Really? Still???

[c-man]

I would encourage everyone who reads this and gets pissed off to post in the comments section on Huffington Post, and someone track down Harold Bronson and tell him he's an idiot. The musicians on the Beach Boys hit version of I Get Around are...Brian Wilson - keyboards, Dennis Wilson - drums, Carl Wilson - guitar, Al Jardine - bass, Ray Pohlman - bass, Hal Blaine - extra percussion, Steve Douglas and Jay Migliori - saxes. It's really a shame that someone who should know, like Harold Bronson is perpetuating a myth with incorrect information.

...plus Glen Campbell on bass. Interestingly, Glen played the Dano bass on the basic track, and Ray doubled it at an overdub session eight days later.

[shadownoze]

So, unless the BB had mastered the art of time travel and devoted that knowledge to recording songs after they'd been released...  

That could be the answer. Brian insisted that he Wasn't Made For These Times. Perhaps he exists in ALL times.

[Mikie]

I thought I read before that Campbell played on I Get Around. Thought he played guitar on it though.

[37!ws]

Wow, BE was really slick, getting not only his advance, but, also somehow, yours. I sometimes wonder how deep a hole he really dug for himself, and if he'll ever have enough $$ to repay everyone he "borrowed" from.  maybe he's working on that now. 

FWIW, when the word came out that First Wave wasn't happening (literally the morning of the release date, btw), I asked for my money back, and two weeks later I got it...

[KittyKat]

Isn't it BRI's place to correct this type of info? They also have the most to gain and the most credibility if they're the ones complaining. Surely they must have at least some staff type who can use their e-mail address or letterhead to issue corrections.

As far as saying that members of the Wrecking Crew don't like rock and are therefore indifferent to caring about errors made in credits, I stand by that statement. It may not be true of all of them. Leon Russell, for example, can't be accused of looking down at rock. But reading past statements by Hal Blaine and Carol Kaye, in particular, seem to indicate they far preferred playing on a jazz or a Frank Sinatra session than on rock sessions. They thought the music was simplistic and it wasn't what they were raised on or trained for. Carol even called her surf music sessions, in her words, ditch-digger music. It was just something they did to pay the bills, even though Carol has praised Brian (but mostly for Pet Sounds, which is not surf or rock music).

[Rocker]

Just posted this on the Crew Facebook page: let's see how long it stays up.  

And the answer is, about 65 minutes.  

No, it's still there. I just "liked" it

[Fall Breaks]

Same here!

[Andrew G. Doe]

Yes... my utter and complete bad. My post was moved to a much less conspicuous position, but it's still there.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Wow, BE was really slick, getting not only his advance, but, also somehow, yours. I sometimes wonder how deep a hole he really dug for himself, and if he'll ever have enough $$ to repay everyone he "borrowed" from.  maybe he's working on that now. 

FWIW, when the word came out that First Wave wasn't happening (literally the morning of the release date, btw), I asked for my money back, and two weeks later I got it...

Count yourself exceedingly fortunate: there are backers he still owes tens of thousands of dollars.

[Mr. Wilson]

yes sir that was a scandal of high magnitude..  I had some small dealings with him that didn't turn out very well.. No money tho..

[startBBtoday]

Just posted this on the Crew Facebook page: let's see how long it stays up.  

"This article in the HuffPost - below - could have been less annoying had not Harold Bronson (who I met back in the 80s, and who is a very nice guy) relied on information taken from the wreckingcrew.tv site for "I Get Around". The AFM sheet he obviously saw and used is not for a BB session (as I, and Jon Stebbins) told Tommy Tedesco some two years ago when we first saw it. The glaring problems are:

1 - the session was dated nine days after the Beach Boys single was released.
2 - of the six titles listed, five of them have never been recorded by, or even associated with, the band.
3 - there's no flute on "IGA".
4 - the employer is listed as TM Music Inc. when it should be Capitol Records.
5 - the studio was RCA, which Brian hardly ever used
6 - the time of the track as listed is 1.58 whereas the Beach Boys release is 2.14.

In fact this AFM contract is for a Terry Melcher-produced session for the 1964 Catalinas album FUN FUN FUN... and the other two AFM contracts in that link similarly claiming to be for Beach Boys sessions are in fact for sessions for HOT ROD HIGH, a 1964 album by The Knights produced by the prolific Gary Usher, and The Hollyridge Strings BEACH BOYS SONGBOOK, an entirely instrumental album also released in 1964.

My point is this: the Crew were long denied their rightful recognition (and to some extent still are), but making basic and easily checkable errors like this isn't going to help the cause much (not to mention getting the geeks like me falling out of the trees).

And breathe..."

Has anyone ever heard these recordings?

[bgas]

Just posted this on the Crew Facebook page: let's see how long it stays up.  

"This article in the HuffPost - below - could have been less annoying had not Harold Bronson (who I met back in the 80s, and who is a very nice guy) relied on information taken from the wreckingcrew.tv site for "I Get Around". The AFM sheet he obviously saw and used is not for a BB session (as I, and Jon Stebbins) told Tommy Tedesco some two years ago when we first saw it. The glaring problems are:

1 - the session was dated nine days after the Beach Boys single was released.
2 - of the six titles listed, five of them have never been recorded by, or even associated with, the band.
3 - there's no flute on "IGA".
4 - the employer is listed as TM Music Inc. when it should be Capitol Records.
5 - the studio was RCA, which Brian hardly ever used
6 - the time of the track as listed is 1.58 whereas the Beach Boys release is 2.14.

In fact this AFM contract is for a Terry Melcher-produced session for the 1964 Catalinas album FUN FUN FUN... and the other two AFM contracts in that link similarly claiming to be for Beach Boys sessions are in fact for sessions for HOT ROD HIGH, a 1964 album by The Knights produced by the prolific Gary Usher, and The Hollyridge Strings BEACH BOYS SONGBOOK, an entirely instrumental album also released in 1964.

My point is this: the Crew were long denied their rightful recognition (and to some extent still are), but making basic and easily checkable errors like this isn't going to help the cause much (not to mention getting the geeks like me falling out of the trees).

And breathe..."

Has anyone ever heard these recordings?

Of course.

[c-man]

I thought I read before that Campbell played on I Get Around. Thought he played guitar on it though.

Nope. Dano bass.

[Mr. Wilson]

The Knights... The Hollywood Strings... The  Catalinas.. Albums that NOBODY bought.. ! I was 13 years old at the time and I collected surf music.. I didn't know anybody that had those LP's .. 1.99 bin on 1st release... Woolworth's.. All that stuff Usher + Melcher did..  And you can include Hot Doggers + Super Stocks.. POOP.. Why would you buy those bands singin FFF when you could buy BB version.. !! Probably the best selling LP was The Hollywood Strings.... IMHO if you collected surf music you bought BB  J+D  Surfaris  Dick Dale  Challengers  Ventures   Lively Ones  .. And 1 hit wonders like.. Fantastic Baggys  Hondells  Chantays  Astronauts  Ronnie + Daytona's   Trashmen   Marketts   T-Bones  Bruce + Terry  Ripchords   etc etc  Now some of those 1 hit wonders HAD the wrecking Crew on them.. How the wrecking crew confused BB with budget releases to fill Sears + Woolworth's cut out bin is beyond me..  I may have been 13 years old but I knew better than to buy The Knights etc   I apologize if I sound harsh but im just as upset as everyone else about history being re written.. And if you watch TAMI or lost concert you see the BB were good enough to play on their OWN records.... Heck Hot Rod High was 1st recorded by The Surfaris..   Oh in defense of Dennis Wilson on another thread.. He was accused of riding on Brian"s coat tails..  NOPE.. All the producers doin BB sound alike records + covering their records verbatim and then they end up in cutout bin were riding Brian's coat tails.. Not Dennis.. If you don't believe me then go find the records.. The truth is there..  I will go hide now since ive upset everyone..

[Mikie]

I thought I read before that Campbell played on I Get Around. Thought he played guitar on it though.

Nope. Dano bass.

I think I hear a harpsichord on the track. Is there a harpsichord? Or maybe it's the Dano bass.  It's the instrument where it sounds like the strings or loose or something; kinda twangy. It's probably a harpsichord.

You know, the vocal sessions/takes are missing. Too bad - I would love to hear that. Anybody know which 'I Get Around' session Brian threw Murry up against the wall in the studio? I'd love to hear that too.

[startBBtoday]

Just posted this on the Crew Facebook page: let's see how long it stays up.  

"This article in the HuffPost - below - could have been less annoying had not Harold Bronson (who I met back in the 80s, and who is a very nice guy) relied on information taken from the wreckingcrew.tv site for "I Get Around". The AFM sheet he obviously saw and used is not for a BB session (as I, and Jon Stebbins) told Tommy Tedesco some two years ago when we first saw it. The glaring problems are:

1 - the session was dated nine days after the Beach Boys single was released.
2 - of the six titles listed, five of them have never been recorded by, or even associated with, the band.
3 - there's no flute on "IGA".
4 - the employer is listed as TM Music Inc. when it should be Capitol Records.
5 - the studio was RCA, which Brian hardly ever used
6 - the time of the track as listed is 1.58 whereas the Beach Boys release is 2.14.

In fact this AFM contract is for a Terry Melcher-produced session for the 1964 Catalinas album FUN FUN FUN... and the other two AFM contracts in that link similarly claiming to be for Beach Boys sessions are in fact for sessions for HOT ROD HIGH, a 1964 album by The Knights produced by the prolific Gary Usher, and The Hollyridge Strings BEACH BOYS SONGBOOK, an entirely instrumental album also released in 1964.

My point is this: the Crew were long denied their rightful recognition (and to some extent still are), but making basic and easily checkable errors like this isn't going to help the cause much (not to mention getting the geeks like me falling out of the trees).

And breathe..."

Has anyone ever heard these recordings?

Of course.

I mean, like, on this board.

[Mr. Wilson]

Ya know some of those credits for other bands are suspect also I do believe..

[Andrew G. Doe]

Just posted this on the Crew Facebook page: let's see how long it stays up.  

"This article in the HuffPost - below - could have been less annoying had not Harold Bronson (who I met back in the 80s, and who is a very nice guy) relied on information taken from the wreckingcrew.tv site for "I Get Around". The AFM sheet he obviously saw and used is not for a BB session (as I, and Jon Stebbins) told Tommy Tedesco some two years ago when we first saw it. The glaring problems are:

1 - the session was dated nine days after the Beach Boys single was released.
2 - of the six titles listed, five of them have never been recorded by, or even associated with, the band.
3 - there's no flute on "IGA".
4 - the employer is listed as TM Music Inc. when it should be Capitol Records.
5 - the studio was RCA, which Brian hardly ever used
6 - the time of the track as listed is 1.58 whereas the Beach Boys release is 2.14.

In fact this AFM contract is for a Terry Melcher-produced session for the 1964 Catalinas album FUN FUN FUN... and the other two AFM contracts in that link similarly claiming to be for Beach Boys sessions are in fact for sessions for HOT ROD HIGH, a 1964 album by The Knights produced by the prolific Gary Usher, and The Hollyridge Strings BEACH BOYS SONGBOOK, an entirely instrumental album also released in 1964.

My point is this: the Crew were long denied their rightful recognition (and to some extent still are), but making basic and easily checkable errors like this isn't going to help the cause much (not to mention getting the geeks like me falling out of the trees).

And breathe..."

Has anyone ever heard these recordings?

Of course.

I mean, like, on this board.

Yes, I have. They're about as good as you'd imagine for six songs recorded in a three-hour session. The Usher tracks are like all his early 60s knockoffs - thin and weedy. I simply do not understand the adulation accorded him for the surf/drag stuff he wrote and produced in 1962-65.

[Andrew G. Doe]

The Knights... The Hollywood Strings... The  Catalinas.. Albums that NOBODY bought.. ! I was 13 years old at the time and I collected surf music.. I didn't know anybody that had those LP's .. 1.99 bin on 1st release... Woolworth's.. All that stuff Usher + Melcher did..  And you can include Hot Doggers + Super Stocks.. POOP.. Why would you buy those bands singin FFF when you could buy BB version.. !! Probably the best selling LP was The Hollywood Strings.... IMHO if you collected surf music you bought BB  J+D  Surfaris  Dick Dale  Challengers  Ventures   Lively Ones  .. And 1 hit wonders like.. Fantastic Baggys  Hondells  Chantays  Astronauts  Ronnie + Daytona's   Trashmen   Marketts   T-Bones  Bruce + Terry  Ripchords   etc etc  Now some of those 1 hit wonders HAD the wrecking Crew on them.. How the wrecking crew confused BB with budget releases to fill Sears + Woolworth's cut out bin is beyond me..  I may have been 13 years old but I knew better than to buy The Knights etc   I apologize if I sound harsh but im just as upset as everyone else about history being re written.. And if you watch TAMI or lost concert you see the BB were good enough to play on their OWN records.... Heck Hot Rod High was 1st recorded by The Surfaris..   Oh in defense of Dennis Wilson on another thread.. He was accused of riding on Brian"s coat tails..  NOPE.. All the producers doin BB sound alike records + covering their records verbatim and then they end up in cutout bin were riding Brian's coat tails.. Not Dennis.. If you don't believe me then go find the records.. The truth is there..  I will go hide now since ive upset everyone..

A lot of folk, myself included, consider this is why Carol Kaye thinks she played on "Surfin' USA": I'm pretty sure she played on a version of the song... just not the Beach Boys recording.

[c-man]

I thought I read before that Campbell played on I Get Around. Thought he played guitar on it though.

Nope. Dano bass.

I think I hear a harpsichord on the track. Is there a harpsichord? Or maybe it's the Dano bass.  It's the instrument where it sounds like the strings or loose or something; kinda twangy. It's probably a harpsichord.

Yep. Harpsichord was added at the overdub session, along with the second Dano bass and second lead guitar.

[Andrew G. Doe]

For them as is interested, the Hot Rod High album is on Spotify. Somehow, Usher manages to make the Crew sound far worse than The Beach Boys on the same tunes. 

[Joshilyn Hoisington]

Isn't it BRI's place to correct this type of info? They also have the most to gain and the most credibility if they're the ones complaining. Surely they must have at least some staff type who can use their e-mail address or letterhead to issue corrections.

As far as saying that members of the Wrecking Crew don't like rock and are therefore indifferent to caring about errors made in credits, I stand by that statement. It may not be true of all of them. Leon Russell, for example, can't be accused of looking down at rock. But reading past statements by Hal Blaine and Carol Kaye, in particular, seem to indicate they far preferred playing on a jazz or a Frank Sinatra session than on rock sessions. They thought the music was simplistic and it wasn't what they were raised on or trained for. Carol even called her surf music sessions, in her words, ditch-digger music. It was just something they did to pay the bills, even though Carol has praised Brian (but mostly for Pet Sounds, which is not surf or rock music).

It's a fallacy to assume that the quotes of a small handful stand for the thoughts of the larger group, though.  Carol didn't seem to like rock, true, and people like Barney Kessel and Bill Pitman did seem pretty indifferent.  Hal Blaine...it's would be hard to make a case that he didn't like pop. 

I think that for every jazz purist musician in the pool of "wrecking crew" types, there's at least one Glen Campbell, or Jerry Cole, or Billy Strange, or Larry Knechtel, or Leon Russell, whose solo work proves they don't much mind popular music at all.

[Mr. Wilson]

Ok so as AGD stated above im gonna ad to this.. 1} It would be hard for Carol to Miss BW.. Chuck Britz.. And Murry Wilson in the studio.. Or think one of them is Gary Usher Or Terry Melcher..   So im a little confused by Carol's statements.. Padding the old resume.. Maybe.. And lets see how many version's of Johnny B Goode do I own..??  Chuck Berry.. Carl Wilson.. Johnny Winter.. Jerry Garcia.. Johnny Rivers.. Keith Richards..  Dick Dale.. Im sure there's more but that's just off the top of my head. Anybody notice anything.? Same song + they all sound different.. Choice of sound style licks.. All different.. Even if you used the same rhythm  section for each guitar player in a controlled studio setting  each guitar player has a style so HOW do they get confused at all.. If you take this test and apply it to me + 4 of my local  guitar working buddies I would know which one was mine in a heart beat.. Hands down..    So I don't get it.. I do understand bass + drums would be harder to figure out.. But instruments that are involved in the melody + solo shouldn't be that hard to figure out.. Piano Guitar Sax.. Hendrix Trower Vaughn... BB King  Albert King  Freddie King see the difference.. so I am skeptical of their memories..

[Micha]

Call me crazy but I do not believe the Earth will spin off its axis over a factually incorrect article about the Beach Boys.

Better safe than sorry! We're not taking chances!

[filledeplage]

The Knights... The Hollywood Strings... The  Catalinas.. Albums that NOBODY bought.. ! I was 13 years old at the time and I collected surf music.. I didn't know anybody that had those LP's .. 1.99 bin on 1st release... Woolworth's.. All that stuff Usher + Melcher did..  And you can include Hot Doggers + Super Stocks.. POOP.. Why would you buy those bands singin FFF when you could buy BB version.. !! Probably the best selling LP was The Hollywood Strings.... IMHO if you collected surf music you bought BB  J+D  Surfaris  Dick Dale  Challengers  Ventures   Lively Ones  .. And 1 hit wonders like.. Fantastic Baggys  Hondells  Chantays  Astronauts  Ronnie + Daytona's   Trashmen   Marketts   T-Bones  Bruce + Terry  Ripchords   etc etc  Now some of those 1 hit wonders HAD the wrecking Crew on them.. How the wrecking crew confused BB with budget releases to fill Sears + Woolworth's cut out bin is beyond me..  I may have been 13 years old but I knew better than to buy The Knights etc   I apologize if I sound harsh but im just as upset as everyone else about history being re written.. And if you watch TAMI or lost concert you see the BB were good enough to play on their OWN records.... Heck Hot Rod High was 1st recorded by The Surfaris..   Oh in defense of Dennis Wilson on another thread.. He was accused of riding on Brian"s coat tails..  NOPE.. All the producers doin BB sound alike records + covering their records verbatim and then they end up in cutout bin were riding Brian's coat tails.. Not Dennis.. If you don't believe me then go find the records.. The truth is there..  I will go hide now since ive upset everyone..

A lot of folk, myself included, consider this is why Carol Kaye thinks she played on "Surfin' USA": I'm pretty sure she played on a version of the song... just not the Beach Boys recording.

Apart from Carol Kaye, Mr. Wilson's mention of the Hollywood Strings, reminded me of that genre including Hollyridge Stings who worked for Capitol and who sort of "translated" almost like a dictionary, guitar strings, in the rock context, to orchestral strings.  They did arrangements for The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Elvis, Simon and Garfunkle, etc. and they sort of were precursors for what Leonard Bernstein did with his "Inside Pop" in 1966/67.  It translated to the Great Generation what the Baby Boomer rock music was about.  And cleverly, it was often located in racks, near the check out line in the grocery store chains, where you'd find soap opera tabloids.  

There was a certain market, and you'd often hear older people (older to "us") remarking that "rock music" wasn't "that bad," even if they didn't like the electric guitar, or heavy percussion, which marked that style.  They'd hear something like Surfin' USA, or Fun, Fun Fun, or, I Wanna Hold Your Hand, done in an orchestral arrangement, and realize there was more in common, than in opposition, and it was all great music, albeit "expressed" differently.  

Those smart parents who wanted to understand (but not necessarily "relate to") this music, did buy that music, and not unlike the boomers learning to "text" and "Skype," to keep the lines of communication open, and narrow the Generation Gap.  They became less threatened by the music.  

And during those years where people had Hi-Fi's and "furniture" stereos, almost everyone had some Hollywood Stings or Hollyridge Strings type album or two.