Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Yep, you hit the nail on the head, Paul! It was pretty much a "steaming bag of jakes"!

Gee Paul... I take it you're not a big fan of Mike Love?

I like Mike's voice.

He was a junior college student working as a gas station attendant when his dad wheedled Murry into talking Brian into including him as a permanent member. A prime example of what fame and too much money can do to twist a human being, and, instead of mellowing him out, amplifies his negatives to the max.

Just like the group was split forever into two factions, so are its long-suffering fans. Mike has always put money before family, though it was his family ties that got him the gig despite a one-dimensional talent.

I don't think Mike has a good voice. But Brian was totally brilliant in using it in his "orchestra" of voices. Mike's voice, to me, like the brass, the other's like the reeds and strings. Brian arranged the voices of his bandmates like an orchestral conductor would.

So sad what they went through. Wonderful though, that the music will live on.

For those who don't have it, get the Pet Sounds box, 4 CDs - one CD has the voices isolated (heavenly!), another the music isolated, the remaining two contain the complete album in mono and in stereo. Also a pretty good listing of who's playing what (how many bass guitars on each song, as well).

Did anybody else see a Beach Boys doc that featured a scene with Al, Carl with Brian who was sitting at a piano.

He tells Carl to hold his nose.

Brian then launches into a wonderful imitation of Mike Love singing:

"Well east coast girls are hip ...... "

It was a great and hilarious moment with Al and Carl totally cracking up.

Jerry that was a great analysis of Brians' arranging the Beach Boy "orchestra" of voices and a great analogy. They needed a "brass" to offset the reeds and strings I believe, his voice sounded good when it was used in the right context, and probably was the best lead voice out of the bunch back in 1962 for their surf and car music. It's a classic voice actually.

David, that choreographed "moment" was also on the "Shut Down Volume 2" album, on the "Cassius Love vs. Sonny Wilson" cut. On the vinyl it leads into "Warmth of the Sun". From the stoopid to the sublime, and that pretty much sums up the tug of war between Brian and Mike.

Mike has a brass nose, no question.

With some of them Hollywood Teflon® nostrils?

The bummer of it is I can nail Mike Love's voice. (sigh)

Yes, but could you nail his head to the floor?

Please?

So, Jerry, you sound like a "gravel train with square wheels"?

(Quote from Brian Wilson in interview with Earl Leaf, 1964)

For the record, I can do a pretty fair imitation of a "gravel train with square wheels" (very imaginative!), but I don't sound like that all of the time (at least I hope not!).

Wishing I could imitate Carl!

...which brings to mind my impression of Forum member John Ashfield's voice on some songs of his latest CD--it's Carl Wilson brought back to life!

Who do y'all think had the best vocals of the Beach Boys.... Carl? I think he would get my vote.

Do you have a copy of Carl's only solo album?

It's called "Youngblood". His voice shines in this album!

But it's not the awesome work that Dennis' "Pacific Ocean Blue" is.