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Post by WillJC on Sept 18, 2021 7:16:37 GMT -5
From someone with an inside word:
"I have it on good authority that Brian played on every track. It was recorded using one of those grand pianos that’s midi capable to be able to capture his performance but it was done with overdubs and basically speaking co-produced by Darian. ... My understanding is that it’s tough to count him off and nail a take now at his age, but they noted that he’d noodle around and after a bit he’s just start diving in and playing, so they were trying to figure out a way where they could let him do that and capture it all so that everything he played was recorded in some form."
So, there you go.
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Post by John Manning on Sept 18, 2021 8:43:01 GMT -5
Am I the only one that doesn’t understand this “midi” business? I’d associated it with the kind of musical sounds you got with 1980s computer games, but maybe it’s moved on a bit?
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Post by boogieboarder on Sept 18, 2021 8:50:23 GMT -5
Am I the only one that doesn’t understand this “midi” business? I’d associated it with the kind of musical sounds you got with 1980s computer games, but maybe it’s moved on a bit? MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface, which is basically just a way that devices talk to each other to determine what sounds to produce. The equipment that plays the music has gotten more and more sophisticated over the decades, but the 1980s computer games were extremely limited in what they could do sound-wise compared to the music synthesizers at the time, many of which were using MIDI for their controllers. |
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Post by Moon Dawg on Sept 18, 2021 9:08:51 GMT -5
Yeh? I guess? At least after hearing GOK, I can tell you that it does not sound like Brian‘s piano playing at all. Chords on left and melody on right, something that Brian rarely, rarely did. Sounds extremely by the numbers, overly rehearsed piano playing, if you would’ve told me this was any random session musician I would’ve believed you. In fact, when I first discovered it, I just assumed it was some sort of tie in to a Brian Wilson piano book, and the man himself had absolutely nothing to do with it. So yeah, seems in a similar vein to the Royal Philharmonic album from a couple years ago, cool I guess, but why? Was there a demand for this? So unless there is a public "demand" for a certain kind of product, it really shouldn't exist? Ah, capitalism at its finest. Brian Wilson has earned the right to release whatever he likes. Seems like a nice project. I don't know enough about music to say whether this is Brian playing or not. GOK sounds "less rough" than what I would associate w/ his usual style. If "they" say it is Brian and it is not, said ruse will be exposed. But I believe them. |
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Post by WillJC on Sept 18, 2021 9:18:45 GMT -5
Am I the only one that doesn’t understand this “midi” business? I’d associated it with the kind of musical sounds you got with 1980s computer games, but maybe it’s moved on a bit? MIDI stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface, which is basically just a way that devices talk to each other to determine what sounds to produce. The equipment that plays the music has gotten more and more sophisticated over the decades, but the 1980s computer games were extremely limited in what they could do sound-wise compared to the music synthesizers at the time, many of which were using MIDI for their controllers. A MIDI-capable piano in this scenario would mean an actual acoustic grand piano that you can leave a MIDI footprint in, like a player piano. In practice, Brian could play something and have the ghost of his actions digitally captured to the most minute detail, so if needed, some notes could be shifted around and then set to 'play' physically on the instrument. It's quite a smart technical fallback. My impression here is that they used it as a net to be able to comp takes and incorporate any particularly good stray noodling Brian did between takes into a full performance, probably not (hopefully not?) as a correction device. God Only Knows doesn't sound squeaky clean and flawless, so I think this has been done the right way. |
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Post by drbeachboy (Dirk) on Sept 18, 2021 9:22:34 GMT -5
Yeh? I guess? At least after hearing GOK, I can tell you that it does not sound like Brian‘s piano playing at all. Chords on left and melody on right, something that Brian rarely, rarely did. Sounds extremely by the numbers, overly rehearsed piano playing, if you would’ve told me this was any random session musician I would’ve believed you. In fact, when I first discovered it, I just assumed it was some sort of tie in to a Brian Wilson piano book, and the man himself had absolutely nothing to do with it. So yeah, seems in a similar vein to the Royal Philharmonic album from a couple years ago, cool I guess, but why? Was there a demand for this? So unless there is a public "demand" for a certain kind of product, it really shouldn't exist? Ah, capitalism at its finest. Brian Wilson has earned the right to release whatever he likes. Seems like a nice project. I don't know enough about music to say whether this is Brian playing or not. GOK sounds "less rough" than what I would associate w/ his usual style. If "they" say it is Brian and it is not, said ruse will be exposed. But I believe them. If Brian doesn't have a capitalist backer nothing gets done or out to the public. No 60's success, no Pet Sounds, no Sunflower or Surf's Up, maybe even no Beach Boys if they never get a capitalist record company to sign them. Brian is damn thankful that someone paid him millions to create beautiful, timeless music. It gave him fame and fortune, along with his brothers, cousin and rest of the band. Capitalist concert halls and arenas paid these guys to come play and supplied them with a living while performing their wonderful music. Capitalism has worked quite well for Brian, the Beach Boys and thousands of other performers who found fame and fortune over the last 100 years. As we have been discussing with Feel Flows, it was that capitalist up front money that paid for all of the sessions that produced all that music that we are enjoying today. |
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Post by gerry on Sept 18, 2021 9:50:48 GMT -5
Agree 100% about capitalism. I'm a swinging capitalist myself. If you don't love America and it's form of capitalist democracy, there's the door.
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Post by #JusticeForDonGoldberg on Sept 18, 2021 9:55:51 GMT -5
Brian as phantom “producer” began with MIU Album, which he apparently “Executive Produced”. I’m not exactly sure what this entailed, but based on the results- I would guess it was something like Al asking, “Hey Brian, can you listen to this and let me know if you have any ideas?”. To which Brian said, “it sounds fine.” Highly doubt that Brian had nothing to do with the production on MIU. Several songs have tons of late 70s Brian fingerprints all over them, especially in their early Steve Moffett mixes from December 77. Wontcha Come Out Tonight’s baseline being played on the Moog, the very Brian pounding piano playing on Match Point and She’s Got Rhythm, his extremely audible backing vocals on Belles of Paris and Winds of Change. So… Brian as phantom producer of MIU is absolutely ridiculous. He may not have had much to do with the final running order and the final mixes of the tracks, but he’s definitely all over that album creatively, even if it’s not him at his best. |
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Post by boogieboarder on Sept 18, 2021 10:02:24 GMT -5
Agree 100% about capitalism. I'm a swinging capitalist myself. If you don't love America and it's form of capitalist democracy, there's the door. Not to mention the capitalistic inventions of records, electricity, radios, CDs, etc. However a little bit of socialism in the mix is helpful, including public schools, roads, and other government services (including health care in many countries). It’s this mix that is up for constant debates and compromises. |
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B.E.
Kahuna
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Post by B.E. on Sept 18, 2021 10:05:15 GMT -5
Moon Dawg, I agree that that's not how artists operate. They'll consider the commercial side of things (or not), though clearly multiple people would have had to think there was a demand for the project, but ultimately the wants of any one of us, or group of us, are irrelevant. I don't really think it's fair to dismiss a project on that account. There's nothing that Brian could do that would satisfy everyone. I'm glad he's active.
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Post by drbeachboy (Dirk) on Sept 18, 2021 10:05:23 GMT -5
Agree 100% about capitalism. I'm a swinging capitalist myself. If you don't love America and it's form of capitalist democracy, there's the door. As a regular Joe, I am quite happy with my lot in life. I worked hard and am thankful for every chance I had to make my way in this world. I never became rich enough to live on Laurel Way or Bellagio Road or Malibu, but Brian did. Capitalism at its shining best. |
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Post by AGD on Sept 18, 2021 11:06:00 GMT -5
Seeing as I have been misreported elsewhere, when I said that it's all Brian, I meant the whole album, not just "GOK".
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Post by gerry on Sept 18, 2021 11:27:37 GMT -5
That is very good news, thanks Andrew
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Post by donnylang on Sept 18, 2021 12:48:32 GMT -5
Brian as phantom “producer” began with MIU Album, which he apparently “Executive Produced”. I’m not exactly sure what this entailed, but based on the results- I would guess it was something like Al asking, “Hey Brian, can you listen to this and let me know if you have any ideas?”. To which Brian said, “it sounds fine.” Highly doubt that Brian had nothing to do with the production on MIU. Several songs have tons of late 70s Brian fingerprints all over them, especially in their early Steve Moffett mixes from December 77. Wontcha Come Out Tonight’s baseline being played on the Moog, the very Brian pounding piano playing on Match Point and She’s Got Rhythm, his extremely audible backing vocals on Belles of Paris and Winds of Change. So… Brian as phantom producer of MIU is absolutely ridiculous. He may not have had much to do with the final running order and the final mixes of the tracks, but he’s definitely all over that album creatively, even if it’s not him at his best. I never said Brian isn’t all over the record. That’s not what an Exec Producer is though … whatever it may mean, I would think it’s something akin to a person who is overseeing the project in some way. The credits on the record say Produced by Al Jardine & Ron Altbach (and it sounds like it was produced to sound like a Celebration record or something), which we know is not true because Brian created and produced some of the original tracks that were used on MIU (like “Hey Little Tomboy” and “My Diane”). But you wouldn’t know it by the slick yacht rock sound that resulted. And it also says Executive Producer: Brian Wilson. Which, IMO was the first sham BW production credit. |
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Post by AGD on Sept 18, 2021 13:31:22 GMT -5
I think Brian's production credit on the Spring album was stretching the truth somewhat.
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Post by Ham Burgerstand on Sept 18, 2021 14:12:25 GMT -5
Wow! A totally unexpected present from Brian, recorded during the pandemic! How wonderful! And released right on the heels of the most mind-blowing Beach Boys release since the Smile Sessions! What a great time to be a lover of this music!
Let me go online and check in with the fans, who surely must be over the moon about receiving this unforeseen gift from our most beloved Beach Boy.
oh...
oh, dear...
...yikes!
And so concludes another episode of Why We Can't Have Nice Things. |
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rjm
Kahuna
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Post by rjm on Sept 18, 2021 14:15:53 GMT -5
Is it just me, or BW is the only major artist whose fans question the authenticity and his involvement upon the release of every single new product? How many fans have questioned if this is actually Brian playing? Far too many. There's some so-called "fans" over on a Facebook group who are sure it's not him. I told them it was, because a source I trust implicitly told me it was, every last note, and they implied I was being lied to. Darian doesn't lie. Is it Brian sitting down and playing the whole thing front to back, one take ? Of course not, unless he's grown at least one extra arm. But if Darian tells me it's all Brian, then it's all Brian. End of conversation. More than usually, I'm hoping the liners have some technical notes. And at the end of the day, if the results are good, then who cares how it was compiled? |
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rjm
Kahuna
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Post by rjm on Sept 18, 2021 14:17:35 GMT -5
Wow! A totally unexpected present from Brian, recorded during the pandemic! How wonderful! And released right on the heels of the most mind-blowing Beach Boys release since the Smile Sessions! What a great time to be a lover of this music!
Let me go online and check in with the fans, who surely must be over the moon about receiving this unforeseen gift from our most beloved Beach Boy.
oh...
oh, dear...
...yikes!
And so concludes another episode of Why We Can't Have Nice Things. Agreed. |
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Post by drbeachboy (Dirk) on Sept 18, 2021 14:21:11 GMT -5
Wow! A totally unexpected present from Brian, recorded during the pandemic! How wonderful! And released right on the heels of the most mind-blowing Beach Boys release since the Smile Sessions! What a great time to be a lover of this music!
Let me go online and check in with the fans, who surely must be over the moon about receiving this unforeseen gift from our most beloved Beach Boy.
oh...
oh, dear...
...yikes!
And so concludes another episode of Why We Can't Have Nice Things. Huh? Guess what, whether we love it, hate it or anything in between, Brian will be releasing his piano music. Record Critics get paid to do this stuff for 60 years and throughout all that time we still got “Nice Things”. |
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Post by Ham Burgerstand on Sept 18, 2021 15:02:32 GMT -5
Wow! A totally unexpected present from Brian, recorded during the pandemic! How wonderful! And released right on the heels of the most mind-blowing Beach Boys release since the Smile Sessions! What a great time to be a lover of this music!
Let me go online and check in with the fans, who surely must be over the moon about receiving this unforeseen gift from our most beloved Beach Boy.
oh...
oh, dear...
...yikes!
And so concludes another episode of Why We Can't Have Nice Things. Huh? Guess what, whether we love it, hate it or anything in between, Brian will be releasing his piano music. Record Critics get paid to do this stuff for 60 years and throughout all that time we still got “Nice Things”.
I've got no problem with legit criticism, provided the critic actually knows the work. But suggesting, with no supporting evidence, that an artist isn't playing on his own (solo instrumental!) album is anything but legit.
P.S. Anyone who thinks this doesn't sound like Brian's piano playing should get their ears checked. Of course it's him, and of course it's overdubbed. Brian loves overdubbing! He's been doing it ever since he (home) recorded "Happy Birthday Four Freshmen" as a kid. Why wouldn't he do the same this time? After all, it's a Brian Wilson record, not a piano recital.
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Post by drbeachboy (Dirk) on Sept 18, 2021 15:13:27 GMT -5
Huh? Guess what, whether we love it, hate it or anything in between, Brian will be releasing his piano music. Record Critics get paid to do this stuff for 60 years and throughout all that time we still got “Nice Things”.
I've got no problem with legit criticism, provided the critic actually knows the work. But suggesting, with no supporting evidence, that an artist isn't playing on his own (solo instrumental!) album is anything but legit.
P.S. Anyone who thinks this doesn't sound like Brian's piano playing should get their ears checked. Of course it's him, and of course it's overdubbed. Brian loves overdubbing! He's been doing it ever since he (home) recorded "Happy Birthday Four Freshmen" as a kid. Why wouldn't he do the same this time? After all, it's a Brian Wilson record, not a piano recital.
I will repeat this again here, it is what we do! We discuss all the things that run through our minds when we hear about releases or any other news about the band. It never dawned on me that playing a solo piano would need over dubs and such. I was expecting more in line with how music is recorded in Classical Music. He could never take it on the road and play by himself. Nothing wrong with it, mind you, but not exactly what I would have expected. You ask questions, you receive answers. |
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Post by Ham Burgerstand on Sept 18, 2021 15:30:19 GMT -5
I've got no problem with legit criticism, provided the critic actually knows the work. But suggesting, with no supporting evidence, that an artist isn't playing on his own (solo instrumental!) album is anything but legit.
P.S. Anyone who thinks this doesn't sound like Brian's piano playing should get their ears checked. Of course it's him, and of course it's overdubbed. Brian loves overdubbing! He's been doing it ever since he (home) recorded "Happy Birthday Four Freshmen" as a kid. Why wouldn't he do the same this time? After all, it's a Brian Wilson record, not a piano recital.
I will repeat this again here, it is what we do! We discuss all the things that run through our minds when we hear about releases or any other news about the band. It never dawned on me that playing a solo piano would need over dubs and such. I was expecting more in line with how music is recorded in Classical Music. He could never take it on the road and play by himself. Nothing wrong with it, mind you, but not exactly what I would have expected. You ask questions, you receive answers.
And I'm not stopping anyone from doing it. Just adding my two cents. |
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Post by drbeachboy (Dirk) on Sept 18, 2021 16:04:04 GMT -5
I will repeat this again here, it is what we do! We discuss all the things that run through our minds when we hear about releases or any other news about the band. It never dawned on me that playing a solo piano would need over dubs and such. I was expecting more in line with how music is recorded in Classical Music. He could never take it on the road and play by himself. Nothing wrong with it, mind you, but not exactly what I would have expected. You ask questions, you receive answers.
And I'm not stopping anyone from doing it. Just adding my two cents. You said if we do it then we won’t get Nice Things. Trust me, we will.  No problem. |
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kreen
Grommet
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Post by kreen on Sept 18, 2021 17:23:19 GMT -5
This is just product in the same way the Beach Boys's Philharmonic Orchestra album was. It's just a way to keep an aging musician in the public eye, when he's run out of new material. An album like this would maybe be of some artistic interest if Brian was a virtuoso or even an energetic piano player willing to play reinvented versions of his old hits, but as it is it's really no more interesting than if any capable pianist on Youtube played a bunch of piano-only covers of old Beach Boys songs.
Some will say they hear "emotion" and "soul" from those recordings -- and to be honest we've only heard one track for now -- but I think it'll be a case where it would sound exactly the same if it were played by any nameless session musician.
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Post by boogieboarder on Sept 18, 2021 17:40:06 GMT -5
This is just product in the same way the Beach Boys's Philharmonic Orchestra album was. It's just a way to keep an aging musician in the public eye, when he's run out of new material. An album like this would maybe be of some artistic interest if Brian was a virtuoso or even an energetic piano player willing to play reinvented versions of his old hits, but as it is it's really no more interesting than if any capable pianist on Youtube played a bunch of piano-only covers of old Beach Boys songs. Some will say they hear "emotion" and "soul" from those recordings -- and to be honest we've only heard one track for now -- but I think it'll be a case where it would sound exactly the same if it were played by any nameless session musician. Yeah, except Brian wrote the songs. That's why it's a treat to hear Cole Porter playing his own songs on the piano, whereas everybody from Frank Sinatra to everybody else you could probably think of did them better. |
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No problem.