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OK, not everyone's favorite song, I know. But it's my favorite from Holland and it's driving me nuts trying to figure out who's singing on it.... Is it just Carl and layers of Dennis doing the "worry Mr. Fulton" part. I think I can hear Mike in there on the bottom (but then with any bass vocal part is easy to assume it's Mike) but can really only make out what I think is Dennis....

It's mainly Carl and Dennis, but it may be one of the few harmonies Brian did on the album as I swear I hear him in the blend.

The bass is not Mike. I'd say it's Dennis or maybe Greg Jacobson (was he around at that time?).

I have it cranked right now through headphones and I swear the wordless bass part on the left side sounds distinctly like Mike (it's especially obvious in the fade) otherwise, all I can hear is Carl and what sounds like a lot of Dennis. There is a higher harmony that jumps out as being Brian at first but sounds like Dennis in the end...

Was Greg Jackobson along for the Holland trip or were these vocals recorded in LA??

http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php?PHPSESSID=9f66d3bf5dfa52280dbbb68fac67b3fb&topic=5525.0

Gregg is definitely not on Steamboat. The bass is Dennis. Carl lead, with Dennis on "chorus".

Gregg Jakobson wasn't on the Holland trip and I never heard of any involvement with the Holland album either.  

Some very impressive harmony work from Dennis.

Was just doing a little extra searcharoonie on this song and Alan Boyd said that on the 16 track master of Steamboat, there is a bit of a Dennis vocal just before the song goes into the guitar solo.  Dennis sings, "Honey, don't get me wrong."  He suggested that the track may have been finished by Carl and Jack Reiley after Dennis left Holland.

yeah, it sounded to me like the song had a different original melody and lyric...

Happy new year! Had to drop in here to say that Steamboat is one of my favorite tunes, and it took some balls for The Beach Boys to sequence it so early in the album.

The "Mr. Fulton" harmonies are lovely, as well.

I believe I hear Ricky's voice in the "Don't worry Mr. Fulton" harmonies.  And Marilyn and Diane reportedly sang on this.

I always thought I could hear Brian in the "Mr Fulton" line. Perhaps I was wrong.

It very well could be Brian to my ears.

I hear it especially on the word "Fulton". I keep hearing that slightly nasal quality Brian had before his voice changed.

Yeah Jay I hear it too.

Such a cool song. Totally unique in the BB catalogue. So glad someone brought it up!

What's the deal with the hissy drum roll and high hat? How'd they do that?

Also, I love the instrumentation in general. Crazy synths. It's a really old timey sounding song (which is why I would guess its about a steamboat) but super modern at the same time. Definitely ahead of its time, to be sure

The Holland documentary from a few years ago explained how they achieved the rhythm section. Quite unusual.

It's such a great song, from such a great album.

It's early in the morning...and my mind might still be cloudy...but if I'm not mistaken...wasn't Steamboat the original lead-off track on the LP before they tacked on SOS?  I agree...interesting move to sequence it so early.  It doesn't grab you right away...but on repeated listening you realize what an incredible track it is!  So weird...but it works itself into your mind.  They still sounded so vital at this point.

For those pf us who haven't seen the Holland documentary from a few years ago, could you please explain how the rhythm section was achieved.

Agree by the way, it is a fantastic song - such a lovely melody, incredible guitar solo, and just a gorgeous laid-back overall vibe. The doubters sure are missing out not being able to get into such a nice track...

Sure. I hope my translation makes any sense as it was said in Dutch.

Don Willard: "There's a number on the record, called Steamboat. It was recorded with double speed. Drums, piano and bass. This was put back to normal speed and this was doubled again, which gave a wonderful effect."

It's Carl.

I admit, when I first heard this song I thought it was Brian. It actually is Carl.


https://soundcloud.com/billy-castillo-1/backup-part-beach-boys

Isolated, it becomes obvious though.

That's Carl doing his best Brian!

Yeah, no sh*t. Got me for a loop. Isolated though, you can hear it's Carl when he holds the note out. Very similar to his part on 'Cuddle Up'.

Amazing Billy!

Can you isolate that wordless "mmmmmmmmm" part (Not Dennis' bass part) that I still swear is Mike? (or someone doing a good impression of)

I'll do my best!

Or am I just lookin' for Love in all the wrong places?

:lol

I like the track.

I like the whole album.

I even like the story about the mother ****ing eagle.

The documentary can still be watched: http://www.uitzendinggemist.nl/afleveringen/1138124

And here's the topic in which I posted a translation of the Dutch spoken parts:
http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,6862.msg110316.html#msg110316

That definitely IS Carl. But, the isolated clip you linked isn't  the "Mr Fulton" part. At least I don't think it is, as I haven't listened to it with headphones(yet). The "Roll on forever" and the ending is obviously Carl as the "main" voice, but I thought I heard Brian underneath Carl, in a blend with Dennis, I believe. Unless Carl did both harmonies?

Both were Carl's. I'll isolate it tomorrow.