My first big exposure to The Beach Boys was on a California road trip my family took a long time ago. I think I was 7 or 8. I had a Beach Boys tape of my dad’s in my walkman for the bulk of that adventure. I don’t remember what album it was (perhaps a mix tape?), it was filled with early hits like Surfer Girl, Surfin’ USA, and Barbra Ann. I’ve primarily been exposed to the Beach Boys hits on the radio and always associate those songs with the back seat of our family’s flesh-colored 1978 Chevy Malibu Classic Station Wagon--until recently. I am now 33 and Last spring, an audiophile friend handed me a copy of “Smile” on CD, It was an unfinished version from 1966 with scratch vocal takes and instrumentals. He said he got it from a friend who had access to the digital archives at Capital Records. It didn’t sound like the Beach Boys I was familiar with. Conditioned by their radio hits to think they were just another pop band from the 60’s, my mind was blown on the first listen. I was surprised to hear the amazing orchestrations and psychedelic textures. This was the beginning of my post-pubescent fascination with the band, and a discovery of Brian Wilson’s musical vision and genius. I found that CD to be one of my most played recordings of 2010—I must have listened to that CD 200 times last year. Since then I have purchased a re-mastered copy of “Pet Sounds” and Brian Wilsons 2004 “Smile.”
I remember my dad telling me that “Darlin” off of “Wild Honey” was one of his all-time favorite songs, so when I found a copy on vinyl a few weeks ago at a flea market in here in Fort Collins, I had to buy it. What a great record. So now on to this blogs original purpose: to talk about my “Wild Honey” experience. What I really wanted to share was the joy I have found in playing back “Wild Honey” at 6% slower speed. My record player has a “pitch” knob that can slow down or speed up a disc up to 10%. I use it to micro-adjust the tuning so I can play along with albums when learning tunes. I haven’t figured out what 6% means to the original key of the album, but it’s 6% slower and 6% lower. I’ve tried it with other recordings to find “sweet spots” with no success, but there is something about the Beach Boy’s music, maybe their voices, maybe the fast-tempo songs that makes them sound great slower and lower.
This sounds crazy and most Beach Boys fans would probably call it blasphemous, but I’ve really enjoyed Carl Wilson’s voice in this key (6% down) specifically on “Darlin”. There are nuances in his tone that bring amazing life to that song when played back slower. I’m not trying to say the Beach Boys would be better with slower tempos and lower keyed songs, or that Carl should have been a Baritone…I’m just reporting my discovery and would love to hear from other Beach Boys fans. For someone familiar with the record, you may not be able to stomach this 6% thing, it profoundly changes the feel of this classic album, but I am new to the record and this era of the Beach Boys. I suggest you try it—and please send me your impressions. If anything, this awesome record will last little longer.
I remember my dad telling me that “Darlin” off of “Wild Honey” was one of his all-time favorite songs, so when I found a copy on vinyl a few weeks ago at a flea market in here in Fort Collins, I had to buy it. What a great record. So now on to this blogs original purpose: to talk about my “Wild Honey” experience. What I really wanted to share was the joy I have found in playing back “Wild Honey” at 6% slower speed. My record player has a “pitch” knob that can slow down or speed up a disc up to 10%. I use it to micro-adjust the tuning so I can play along with albums when learning tunes. I haven’t figured out what 6% means to the original key of the album, but it’s 6% slower and 6% lower. I’ve tried it with other recordings to find “sweet spots” with no success, but there is something about the Beach Boy’s music, maybe their voices, maybe the fast-tempo songs that makes them sound great slower and lower.
This sounds crazy and most Beach Boys fans would probably call it blasphemous, but I’ve really enjoyed Carl Wilson’s voice in this key (6% down) specifically on “Darlin”. There are nuances in his tone that bring amazing life to that song when played back slower. I’m not trying to say the Beach Boys would be better with slower tempos and lower keyed songs, or that Carl should have been a Baritone…I’m just reporting my discovery and would love to hear from other Beach Boys fans. For someone familiar with the record, you may not be able to stomach this 6% thing, it profoundly changes the feel of this classic album, but I am new to the record and this era of the Beach Boys. I suggest you try it—and please send me your impressions. If anything, this awesome record will last little longer.
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