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http://mywalloftapes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/brian-wilson-comes-to-my-home.html (http://mywalloftapes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/brian-wilson-comes-to-my-home.html)

I did not see a thread on this, apologies if I've missed one which already exists and it has been staring me in the face.

But this is something of a a find, huh?

Glad it's back. This song comes around every few years - seemed to be first heard by many in the A&E Bio and was an unsolved mystery (for a while many didn't know it was a cover) and there's great debate over whether it's Brian or Al. Thanks for this.

It's totally Brian. How could anyone mishear it?

This very same recording?  The writer of this blog says all the tapes he uploads for are from his personal collection.

Paul, Hanszun's had this up for grabs for a few years now.  If you search elsewhere on this board, you'll see another good sized thread on this subject.

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Because it's Alan ?

Wow, that's crazy, I've been looking for the search function for years!  Thanks!!!  Not being sarcastic, either, I really could not find it!  For some reason those buttons just blend into the background for me!

Anyone remember what the name of the song is?

I would say its Brian for the following reasons:

1. It sounds like Brian
2. Al doesn't write songs (at least not like the first one on this tape)
3. Brian does write songs like this so it unsurprising that he would relate to it.
4. The obsessive 'And then it goes like this' it was Brian had the breakdown/drug habit/paranoia not Al
5. The subject matter of the lyrics - child-like, idealist, introspective - just what BW likes
6. Just because there's a snippet of Susie Cincinnati at the end doesn't mean that Al had anything to do with the first song, or even that he's singing what we hear of SC.

There are other things but I need to get into my bath now.

The song is not by BW. It is an old standard. Please read the old threads.

I agree with all of this...sounds like Brian to me.

Yes, I noticed that as soon as I posted my reply and amended it accordingly - god, you people are quick on the draw...!

Whatever, its still the voice of Brian Wilson singing.

1. In part, but no-one says "gosh-darned" like ACJ.
2. Al wrote "Susie Cincinnati" which is the other song on the tape. The first one is very old ("Daddy Dear").
3. Brian didn't write "Daddy Dear".
4. Alan was inhaling then as well.
5. Moot point.
6. As established, he didn't, and nor did Brian.

Thanks, hang yourself.

That sounds nothing like Al to me, everything like Brian. 

I'm a little bit unsure to be honest. The singing sounds like Brian and the talking sounds like Al and the Susie Cin really throws me for a loop although if it was Al you'd figure he'd know the lyrics better. I ultimately give the edge to Brian, though. Al could (and probably still can) do an excellent job of mimicking Brian (maybe unintentionally but he sure does do it -- before my ears were more sensitive to BB voices I was sure that it was Brian singing that "toothpaste and soap" bit Don't Go Near the Water) but he never quite captured the sweetness (see the falsetto on Be Here in the Morning for example of this lack of sweetness, which is still excellent) and that seems to be on display here. I will admit though that I don't feel secure enough to stridently argue either way.

Another reason I think Brian is singing - look at how well the singer handles adjusting to all the mistakes. That means whoever is playing the piano is singing. And it definitely sounds like the way Brian plays piano. Plus, you'd think Al wouldn't have that much trouble remember the chord progressions of his own song! The constant stop-start playing is also in line with everything else on the tape.

totally unnecessary remark, sir

And Hans borrowed the tape recorder to Brian (not AL!) so he could record at home!

Try that again and you're banned.

WOW glad I missed that!!

Ok so I have listened again for about the 50th time and it is Brian.
Firstly the range and ease of the vocal is Brian.
The phrase and tone of the vocal and speech is Brian. Listen to the way he say's;
"it goes Daddy dear..."
"oh Sh!t"
"it goes"
"Then it goes"
"no need for birds"
"I forgot the darn song"
"fly"
"kind of touching little song"
Listen to the dar,dar dar de dar part.. classic Brian in both phrasing and tone.
And lastly the piano style is Brian, pounding away.

Listen in the background at 1.25 what is leaking through? Whistling and a female voice.

It could be more then one voice. It seems that I hear Carl talking toward the end. Also, are we sure this is 1974? I will also state that just because the words are different on Suzie Cinncinatti doesn't mean its not Al. He could have changed the lyrics like he does often to his songs. Plus, if it is 1974, it may have been a few years since he sang it, or listened to it. So maybe he did forget his own song. Having said that, much of the vocals throughout the tape sound like Brian to me.

Who said 1974?  The "Holland" era wasn't 1974!  How 'bout 1972?

It definitely sounds a LOT like Brian, but there are some giveaways that it's definitely Al...listen to the way the word "children" is sung, and compare it to, say, his "Surf's Up" coda.

And it's definitely not Brian on piano -- Brian has a unique way of playing piano...hard to put it into words, but he wouldn't play like that...

I hear that piano and it jumps out at me that it is Brian! The "No need for birds, no need for birds, no need for birds" and the "little on little one" part are the clincher for me. And when he says "it's kind of a touching little song", sounds like Carl/Brian.

I agree it's two men talking to each other and singing different parts of the song, but it sounds to me like the other voice is Al.  I'm guessing it's Al and Brian.

I love this recording because its Brian.

Because A&E Biography says so!

 ;D

it's Mike Love immitating both Brian and Al in order to confuse people..all he has to do is hold his nose and he sounds JUST like them..

Anyone actually see Brian use it ?  ::)

All that is known is that it was Hans free...

Thought it was Brian for some time (after hearing it when first getting into the band), but listened again a few months ago (i.e. after becoming more familiar with their voices) and am about 99% sure it's Al. If it's not just Al, it's mostly Al with some Brian, but that doesn't seem likely.

I was born in 1977. In a previous life, I was Banana, Brian's dog. And I remember quite vividly that it was Brian. But I was upset at him because I wanted some food. So I took a sh** in his sand box.

 ;D

 ;D

According to Al, it is. The half-spoken part near the end of the clip 'and if children could fly, there'd be no need for birds' sounds nothing like Brian, nor does the Susie Cincinnati clip. I do hear more than one person on there, but the majority of it is Al.

It's Al with a really bad cold. -shrug-

so... it's Brian then? glad we got that cleared up.

I have to lean to Brian as it sound a lot like him on the Fairy Tale home tape from 1973.

 It came to me in a dream, Al with an "A".

I would like a more direct source :)

I agree that i hear two different guys at times.  But the way the song is being introduced/played is just like how brian is on that "heroes and villains" demo/radio thing.  

really pretty/sad song too.  Surprised it isn't bigger
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQ2ttxX1BoY

Well, Al claims its him according to Billy C. So need we debate that most of it is him? Even though my ears told me its Brian, Al knows best. It brings back memories. Forever. Forever memories.

Al also didn't remember recording the spanish vocals in IJWMFTT. Love the guy, but I'm just sayin'.

Sounds to me like it's BW from an era right between the golden years and 15 Big Ones. In which we have pretty much NOTHING to compare it to, other than the intro of California where he's singing in a different tone.

edit: Also I could be wrong, but this seems like a chord progression only Brian could hear and figure out right away. Pretty sure Al's only into 1-4-5 chords. Then again, he always carried his note perfectly within Brian's intricate arrangements, so who knows.

Also Al took full credit for Be Here In The Morning where my ears tell me Brian is singing co-lead. To prove my point, Brian himself told me detail about his co-lead and how he approached it

If Al's memory is so great, as if he REALLy remembers the renting of the instruments and all, why can't he recount any details of their concert appearances  from December 1961 to February of 1962.
That's what I WANT to hear about

Well, in that case, I am going to claim that Help Me Rhonda is actually sung by Brian because my ears tell me it sounds like him. Forget the facts or what is said in the session tapes or what the Beach Boys say. Maybe they all forgot and it was actually Brian singing HMR.

You're right, Al and Brian both sang and both didn't sing Be Here in the Morning.

The blog is down, can anybody re-up the file? :/

Fact's speak for themselves when you talk to people who made the record, Desper confirmed it too. Al does the super high call vocal, with Brian up top he and the group the responce. I could say what I think of your witty ::) reply, but I figure most people reading this thread do care what people at the session have to say. Also it is so kind of you to dismiss Brian, who is an excellent source when a question gets his attention.

Yes. I was just demonstrating obsurdity by being obsurd. :)