The Smiley Smile Message Board

A recent topic was Carl vs. Al on Wouldn't It Be Nice...now whose live lead vocal do you prefer on Sloop John B?

Carl (60's through 90's)
Al (70's through today)
Bruce (briefly during the mid 2000's, he did that first verse alone, later Chris Farmer took over)
Mike (his part in the middle)
Brian (during the late 70's, early 80's)
Brian (late 90's to now)

I ran this same poll on the setlist archive back in 1999.  Here are the results (only 36 votes):

Which Beach Boy does the best LIVE lead vocal on SLOOP JOHN B?

 
Mike Love (on select verses) (3) 8%     
 
Carl Wilson (60's-90's) (14) 39%     
 
Al Jardine (70's-90's) (12) 33%     
 
Brian Wilson (70's-80's) (4) 11%     
 
Bruce Johnston (1998-now) (3) 8%     
 
You can view this poll, and other old polls from the setlist archive here:

http://members.tripod.com/~fun_fun_fun/oldpolls.html

I've always been very fond of the Carl lead version on Live In London '69('68).

Eric just out of interest (since you started this topic) who did you vote for?

Carl for me, hands down. Always thought he should have done lead on the official release after hearing his lead from the Pet Sounds box.

It was between Carl and Al, but I went with Carl.

I love Al's vocals...but I just gotta go with Carl on this one.

I voted Al. But the second after I did so I realised that I really do enjoy Mike's section.

I voted for Brian, but my favourite is the Knebworth-style Brian-Mike-Carl trade-off of verses.

I voted for Carl (60's thru 90's); my favorite filmed one being 1976 on the It's OK NBC TV special.

I couldn't vote for Brian because, too many times, he either came in late or gave away the "Poor cook he got the fits" part...

On all songs including the Beach Boys, I always prefer the same vocalist if possible who did the original recording (for better or worse). As many of the groups get older and personal changes force some swapping around of course there is the need to change leads. The BBs were lucky in that Brian and Carl were hard to tell apart at times so could cover those leads in concert.
What I find hard is going to concerts and hearing a lead sung by someone who was not even in the group when that song was recorded.

I hear ya TOA....basically: welcome to the mike and bruce show?

at least jeff foskett sounds like brian...but he doesnt sing lead too often...maybe too much on the little girl i once knew

Did Brian sing it at the Hawaii 1967 show? I cannot remember off the top of my head.

For my money, it's gotta be Carl on WIBN, but Al on Sloop...

I disagree. Foskett to my ears sounds A LOT different to a young Brian Wilson.

Ok dug out the Hawaii show Brian sings it and for the most part sounds really good. He comes in a little late at one point and the harmonies are little rough but it's the closest to the record.

Hands down for me would be Carl.
Just listen to his singing of it on "In Concert '73".
Carl all the way on Sloop John B.

Bri