Talk:Good Vibrations/Archive 1

Archive 1

lyrics comparison chart

I'm not really happy with this -- first of all it doesn't format properly. Moreover, it is presented sans analysis, doesn't really add anything to the reader's understanding of the import and nature of the song, and is essentially original research in any case. Comments? Jgm 03:19, 26 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Neither am I, for that matter. Johnleemk | Talk 11:52, 26 Mar 2005 (UTC)

Non-Neutral POV

General cleanup, expanded the recoding section, removed some non-neutral analyis, added from quotes, reference, etc. Still needs work overallRoygbiv666 3 July 2005 19:12 (UTC)

I still don't like the Significance paragraph, mainly the uncited "Considered revolutionary at the time of its release, its success is legendary and it is still widely regarded as one of the most important and influential pop singles ever released. " statement. Anyone have anything to put some meat on this bone? Roygbiv666 02:01, 13 July 2006 (UTC)

Yeah, so in the absence of info, I removed this bit:"Considered revolutionary at the time of its release, its success is legendary and it is still widely regarded as one of the most important and influential pop singles ever released. When it came out in late 1966, it was without question the most technically advanced single yet recorded, as well as being the most expensively-produced American single ever released up to that time." Roygbiv666 01:46, 29 December 2006 (UTC)

Expensive instrument

I vaguely remember a mention of a $20,000 instrument that Wilson had to go to England to buy for the mysterious whistle sound at the end of the song. Anything to back this up? -- Suso 02:43, 15 August 2006 (UTC)

Not sure about England/money, but that's an Electro-theremin at the end Roygbiv666 01:55, 29 December 2006 (UTC)

Given that Brian had already used and electro-theremin/tannerin on a track on the preceding Pet Sounds album, and that a true theremin had been used in the movies as far back as 1940, I'd say... no, nothing to back it up. :-) Andrew G. Doe (talk) 22:40, 12 December 2010 (UTC)

"Single Version"

Wherever this song is discussed, there are often references to the "single version", as if there was an album version. This pre-dates Wilson's 2004 album. What isn't the single version of the Beach Boys song? 63.25.127.89 15:42, 23 December 2006 (UTC)

Smiley Smile was released after Brian Wilson's nervous breakdown prevented the Beach Boys from completing Smile (Beach Boys Album), which Wilson finally completed and released in 2004 as Smile (Brian Wilson Album). Good Vibrations appeared on Smiley Smile in 1967. Quentinisgod (talk) 19:23, 11 February 2009 (UTC)

Blunt Vandalism

"I LOVE SEX, SEX LOVES ME, I HAVE SEX FOR MORNING TEA. DOGGY IS THE BEST THEN COMES 69. I HAVE SEX ALL THE TIME. THE END BY ANNONYMOUS" I don't think that that has anything to do with the composition of the song. 68.196.13.218 10:53, 11 June 2007 (UTC)

Cost?

The Beach Boys puts the song's cost at 16k, while this article costs it at 50k... problem there TheHYPO 04:53, 14 September 2007 (UTC)

Cultural...

Would someone like to try to pare down the Cultural References section? Most of that stuff is completely unnecessary. MookieZ (talk) 05:20, 4 February 2008 (UTC)

Wasn't that whitsle tone created by a tannerin? The tannerin and the electro-theremin produce similar sounds, but are two different instruments. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Maaliskuun Idus (talk • contribs) 04:35, 18 April 2011 (UTC)

Genre

Added progressive rock (with book reference) to the list. SgtPetsounds (talk) 21:27, 04 July 2011 (UTC)

Lyrics

When it says in the opening paragraph of this article "composed by Brian Wilson (music) with lyrics by Tony Asher and Mike Love." I was wondering if anyone knows if Brian did write SOME of the lyrics (ie: does someone know of any sources that suggest this) because ive heard/read that Tony Asher wrote the introduction and that Mike Love always claims in so many interviews that "I wrote 'Im picking up good vibrations, shes giving me the excitations", yet he doesnt claim that he wrote the rest of the song. For example, in the Endless Harmony DVD, Mike Love claims that "Brian had the rest of the lyrics written" such as the chorus where they say 'Good! Good! Good! Good Vibrations'.. and then he claims "but i came up with those lines i mentioned before (ie: im picking up good vibrations etc..) can anyone find any sources? --Sahafan 06:32, 25 May 2006 (UTC)

Wasn't the melody of that song taken from a Chuck Berry song, "Sweet sixteen" (not sure about the song) but they talk about that in the movie "Cadillac Records" based on Chess Records, Berrys at the time record company. I think that hasn't been mentioned is it relevant? And if so where can it be put. Jorge —Preceding unsigned comment added by 193.137.219.7 (talk) 23:49, 3 February 2010 (UTC)

You're thinking of Surfin' USA. Santa Claus of the Future (talk) 00:05, 4 February 2010 (UTC)

As for Mike Love, he said in an interview on Bill O'Reilly's show that he wrote "every word" of the final version, and despite the setting, the poor reputation of the interviewer, I believe him. Brian's original conception of the chorus was basically, "Good, good, go-od, good vibrations, yeah!" As heard on "Good Vibrations (Early Take)" on the Smiley Smile/Wild Honey twofer, where we also hear these terrible Tony Asher lyrics. It was apparently Mike who recognized the potential of the bass line to become the lead melody with his "I'm pickin' up good vibrations / She's givin' me the excitations" couplet. Then there's the B-flat bridge, with "I don't know where but she sends me there / Ooh, my my, what a sensation / My one elation" Nothin' to sneeze at, there, and then there's the F bridge, "Gotta keep those lovin' good vibrations happenin' with her." A jerk though he may be, Mike Love contributed a lot to this song, and deserves the credit. Contrariwise, I'm sure Tony Asher is very nice, but his lyrics are just awful.

Sometimes, it looks like people want to deny the importance of Love's contribution. Articles, including this one (before I edited it today), refer to Brian's solo SMiLE version as being "the original Tony Asher lyrics", as if none of them were Mike's, when, HELLO, Mike is credited right there on the album! Brian couldn't restrict it to only Tony Asher's lyrics, or else whole sections of the song would be left instrumental.

I've edited the "Lyrics" section to correct this, using the sheet-music folio as source.

--Ben Culture (talk) 00:36, 7 September 2012 (UTC)

Pop Culture

I'm sure this song has been featured in hundreds of TV shows. Can't we make a list please? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.185.109.129 (talk) 19:32, 9 May 2012 (UTC)

SPOILER ALERT FOR LOST - I agree. I have a (possibly false?) memory of it being used in the episode of LOST where Charlie dies. I haven't been able to confirm that yet, though. — Preceding unsigned comment added by FiggazWithAttitude (talk • contribs) 19:31, 17 August 2018 (UTC)

How Long Is The Song?

The main info box at the right says "3:39".

The "Recording" section says "mixed these sections into a 3:35 track"

The sample says "21 seconds (of 3:37)"

So what does is say in the centre of the original single?

Jim Skea 23:46, 10 September 2012 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Jimskea (talk • contribs)

Glen Campbell

Although he claims to have played on four or five "GV" sessions, his name doesn't appear on a single musicians contract for the song: further, no one mentions him on the session tapes nor is his voice ever heard. Therefore I have removed his name from the musician credits as the overwhelming evidence is that he did NOT play on this song.Andrew G. Doe (talk) 07:38, 8 February 2013 (UTC)

Sources and masters used

So I removed the personnel section existent in the article until recently and did my best to accommodate whatever it says in (supposedly) reliable sources. Aren't there any better authorities on who plays what? The AFM sheets and Badman's book are of course not known for their infallibility. And how do we know for sure which recordings from which dates were used on the final mix? I tried consulting The Smile Sessions box for an idea but some segments sound so much alike that it's hard to tell. Isn't Craig Slowinski going to publish something soon that clarifies these issues?--Ilovetopaint (talk) 19:03, 16 November 2014 (UTC)

He already did, back in 2008. Probably what the personnel section you removed was based on. I'm sure it'll be updated when he finishes his project. (In 2019 or so.) Santa Claus of the Future (talk) 19:31, 16 November 2014 (UTC)

Slowinski said that Carol Kaye plays Fender bass on the fade. I know Andrew Doe would disagree.--Ilovetopaint (talk) 19:43, 16 November 2014 (UTC)

Ah, yes. It is out of date. Santa Claus of the Future (talk) 21:31, 16 November 2014 (UTC)

Come to think of all, wasn't all the session information included in the Smile Sessions box set?--Ilovetopaint (talk) 19:48, 14 January 2015 (UTC)

Genre

Added avant-garde with reference http://www.uncut.co.uk/features/the-making-of-the-beach-boys-good-vibrations-34867 — Preceding unsigned comment added by 108.40.106.125 (talk) 08:24, 9 March 2015 (UTC)

Added experimental rock with reference https://books.google.com/books?id=HcC2AgAAQBAJ&pg=PT1586&lpg=PT1586&dq=good+vibrations+experimental+rock&source=bl&ots=KyC05BAFbZ&sig=3imoGVDbZlnLEljM5xRGnOye4Fo&hl=en&sa=X&ei=7Fj9VIndAYGFgwSB0IGoDA&ved=0CDUQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=good%20vibrations%20experimental%20rock&f=false — Preceding unsigned comment added by 108.40.106.125 (talk) 08:27, 9 March 2015 (UTC)

Added progressive rock with reference http://rateyourmusic.com/board_message?message_id=2010715 — Preceding unsigned comment added by 108.40.106.125 (talk) 08:37, 9 March 2015 (UTC)

orange soda cans on "GV"

I've removed this reference for the excellent reason it's not this song, but rather "Pet Sounds". Andrew G. Doe (talk) 19:39, 16 March 2015 (UTC)

Well AGD (who is an expert on all things Beach Boys), someone who listened to the radio one day changed it back. A fine example as to why it's not worth bothering with Wikipedia. Santa Claus of the Future (talk) 14:31, 21 March 2015 (UTC)

Is it really impossible that Blaine recycled that idea for the "Good Vibrations" verses? I do hear a strange percussive click that isn't normally heard with a bass guitar/upright bass combo in the parts Blaine says he plays the bottles on. You can also hear similar percussion in the "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times" track, with the addition of some woodblocks.--Ilovetopaint (talk) 20:12, 21 March 2015 (UTC)

Well, no, not impossible. But what should a reference work go with? The 50 year-old memories of an 86 year-old and what some guy hears? Or actual research? Santa Claus of the Future (talk) 13:21, 22 March 2015 (UTC)

This is one of the pitfalls of using interviews for sources, as responses off the top of one's head are sometimes incomplete or inaccurate. I found another quote where Blaine says the three small plastic orange juice bottles were used on "Caroline, No" but if he was referring to the percussion at the beginning that was supposedly a large water bottle. Another source I found says it was "God Only Knows" and another says he used them throughout the Pet Sounds album. As for the NPR interview, he's very specific about the sound of the bottles and where it is heard in the recording. Listening to the backing track on The Pet Sounds Sessions, the three distinct percussive sounds are pretty clear. Piriczki (talk) 14:52, 22 March 2015 (UTC)

Where's the research that disproves that bottles were used?--Ilovetopaint (talk) 15:58, 22 March 2015 (UTC)

Well, I think it's the responsibility of the person who wants to add info to find appropriate sourcing. But hey, let me do some work for y'all. The Pet Sounds and "Good Vibrations" sessions are among the most well documented of The Beach Boys sessions, thanks to Brad Elliott and Craig Slowinski. What we'd want here can be found in the sessionography in the Smile Sessions liner notes. I'll list the relevant portions here.

• 2/18/66 (Assuming the transcript of Blaine's interview is accurate, this is when the part of the song he's talking about was recorded)

• Drums: Hal Blaine
• Bongos w/sticks: Frank Capp (a few takes were tried with cups instead, but Brian ultimately had him switch back to bongos)

• 4/9/66 (nothing from this session was used in the released single)

• Drums: Jim Gordon (tambourine & plastic orange juice cups w/sticks on early takes)
• Bongos w/sticks: Frank Capp

Slowinski notes that "according to the AFM contract, Hal Blaine attended the session briefly; his voice is not heard on the session tape" and speculates that he was there for the percussion overdub later that evening, but the only instruments overdubbed are tambourine and sleighbells.

My speculation: Blaine is conflating these sessions, where he sees other people playing orange juice cups/bottles/cans/whatever, with the Caroline, No session, where he played the Sparkettes water jugs. Further speculation: The mystery noise that you are hearing that you think is orange juice cups/bottles/cans/whatever is in fact bongos played with sticks, as Frank Capp plays those on the IJWMFFT track as well. Santa Claus of the Future (talk) 13:46, 23 March 2015 (UTC)

That documentation and his own conflicting accounts cast doubt on his recollection. I say just remove that passage. Piriczki (talk) 14:03, 23 March 2015 (UTC)

Feel free to correct the rest of the article with that sessionography. Or you could do one better and scan the pages? Not all of us could afford the $100+ Smile Sessions box, and that seems to be the only place where anybody can find who plays what and when on this song.--Ilovetopaint (talk) 06:19, 24 March 2015 (UTC)

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