Vegetables (song)
Encyclopedia
"Vegetables" is a song written by Brian Wilson
and Van Dyke Parks
for the American
rock
band
The Beach Boys
. It was released on their 1967 album Smiley Smile
with Al Jardine
and Brian Wilson
on lead vocals.
", "Wind Chimes" and "Wonderful". A discarded bridge section from "Vegetables" was later reused as "Mama Says" on the album Wild Honey
.
In 1993, the original version of "Vegetables" was finally given an official release, along with a slew of other Smile material, on the Good Vibrations boxset. A new recording of the song (based on the original version) was made for the 2004 release of Brian Wilson Presents Smile.
was recorded chewing celery. 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.'"
Alternately:
(under the name Laughing Gravy) on a single released in 1968.
Terry Scott Taylor
covered the song on the 2002 tribute album Making God Smile: An Artists' Tribute to the Songs of Beach Boy Brian Wilson
.
It was also covered by Canadian group The Old Soul
in 2005, though the lyrics do not entirely match. This cover includes a portion of "Mama Says", similar to the Smile version.
While not a cover, the song "Receptacle for the Respectable" from the album Rings Around the World
by Super Furry Animals
also features Paul McCartney chewing celery and carrots.
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
and Van Dyke Parks
Van Dyke Parks
Van Dyke Parks is an American composer, arranger, producer, musician, singer, author and actor. Parks is perhaps best known for his contributions as a lyricist on the Beach Boys album Smile....
for the American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
. It was released on their 1967 album Smiley Smile
Smiley Smile
Smiley Smile is the twelfth studio album by The Beach Boys, issued in 1967. Released in the place of the much-touted Smile, Smiley Smile is widely considered to be under-produced, and it was received with indifference and confusion upon its unveiling...
with Al Jardine
Al Jardine
Alan Charles "Al" Jardine is a founding member of top-selling American music group The Beach Boys, a guitarist and occasional lead vocalist. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.-Early life:...
and Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
on lead vocals.
Information
The song was originally composed and recorded during the infamous Smile sessions. After the shelving of the Smile album, it was re-arranged and simplified for its eventual release on Smiley Smile, as were the songs "Heroes and VillainsHeroes and Villains
"Heroes and Villains" is a song by the American rock band The Beach Boys, co-written by the group's leader Brian Wilson and lyricist Van Dyke Parks. Originally intended by Wilson to be the centerpiece of the ambitious but shelved album Smile, a re-recorded version of the song was released on Smiley...
", "Wind Chimes" and "Wonderful". A discarded bridge section from "Vegetables" was later reused as "Mama Says" on the album Wild Honey
Wild Honey (album)
-Singles:* "Wild Honey" b/w "Wind Chimes" , 23 October 1967 US #31; UK #29* "Darlin'" b/w "Here Today" , 18 December 1967 US #19; UK #11....
.
In 1993, the original version of "Vegetables" was finally given an official release, along with a slew of other Smile material, on the Good Vibrations boxset. A new recording of the song (based on the original version) was made for the 2004 release of Brian Wilson Presents Smile.
Recording
All versions of the song feature the novel use of vegetable chewing as percussion. During the Smile sessions, Paul McCartneyPaul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
was recorded chewing celery. 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.'"
Details
- Written by: Brian Wilson/Van Dyke Parks
- Album: Smiley SmileSmiley SmileSmiley Smile is the twelfth studio album by The Beach Boys, issued in 1967. Released in the place of the much-touted Smile, Smiley Smile is widely considered to be under-produced, and it was received with indifference and confusion upon its unveiling...
- Time: 2 minMinuteA minute is a unit of measurement of time or of angle. The minute is a unit of time equal to 1/60th of an hour or 60 seconds. In the UTC time scale, a minute on rare occasions has 59 or 61 seconds; see leap second. The minute is not an SI unit; however, it is accepted for use with SI units...
07 secSecondThe second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock.... - Produced by: The Beach Boys
Alternately:
- Album: SmileSmile (The Beach Boys album)Smile is a previously unreleased album by The Beach Boys recorded throughout 1966 and 1967. The project was intended by its creator Brian Wilson as the follow-up to Pet Sounds, but was never completed in its original form...
- Time: 2 minMinuteA minute is a unit of measurement of time or of angle. The minute is a unit of time equal to 1/60th of an hour or 60 seconds. In the UTC time scale, a minute on rare occasions has 59 or 61 seconds; see leap second. The minute is not an SI unit; however, it is accepted for use with SI units...
19 secSecondThe second is a unit of measurement of time, and is the International System of Units base unit of time. It may be measured using a clock.... - Produced by: Brian Wilson
Performers
- Brian WilsonBrian WilsonBrian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
: lead vocals - Al JardineAl JardineAlan Charles "Al" Jardine is a founding member of top-selling American music group The Beach Boys, a guitarist and occasional lead vocalist. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988.-Early life:...
: lead vocals - Paul McCartneyPaul McCartneySir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
: celery
Cover versions
The song was covered by Jan and DeanJan and Dean
Jan and Dean were a rock and roll duo, popular from the late 1950s through the mid 1960s, consisting of William Jan Berry and Dean Ormsby Torrence...
(under the name Laughing Gravy) on a single released in 1968.
Terry Scott Taylor
Terry Scott Taylor
Terry Scott Taylor is an American songwriter, record producer, writer and founding member of the bands Daniel Amos and The Swirling Eddies . Taylor is also a member of the roots and alternative music group, Lost Dogs. He is currently based in San Jose, California, USA.Taylor is highly regarded for...
covered the song on the 2002 tribute album Making God Smile: An Artists' Tribute to the Songs of Beach Boy Brian Wilson
Making God Smile: An Artists' Tribute to the Songs of Beach Boy Brian Wilson
Making God Smile: An Artists' Tribute to the Songs of Beach Boy Brian Wilson is a compilation of cover songs by various artists in tribute to Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys. The album was released as a single album. A second double album was released for sale only on the Internet through...
.
It was also covered by Canadian group The Old Soul
The Old Soul
The Old Soul is a Toronto-based indie rock ensemble fronted and led by Luca Maoloni. They perform an eclectic variety of instruments and can therefore be seen in the same vein as other big band style indie groups such as The Arcade Fire. In Torontonian circles, they are known for live lyrical and...
in 2005, though the lyrics do not entirely match. This cover includes a portion of "Mama Says", similar to the Smile version.
While not a cover, the song "Receptacle for the Respectable" from the album Rings Around the World
Rings around the World
Rings Around the World is the fifth studio album and the major label debut by Super Furry Animals. Released on 23 July 2001 by Epic Records in the United Kingdom, it was the first album by any artist to be simultaneously released on both audio CD and DVD...
by Super Furry Animals
Super Furry Animals
Super Furry Animals are a Welsh rock band that lean towards psychedelic rock and electronic experimentation. Since their formation in Cardiff, Wales in 1993, the band has consisted of Gruff Rhys , Huw Bunford , Guto Pryce , Cian Ciaran and Dafydd Ieuan Super Furry Animals are a Welsh rock band...
also features Paul McCartney chewing celery and carrots.