Never seen this one before, love it! He looked really good in the Sunflower era.

I'd play "Please Let Me Wonder" followed by the original "Gettin ' In Over My Head".

Even live versions of "Please Let Me Wonder" of BW solo hit the mark...that is the one song where he sings like his young self on the verses.

"Caroline, No" as well Billy. He always knocks that one outta the park.

I think I agree that they all were "strongest" by some measure and their various strengths were used to best advantage.

A very good point, Brian took Dennis, who was perhaps not the strongest vocalist in pitch and accuracy and used his voice as a key part to what makes the BB harmony so beautiful, chilling and gives it the bollocks. And it my opinion, it was that experience that gave Dennis the experience to become such a superb lead vocalist from I'd say 1969-1977, probably his best vocal era. Not that his vocals on "Do You Wanna Dance" or the "Girls on the Beach" middle eight aren't superb, but his lead vocals on the Sunflower stuff, "Sound of Free," POB, "Cuddle Up" and a lot else have an intensity, passion and beauty that were second only to BW in his prime. Carl had the best technical voice by miles, but only when he was completely dialed in did he put in the passion his other brothers did in their prime. All of this is my ears talking.

On BWPS Surf's Up, is it Brian doing the falsetto "a children's song", or Jeffrey Foskett? I've heard people say both.

To my ears, it's Brian doing it very well...maybe a bit of support from Jeff but it has (to me anyway), a Wilsonian tinge to it.

In regards to your question, I do know from what AGD posted awhile back that Crosby messed up "Sloop John B" the first time through and they did another take (and Crosby is quoted in the extras as saying he could do "Sloop" in his sleep...heh) and Aimee Mann and the fellow she sang with had problems had did five takes of IJWMFTT, the fourth of which was used. And REMEMBER that the WHOLE Pet Sounds album was performed, but only some of it was released on the DVD...which pisses me off of course

Elton sounds great on this, I remember, and the sad part is his voice would detiorate soon after. Brian is in great form, he looks scared during some of it but his H+V is just superb, remember this was the first time he ever performed this song live as a solo artist, "Love and Mercy" sounds beautiful, and I'll be damned if he doesn't almost out-do Elton. Billy Joel sounds good I remember, and I quite liked Ann and Nancy Wilson's "Good Vibrations," and Paul Simon's "Surfer Girl," which was superb. And yes, Ricky was horrific.

Well notice it was Celebration not the Beach Boys, and to the best of my understanding Dennis was never a member of that group, Carl only for one gig and Al I'm not sure but I don't think he was either. This was mid-1978, Bruce didn't come back to the fold until the Criteria sessions later that year.

American Bandstand Celebration interview, Brian looks so cool even though 1978 was a pretty hard year for him:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umZABFae6ak&feature=related

Never, EVER, thought I'd see this.

Gosh that's horrible, if somebody that is in touch with her reads this---all of my condolences and sincere best wishes for the future. She never did a thing to anyone and the way some treated her was a travesty, I wish her the best and hope her situation improves.

The confusion stems from the fact that Brian's "Imagination," released in 98, was touted for its use of Pro Tools -- and people confused the obvious pitch correction on Brian's vocals on that record with Pro Tools itself. Not the same thing at all.

It's more than that--it plays into culture as a whole, unfortunately people only read bottom-lines. A good example is when people say someone was "photoshopped" out of a picture. No, they weren't. They were cropped out of the picture.

Carl, 1989, on the Live in London album:
"They had a remote there and we didn't want it to come out. It had a lot of energy, but we thought it was one of those nights where we were real zippy. We were blazing through the set and it sounded real fast to us."

http://s115.photobucket.com/albums/n295/guitarfool2002/?action=view&current=CarlWilsonp2.jpg

Shucks...forgot about OCA...darn thats a toughie... revised list with my notes

List 2.0
POB/BAMBU disc set (a brilliant collection of a brilliant talent...genius in it's darkness and quirkiness...enough said)
BWPS (it's one of the main elements to why I'm such a big fan...even though most of it is vintage, it's an amazing collection, I love every minute of it and Brian sings beautfully)
TLOS (just right under BWPS, which is quite an achievement; I keep coming back to TLOS and it keeps rewarding me, it's so impressive that Brian AND Scotty were able to come up with such a cohesive work when Brian was in his mid-60s, and you can feel Bri's enthusiasm throughout)
BWRG (the best vocals Brian's accomplished in many years, creative arrangments that are pure BW, and a really satisfying album overall. The two new tracks are astonishing. Bursting with creativity.)
American Spring ("Sweet Mountain," "Forever," "Tennesse Waltz," "Thinkin' About You Baby" and ESPECIALLY "Sweet Mountain" are genius. Great arrangements and I love the Rovell voices, but not quite a cohesive album)
OCA (I love this album, well most of it, there's a few duffer cuts. VDP wrote really imaginative songs, the title cut is INSANE when you try to work it out musically; and Brian's vocals are adventurous and spirited--although he's capable of better today. Just a calming, relaxing, gorgeous album...with a bit of duffer)
The Flame (patchier than some say, but the only cuts I don't really enjoy are "Hey Lord," "Make it Easy," "Dove" and the reprise that ends the album. The rest is genius, from the great uptempo "See the Light," the beautiful "Highs and Lows," the Beatle brilliance of "Another Day Like Heaven," the great folky feel of "Lady," and the energetic "Get Your Mind Made Up." Should've been a hit)
BW88 (The most substantial new work Brian did in over a decade. Seriously good songs. "Melt Away," "Love and Mercy," "Baby Let Your Hair Grow Long," "Meet me In My Dreams Tonight" and "Rio Grande," are as solid a nucleus as one could hope for. Not the best arrangments, they are of the time and the mixing burries the cool bits. Brian's lead vocals are really good. Basically, an update of the Love You sound with better performances and the same share of awkward lyrics, but without the brilliant arrangments of LY)
Live at the Roxy (worth it alone for the great version of "Lay Down Burden" with amazing harmonies. Has some great moments throughout)
IJWMFTT (Very adequate collection that ages better than I thought it would)
PFC (Jardine can't quite come up with a full album of good material, and he can barely write a song on his own, but his voice alone makes this essential. "Don't Fight the Sea" is highly satisfying and the title cut has some great moments as well, the remake of "California Feelin'" is very soulful. The rest is pleasant if not terrible scintilating)
CW (a couple of great songs, "Hold Me," "Heaven" and "What You Gonna Do About Me" I enjoy particularly, and boy can this man do anything with his voice, but bland overall)
WIRWFC (some great arrangments and BW sings well throughout, the two new cuts are terrific, but the rest is pleasant if nothing more)
I (too overprocessed for my tastes and lacking the typical edge BW material usually has. That being said, the title cut is amazing even in this form, "South American" I like a lot, "Happy Days" is quirky enough for me to love, "Cry" has some great moments too. The rest is beneath BW standards except for "Lay Down Burden," I HATE this recording but love this song)
YB (boring throughout)
GIOMH (beneath BW, but "You've Touched Me" and "City Blues" are well above average, and "Friend Like You" I've always liked. Still, quite a tough listen)
LBWL (too cheesy for my tastes)
Never heard, Goin' Public, not a ton of desire to do so.
What I've heard of "Pet Sounds Live" I didn't particularly care for, but the DVD is wonderful.

I'm going to seek out the Blondie Chaplin albums soon. I'm impressed by the samples I've heard.

What if he asks Andrew G. Doe to help him finish the vocals now?

Row I rate them:
POB/BAMBU disc set
BWPS
TLOS
BWRG (those three are interchangebale sometimes---pretty much a holy trinity)
BW88
IJWMFTT
PFC
WIRWFC
I
YB
CW
GIOMH
LBWL
Never heard, Goin' Public, not a ton of desire to do so.

From Carlin's terrific tome, p.148
"But Brian had complained bitterly about this violation of the stillborn Smile and then refused to participate in the vocal sessions Carl scheduled to add an extra layer to  'Prayer.' "He was superstitious about those tunes," Desper remembers. "He'd leave the house when the guys were working on them. He didn't want anything to do with them, really."

Abominination? Honestly, if you don't care for it that's one thing. What really blew my mind about BWPS, aside from the fact that Brian sang really well on the studio version, was that all of the pieces went together, everything clicked and that's something that unfortunately no other Smile recordings can quite capture to the full extent. It all made sense, Brian was writing endless variations on a theme and he knew what he was doing. The studio recordings from 1966 are, IMHO, better constructed and better sung than the 2004 disc, that's a given. However, they still remain fragments and incomplete. The Smile Sessions set coming this year will be mindblowing to say the least, I have no doubt; but I will always view the 2004 release as it's playmate if you will. They complement each other nicely and I have a sentimental attachment to both. Deep breath.

We really need to put a cap on these BB over Beatles threads...it's getting old, but that's just my opinion.

Al? He's less than 5-5, he's probably never bullied a person in his life lol

In 73 Dennis still had a fine voice. Yes, he didn't sing on the Holland cuts, but live recordings prove he could still sing as well as before. Which is one of the reasons I'm still PISSED he's not on the In Concert album singing.

Catbirdman, if I can ask about a few of those, get your comments on them:

Baby, Baby. This is a Dennis song from 1971.

I've always had an interest in this one, it's a bit of a rocker right? Love to hear it one day.

Solar System. Instrumental track only.

This has to be killer, gosh I'm jealous.

Intro – Ecology

What's that like?

Had To Phone Ya. Instrumental track.

I've heard this, it's glorious.

STOP IT EVERYONE, I'M GETTING JEALOUS

The Beatles were excellent musicians, songwriters, and human beings.  They didn't need to steal SMiLE, they were capable of creating something just as good, or even in fact better on their own.   

Right on, Ron

You know what, I never cared for Bruce Willis as an actor. Never did anything for me. Carry on boys

TD, wasn't Brian on one of the songs on the Elton John/Leon Russell album released last year?

Yep, he sings backgrounds on "When Love is Dying." I love that song though critical opinion is divided. Elton said that when Brian came to the studio he and Leon hugged each other for about a minute and a half.

At the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony that aired tonight, Elton John was going through a long list of the people Leon played on and included the comment "all of the Beach Boys records---including Pet Sounds." I'm a huge Leon Russell and Elton John fan, really; but that made me laugh. Just thought I'd share it with everyone. From a scroll through c-man's great website, I know he played on:
Do You Wanna Dance
Help Me Ronda
Kiss Me Baby
In the Back of My Mind
Sherri She Needs Me
Salt Lake City
California Girls
Let Him Run Wild

But did he actually play on anything from Pet Sounds??

Bruce is playing guitar! That's crazy!