terça-feira, 24 de maio de 2011

Sons de «Pet Sounds»














Imagem oficial da capa do álbum, captada no dia 15 de Fevereiro de 1966, no Jardim Zoológico de San Diego. Fotografia de George Jerman. 

Ainda os 45 anos de «Pet Sounds»
Cada obra deve ser, antes de mais, apreciada no contexto em que surge.
O álbum «Pet Sounds» dos Beach Boys deve ser também primeiramente avaliado no seu tempo original. Só assim se poderá compreender ao certo a diferença que fez na altura em relação ao que se fazia nessa mesma altura.
O apuro estético então alcançado atravessou estas quatro décadas e meia como se fosse um cometa. O plano obsessivo da perfeição mantém toda a autenticidade com que foi construído. Não perdeu um grão de qualidade nos arranjos, nas letras, nas orquestrações, nas vibrações.
O tema “Good Vibrations” é o exemplo dos exemplos.
Permanece fresco e cristalino como sempre foi. Resistiu ao tempo com a estoicidade de um diamante polido e intemporal.
Ao escutá-lo, não é a novidade que nos ecoa nos ouvidos, ou back on the head. Passados 45 anos é o novo que continua a ressoar.




























A vida de Brian dava um livro espesso; a história de «Pet Sounds» uma série de livros; a história dos Beach Boys (com e sem Brian Wilson) dava uma enciclopédia.
Seria muito interessante coligir todas as fontes possíveis, comparar dados, cruzar informações. Deduzir e concluir. Completar uma discografia imensa.
Seria a tarefa de uma vida. Gostaria de realizar tal tarefa, mas é-me impossível.
O que aqui foi escrito é uma infinitésima parte de uma longa história cheia de estórias. Vidas e vidas dentro umas das outras. Desde as origens até às repercussões nos dias de hoje.
(Mas a realidade impõe-se sempre, não é?).
Ao menos que a obra sonora registada perdure por muito e bom tempo, continue a influenciar como no passado e no presente. Que se não deixe de escutar a obra única, irregular e contrastante dos Beach Boys.
E atenção: apesar da história falar por si, Brian Wilson ainda está por aí e com muita actividade artística.
Pena que a Rádio não lhe dedique mais do seu tempo.














Textura melódica
Tem sido uma delícia ouvir uma e outra vez algumas das inúmeras sessões de gravação de «Pet Sounds».
Graças a uma edição publicada em 1996, podem-se escutar algumas das etapas da enorme construção peça a peça de uma obra de Arte discográfica. Percebe-se aqui e ali o processo criativo e executivo de Brian Wilson, então com apenas 23 anos de idade. Ele sabia o que pretendia alcançar. Dirigiu os músicos com a voz da certeza. Notável!
Não eram só os mundialmente famosos Beatles ou o produtor perfeccionista Phil Spector que Wilson queria superar.
Queria, sobretudo, superar-se a si próprio.


O que Paul McCartney diz sobre «Pet Sounds» e sobre Brian Wilson:

It was «Pet Sounds» that blew me out of the water.
First of all, it was Brian’s writing. I love the album so much. I’ve just bought my kids each a copy of it for their education in life. I figure no one is educated musically ‘ti they heard that album. I was into the writing and the songs.

Lovely melody.

Lyrics to me are kind of secondary, but some of them are really spot on. “God Only Knows” are great. Those do it to me every time.
There’s Something very touching about that little bit of lyric there. It’s a really, really great song. It’s a big favourite of mine.
I was asked recently to give my top ten favourite songs for a Japanese radio station. I Didn’t think long and hard on it, but I popped that on the top of my list. It’s very deep. Very emotional, always a bit of a choker for me, that one.
There are certain songs that just hit home with me, and they’re the strangest collection of songs… but that is high on the list, I must say.

I love the orchestra, the arrangements. I love the instrumentation. I mean, I love the way he uses harmonicas, the way he uses harpsichords. I love the way he uses timps and snare drums, and they’re often on odd little patterns. And I mentioned the bass. The writing for harmonies is brilliant. I love the melodies.
If you can pop all of those together in one album, I figure you’ve got it. It really is… I don’t know, it may be going overboard to say it’s the classic of the century, but to me, it certainly is a total, classic record that is unbeatable in many ways.

It’s more than holds up. It’s better than ever.

[Sgt. Pepper and Pet Sounds] Both of them have more than held up.
To me, it’s like ‘What have people been doing in the meantime? Were’s the progress?’ I can’t see anything as modern as that around at the moment.
Obviously, one of them, I’m being slightly immodest on, but I think they’re very exciting, even though they’re really recorded quite primitively compared to now.

[Sgt. Pepper Lonely Hearts Club Band] My influence was basically the Pet Sounds album.
John [Lennon] was influenced by it, perhaps not as much as me. It was certainly a record that we all played.
It was the record of the time, you know?


[Good Vibrations] I thought it was a great record. I didn’t quite have the emotional thing that Pet Sounds had for me. I’ve often played Pet Sounds and cried. It’s that kind of an album for me.

[Brian Wilson] I’m still a big fan. Just let Brian know that I love him, and that I still think he’s gonna do great things.
Tell him good luck, stay healthy for me, and thing good, positive thoughts.


Paul McCartney entrevistado por David Leaf
Japão, 1990



















Alinhamento original do álbum «Pet Sounds»:

Lado A
Wouldn't It Be Nice – 2:22
You Still Believe In Me – 2:30
That's Not Me – 2:27
Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) – 2:51
I'm Waiting For The Day – 3:03
Let's Go Away for Awhile – 2:18
Sloop John B – 2:56

Lado B
God Only Knows – 2:49
I Know There's An Answer – 3:08
Here Today – 2:52
I Just Wasn't Made For These Times – 3:11
Pet Sounds – 2:20
Caroline, No – 2:52

Quem é quem na gravação de «Pet Sounds»
Elementos do grupo:

Al Jardine - vocals, tambourine
Bruce Johnston - vocals
Mike Love - vocals
Brian Wilson - vocals, organ, piano
Carl Wilson - vocals, guitar
Dennis Wilson - vocals, drums

Músicos de gravação:

Arnold Belnick - violin
Chuck Berghofer - upright bass
Hal Blaine - drums, percussion
Norman Botnick - viola
Glen Campbell - guitar
Frank Capp - percussion
Al Casey - guitar
Ray Caton - trumpet
Jerry Cole - guitar
Kyle Burkett - guitar
Andrew Maxson - bass
Gary Coleman - percussion
Mike Deasy - guitar
Al de Lory - piano, harpsichord, organ
Joseph DiFiore - viola
Justin DiTullio - cello
Steve Douglas - saxophones, clarinet, percussion, flute
Jesse Erlich - cello
Ritchie Frost - drums, percussion
Carl Fortina - accordion
James Getzoff - violin
Jim Gordon - drums, percussion
Bill Green - saxophone, flute, percussion
Leonard Hartman - English horn, clarinets
Jim Horn - saxophones, flute
Paul Horn - saxophone
Harry Hyams - viola
Jules Jacob - flute
Plas Johnson - saxophones, percussion
Carol Kaye - electric bass
Barney Kessel - mandolin, guitar
Bobby Klein - saxophone
Larry Knechtel - organ
William Kurasch - violin
Leonard Malarsky - violin
Frank Marocco - accordion
Gail Martin - trombone
Nick Martinis - drums
Terry Melcher - tambourine
Mike Melvoin - harpsichord
Jay Migliori - saxophones, clarinets, flute
Tommy Morgan - harmonica
Jack Nimitz - saxophone
Bill Pitman - guitar
Ray Pohlman - mandolin, guitar, electric bass
Don Randi - piano
Jerome Reisler - violin
Lyle Ritz - upright bass, ukulele
Alan Robinson - French horn
Joseph Saxon - cello
Ralph Schaffer - violin
Sid Sharp - violin
Billy Strange - guitar
Ron Swallow - tambourine
Ernie Tack - trombone
Paul Tanner - electrotheremin
Darrel Terwilliger - viola
Tommy Tedesco - guitar
Julius Wechter - percussion
Jerry Williams - percussion
Tibor Zelig – violin

Alinhamentos da edição em CD (1996) das sessões de gravação do álbum «Pet Sounds»:
[Inclui um 4º CD com edição em Mono]

CD 1:
01. Wouldn't It Be Nice (The Stereo Mix)
02. You Still Believe In Me (The Stereo Mix) (1996 Digital Remaster)
03. That's Not Me (The Stereo Mix) (1996 Digital Remaster)
04. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (The Stereo Mix) (1996 Digital Remaster)
05. I'm Waiting For The Day (The Stereo Mix) (1996 Digital Remaster)
06. Let's Go Away For Awhile (The Stereo Mix) (1996 Digital Remaster)
07. Sloop John B (The Stereo Mix) (1996 Digital Remaster)
08. God Only Knows (The Stereo Mix) (1996 Digital Remaster)
09. I Know There's An Answer (The Stereo Mix) (1996 Digital Remaster)
10. Here Today (The Stereo Mix) (1996 Digital Remaster)
11. I Just Wasn't Made For These Times (The Stereo Mix) (1996 Digital Remaster)
12. Pet Sounds (The Stereo Mix) (1996 Digital Remaster)
13. Caroline, No (The Stereo Mix) (1996 Digital Remaster)
14. Sloop John B (Highlights From Tracking Date)
15. Sloop John B (Stereo Backing Track)
16. Trombone Dixie (Highlights From Tracking Date)
17. Trombone Dixie (Stereo Backing Track)
18. Pet Sounds (Highlights From Tracking Date)
19. Pet Sounds (Stereo Track Without Guitar Overdub)
20. Let's Go Away For Awhile (Highlights From Tracking Date)
21. Let's Go Away For Awhile (Stereo Track Without String Overdub)
22. Wouldn't It Be Nice (Highlights From Tracking Date)
23. Wouldn't It Be Nice (Stereo Backing Track)
24. Wouldn't It Be Nice (Stereo Track With Background Vocals)
25. You Still Believe In Me (Intro - Session)
26. You Still Believe In Me (Intro - Master Take)
27. You Still Believe In Me (Highlights From Tracking Date)
28. You Still Believe In Me (Stereo Backing Track)

CD 2:
01. Caroline, No (Highlights From Tracking Date)
02. Caroline, No (Stereo Backing Track)
03. Hang On To Your Ego (Highlights From Tracking Date)
04. Hang On To Your Ego (Stereo Backing Track)
05. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Brian's Instrumental Demo)
06. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Stereo Backing Track)
07. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (String Overdub)
08. I Just Wasn't Made For These Times (Highlights From Tracking Date)
09. I Just Wasn't Made For These Times (Stereo Backing Track)
10. That's Not Me (Highlights From Tracking Date)
11. That's Not Me (Stereo Backing Track)
12. Good Vibrations (Highlights From Tracking Date)
13. Good Vibrations (Stereo Backing Track)
14. I'm Waiting For The Day (Highlights From Tracking Date)
15. I'm Waiting For The Day (Stereo Backing Track)
16. God Only Knows (Highlights From Tracking Date)
17. God Only Knows (Stereo Backing Track)
18. Here Today (Highlights From Tracking Date)
19. Here Today (Stereo Backing Track)

CD 3:
01. Wouldn't It Be Nice (Stack-O-Vocals)
02. You Still Believe In Me (Stack-O-Vocals)
03. That's Not Me (Stack-O-Vocals)
04. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Stack-O-Vocals)
05. I'm Waiting For The Day (Stack-O-Vocals)
06. Sloop John B (Stack-O-Vocals)
07. God Only Knows (Stack-O-Vocals)
08. I Know There's An Answer (Stack-O-Vocals)
09. Here Today (Stack-O-Vocals)
10. I Just Wasn't Made For These Times (Stack-O-Vocals)
11. Caroline, No (Stack-O-Vocals)
12. Caroline, No (Promotional Spot #1)
13. Wouldn't It Be Nice (Alternate Version #1)
14. You Still Believe In Me (Alternate Version)
15. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) (Vocal Snippet)
16. I'm Waiting For The Day (Mike Sings Lead)
17. Sloop John B (Carl Sings First Verse)
18. God Only Knows (Sax Solo)
19. Hang On To Your Ego (1996 Digital Remaster)
20. Here Today (Alternate Version)
21. I Just Wasn't Made For These Times (Alternate Version)
22. Banana & Louie
23. Caroline, No (Original Speed/Stereo Mix)
24. Dog Barking Session (Outtakes)
25. Caroline, No (Promotional Spot #2)
26. God Only Knows (With A Capella Tag)
27. Wouldn't It Be Nice (Alternate Version #2)
28. Sloop John B (Brian Sings Lead Throughout)
29. God Only Knows (Brian Sings Lead)
30. Caroline, No (Original Speed/Mono Mix)

Todas as gravações originais com arranjos e produção de Brian Wilson.
Letras de Brian Wilson e Tony Asher. 



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