The Smiley Smile Message Board

Are there any versions of Dennis singing this great song.Live or studio.It is a perfect song for him to sing.He was a  such GREAT writer!Thanks for any and all responses.If anyone knows ,I bet they are lurking on this site!!!! Thanks!!

I wish!! As far as I know there isn't any versions of Denny singing lead. But I think Carl is perfectly suited to that song though, he gives it that gentleness that the song requires. Still I would love to hear a Denny rendition.

One song I wish he had kept the lead vocal for himself is "Fourth of July". Is carl's vocal for the track a definitive take or a work vocal?

I was thinking there's a Dennis lead vocal on a live version from 1972 (correct me if I'm wrong), I've seen it available on the Landlocked boot.


also, interesting to note that Dennis either talked about re-recording it or actually did re-record it in the late 70s.

Yeah it doesn't sound right does it? I dunno though Carl's vocals sometimes sound as someone else put it "sleepy"... But maby that was the feel they were looking for?

"Only With You" - 1978 version - unreleased at present   :-D

correct. Except that it is Carl singing the song, and Dennis singing an extra tag to the song.

As Malc stated there's a studio version recorded during the POB/Bambu era. I won't say its better than the Holland version, or the Carnegie Hall version, but its just as good in its own way...and its pure Dennis, singing the lead, and shifting the feel into something much more raw and emotional.

also interesting to note that he went back to re-record other earlier songs such as San Miguel, the instrumental jam from the Bamboo sessions (i think) and I read where he wanted to re-record Lady except call it Flowers come in the Spring.

My understanding is that the Fourth of July vocal was spliced together from several different attempts by Carl - it wasn't finished so that explains the less than stellar Carl performance.

Between the Carli Muñoz songs and rerecording old Beach Boys tracks, was Dennis coming up with less material than in the POB era?

By late '78 he was recording less because he'd lost Brother, but by that time he had so many tracks in the can or partially in the can that it was ridiculous. There are more than 30 orig. DW songs that were complete or very near completion that all went unreleased. And like Brian, he liked to re-visit old themes and songs he'd already recorded...and try them in a new arrangement or tweak the production. So  the answer is yes and no.

Late last night I was channel surfing and came across Two-Lane Blacktop. I really wasn't watching the movie, I got to thinking about Dennis.

At that time (1971), Dennis just came off Sunflower, was writing other great songs like "Lady" and "Wouldn't It Be Nice To Live Again", had a beautiful wife and kids, was now acting in movies, was still part of an American institution (The Beach Boys), had a lot of friends and fans, and, basically, was living a great life. Dennis really had a lot going for him. And then I thought of just a few years after that. Damn....

Continue....   

Well, at that time, unfortunately he also had the Manson thing hanging over his head, and probably disturbing him inside to no small extreme.  I think that, and losing Murry a couple of years later & never really coming to terms with that, is what started him down the path of no return.  Immeaursably sad.

It is, isn't it....Usually I get down when I think of what happened to Brian, but last night, for some reason, it hit me with Dennis.

I know this sounds weird, but while watching the movie, I started comparing Dennis to James Taylor - at that time. And you know what, James Taylor had nothing over Dennis Wilson. They were both making their first (and only?) movie. I love James Taylor but could he compose a song any better than Dennis? Dennis' personality could be just as endearing as James'. And then there's the way Dennis looked. His charisma. His energy.

James Taylor survived and is still going strong. And, despite his substance abuse and personal struggles, is now also noted for his longevity. But, in 1971, Dennis and James were, I don't know....     

Jon, thanks.