Do Sail On, Sailor vocals of Carl or Dennis exist?

[fluffyburger]

I read recently that both Carl and Dennis recorded vocals for Sail On, Sailor, but Blondie Chaplin track was the one eventually used.  Does anybody know if those Dennis or Carl tracks still survive?  I think it would be interesting to hear what they sounded like.  I'm thinking the Dennis track would sound incredible on that song.  Thanks to all that reply,

Fluffyburger

[Rocker]

I never heard about any of them existing.
AFAIK Dennis tried it but then didn't think it would sound good and left for the beach. That to me sounded more like a try-out instead of a proper recording. Therefor I guess Dennis' singing wasn't recorded. Dunno about Carl

[Rocky Raccoon]

Well if you want to hear how he sounds on it, here's Carl singing it live in 1995.  Does a pretty damn good job too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bkEhMAxP4M

And in '96. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZIqi9UnQH0

[DonnyL]

If it does exist, I don't think anyone has ever confirmed hearing it.

An assumption can be made that these dissatisfying vocals were wiped prior to the final vocal being added (no reason to waste a track on the 16-tr. master). But, like all things in Beach Boys-land, stranger things have happened.

[oldsurferdude]

Well if you want to hear how he sounds on it, here's Carl singing it live in 1995.  Does a pretty damn good job too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bkEhMAxP4M

And in '96. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZIqi9UnQH0

Leagues ahead of Blondie-Carl does it best. Got my full metal jacket on-fire all of your gunz at once.

[Aegir]

I disagree, Blondie's is much better. I wish Blondie had stuck around longer, he's a great vocalist.

[EgoHanger1966]

I disagree, Blondie's is much better. I wish Blondie had stuck around longer, he's a great vocalist.

I won't disagree that Blondie is a good vocalist, but I'd much prefer a 'traditional' Beach Boy on the lead vocal. The song structure and backing vocals are very Beach Boys to me, but the lead vocal makes it sound like an entirely different band. I know they were trying for a different sound in the period that the record was cut, but I don't think it stands as well over time as a BEACH BOYS record. Of course, many will not agree.

[Banana]

I believe that both Carl and Dennis had a crack at the lead vocal...though neither were happy with the results.  Blondie was finally pulled in to have a go and he delivered a pretty good darned vocal.  I think, at most, they only did two takes with Blondie singing the lead.  I recall reading him describe how difficult it is to sing because it's so "wordy".

[Joshilyn Hoisington]

No alternate led exists on the 16-track, I can tell you that.  Desper for awhile thought he had a mix of Carl on lead, but I think he played it over the phone to somebody and that person said it sounded like Blondie to them.

[oldsurferdude]

I disagree, Blondie's is much better. I wish Blondie had stuck around longer, he's a great vocalist.

I wish Carl had stuck around longer, HE'S a great vocalist and a genuine Beach Boy.

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Well if you want to hear how he sounds on it, here's Carl singing it live in 1995.  Does a pretty damn good job too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bkEhMAxP4M

And in '96. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZIqi9UnQH0

Leagues ahead of Blondie-Carl does it best. Got my full metal jacket on-fire all of your gunz at once.

Here's a rare example of me and OSD being on the same page!

I LOVE Blondie on the recorded version but I am forever cursed by wondering how it would have sounded (and performed chart-wise) with Carl singing lead! And as we can see from the clip provided, it would have been awesome!!!!!

[oldsurferdude]

Well if you want to hear how he sounds on it, here's Carl singing it live in 1995.  Does a pretty damn good job too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bkEhMAxP4M

And in '96. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZIqi9UnQH0

Leagues ahead of Blondie-Carl does it best. Got my full metal jacket on-fire all of your gunz at once.

Here's a rare example of me and OSD being on the same page!

I LOVE Blondie on the recorded version but I am forever cursed by wondering how it would have sounded (and performed chart-wise) with Carl singing lead! And as we can see from the clip provided, it would have been awesome!!!!!

[Lonely Summer]

Blondie does a great job with SOS, but Carl singing it is like most anything he sang - completely, totally, incredibly freakin' awesome!

[Mike's Beard]

No alternate led exists on the 16-track, I can tell you that.  Desper for awhile thought he had a mix of Carl on lead, but I think he played it over the phone to somebody and that person said it sounded like Blondie to them.

It must be of pretty poor quality to confuse Carl with Blondie.

[Andrew G. Doe]

I read recently that both Carl and Dennis recorded vocals for Sail On, Sailor, but Blondie Chaplin track was the one eventually used.  Does anybody know if those Dennis or Carl tracks still survive?  I think it would be interesting to hear what they sounded like.  I'm thinking the Dennis track would sound incredible on that song.  Thanks to all that reply,

Fluffyburger

Concisely, no. Blondie recorded his lead over them.

[Dunderhead]

That's a shame if it's true. I know I've seen old posts by Desper here where he said he had a version done in 1971.

[Mikie]

Re: Sail On Sailor". I always wanted to hear Van's tape of him saying to Brian, "Brian, cut the sh*t and sit down right here and write this middle eight!"

[Zander]

Any chance of a sync up with Carl live and the Hawthorne backing track?

[Mark H.]

Carl could add grit to his voice when he needed it - those live examples as linked above are brilliant.  I'm not sure his voice in 71-72 would have had that same quality.  None the less Blondie did a great job but after listening to the live examples - I'm a bit partial to Carl.

[Joshilyn Hoisington]

That's a shame if it's true. I know I've seen old posts by Desper here where he said he had a version done in 1971.

Right, which he played over the phone to somebody, who said it was just Blondie.

[Banana]

Re: Sail On Sailor". I always wanted to hear Van's tape of him saying to Brian, "Brian, cut the sh*t and sit down right here and write this middle eight!"

Maybe we'll get that on the new box set! 

[hypehat]

I bet that that is really quite disturbing - I'm not sure I wanna hear that tape. Unless he's really obviously joking around when he says it, the 'convince I'm not crazy, Van Dyke' stuff is actual recorded evidence of Brian having some sort of episode....

[guitarfool2002]

That demo tape would be a welcome addition to the rumored "box set", that's for sure. For one thing, considering all the work they did on Smile, there aren't many if any at all tapes of Brian and Van Dyke actually working together on writing a song. Other collaborators have said Brian could be a difficult writing partner on occasion...haven't they?

[Banana]

I bet that that is really quite disturbing - I'm not sure I wanna hear that tape. Unless he's really obviously joking around when he says it, the 'convince I'm not crazy, Van Dyke' stuff is actual recorded evidence of Brian having some sort of episode....

I've always been of the opinion that Brian was not kidding around.  I know a little bit about mental illness...it's scary stuff.  It's sad that Brian needed treatment and that treatment was available and for the longest time he did not get it.  It's more than sad...it's tragic.  I think there was a lot of denial (of course this is speculation...I wasn't there) and a lot of hoping that Brian would just snap out of it.  Just think what kind of magic he might have created had he gotten proper treatment?  Instead of essentially spedning an entire decade lost in the fog...he could have been a functioning, wildy creative force.  I think we should all be thankful that he's seemingly found a sense of mental peace. 

[Roger Ryan]

That's a shame if it's true. I know I've seen old posts by Desper here where he said he had a version done in 1971.

Right, which he played over the phone to somebody, who said it was just Blondie.

I was the guy who heard it over the phone courtesy of Mr. Desper. The tape he played me was definitely a different mix from what was released and featured more elaborate backing vocals that kind of simulated the rolling of waves. Mr. Desper believed the tape dated back to 1971 (just before his tenure with the band ended) and was under the impression the lead vocal was Carl. I could not distinguish any difference in the lead vocal at all from the released version - it still sounded like the same Blondie vocal we've heard all these years (even though I wanted to hear a difference). Again, it was over a phone so I can't say with certainty.

However, there is no question that the backing vocals were completely different. I was reminded of how early takes of "Help Me Rhonda" and "Little Honda" featured more complicated backing vocals that were scaled back for the release versions - the same thing with this mix of "Sailor". It would make a nice rarity on any upcoming box sets.