The Smiley Smile Message Board

sorry, I havn't mastered the art of finding similar threads to add to yet.....

but, is Brian on 'California Dreamin'???

I love the film clip, but at times I think I hear him, but then overall I don't...

Thanks, Rb

Quick answer - according to Bruce, no.

I remember a thread about this some years back, and nobody seemed to definitively know who is singing on it, because a good hunk of the backing track and backing vocals were re-used from the version cut in 1982. I remember that nobody could decide who was doing the falsetto for instance: Brian? Bruce? Jeff Foskett? Adrian Baker? Both Foskett and Baker were hanging around back in the 1982 timeframe.

Brian was in pretty sketchy shape when they cut the original version circa 1982, and of course by 1986 was only sporadically working with the group. It's easy to believe he may well not be on it at all.

Comparing the two versions of the songs, it sounds like the main items added in 1986 were parts of the lead vocal track (some of Al's original lead vocal is there, and most if not all of the backing vocals sound to be from 1982), the saxophone, some guitar, and either re-recorded drums or re-triggered or re-EQ'ed drums or something along those lines.

All the vocals and the basic track date from the 1982 original version.

There is one moment in the backing vocals that sound very Brian (of that era no less IMO) during the 'I been for a waa-aalk' response to the main lead vocal during the last verse or so.

Seems like someone was just doing a good impersonation if Bruce is to be believed.

Even Al's lead for the first verse that Mike sings previously ;)

Also, the video looks like a clothing commercial at first...

There is really only a cursory discussion of this song in the definitive vocal credits thread. AGD notes Alan's 1986 revision as well, which has me puzzled based on his post above. In any event, there is also an utter lack of discussion regarding the falsetto.  So who is that and when was it done?  Some parts do indeed sound just like a mid-80's Brian to my ears, but I suppose that is not to be...

Yes... because it's the same vocal copied and flown in from the third verse.

Maybe someone could ask Bruce about the falsetto?

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Woops.  :-\

Interestingly, the original report on the May 1982 "California Dreamin'" vocal session at Rumbo (printed in the Summer '82 issue of "Add Some Music") was that it "featured the entire Beach Boy vocal ensemble - including Carl and Brian".  Reason Carl would be specifically mentioned is that he had just then returned to the band.  But since both Jeff and Adrian were in the band at the time (and both are credited with "backup" on the Radio Shack "Rock and Roll City" cassette released a year later - which included, of course, the original '82 version of this track) my guess is they are BOTH on it.  They were certainly part of the "Beach Boy vocal ensemble" at the time.

Regarding the saxophone - it's on the '82 version, as well...my recollection (without actually digging out both versions to compare) is that they just added some digital delay to it for the '86 version.

And, I always wondered why Al's verse WAS repeated - word for word - instead of using the Mama & Papa's lyrics of "If I didn't tell her, I could leave today". ???

I didn't get that either - especially since on the C50 tour they sang that verse, not a repeat.

Yes, very true. I was thinking of the first part of the instrumental break, where the '82 version's synth and nylon guitar were replaced with the electric 12-string guitar. Interesting that Baker, Foskett, and Brian could all be on it!

I'd have to pull both mixes out to compare, but I recall some other subtle differences. I think the '86 version added some percussion overdubs during the instrumental break as well.

It does sound like Al's '82 lead vocal could likely have been splced and re-copied to the front of the '86 mix, but Carl's lead vocal is a different take on the '86 version, obviously very similar but different enough to tell they are different takes. I remember reading that Carl was ticked off when the BB version was issued in 1983; presumably he felt it was done without his knowledge/approval. In any event, they either used a second vocal take of Carl's from '82, or he re-recorded it in '86.

Just did an A/B lightly frosted with a little research and yes, Carl did re-cut his 2nd verse vocal for the 1986 version. Thus, not all the vocals date from 1982. Who was the idiot who stated that ?  :o

great comments everybody....

Thankyou.

now I wonder where that multitrack is....

Rb