Behind the sounds: Beach Boys Wouldn't it be nice?

[Davo]

The behind the sounds series on youtube is a fascinating series on the recordings of the greats.  Pet sounds is among my favorite albums, this makes for a fascinating 10 minutes.

Nobody ever taught me to write music, but the mechanisms involved in the creation of music seem to be universal.  This could be any group anywhere recording I think.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofByti7A4uM

[SteveB]

DV - Absolutely fascinating. Definitely a thread I'll be coming back to when I've more time. I wonder how many 'tracks' they had to record on without bouncing?

[hooper]

Wow! What a treat to be able to peek in and watch this going on!

[hooper]

I wonder how many 'tracks' they had to record on without bouncing?

According note on the recording process on the Wiki here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pet_Sounds#Recording_process

They bounced between a 4-track tape and a 8-track tape machine.  Keep in mind though... They could record multiple parts at one time (mixing on the fly) and only use one track for that particular run-through. Ie; 25 parts wouldn't necessarily take 25 tracks.

[Greeny]

oooh... I'm gonna enjoy this! Thanks for posting!!!!!!

[Greeny]

Brian is a crazed genius. Who else could 'hear' all those instruments working together? Or arrange them with such incredible vision? That's why he's a true songwriting inspiration for me.

And hearing those vocal harmonies in isolation is amazing. Almost makes me want to weep! 

This is a great clip. THANKS!

[SteveB]

I remember reading something that Paul McCartney said: 'Of all the other pop songs written, I wished I'd have written God Only Knows'. Mmm. Some accolade, eh?

[Sprocket]

Very cool, thanks for sharing.

[Ted]

That was fantastic--especially hearing Brian in charge.  He has a softer touch than his dear old dad.

The only other glimpse I've heard into the Beach Boys' creative process is this, which I ran across in February (courtesy of Boing Boing):

Brian vs. Murry Wilson
[img width=200 height=201 align=left]http://bedazzled.blogs.com/.a/6a00d834524bea69e201116897187a970c-200wi[/img]

First listen to these:
Brian & Murry Wilson 1.mp3
Brian & Murry Wilson 2.mp3
Brian & Murry Wilson 3.mp3
Brian & Murry Wilson 4.mp3

Then go watch these, you'll need the comic relief:
Murry Wilson, Rock & Roll Dad
Episode 1 (originally aired 23 August '01)

Episode 2 (originally aired 29 August '01)

Episode 3 (originally aired 5 September '01)

Episode 4 (originally aired 13 September '01)

[Note: The links should work now. --Ted]

It's really worth listening to and watching.

Note: There's even a Michael Jackson angle to this, if you watch them all, you'll see.

[Davo]

Glad you guys are enjoying this...the Behind the sounds series extends to many of the greats, and its always facinating.

Ted I will be sure to check those links out soon.