The Smiley Smile Message Board

I believe it was Stave Desper who has been quoted as saying that, for the Surf's Up album, Brian Wilson's contributions were more extensive instrumentally than vocally. From what I have read, Brian played a "dissonant" keyboard on Don't Go Near the Water, a pipe organ IIRC on Day in the Life Of A Tree, and, of course, the piano on the original 1966 demo portion of what was released as the title track. Does anyone have any further detail as to what Brian contributed instrumentally to this and also the Carl and the Passions album?

I'm almost certain he played piano on He Come Down on So Tough

Have to assume he played on Til I Die.

Could most organ contributions be assumed to be Brian? I´m thinking specifically Til I Die and Surf´s Up.

didn't he contribute some kind of foot scuffling on Take A Load Off Your Feet?

And plate scraping and horn honking!

You beat me to it!  The gravel shuffling on the roof of his house!

Vocally he's very present on Disney Girls and Carl's two Surf's Up tracks.

I thought Carl was the only Beach Boy on Long Promised Road? Even Mike comments on this on the live version on the EH soundtrack.

Instrumentally, yes - but Brian's on there vocally, and maybe others too.

According to Desper's book, on "Tree" Brian played pump organ and Daryl played pipe organ.

"'Til I Die" has Brian on Rox-i-chord and organ, and I think Bruce on another organ part. Although Jack Rieley recalled that Carl played the Moog bass on "Surf's Up", a very informed source (who was there) says it was definitely Brian. Carl and/or Bruce added the organ parts, though.

I thought Daryl Dragon the Capitan played Paino

More precisely, the roof of the garage.  ;D

I thought Disney Girls didn't feature any BBs except Bruce. I thought the vocals were done by Bruce's production buddies like Curt/Kurt Becher/Boecherr.

edit: Wikipedia says the whole band is present, vocally. Hmm...

Brian's definitely on there - he sings the "church, bingo chances, and old time dances" line.

Gotta listen to it again. But I always thought that the highest part in that song is Bruce. Perhaps you mean a lower part in the stack?

In 1971 ? Bruce didn't collaborate with Curt until the mid-70s.

Bruce and Curt were both involved on Sagitarrius' 'My World Fell Down' in 67, so i didn't think it was beyond the realm of possibility that these production buddies had stayed in contact.

Brian's instrumental contributions to Surf's Up (As far as I know)

Don't Go Near The Water- Piano
Take A Load Off Your Feet- Percussion/Sound Effects
Student Demonstration Time- Bass(?)
A Day In The Life Of A Tree- Organ, Synthesizer
Till I Die- Harpsichord, Organ, Vibes, Drums
Surf's Up- Piano

COMMENT:  Sorry but Jack wasn't around. It was a late night session with only Carl and myself in the studio. I patched and played the Moog bass parts on Surf's Up and the original bass guitar parts recorded at Columbia were later replaced at the house studio. These and many other details will be revealed in the forthcoming second part of my book, Recording The Beach Boys due out this summer.

Part one of the book is viewable at http://swdstudyvideos.com
~swd

This is exciting news! Stephen, you played on Surf's Up!? Are there any other songs you played on?

C-man's sessionography might need to be revised, unless this was common knowledge!

Brian took the high part in that line, Bruce couldn't hit it to his own satisfaction. Carl is very clear in the harmony stack throughout the song.

COMMENT:  Those songs I played on are covered in the book. Read part one of Recording The Beach Boys now at http://swdstudyvideos.com.  But to answer your question, I played when required and sang with them as well, just for my own enjoyment, and at my request, which they occasionally honored -- a few times. I think all recording engineers should at least once see what it's like to be on the other side of the glass so to gain some appreciation of the problems the singers must deal with. I'm not a bad singer, but even singing the simple parts they gave me was both a pleasure and scary, especially when the recording light goes ON.     ~swd

Wow, thanks!

COMMENT:  On Til I Die, Brian is playing a Hammond B3, there is no other organ part. Daryl plays the vibs. I am playing the Moog. On Surf's Up, Carl thought up the organ pad and either Bruce or Carl actually played it, and as I posted before I played the Moog.  All these insights and other particulars will be detailed in Part Two of my book Recording The Beach Boys.  You can view and hear Part One of the book at http://swdstudyvideos.com.     ~swd

I know that I've said it before, but I love that you're a part of the community here, Mr. Desper.

Your contributions to the board (and to our evolving understanding of the history of the band) are absolutely invaluable.

That's clearly Brian on the lovely downward modulating harmony "church bingo chances and old time dances".  Not quite the top part (which I presume is Bruce)

Wow, I didn't know you sang too, Steven. Do you remember any particular songs or parts you sang?

All of the credits on Wikipedia that aren't sourced to anything should be removed since they're wrong 90% of the time

COMMENT:  So my deal with the boys was that I could sing at least one time with them on any album. This was for my own satisfaction and nothing more. As it turned out album was not the right term to use, but nevertheless, once in a great while I would ask if I could come down from the control room and sing with them. Those times were far and few between, but every now and then it was possible for me to join them for a group overlay ... or something like that. You have to understand that, yes, we were employer and employee, but also we were all friends and engaged in creating songs together -- it was a symbiotic relationship, a mutually beneficial relationship full of great satisfaction. The times I sang were few and rather spontaneous, so I don't recall exactly to which songs I lent my voice. All I recall is that it was a lot of fun and full of laughs. Great times!!  ~swd   

Revisions from those "in the know" are more than welcome! It gets real interesting, though, when multiple sources diverge in their recollections: Brian, Carl and Stephen are all credited with playing the Moog bass on "Surf's Up" by different such sources. For my part, all I can say for sure is I wasn't there!