Mike's falsetto

[Ron]

Mike's vocal skills were a lot better in the 60's and 70's than most give him credit for.  His voice was quite versatile, something Brian used in the vocal arrangements to great effect.  I've always thought that the super nasal style he's developed over the last 30 or so years is a result of him trying to artificially sound young again.  Unfortunately, you can only do so much to fight against nature.

That could be right.  He doesn't sound nasal at all however on "Cool Head Warm Heart".  Sounds great, actually! 

[egon spengler]

one of the worst sounds in recorded history is Mike going falsetto near the end of Student Demonstration Time. not surprised it hasn't been mentioned, since most mistake it as an outtake of the Country Air rooster.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

one of the worst sounds in recorded history is Mike going falsetto near the end of Student Demonstration Time. not surprised it hasn't been mentioned, since most mistake it as an outtake of the Country Air rooster.

Are you talking about the part at around 2:52, on the left channel? I've wondered who that was for fucking years .

[Aegir]

wow, you people are super critical.

[egon spengler]

one of the worst sounds in recorded history is Mike going falsetto near the end of Student Demonstration Time. not surprised it hasn't been mentioned, since most mistake it as an outtake of the Country Air rooster.

Are you talking about the part at around 2:52, on the left channel? I've wondered who that was for f*cking years .

Nope, the one I'm talking about is at about 3:05: "student demonstration ti-i-ime!", that last "ime" is precisely why he never goes up that high.

[runnersdialzero]

Haha, sounds like he started to go for it, realized it wasn't any good, and choked. Poor "Student Demonstration Time"

T'be fair, he hits the same note in full voice on "All I Want To Do" and sounds just fine.

Not trying to argue with Mr.aeijtzsche, but the "A gentle thought comes in my mind" on "All I Wanna Do" still sounds like falsetto to me, and is pulled off pretty well. Specifically the last part of the word "my". I could be wrong, but yeah. imo.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

one of the worst sounds in recorded history is Mike going falsetto near the end of Student Demonstration Time. not surprised it hasn't been mentioned, since most mistake it as an outtake of the Country Air rooster.

Are you talking about the part at around 2:52, on the left channel? I've wondered who that was for f*cking years .

Nope, the one I'm talking about is at about 3:05: "student demonstration ti-i-ime!", that last "ime" is precisely why he never goes up that high.

Wow...I wonder who did the earlier part then? It sounded like Brian, but he was not on that track at all.

[Reverend Rock]

one of the worst sounds in recorded history is Mike going falsetto near the end of Student Demonstration Time. not surprised it hasn't been mentioned, since most mistake it as an outtake of the Country Air rooster.

That's the very example I thought of first.  And yes, it is dreadful.

[MBE]

Mike did have a good voice. I really have no problem with him before the oldies direction because he did write and sing so well.

[Jay]

one of the worst sounds in recorded history is Mike going falsetto near the end of Student Demonstration Time. not surprised it hasn't been mentioned, since most mistake it as an outtake of the Country Air rooster.

Are you talking about the part at around 2:52, on the left channel? I've wondered who that was for f*cking years .

Nope, the one I'm talking about is at about 3:05: "student demonstration ti-i-ime!", that last "ime" is precisely why he never goes up that high.

I can hear the one at 3:05(actually, 3:02), but not the other one. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtaPBDjNDY4

Wow...I wonder who did the earlier part then? It sounded like Brian, but he was not on that track at all.

[seltaeb1012002]

UPSIDE YO HEEEEAAAAD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix1-Coa7qQQ

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Haha, sounds like he started to go for it, realized it wasn't any good, and choked. Poor "Student Demonstration Time"

T'be fair, he hits the same note in full voice on "All I Want To Do" and sounds just fine.

Not trying to argue with Mr.aeijtzsche, but the "A gentle thought comes in my mind" on "All I Wanna Do" still sounds like falsetto to me, and is pulled off pretty well. Specifically the last part of the word "my". I could be wrong, but yeah. imo.

Let's not be so harsh on SDT! I don't think he was trying to be the world's greatest singer on that track and the "falsetto" bust up at the end is just him going for it off-the-cuff and trying to sound loose if anything else. If it was a blown falsetto attempt, I doubt it would have passed Carl's quality control!

[Curtis Leon]

UPSIDE YO HEEEEAAAAD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix1-Coa7qQQ

That's definitely Brian.

[monicker]

What Mike doesn't get enough credit for are his bass vocals.  He wasn't a singing genius or anything, but he really knew how to find a very resonant part of his voice and deliver such a solid bass sound.  His late 60s and early 70s bass singing is great.

Years ago, in true music professor form, you stressed how Mike isn't a true bass singer and that the Beach Boys never had true bass vocals in the blend. Are you getting loose with your definitions, jazz boy? 

[runnersdialzero]

UPSIDE YO HEEEEAAAAD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix1-Coa7qQQ

That's definitely Brian.

It's Brian and someone else. If I had to guess, I wouldn't guess Mike, but it's somewhat possible. Doubtful, but possible. Like my face.

[Caroline, Now]

UPSIDE YO HEEEEAAAAD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix1-Coa7qQQ

That's definitely Brian.

It's Brian and someone else. If I had to guess, I wouldn't guess Mike, but it's somewhat possible. Doubtful, but possible.
 Like my face.

Definitely Brian... I think it could actually be mike too. Hard to tell. 

[seltaeb1012002]

UPSIDE YO HEEEEAAAAD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix1-Coa7qQQ

That's definitely Brian.

It's Brian and someone else. If I had to guess, I wouldn't guess Mike, but it's somewhat possible. Doubtful, but possible.
 Like my face.

Definitely Brian... I think it could actually be mike too. Hard to tell. 

Mike is definitely singing the prominent falsetto. You can hear him take a breath before he comes back in with "You're too late mama..."
Between the shakiness of the pitch & the tone of voice, it's clear that it's Mike.
That said, I definitely hear Brian in the background singing the same part.

[seltaeb1012002]

It's definitely the great vocal stylings of Michael Edward Love.

..Or is it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXys3GmLdxg

[tpesky]

Haha, sounds like he started to go for it, realized it wasn't any good, and choked. Poor "Student Demonstration Time"

T'be fair, he hits the same note in full voice on "All I Want To Do" and sounds just fine.

Not trying to argue with Mr.aeijtzsche, but the "A gentle thought comes in my mind" on "All I Wanna Do" still sounds like falsetto to me, and is pulled off pretty well. Specifically the last part of the word "my". I could be wrong, but yeah. imo.

Let's not be so harsh on SDT! I don't think he was trying to be the world's greatest singer on that track and the "falsetto" bust up at the end is just him going for it off-the-cuff and trying to sound loose if anything else. If it was a blown falsetto attempt, I doubt it would have passed Carl's quality control!

I don't know about that...considering some of the other stuff they released that passed through Carl's quality control. He was clearly asleep at the switch a few times....

[Joshilyn Hoisington]

What Mike doesn't get enough credit for are his bass vocals.  He wasn't a singing genius or anything, but he really knew how to find a very resonant part of his voice and deliver such a solid bass sound.  His late 60s and early 70s bass singing is great.

Years ago, in true music professor form, you stressed how Mike isn't a true bass singer and that the Beach Boys never had true bass vocals in the blend. Are you getting loose with your definitions, jazz boy? 

I'm not a true piano player but that doesn't mean I can't play some piano that would knock your socks off.

[Ron]

I don't think he's a true bass singer either, it's just what people call the low end of the harmony.  It's like how peple say Randy Travis was a bass singer, that's not bass.  I don't know if you'd call it Barritone more than you'd call it bass. 

The guy from the Oakridge Boys is a bass singer.  Giddy Up Bah Boom.