- Vegetables (song)
"Vegetables" (or "Vega-Tables") is a song written by
Brian Wilson andVan Dyke Parks for the American pop bandThe Beach Boys . It was released on their1967 album "Smiley Smile " withAl Jardine andBrian Wilson on lead vocals. The song was originally intended to be released on the famous "SMiLE" album, planned for 1967, but due to the cancellation of "SMiLE", it was released in a much toned-down form on "Smiley Smile" instead, with one section cut out and later reused as "Mama Says" on the album Wild Honey. It is one of five tracks on "Smiley Smile" that were intended for the cancelled "SMiLE", the other songs being "Good Vibrations ", "Heroes And Villains", "Wind Chimes" and "Wonderful".In
1993 , the previously unreleased original version of "Vegetables" was released along with a slew of other SMiLE material on the Good Vibrations boxset. In2004 , the song was included on Brian Wilson's new release of "SMiLE". This most recent recording was based on the original version, rather than the minimalist arrangement that appears on Smiley Smile.Recording
Both versions of the song feature the novel use of vegetable chewing as percussion. During the SMiLE sessions,
Paul McCartney was recorded chewing celery for the original version. Al Jardine remembers that "the night before a big tour, I was out in the studio recording the vocal [for 'Vegetables'] when, to my surprise, Paul McCartney walked in and joined Brian at the console. And, briefly, the two most influential musical Geminis in the world had a chance to work together. I remember waiting for long periods of time between takes to get to the next section or verse. Brian [seemed to have] lost track of the session. Paul would come on the talkback and say something like 'Good take, Al.'" [Smiley Smile/Wild Honey CD booklet notes, David Leaf, c.1990.]Details
*"Written by:" Brian Wilson/Van Dyke Parks
*"Album:" Smiley Smile
*"Time:" 2 min 07 sec
*"Produced by:" The Beach Boys"Alternately:"
*"Album:" SMiLE
*"Time:" 2 min 19 sec
*"Produced by:" Van Dyke ParksPerformers
*"
Brian Wilson :" Lead Vocals
*"Al Jardine :" Lead VocalsCovers
The song was covered by
Jan and Dean (under the name Laughing Gravy) on a single released in 1968.It was also covered by Canadian group
The Old Soul in 2005, though the lyrics don't entirely match. It also includes a portion ofMama Says , similar to the "SMiLE" version.It was covered by musician
Drake Bell during his 2006 tour supporting his album "Telegraph".While not a cover, the song "Receptacle for the Respectable" from the album "
Rings Around The World " bySuper Furry Animals also features Paul McCartney chewing celery and carrots.See also
*
The Beach Boys
*Smiley Smile
*List of songs by The Beach Boys
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