The Smiley Smile Message Board

Just listening to the original Big Sur (in 6/4) on my bike ride home and realised it had a drum machine on it, much like Til I Die and Lady. My first thought was it must have been recorded after Denny hurt his hand but before Ricky enters the picture.  Scratch that idea, since the latter two those songs were recorded Before the injury. Anyhow, just wondering if there has ever been much discussion on the beach boys and rhythm machines. Was it used because it was easier than getting a solid beat out of Dennis or Brian, or did they just like the sound? Also, what songs besides the above do they use it on? Thanks in advance!

The machine in question is a Maestro Rhythm King.

I would assume they just like the sound as an alternative to an acoustic drum set.  It's not like they didn't have access to the top drummers in the United States on speed dial if they wanted them.  In addition to the songs you mention, they used the Rhythm King for H.E.L.P, but it wasn't used in the final mix.  Don't know if it was ever intended to be anything more than a rhythm track or what.

They had speed dial in 1970?
 ;D

Well...they had to dial less numbers!  So it would be speedier?

Seems like they started with the drum machine for a click track, overdubbed everything else, and then, depending on the song, either mixed it out or left it in. I do the same thing at home. I love the BB DIY ethic! They were doing the home recording way before everyone else.

I think 7 digits with a rotary phone is still longer than 10 on a keypad.

I should think all of The Beach Boys '85 album; it was all synths and drum machines. But that was all done by the producer, I think. There are some great songs on there, if you can get past the production. I wonder if there are other 'demo' versions of these tunes with different instrumentation? I love "Male Ego" especially.

Think you'll find the names of the drum machine on "California Calling" and "I Do Love You" are, respectively, Richard Starkey and Steveland Judkins.  ;D

Point taken, although I'm pretty sure Stevie's drum part on "I Do Love You" is programmed onto a synclavier and not played by Stevie (a pity, since he's such a great drummer, or at least was).

The credit says "drums", fwiw.

He plays drums? I never knew that. That's pretty cool.

But yeah, I Do Love You sounds very inorganic to me, too.

Superstition being a prime example!

Me too!  It was Smiley Smile's home grown sound that made apparent to me that, hey...maybe I should do this too!  So I have them to thank for all the cash I've wasted!

Yeah, he played drums on his albums in 70's! He played drums on every track, or almost. Superstition, Golden Lady, For Once In My Life, etc...
There's a video on Youtube...Stevie plays a superb-crazy drum solo.
Search: Steve Wonder drum solo or something like this.

He jammed playing drums with Jimi Hendrix on a BBC session (Jimi).
The two jams was released on Jimi Hendrix Experience - BBC Sessions (1998-9). One of two songs was a cover of I Was Made To Love Her.