What did Bruce do on Smiley Smile?

[Mr. Cohen]

Since we're discussing minute details about vocals in this topic, I'd thought I'd bring up something I just noticed but wasn't worth it's own topic: is it just me or does someone say "foda" (yes, "foda"!) at about 1:21 in "Honkin' Down the Highway"? You have to listen real closely to hear it. Those BBs, so crazy...

[Outie 315]

 Q: What did Bruce do on Smiley Smile?

  A: Inhaled.

[variable2]

Since we're discussing minute details about vocals in this topic, I'd thought I'd bring up something I just noticed but wasn't worth it's own topic: is it just me or does someone say "foda" (yes, "foda"!) at about 1:21 in "Honkin' Down the Highway"? You have to listen real closely to hear it. Those BBs, so crazy...

just sounds like slapback from al's vocal to me..

[Ian]

After the May 1967 European tour ended, Bruce went to Ibiza and then to London. He was still there in early June.  His role within the BBs at that time is complicated.  He admitted in an interview at that time that none of the other BBs really socialized much with him...he was the only single one at that time.  You get the feeling that in 1967 he was still sort of seen as a glorified session man at times....it's possible that they rather coldly told him that his services weren't needed for the project...He also still saw himself as a producer...he worked with Graham Bonney at that time and others...He took a larger role in the group in 1968 in the 20/20 period.  I think that even Al had trouble for a few years gaining the full acceptance of "the family"

[Alf64]

Hmmm. Also the guys had been a tight family group since before the beginning of their career.  I am sure Bruce felt like an outsider for a while. I have learned here that the guys are like a "clique". The thinking "well he's not family" I assume came into all their minds then. It must have been one heck of a challenge for him. Al was Brian's school mate, so he had a slight angle n. Bruce didn't. Alienation can do 2 things, either push you out, or make you fight harder to want to belong. I know this feeling personally. 

[JB Wilojarston]

Hmmm. Also the guys had been a tight family group since before the beginning of their career.  I am sure Bruce felt like an outsider for a while. I have learned here that the guys are like a "clique". The thinking "well he's not family" I assume came into all their minds then. It must have been one heck of a challenge for him. Al was Brian's school mate, so he had a slight angle n. Bruce didn't. Alienation can do 2 things, either push you out, or make you fight harder to want to belong. I know this feeling personally. 

The Beach Boys were outsiders, not Hollywood kids in the way that Terry Melcher, Lenny Waronker, Kim Fowley, Daryl Dragon, Bruce, and Van Dyke Parks were. That's the distinction between Bruce and the Beach Boys.

[Exapno Mapcase]

"After the May 1967 European tour ended, Bruce went to Ibiza and then to London. He was still there in early June.  His role within the BBs at that time is complicated.  He admitted in an interview at that time that none of the other BBs really socialized much with him...he was the only single one at that time.  You get the feeling that in 1967 he was still sort of seen as a glorified session man at times....it's possible that they rather coldly told him that his services weren't needed for the project...He also still saw himself as a producer...he worked with Graham Bonney at that time and others...He took a larger role in the group in 1968 in the 20/20 period.  I think that even Al had trouble for a few years gaining the full acceptance of "the family""
Wasn't it round about this time that they tried to ditch him in favour of Billy Hinsche?

[Moon Dawg]

 I've never been able to hear Bruce singing on FRIENDS. Moreover, he is entirely absent from the songwriting credits on that album.

[Cam Mott]

Hmm.  Does anybody else find this album...odd?   

Has anyone ever asked Brian in an interview exactly what he was doing with SS?  Reaction to junking SMiLE?  The "humor" album?  Beach Boys' Stoners Party? 

He "wanted a different mood and approach". Something like that.

[hypehat]

I've never been able to hear Bruce singing on FRIENDS. Moreover, he is entirely absent from the songwriting credits on that album.

Bet ya he's on the ballsqueezingly high harmony in the title track.

[drbeachboy]

I've never been able to hear Bruce singing on FRIENDS. Moreover, he is entirely absent from the songwriting credits on that album.

Bruce has no writing credits prior to 20/20. I would imagine that he is on Friends, as it would have been tough recording with Mike being missing during much of that time.

[Rocker]

I've never been able to hear Bruce singing on FRIENDS. Moreover, he is entirely absent from the songwriting credits on that album.

You can hear him more than clearly on the tag of "Anna Lee the healer".

[Disney Boy (1985)]

Bruce is on "Heroes", "Vegetables" (probably just the fade), and "Good Vibes".  According to the session sheets, he's not on the others.  He once said he showed up at the Bellagio house, but thought it silly to sing in the shower and at the bottom of the pool, so he left.  The other guys being stoned probably was not to his liking, either.  Which is why he also didn't go on the "mini-tour" to Hawaii that August.

That guy is such a square...

Agreed. Bruce is, and always has been, boring.

[Disney Boy (1985)]

I think I remember reading an interview a while back where Brian said something along the lines of "bad vibes", or something like that, and saying he prefers Friends.

Seriously, who doesn't? 
Reading about Friends being Brian's (then) favorite record really deepened my own interest in the Beach Boys, by the way. I used to wonder why BW would prefer a group production over his very "own" records after all the turmoil and quarrels I had read about in his "autobiography".

Me. I prefer Smiley to Friends. I love Friends obviously, but I like Smiley more. The fans that don't 'get' Smiley? I don't get them.

[Mr. Cohen]

It seems like once Mike got his head "straight" with TM in '68, it became a big boost for Al and Bruce. They became Mike's clean-cut buddies, and I think that really changed the dynamic of the BBs.

Before TM, Mike claims he was abusing pot and alcohol. There is the story, for example, of Mike & Brian writing "She's Goin' Bald" while they were stoned and watching a movie one night. I imagine Brian was having a lot of fun, getting really stoned with the Boys, recording in his home, and having  complete artistic freedom. Even Al probably toked up a few times.

Though Smiley Smile bombed, Brian had to know he was releasing a strange record. With Wild Honey, he took a more direct, commercial direction and scored a top 40 and top 20 hit. Sure, it didn't equal the success of albums like Today! or Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!), but it had to be reassuring just to at least get back on the charts. Brian gets ambitious again, bringing in old session players for Friends tracks, improving the production quality, and writing odes to love, peace, and harmony.

However, sometime during all this, Mike comes back from India a new man and everything changes.

Scene: Mike drives over to Brian's spacious new mansion to write a song and talk about his experiences in India. Brian pulls out some hashish and a pipe.

Brian: "Hey Mike, wanna smoke grass? I've got some really good stuff from up north, man."
Mike: "Naw, sorry Brian. It's just ever since I went to India and met the Maharishi with the Beatles, I've been on this transcendental meditation kick and it's been way better for me than any high. You should try it."
Brian: "Transcendental meditation? Yeah, I'll have to try that some day." [Brian lights his pipe] "Hey, what was it like meeting the Beatles?"

Scene: Al is in Brian's living room listening to some new tracks with Carl. Brian pulls out some hashish and a pipe.
Al: "This is great, Brian."
Carl: "Really groovy."
Brian: "Hey Al, wanna smoke some grass? This stuff I just bought is really groovy, a really good, clean head high. You'll like it. It doesn't make me feel all tired like some stuff does." [Brian exhales a huge puff of smoke and laughs.]
Al: "Gee, Brian... I'd like to, it's just... I've been trying to take a break from that stuff. Y'know, clear my head."
Brian: "OK. Cool. I can respect that. Carl?"

A few months later, Friends bombs. There's trouble in paradise again. At subsequent recording sessions, you have the Wilsons in one corner, getting high, and Mike, Al, and Bruce in the other corner, tolerating what's going on but clearly not participating. Soon, Mike is wondering aloud what it might be like if the band took different directions, perhaps writing a retro surf song or relatable love songs, getting away from the strange "day in the life" songs and spacey instrumentals. Al and Bruce like the idea. Carl thinks it might be worth a try - maybe.

And soon enough, Brian stops showing up to the sessions...

[bossaroo]

that's a groovy scene or two you describe, Dada. oh to be a fly on the wall...


I used to think it was Brian, but now I think it's Dennis singing "close your eyes and lean back" in a goofy voice before finishing the rest of the verse.

funny that lance said someone is doing a Bruce imitation. could very well be.

[Rocker]

Before TM, Mike claims he was abusing pot and alcohol. There is the story, for example, of Mike & Brian writing "She's Goin' Bald" while they were stoned and watching a movie one night.

If you look at how drastically Mike's contributions to the band in terms of songwriting changed for the worse over the next 10-15 years compared to his very good work on "Wild honey", you could wish that he never had stopped. I hate to bring this up but I believe the seeds for the affinity to write lyrics like "spring vacation, good vibration"were planted in those days when he got his head straight but couldn't understand that it's not '63 anymore. I don't mean to support drug taking in any way but I just can't stand Mike's at times radical one sided view of the Beach Boys and what/who they are and what that view brought to the Beach Boys' output.

I don't recall that story about the writing of She's Goin' Bald (is there more about it?). It's funny because the song to me sounds like a stoned "Along came Jones" by Leiber & Stoller and that song is about a movie.

[Mr. Cohen]

I don't recall that story about the writing of She's Goin' Bald (is there more about it?). It's funny because the song to me sounds like a stoned "Along came Jones" by Leiber & Stoller and that song is about a movie.

There might be more detail on what movie (or type of movie) it was, but I can't remember. Also, the bizarre middle section of the song is a 'parody' of "Get A Job" by The Silhouettes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbGthv-dJp4.

[bcdam]

Here's a video of Bruce talking about the SS album. Doesn't really shed light on his involvement, but interesting nonetheless:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUopawsbZIQ&feature=relmfu

[Rocker]

Here's a video of Bruce talking about the SS album. Doesn't really shed light on his involvement, but interesting nonetheless:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUopawsbZIQ&feature=relmfu

Where is that interview from ?


EDIT: I like that Bruce also sees the Leiber & Stoller connection

[Lowbacca]

Where is that interview from ?

http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,13441.0.html

[Rocker]

Thanks ! Didn't catch that

[Aegir]

I like that Bruce refers to his hiatus from the Beach Boys as "time off for good behavior".

[Nicko1234]

If you look at how drastically Mike's contributions to the band in terms of songwriting changed for the worse over the next 10-15 years compared to his very good work on "Wild honey", you could wish that he never had stopped. I hate to bring this up but I believe the seeds for the affinity to write lyrics like "spring vacation, good vibration"were planted in those days when he got his head straight but couldn't understand that it's not '63 anymore. I don't mean to support drug taking in any way but I just can't stand Mike's at times radical one sided view of the Beach Boys and what/who they are and what that view brought to the Beach Boys' output.

I don`t think Mike`s decline had anything to do with not using drugs. I think it had everything to do with first Do It Again being their biggest hit of that era, then Endless Summer being huge, then the whole nostalgic Brian`s Back/15 Big Ones era. The public had spoken.

Even now it can`t be denied that one reason why TWGMTR has sold so well is because it is nostalgic from beginning to end.

[Disney Boy (1985)]

Wow. Apologises Bruce for my above comments, he actually comes across really well in this interview and i totally agree with his assessment of Smiley, in particular that Wind Chimes is great, and that GV doesn't fit...