I'm Waiting for the Day
| "I'm Waiting for the Day" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
"I'm Waiting for the Day" is a song written and composed by Brian Wilson with a small lyric adjustment by Mike Love for American rock band the Beach Boys, released as the fifth track on their 1966 album Pet Sounds. The song is a simple love poem told from the point of view of its narrator who wishes to offer his comfort and support to a girl whose heart was broken by someone else. It was copyrighted by Wilson as a solo composition in February 1964, indicating that it predated the album's sessions by some years.[1]
Its arrangement is characterized for its jazz chords, doo-wop progression, timpani blasts, English horn, flutes, and string section episode.[1] When asked about "I'm Waiting for the Day", Brian said that "there really was no specific inspiration for [the] song."[2] Carl Wilson has stated he loved the dynamics, saying, "The intro is very big, then it gets quite small with the vocal in the verse with a little instrumentation and then, in the chorus, it gets very big again, with the background harmonies against the lead. It is perhaps one of the most dynamic moments in the album."[3][4]
Recording
The instrumental track (including string overdubs) was recorded on March 6, 1966 at United Western Recorders. Vocal overdubs finished the track on March 10, 1966 at CBS Columbia Square.[5] The track, a vocals only mix, and highlights from the tracking session can be found on The Pet Sounds Sessions boxset, released in 1997.
The lead vocal was sung by Brian Wilson who thought his performance was inadequate, explaining, "Vocally, I thought I sounded a little bit weird in my head. That's the one cut off the album I didn't really like that much. But, you know, it's okay, it's not a case of liking or not liking it; it was an appropriate song, a very, very positive song. I just didn't like my voice on that particular song."[5][6]
Personnel
 | This section needs to be updated. (July 2016) |
Sourced from liner notes included with the 1999 mono/stereo reissue of Pet Sounds,[7] except where otherwise noted.
- The Beach Boys
- Brian Wilson – lead vocal[5]
- Additional musicians
- Gary Coleman – timpani, bongos
- Al de Lory – piano
- Justin DiTullio – cello
- Bill Green – flute
- Jim Gordon – drums
- Leonard Hartman – English horn
- Jim Horn – flute
- Harry Hyams – viola
- Carol Kaye – bass guitar
- Larry Knechtel – Hammond organ
- William Kurasch – violin
- Leonard Malarsky – violin
- Jay Migliori – flute
- Ray Pohlman – six string bass
- Lyle Ritz – ukulele, upright bass
- Ralph Schaffer – violin
- Sid Sharp – violin
Variations
The Pet Sounds Sessions compilation included an alternate take featuring Mike Love on lead vocals.
Cover versions
- 1966 – Peanut, 7" single (arranged/produced by Mark Wirtz)
- 1998 – Short Hair Front, 'Smiling Pets[8]
- 2001 – Reigning Sound, Break Up, Break Down
- 2002 – Brian Wilson, Pet Sounds Live
References
- ^ a b Lambert, Philip (2007). Inside the Music of Brian Wilson: The Songs, Sounds, and Influences of the Beach Boys' Founding Genius. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 242–244. ISBN 978-1-4411-0748-0.
- ^ "Brian Answer's Fans' Questions In Live Q&A". 29 January 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2014.
- ^ Jim Fusilli, Pet Sounds,(Continuum International Publishing Group 2005), ISBN 0-8264-1670-5, p.92.
- ^ Gladwin, Andrew. "Pet Sounds 30th Anniversary Tribute". Retrieved July 27, 2011.
- ^ a b c Elliott, Brad (August 31, 1999). "Pet Sounds Sessions". beachboysfanclub.com. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
- ^ The Pet Sounds Sessions: "The Making Of Pet Sounds" booklet (1996)
- ^ Pet Sounds (CD Liner). The Beach Boys. Capitol Records. 1999.
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ "Smiling Pets review". Retrieved 2010-12-16.