The late 1960s were a period of splintering and searching for The Beach Boys. The dazzling, singular sun of Brian Wilson’s prime creative light had receded, leaving the remaining members to navigate a complicated landscape—artistically rich but commercially uncertain. The 20/20 album, released in early 1969, was a fascinating, often ragged, collection, pieced together from various sessions and songwriters across the band. It was less an album than a declaration of survival, a testament to the idea that the collective could persist even as the driving force wavered.
And then there is “I Can Hear Music.”
This track, a cover of a Jeff Barry/Ellie Greenwich/Phil Spector composition originally recorded by The Ronettes, wasn’t just a standout single; it was a revelation. It provided an urgently needed creative flashpoint, and a new center of gravity: the voice and vision of Carl Wilson. Carl, the youngest of the three brothers, steps into the role of sole producer for the first time here, delivering a work of art that both honors the “Wall of Sound” legacy of the original writers and pushes The Beach Boys into their own future.
I remember hearing it late one night, through a pair of studio headphones, the kind that reveal every layer of tape hiss and reverb tail. The clarity was shocking. The song opened a window into the potential of the group beyond Brian’s immediate influence, suggesting an evolution, not an ending.
The Arrangement: A Wall of Sound Built on Vocals
Carl Wilson’s production immediately distinguishes itself from both the Spector original and Brian’s most dense work. It feels less like a solid wall of instrumentation and more like a beautifully tessellated surface, where every note and voice interlocks with crystalline precision.
The entire piece of music is built around two contrasting sonic elements: a foundation of simple, driving rock instrumentation, and a shimmering, multi-layered vocal arrangement. The drums, likely played by Dennis Wilson, provide a remarkably crisp, almost dry backbeat that cuts cleanly through the mix, offering a palpable sense of forward momentum.
The rhythm section is notably less ornate than many Brian Wilson productions. It features a straightforward, strummed acoustic guitar sound, which Brian himself reportedly contributed to, desiring a “smooth and subliminal” instrumental track. This acoustic anchor provides a gentle, ringing sustain that complements the delicate melodic work. The presence of the piano is subtle but key; Bruce Johnston, on Fender Rhodes electric piano and possibly acoustic piano, adds a watery, almost jazzy texture to the lower midrange, cushioning the foundation.
Carl’s Catharsis: The Voice as Orchestra
If the instrumental foundation is one element, Carl Wilson’s lead vocal is the other—a towering, magnificent performance. Carl possessed a rich, soulful baritone-tenor, capable of navigating both the hard rock crunch of “Good Vibrations” and the tender folk of “God Only Knows.” Here, he leans into the full emotional range.
His opening line, “I can hear music in the air,” is delivered with a pure, soaring tone that feels utterly genuine. There is a touch of restraint in the first verse, but by the time he reaches the chorus, his voice achieves a state of controlled catharsis. The subtle vibrato on held notes, particularly in the upper register, is breathtaking.
What sets this cover apart is the use of the trademark Beach Boys harmonies. They are stacked meticulously, not just as backing vocals, but as instrumental textures, a heavenly choir echoing Spector’s grandiose vision. Mike Love, Al Jardine, and Bruce Johnston (and reportedly Rasa Davies of The Kinks, at one point during the sessions, according to some reports, although this is often attributed to the Ronettes original) create these dense, complex clusters. The backing vocals hit with the impact of a full string section, providing the kind of emotional lift that only those unique, interwoven voices can generate.
“Carl Wilson’s voice on this track is not just a lead instrument; it is the human heart of the entire glorious cacophony.”
In the bridge, Carl’s production elevates the track from a strong cover to a defining moment. He introduces a short, ecstatic guitar break, a perfect, fuzz-laced phrase played with the kind of concise energy that defined his six-string style in the studio. It acts as a moment of pure, unbridled rock emotion before the glorious, reverb-drenched return of the main vocal theme. This contrast—the delicate harmony and the muscular guitar—captures the tension of the band at the close of the decade.
The Legacy of the Sound
“I Can Hear Music” was released as a single in early 1969 on Capitol Records. It became a moderate hit in the US, but it fared particularly well in Europe, reaching the UK Top 10. The track served as proof that the band could still produce a brilliant, hit-worthy pop single without the intense, often overwhelming perfectionism of Brian’s direct leadership.
This recording captures The Beach Boys at a fascinating juncture in their history, looking back to the ’60s teenage emotionality of Spector, while stepping forward into the ’70s with a renewed sense of their own instrumental capabilities. It is the sound of a band, having weathered significant internal turbulence, finding its footing again. For a young fan trying to absorb the history of the band, listening to this track offers a crucial roadmap for their post-Pet Sounds sound. It bridges the gap between the lush orchestration of the psychedelic era and the rock immediacy of their forthcoming Sunflower and Surf’s Up eras.
Ultimately, Carl Wilson’s masterful production and passionate delivery transformed a girl-group favorite into an anthem of spiritual fulfillment, a song that connects the personal, joyful experience of sound to the universal, almost mystical power of art. It’s a compelling argument for the restorative power of music itself, a track that, when listened to in its entirety, proves the enduring magic of those five voices.
Listening Recommendations: Songs of High-Fidelity Harmony and Emotional Pop
- The Ronettes – “I Can Hear Music” (1966): The original Phil Spector-produced version, essential for understanding the source material and the Wall of Sound structure.
- The Beach Boys – “Darlin'” (1967): Another Carl Wilson-led vocal masterpiece from the preceding Wild Honey album, showcasing his emotional command.
- The Byrds – “Goin’ Back” (1967): Shares the same baroque-pop sensibility, gentle tempo, and dense, angelic vocal harmonies of the era.
- Badfinger – “No Matter What” (1970): Features the powerful, bright vocal delivery and straightforward, melodic rock structure Carl Wilson perfected here.
- The Rascals – “Groovin'” (1967): Captures a similar feeling of sunlit, emotional contentment, blending soulful vocals with baroque pop arrangement.
- Todd Rundgren – “I Saw the Light” (1972): An excellent example of a songwriter channeling the intimate, multi-layered pop production techniques pioneered by Brian Wilson and mastered by Carl.