Final question from me today? Who played on (Wouldn’t It Be Nice To) Live Again? It sounds like Dennis on piano. I hear a moog, a Celeste (both simple), flutes (I think that’s Charles Lloyd), and some pretty complex bass and drums.

And before my curiosity gets the better of me, what about 4th of July? BTW the version on the box set sounds really bad it’s not even funny. Worse than San Miguel & I Just Got My Pay. I love all three songs though.

Alright I’ve changed my mind. I really dig this tune!

Thanks! I just don’t like the way the vocals are sung. I don’t actually mind the lyrics that much. Maybe I’ll have another listen.

Do we know who played on Transcendental Mediation (the song)? I hear saxophones, and a saxophone solo in there. Drums are pretty jazzy so maybe a drummer with a jazz background (like Earl Palmer maybe  ). Other than bass I don’t really hear anything else, is that it? I like this instrumental track but the song itself... kinda blows.

I hope Brian is receiving royalties from this latest ripoff of his life... 
https://youtu.be/t93lmyT32hk

Ah Paramount. Never fails to disappoint with new releases.

"The falsetto? I remember reading it was Carl, although personally I thought it was Bruce."

There are two falsettos on this track.  During the bridge, Carl sings the falsetto after Dennis' line "I dream of you..."  For decades I thought this falsetto was Brian but Alan Boyd confirmed it was Carl.  The second falsetto comes on the tag of the track.   This falsetto is Bruce.  Bruce also provided falsetto on Pacific Ocean Blue (notably on End of the Show).

Just to cycle back here, the falsetto on the tag is actually Carl as well. I know this because I myself thought it was Brian, and I was over at Alan Boyd's house one night and he played me the soloed tag vocals. I was wrong; it was Carl.

That’s right, it was discussed in another thread years back.

Also, hi. Recently joined a couple of weeks ago but have been a lurker here for years.

I’m not doing it but if you must I would recommend doing this before prices increase. Just a financial tip.

Thank you both for the information and thanks for the “feels” explanation, that’s really interesting to know. Yeah, I’m pretty much good for today at least. I’m gonna be pretty busy today so I won’t ask too many questions. I’ll be available again at around 4PM Maryland time.

Before I get too off topic I wanna add another question to the mix:

Who played on Sea Cruise? I’ve heard the drums were Dennis on the “Dennis as a studio drummer” thread on here, and the keyboards (piano and organ) sound very quirky and Brian-like. I also hear saxophones (probably regulars Steve & Jay), a guitar part very similar to that on Palisades Park in terms of style, a bass guitar, a tambourine and a whip sound similar to that used by Ricky Fataar on Just Once In My Life.

And that leaves me to my 2nd question: what is making that whip sound in both songs?

Explain what you mean by the same chord sequence.  One could argue that both songs do a little back and forth on the minor v and minor ii chords, but that hardly qualifies as "literally the same song".  Brian reuses these patterns a lot.

Yeah I messed that up. Indeed one song could use the same chord changes and yet be completely different songs.

Well, you've hit on a very interesting phenomenon.  I actually did a video about one of Brian's pet right-hand chord patterns, which hardly scratched the surface of all the times he used it.  I think it's great that he manages to find so much creative use out of the same thing, over and over again.

Here's that video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oFOC0VPN7w

Thank you! That was a really good video! Even with the simplest chords, Brian could always turn it into something phenomenal!

Explain what you mean by the same chord sequence.  One could argue that both songs do a little back and forth on the minor v and minor ii chords, but that hardly qualifies as "literally the same song".  Brian reuses these patterns a lot.

Yeah I messed that up. Indeed one song could use the same chord changes and yet be completely different songs.

Oops I need to explain these things more. The link you provided has the same chord sequence in the first two minutes, except that it’s in 4/4 and or course a completely different song.

Al on Boogalooed.

Ooohh more Brian songs (again people already knew this): Sandy.


Do It Again

You’re As Cool As Can Be 2

I’d Love Just Once To See You (with Carl, and Carl’s the more prominent bass here)

And possibly Games Two Can Play.

Also, and I just realized this. In the first two minutes, half of that is literally a 4/4 version of Let The Wind Blow. Quite the coincidence if you ask me.

Alright so it’s Brian on piano and Carl on bass. That makes me feel better. I wonder where on earth they would’ve thought that Brian played bass instead that they literally changed it on Wikipedia. That’s a ridiculous and pointless situation. Imagine how many people the person who changed it might have been fooled.

Thus putting Carl on bass (unless if there’s a guitar on the basic)?

I can tell you that the falsetto on California Dreamin’ isn’t Bruce. That’s all though. I’m listening to it right now and I have no idea.

Once again, it's really important to specify which exact vocal one is talking about when trying to determine its singer - "the falsetto" will never accurately describe one part of a beach boys song, and definitely doesn't narrow it down on California Dreamin'. There are many many backing parts, lots of which are high. Which part are you looking for? Could you transcribe it?

I believe HeyJude was referring to the one near the end. His post above might explain it better than I could.

Who plays the bass on Aren’t You Glad? From my understanding it was Carl because of how the bass sounded, but for whatever reason on Wikipedia it was switched to Brian, which just doesn’t sound right. Was it Carl? As soon as I saw that happen on Wikipedia I began questioning anyone and everyone that could have possibly made that change.

I can tell you that the falsetto on California Dreamin’ isn’t Bruce. That’s all though. I’m listening to it right now and I have no idea.

I’ve always wondered about All I Want To Do. The only thing I’ve seen about the song is that the drums are Mike Kowalski (and even that was Wikipedia). Then there was the fuzz bass, the lead guitar, the piano and the horns. No idea. Is there any information? Judging by the lack of results I assume not. It sounds like mostly session musicians and not the boys, it’s a really tight arrangement.

Remember that less documentation usually means no session musicians.

That’s a good point. That fuzz bass rocks though. Maybe Mike, Daryl & Ed were utilized.

I’ve always wondered about All I Want To Do. The only thing I’ve seen about the song is that the drums are Mike Kowalski (and even that was Wikipedia). Then there was the fuzz bass, the lead guitar, the piano and the horns. No idea. Is there any information? Judging by the lack of results I assume not. It sounds like mostly session musicians and not the boys, it’s a really tight arrangement.

It's most likely Brian and Brian, although no way to be absolutely certain, as the tracking session and first generation tape don't survive.

Really? I guess probably.

Do we know who played bass & the organ on Do It Again?

That depends on your definition of the word "know"....

Actually aside from the guitars (Carl and Al) and the drums (John Guerin & Dennis, with the former also on tambourine and woodblock), I have no idea who could’ve played the other instruments. The bass sounds a bit easy (there’s a tab on Ultimate Guitar’s website) and the organ is simplistic too.

Do we know who played bass & the organ on Do It Again?