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I know this is something of an impossible question, but the guy just had an unreal voice in his prime, so I think it might be fun to try and pin down our ideas regarding what might just be Brian's all-time greatest vocal showcase (for himself)

My three choices are:

1. I Just Wasn't Made For These Times.

.... This one might not be the most obvious choice, but as a singer myself (I'm being kind to myself here) who has sung this one on occasion: it's a toughie.... Brian sings strongly throughout, traversing great plains of emotion. Each subsequent section of the song sequence gains power vocally. There are peaks and valleys, but not in such a more typical fashion where the verses are more laid back before going into a big chorus. No, Brian starts out with great intent and merely builds on this to great effect and with seemingly little effort .... It's quite amazing to me how Brian (and the rest of The Beach Boys) are able to nail the art of singing like few before or since, while hardly ever applying obvious vocal technique/tricks/vibrato/etc etc.



2. I'm So Young

.... Another not so obvious choice, perhaps, but this being a doo-wop ballad cover thingy, it's very easy to lapse into imitative, shrill affect in such cases, but Brian manages to be true to the original's pitch yet pull off a reading with almost painfully true emotion and with an almost shocking amount of body in his voice.

Mike's similarly sincere bass singing and Dennis' tag also help elevate this past doo-wop time capsule stuff and into insane awesomeness.

3. I'd Love This Once To See You

.... Has Brian ever sounded so relaxed and natural before or since this little gem? ...... As amazing as his falsetto is, I can never get enough of Brian in full, calm, almost conversational voice.

While (very) far from my fave BB tune, cover or otherwise, gotta put Blue Christmas pretty high up there on the list of great BW vocals. Unreal, especially from such a then-whippersnapper.

Same with Lonely Sea....

How young was Brian there? Yet he sounds like he's lived at least a lifetime or two.

Kind of a weird choice, but "Let it Shine" always sticks out to me as a great vocal.

Surf's Up. I still get chills up my spine when I hear him sing "columnated ruins domino"

Oh yeah! One of the most gigantic life changing moments for me was when The Beach Boys: An American Band came on cable one day when I was about 15, and I picked up the remote to change it, thinking "Yeah, The Beach Boys: been there done that" and then that passage "Surf's up again" comes on and blows my mind while I'm watching some guy ride a wave on the screen as if the universe was telling me "what you're looking at is all you THOUGHT you knew about The Beach Boys, while what you're hearing is telling you how much you DON'T know about The Beach Boys" ....

I still get chills too.

Brian's tone in it's prime had a beautiful purity to it. Most people rave about Carl's voice, and it was wonderful. But, there's a bit of vibrato that sneaks in in the high register and the occasional pitch break in Carl's voice. Brian maintained the clear, pure tone of a boy soprano in his tenor and falsetto that's hard to match.

Lot's of singers singing in falsetto in pop music, but few of them had such a pure tone.

I can't pick just one vocal. But the final wail on "Caroline, No" and the poignancy of "The Warmth of the Sun" get me in the "feels" every time.

BW was still 19 when Lonely Sea was recorded... can you believe it?

Not to mention that was the same age when Carl recorded God Only Knows. Wonder how many people who've listened to GOK over the years would be shocked to find that out.

Brian's verse on "Isn't It Time" is also a favorite of mine .....

He sounds pleasingly like his "Love You" self at first, but then when he breaks into "I wanna take you there" a whole other little universe opens up.

Mike, Bruce, and Al sound fab too, on that one.

Brian's voice doesn't get much sweeter than on Don't Worry Baby.

This is a tough one.  But I have come to one conclusion over 40+ years listening to these recordings and that is that Brian Wilson, in his youthful prime (~20's) possessed the most perfect male singing voice, at least as far as I'm concerned. Just heart-melting, beautiful singing on so many tunes. I guess I especially love the ones where the melody seems to center right around that break in his voice. You could tell it took a lot of skill and musicality to pull it off, but he always did it so beautifully.

Three of the best that fall into this category, I think, are "Don't Worry Baby", "She Knows Me Too Well", and "We'll Run Away". He's constantly going in and out of falsetto and it evokes so much yearning and emotion into the melodies. Just beautiful stuff that I never grow tired of listening to.

I realize it's more of a group vocal. But to paraphrase Brian, I don't think *he* could've sounded any cooler than on I Went To Sleep.

Has anyone here ever tried to sing Brian's lead on "Heroes and Villains"? That is hard - and i like to think of myself as a singer. Hard to pick just one song, though - "The Warmth of the Sun", "She Knows Me Too Well", "Surf's Up". Carl became the best singer in the group, but in the early days, it was definitely Brian.

Don't Worry Baby was a great Brian lead, IMO.

One kind of love on the new album is his best in 40 years

So, so hard to pick....

I'll go with 1-Don't Talk. It still amazes me that any person could sound so beautiful
2-Surf's Up. As others have said, chills, every time.
3-Let Him Run Wild. I know the man himself doesn't like it, but I sure do!

60's Brian is the best male singer I have ever had the honor of hearing.

I have to go with "Wouldn't it be Nice", not only does he sing it in fine form, but it has a really almost maniacally happy sound to it.  On top of that it stands as probably his most commercially successful lead vocal.  He really pulled something special off with that one.

This is a tough one. Are we looking at wide-range vocal acrobatics, commercial appeal, tonal purity, ability to convey emotion, or simply just a favorite vocal?

A few favorites pop into mind, for different reasons:

Please Let Me Wonder
Matchpoint Of Our Love
Lonely Sea
Your Summer Dream
 Farmer's Daughter
There's No other (like my baby)
Midnight's Another Day
Sunshine (imagination)
She Knows Me Too Well
Blue Christmas (thanks to the poster who mentioned this earlier!)
Don't Worry Baby
I'd Love Just once To See You
Busy Doin Nothing
Surf's Up (2nd half of 71 version)
Song For Children (BWPS)
I'm So Young
Hushabye
What Love Can Do

"Midnight's Another Day".

Glad someone agrees on this one!

Great list, Eric.

I think what I'm trying to single out are Brian songs where he basically carries it.

There are no shortage of great songs where Brian sings the chorus etc, but which are basically Mike leads, like Don't Hurt My Little sister or Good To My Baby.

Please Let Me Wonder.

Yes, there's unlikely to be another one like that.

If you look on the YouTube vid of the song (well, one of them), you'll see a new comment by a certain Steve Kalinich.

I like your list Eric :)

Wouldn't it be Nice.
Match Point of our Love
Dance, Dance, Dance.  (not a lead but my favourite vocal of his)
Please Let Me Wonder
I Know There's an Answer
I'm Waiting For the Day
Surf's Up
Let's Put Our Hearts Together (I think it's so gruff and cute)
Don't Worry Baby.   

In terms of pure technique, it's not even close to his best vocal, but no-one else could have sung that lyric with such utter conviction and credibility. Gave me chills back then, still does.

Those two were what instantly sprang to my mind too.

You Still Believe In Me. The falsetto is outstanding on that track.

One that I don't think has been mentioned yet is "We'll Run Away". That penultimate "anyhow"...!

Good call!  :)

It has to be one of these:

1) She knows me too well
2) So young
3) We'll run away
4) Don't worry baby

If you think THAT is hard, try Wouldn't It Be Nice - H&V is a cinch against that.

I'm really surprised Midnight's Another Day popped up here - because that was the one I thought of instantly but would probably not have admitted it as it's not the classical era.

In his old voice the most stunning performance was probably Surf's Up. My favorite one though is Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow from the Party album, though - but I don't know if that can be considered as "great" in the sense of "sublime".

Perfect list! 'We'll Run Away' without the second vocal overdub (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygtJVZ5RSW4) is just as stunning as the album version.

Yep! He nails Papa-always thought that "Car Crazy Cutie" was one of Brian's greatest leads. Wish he would have done more like that one back in the day.

I'm Waiting for the Day-A vocal filled with empathy.
I also love Where Is She as he goes for the heights of his falsetto.
And if the harmonies at the end of the 1971 version of Surf's Up (the Child is Father To The Man segment) is all Brian multi-tracked, that blows my mind.

"Please Let Me Wonder", no contest to me. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kc4jR7ajbpw)

Busy Doin' Nothin'
She Knows Me Too Well
Don't Worry Baby
Wake the World
Still I Dream of It
Let Him Run Wild
We'll Run Away
Back Home
The Warmth of the Sun
Let's Put Our Hearts Together
Male Ego
Heroes and Villains
I've Got a Crush on You

Oh, that too! :-D

Stay Awake (ITKOD)

+ "Baby Mine"!

ITKOD had some damn fine vocals by the man...

Definitely. Some of the best of his solo career, imo. Can You Feel The Love Tonight chorus is another vocal that blows my mind.

Thanks for bringing up "Car Crazy Cutie," OSD - kills me every time.  Of course "Surf's Up," "She Knows Me Too Well," and on and on - perfect voice.  I loved all the vocals on Gershwin too - so amazing.  I am also really excited about the new release.  We'll be adding a few more favorite vocals, I feel sure.

Even more so in a live setting!

don't worry baby!!    ..... hands down.

and then.......  ::)

joy to the world
surfer moon
winter symphony
surfs up (demo)
sloop john
spirit of America
why do fools fall
she knows me too well
PLM 'wonder' of course!
rock n roll to the rescue ?? co - lead
matchpoint of our love
woncha come out tonight
imagination
strange world
this whole world (IJWMFTT version)
lay down burden
she says that she needs me
the like in I love you.....

my personal fav's.

RickB

"Good Time". Simple song, unearthly vocal from Brian. Sings like a bird.

This is TOUGH.  So M A N Y to consider as worthy...No-Go Showboat and Ballad of Ole' Betsy among several GREAT performances on the LDC album.  Lonely Sea [lose that spoken word downer bit though...never fit properly for *my* ears] and Farmer's Daughter on SUSA.  We'll Run Away paved the way for Brian's fascination with facing his impending sense of an obligation to maturity like a man.  Sharing the leads and yingin' and yangin' to perfection with Mike on Don't Back Down, Let Him Run Wild....way, W A Y too good to be a 'b' side...AND Pet Sounds Worthy.  Why Do Fools Fall in Love?  So Brian could rearrange and sing the song I guess.  Your Summer Dream...pure innocence.  Hushabye, Keep An Eye on Summer...  I'm So Young is too good not to mention.

I'll stop short of Pet Sounds...that's all of the GREAT Brian leads I can think of for the first 4 years or so.

The early balance of Mike rockin' and Brian taking the 'cool' approach provided the balance which made it work with the 'feels' the Beach Boys could offer up...and then, slowly the other guys in the band, Al, Dennis and especially Carl [and later occassionally Bruce] would take the lead and the variety just soared meaninfully.

Pinder...respect for kickin' THIS thread off.  Mighty BIG and  h o n e s t  of you. :hat

Don't Worry Baby
Surf's Up
Wouldn't It Be Nice


Coincidentally, my three favorite Beach Boys' songs, but not in that order.

"Wouldn't It Be Nice", ofc. Back in the day, I thought I never had heard a voice cooler than this guy blasting from the laptop speaker.

‍

That song is just fantastic.

I also really love his vocal on "Your Summer Dream", and of course "In My Room" is not just one of his greatest vocals, but one of the most important songs in the history of rock music....years ahead of everyone else.

Just to expound on Wouldn't It Be Nice, even the first little phrasing is done in an interesting, classic way.  Something about the way he just  BANG! Right at ya!

"WOULLLDN'T! It be-nice, if, we were OLD DER!"

Just such a creative way of singing, no other singer would have done it quite like that.  He could have done that melody 100 different ways but the way he chose to do it really fits the mood of the song and starts it off with a bang.  The perfect expression of Jubilant, youthful optimism! 

Love Is A Woman is the apex of great Brian Wilson leads. Nothing that came before was as great, and nothing that followed could hold a candle to that piece of art.

Right on! :)

Southern California

Love and Mercy

and

Surf's Up from 1967 on Leonard Bernstein's Inside Pop. 

If they ever reunite,  :thewilsons

I hope they do all three of these... ;)

I do too, but not on Mike love's watch will it happen. It's all about the hits for Mike.

SMiLE Brian - you might be pleasantly surprised if you saw The Touring Band. 

Southern California is the story of The Beach Boys.

Love and Mercy is for all of us.

Surf's Up was done live for years by the Touring Band.

Why not contribute a Brian lead that you love to this thread?

Or is it all about dissing Mike?

I honestly think some folks just don't like The Beach Boys OR even care for Brian or his music all that much either. Needing a real life Darth Vader to rail against is what they get off on.

Stack-O-Tracks: I'm with you on Love Is A Woman!

Just check out how Brian sings the last "toniiiiiiight" ..... He sounds both innocent, creepy, funny, happy/sad, insane, and joyous all at the same time .... I always end up playing that last section over and over again.

Match Point Of Our Love - remarkable for the time, 1978.

Pinder, no need to goad him. C'mon, you saw the song titles he was reacting to. You honestly think Mike Love will be all up for performing "Love and Mercy" after the film comes out? Or even "Surf's Up," what with those wacky VDP lyrics that don't connect with his audience? He doesn't have to be Darth Vader, but he does know his audience... the country fair circuit doesn't want to hear about crummy movies or columnated ruins...

As for the topic of this thread... I can't pick! "Lonely Sea" and "Don't Talk." No... "Heroes and Villains." Wait! Bernstein "Surf's Up." All of the above?

But all it takes is mere mention of anything related to Brian Wilson or The Beach Boys in order to goad him, so what use is there in trying to avoid it?

So, when exactly has Mike prohibited anything but "the hits" from being performed by whatever configuration of The Beach Boys?

I mean, if someone's going to make such a statement, they should be able to back it up.

Even on the 50th Tour live CD,  The Boys managed to sneak in Marcella, All This Is That, Forever, California Saga: California, Add Some Music To Your Day, Heroes & Villains, Disney Girls, When I Grow Up, Don't Back Down, Why Do Fools Fall In Love, Wendy (#44 U.S charts. Certainly something of a hit, but not "a hit"), Pet Sounds, Isn't It Time ....... All non-hits ..... Jeez, you'd think poor Mike might have had a vote or two toward the set-list! .... Oh, I guess his one vote went to Kokomo. Right.

This is now two threads where the same sentiment has been posted. On the earlier one, it got called out by another board member - rightfully so - for trying to bring negativity into what could be a really good discussion, with no justification other than what seemed to be an attempt to call people out or start an argument.

I'll add this thought: Trying to hector other posters into posting something is ridiculous. Further, if it feels like more of an attempt to provoke stronger reactions which would lead to another dust-up, it won't be allowed to continue.

If the sentiment is bringing more good discussion and better interactions among board members to this forum, then these kinds of general statements about people not liking the Beach Boys aren't helping the cause, and they do lead to bad feelings, which usually leads to yet another argument. And I'd suggest stopping it right now and in the future.

I don't know that it's fair to lump all of the "County Fair" fans into some sort of 'Endless Summer ONLY' horde of overalls wearin', piece o' straw suckin', hayseeds.  As the group plays some smaller venues where many have never had the chance to see the Beach Boys live in concert ever...[or at least not for eons]...the variety offered up from the entire body of work will be appreciated by most.  I doubt anyone will expect the 'Boys' to play ANY of Brian's SOLO efforts.  But The Beach Boys DO play this variety and those songs you "can't pick" from may well be played much to the delight of many 'O. P'.

I think the grand majority of those in attendance are going to LOVE the whole experience...especially the soundtrack.  Hopefully it'll be a night they'll never forget ... and for ALL the right reasons. :hat

That said...I guess 'One For the Boys' isn't gonna happen. ;)

Hmmmmmm, identical sentiments being aired on different threads on this board? ...... I strongly suspect the two cited examples are not the only ones handy.

C'mon, this sounds like a double-standard type thing happening here .....

So, when people make disparaging statements about Mike, on a board where at least a few posters are known to ardently defend Mike, THAT's not seen as attempts to goad posters into posting things?

This is a discussion board. Every single damn thread or post can be taken as an attempt to goad posters into ...... er, posting things, ......  if you want to look at it that way. So, why only apply such an idea in one direction and against only certain posters based upon their point of view on select subjects? Is that really fair?

And I can attest that the two examples of "trying to goad posters into posting things" were actually just honest expressions of an honest feeling....

Ontor - please don't distort the context of my post.  I listed three Brian favorites (too short a list) but I said, "if they ever reunite, I hope they do all three."

Yes, Surf's Up is one of my Brian "favorites" and I've seen the Touring Band sing that live during the great college tours in the 70's.  You can check the inclusion of Surf's Up on Eric Anniversario's setlist archive. 

I've seen Southern California and Love and Mercy sung live by Brian.  They are great songs, and SC is all about The Beach Boys and those two are on my "wish list" if they ever reunite. 

And just for the record, Brian (very unfortunately did not sing on Kokomo) but did sing it at some shows for C50.  And if they were ever to reunite again, it could be possible that other songs could be included on a setlist.  Stranger things have happened. 

The naysayers said SMiLE (the box set version) would never happen.  They also said there would be no reunion.  That's two.

And, I like surprises!

I'm just going by what Mike said to Wink about setlists and tailoring them to his audience. Also, I wanted to type "just going by what Mike said to Wink." That happened, right? Whew.

I don't think that way. I think he's being awfully condescending to his audiences and there are enough fans in the audience who would eat up those deep or deeply melancholy cuts and the others may even be converted and start talking like VDP at social gatherings. I think his audiences are perfectly capable of having "Surf's Up" or "Summer's Gone' tossed at them and will somehow not riot or ask for their money back as long as he also works in some car songs. A good song is a good song! He should loosen up a little, he's earned the right to play anything he wants by now and doesn't need to worry about people getting nachos during "Our Prayer."

Sorry to harp on about this, but I have to ask how someone coming in on a thread about great Brian lead vocals, when someone expressed hopes for certain songs to be played at a potential reunion, saying that such a thing will never happen on Mike Love's watch because it's all about this hits for him, isn't an example of bringing negativity to a thread or trying to hector arguments?

..... I personally don't see it that way myself, but in using logic that was directed at me, it's a worthy example of the double standard that seems to be creeping in around here.

In fact, the first example cited of my bringing in negativity was in reference to a post that could certainly be taken as an example of negativity itself, yet only I get blasted.

I think one difference, and it's an important one, is that SB seems to dislike a member of The Beach Boys, namely Mike Love, and he posts negative comments about him, not about another poster on the board.  But that is what this board is for, posting our thoughts, both positive and negative, about The Beach Boys.  On the other hand, you tend to goad actual posters, which is not what this board is for.  If you don't like what he says about Mike Love, too bad.  If he attacks you, or tries to goad you by commenting about *you*, then you have an argument.  If you don't like someone's opinion about Mike, either don't read it or defend him, but you shouldn't go after the poster.

If SB is going after other posters he shouldn't be allowed to either.

The two of you are doing very different things: the purpose of this board is to comment about The BB, good and bad, not to follow other posters around and comment about them everytime they say something you don't like.  This is BB board, not an SB board.  So the problem, as I see it, is in the difference between what you and he are doing, not in how the mods handle it.

EoL

It's almost impossible to sing "Wouldn't It Be Nice" like Brian, so I would go for that one. His delivery combines the energy of a gatling gun and the precision of a sniper rifle; an amazing piece of vocal work.

Many other nice choices in this thread. "Midnight's Another Day" is a great one, and kudos to CenturyDeprived for mentioning "Blue Christmas" (http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,20053.msg503931.html#msg503931) - while probably not his finest lead overall, it's certainly among the purest. Does "We Three Kings" count as a lead? Because that's another contender for that title.

Sure, but I'm not going after any other posters ..... That's not fair. If you say this is a discussion board and people are free to state what they want and discussions commence: I am merely discussing their posted opinion. We are free to disagree with posted opinions, and that is all I've ever been doing. And if you think negative comments have only been directed at Beach Boys members and not at posters such as myself: please go back and look into past posts and all the things "Mike defenders" have been referred to as.

And I still maintain my question as to why it's only ever standing up for Mike or disagreeing with opinion/negative posts about him, that's singled out as "goading" or "hectoring" ..... Or do you really considering calling posters "Anti-Brian Wilson" not an example of "going against other posters?"

You nailed it  EOL. SB stated an opinion period. It was not aimed at a poster, but his opinion of a member of the band which is his right to do so. But because I, SB and others here don't like Mike Love, we have to absorb being labeled mental midgets, shitweasels, and fuckwits. WTF man. Is this the board standard?? I think not but it goes on and personally, I just sit back and consider the source. So, Pinder, since no one has put you in the same category as us, chill out and be content that you remain unscathed by the name callers that we have to put up with.

But guys, it's a slippery slope between expressing disagreement with an opinion and "going after a poster" ..... I haven't in this case, nor have I ever called SmileBrian any such names as you listed, OSD, nor do I appreciate being lumped in with any such an example..... How many times can a poster state the same disparaging opinion about a Beach Boy before such opinion basically defines the poster? When this happens, it might lead to some speculation about the poster's motivations etc. I don't think it's an example of "going after a poster" to do so. If I can be cited for bringing in negativity, why can't I cite the same in turn?

I've certainly been "gone after" on many an occasion, using the same logic, and the double standard here seems clear as a bell: if you're a "Brianista" .... anything-goes ...... But if you're "Kokocop" .... you had better watch yourself!

But not the tacky adjectives applied to us.

Touche!

I owe you a canned ham and your yearly allowance of 2 Pacifico's  :smokin

Who likes his lead in Gettin' in Over My Head?  It's my favorite!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhDc0mXlbLs (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhDc0mXlbLs)

Here is the double standard. The other example cited was from a thread about Mike Love's best vocals this week that had nothing but positive, complimentary comments and examples of Mike's vocals which people here liked. All positive, all upbeat, until you posted this for no reason and with no prompting from anything or anyone in that thread:


Who was this directed to? Who are the "some folks"? That comment above got called out by a poster who rarely gets involved in these types of discussions, and to this point his post has still gone unanswered. It's a good thing in a way, since no one took the bait and started arguing how much of a fan they were to counter what was a straw-man argument anyway, and which had no reason to appear in a thread which had been nothing but positive.

Now another thread is started about Brian's best vocals the same week, let's call it a bookend to the Mike thread since they're the same thing only with different names. And yet again, just like the one that got called out in the Mike vocals thread, here comes another post about "some folks" not liking the Beach Boys.

Now it's a launching point to unload some opinions about other board members, and should they be expected to just sit back and stay quiet? But that's the whole point - Comments like the "some folks really just don't like the Beach Boys" are made to get a reaction which leads to a debate which leads to an argument and bad feelings.

And that's the kind of stuff I think a lot of members here are sick and tired of seeing in whatever form it appears. This is being called out specifically in this thread and the companion Mike thread because the same person is doing it. The first time, it fell flat because it got called out and because nothing remotely close to being negative had been posted in that discussion which would lead to bringing it into the discussion. Now this time, it's a double standard because the explanation is that it was a response to a negative comment about Mike? So what was the first one responding to? And the same words are now different because one was apparently "prompted" by another comment?

It's gotten to the point where two times is more than enough, where one time should have been enough already. In other words, enough is enough.

Well, OSD came in and said he couldn't think of a single Mike lead that that he liked, so I suppose I could have been talking about him but he hadn't yet made that comment, so I guess I wasn't..... So is the thread in question still only filled with praise and positivity aside from me?

And we are allowed to make general comments/statements ..... And if I'm being singled out for being repetitive an entire 2 times, I'd hardly call this worthy of much note around here. Discussions regarding the general tenor of posters in different "camps" gets discussed all the time.... I didn't coin the term "Brianista" or "Kokomite" etc, but they are used left and right. Are you telling me that when those words are tossed about, they are not in fact being used to describe certain posters?

Deny it all you want, but the double standard I speak of is loud n clear.

No double standard... I raise the same points whether it's Brian or Mike, and my post history will bear that out

Yeah, Billy: YOU do ...... And I greatly respect and appreciate you for that.



All in all, I'll keep it in line from here on out ..... regardless of what I consider unfair. ...... I aint got the guns or the numbers.

If you talk about me, you can write my name, unless you don't remember it was me who called Pinder out on that one.

In this thread however, it wasn't Pinder who brought the negativity, it was SMiLEBrian who did the totally unnecessary stab at Mike. He just regularly disses Mike without substantial reason, which annoys me just as much as it annoys Pinder. If you criticize Mike, you can do it like this:


That's substantial criticism that you can talk about.

Pinder is right in what he says, however it is unfortunate that he lets himself get goaded by the usual suspects and rambles on, that's so very useless. He's right on with this:


That's all that was necessary to say.


Unfortunately he does, dissing people who don't condemn Mike as "Kokocop" or "member of club Kokomo" and such nonsense, he didn't do it on this thread though. I don't think there's a double standard by the mods in terms of you can criticize Mike but not Brian, the difference is that Pinder's posts are more and longer and take up more space on the board. I'm with Pinder in this matter, I just wish he would take it all a bit cooler and not heat up so much. It really isn't worth that much rage.

Yeah, well, I think it's unfortunate that, at this point, the sort of routine Mike disses cited here tend to feel just as much like the sort of goading/hectoring/inciting argument thing that I'm being accused of. And I don't see how this feeling escapes logic... I can poke fun at Mike with the best of them, and am generally never hesitant to point out when a Mike criticism is valid and worthy and I never go and diss Brian as a reactionary move, but the kind of relentless dissing of Mike that we see around here ....... well, I think it's kind of shitty that there's an easy get-out-of-jail-free card handed out because of the slippery technicality of "oh, but they're just trashing a Beach Boy and not other posters" .... Even if that logic holds, there should be an exception or two made every so often. All I'm saying ..... And how come a "Mike defender" can ask questions of a "Mike basher" that are related to their opinion and the "Mike defender" is always shut down, but when it's the other way around there's always a big deal made that a poster in disagreement with a "Brianista" is not addressing each and every question asked of them and every point made ...... as I was accused of tonight?

I don't think this is necessarily an intentional double-standard. I just think the Mike = bad, Brian = genius thing is so powerful that not everyone in the world can easily conceive of how anyone could feel either the opposite or not feel it matters at all,  (which is my view) therefore I think it's hard for the feelings of people who stand up for Mike to be taken as completely honest and above the line, where people dissing Mike relentlessly: well, how they feel is completely understandable and relatable ..... I'm not saying I'm right... This is just how it feels sometimes.

I don't know if that really is the case - make an experiment, post less and shorter posts, see if you will still be shut down. I mean, no matter how often you post and whatever you tell them, you won't change the way they are anyway. The fact that you started this Brian vocal appreciation thread here and someone else offtopically entered a Mike bashing post should tell you that you don't need to defend yourself the way you do. In other words, it's the way you keep bringing back the topic is what puts people off, not your point of view which is valid.

Good point, though the Mike dissing is usually in full flow before I even throw my hat in the ring, and these cycles go on and on regardless of if I'm involved or not. I just try and get at the big picture maybe too much ...

But I'm taking all these points made to heart. I can guarantee you of that.

Ontor - perhaps without realizing it, this is very offensive to those of us, (I'm offended, so I'll speak for myself ) who are continually harangued, with a post that isn't a "polarized" - it it truly intolerant.  If anyone on this planet can see the big picture, having seen Mike have to continue a show, while Dennis is hauled off the stage, blind drunk, it is that older fan base who saw it all happen and don't come to this forum to "reinvent the wheel" and who have no music professor to suck up to and don't buy into the "heroes and villains" thing and completely be devoid of objectivity.  

This forum is very important to those of us who, as BB fans had little opportunity to network, in a sea of opposition to the band, and (Brian's work, which we heavily supported and believed in) can perhaps see an overview that includes a context, that is impossible, except by analogy, that isn't found in a textbook.  

There is probably no one who understands what Brian dealt with, other than Mike, who had to deal with Murry, have his mom likely want him to "keep the family peace" and keep the business going in a vortex of turmoil.  No one recognizes Brian's work in a very public way than Mike.  The post was about "Brian's great leads" and, after some thought, I threw in three, with a wish list, and immediately got slammed for something completely irrelevant, such as "Mike won't let that happen."

What does that have to do, first, with my favorites? That is my prerogative.

Second, what does that have with getting any or all into a setlist, one of which I have already heard in concert (alongside thousands of others) and that is Surf's Up.  The other two, "Love and Mercy" is a great farewell wish to an audience.  I cannot even imagine that Mike doesn't appreciate that song.  And "Southern California" is as much about Mike (from that early experience) as the rest of the early band, including David and Al, Brian's "band brothers."

And I sort of agree with Pinder about the slamming of any poster who follows the Touring Band.  We aren't following the Touring Band.  We are following THE MUSIC.  

But that is simply intolerant, to those whose position is that "Mike panders to a GH mindset."  And that those who follow the music are simpletons.  Most of us go see Brian, Al and any format for THE MUSIC.  

So, I hope they reunite at some point, and include those songs, so the naysayers can "eat their words with a fork and spoon."  :lol

Very well said! This and Don't Worry Baby get my vote for best Brian vocals. On both he nails the songs in such an amazingly distinctive way, and the range in both is astonishing.

After 1982-1983 or so -- I would never consider Brian a great sounding lead vocalist.  But pretty much all of his vocal work (lead or bg) on Imagination is spot-on, perfect.  Especially for "solo-era" Brian Wilson.


In fact, I'll say his vocals on Imagination are some of the most affecting, heart-felt, moving, sweet and strong since 'Till I Die and stuff like that.

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/1/1a/ImaginationCover.jpg/220px-ImaginationCover.jpg)

 :tm :tm :tm :tm :tm

I'm glad you agree with me. Great post, as always :3d All you, the rest, can say of course that "I cannot name a single song", "It's impossible" et al. But it's all based on emotion. The fact is & was that "Wouldn't It Be Nice", like no other song, represents the best ever lead Brian's done ever. It's only telling that the guy himself can't top it today, not to mention other bandmates. Closest who can nail it - & that was expressed by guitarfool who actually knows his stuff about music - is Al. So that's the winner & the answer to the thread question.
  If you ask me, tho, runner-up would definitely be "Sloop John B".  Forget about corny folk like "Kingston Trio", the Boys owned it. BIG TIME.

Bean Bag - I love this CD! Played it almost nonstop when it came out!

One for you!  :beer

Absolutely Bean Bag-my thoughts exactly. Aside from liking the songs, hearing him sing like Brian again was the proverbial icing on the cake which covered the entire album.

Now all we need is BW to do all the love  you tracks with his improved voice. 8)

No. Wouldn't work at all.

No, dont touch Love You, its perfect!

Brian should take up smoking again (temporariy) and re-record Imagination with only his circa Love You gear :)))

I 'witnessed' this back in 2009 - still one of my favourite live music moments of my life:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmsyJRa5BLE

At the risk of being accused of dredging up the mud, some things need to be addressed.

First, the accusation that there is a double standard in play, and suggesting it's something coming from the moderators of this board, is completely unwarranted and not at all welcome, and beyond that it's ridiculous. It got to the point where Billy felt he had to post to defend his own positions here, and neither he nor Klaas were involved. They should not have felt in some way like they had to clear the air from an accusation being made. If it were directed at me, then direct it at me and it will be dealt with. This calling out of people, mods or posters or whoever, using general statements is something I object to. And that's one reason why I called this out after seeing the "some folks just don't like the Beach Boys" posted twice in one week. Those statements put any number of people on the defensive who are not even involved, and that's not something the board needs.

Second - It's become too much of an issue - not to mention too much of a drag - to see these endless strings of posts directed against other board members. No matter who you or they are, no matter how much bad blood or animosity or the feeling of not wanting someone else around might be, it cannot and should not be a part of the public discussions here. If some have issues with other board members who for whatever reason we each disagree with, don't care for their style of posting, or simply don't like at the end of the day, these issues should *NOT* be part of the public discussions. If everyone who rubbed someone else here the wrong way were to be banned because there were calls to ban them from other members, most of the regular posters would be shown the door. We don't do things that way.

Other board members do not care to read this stuff. If you can't stand someone's writings on the board, try ignoring them. If someone feels a line is being crossed where something inappropriate or worse has been posted, contact the moderators and point it out to us, and we will discuss it. If we feel there is something worthy of action, action will be taken. But this constant harping on other board members to the point of suggesting they should not be allowed on the board is getting tedious, and if it goes too far it could cross the line into being considered an attempt to bully another member off the forum.

That will never stand. Again, if something is posted that others find offensive, contact the moderators, point it out, and better yet copy all three of us on the message so we all see the issue being reported. And it will be handled from there.

Next - If I'm being accused of having a double standard, I think I deserve a chance to reply. Decisions are made case-by-case, and often in the moment. If there looks like an issue developing that could lead down some ugly roads, and also considering past history and examples, is it a double standard to perhaps try to stop it before it starts? Or perhaps try to get things back on track a bit? I'm personally not one for over-moderation or stepping in too much, but at the same time when there are posters saying there seems to be something wrong with the board...perhaps the decision to try to stop it early on is the judgement call to make. Or perhaps not.

In this case I made a judgement call and stepped in. I will not be accused of holding or applying a double standard for doing so here but not in 100 other discussions for reasons that aren't even in play. That's complete nonsense, and a baseless claim which I find offensive. And as noted, it's offensive to drag others into it too, to the point where they felt it necessary to defend themselves against a blanket accusation. It will not happen that way.

The saying "those who live in glass houses should not throw stones" applies quite well to some of the current issues on this board. And out of respect, that can o' worms will not be opened for all to see publicly, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. That's all that I'll say on that point.

Finally -


If this had been posted on page 3, after my initial post, none of this would have gone beyond those two posts. It's the idea of playing it cool rather than twisting and turning and trying to drive other points into the ground by bringing in other issues and other people. It leads to more dust-ups, more arguments, more people defending and accusing rather than discussing, and above all it leads to more topics getting mucked up with personal stuff rather than the discussion. And, by the way, most discussions do have numerous points of view, in case we've forgotten that in some way.

Point is, if there are personal issues - bring it to the moderators off the board. If something rubs you the wrong way, try ignoring it. If a moderator steps in and makes a suggestion, no one is suggesting some all-authoritarian setup in place here, but consider playing it cool rather than continuing the issue or issues for post after post until others are sucked into the mess and start arguing in return.

That is the nonsense this board doesn't need, nor do most people who come here want to see in topic after topic. Disagree, debate, argue, whatever - but this personal stuff and endless harping on other board members shouldn't be part of the deal.

Look man: denying something doesn't make it not real ....

And here you are harping on about me saying "some folks just don't like The Beach Boys" meanwhile other posters are having it out on other threads in much harsher manner than what has you so up in arms about me.

And other posters might not like reading such horrid things as "Some folks just don't like The Beach Boys" (which is honest speculation due to the tone of many many posts, and I should have the right to speak my opinion on said posts) however, they can certainly handle it.

But let me ask you: so, it's OK to actually have at it with board members and call them names n things, but it's not OK to make a general statement in response to the tone of multiple posts?

I'm just trying to understand.... This had all basically blown over and a few posters had, thankfully, gotten the thread back on track.

So much for playing it cool. It stops here and now.

I think I'm being pretty reasonable in the questions I'm asking. Reactions to questions/situations can be just as important as the situations/questions themselves.

And please keep in mind: when I say "double standard" I'm not implying some conscious or negative thing, and I should probably find another/better word for it, in fact.

From what I have heard of My Little Red Book, I like his vocal there.  It is very fun and lively.   :3d

Then what am I denying, and why is it still being brought up? I'll say it again, this could have ended as suggested on page three, but it was escalated to the point of making accusations in a string of posts about a double standard in how the board is run. Now that's become the issue, and I'm not going to be accused of something that's not true and I sure won't be goaded into defending accusations from someone who has already been banned for similar actions in the past, when trying to tell the board "what's true" or what I'm supposedly denying in order to win points in an endless argument.

Again, it ends here. And that is either the third or fourth time that suggestion has been made and ignored.

YES SIR!

I will obey!

I'm saying that "double standard" might be too strong a word for what I'm implying, but that what I'm implying still seems to stand.

Anyway, what I am implying should be easy enough to understand and has been fairly articulated. If it is too offensive to actually address, I get it and shall speak of it no more, moving forward.

I think that if a poster feels this way, it should be addressed ..... How are things supposed to get worked out or improved in life if people are afraid to speak up about something? ..... But from here on out, I'm off the subject.

Boy, that went downhill fast.

I'm Waiting For The Day

Please make it so.

And now back to our regularly scheduled thread...

And on topic...

I'm a bit of an odd bird, in that I prefer Brian's voice in the late 60s-early 70s to what came before. Mostly. Sometimes I even prefer his 'rough' vocals. All depends on the mood. Pick just one? Uh uh.

So here are my favorites, any order, all eras.

Surf's up (both the 1966 and 1967 versions), Still I Dream of it, I'd Love Just Once to See You, Midnight's another day (demo version), You've Lost that Loving Feeling, pretty much all of Friends, Please Let Me Wonder, I Just Wasn't made for these times (if i had to pick one, this might be it), Games Two Can Play, and She Knows me too well. And yeah, I think if I were to single out one, it'd have to be IJWMFT.

Nothing to do with actually having an opinion, which is the very lifeblood of this or any other forum, but rather having, essentially the single opinion, or thought, and monotonously expressing same in pretty much every post, irrespective of the topic. I happen to detest a certain, hugely popular song from 1965, and everyone in the BB cosmos knows this... but while I say so every once in a while, that suffices for me. We know you don't like Mike. Time to change the cylinder and play a new tune. If you can. Act like a mental midget, you'll get called one.  ;D

2007 at the RFH premiere... like 2004, grown men in tears. A towering performance.

There are so many. I love this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkIw6SMt2bs

This is an extended version of Walk on By as recorded by Brian but I really think it shows the essence of Brian's voice.

I must also mention Child is Father of the Man, especially the version that includes that cry. The emotionality in Brian's vocals is one of his greatest strengths.

Andrew - at least you can "give it a rest."

Happy Friday.  :beer

'60s: Don't Worry Baby
'70s: I'll Bet He's Nice
'80s: Let It Shine
'90s: Sweets for My Sweet / My Mary Anne. Ugh, he sounded so lively...so alive in the mid '90s
'00s: Roll Plymouth Rock / Don't Let Her Know She's an Angel
'10s: Shelter

I perceive it being that way too. I wonder if there's anything to it or if I just perceive it that way. As for Pinder, he sometimes gets too wrapped up in perceiving it that way.

Micha, you are hands down the most level headed, articulate poster on this board.. and English isn't even your native language.  Bravo! :)  (except that one time when you blew a gasket at Lorren Daro  :lol )

Same vocal as the album version - as with several tracks, the original demo vocals were flown in.

True, but sadly his backup vocals weren't. IMHO it sounded better with Brian doing them.

Oh yes... in this instance less is definitely more.

Whoa!... How flattering!  :love Thanks a lot, Wild-Honey, that made my day, I actually could use something like that post right at the moment...!

You actually taught me a new word in it too, "gasket", had to look that up! :)

Weak...at best. We've all seen multiple viewings of your condescending behavior on this board. You've opened the gates of Hell for those unfortunate bastards who either offend you or God forbid post something you translate as incorrect. It's as if your experiencing some sort of perverted joy in making people look small and uninformed. Me? I just happen to not like myKe luHv and feeling that way, comment about him. You? Someone, if they gave a sh*t, could take those 15K posts and have a field day plucking out offensive statements that are rude, intimidating, and arrogant (the list goes on) to actual posters who ARE ON THIS BOARD. What an incredible legacy to carry around. Feel proud? Thought so.   ::)

Ha! And I get threatened with bans for stating a general opinion about some followers (whom I didn't even name) a whopping two times, based upon totality of repetitive posts, yet back n forths like this are fine and dandy?

And I have the nerve to wonder about a possible double-standard type thing?

AGD, you are absolutely correct about opinions and statement of opinion as being the lifeblood of any forum. Amen.

Certain posters might not be liked by the mod(s) but to shut only one of them down is to set a precedent that might not be healthy in the long run.

I was done with this subject, but there was one quarter left in the machine for a bonus round.... Sorry.


And I think consensus is I Just Wasn't Made For These Times or Please Let Me Wonder are the strongest contenders for Brian's greatest ever lead vocal.

I'm glad someone mentioned Games Two Can Play .... I wish he'd done more leads like that around the same time...... Hell, he should have even sung Sail On Sailor!!!!

Not even close. Consensus is "Wouldn't It be Nice" is the one & only strongest contender for Brian's greatest ever lead vocal. I thought every knowledgeable fan knew this.

Dammit I said drop it. Okay, both are out for the time being.

Edit- Referring to Pinder and OSD, not RangeRover!

Well, that was a big fuckaroo.I banned OSD because I thought he instigated Pinder, who then posted yet another post accusing us of having a double standard after being told repeatedly to drop it, not realizing  that he was actually responding to Andrew. That makes Pinder's post even more ban-worthy, and I have since reinstated OSD. My apologies for the confusion.

That said...


OSD, and Andrew.... I know you two don't like each other. That's cool, I'm just tired of reading about it constantly. And the constant back and forth HAS to stop. Like, right the hell now. This goes for everybody. Period. All members. I don't want to keep seeing the same people talk sh*t back and forth to each other, or taking jabs at each other. This stops NOW.

Thanks, Ang. I hadn't thought of "Walk On By" off the top of my head, but that vocal was just stunning.  I enjoy the different eras of Brian's voice, so it's great to see them all referenced here as favorites.

Thanks Debbie!

I agree that it is wonderful to hear the full range of Brian's vocals - Barbie for example - right through to his most recent work. Brian's vocals on Our Special Love are beautiful. We really are blessed to have enjoyed so many years of Brian's singing.

And you just reminded me of those layered vocals he's done that are just glorious, on any number of his own works and guesting on others.  "Hand on my Shoulder" with Blondie on lead for Anton Fig, "Adios" with Ronstadt, "Delirious Love" with Neil Diamond, and of course "Orange Crate Art." They all give me chills, they're so powerful.

I was about to say that I thought it was obvious that we all agree it is "I'm Waiting For The Day".

Cam - You're right with that one...saw Brian do it live during a Wilson-Beck soundcheck...I thought my heart would stop.  Wish they did that during C50.  Picking a "best" is virtually impossible. There is just too much from who to choose.  ;)

Plus the heartbreaking strings and the "angry" return. Forgetaboutit.

Must mention this one too - I don't think it is Brian's best lead vocal but for versatility........ I'd never have thought Brian could sing like this. What'd I Say: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMFsy9fIaqQ

This isn't the best either but it has as much emotion as the very best soul artist could provide. It is heartbreaking. Damn near operatic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8r_TtJxLfCg

I agree.  Maybe  not the absolute best, but gorgeous singing in both recordings.  I do remember Brian going off with Dennis to record that 2nd link's sessions.  I was probably off to work that day (actually, more likely, that evening or evenings - I remember 2 or 3 times).  I'm aware of the stories of what was going on.  All I knew was that Dennis practically knocked me over with love for Brian, every time I ran into him.  That's what I saw and know.  At this point, that's all I care about, and you hear it in the music.

So interesting to hear from those who actually can add background. Thanks again Debbie.

Dennis' love for Brian is undeniable. And when Brian is given love, he turns it into the most beautiful music. It seems to be the thread he uses to weave the magic.

Indeed, Ang!

While I love Imagination where it is, I like where you're going with this.  I've mentioned before that I play That Lucky Old Sun with the Love You-era Beach Boys voices in mind.

If only I could finish my time-machine.  :3d

Pretty sure that's Carl singing lead.

Sidenote, is that Mike riffing away on the sax? Much better than the two note Shut Down solo.

The album isn't to hand but I'm pretty sure it said Brian was singing and, yes, Mike playing sax. This from the Blueboard when someone was discussing a conversation with Brian - he'd asked Brian to identify the lead vocalist on three tracks:

'Ok, the three songs were 'Summertime Blues', 'Louie Louie' and 'What'd I Say' (which I played Brian over the phone).

'In short, he responded, "That was Carl", "That was CARL WILSON", and an excited, "THAT'S ME!" '

It sounds so different to Brian's normal style but it sounds even less like Carl IMO.

Well, he once identified Carl as the lead on H&V.

That's Carl singin What'd I Say.

Now found my album - quoting from the sleeve notes:

"An early concert staple was Ray Charles' What'd I Say which was never officially released or included on a live album. This rare gem, featuring Mike Love on wailing sax, was captured at Sydney Stadium during a January 1964 Australian tour (Surfside '64). Lead vocals by Brian Wilson."

Also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_recorded_by_the_Beach_Boys  This shows Brian Wilson singing lead too.

That's two other sources for the individuals for whom Brian's word is not enough.  

Well, I don't believe these sources. I say they're as wrong as Brian claiming he burned the Fire tapes. To me it's clearly Brian - who says "Boy I'm not!" in between Carl's first lines. Next one who meets Brian please ask him again.

This and Big Sur 4/4 are THE ones yet to be officially released, in this case with well informed liner notes.

Brian's greatest lead vocal: "Let Him Run Wild."  I suspect all of the vocals on that song are sung by Brian Wilson.

Beach Boys mythology volume #186.

Anyone is welcome to confirm, agree, deny, or completely shred what I'm about to say based on what I've heard. If someone has heard or read the same thing elsewhere, please chime in.

Brian *did* in fact burn the Fire tapes as reported. But not in the way I think everyone assumes and now considers that it flatly "didn't happen".

Brian had a reel-to-reel tape copy of a Fire mixdown, it was probably on a 1/4" tape reel of the kind you'd take home to play after a session, if it was not on acetate. And at some point he did burn and destroy such a tape reel copy of what he had from a Fire rough mixdown. But that doesn't mean all masters, sessions, and even other mixes were burned, obviously since those still exist and we've heard them.

So it's not wrong. Brian did burn Fire tapes. Again, confirm/deny/argue/etc.

Sadly, they didn't do "What'd I Say" when I saw them in July 1964, so I can't tell you from a visual.  What I do know is that Brian could sound like any of them at that time, so keep that in mind.  I also remember Brian sitting at the drums when Denny sang "Wanderer" and his playing a bit, which he doesn't seem to remember from then - but I'll bet if he remembers singing it, that he did.

And here's my entry to the thread. I've already in the past 10+ years of being on forums and boards written a lot about the vocal performances that are just right there in the groove. So I'm on the record pretty well as to which ones I always come back to. Time to add a new one, and probably a very obscure one both in concept and for what it is.

Watch this link, Sept. 27 2012, Royal Albert Hall during C50. Brian singing "Please Let Me Wonder".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsB3s9xDzRI (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsB3s9xDzRI)

Take the whole song first, Brian singing lead over a band who was in top form for this show. It's one of my favorites anyway, and here the band delivers it and Brian sings it as it always should be heard. No need for "improvements" or additions or added words, just the gut-level performance of what was a perfect record and production from the 60's that still sounds timeless and mature beyond the ages of those involved in making it.

Now, go through the full song and enjoy what's there, but key in on the note Brian sings at exactly 2:29 in this video and cuts it off at around 2:30.

More or less one second of one of the most beautiful notes I've ever heard this man sing, especially taking into consideration the 50+ years of music and trials/tribulations which led up to that note. And many can copy it, maybe even try to replicate it, but no one can do that kind of bend up into a falsetto and have it carry the emotion that this man can do.

And when I say "can" in the present tense, it's deliberate. This was 2012, not the 60's, and there is that voice we all know and love seen and heard hitting that note. It's equally thrilling and bittersweet to hear it on that stage in 2012. We got a glimpse of it. You even see him get ready for that high note in the video, and in that second or so there are simply no age or ability issues in play.

Beautiful. Not greatest, but at the top of my list as of today.

Whoever sings that vocal on What'd I Say I like it. Carl, as well as Brian had a great voice. I was just going on what I knew it claimed on the liner notes, and on what I knew Brian had told someone. The fact that he was excited made it sound like a real memory.

Of course Debbie is quite right to state that Brian can sound like the others when he wants to.

Anyway, it doesn't matter. Whoever is singing it, I'm glad it was recorded.

Did you hear Brian saying that or did you read that someone claimed Brian said that sounding exciting? Someone you know personally?



110% with you there!!! :) They never rocked better. Great performance by everybody.

I accept they could sound alike, but it's Carl. The Capitol two-fers had wrong vocal credits all over the place for instance. Why wouldn't this bootleg? The "yeah"s sound nothing like Brian ever sang; yet they sound like coming from the same guy who sang All Dressed Up (which is credited to Brian on the two-fers, btw). The way the singer ends the prhrases: not like Brian. Listen to the "oh"s in the end... It's Carl calling and the group (clearly including Brian) responding. The "alrights..."

Re. Mike's sax, it would have been a good question for the vibe room.

I didn't hear Brian saying that;  there was a thread on Brian's MB about people who had met or spoken to Brian and someone whose posts I have read frequently posted as I have quoted. The first reason that I cited this song though was simply that I recalled reading the liner notes as I have already written. I don't think it sounds typical of Brian but nor is it typical of Carl IMO.  Some of the BVs sound like Brian - it's so hard to tell for sure. Perhaps some Aus fans who were there at the time might know.

More here - from this very MB: http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php?action=printpage;topic=11002.0

Some claim it is David Marks; another post has this

"Quote from: BJL on September 06, 2011, 08:28:06 PM
You're forgetting the recording of What'd I Say? with Dave singing lead.  :)

I googled Beach Boys what I say and got this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuqhvy_VcH4

obviously not David Marks, but it doesn't really sound like the Beach Boys at all...it really rocks - it reminds me a bit of that live Bruce Johnson album from the early 60s, but way tighter.  Anyone have more info?  I can't really even tell whose singing lead.  Also, who's wailing on the saxophone?      
[/quote]
It's a young Carl. Got that straight from Brian who remembered doing it at gigs then. Listen to Pom Pom Playgirl and you can see it's him."

Some are suggesting it isn't Mike playing sax either.

And I found this:

" Compared to their peers The Beach Boys were surprisingly generous and adventurous in their choice of live material. Luckily the band's frenetic run through Ray Charles' greatest song 'What'd I Say?' (covered by loads of AAA bands from The Beatles to The Searchers) was taped - without their knowledge - during a 1964 concert in Sydney, Australia. It features a still 16 year old Carl - still without a lead vocal to his credit for fans to enjoy - doing a pretty sterling job of rousing up the crowd into a frenzy and playing cat-and-mouse with the rest of the band on the choruses. Either we caught the band on a particular cracking night or they should have thought about doing more songs like this; Dennis, particularly, sounds much more at home on the drums here than on the band's poppier and soppier tunes. A real surprise and one of the highlights of the mixed compilation 'Beach Boys Rarities'. Find it on - erm, would you believe 'Beach Boys Rarities' (1983) and desperately in need of a CD re-issue!" http://alansalbumarchives.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/beach-boys-non-album-songs-part-one.html

This debate has obviously been going on for awhile. It is a remarkable vocal for a 16 year old though. It's a remarkable vocal full stop.

Nice share!  Love the more "Dick's Picks" variety entering the fray.   :lol  The band really does sounds good though -- don't they?  The vocals and everything.  And Brian just sits low (figuratively) in the song's register and rides it.

I love (and love how Brian love's) the instrumental break, myself.  It's like a confirmation of his life's work.  I think he's so proud of the arrangements he did during this era.  My God, who wouldn't.  They're astounding.

But The whole song -- the whole Today! album -- is like the coda to Melt Away, to me.  Just a euphoric glow of a less stressful and youthful time.  Perfection.

Re What'd I Say: Dunno about Brian & liner notes, I only hear Carl, coz it's him. How some of you claiming to have been BBs fans since day 1 can mix them up is beyond me. And I've only been 4 years. They do have similar voices, doesn't mean you can't tell who is who.

Definitely!!! And thank you very much for doing that much research.

When I first heard What'd I Say I actually assumed it was Al who sang lead - I didn't expect Carl to do a lead vocal at all at that early stage, let alone a great one like that, and I ruled out Brian as lead vocalist because it's so clearly him doing the interjection that I already mentioned between the lead singer's first two lines. But when people insisted it was Carl I took a closer listen and had to find out I was wrong.

As for Dennis' drumming here... one has to quote Hal Blaine who said Dennis was "a hell of a drummer live".

As for the saxophone... it really is a notch or two above Mike's studio recording contributions, so it might have been someone else, but musical ability is known to run in the Wilson family, so it could as well be Mike.

I've been a fan for ages (if not from Day 1) but I somewhat naively assumed the liner notes would be correct, especially when backed up by what Brian himself had claimed to be true. Brian has more versatility in his voice than Carl and can sound different when he wants to. I think the most convincing evidence of it being Carl is Brian in the BVs rather than the lead vocal itself. Carl's confidence is quite remarkable for a boy of 16.

Some have thought it was Dave Marks or Al. It seems to me that the reason for the confusion is simply that this is so far from the Beach Boys' normal style. When I first heard it, I didn't think it sounded much like any of them. I certainly didn't think it sounded like Brian but couldn't get my head round a 16 year old Carl doing it either. I wish they had included more such material in their repertoire though. It really works.

RangeRoverA1 - family voices, especially siblings sound very similar.  I have three sons, and sometimes on the phone, one would impersonate another, for a goof, until I caught them, and then we'd have a good laugh.  (They think they're so smart!)  :lol

So we have teenaged and twenty year old voices, tightly harmonized, as opposed to the last twenty or so years.  The earlier stuff is harder to distinguish, I think with all the shared leads, and chorus switch-offs.  I think Carl's and Brian's vocals are the hardest to tell apart on the earlier work.  Dennis is easier.  I wish we had more Dennis leads!

It is hard to fathom for me how in four years anyone can possibly digest all this music, when those "who claim" fan-hood have listened for forty or fifty, or so years to dissect it.   We had the luxury of at least several months or a year to digest thirty minutes of an LP.  But it really great for young people to be discovering and embracing this music.  It ensures a good future for it.   ;)

Brian and Al too, though - hands down, who noticed it was Al, not Brian, doing the non-Mike lines the first time they heard IKTTAA?

Them as thought it might be Dave had a very sketchy grasp on the basic BB timeline 1961-63. If any at all...  :)

Agreed.  Those of us who actually heard Brian live during 1964 know how youthful he sounded, AND how he could so easily mimic others' styles and voices, so we give him the benefit of the doubt if he remembers singing it.  I mean, he IS Brian Wilson and he was there!  Yes, it sounds remarkably like Carl, and that would have been my first choice as to who was singing.  But Brian could so easily sound like that if he cared to.  I'll leave it up to the memories of people who actually performed or attended.

I love seeing younger fans of this music, too.  I have something of a deeper appreciation for fans of all ages with more of a sense of reality and responsibility who realize that artists deserve some benefit from months or years of work on a project, so they actually purchase the product.  That way there is a better assurance of MORE product.  With all those record and concert purchases over the years, we got MORE great stuff.  If you think about it, that's how it works. Note:  I know many of the people here have spent a fortune on product, however you can get it, so I'm not talking about things not available for purchase by the artist.  I'm talking about people who refuse to pay for new releases, etc.  Just sayin'...It shows respect and it makes sense.

Agreed Andrew.  I think that was Ang's dry humor at work, as she made a point...

Thanks Debbie. I was just observing the comments on that page. Then there were those who were disputing it was Mike on sax......

Those of us who have been fans for ages know how many times we have been proved wrong about things and are perhaps therefore less sure of the situation. As someone once sang

"When I was younger,  so much younger than today
I never needed anybody's help in any way"....

If Brian wasn't misquoted by whoever claimed to have played him the stuff over the telephone. It wasn't told by a journalist or someone any of us know here personally. So I stick with Carl in this case.

Yes, I'm not arguing the point with anyone as to which person happens to be singing, simply saying Brian could sound like that if he wished then, so it isn't the "slam dunk" some think it is. 

I really love Brian's vocal on "The Beginning Of The End". So emotive and vulnerable. With great vocal control to boot!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjIeDHmLzsw

The way that the demo version was mixed also enhances its emotional quality for me, even though it's the same performance (can of worms).

Do you have any idea how long it took me to figure this acronym out?

I Know (That) There's An Answer?

No I haven't, I give up. How long did it take you?

Oh, I see, my bad, one "T" too many. Sorry!  :-[

Micha's exempt because he's a nice guy, but USUALLY, I can't stand acronyms like that because it shifts the work of the writer to the reader.

I keep thinking, but I just can't the heck figure out what the acronym "USUALLY" stands for... ::)

Thanks for being nice to me too! :)

U - usually
S - sually
U - ually
A - ally
L - lly
L - ly
Y - Y

Don't thank me. :police:

I won't... ::)

I want my 30 seconds back.

WOTS would be my choice if I have to choose one......   The trail off vocal is beautiful and gets better with time

A personal favourite of mine is "There's No Other (Like My Baby)". Great cover and you can feel the enthusiasm in Brian's voice, just a golden vocal.

"That's what she said"

I don't know if anyone's mentioned this in this thread yet, but I think Brian's rendition of "Blue Christmas" is great.

Under Some Unusual Aliens Living Like You

Of course! How stupid of me I didn't figure that out by myself! :-D

I like you and I'm sorry. I was mostly joking, although I really couldn't figure it out. :'(

I did take it as a little joke of yours, no need for you to apologize! :) Thank you anyway!

Personally, I think his greatest lead vocal is on You Still Believe In Me.
When he sings "I wanna cry…" I always get the chills.
Others that come to mind are Surf's Up, Surfer Girl, Caroline No.

For me at least, it's gotta be Surf's Up; though he's done too many great vocals to list

With his pre '75 voice, Why Do Fools Fall In Love.

With his post '75 voice, the 76 vocals on Sherry She Needs Me.

today, my favourite is 'winter symphony'

Agreed, Brian bettered the KT's version by plenty.

While the "folk" part is correct, I don't agree with "corny" to describe them, however. Part of their stage act did involve clowning around, but when it came time to perform, the Trio could play and sing with the best of them, and at their peak they were immensely popular. They left a body of work that compares favorably with most US groups, and have been listed as influences by many musicians, including one fellow named Jardine. 

Too tough to think of just one.

Warmth of the Sun
Don't Worry Baby
I Just Wasn't Made for These Times
Surf's Up
Midnight's Another Day (my favorite modern Brian lead)

I'm biggest fan of Al's but I don't share his taste regarding Kingston Trio. "Corny" was a bad choice of word tho, you're right.

To date, I haven't heard it but my number one Brian favorite is "You're No Cousin of Mine You F------ P----. You're Chickenshit" .