The Smiley Smile Message Board

This concert footage always fascinates me, from what I hear Brian could barely sing throughout the concert and the close-ups were done later. I'd like a little more info, was anyone actually there that can talk about it?

This must've been awfully awkward for people in the crowd, go to see your hero and he's so nervous can barely sing; as well as the musicians. During the taped portion with an audience, was there a guide vocal Brian was singing along to?

And one more, Bruce was at this concert, which was taped on May 9th 1998. Also on that day, Alan played his last concert with the BB, which he was contracted to. Does this mean that Bruce wasn't at that BB concert and thus not contracted to play at it? I love that Bruce played with Brian, without the other Boys, and sang his praises. Shame he's not that way today...

(Also, the crowd gives "She Says That She Needs" me a rapturous reception at the beginning and end, so he must've done a decent performance on that...)

Any help is appreciated.

Bobby Lloyd Hicks wrote an account of the taping for ESQ when the album came out.  Bruce was at both shows, IIRC.

i always felt that applause was forced or it was added in the audio, i don't really see too many people clapping. They make it seem like it's a burt bacharach song.

Does anyone have this, or can anyone quote the more interesting parts from it?

From what I recall, Brian sang leads on all the Beach Boys stuff -- California Girls, DWB and In My Room -- but the Imagination stuff was doubled with a taped vocal. The idea, for what it was worth, was that the live footage would be used in making videos for the Imagination material -- thus the need for absolute vocal synch. Indeed, the "Your Imagination" video, which was only screened a couple of times on VH1, used footage from the show.

But yes, the closeups were reshot -- a practice that continues, I seem to recall, on the Smile DVD.