with Brian Wilson at The Late Show

BRIAN WILSON and FIGMENTS

One of the tracks on "Figments," "Hand On My Shoulder," features background vocals by Brian Wilson. The lead vocal was recorded by Blondie Chaplin, singer of the Beach Boys' classic, "Sail On Sailor. Anton is often asked about Brian's participation in the project - so here's a bit more info:

Brian Wilson Overdub Session
As a child growing up in South Africa I remember listening to the Beach Boys, especially that live record with them in the striped shirts on the cover. As a teenager I remember listening to Pet Sounds. After my sister and I listened to it a zillion times, we would play the record at 45rpm so that we could hear a different perspective [you could hear the bass parts really well]. I still have the vinyl - so it was with absolute sincerity that I said to Brian, after playing with him on the Letterman show, that he had provided the soundtrack to my youth. He liked that comment.

Quite a few years ago, I wrote a song that was reminiscent of the sounds I remembered from that record. I sent the music to my old friend Blondie Chaplin who wrote the words and vocal melodies on top of my musical track. As you probably know, Blondie was in the Beach Boys during the Holland album period and was lead vocal for 'Sail on Sailor' - so it was natural to get him to participate on that track. We have been friends since we were in different bands in South Africa, and have done numerous musical projects together here in America. I liked the way the song came out a lot and decided to record it for my solo project. Actually a lot of the original version was retained in the final master [ie. The original synthesizer and guitar parts]. I added Bakhiti Kumalo [another fellow S. African] on bass - he played on Paul Simon's 'Graceland' album and I recorded live drums although I kept some of the original drum loops.

Hand On My Shoulder Blondie Chaplin Bakhiti Kumalo Brian Wilson [mp3; 00:47] [ Lyrics ]

My dream was to somehow get Brian involved in the song. I could hear him so clearly in this setting singing the background harmonies and the counterlines. I contacted David Leaf, [as you know, Brian's biographer and a close friend], whom I knew from Brian's previous Letterman performances, and he presented the idea to Brian and Melinda. Brian said he like the song and agreed to participate! David booked Mark Linnett's studio, the same person and studio responsible for the Pet Sounds stereo remix, and I flew out to California for the session.

Mark, who was great to work with and had worked with Brian many times before, showed me the 8 track tape and box of 'God only Knows' - the original tape that the song was on. A tangible piece of American history.

When Brian arrived with David we just started working right away. I had Brian sing the two counter lines I had written in the 'instrumental section' right after the bridge, which he double tracked. I then asked him for the 'aahs' in the chorus. He told me to sing him the top note of the line. I couldn't believe I was singing to Brian, but I managed to croak out the top line of the harmony. He then asked me if I wanted 4 or 5 part harmony. I didn't want to be greedy, so I said 4 and he immediately built the harmonies from the top down and then made the inner harmonies move slightly against the outer lines. He triple tracked each line so that it sounded really full - it was classic! He told me that he really liked working with me and that the music was reminiscent of something he had done before - the whole session taking about 2 hours. I was elated beyond belief and went to Blondie's house to play him the song - it sounded great.

When I got back to my studio in New York I took the bass harmonies out of the 1st chorus so that I would not give it all away and so it would build. Then in the final chorus I took the parts he had done for the instrumental 'fugue' and added them to the 2nd half of that chorus so that it is just a sea of Brian vocals - It sounds like the heavens opening. You should hear them accapella - they are really spectacular - on a 'hidden track' at the end of the cd.......

To everyone who helped me pull this one off, my sincere and heartfelt gratitude. This is a big chapter in my history book - I hope you will all enjoy listening to it.

My album 'Figments' is available on my website at www.antonfig.com

Commentary from David Leaf:

"I'm sitting here listening to Anton Fig's wonderful new album, Figments. Why should that be of interest to Brian Wilson fans? Well...besides the fact that the record is filled with great singing, songwriting, & playing...overall, a terrific production...there are two relevant facts...

One---a soulful song called "Hand On My Shoulder," the 2nd track on the CD...co-written by Anton and Blondie Chaplin, features an absolutely vintage lead vocal from Blondie Chaplin (one of three he does on the record). More to the point, you'll hear what I think is a background vocal arrangement written and sung by Brian that is easily the best he's done in recent memory...one of the best he's ever done. It's certainly the most thrilling I've heard in a decade (since his work on "Adios," the Jimmy Webb penned song that Linda Ronstadt recorded).. It is absolutely beautiful...churchlike, classic and exciting.

When Brian's vocals kick in during the bridge, well, what he's done is almost indescribable. I think Anton said that it when all the voices swell together, it sounds like heaven's gates opening. That certainly feels right.

What's especially cool is that as you listen to the track, when you wish you could hear Brian's b.g. vocals without Blondie's lead and the instrumentation, not to worry. Hidden at the end of the CD are Brian's vocals..."stack o vocals" style. For about 90 seconds, you will experience absolute bliss...as somebody who knows music remarked, "It sounds like the beginning of Brian Wilson's mass. Leonard Bernstein wrote one. Why can't Brian?"

Listen to Figments! >>>