The Smiley Smile Message Board

Years ago, I found a recording online called "Brian Fooling Around".  It has someone playing "Mr. Sandman" on the piano, and who I believe is Brian, making up impromptu lyrics.  Later on, the piano player launches into a barrelhouse-type rendition of "God Only Knows", to which Brian responds by an exuberant "WOW!".

Does anyone have any info on this recording?  When was it recorded?  I get the feeling that Bruce is playing the piano, but I'm not sure.

The track, which also includes the Chipmunk's Christmas song, appears on the hillariously titled Leggo My Ego boot. All the other tracks are Pet Sounds-era, so one could assume it came from the same period. Assumptions can be inaccurate, though.

If the piano-player and the God Only Knows singer are the same person, it couldn't be Bruce. Sounds nothing like him, vocally.

That was Brian singing just fooling around lol.

The version I heard was heavily echoed, is there a clean version?

No I think he was just messing with the control buttons having fun.

Oh Brian...quit fooling around!

Actually, it is Bruce.

Bruce on the piano or singing?

Both.  I'm talking about God Only Knows.  That's all Bruce.

On Sandman, pretty sure that's actually Carl singing believe it or not.

Listening to it...Sandman is Brian. The bah bah bah's give it away. 'Give me some grass...' I really doubt Bruce would say that. :p

Yeah, it does sound like Bruce singing GOK, besides the 'we all have to move in to...' being a dead give away, the 'hey' and 'ho' sounds like Brian. I don't doubt he's a better piano player than Brian so it's probably him hitting the keys.

I have to say, I had a similar reaction to Brian when I first heard Bruce's "unique" version of GOK.  That thing really cooks!


I was curious on the "vault" info on this.... if anyone knew if this recording was from a particular session reel, or if this was from Brian's home recorder, or ????

Same here Shane, Bruce really knows how to tickle them ivories...

I'd love to hear him jam the whole way through, the bridge is just out of this world.

I will look this up when I have a few minutes.

Still think Sandman is Carl.

so you think Jack Rieley is Superman is another one of Brian's playin around tapes?

I've always been fascinated by this little snippet and wish more of this kind of stuff were released.  I think since this is spliced from either one or multiple Pet Sounds era sessions (Maybe That's Not Me or a vocal session?) there are multiple performers here.

Agreed with Carl on Sandman aeijtzsche.  Sounds like Brian on "The Chipmunk Song" and Bruce on God Only Knows.  Since it sounds like Brian's there towards the end, it might be him playing piano.

I really only hear Brian. I think GOK could be Bruce, but Sandman's high notes give Brian away

It's from the Surf's Up era, apparently.


I think it's actually the high notes that preclude it from being Brian.

Well, agree to disagree. :psyche

I'll agree to disagree. I think it's funny that people who have listened closely for decades hear different lead singers on the same songs, but the Beach Boys could sound remarkably like each other.

There are songs where it has been  easy to get confused as to who is doing the vocals...with me its usually Al, Carl, and Brian.  Its Over Now really threw me the first couple of times I listened.  Brian, Carl and Marilyn.  Marilyn caught me off guard at first.  Thought it was one of the guys  :o