The Definitive Vocal Credits Thread...

[Jay]

2. Technically, doesn't the entire group(including backing musicians?) sing "Surfer Girl"?

The lead on Surfer Girl is the one who sings the "We could ride the surf together, while our love would grow" part.

That's the "bridge". The "main verse" is sung by the entire group ensamble.

[John]

I have a few things about "In concert" to add/ask about:

1. At the start of "Sail On Sailor", Dennis yells out "everybody!". Is that enough of a "vocal" to give a mention?

Nah. Unless everyone calls for it, I'd rather leave out "spoken" intros and stuff.

2. Technically, doesn't the entire group(including backing musicians?) sing "Surfer Girl"?

We kinda argued when doing the album version that whoever is the most prominent and sings the bridge should be created as lead, because the others were harmony vocals.

[John]

I have something to mention about Leaving This Town - should Ricky get a mention for his "sometimes it's hard" answer vocal?  According to Cynthia Plas . . . never mind, just kidding.   Not kidding about the refrain, though

He does, I'll add that then. Album version too?

[Uncomfortable Seat]

I have something to mention about Leaving This Town - should Ricky get a mention for his "sometimes it's hard" answer vocal?  According to Cynthia Plas . . . never mind, just kidding.   Not kidding about the refrain, though

He does, I'll add that then. Album version too?

I'm glad you understood my infantile joke.  Yes, album version too

[adamghost]

This is probably making things needlessly complicated, but I remember resorting to the live version of "Surfer Girl" when we were learning tunes for the show with Jardine because the studio version was so close and low there were some parts I couldn't romance out with certainty, and I remember at the time (I'm using the IPod to get ready for a different show, so I can't confirm my recollection) noting with surprise that the falsetto "lead" vocal (not the bridge) was nobody whose voice I was familiar with.  I assumed it was Hinsche, but does anybody know?  I had expected the voice to be Al's, but it wasn't.

[Jon Stebbins]

Most likely is Billy H.

[Chris Brown]

"We kinda argued when doing the album version that whoever is the most prominent and sings the bridge should be created as lead, because the others were harmony vocals."

I think a better measure would be who is singing the melody.  "Most prominent" is a bit vague...for instance with Surfer Girl, Brian is the lead because he is singing the melody.  The group is singing harmony with him, but I don't consider that a group "lead vocal".

[tpesky]

Should we give Al some kind of mention for singing the lead on the first chorus of Sloop John B in unison with Carl? It is just the 2 of them singing and at least deserves a special harmony mention.

Seems like Al and Billy did rotate the falsetto during the late 70's quite a bit.  I had never heard of anyone other than Al and Brian doing the Surfer Girl from the 60's- till the mid 80's.  You learn something new everyday!

[Jay]

This is probably making things needlessly complicated, but I remember resorting to the live version of "Surfer Girl" when we were learning tunes for the show with Jardine because the studio version was so close and low there were some parts I couldn't romance out with certainty, and I remember at the time (I'm using the IPod to get ready for a different show, so I can't confirm my recollection) noting with surprise that the falsetto "lead" vocal (not the bridge) was nobody whose voice I was familiar with.  I assumed it was Hinsche, but does anybody know?  I had expected the voice to be Al's, but it wasn't.

I'm glad somebody mentioned this. This same question has bugged me for years. Let's the "process of elimination" game. It's sounds like Al...but it's not. It's not Dennis, Carl, or Mike. It's can't be Bruce because he wasn't there.   I don't think It's Blondie. I don't know what Ricky sounds like.

[John]

"We kinda argued when doing the album version that whoever is the most prominent and sings the bridge should be created as lead, because the others were harmony vocals."

I think a better measure would be who is singing the melody.  "Most prominent" is a bit vague...for instance with Surfer Girl, Brian is the lead because he is singing the melody.  The group is singing harmony with him, but I don't consider that a group "lead vocal".

You know, I think that what was actually decided as the criterion, but I'm a sap and forgot that. Yeah, it's whoever's singing the melody.

[John]

Should we give Al some kind of mention for singing the lead on the first chorus of Sloop John B in unison with Carl? It is just the 2 of them singing and at least deserves a special harmony mention.

Why not! I'll add it.

[Andrew G. Doe]

This is probably making things needlessly complicated, but I remember resorting to the live version of "Surfer Girl" when we were learning tunes for the show with Jardine because the studio version was so close and low there were some parts I couldn't romance out with certainty, and I remember at the time (I'm using the IPod to get ready for a different show, so I can't confirm my recollection) noting with surprise that the falsetto "lead" vocal (not the bridge) was nobody whose voice I was familiar with.  I assumed it was Hinsche, but does anybody know?  I had expected the voice to be Al's, but it wasn't.

I'm glad somebody mentioned this. This same question has bugged me for years. Let's the "process of elimination" game. It's sounds like Al...but it's not. It's not Dennis, Carl, or Mike. It's can't be Bruce because he wasn't there.   I don't think It's Blondie. I don't know what Ricky sounds like.

Bobby Figueroa has a mean falsetto... except he wasn't there either. Probably Billy.

[Emdeeh]

I just got confirmation from Billy Hinsche that it was indeed him (Billy) singing the falsetto on SG live.

[adamghost]

I just got confirmation from Billy Hinsche that it was indeed him (Billy) singing the falsetto on SG live.

Neat!  Is that worth a mention, then?  It is a prominent part...

[Jon Stebbins]

I just got confirmation from Billy Hinsche that it was indeed him (Billy) singing the falsetto on SG live.

Neat!  Is that worth a mention, then?  It is a prominent part...

I say YES...let's give Mr. Billy H. an official credit in this definitive thread. It's a leadish vocal on an official BB's LP.

[John]

Done and done.

[Aegir]

So that's Al on the bridge, right?

I think it should be "Group, with Al on bridge and Billy on falsetto"

[John]

I disagree, mainly because part of the motive in my mind of this thread was to get rid of the "Group" listing, unless all members of the group including Brian are there. Al is the bridge, Billy is the falsetto, everyone else is harmony vocals seems fine to me, unless there's a massive outcry. 

[Jon Stebbins]

I disagree, mainly because part of the motive in my mind of this thread was to get rid of the "Group" listing, unless all members of the group including Brian are there. Al is the bridge, Billy is the falsetto, everyone else is harmony vocals seems fine to me, unless there's a massive outcry. 

Billy called me about another matter last night and we talked a little about this thread. He reiterated that the SG falsetto is his...and he thought the fact that we were all developing this thread was very cool!

[John]

Excellent! I'm really glad this thread has gone the distance. I find this much more interesting than rehashing the "scandal". The fact that this board is largely about the actual music was what brought me here anyway.

[Jon Stebbins]

I might also give Dennis a credit for the bass vocal on Its OK since there are some lines with no other vocals on top of them...yeah. But I'd imagine Mike might have more than a few of those on some of the earlier stuff.

[John]

I tend to leave out anything like bass vocals for Mike and short passages of falsetto for Brian since that's their standard schtick anyway, but since I'm already listing Denny for the tag, I'll add the bass vocal since he doesn't do it that often.

[cerro azul]

Toni Tennille's voice is distinctly prominent on "Everyone's in Love With You" -- specifically this passage:
"Because, because, because you gave your love...."
Would this be worthy of a (background vocals) footnote?

[Aegir]

That's Dennis on "fun to ride"? I always thought it was Brian.

[Jon Stebbins]

That's Dennis on "fun to ride"? I always thought it was Brian.

Find a ride...and yes its Dennis.