The Definitive Vocal Credits Thread...

[TimeToGetAlone]

A couple of things I'm not sure about from the Surf's Up album.  I was always sure the falsetto just before the tag in 'Til I Die was Brian.  It doesn't sound like Carl at any rate.  And with the title track, isn't it Brian on the tag?  I heard something about it being slightly sped up considering the range he sang it on, but I've never heard of Al doing it even if I can see it sounds like him.

Yeah. the "Until I Die" in falsetto just before the tag IS Brian. Carl is the main voice singing the title phrase DURING the tag, which is what I've listed. Maybe I should clarify that.

Okay, that makes sense then.

I'm still not sure if I'll be completely convinced on Surf's Up.  Claims by the people themselves have been contradictory before, so much so that I'm almost more inclined to follow third-person observation.

[adamghost]

You Need A Mess Of Help is Brian, Mike said so in a 1972 interview. Til I Die is certainly Brian because I heard a version of the song they played on a 2-71 broadcast and all of Brian solo lines were not on there yet. That includes the ending Til I Die bit. Surf's Up is hard because Desper remembers Brian doing it, and it being a big moment for him as he conqured a fear. It sure sounds like Al though.

We dissected Mess of Help at great length waaay back in this thread, even to the point of having Alan Boyd pull the track sheets to figure out who were the folks on the multiple lead vocal.  I'd also wondered based on Mike's interview and the odd/crazy double tracking if the second voice might be Brian's, but after looking at it pretty carefully we were pretty certain that the two main voices were both Carl's.  We didn't rule out there being a third voice that might be Brian's, however.

[MBE]

No I didn't mean the lead that's Carl all the way, just the high pitched oohs and ahhs are Brian/

[adamghost]

No I didn't mean the lead that's Carl all the way, just the high pitched oohs and ahhs are Brian/

Gotcha.  You're probably right about that.

[signum]

The "Surf's up" tag is definitely Al in my opinion.
"Until I die" falsetto is Brian, just as we all agree.
"Mess of help": two Carl leads, plus two other voices. No. 3 is crazy and gritty and sticks to the tune most of the time although parting company at the end of the last verse. No. 4 is a high harmony in the background. Nos. 3 or 4 (or both) could possibly be Brian, but listening again, they all sound like Carl to me (check out No. 3 at the end of the first verse and No. 4 on "voice to sing"). Brian certainly might be singing "oohs" and "aahs".

[TimeToGetAlone]

I suppose the YNAMOFTSA Brian voice I was thinking about was the 3rd one (which has been mentioned as parting with the rest).  I had heard Brian was intentionally singing it in the gritty tone it is.  I can see how it sounds like Carl, but just from the numerous places I've heard it mentioned I was sure it's Brian.

[TimeToGetAlone]

Looking back there's another I wasn't sure about.  For the closeup of She's Goin' Bald, I was confident Dennis did "You're Too Late Mama" ending, rather than Mike.  Any insight into this?

[Emdeeh]

"Mess of help": two Carl leads, plus two other voices. No. 3 is crazy and gritty and sticks to the tune most of the time although parting company at the end of the last verse. No. 4 is a high harmony in the background. Nos. 3 or 4 (or both) could possibly be Brian, but listening again, they all sound like Carl to me (check out No. 3 at the end of the first verse and No. 4 on "voice to sing"). Brian certainly might be singing "oohs" and "aahs".

Two Carls and one Blondie. Carl's singing one of the gritty parts as well as the top lead.

[signum]

"Mess of help": two Carl leads, plus two other voices. No. 3 is crazy and gritty and sticks to the tune most of the time although parting company at the end of the last verse. No. 4 is a high harmony in the background. Nos. 3 or 4 (or both) could possibly be Brian, but listening again, they all sound like Carl to me (check out No. 3 at the end of the first verse and No. 4 on "voice to sing"). Brian certainly might be singing "oohs" and "aahs".

Two Carls and one Blondie. Carl's singing one of the gritty parts as well as the top lead.

Are you saying the high harmony (my No. 4) is Blondie? I think it's possible. I say there are four voices because Nos. 1 and 2 are just a relatively normal double-tracked vocal from Carl: you might be counting these as one lead, since they blend together most of the time. No. 3 is the only really gritty one and sticks out by not being exactly together with the leads, and by being crazy and gritty. No. 4 is not particularly gritty but is a bit loose. It is often inaudible in the mix.

Looking back there's another I wasn't sure about.  For the closeup of She's Goin' Bald, I was confident Dennis did "You're Too Late Mama" ending, rather than Mike.  Any insight into this?

That ending is definitely Mike. Even the falsetto bits-"Upside your head".

[Chris Brown]

That ending is definitely Mike. Even the falsetto bits-"Upside your head".

Really, you think even the falsetto is Mike?  I'd have to listen again but I always thought that was Brian.  I guess I don't really know what Mike's falsetto would sound like, so it could be.  I'm just not sure though...obviously the rest is Mike, you're definitely right on that.

[John]

It's Mike and Brian.

We pored over these things, put the bootlegs on, got the tracksheets in some instances, we really did debate the hell out of it.

[TimeToGetAlone]

I can agree with She's Goin' Bald now I suppose, but I refuse the Al on Surf's Up.

[signum]

I suppose the YNAMOFTSA Brian voice I was thinking about was the 3rd one (which has been mentioned as parting with the rest).  I had heard Brian was intentionally singing it in the gritty tone it is.  I can see how it sounds like Carl, but just from the numerous places I've heard it mentioned I was sure it's Brian.

I wish I knew if it was Brian or Carl. I've just listened again to the last line of verse 3 where the 3rd voice seems to take over and become the loudest, but I can't identify the voice at all. It sounds not as I'd expect from Brian, but even less from Carl because it sounds like a different sort of voice than his. Since it is practically shouted though, I suppose it could even be Carl.

It's Mike and Brian.

We pored over these things, put the bootlegs on, got the tracksheets in some instances, we really did debate the hell out of it.

Yes I agree, John. It's Mike more prominently but also Brian. It might be an instance like Mike joining in with Brian's falsetto  on the " "Cassius" Love" track.

We hadn't discussed that particular part though as I remember (although I wasn't around anyway at the time).

I must confess I'm not happy with just leaving "She's Goin' bald" as it is either. I think a few tracks were complicated and we didn't quite get them sorted out. For instance I would like to put forward Al for the fist spoken line in the track, and Bruce for the fifth sung line (or half-line before Mike) although he certainly sounds weird (deliberately I presume).

[John]

I'll have another listen, but I'm sure the talking is just Brian - including that first line - and Mike; and Dennis and Al are the only people to get a line otherwise in the singing bit.

[signum]

This is my take on the spoken lines:

Alan: "She drew a comb" etc
Mike: "I tried to salvage" etc
Brian: "She made a bee line" etc
Alan and Mike: "She started pouring" etc (with Mike laughing too much to be as prominent as Alan).

[John]

That "Alan" just sounds like the standard goofy Brian voice to me. I'll check it out though.

[signum]

Ah yes, but there is a hint of reasonableness (even if mock reasonableness) in the voice, like in Al's introduction to "Cassius Love" (which I compared it with).

Whereas Brian's line is completely serious.

[epi]

Hi, I'm a newbie here, and I'm looking forward to get to know you all!  First question, on 'A Thing or Two' from WH, is it Bruce singing the last line before the first chorus?

[TimeToGetAlone]

Hi, I'm a newbie here, and I'm looking forward to get to know you all!  First question, on 'A Thing or Two' from WH, is it Bruce singing the last line before the first chorus?

Now that one I'm pretty confident to be Carl if I'm thinking of the right part.  Oh wait unless you mean when the title of the song is actually said ("A thing or twoooooo).  In which case scrap the Carl thing.   It might be Mike then, considering the way he sings throughout the rest of that song.

[John]

It's Mike, if I'm thinking about the same thing you are.

And thanks for bumping this. It totally slipped my mind, sorry.

[epi]

I meant 'a thing or twooo' before the first and last choruses, sorry I wasn't clearer. It just sounds like Bruce to me, but you're probably right. How much was actually Bruce involved in WH and SS? I don't hear him anywhere on those albums, I just know he played a organ solo in Wild Honey (song) and bass?

[TimeToGetAlone]

I know he also did the lead vocal for the cover of With A Little Help From My Friends which was from the Wild Honey sessions I thought.  It obviously didn't appear on the album however.

[John]

Bruce wasn't involved much with SS, he played some stuff on WH, and did some lead vocals on outtakes like Lonely Days and With A Little Help...I think sometimes he does sound like Mike.

[John]

After listening to She's Goin' Bald, I really have to stick with the intricately researched and corrected by the board thing that's there. Brian, Mike, Dennis and Al sing the first section and Brian and Mike are the only guys doing the hammy talking bit.

[signum]

I meant 'a thing or twooo' before the first and last choruses, sorry I wasn't clearer. It just sounds like Bruce to me, but you're probably right. How much was actually Bruce involved in WH and SS? I don't hear him anywhere on those albums, I just know he played a organ solo in Wild Honey (song) and bass?

I agree with you epi. In fact I'm certain that that line you mention before the first and last choruses is Bruce. It is not only the "a thing or two" lyrics he sings but "I'm gonna tell that little girl" as well before the first chorus.

Bruce must have been quite involved in "Wild Honey" judging by his vocals. He also is audible on "Let the wind blow" in my opinion-"What would I do without her tell me now" and the last line.

I agree, John, that he can sound like Mike, just that in this case it actually is Bruce on "A thing or two".