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Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Do the Beach Boys sound this good live?

From: Mike Dickson <mike.dickson@gmail.com>
Date: 2011-11-03

Anyone who thinks that Brian Wilson is in fine voice is kidding themselves.  His voice is shot to hell, off-key and his range is about an octave and a tad.  Live he sits at a keyboard but doesn't actually play it (or doesn't play it much)

Way back, Andy Paley (then Brian's producer and collaborator) admitted that Brian's first album was really only about 5% Brian Wilson, but then (he added) 'there is only about 5% of Brian Wilson left'.  He may be more coherent these days than before, and his voice doesn't have the horrors of 'Still I Dream Of It' (any version) plastered across it, but it's nothing like the finely tuned instrument it once as.  No surprise though; a guy of his age would hardly sound like a man of 25.  He just cannot make the high notes on 'Caroline No' and really he ought not to even try any more.  I'm just glad he's still with us.

On 2 November 2011 23:48, <lsf5275@aol.com> wrote:
 

Twenty years ago, Brian was still getting over the ravages of cocaine use on his voice. I remember seeing him on SNL and being horrified. Back in the early nineties I used to fantasize that one day he would return to the stage. His voice is better now than I ever hoped. Sometimes I close my eyes when he sings a song like Caroline No or Please Let Me Wonder and I can still hear the voice that grabbed me 48 years ago.
 
Frank 
 
In a message dated 11/2/2011 6:39:36 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, jandjstrz@verizon.net writes:
 

I was watching TV late one night recently and saw some program about the behind the scenes preparations to have Brian Wilson and his band perform Smile in London.

 

Given how bad I’ve heard him sound on some late night talks shows, and how nervous he was ramping up to the big opening night…I was surprised how good he sounded.

He looked like he was having fun doing it too.

 

Couldn’t help but notice Paul McCartney and George Martin in the audience giving him a standing ovation at the conclusion (Good Vibrations…Brian’s version)

 

Jim

 

Check’em out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVu7pyjG9AU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrmNzMQd_Yc

 

 

 

No, they don't but Brian Wilson's band does.

It's a bit of a slavish cover of the song, though.

Talking of which, I now have 'The SMiLE Sessions' as of two days ago.  I think I've played it through about 8 times now. :-)

Mike

On 02/11/2011 15:58, tron400 wrote:

 

 




--
Mike Dickson, Edinburgh