Bruce Johnson: "Good Vibrations" Stereo Vocals
By DJ M on July 1st, 2006
In Brian Wilson/B. Boys
BEACH BOYS BRITAIN MESSAGE BOARD
"RE: Good Vibrations as it relates to stereo vocals....
We recorded all the vocals on eight track at Columbia Records Studio A in Hollywood.
These vocals were recorded one track at a time (that makes each track mono!) and then doubled on another track to 'thicken ' the sound. Brian mixed the eight tracks of backing track & vocals down to quarter inch mono and that was the mix.
Back to the vocals: Only a remix from the eight track as the source of the vocals would allow you to end up with tracks for a 'second guessing Brian Wilson' stereo vocal mix. At the end of the day those vocals would really be stereo placement of several mono vocal recordings. AGD: As you know Brian had damage in one of his ears and that's one of the reasons for all his mono mixes.
If the master eight track tape was never sent back from Columbia Studio A to Capitol Records....then it is lost. In order to have more room in the Columbia Records Studio A tape storage (above the studio in a balcony where an audience was seated for live CBS Radio shows before the recording studio conversion) the 'studio' destroyed the multi track tapes as they were of 'no use' any more having been mixed to quarter inch masters!!! Even back then we had 'corporate rock mentality'......."
Bruce Johnston
Montecito
July 1, 2006