The Smiley Smile Message Board

There was a pic posted on Facebook today, with Brian at the longest microphone I've ever seen.  >:D

I wonder if this was for the Buddy Holly album?

I saw that too, I wonder.....   :o

Could you link to that pic, please?

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/198790_10150280942222241_34250497240_7459849_2540119_n.jpg)

I hope he's recording with these guys....

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/262818_10150279989087241_34250497240_7448409_6857382_n.jpg

 :o

No - that was recorded back in early May.

Is that the microphone Mike Love referred to as a "dildo"?  8)

Beach Boy land is really busy at the moment and were mostly in the dark about it :lol

Could this pic have been taken in St. Charles?  In another thread it's mentioned that Brian was going to spend a couple days recording there.  His show there isn't until Saturday, and Friday he's got to be in Grand Rapids, MI, but that's just a hop, skip, and a jump from St. Charles (216 miles, to be exact).

so we getting an album of old and new songs, some done with mike love? but not a beach boys album, but solo...hmm.  doesn't brian usually not like doing old songs?

It's a vintage AKG C12?

'You heard any of his latest albums ?

getting in over my head is what i'm talkin bout actually

... on which just about every song has some considerable history.

right but wasn't he not into doing that at all?  i keep hearing people hear saying how he does a song and he's done with it

Well, there was no 'new material' on there besides, off the top of my head, The Waltz, and A Friend Like You, is a clue . And that given the half-assed job on all of BW's vocals - from his leads down to the harmonies, which he might just not have been bothered to teach the group - to the fact that he apparently rushed the tracking sessions, it's fairly obvious he put the hard work into BWPS.

"The Waltz" is old. It was originally "Let's Stick Together".

Do we know what Brian is doing in the studio?

Smile promos?

maybe he's got the itch

I think the pertinent question should be... which studio ?  Doesn't look like Oceanway or Capitol to me. Your Place Or Mine ?

That is an AKG C12 - I'm guessing it's a vintage one but in the past decade or so there have been more reissues of that mic, you can't tell in the photo.

It's the same microphone pictured in some of the Pet Sounds studio photos from '66, bringing it all full circle in a way, whatever Brian is recording in that shot. The best never goes out of style... :)

St. Charles, Il?
Some radio station studio (don't know if they use that type of mic)?

Without knowing for sure I'm only guessing, but most radio stations do not use an AKG C12 for broadcast or recording voiceovers - originals in working condition sell for no less than $10,000 (US) and the reissues start around $5,000. And notice immediately behind him in the photo is a rather large console (wood paneling on the side) - again, something you'd see in a recording studio more than a radio station which wouldn't need a board or console that large.

Of course I'm prepared to be totally wrong with my guessing... :-D

It's this, right?

(http://www.gearslutz.com/board/attachments/so-much-gear-so-little-time/26061d1162276461-famous-records-using-c12-brian-wilson.jpg)

That's the one - it makes a nice comparison shot with the 2011 photo, doesn't it? A great "then and now" situation where Brian is recording at the same mic.

*koff* Same make of mic - not the same mic.

Seriously? I hope you're not being serious posting that. Semantics has its place but that's ridiculous.  :)

Interesting bit of information I found out recently. Members of Brian's band weren't even aware that recording sessions were going on at the moment.

Seriously - I can guarantee some idiot will see that and assume Brian's kept the same mic for some 45 years.

No reason why they should.

Just interesting to know that Brian's obviously in the studio recording something at the moment, and the band that's backed him up live as well as on recording for the past 13 years is being left in the dark.

Of course it is highly unlikely that said mic was ever 'Brian's' in the first place anyway  ;)

Chill man, and stop hanging out with Phil Cohen.

Man, how'd you know I was such a big Hardy Boys fan?

Educated guess.  ;D

so did brian just get the urge to demo some stuff

No one knows for sure at this time. Possible reunion with Joe Thomas.

ew why would he do that. 

they're still bros.

I'm not totally freaking about it or anything, but i hope if this is for the new Beach Boys album or whatever, that its not just slotting Brian and Al into the Mike and Bruce band and just using those guys. Darian, Scott, and co. have done such a great job with Brian's band that i honestly think they deserve a spot in this reunion project if they want it. Just keep Foskett's super annoying vocals as far away from the project as possible. If there needs to be falsetto, let Brian and/or Bruce really take their time and do it like the old days, as i think both are still capable, at least Brian.

Anyways, I guess a decent middle ground would just to be to use session men and have neither Brian or Mike's guys playing, but I'm not sure if that's a great idea either.

 :)

Originals of that particular mic (it was a relatively short run that ended in the early 60's)  would only be found in the higher-end studios and in very expensive modern collections, although I believe some high-end rental companies would offer it for hire as well to those willing to pay. It's hard to tell if the one Brian is using is an original or a reissue. The reissue market made it hard to ID things like that photo because even AKG or Telefunken (whichever name you want to use) reissued the mic in recent years due to the demand for the originals.

My train of thought on the previous page was thinking of this in a technology-obsessed society where some folks feel the need to buy whatever gadget or widget is the next big thing in technology.

In our everyday lives, what technology or what item do we use which is 60 years old? That C12 microphone which was cutting edge in 1966 when Brian was tracking Pet Sounds is still among the most sought-after mics today for recording vocals, and the design has not been improved on for 60 years.

That, to me, is amazing, and the two photos of Brian in '66 and Brian in 2011 brought it home yet again with the microphone.

Why's that then AGD????

I don't see why he's supposed to keep his band informed of his every musical move: did Probe tell him about playing on Miami Dan's album ?

Also, it might be something that doesn't involve/require them.

They are about to hit the road again and I would have thought it likely that in the event of some extra rehearsal/pre-tour stuff - someone would have said - oh Brian can't do that date, Why - cos he doing some recording for >>>>>>> - Uh OK what about Thursday then - Yep that's fine

Brian found the Mini Moog and Snare Drum which Jeff hid and is currently working on "Love You 2" ? :lol

Just having been posted on facebook:


Brian's tour resumes in a few weeks, but he's keeping busy in the studio.



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I see Jeff is overdubbing verse vocals onto Do You Like Worms. neat.

Whatever Brian is working on he looks to be enjoying himself.

(http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/223047_10150292628327241_34250497240_7570131_2928136_n.jpg)


This was just posted on Facebook

Looks like our boy has been letting his exercise regime lapse.

Dude's 69, give him a break ! :)

You're right, Ed - he hasn't missed too many meals.   Maybe hangin' out at the deli too much.....

Steak, cake, and Ice Cream will do that to a man...

This is a great picture

He's probably just finishing SMiLE.  Have Jeff sing the Hawaii stuff, and Brian can add in the overdubs on "Child is the Father of the Man", and it's about done.