Fendertones again, check out the bass playing on this tune Sloop John B:
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Brian Wilson's bass playing
- Thread starter ElectroVibe
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Brian was like Macca or Sting, a songwriter whose instrument of choice when playing live with the band was bass, and he created amazingly fitting bass lines. IT's long established that a virtuoso and a great songwriter are rarely one and the same. Like Macca, Wilson played bass with his thumb. With a under-grab bar for the fingers, under the G string. Like Leo Fender intended the Bass to be played (I sometimes see ads call it a thumb rest, which is very bizarre). Despite these great examples, this style of playing seems to have gone extinct, a bit like traditional grip for drummers (despite Buddy Rich or Gene Krupa)...
As Leo was not a musician/guitarist, but in his time and place was surrounded by those who were primarily in the country and western realm, I'm sure he observed the 'Carter Scratch' style of solo(acoustic)guitar accompaniment…
Carter Family picking - Wikipedia
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I love this photo for 2 reasons:
1) It's the only photo I recall seeing with Brian and an Ampeg B-15.
2. His P-Bass still has both knobs!
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Hmm, I’m not seeing the B-15; that’s a still from this clip, I believe…I love this photo for 2 reasons:
1) It's the only photo I recall seeing with Brian and an Ampeg B-15.
2. His P-Bass still has both knobs!
View attachment 7187192
…and as I faintly remember, during actual live performances on the Sullivan show earlier on, amps were rarely, if at all, placed on stage but off to the side, at least until ‘65. I assume the directors didn’t want the visual clutter or perhaps it was for production sound puposes.
I understand the confusion. I'm referring to the photo in post #42, the one I commented on.
The photo I added was for reference, as it's one of many showing Brian's P-Bass missing a knob.
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There's also a full size Leslie cabinet behind himI love this photo for 2 reasons:
1) It's the only photo I recall seeing with Brian and an Ampeg B-15.
2. His P-Bass still has both knobs!
Beautiful. That's what, more than 20 people though? The Beach Boys were 5.
Yeah, but consider that what you're hearing is an exact duplication of the original recording, which featured a vast number of Wrecking Crew people added to the Beach Boys' vocals and what instrumentation they managed to contribute, plus the rudimentary overdubbing that was possible in 1965. Far beyond the work of "five people". When the Beach Boys, with Bruce Johnson, limped into the 70's as a live act, they added all sorts of support players, so even they ceased to be a quintet, and in spite of that they still put in some sloppy performances.
I've seen Brian Wilson live three times in the past 15 years, and his backing 'orchestra', which had to be around 15 to 20 people, is a virtual Wrecking Crew tribute band. The renditions of the entire catalog are flawless, every nuance is there. Plus, Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin participated, then David Marks made an appearance. At one show, as he was opening act, Jeff Beck sat in.
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@Michedelic - I agree with your comments about the Fendertones, as well as with Brian's amazing backing band over the past few decades. We were fortunate to see Brian and his band perform the Pet Sounds Album at The Hollywood Bowl in 2000. AMAZING show. Watching all of the musicians/vocalists come together to recreate what we've all heard on the albums was truly amazing. Even more amazing is how a young guy in his early 20's came up with all of these instrumental parts and harmonies, and made everything fit together musically and sonically.
I by no means think the BB's walk on water, but the live band recorded in '72 & '73 as heard on "The Beach Boys In Concert" album definitely deserve credit. I love this live version of the band when Blondie and Ricky were band members (both in the studio and live.) Brian was not involved in touring, Bruce had been fired, Ed Carter was (primarily) on bass, Billy Hinsche was on keys/guitar, Carli Munoz on keys and maybe 1 or 2 other support musicians, and Dennis was Dennis (for better or worse.) Maybe 10-11 people. The energy was great, and they were absolutely a formidable rock band at the time. I'm certain some nights were better than others, but there was no shortage of brilliant performances.
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I saw them in ‘79, ‘80, I think, it was@Michedelic - I agree with your comments about the Fendertones, as well as with Brian's amazing backing band over the past few decades. We were fortunate to see Brian and his band perform the Pet Sounds Album at The Hollywood Bowl in 2000. AMAZING show. Watching all of the musicians/vocalists come together to recreate what we've all heard on the albums was truly amazing. Even more amazing is how a young guy in his early 20's came up with all of these instrumental parts and harmonies, and made everything fit together musically and sonically.
View attachment 7189696
I by no means think the BB's walk on water, but the live band recorded in '72 & '73 as heard on "The Beach Boys In Concert" album definitely deserve credit. I love this live version of the band when Blondie and Ricky were band members (both in the studio and live.) Brian was not involved in touring, Bruce had been fired, Ed Carter was (primarily) on bass, Billy Hinsche was on keys/guitar, Carli Munoz on keys and maybe 1 or 2 other support musicians, and Dennis was Dennis (for better or worse.) Maybe 10-11 people. The energy was great, and they were absolutely a formidable rock band at the time. I'm certain some nights were better than others, but there was no shortage of brilliant performances.
kind of a shambles. But Brian at the Greek Theater with Beck, whew. Unbelievable. He opened with “California Girls”, it was so perfect it almost brought tears to my eyes. I don’t know where, but it sent me there.
Yeah - I know Carl was not happy with how things were going at all, which was the primary reason he left the group temporarily in '81 and went on tour to support his first solo album (I saw Carl with his band on one of the few dates they did in '83.) I saw The Beach Boys in '83 (Dennis's 2nd to last show,) and again in '85.
So cool you got to see Jeff Beck with Brian before things went south. I'm glad it "sent you there."
That's exactly how I felt when we saw Brian in 2000. 
Last thought - I'm really glad Carl made the decision for the band to NOT play at Monterey Pop in '67. After hearing the "Lei'd In Hawaii recordings from earlier in '67, it's obvious they would have embarrassed themselves. So glad they redeemed themselves in the early 70's (both in the studio and live.) And from there, (as we both know,) Endless Summer was both a blessing and a curse.
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After all the drama with Brian’s condition early last year, later on Al Jardine considered continuing with the Wilson band, but it looks like those plans have fizzled out.Yeah - I know Carl was not happy with how things were going at all, which was the primary reason he left the group temporarily in '81 and went on tour to support his first solo album (I saw Carl with his band on one of the few dates they did in '83.) I saw The Beach Boys in '83 (Dennis's 2nd to last show,) and again in '85.
So cool you got to see Jeff Beck with Brian before things went south. I'm glad it "sent you there."
Last thought - I'm really glad Carl made the decision for the band to NOT play at Monterey Pop in '67. After hearing the "Lei'd In Hawaii recordings from earlier in '67, it's obvious they would have embarrassed themselves. So glad they redeemed themselves in the early 70's (both in the studio and live.) And from there, (as we both know,) Endless Summer was both a blessing and a curse.
Have they? I could definitely be wrong, but I thought this was still an active conversation.
It's funny how Al was such a freakin' chameleon with his voice. There are times he definitely sounds like Al, and others throughout the years where I would have sworn it was Brian or Carl singing.
I looked it up, the most recent reports on his plans that I found were no later than September of ‘24, so I can only guess that something has changed. One aspect of what he proposed was to do more deep cuts and obscurities. Now, I have no idea how he might finance a tour like this, but I could see how a financial backer might not think that this would be a good idea.
@Michedelic - I agree with your comments about the Fendertones, as well as with Brian's amazing backing band over the past few decades. We were fortunate to see Brian and his band perform the Pet Sounds Album at The Hollywood Bowl in 2000. AMAZING show. Watching all of the musicians/vocalists come together to recreate what we've all heard on the albums was truly amazing. Even more amazing is how a young guy in his early 20's came up with all of these instrumental parts and harmonies, and made everything fit together musically and sonically.
View attachment 7189696
I by no means think the BB's walk on water, but the live band recorded in '72 & '73 as heard on "The Beach Boys In Concert" album definitely deserve credit. I love this live version of the band when Blondie and Ricky were band members (both in the studio and live.) Brian was not involved in touring, Bruce had been fired, Ed Carter was (primarily) on bass, Billy Hinsche was on keys/guitar, Carli Munoz on keys and maybe 1 or 2 other support musicians, and Dennis was Dennis (for better or worse.) Maybe 10-11 people. The energy was great, and they were absolutely a formidable rock band at the time. I'm certain some nights were better than others, but there was no shortage of brilliant performances.
View attachment 7189741
I also have that album and agree it's great, that's my favorite era too.
I saw them at the Yale Bowl in '77 with Brian. I don't remember a whole lot about it except it was 95 degrees and Eddie Money opened. They didn't blow me away but they sounded good and I enjoyed it, of course it it happened today I would know everything down to what color Fender Strat one of the side guys had but...... He stayed on piano for all or just about all the concert. I'll have to refresh my memory.
I saw them live in ‘84 at an outdoor amphitheater on a great late spring day. My buddy and I knew all the songs and were singing along, as were some cute girls nearby that we ended up hanging out with. A great memory, if a little faded with time
