Brian Wilson's instrumental contributions to the Surf's Up album

[Joel Goldenberg]

I believe it was Stave Desper who has been quoted as saying that, for the Surf's Up album, Brian Wilson's contributions were more extensive instrumentally than vocally. From what I have read, Brian played a "dissonant" keyboard on Don't Go Near the Water, a pipe organ IIRC on Day in the Life Of A Tree, and, of course, the piano on the original 1966 demo portion of what was released as the title track. Does anyone have any further detail as to what Brian contributed instrumentally to this and also the Carl and the Passions album?

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

I'm almost certain he played piano on He Come Down on So Tough

[Wirestone]

Have to assume he played on Til I Die.

[Cabinessenceking]

HAve to assume he played on Til I Die.

Could most organ contributions be assumed to be Brian? I´m thinking specifically Til I Die and Surf´s Up.

[bossaroo]

didn't he contribute some kind of foot scuffling on Take A Load Off Your Feet?

[Fall Breaks]

And plate scraping and horn honking!

[Mikie]

didn't he contribute some kind of foot scuffling on Take A Load Off Your Feet?

You beat me to it!  The gravel shuffling on the roof of his house!

[Mike's Beard]

Vocally he's very present on Disney Girls and Carl's two Surf's Up tracks.

[drbeachboy]

Vocally he's very present on Disney Girls and Carl's two Surf's Up tracks.

I thought Carl was the only Beach Boy on Long Promised Road? Even Mike comments on this on the live version on the EH soundtrack.

[c-man]

Vocally he's very present on Disney Girls and Carl's two Surf's Up tracks.

I thought Carl was the only Beach Boy on Long Promised Road? Even Mike comments on this on the live version on the EH soundtrack.

Instrumentally, yes - but Brian's on there vocally, and maybe others too.

[c-man]

I believe it was Stave Desper who has been quoted as saying that, for the Surf's Up album, Brian Wilson's contributions were more extensive instrumentally than vocally. From what I have read, Brian played a "dissonant" keyboard on Don't Go Near the Water, a pipe organ IIRC on Day in the Life Of A Tree, and, of course, the piano on the original 1966 demo portion of what was released as the title track. Does anyone have any further detail as to what Brian contributed instrumentally to this and also the Carl and the Passions album?

According to Desper's book, on "Tree" Brian played pump organ and Daryl played pipe organ.

[c-man]

HAve to assume he played on Til I Die.

Could most organ contributions be assumed to be Brian? I´m thinking specifically Til I Die and Surf´s Up.

"'Til I Die" has Brian on Rox-i-chord and organ, and I think Bruce on another organ part. Although Jack Rieley recalled that Carl played the Moog bass on "Surf's Up", a very informed source (who was there) says it was definitely Brian. Carl and/or Bruce added the organ parts, though.

[Surfer]

I thought Daryl Dragon the Capitan played Paino

[Andrew G. Doe]

didn't he contribute some kind of foot scuffling on Take A Load Off Your Feet?

You beat me to it!  The gravel shuffling on the roof of his house!

More precisely, the roof of the garage. 

[Loaf]

Vocally he's very present on Disney Girls and Carl's two Surf's Up tracks.

I thought Disney Girls didn't feature any BBs except Bruce. I thought the vocals were done by Bruce's production buddies like Curt/Kurt Becher/Boecherr.

edit: Wikipedia says the whole band is present, vocally. Hmm...

[c-man]

Vocally he's very present on Disney Girls and Carl's two Surf's Up tracks.

I thought Disney Girls didn't feature any BBs except Bruce. I thought the vocals were done by Bruce's production buddies like Curt/Kurt Becher/Boecherr.

edit: Wikipedia says the whole band is present, vocally. Hmm...

Brian's definitely on there - he sings the "church, bingo chances, and old time dances" line.

[Autotune]

Vocally he's very present on Disney Girls and Carl's two Surf's Up tracks.

I thought Disney Girls didn't feature any BBs except Bruce. I thought the vocals were done by Bruce's production buddies like Curt/Kurt Becher/Boecherr.

edit: Wikipedia says the whole band is present, vocally. Hmm...

Brian's definitely on there - he sings the "church, bingo chances, and old time dances" line.

Gotta listen to it again. But I always thought that the highest part in that song is Bruce. Perhaps you mean a lower part in the stack?

[Andrew G. Doe]

Vocally he's very present on Disney Girls and Carl's two Surf's Up tracks.

I thought Disney Girls didn't feature any BBs except Bruce. I thought the vocals were done by Bruce's production buddies like Curt/Kurt Becher/Boecherr.

In 1971 ? Bruce didn't collaborate with Curt until the mid-70s.

[Loaf]

Vocally he's very present on Disney Girls and Carl's two Surf's Up tracks.

I thought Disney Girls didn't feature any BBs except Bruce. I thought the vocals were done by Bruce's production buddies like Curt/Kurt Becher/Boecherr.

In 1971 ? Bruce didn't collaborate with Curt until the mid-70s.

Bruce and Curt were both involved on Sagitarrius' 'My World Fell Down' in 67, so i didn't think it was beyond the realm of possibility that these production buddies had stayed in contact.

[NateRuvin]

Brian's instrumental contributions to Surf's Up (As far as I know)

Don't Go Near The Water- Piano
Take A Load Off Your Feet- Percussion/Sound Effects
Student Demonstration Time- Bass(?)
A Day In The Life Of A Tree- Organ, Synthesizer
Till I Die- Harpsichord, Organ, Vibes, Drums
Surf's Up- Piano

[Stephen W. Desper]

HAve to assume he played on Til I Die.

Could most organ contributions be assumed to be Brian? I´m thinking specifically Til I Die and Surf´s Up.

"'Til I Die" has Brian on Rox-i-chord and organ, and I think Bruce on another organ part. Although Jack Rieley recalled that Carl played the Moog bass on "Surf's Up", a very informed source (who was there) says it was definitely Brian. Carl and/or Bruce added the organ parts, though.

COMMENT:  Sorry but Jack wasn't around. It was a late night session with only Carl and myself in the studio. I patched and played the Moog bass parts on Surf's Up and the original bass guitar parts recorded at Columbia were later replaced at the house studio. These and many other details will be revealed in the forthcoming second part of my book, Recording The Beach Boys due out this summer.

Part one of the book is viewable at http://swdstudyvideos.com
~swd

[Loaf]

HAve to assume he played on Til I Die.

Could most organ contributions be assumed to be Brian? I´m thinking specifically Til I Die and Surf´s Up.

"'Til I Die" has Brian on Rox-i-chord and organ, and I think Bruce on another organ part. Although Jack Rieley recalled that Carl played the Moog bass on "Surf's Up", a very informed source (who was there) says it was definitely Brian. Carl and/or Bruce added the organ parts, though.

COMMENT:  Sorry but Jack wasn't around. It was a late night session with only Carl and myself in the studio. I patched and played the Moog bass parts on Surf's Up and the original bass guitar parts recorded at Columbia were later replaced at the house studio. These and many other details will be revealed in the forthcoming second part of my book, Recording The Beach Boys due out this summer.

Part one of the book is viewable at http://swdstudyvideos.com
~swd

This is exciting news! Stephen, you played on Surf's Up!? Are there any other songs you played on?

C-man's sessionography might need to be revised, unless this was common knowledge!

[Mike's Beard]

Vocally he's very present on Disney Girls and Carl's two Surf's Up tracks.

I thought Disney Girls didn't feature any BBs except Bruce. I thought the vocals were done by Bruce's production buddies like Curt/Kurt Becher/Boecherr.

edit: Wikipedia says the whole band is present, vocally. Hmm...

Brian's definitely on there - he sings the "church, bingo chances, and old time dances" line.

Gotta listen to it again. But I always thought that the highest part in that song is Bruce. Perhaps you mean a lower part in the stack?

Brian took the high part in that line, Bruce couldn't hit it to his own satisfaction. Carl is very clear in the harmony stack throughout the song.

[Stephen W. Desper]

HAve to assume he played on Til I Die.

Could most organ contributions be assumed to be Brian? I´m thinking specifically Til I Die and Surf´s Up.

"'Til I Die" has Brian on Rox-i-chord and organ, and I think Bruce on another organ part. Although Jack Rieley recalled that Carl played the Moog bass on "Surf's Up", a very informed source (who was there) says it was definitely Brian. Carl and/or Bruce added the organ parts, though.

COMMENT:  Sorry but Jack wasn't around. It was a late night session with only Carl and myself in the studio. I patched and played the Moog bass parts on Surf's Up and the original bass guitar parts recorded at Columbia were later replaced at the house studio. These and many other details will be revealed in the forthcoming second part of my book, Recording The Beach Boys due out this summer.

Part one of the book is viewable at http://swdstudyvideos.com
~swd

This is exciting news! Stephen, you played on Surf's Up!? Are there any other songs you played on?

C-man's sessionography might need to be revised, unless this was common knowledge!

COMMENT:  Those songs I played on are covered in the book. Read part one of Recording The Beach Boys now at http://swdstudyvideos.com.  But to answer your question, I played when required and sang with them as well, just for my own enjoyment, and at my request, which they occasionally honored -- a few times. I think all recording engineers should at least once see what it's like to be on the other side of the glass so to gain some appreciation of the problems the singers must deal with. I'm not a bad singer, but even singing the simple parts they gave me was both a pleasure and scary, especially when the recording light goes ON.     ~swd

[Joel Goldenberg]

Wow, thanks!