Do you prefer Brian Wilson or Carl Wilson as a vocalist?

On vocals alone, would you take Brian in his Pet Sounds pomp or Carl Wilson (his best days started in Wild Honey IMO, he seemed so much more confident on that album than before)

 

Carl. He had a very versatile voice. To hear how versatile one only needs to listen to:

God Only Knows
Good Vibrations
Darlin'
I Can Hear Music
This Whole World
Surf's Up
I Need A Mess Of Help To Stand Alone
Marcella
The Trader
Heaven
Of The Times

A lovely man with a voice to match.

 

Brian, all the way. Carl is great, don't get me wrong, but I love the texture and sound of Brian's voice more. I would rather have Brian sing something (when his voice was in its prime) than Carl - though, of course, Carl put in amazing leads and harmonies. Carl's voice is different, and I prefer Brian's.

 

Carl.

 

Tough one this but I voted for Brian. Carl's version of Surfs Up is better though

 

Carl didn't create as many colors as Brian, whose voice carried more "heft" to my ears.

 

They were both incredible voices but Carl was pure uncut emotion, very very rare.

 

I'd give the edge to Carl as a lead vocalist, but Brian's falsetto is what I would miss the most from the Beach Boys' vocals, so I voted for Brian.

Both were fantastic singers.

 

Carl, barely.

 

That's a tough one.

Obviously, during their glory days in the 60's, I prefer Brian. But there comes a point (early 70's) where I'd rather hear Carl singing lead -- especially at live events where both of them are present.

That preference lasted until the day Carl died.

Here'an interesting clip of the BBs performing "Good Timing" at their Washington DC 4th of July concert in 1980. There's a fascinating moment where Carl and Brian trade lines near the end.

 

Brian, his falsetto just slays me

 

There's also a great fade to Wouldn't it be nice to live again... Brian v Carl in either channel, brilliant. Carl better voice, Brian more inventive.

But Brian's vocals on Heroes and Villains is unsurpassed IMHO.

 

Brian, before he destroyed his voice.

 

I'm sorry, I can't vote for either/or. They were both fantastic and equal talents in my opinion.

 

Al Jardine was lead vocalist on "Heroes and Villains".

 

Brian hands down, but I agree with Zodiac - we're really talking about Brian in the 1960's, not 1970's or later.

Carl too had a great voice, but Brian's falsetto.....

 

Nope Brian

 

Brian..had the best falsetto ever...

 

Carl, barely. Feel flows and the other great ones already mentioned.

 

Carl, for me.

 

Carl. Love his vocals on Darlin' and Girl Don't Tell Me and so many more.

 

Brian and Mike were the guys that did about 95% of the lead vocals up until 1966. (regardless of what you think of Mike, he was damn good at what he did back then)
Brian's soaring vocals were really the heart and soul of the band for the majority of those 60's classics in my opinion.

Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love Carls vocals. He was undoubtedly the better singer in the 70's and beyond, but when you get to the heart of what makes the Beach Boys one of the greatest bands of all time, its Brian's voice, arranging, producing and writing that made the band as great as they could possibly be. He gave them that emotional resonance that made their songs so much deeper than they might appear on the surface.
Often imitated but never duplicated. As much as I miss Carl's voice, Brian's vocals were the shining light soaring out of the Beach Boys harmonies, a large reason why America and the rest of the world fell in love with them.



Some of my favourite Brian vocals:

Wouldn't It Be Nice
Surfer Girl
Don't Worry Baby
In My Room
I Just Wasn't Made For These Times
Heroes & Villains
Surf's Up
Til' I Die
Let Him Run Wild
Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
I'm Waiting For The Day
Caroline No
Kiss Me Baby
Here Comes The Night
Girls On The Beach
The Little Girl I Once Knew
Hushabye
Busy Doin' Nothin'
You Still Believe In Me
The Warmth Of The Sun
Catch A Wave
Wendy
Please Let Me Wonder
Wonderful
Can't Wait Too Long

Not to mention countless songs in which he was co-lead or essentially the co-lead singer such as:

Good Vibrations
I Get Around
When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)
Do It Again
Wake The World
Surfin U.S.A
Dance, Dance, Dance
etc.

 

Im going with Brian in his heyday. I think Carl would have too. They loved their brother an awful lot.

 

You know though, I just read into this thread "Who did you like best" and its who was the better vocalist. In that case, technically, Carl.

But I still like Brians voice best

 

Carl. Angelic at first, then a tremendous soulful singer.

I'd pick "This Whole World" as his peak.