I'll also add that a lot of percussion instruments record a lot sharper sounding than they do acoustically in a room, something about the transients.  Castanets in particular are prone to sounding much thinner and clickier on record than they do in a room.

Yeah but that the Sloop John B intro sounds vastly different than San Miguel intro. I have some LP Castanets, which are meant to emulate the old sound. They do sound like the San Miguel sound, but not Sloop. That was one reason why I asked if Hal's castanets are over-dubbed / multi-tracked or if he intentional plays them a little off on an over-dub to give them more 'space'... Or if some delay/echo is applied after one tracking to give it a fuller sound. I think Sloop's intro uses something totally different than castanets. Doesn't sound close to that sound. I'm guessing a muted temple block.


Another question - does anyone know why 'Things We Did Last Summer' was left unreleased for so long? I think it's a great sounding record, albeit a little different than other tracks at the time. Perhaps it didn't fit? Has there ever been a definitive reasoning?

This is utterly fascinating and super appreciated. Thank you. Do you have an idea of the bass tone for Anna Lee? Or I’m so Young, equipment wise to get that sound?

What is the muted clicky wood block sound at the beginning of Sloop John B?

What are the castanets sounds on all The Beach Boys records? Like San Miguel for example. Can anyone link to some examples that sound like The Beach Boys / Hal used? I have bought some LP castanets and they sound nothing like their records.

Who is singing on the end vocal harmony stack of don’t go near the water? Was this Brian’s idea and arrangement? I have always loved that ending so much

Thanks for the reply. I’m obsessed with your videos. I watch them all… multiple times too!

Still some questions left unanswered. Though im sure some are destined to be unknown.
Im just really curious about the truck drivin man questions now. Perhaps C Man will know?

We know that this song may have been the straw that broke Mike’s back.
It’s also also known that Carl and Dennis provided overdubs for the song during 20/20 sessions.

Here’s some of my rambling questions:

Did Brian produce these over dubs? Or oversee it?
Did Brian provide instructions or ideas (whether ‘original vintage’ ideas or ‘new’) for the instrumental overdubs?
Did Brian provide instructions for vocal overdubs?
Were the ‘truck drivin’ man lyrics written back during Smile? Or new?
Who’s idea was it for the truck drivin man to be buried as a hidden verse?
Was the truck drivin man hidden verse a vintage idea or just included for 20/20
Was Brian present for this overdub? Did he pick Dennis for this or did he volunteer himself?
We know Dennis was proud of the truck drivin man line. Have other Boys commented on it?

“Think I’ll stop here”

Thanks.

I believe that Come Go With Me is entirely Al in the intro. Perhaps the entire song.

Isn’t Cuddle Up all Dennis?

Had the same reaction to this song and actually for awhile I thought of it as autobiographical to Brian's life, which I sounded incredibly tragic and sad to me and it made me have a deep emotional connection with the song. Then I read Jack wrote the lyrics and literally meant it about a tree (and the environment in general) and it disappointed me a bit to know Brian didn't write it. Still it is an amazing bit of writing and the song is definitely one of the most beautiful songs Brian wrote, along with Til I Die and Surfs up, which I feel elevate the album higher than it actually is. There are some weaker songs like Take a Load Off Your Feet, Student demonstration time and Disney Girls which are so much weaker than the other songs. At least even the silly Don't Go Near The Water is quite brilliant musically and has nice piano playing from Brian. I do agree that Dennis's songs would have helped quite a bit and it's a shame they were left off.

Gee I hate to spoil anything else for you but Brian didn't play piano on Don't Go Near the Water - that was Al and Daryl Dragon.

Al jardine played piano on DgntW?

Didn’t he also play guitar on the unreleased ‘Thank him’?

Did other beach boys ever comment on a day in the life of a tree and or jacks vocals on it?

I've always loved this song, even in boot form. I can't stop listening to it now it much better quality. How could this have gone unreleased? Does it have something to do with Rick Henn? Same with Soulful Old Man - he was involved in this song too. I recall him saying that the Beach Boys were goofing off during that track. Did him working with their dad have something to do with both of these great songs being left in the can?

Has there ever been a list? I feel like I’ve asked before. Maybe I dreamed it.

"She kills people, withered hands"

I knew the original line I just sometimes like to imagine an alternate Anna Lee where she isn't a healer .. but a ... killer

I feel like I saw a topic on this, but I can't find it. Surfermoon has been down for quite some time. I recall reading that the owner is apparently sick. Does anyone have a way to get into contact with him to potentially restore it or pass the domain on? If it's a money issue I will happily contribute. I used to enjoy reading chord changes while listening to songs. I'm sure many others did as well.

Do we know what if any participation Marilyn had vocally? Sounds like she is on Feel Flows backing, or am I mistaken?

Do we know what the orange juice cups looked like? or a modern equivalent? These cups were played with drum sticks? Seems too heavy. I always assumed xylophone sticks, chop sticks, etc - something lighter.

Yeah who is doing the bass scat vocal? I always go back and forth. I lean toward it being Dennis … but he never sounded like that again.  It sounds unique for Mike as well.

Looks like it is called: Dead Man’s Curve: The Rock ’n’ Roll Life of Jan Berry. I need to pick this up soon!

Just posting this because Mark has written another book entitled: 'The Jan & Dean Record: A Chronology of Studio Sessions, Live Performances and Chart Positions'.

Are there more rakes of ‘let’s live before we die’? Or was it completed? Why would the band leave this one unreleased? Even as an instrumental it is stellar.

I've read before and I was just reminded watching a video that Billy Hinsche was asked to replace Bruce around 1969 and he turned it down. Is this true? If Bruce was sacked - how much do you think that would have altered the history of the Boys? It seems Bruce was always kind of on the verge of being kicked out....

What is how deep is the ocean from 65?

Big talk to a guy who was better at being a beach boy knock off before becoming a beach boy. Then hardly contributing songs. Him and Al have got to be some of the luckiest musicians of all time.

I was looking up Sunflower on Wikipedia... I'm hype for the box set, leave me alone! And I saw that All I Wanna Do lead vocals are credited to 'Love with Johnston'. Yes I know it's Wikipedia and my neighbors dog can edit it, but is this taken from anything... 'official'? I can hear almost everyone singing on the track (except Dennis, is he on it?) but I don't specifically hear Bruce.

Am I missing something? Is this an 'official' credit from somewhere? I hear clear Mike lead with some delay on his voice, and definitely Carl and Brian. I'm sure Al is there but this period is harder to distinguish Al and Brian. I don't specifically hear Bruce.

Historians?

Can anyone translate some of them?