petsite
Author/Historian/ Researcher 
Posts: 1,964
Likes: 3,215
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Post by petsite on Jun 20, 2022 1:23:17 GMT -5
Ok, let's do this. I am tired of all of the bitching about remixes, box sets, etc. Let's do something fun.
Here are my top two choices (any more than that and we are getting into the weeds) for each member for best vocals.
Brian (there are SO many):
1. SURF'S UP - Demo recorded at Columbia Studios December 15, 1966 2. DON'T TALK
Carl (again, so many): 1. GOOD VIBRATIONS 2. GOD ONLY KNOWS
Mike (see above): 1. ALL I WANNA DO
2. DO IT AGAIN
Alan: 1. HELP ME RHONDA 2. SUSIE CINCINNATI
Dennis: 1. FOREVER 2. DO YOU WANNA DANCE
Bruce: 1. DISNEY GIRLS 2. Backgrounds on both GOD ONLY KNOWS and CALIFORNIA GIRLS
Blondie: 1. SAIL ON SAILOR 2. WILD HONEY (Live)
Okie dookie.....next.
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Post by Bruce’s Shorts on Jun 20, 2022 1:55:28 GMT -5
My favorite Mike vocals are from, unfortunately, songs that went unreleased in their time.
Sweet & Bitter
HELP Is On The Way
I Just Got My Pay
In that period he was using his middle register a lot, which is very pleasing to the ear.
Other than the above tunes:
All I Wanna Do
Big Sur (Holland Version)
Everyone’s In Love With You
It’s OK.
Mike’s voice IS The Beach Boys!!!! Deal with it.
Brian?
Oh man! A near impossible question, but …
Busy Doing Nothing (I love the “calm Brian” thing he had going)
She Knows Me Too Well
Please Let Me Wonder
Rock N Roll To The Rescue (I just love how he sounds on this one. He sounds like a complete insane maniac, but I love it)
Carl:
Full Sail (my favorite Carl vocal: sue me)
Marcella (the original. Not the godforsaken “remix”)
Only With You (sounds like he’s singing through his beard …. In the best way)
God Only Knows
Trader (jaw dropping)
Dennis:
In The Back Of My Mind
Forever
Baby Blue (I tear up when he comes in: hiss or no hiss)
Carry Me Home (see above)
Bruce:
Disney Girls
Dierdre (pure 60’s pop bliss: 1970, yes: but still …)
Somewhere Near Japan (he just cuts so well on this one)
Endless Harmony (I’m a sucker for sap and Bruce is a master at it)
Al:
Anytime he sings. And I’m not shorting him. He’s the best pure singer in the band, so anytime his voice is there, we’re talking pure gold.
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Post by karmafrog on Jun 20, 2022 2:55:53 GMT -5
I just wanna say my favorite Al vocal might just be the chorus of "I Do Love You." You expect Carl to knock it out of the park doing Stevie, and he sure does, but Al just about channels him, and it's wonderful.
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petsite
Author/Historian/ Researcher
Posts: 1,964
Likes: 3,215
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Post by petsite on Jun 20, 2022 2:56:49 GMT -5
My favorite Mike vocals are from, unfortunately, songs that went unreleased in their time. Sweet & Bitter HELP Is On The Way I Just Got My Pay In that period he was using his middle register a lot, which is very pleasing to the ear. Other than the above tunes: All I Wanna Do Big Sur (Holland Version) Everyone’s In Love With You It’s OK. Mike’s voice IS The Beach Boys!!!! Deal with it. Brian? Oh man! A near impossible question, but … Busy Doing Nothing (I love the “calm Brian” thing he had going) She Knows Me Too Well Please Let Me Wonder Rock N Roll To The Rescue (I just love how he sounds on this one. He sounds like a complete insane maniac, but I love it) Carl: Full Sail (my favorite Carl vocal: sue me) Marcella (the original. Not the godforsaken “remix”) Only With You (sounds like he’s singing through his beard …. In the best way) God Only Knows Trader (jaw dropping) Dennis: In The Back Of My Mind Forever Baby Blue (I tear up when he comes in: hiss or no hiss) Carry Me Home (see above) Bruce: Disney Girls Dierdre (pure 60’s pop bliss: 1970, yes: but still …) Somewhere Near Japan (he just cuts so well on this one) Endless Harmony (I’m a sucker for sap and Bruce is a master at it) Al: Anytime he sings. And I’m not shorting him. He’s the best pure singer in the band, so anytime his voice is there, we’re talking pure gold. Cool selection! |
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Post by jk on Jun 20, 2022 4:20:01 GMT -5
Nice idea, petsite, and indeed a welcome break!  Not exactly etched in stone, but here goes: Brian: "Thank Him" and "I'm Waiting For The Day"
Carl: "I Can Hear Music” and "Long Promised Road"
Mike: "All I Wanna Do" and "Little Honda"
Dennis: "Slip On Through" and "Angel Come Home" "Be Still"
Al: "Cotton Fields" and "Looking At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song)"
Blondie: "Funky Pretty" and "Sail On, Sailor"
Jack: "A Day In The Life Of A Tree"
[Eek -- I forgot Bruce! Let's not consider the implications of that. Thanks to Micha for jogging my memory. So that would be "Deirdre" and "At My Window".  ]
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Post by E on Jun 20, 2022 6:00:14 GMT -5
Al: Lookin' at Tomorrow, Cotton Fields, From There to Back Again and Rhonda
Mike: I Get Around, Surfin' USA, Little Saint Nick (seriously), Big Sur, Do It Again and All I Wanna Do
Carl - too many to mention
Brian - too many to mention
Bruce - Disney Girls, Tears, She Believes in Love
Blondie - SoS
Dennis - Forever, Slip on Through, Wouldn't It Ne Nice to Live Again, Cuddle Up, Baby Blue
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Post by filledeplage on Jun 20, 2022 6:46:28 GMT -5
How about the split leads?
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Post by jk on Jun 20, 2022 7:17:20 GMT -5
How about the split leads? My first choice for Blondie was "Funky Pretty", pretty well the last word in split leads. But in my view it's his contribution that takes the song to another level. |
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Post by Vale on Jun 20, 2022 7:32:29 GMT -5
Been away for a while but I'm moving, so I'm extremely busy with paperwork and stuff...
Soo here is my selection:
Brian
1. Don't Talk / Surf's Up (solo) ex aequo
2. Good Vibrations (Live SNL Special 1976) ... (I know... but I absolutely love it.)
Mike
1. California Girls
2. All This Is That
Carl
1. God Only Knows
2. Full Sail (his voice here is timeless)
Dennis
1. Thoughts of You
2. Forever
Al
1. From There to Back Again
2. Help Me Rhonda
Bruce
1. Deirdre
2. Endless Harmony
Blondie
1. Sail On Sailor
2. Funky Pretty
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Post by ian on Jun 21, 2022 18:35:04 GMT -5
Mike-All I Wanna Do (sunflower), Big Sur (early version)
Brian-(very tough but..) She Knows Me Too Well, We’ll Run Away, Your Summer Dream, I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times
Carl-God Only Knows, This whole World, Palisades Park, Long Promised Road, Girl Don’t Tell Me
Al-Help Me Rhonda, Cottonfields
Bruce-Deirdre, Disney Girls
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Post by drbeachboy (Dirk) on Jun 21, 2022 19:20:27 GMT -5
Brian
Wouldn’t It Be Nice
Don’t Worry Baby
Mike
Fun Fun Fun
Here Today
Carl
Good Vibrations
Darlin’
Al
Help Me Rhonda
Honkin’ Down The Highway
Dennis
Slip On Through
Do You Wanna Dance
Bruce
Disney Girls (1957)
At My Window
Blondie
Sail On Sailor
Leaving This Town
Ricky
We Got Love
Here She Comes
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Departed
Former Member
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2022 21:23:48 GMT -5
As I read this I think that the Beach Boys had a lot of good singers who sang really well on a lot of good songs.
My all-time vocal by any beach boy is Mike on all I wanna to do. That is just the most beautiful and inspired song and Mike was replaced by an Angel that day.
The only thing that resembles a lead by Dave is Summertime Blues and I think he sounds just fine. And on his solo album back to the garage he really knocks it out of the park as well.
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Post by Micha on Jun 22, 2022 2:22:33 GMT -5
Alan: 1. HELP ME RHONDA 2. SUSIE CINCINNATI
Dennis: 1. FOREVER 2. DO YOU WANNA DANCE
With you there 100%,
For Carl I prefer God Only Knows, my favorite vocal perfomance of Brian's is actually "Papa Oom Mow Mow"... Mike I'll have to contemplate.
My favorite lead vocal from Bruce: A Near Faraway Place. 
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Post by SMiLE-Holland on Jun 22, 2022 4:09:22 GMT -5
As I read this I think that the Beach Boys had a lot of good singers who sang really well on a lot of good songs. My all-time vocal by any beach boy is Mike on all I want to do. That is just the most beautiful and inspired song and Mike was replaced by an Angel that day. The only thing that resembles a lead by Dave is Summertime Blues and I think he sounds just fine. And on his solo album back to the garage he really knocks it out of the park as well. Although I think Mike did a splendid vocal on All I Want to Do, I think you actually meant All I Wanna Do, seeing your description. Right? (and I agree, definitely Mike's best vocal) |
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Post by sailorwailer123 on Jun 22, 2022 9:09:52 GMT -5
Bruce - At My Window - his lead on that sounds so cottony, and the delivery on the last line is one of the best few seconds in musical history. It's hard to 'catch' the feeling it expresses with your ear, but when you do it blows you away.
BW - Surf's Up - so much wisdom in his voice, it's unreal.
Carl - aside from the obvious GOK, it's gotta be Mess of Help. The texture of his guttural, growly voice is incredibly psychedelic. If there ever was a track to show others the Beach Boys could be hard-rocking, it's this!
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jasonkt
Dude/Dudette
Posts: 62
Likes: 101
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Post by jasonkt on Jun 22, 2022 9:52:47 GMT -5
Dennis:
WIBNTLA
River Song
Do You Wanna Dance
Baby Baby:)
Carl:
Maybe I Don't Know
God Only Knows
What I Say live
Damn, hard to pick for this guy
Brian:
Don't Worry Baby
Lonely Sea
Don't Talk
Al:
Help Me, Rhona (Knebworth)
Beaks of Eagles
Blondie:
Wild Honey (live)
Mike:
Surfin USA
All I Wanna Do
Big Sur
Ask me tomorrow and I'll have a completely different list.
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Post by filledeplage on Jun 22, 2022 11:38:23 GMT -5
Only Dennis...just for now...
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Post by ohm on Jun 22, 2022 16:15:47 GMT -5
Cute thread...
Brian - Don't Worry Baby (and a million others).
Carl - I Can Hear Music (the best vocal I ever heard). Too many others. Trader, especially "signed sinceeeeeerely". Friends.
Al - does he sing Don't Worry Baby on In Concert 72-73? I love that. Also Honkin' Down The (Gosh Darn) Highway.
Denny - Be With Me
Mike - lead: All I Want To Do (love his rockin' leads); BVs: San Miguel
Bruce: His round on God Only Knows.
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Post by jk on Jun 23, 2022 8:41:42 GMT -5
Cute thread... Brian - Don't Worry Baby (and a million others). Carl - I Can Hear Music (the best vocal I ever heard). Too many others. Trader, especially "signed sinceeeeeerely". Friends. Al - does he sing Don't Worry Baby on In Concert 72-73? I love that. Also Honkin' Down The (Gosh Darn) Highway. Denny - Be With Me Mike - lead: All I Want To Do (love his rockin' leads); BVs: San Miguel Bruce: His round on God Only Knows. This was my first choice for Carl too. That wail during the first verse! But what a performance all round.  As for Al, the moment he takes over from Brian on "Tell Me Why" (here at 1:07) never fails to bring tears to my eyes: |
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Post by mustomax on Jun 23, 2022 14:15:02 GMT -5
Brian... "She knows me to well" and the little part with words in "hushabye"
Carl... "one more night alone and "I can hear music"
Dennis "forever" and "little bird"
Mike... "sad sad summer" and "big sur"
Al... "susie Cincinati" and "from there to back again"
Bruce... "endless Harmony" and "your song" live.
All that without thinking to it too much time...
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Post by lonelysummer on Jun 23, 2022 20:04:47 GMT -5
Carl: Goin' On, Where I Belong
Brian: Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder), Don't Worry Baby
Mike: All I Wanna Do, California Saga
Al: Help Me, Rhonda, Christmas Day
Dennis: Slip on Through, Be Still
Bruce: Tears in the Morning, Disney Girls
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Post by tomtomplayboy on Jun 26, 2022 7:49:23 GMT -5
BRIAN:
Don't Worry Baby
Please Let Me Wonder
She Knows Me Too Well
You're So Good to Me
Heroes and Villains
Here Comes the Night
CARL:
God Only Knows
I Can Hear Music
4th of July
The Trader
Baby Blue
Where I Belong
DENNIS:
This Car of Mine
Slip On Through
Wouldn't It Be Nice to Live Again
Moonshine
MIKE:
Fun, Fun, Fun
Kiss Me Baby
All I Wanna Do
Sweet and Bitter
Big Sur (Holland version)
AL:
Then I Kissed Her
Lookin' at Tomorrow
Honkin' Down the Highway
BRUCE:
Disney Girls
BLONDIE:
Sail On Sailor
Wonderful/Don't Worry Bill (Endless Harmony soundtrack)
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Post by jay on Jun 27, 2022 2:27:23 GMT -5
I might get some backlash for this, but I truly believe that From There To Back Again is Al's greatest moment ever on record singing with The Beach Boys.
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Post by mustomax on Jun 27, 2022 2:35:42 GMT -5
I might get some backlash for this, but I truly believe that From There To Back Again is Al's greatest moment ever on record singing with The Beach Boys. It is in my list too! |
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Post by Moon Dawg on Jun 27, 2022 7:18:43 GMT -5
Brian - The Warmth of the Sun
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