Sir George Martin & Brian Wilson analyse "God Only Knows"

[rogerscottq]

I'd have liked to have seen the entirety of this analysis by George Martin of one of America's greatest composers. Brian Wilson is a preternatural genius who, alone, captured the essence of the best of West Coast American youth attitude without flaw. Sincere, honest and vulnerable. No mockery in it, just the purest innocence and honesty. Wilson is our American Bach.

[pmoyer50]

What a beautiful song to analyze.

[MsJollycholly]

As a kid aged 10 I listened to God Only Knows for the first time in the Summer of 1966. I used to put the glass plug in of my sister's transistor radio in my ear and wake with a horrendous earache! That night, listening the WABC radio (AM) when I should have been asleep, I knew that I'd heard something beautiful. Too young to realize how important, but not to young to realize this was deleriously splendid! It sounds a fresh and fabulous today as it did that night,FORTY SIX years ago!!!

[lenglain]

bone-chilling to hear the solo vocal, its like a time capsule of someone who's dead.

[JayMalone]

Brian Wilson > George Martin

[cranie4]

@JayMalone Gotta quantify the terms of that statement. Brian Wilson the "producer" = George Martin

[JayMalone]

@cranie4 Brian Wilson and Phil Spector's productions blow George Martin's away. I do love Beatles records though, don't get me wrong there. George is an excellent producer, just not god-status

[cranie4]

@JayMalone Brian's a genius. But if there truly was a 5th Beatle, George Martin was it. Listen to his work on the multitracks of Pepper by themselves. He was a crucial element to the direction the band went and the way the songs sounded. I've heard a lot of Spector's work while good he tended to have one production sound (huge reverb with orchestra) and overdid it a lot of times to the point of burying the song underneath it all. Pet Sounds and Smile show Brian doing his best Spector.

[JayMalone]

@cranie4 I agree with everything you said, I personally just find Wilson's and Spector's productions to be more pleasing to the ear, and quantifiably better

[jimfliptx]

This was a three part series George hosted, can't remember the name, though. It used to come on Ovation all the time. What was the name, anyone?

[surfsupedy]

Where is the longer version? I enjoyed it so much when Brian saluted George's mix of God only knows.

[ragingbull888]

longer!

[theinck]

which pixel is Brian?

[eastlake93]

@theinck Dude, you made me almost choke on my food.LOL

[BasementBeginnings]

@theinck Dunno, I can only see one!

[iBeep2009]

 ..genius my butt....

[iBeep2009]

he was thwacked up to the gillslits on drugs george, reverse engineer the 25 year psychosis that followed and ask yourself if a song was worth it.....

[rocksinger45]

Carl Wilson ...the voice of the angels.

[Gooseberry51]

Alway great to see & hear George Martin, apart from his knowledge of recording techniques & 'music, he has such a wonderful voice....

[NYYTeixecute09]

George martin is a genius

[WizardsMachine]

Chills.



[GonzoDr78]

Brian wilson + George Martin = God only knows

[PianoSoulos]

Like 2 kids in a candy store

[lalbruiz]

Holy crap...if I was in the room I wouldn´t be worthy of saying anything, LOL...what more do you want?

[kevinkmny]

@lalbruiz You certainly are worthy of saying something.......but why would you want to? I'd love to just sit in the room with my mouth shut and my ears wide open.

[LennonForever38]

the best of both worlds. Thats awesome!!! where did you get that?

[madhoneydew]

@johnowensjr1234 funnniest thing when i neeeded it

[popomczowzow]

@johnowensjr1234 = God

[LuksLeiti]

@johnowensjr1234 lol best comment ever!

[DaDa2Phlux]

How cool can it get ? Brian Wilson & George Martin- together at the board.Taking things a bit further what kind of music would come from a Brian Wilson / McCartney collaboration? But then who would provide Lennon's world weary cynicism to the blend?

[nitedrive]

What's the title of this DVD? I would love to see it.

[RocktheStageNYC]

@nitedrive - this is from the TV series "Rhythm of Life".

[PvtMacGregor]

@nitedrive The Rhythm of Live

[HuntersMoon73]

I'd love to know as well. Anybody know? Anybody? Bueller?

[jimfliptx]

@HuntersMoon73 The Rhythm of Life, 3-part series

[bionicool]

@nitedrive Its from teh 40th Anniversary version of Pet Sounds

[ms8596]

@nitedrive This is an excerpt from the show, "The Rhythm of Life" with George Martin, filmed in 1997. It was a three part series.  It aired in the US on the Ovation network after playing on BBC in the UK. I have not found DVD's of the show out there.

[Helen25243]

What a fascinating piece of equipment the mixer (?) is. Being able to disect this beautiful song, and discover all the components that go into making it the timeless classic it is, must have been fantastic.. It helps you to realise the pure genius that is Brian.

[drshoggothshow]

@Helen25243 You should either purchase or somehow acquire the Pet Sounds Sessions. It's really let's you hear the songs broken down into their original components. it's amazing and enlightening.

[M3town3]

@drshoggothshow I got pet sounds in harsh mono and stereo sound, should I get it anyway?

[shellzay]

Fascinating!