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| From | "Robert Sutliff" <rsutliff@columbus.rr.com> |
| Subject | Re: Brian Wilson Smiles |
| Date | Tue, 28 Sep 2004 14:33:15 -0400 |
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David,
We're pals and all that but I respectfully and completely disagree with you
on this. I stood outside of my local Borders this morning until they opened
and bought the new Smile. Quite frankly I'm floored how well Brian sings on
it. I think the singing on Wonderful is a trifle weak but otherwise I think
it's terrific.
Yes I know he doesn't have the amazing range he did in 1966 but hell - who
does? McCartney has trouble hitting the high notes now and lets not even
mention Robert Plant.
Anyway, I think this is easily the best disc I've bought in years. And I'm
very, very familiar with the original versions having owned a myriad of
bootlegs for decades now.
I wonder how long it will take Mike Love to sue him for his lack of
songwriting credit on Good Vibrations? I know the version used is earlier
with different lyrics but I'm sure that won't stop Mr. Love.
Bobby Sutliff
Columnated ruins domino indeed
>
> Date: Mon, 27 Sep 2004 20:59:16 -0700
> From: "David Bash" <bashpop@earthlink.net>
> To: "Audities" <audities@smoe.org>
> Subject: Re: Brian Wilson Smiles on the Tonight show
> Message-ID: <003401c4a50f$86178f80$5116fea9@david>
>
> I too feel very fortunate to have been there, and like Brian and Bryan I
> thought the show was absolutely incredible. I had been listening to the
> album all weekend, and the extravaganza took the majesty of the music to a
> whole new level.
>
> Having said that, and I know I am going to be in a very small minority
here,
> no matter how many times I hear the album or think about the show, I keep
> coming back to the same thing: there is one huge blemish on everything
(and
> I hate myself for even suggesting it), and that is Brian's voice.
>
> Yes, of course I realize it's completely understandable that, after years
of
> drug and cigarette abuse, coupled with the fact that the man is 62 years
> old, his vocal prowess will have diminished. I realize that it's a
miracle
> that Brian has come as far as he has, and that he's out there touring, let
> alone having as much fun as he is. I am profoundly proud of Brian for the
> strides he has made, and that he was able to get it together to such a
> degree that he was able to finish Smile, an album that nobody thought
would
> ever see the light of day. None of this changes the fact that putting his
> lead vocals on top of that magnificent music is like painting a moustache
on
> the Mona Lisa.
>
> Yeah, I know he provided lead vocals on his previous three albums, and if
> anyone read my reviews of those albums they know that I didn't offer the
> same criticism. All I can say is that, somehow with Smile, it's
different.
> Maybe I can't help but think of what could have been, and with the actual
> vintage recordings around on several bootlegs to frame my perceptions, it
> just further brings home the point with me.
>
> I am not trying to suggest that Brian doesn't have the right to sing lead
on
> his creation; of course he does. However, I know how much better it would
> sound with someone like Jeffrey Foskett doing the leads, and I think
vocals
> of that caliber would have been much more appropriate.
>
> Ok, I feel dirty now. Go ahead, hang me in effigy.
>
> David
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