WIBN vocals in Lei'd In Hawaii

[felipe]

Why you guys think Brian didn't sing "Wouldn't It Be Nice" lead in Lei'd In Hawaii? Has him ever talked about not liking his performance at the record or was him already having concentration issues?
Stephen Desper were you there?

[guitarfool2002]

Why you guys think Brian didn't sing "Wouldn't It Be Nice" lead in Lei'd In Hawaii? Has him ever talked about not liking his performance at the record or was him already having concentration issues?
Stephen Desper were you there?

I'm just guessing the most logical, musician-based possibility. The band had been playing and singing Wouldnt It Be Nice regularly on stage for over a year by that time. I doubt Brian sang it in full from the time he laid down his last vocal on the track in the studio in early 1966 to August 1967 when they were in Hawaii. So the singer who knew the song at that point as well as anyone and had been singing it live on stage for over a year got the lead on the Hawaii stage.

Concentration issues? Ummm.....no.

And I'm also 99.9999999% confident if one were to ask him, Brian might be most proud of if not the biggest fan of his work on Pet Sounds taken as a whole, including his vocals. So I doubt he didn't like his vocal cut on the song.

I could be wrong. 

[Rocky Raccoon]

It's a very difficult song to sing, Al had already been singing it live for the past year while Brian had only sung on the recording.  So it was probably just easier that way.

[c-man]

It's a very difficult song to sing, Al had already been singing it live for the past year while Brian had only sung on the recording.  So it was probably just easier that way.

Interesting to see how the live lead progressed over the years, with Al sounding so great on that through the mid '70s, until Brian returned to the stage and they sang (or tried) singing it together (with often disastrous results). Then, Al's own performances of that lead got sloppy through the early '80s, until Carl finally took it over (and sounded great, I might add). Then in 2012, Al tpok the lead again, and sounded fine. Maybe there was a key change - I haven't compared the various versions.

[felipe]

I don't have any WIBN performance prior to 69 other than this. In Hawaii the key was the original F, in 69 was E and never changed again. Including 2012.

[guitarfool2002]

It's a very difficult song to sing, Al had already been singing it live for the past year while Brian had only sung on the recording.  So it was probably just easier that way.

Yeah, that's what I said. The touring band playing the song regularly for over a year already had it rehearsed and down when they got to Hawaii. Maybe Brian also thought they did the song perfectly fine, had it ready to go and road-tested, why change it - and that's what they chose in Hawaii.

[felipe]

But this time Carl or Al was having to play bass

[guitarfool2002]

But this time Carl or Al was having to play bass

Carl and Al had been playing bass in the studio anyway, Al going back years and Carl is seen as late as on the GV sessions playing Fender bass. But I guess it would throw a wrench into the works since Bruce decided to bail out on them.

Edit: Not to mention the Smiley Smile sessions which could have had any of four band members playing or even filling in on bass for that project depending on the work being done, in theory.

[metal flake paint]

Interestingly, during these concerts, Brian sings lead on "You're So Good To Me" and parts of "Sloop" that others had been singing in his place on the road.

[guitarfool2002]

Interestingly, during these concerts, Brian sings lead on "You're So Good To Me" and parts of "Sloop" that others had been singing in his place on the road.

Maybe as simple as they divvied up the leads between them and picked what they wanted to sing?

[37!ws]

Also, WIBN goes higher on the verses than does "You're So Good To Me."

[tpesky]

Perhaps Brian prefers Al singing it and wants him to sing it.  You have that occasion when Al still sang it, I think when Brian did the isolated appearances in '70 Al was singing it still. AL hadn't sung it in 20 years and all of a sudden in 2006 with Brian, they split the lead.  Then doesn't sing it again until 2012 with Brian and then last year on Brian's special.

[Rocky Raccoon]

My favorite live rendition of "Wouldn't It Be Nice" is from Live Aid in 1985 with Al and Brian doubling each other. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUCm_-zvj00

[Steve Latshaw]

One of the best live versions of this song was featured on the Songs from Here and Back CD.  Lead vocal by Al, recorded in 1974, new mix by Alan Boyd and Mark Linett.

[drbeachboy]

One of the best live versions of this song was featured on the Songs from Here and Back CD.  Lead vocal by Al, recorded in 1974, new mix by Alan Boyd and Mark Linett.

The 2000 In Concert release with the full intro restored is my favorite live version.

[MyDrKnowsItKeepsMeCalm]

My favorite live rendition of "Wouldn't It Be Nice" is from Live Aid in 1985 with Al and Brian doubling each other. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUCm_-zvj00

That's great! And I love that little moment between Mike and Brian at the 2-minute mark. Thanks for the link.