The Beach Boys - Caroline, No

Brian Wilson, the genius of the Beach Boys, had a mutual respect and zealous competition both with the Beatles and the producer Phil Spector. Each of their innovative releases, raised the bar to new unimagined heights. Music that still today sounds stunning and revolutionary.  

His finest hour, May 1966's "Pet Sounds" album was sandwiched between Spector's epic "River Deep, Mountain High " and the Beatles landmark  "Revolver"  What a time to be alive!

The closer on "Pet Sounds" was the aching ballad "Caroline, No", a melancholy elegy to the loss of innocence and youth. The Beach Boy's previous carefree jubilation of surfing and cars was quickly retreating into the distance.

The genesis was co-writer Tony Asher recalling an ex-girlfriend Carol, who had undergone a radical change. Wilson's misheard the line "Carol, I know",  so set in chain a sad lament to previous untroubled times.

The key is the simplicity of the lyrics, four short verses, each ending with heartfelt "Oh Caroline". Things have changed - her long hair gone, the "happy glow" disappeared and so had their love. He is distraught ("It's so sad to watch a sweet thing die") and ponders if their relationship will ever recover ?

The mood is exquisite but disconcerting and sombre. For the recording, Wilson borrowed Spector's beloved session musicians such as Hal Blaine, Carole Kaye and Glenn Campbell. He pursued new and different sounds, overloading the mix with percussion, harpsichord, flute, vibraphone. The eerie echo at the start coming Blaine hitting a water jug. Wilson's wrought vocals, were sped up to appear sweeter and younger.

There is some confusion to the credit. As Wilson was the only Beach Boy involved, he actually released it as his first solo single, strangely competing with the Beach Boys' own  "Sloop John B". But within two months, it appeared on "Pet Sounds" intact, with only the addition of the train and dog effects.  

The pressure on Wilson took its toll during the abortive "Smile" sessions, and like Spector, subsequently spent years in seclusion. But fans and radio still adore the Beach Boys happy surfing sounds and critics revere "Pet Sounds". 

Hear Now - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SoqYQdregRI  and an outtake of just the slower vocals - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixyfgVEopeE

Hear Next -  Obviously "Pet Sounds" or one of the myriad of Beach Boys compilations.



** The book of "Song from a Quarantine" is now available  on all Amazon sites in paperback and ebook formats.