The Smiley Smile Message Board

Is this more a Mike Love or Brian Wilson song?

I'd like more info on the production of this song.

It's one of my favs.

I love it too. Sorry I don't know about its history.

Let The Wind Blow is also one of my favorite songs too.Not the studio version,but the "timeless", majestic Live version from "Beach Boys In Concert 1973".
Carls singing of LTWB sends a shiver up my spine everytime.It always takes me back to growing up in Media,Pa when I was 10 or 11 years old.Always been a fav that song........

Bri

I don't know the answer for sure, either.  However, just from listening to the song, I would bet my boot that Brian wrote the music and did the arrangement.  Perhaps Mike wrote the lyrics?

Mike wrote some of the music and the lyric. Brian wrote the rest of the melody and re-arranged it. What a wonderful little tune.

A great song, from my favourite album!!

Delightful tune.
Since the live double LP came out, I've preferred that version to the studio version.
Anyone else?

No way, studio version, MUCH better.

Carl's Wilson voice is fantastic, but it just doesn't have the punch of the original.

Agreed. Question, though...which musical parts were Mike's?

Yeah! Answer that.


BTW, AGD, your book is falling apart on me. That's almost the only BB book that I read and go back to millions of times. I hope that one day, you write another, but more text! =) I'll pre-order the sucker!

WHAT OF WHOM, I just bought a song off iTunes called Taking A Walk from the Daniel Johnston "lost recordings" album. Also, bought some other track off that album... forgot the titles. Good stuff.

Jeff, you f*ckin' rock, dude. Good taste, my man!

I love "Let the Wind Blow" and think it's a truly timeless song. I think both BB versions of the song are equally good. Carl's live version has a deep aching, longing, bluesy feel to it. The studio version has the trade-off ensemble vocals and, while Brian's piano gives it a bit more whistful feel, the vocals give the song the same sense of deep longing. Thumbs up to both versions!

Someone could ask Mike for my details about the genesis of this song. Great tune and the lyrics are simple but terrific IMO.

I'm pretty sure I was told that Mike wrote the verses, and Brian rearranged it into a wlatz, and added the chorus.

I always had a deep hatred for this song. I still don't know why. I like the other stuff on Wild Honey though  ;D

I have no knowledge, but the left hand of the piano during the verse sure sounds like a bass part Brian would write.

Was there ever a release of the version of this song from American Family? I like how they played a few bars of just the backround vocals and then Brian comes in singing his heart out on the chorus. I really dig the background vocals to this tune.

Great song. I still think Brian was as good as ever in the late 60s.

I was thinking about how Mike's original version sounded like. Imagine it blues based, just the verses in 4/4, without the beautiful harmony/answers to the vocal lines. Very simple, but a good start for a great tune.

I've been wanting a copy of the same thing. The background vocals are 'hauntingly beautiful.'  ;D

ALthough I played it at least a couple times from the GV box set, the song never meant anything to me until I heard the song on American Familiy....The vocals are incredible by Brian, one can really feel his pain; yet the back-up's are kind of blissful??? Is that the right word to describe the background vocals?? I would love for to find the version from the movie.

Is this American Family version 'today' Brian with his band?

No, it's the 67 version, but like they re- edited it or remixed it somehow.

At least they didn't get Brian to sing some new lead vocals for it like they do for a few of the other songs..

The first time I saw the boys (March 30 1972 @Ga Tech , tickets 3 dollars) Mike prefaced LTWB ,by saying he wrote the song on the way to the studio. Maybe he should just ride around all day , he could write some wonderful tunes.
astroray

Remember Brian's version on IJWMFTT ? Great singing, although his voice isn't as strong as in his earlier years.

What songs did they get Brian to do new vocals for?

Can't remember, maybe In My Room or something? AGD may have to fill in here, but it was Brian of the time (1999?) singing, with the young Brian miming to it, obviously it was very jarring to see/hear.

It was "In my room" and "I get around" for which Brian sang new parts.

Anyone know if there is the version from the American Family out there?

Brian problably came up with the bass line while arranging an instrumental track for Mike's original verse melody, changing the meter in the process.

Yeah, the american family version made me love the song. I liked it when I heard, then loved it when i heard it on that dopey TV movie.

If it's out there, I'd like to know. =)

I just listened to a concert where Mike introduces this song as a prayer that Brian added music to. Just wanted to add that, might not be very important.

Thats interesting....it does have a prayerful quality to it.