I WENT TO SLEEP ( BRIAN AND CARL WILSON BEACH BOYS COVER ) 08.04.10

I can't seem to get to sleep lately, so this song has been on my mind of late. I learned how to play this one in 1996 I believe. I always put this song in the same stable of songs as Busy Doin' Nothin' and We're Together Again, from the Friends era of Beach Boys recordings. Late 60s, post-SMiLE. Brian's style of song construction was getting more and more progressively ornate, yet the songs were getting shorter and shorter, sounding more cinematic and orchestral. Even distilled down to a single piano and vocal melody, one can hear so many arrangement possibilities, because he utilizes so many chords and passing tones that are placed so close together in the timeline of the song.

The Edward Gorey-inspired Walter Simonson "I Went To Sleep" illustration honouring the song comes to mind as well when I play this song, found in the indispensable Byron Preiss Beach Boys biography/appreciation from 1978.

I've always marveled at the dense jazzy and sometimes dissonant chord changes Brian chose when writing the piece, married to such a contrasting yet satisfying high-pitched melody. Together they suggest a breezy summer day relaxing in the hazy sun, lying under a shady tree perhaps, with leaves swaying in the late afternoon air; thoughts of happier, simpler times just a memory away.

As the chords lull me into a fantastical 5/4 slumberland, I dream of an A♭ and lower A bass key that doesn't clack like metal hitting plastic whenever I land on them like a cloud. Forgive that if you would. One wishes for the "Ebony and Ivory" -- "Isn't it good, Norwegian..." etc. variety of hammers and keys the real pre-feshun-ulls use. Real pianos are dope, so they say. Argh etc. Someday.

I still love you, dear old Roland RD500. "Daisy, Daisy, Give me your answer do..."

For more of my ramblings, follow me on Twitter!
http://www.twitter.com/michaelthorner

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Pop
• ClassicPop
• Standards
• Masterpiece
• Cover
• Covers
• The
• Beach
• Boys
• TheBeachBoys
• BeachBoys
• Brian
• Wilson
• BrianWilson
• Walt
• Simonson
• WaltSimonson
• Byron
• Preiss
• ByronPreiss
• 1968
• Friends
• Songwriting
• CriticalAnalysis
• Musicology
• Acoustic
• Live
• Piano
• Music

[dmcguire70]

You look like Richard Dreyfuss!

[michaelthorner]

@dmcguire70 LOL The Goodbye Girl era Richard Dreyfuss, the Nuts era Richard Dreyfuss, Mr. Holland's Opus Richard era Dreyfuss, or the Poseidon era Richard Dreyfuss? Does he play piano too? ;-P

[Froth802]

The thing about this enchanting, hypnotic song is one never quite knows where the melody is vs the harmony. You pulled it apart and reassembled it in such a way that celebrates the song's oddities instead of trying to smooth them out. Very cool job.

[michaelthorner]

@Froth802 Thanks man! It is certainly a curio in the Brian Wilson cannon, but I think that is why I always gravitated to the song in the first place.

[gregormann7]

I have always loved this piece from the first time I heard it (1968?). Your slightly quirky version is delightful, and I L-O-V-E your ending-invention!! I hear the chords much clearer in your playing of them---I could never figure them out correctly. Maybe a little tutorial would be in order?? In any case, great work, my friend! I wish more people would remember the thumbs-up button. I'm only the second. :( You deserve a ton of them!

[michaelthorner]

@gregormann7 I really appreciate your kind words! I didn't hear this song until about 1988. A whole bunch of us in Toronto went on a Beach Boys used vinyl rampage after the 1988 Rolling Stone piece on Brian Wison's first solo album came out. I had known the hits because of the 1974 release of the Endless Summer compilation, but more obscure album tracks like I Went To Sleep weren't known to me until 1988. Songs like this one compelled me to dig deeper into Wilson's oeuvre, and I'm glad I did.

[Varuba111]

ZZZ・・・・(p_-)

[dmcguire70]

@michaelthorner

Perhaps the What About Bob Dick Dreyfuss would be my pick. :-)

[fasterthanbolt]

very well played on piano. It is very difficult to sing, but in some parts you did it very well.

[skotty1992]

@michaelthorner you make it easy too! lol your videos are really enjoyable