especially the Holland-era band. I can imagine a great Steamboat-style production.

Anyway, Daddy Dear is Brian. Must be. Doesn't really sound like Al at all. The voice sounds just like the Brian from the Soulful Old Man Sunshine piano demo on EH and even Sail Plane Song. Isn't that likely Marilyn in the background? If people think it must be Al because someone says 'darn', what about the 'sh*t'? Doesn't that cancel out its Al-ness?

There is an edit either in the mp3 or the tape, so these fragments aren't necessarily related.

Susie Cincinnati is less clear. The piano playing sounds like Brian, like the piano in Darlin', with the little bass-runs. The vocal...hmmm....there's two people talking, so maybe Brian is playing while someone else sings? I could go with either Al or Brian for this one.

For the record, I used to think it was BOTH Al and Brian on the Daddy Dear part.

Don't think you can back track now, Billy!

:lol

Doing no such thing. Check the archives ;)

Al had obviously been under the influence of apple cider & a menthol cig

yeah i still think it's Brian on 'Daddy' but very likely Al on 'Susie'