Would Al have been a better choice for lead on California Girls?

[HeyJude]

Fixed the subject line for ya'll.

I've gone for an alternate fix in the subject line.... (with full credit, strangely, to the weird thrash band that did that epic "F*** You, Mike Love" song, who go through all the Beach Boys they *do* like and see fit to also include Al Jarreau in addition to Al Jardine for good measure).

[MikestheGreatest!!]

The bigger question is whether Mike would have been a better choice for lead on Help Me Rhonda....

[JK]

I've gone for an alternate fix in the subject line.... (with full credit, strangely, to the weird thrash band that did that epic "F*** You, Mike Love" song, who go through all the Beach Boys they *do* like and see fit to also include Al Jarreau in addition to Al Jardine for good measure).

Ha, yes. Hogpig----it's still around, although without the original visuals. Probably just as well... 

[Dove Nested Towers]

There is of course the anecdote to the effect that Brian was angry because he felt that Mike "rushed" the vocal.

I was under the impression that Brian the dog-eared perfectionist was unhappy with his own vocals. Another illusion shattered.  

I thought it was the backing vocals that he was unhappy with and had them redo repeatedly to get the timing/rhythm right?

You may be right, I hadn't heard that version. It makes more sense though because they would seem to have been harder to dial in.

[marcella27]

Ignore the fact that Al's jumping in w/ a band that doesn't totally know the song, but he sounds pretty damn good on this recent video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8xkPRzN03c

I think Mike has that extra swagger that makes the song come to life.

Holy crap Al sounds amazing here.  "I come in late at night" is delivered so effortlessly and beautifully!

[HeyJude]

Al can sound freakishly good still. His vocal on "Wouldn't It Be Nice" on the PBS Soundstage DVD still blows my mind. Better than C50 where Foskett was overpowering him.

[tpesky]

WIBN on the Soundstage DVD is the best version of that song since Al himself in the 70s. He nailed it. I wish he would sing it every night but I think at this point in time it is hard for him to sing it every night because it's at the top of his range. A one off or 2 and he is great.
At the early shows at C50, you heard Al more. As the tour went on, more Foskett overpowering. One of the reasons I prefer Matt Jardine to Foskett is Foskett tends to overpower any harmonies.  Jeff is a great singer but the blend isn't the same with him. He dominates it. That was true going back to the 80s.