Did Al Jardine ever sing falsetto?

[RangeRoverA1]

I'm not sure what qualifies a "staple" - but, as far as I know - it was played quite regularly in the early to mid 80s. Maybe even earlier(/later). I've always enjoyed Jardine's voice on one of my all-time favourite songs.

To the best of my knowledge, "Runaway" had been a steady concert number during the 60s (beginning with 1963, if I recall), as well as Al sang it along with his Family & Friends band. Interestingly, at 1 point the decision was made to present the song as their new single, but it was eventually out of the question (sadly).
Del Shannon is one of my favorite singers, his classic version never can be topped. Even by Al.

[Lowbacca]

Del Shannon is one of my favorite singers [...]

!!

 

[DC310]

The Al lead from Michigan State 1966 is a great example of how live Al could sing like Brian when he wanted to.  I've always admired his range and ability to change his voice to fit the part.

[Beachlad]

I really like his version of runaway but I didn't think he came close to Brian on Papa oom mow mow. I am not sure any one can touch Brian in his highest register because it is so strong.

[Steve Latshaw]

<<Al sings falsetto when doing Runaway which was released on MiC. Not sure if that was ever a concert staple.>>

It was in 1982... every show, as I recall.  Maybe 1983, too.  It was a new arrangement, different than the 1965 version, with backing vocals and a great - I mean - great organ solo from Mike Meros.  As everyone, I am sure, knows, this was submitted to CBS as a single follow-up to Come Go With Me, in spite of being a live track  McCartney had a big hit with a live version of Coming Up in 1980, and ditto the Eagles with Seven Bridges Road, so it wasn't unheard of.  I always thought this would be a hit but, as I understand it, CBS balked at the thought of another cover song released as a single.  Ironically, for me, the live version from Jamaica 1982 sounds far better than the intended single mix.

[halblaineisgood]

Runaway was pretty decent, now that you mention it. Brian's dancing at the Kingdome was the best part, closely followed by the organ solo.

[bossaroo]

Carl gets falsetto on the original version of Wind Chimes, though part of me thinks Brian is doubling him. either way it's absolutely sublime.

[adamghost]

It's not that he never sang high - he did - it just wasn't his preferred mode and he rarely did the "Brian"-type parts live or in studio for that matter.  "Good Timin'" is a notable exception (and Carl sang maybe 40% of the BV's on that album so it makes sense).

It's likely that being the lead guitarist and (besides Bruce) being the guy in the band most likely to lose his voice, he'd save the top for when he was really needed.  He took the very top note on "Sloop John B" live IIRC, which is an absolute bitch to sing -- there are four F5s in there.  He probably was the only one that could nail it -- it makes sense he wouldn't want to have to do that live too many times in a show.

[Autotune]

It's not that he never sang high - he did - it just wasn't his preferred mode and he rarely did the "Brian"-type parts live or in studio for that matter.  "Good Timin'" is a notable exception (and Carl sang maybe 40% of the BV's on that album so it makes sense).

It's likely that being the lead guitarist and (besides Bruce) being the guy in the band most likely to lose his voice, he'd save the top for when he was really needed.  He took the very top note on "Sloop John B" live IIRC, which is an absolute bitch to sing -- there are four F5s in there.  He probably was the only one that could nail it -- it makes sense he wouldn't want to have to do that live too many times in a show.

Adam, care to point out an example of a live version of SJB with Carl doing the high F? I always hear him doing a strong middle part during the chorus. Not that I'm denying he could hit that note (Surf's Up). But so could Bruce (he still sings the Fun fun fun tag).

[adamghost]

It's not that he never sang high - he did - it just wasn't his preferred mode and he rarely did the "Brian"-type parts live or in studio for that matter.  "Good Timin'" is a notable exception (and Carl sang maybe 40% of the BV's on that album so it makes sense).

It's likely that being the lead guitarist and (besides Bruce) being the guy in the band most likely to lose his voice, he'd save the top for when he was really needed.  He took the very top note on "Sloop John B" live IIRC, which is an absolute bitch to sing -- there are four F5s in there.  He probably was the only one that could nail it -- it makes sense he wouldn't want to have to do that live too many times in a show.

Adam, care to point out an example of a live version of SJB with Carl doing the high F? I always hear him doing a strong middle part during the chorus. Not that I'm denying he could hit that note (Surf's Up). But so could Bruce (he still sings the Fun fun fun tag).

You know what?  I just checked, and you're absolutely right.  I have a definite memory of Carl reaching for a top note on "Sloop," but I can't find it (except one performance where the mix is so tight I can't prove it).  It may have been on IN CONCERT in '73, which I don't seem to have on my iTunes.  He's definitely NOT singing the top note on the clip from '76 I checked on youtube.  So if he did do it, he didn't do it for very long.  If my memory isn't faulty it may have just been an interim part shuffle after Bruce left the band or something.  At any rate, it would have been the "shore" note and not the F5 in the background harmonies, which I'm chagrined to note they don't seem to have sung (so why do I have to sing this hernia-inducing note in Beach Boys tribute bands?!?).  

Another thought on Carl doing the Brian role -- he does it quite a few other times on the LIGHT ALBUM, doing the Brian falsetto counterpoint role as well on "Here Comes The Night" and "Baby Blue."  And man, he sounded terrific doing it.  But I believe that album was the only time Carl did that himself instead of allowing somebody else to be "falsetto guy".  Am I wrong about that too?  I can't think of another example off the top of my head -- not where Carl sang high per se, but where he did the "oo woo" thing that Brian or Bruce tended to do, if that makes any sense.

[the captain]

Just listened to the In Concert version and I'd be willing to bet--well, approximately nothing whatsoever--that Carl isn't on that highest note either in the "shore" or the other backgrounds. But these guys' voices drive me crazy, as anyone can sound like at least one other person at any given time, so it requires following parts over time, not just spot-listening. But then if you factor in whatever overdubbing is done after the fact, it makes it harder yet and puts you back at the first problem (of people sounding alike).

So in closing, I have offered nothing of use. You're welcome.

[Fall Breaks]

I've thought the "shore" note on In Concert was Al, but lately many of my thought-Al's have turned out to be Billy H.

[Stephen W. Desper]

We all know Al and Brian's normal singing voices were very similar (as evidenced in, for example, I Know There's An Answer, in which I only recently realised it was Al and Mike singing lead, as opposed to Brian and Mike) and Al covered Brian's bits on stages, but did he ever sing falsetto on record? Apart from a few falsettos from Bruce and in later years Carl, it was mainly all Brian, but did Al do any? Was it in his range?

COMMENT:
You've got to be kidding!?!   Of course Alan sang in falsetto -- better than any counter-tenor of the 18th century. ~swd

[adamghost]

Just listened to the In Concert version and I'd be willing to bet--well, approximately nothing whatsoever--that Carl isn't on that highest note either in the "shore" or the other backgrounds. But these guys' voices drive me crazy, as anyone can sound like at least one other person at any given time, so it requires following parts over time, not just spot-listening. But then if you factor in whatever overdubbing is done after the fact, it makes it harder yet and puts you back at the first problem (of people sounding alike).

So in closing, I have offered nothing of use. You're welcome.

Well, neither have I.  I'm only playing something back in my head.  I can't refer to the CD to know if I'm hallucinating it or not.

[bgas]

We all know Al and Brian's normal singing voices were very similar (as evidenced in, for example, I Know There's An Answer, in which I only recently realised it was Al and Mike singing lead, as opposed to Brian and Mike) and Al covered Brian's bits on stages, but did he ever sing falsetto on record? Apart from a few falsettos from Bruce and in later years Carl, it was mainly all Brian, but did Al do any? Was it in his range?

COMMENT:
You've got to be kidding!?!   Of course Alan sang in falsetto -- better than any counter-tenor of the 18th century. ~swd

Can you point out some pertinent examples?

[Autotune]

It's not that he never sang high - he did - it just wasn't his preferred mode and he rarely did the "Brian"-type parts live or in studio for that matter.  "Good Timin'" is a notable exception (and Carl sang maybe 40% of the BV's on that album so it makes sense).

It's likely that being the lead guitarist and (besides Bruce) being the guy in the band most likely to lose his voice, he'd save the top for when he was really needed.  He took the very top note on "Sloop John B" live IIRC, which is an absolute bitch to sing -- there are four F5s in there.  He probably was the only one that could nail it -- it makes sense he wouldn't want to have to do that live too many times in a show.

Adam, care to point out an example of a live version of SJB with Carl doing the high F? I always hear him doing a strong middle part during the chorus. Not that I'm denying he could hit that note (Surf's Up). But so could Bruce (he still sings the Fun fun fun tag).

You know what?  I just checked, and you're absolutely right.  I have a definite memory of Carl reaching for a top note on "Sloop," but I can't find it (except one performance where the mix is so tight I can't prove it).  It may have been on IN CONCERT in '73, which I don't seem to have on my iTunes.  He's definitely NOT singing the top note on the clip from '76 I checked on youtube.  So if he did do it, he didn't do it for very long.  If my memory isn't faulty it may have just been an interim part shuffle after Bruce left the band or something.  At any rate, it would have been the "shore" note and not the F5 in the background harmonies, which I'm chagrined to note they don't seem to have sung (so why do I have to sing this hernia-inducing note in Beach Boys tribute bands?!?).  

Another thought on Carl doing the Brian role -- he does it quite a few other times on the LIGHT ALBUM, doing the Brian falsetto counterpoint role as well on "Here Comes The Night" and "Baby Blue."  And man, he sounded terrific doing it.  But I believe that album was the only time Carl did that himself instead of allowing somebody else to be "falsetto guy".  Am I wrong about that too?  I can't think of another example off the top of my head -- not where Carl sang high per se, but where he did the "oo woo" thing that Brian or Bruce tended to do, if that makes any sense.

I think Carl does "Brian" ln Hot Fun in the Summertime. But, alas, most fans seem to think it's Baker.

[the captain]

Just listened to the In Concert version and I'd be willing to bet--well, approximately nothing whatsoever--that Carl isn't on that highest note either in the "shore" or the other backgrounds. But these guys' voices drive me crazy, as anyone can sound like at least one other person at any given time, so it requires following parts over time, not just spot-listening. But then if you factor in whatever overdubbing is done after the fact, it makes it harder yet and puts you back at the first problem (of people sounding alike).

So in closing, I have offered nothing of use. You're welcome.

Well, neither have I.  I'm only playing something back in my head.  I can't refer to the CD to know if I'm hallucinating it or not.

Right, I was being self-deprecating. I did listen to the song on CD to check, and was useless. That was my point/joke. Possibly not very successful...

[RangeRoverA1]

Runaway was pretty decent, now that you mention it. Brian's dancing at the Kingdome was the best part, closely followed by the organ solo.

Ofc, it wasn't. Admit it, no one came close to sounding like Del in the group, 'cept for Al. No Al, no "Runaway". So that's your best part you talked about.

[adamghost]

Just listened to the In Concert version and I'd be willing to bet--well, approximately nothing whatsoever--that Carl isn't on that highest note either in the "shore" or the other backgrounds. But these guys' voices drive me crazy, as anyone can sound like at least one other person at any given time, so it requires following parts over time, not just spot-listening. But then if you factor in whatever overdubbing is done after the fact, it makes it harder yet and puts you back at the first problem (of people sounding alike).

So in closing, I have offered nothing of use. You're welcome.

Well, neither have I.  I'm only playing something back in my head.  I can't refer to the CD to know if I'm hallucinating it or not.

Right, I was being self-deprecating. I did listen to the song on CD to check, and was useless. That was my point/joke. Possibly not very successful...

But see, I can self deprecate too!  No one gets it when I do it, either...

[the captain]

Just listened to the In Concert version and I'd be willing to bet--well, approximately nothing whatsoever--that Carl isn't on that highest note either in the "shore" or the other backgrounds. But these guys' voices drive me crazy, as anyone can sound like at least one other person at any given time, so it requires following parts over time, not just spot-listening. But then if you factor in whatever overdubbing is done after the fact, it makes it harder yet and puts you back at the first problem (of people sounding alike).

So in closing, I have offered nothing of use. You're welcome.

Well, neither have I.  I'm only playing something back in my head.  I can't refer to the CD to know if I'm hallucinating it or not.

Right, I was being self-deprecating. I did listen to the song on CD to check, and was useless. That was my point/joke. Possibly not very successful...

But see, I can self deprecate too!  No one gets it when I do it, either...

Damnit!