The very worst Beach Boys related 'song' ever released

[punkinhead]

Sheriff, i usually agree with you...but really....i think the beach boys voice is the beach boys as a group...

now the beach boy everyone recognizes on tv is Mike Love

[Sheriff John Stone]

Sheriff, i usually agree with you...but really....i think the beach boys voice is the beach boys as a group...

now the beach boy everyone recognizes on tv is Mike Love

You know I'm a compilation nut.....but, try making a compilation of The Beach Boys greatest hits (meaning sellers), and see how many of those feature a lead vocal by Mike Love. It's overwhelming. I'm not saying he was the best, just the most familiar, or the most recognizable.

Not to open up a can of worms, but, Mike Love might've been the only Beach Boy to carry on with the group as it exists today, as The Beach Boys. And, the main reason for that is his familiar lead (and bass) vocals.

[MBE]

Getcha Back did have Brian doing the falsetto. It sounds like it was run through a lot of machines but it's still Brian.

[urbanite]

I like Mike Love, great singer.  But about halfway through Getcha Back, his vocal just becomes terrible.

[Amanda Hart]

Well, I don't want to derail the thread but I have to tell this story...

I run a wellness center and we bring in a lady to teach belly dancing classes once a week.  Well a couple of weeks ago I was training a client and from the belly dancing class I hear blasting from the speaker none other than Wipeout.  I couldn't believe what I was hearing (or seeing for that matter  ).  So now I've been paying attention and that is the last song they dance to every week.  I want to ask the instructor about it, but no one here really knows about my BB obsession plus I am her boss and don't want her to think I am coming down on her or something.  It is just the strangest thing

[KokoMoses]

it really kinda comes down to, in the beginning Mike and Brian came up with a very very winning formula where Mike would do his nasal leads and then Brian would come in with his falsetto and the guys who fill in the middle with their harmonies. Mike would also supply lovely bass vocals when Brian would take his leads, yada, yada!....

This never really deviated. Even on Dennis' songs, there's usually Mike there in the background reminding you (in a good way) that this is The Beach Boys you're listening to (It's About Time is a great example) ... So, yeah, Mike's voice is just a integral to what the Beach Boys are, what their sound is, as it Brian, Carl, Al, Bruce, or Dennis. In fact, more so, simply in the face of all massive number of songs he sang lead on... It can't be disputed! I still insist, if you hate Mike and his talents, you hate The Beach Boys!

Smile/Pet Sounds is only a portion of the whole meal!!!!!

[Chris Brown]

Getcha Back did have Brian doing the falsetto. It sounds like it was run through a lot of machines but it's still Brian.

I know you're probably right, but I've always had a hard time buying this.  Heavily processed or not, its just too perfect a 22 year old Brian vocal to be believeable for me. 

Foskett was (and still can be) a dead ringer for young Brian, so it makes more sense that its him singing that. 

[urbanite]

There's just some songs and some parts that Mike's voice is not appropriate for.  Darlin is a great song, but no Mike Love whereas Do It Again is Mike Love at his best.  I wonder how big a hit Getcha Back might have been if after the initial lyrics, Al sang the rest of the lead.  Mike's voice hasn't held up the quite the same as Al, who can still go full throttle, that was also true in the mid-1980's.

[Chris Brown]

There's just some songs and some parts that Mike's voice is not appropriate for.  Darlin is a great song, but no Mike Love whereas Do It Again is Mike Love at his best.  I wonder how big a hit Getcha Back might have been if after the initial lyrics, Al sang the rest of the lead.  Mike's voice hasn't held up the quite the same as Al, who can still go full throttle, that was also true in the mid-1980's.

I honestly don't think Al in the lead would have helped the song at all.  Annoying as his voice can be at times, Mike's voice is very distinctive.  His nasal delivery and Brian's falsetto are the vocal trademarks of the Beach Boys, at least in the eyes of the general music-listening public.  I think those elements are what made "Getcha Back" a modest hit...Mike's voice, along with the pseudo-Brian falsetto, bring a familiarity to it that people latch on to.

[Glenn Greenberg]

Getcha Back did have Brian doing the falsetto. It sounds like it was run through a lot of machines but it's still Brian.

I know you're probably right, but I've always had a hard time buying this.  Heavily processed or not, its just too perfect a 22 year old Brian vocal to be believeable for me. 

Foskett was (and still can be) a dead ringer for young Brian, so it makes more sense that its him singing that. 

See, I don't think the falsetto on "Getcha Back" sounds like young Brian--I think it sounds like an older, cleaned-up Brian, which is why I've never questioned it being Brian.

[KokoMoses]

Well, at least we can all agree that the "I remember" parts are most certainly Brian!

Keep in mind, Brian has immense musical talents and a truely supernatural falsetto. How old was he in 85? 43? If he was in good shape and not smoking entire trees daily, I have no trouble believeing he could pull off that part. We all agree it's his falsetto on She's Got Rhythm, and that was an overweight, bearded, nicotine embalmed, Brian!

[the captain]

Getcha Back did have Brian doing the falsetto. It sounds like it was run through a lot of machines but it's still Brian.

I know you're probably right, but I've always had a hard time buying this.  Heavily processed or not, its just too perfect a 22 year old Brian vocal to be believeable for me. 

Foskett was (and still can be) a dead ringer for young Brian, so it makes more sense that its him singing that. 

See, I don't think the falsetto on "Getcha Back" sounds like young Brian--I think it sounds like an older, cleaned-up Brian, which is why I've never questioned it being Brian.

Ditto.

[TdHabib]

Getcha Back did have Brian doing the falsetto. It sounds like it was run through a lot of machines but it's still Brian.

I know you're probably right, but I've always had a hard time buying this.  Heavily processed or not, its just too perfect a 22 year old Brian vocal to be believeable for me. 

Foskett was (and still can be) a dead ringer for young Brian, so it makes more sense that its him singing that. 

See, I don't think the falsetto on "Getcha Back" sounds like young Brian--I think it sounds like an older, cleaned-up Brian, which is why I've never questioned it being Brian.

Ditto.

On the BB 25th anniversery special in Hawaii (at least the copy the used to be on Youtube); Foskett clearly does the falsetto on "Getcha Back" during a medley with the Everly Brothers and it sounds completely different from the album version which it rightly should because Brian did it on the album.

[Sheriff John Stone]

I never even considered it (Getcha Back's falsetto) to be anybody but Brian, until someone on this (?) board suggested it. Sounds like him to me....

[MBE]

Well, at least we can all agree that the "I remember" parts are most certainly Brian!

Keep in mind, Brian has immense musical talents and a truely supernatural falsetto. How old was he in 85? 43? If he was in good shape and not smoking entire trees daily, I have no trouble believeing he could pull off that part. We all agree it's his falsetto on She's Got Rhythm, and that was an overweight, bearded, nicotine embalmed, Brian!

Your point is right on, but Brian in 1977 was about as good as he ever was at least weight wise. Also during the making of MIU he had moments of great lucidity as seen in the unreleased Our Team doc.

[doc smiley]

I have no problems with Mike Love singing lead on "Getcha Back"
but to be honest, was that the best effort he could do?  His voice is right for the song, but its a lousy job of singing it.

[lance]

To be honest, I think Fosketts voice is better than the falsetto on Getcha back. I vote Brian.

[MBE]

I have no problems with Mike Love singing lead on "Getcha Back"
but to be honest, was that the best effort he could do?  His voice is right for the song, but its a lousy job of singing it.

His son Christian sings it a lot better then he did. Sounds a little like a young Dennis

[The Heartical Don]

I have no problems with Mike Love singing lead on "Getcha Back"
but to be honest, was that the best effort he could do?  His voice is right for the song, but its a lousy job of singing it.

His son Christian sings it a lot better then he did. Sounds a little like a young Dennis

Which begs the question: is Christian his son? Or....?

[mikeyj]

I have no problems with Mike Love singing lead on "Getcha Back"
but to be honest, was that the best effort he could do?  His voice is right for the song, but its a lousy job of singing it.

His son Christian sings it a lot better then he did. Sounds a little like a young Dennis

Which begs the question: is Christian his son? Or....?

Haha very good point!

[tpesky]

[/quote]
His son Christian sings it a lot better then he did. Sounds a little like a young Dennis
[/quote]

You stole my point before I could make it! Christian nails this one. This is one of the only (if any) original vocal parts that Mike does not sing today (though I can suggest a few others to give up), so thats gotta say something about his performance on Getcha Back tp give it up.

[Dave in KC]

When I sat right in front of Mike last October, I noticed no problem with him carrying GB in fine manner.

[Aegir]

Dave, are you saying that Mike sang lead on Getcha Back in October 2008? Was Christian there?

[Dave in KC]

Correct. His son was not there and Mike sang a very good lead. I was NOT surprised. I've seen him do it many times before.

[Newguy562]

the song "friends"..."lady lynda"..those are horrible smh.  and also "catch a wave"