BB studio recordings with some bandmembers not vocally present?

[CenturyDeprived]

AGD might be able to help on this one.. There was a rule started in the early 80"s that there had to be at least 3 BB on a vocal track to consider it a BB track..  Out of 6 BB. So it gets dicey at that point for sure.. It probably started after the incident on the runway September 1977.. Or at least sometime in 1977-78 because this is where Billy Hinsche  is present in the blend in the studio.. Love You MIU he is for sure on those..

If that rule was implemented in the early 80's, it didn't last long - case in point : the "Barbie - Living Doll" flexidisc. Or "Wipeout"... And probably more.

Read the Wilson Project.  There was a near stand off in Hawaii to get three members to "record" vocals for "The Spirit of R&R" for the 25th Anniversary Special.  Al and Carl refused due to Landy's involvement but ultimately Bruce and Mike showed up making it an official Beach Boy recording and allowing the song to be on the special.  Also, Usher discusses the rather odd Wipeout recording session with Mike and Al both being present to put their vocals on the track.  He also describes how Brian rather quickly and deftly (to Usher's surprise) gave them their parts.

This is news to me (admittedly, I have yet to lay my hands on a copy of the Wilson Project) but my point still stands, this rule didn't last long. Your story seems to indicate it was still valid in 1986, but 1987's "Barbie - Living Doll" features a single Beach Boy on a Beach Boys record.

The following newspaper sure is interesting though: "A spokesman for the Beach Boys said all the members of the group had been in favor of recording 'Living Doll'. 'They all wanted to do it,' he said. 'No one argued against it.'"

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19880302&id=Ug8QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=C4wDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7016,230509

Don't know what to tell about that Barbie deal, that's actually an interesting point. But I'm pretty sure the 3 Beach Boy stipulation was still in effect in the late 90's as well hence the Nascar cd not being credited to the Beach Boys

Was the 3-member vocal stipulation an attempt to retain some quality control to material that would be released under the BB name? Because if that were it, there were certainly some turds that got through anyway.

Or maybe just a politically democratic attempt to make sure that every BB member would "sign off" on a recording?

[Mr. Wilson]

Im  sorry but I don't buy that BB wanted to record BARBIE.. If they wouldn't record stuff done with Don Was or Andy Paley  Or Landy  for that matter why would they record this POOP..  Somebody get me a shovel to clean this up.. !  Its obvious its BW alone and its a POOR song at its best.. this song clearly shows how much damage has been done to BW..In his PRIME he wouldn't even record this let alone release it.. I lot of sub standard stuff that has been booted that  is clearly POOP but to release something like this is unbelievable.. Bw clearly doesnt recognize this but he USED too.. I find this SAD.. Wilson Project Book Gary Usher says the same thing..  I hope I haven't offended anyone but it  is IMHO.. I wouldn't DARE play that song for anyone.. And I have dearly loved the BB for 51 years And it hurts to say it..

[Gabo]

I'm Waiting For The Day is reportedly all Brian, though the bass vocal does sound like Mike to me

[Sheriff John Stone]

While Bruce did a really nice job cleaning up the harmonies (maybe making them a little too slick at times) on L.A. (Light Album), I don't hear a lot of individual Beach Boys' voices on some of the tracks. On "Baby Blue" I just hear Dennis and Carl, on Carl's tracks, "Full Sail" and "Goin' South", I don't hear many/any other Beach Boys; same with "Love Surrounds Me" and even "Shortenin' Bread" (just Dennis and Carl).

I asked in an earlier post and am really curious. Is Brian Wilson on "Sail On Sailor"?

[Andrew G. Doe]

I asked in an earlier post and am really curious. Is Brian Wilson on "Sail On Sailor"?

Depends. I personally don't hear him, and the way the session is related, his only contact was via the phone... but according to SWD, the released version makes considerable use of a version he recorded with Brian back in 1971. One of the enduring BB mysteries.

[Phoenix]

I'm Waiting For The Day is reportedly all Brian

I hadn't heard that.

[adamghost]

While Bruce did a really nice job cleaning up the harmonies (maybe making them a little too slick at times) on L.A. (Light Album), I don't hear a lot of individual Beach Boys' voices on some of the tracks. On "Baby Blue" I just hear Dennis and Carl, on Carl's tracks, "Full Sail" and "Goin' South", I don't hear many/any other Beach Boys; same with "Love Surrounds Me" and even "Shortenin' Bread" (just Dennis and Carl).

I asked in an earlier post and am really curious. Is Brian Wilson on "Sail On Sailor"?

The bulk of the backups on "Baby Blue" are Bruce and Carl, with Dennis of course.
"Full Sail", Bruce and Carl, Geoffrey Cushing-Murray, and possibly Dennis.
"Goin' South", Bruce and Carl, possibly Dennis (or someone other than Mike) on bass.
IIRC a contemporary interview suggests it's all Bruce and Carl on "Sumahama."
You may be right about just Dennis and Carl (and Christine McVie or another female singer whose name I do not remember) on "Love Surrounds Me."
Dennis, Carl and Bruce for sure on "Shortenin' Bread."  I think Al may be on that one, but I can't prove it aurally.

Not ruling out cameos by other members on a part here and there, but my point is, with the possible exception of "Love Surrounds Me," Bruce is on all the tracks you mentioned.

I don't believe Brian is on "Sail On Sailor" at all but C-Man could tell you for sure.

[punkinhead]

I've always loved Bruce's evident backing vocals on Full Sail.

[Ebb and Flow]

I'm Waiting For The Day is reportedly all Brian, though the bass vocal does sound like Mike to me

This is not the case.  Besides the bass vocal, Mike is audible at 1:09 ("Baby don'tcha know")  and he's doing the "No"'s and "uh-uh" starting at 2:37 on the tag.  This is clearer if you listen to the vocal inserts on the SOT box.  What has been suggested by some is that Brian did the backing vocals by himself, but the 5.1 mix makes the BGV's clearer and you can definitely hear at least Carl on them, not to mention that you can hear a voice that is not Brian's say "that's it" at the end of the vocal only track.

[clinikillz]

While Bruce did a really nice job cleaning up the harmonies (maybe making them a little too slick at times) on L.A. (Light Album), I don't hear a lot of individual Beach Boys' voices on some of the tracks. On "Baby Blue" I just hear Dennis and Carl, on Carl's tracks, "Full Sail" and "Goin' South", I don't hear many/any other Beach Boys; same with "Love Surrounds Me" and even "Shortenin' Bread" (just Dennis and Carl).

I asked in an earlier post and am really curious. Is Brian Wilson on "Sail On Sailor"?

I thought for the longest time that Brian was on Sail On, Sailor. There's a voice on the song that sounds very much like a BW falsetto. I asked about it on here and was told that Brian was not on it. I wonder whose voice that is.