Q: Why Did You Decide To Cover The Songs You Did On Diamonds On the Beach?
A: Actually, I covered more than made it on to this first volume. The songs I wanted to do were songs not generally known by the public-at-large, and I always thought of them as 'diamonds in the rough'. Hence, the play on words: Diamonds On The Beach.
After a while, it became apparent that I needed to include some of the more well-known songs. Still, more than not, the songs represented on this volume are songs that the man or woman on the street probably would not recognize. So, in a sense, it's new material to them.
I enjoy the harmonies on "Our Prayer", and I've always wanted to cover "I'm Waiting For The Day". There are close to 28 songs "in the can", some of which I will re-do. "Heaven", for example. I guess the answer is a selfish one. I did them because I like them. :-)
Q: I noticed that while you stay very close to the original versions of some songs (like Marcella), there are other songs that sound quite different (Wild Honey, for example). Why did you decide to interpret some songs more differently than others?
A: There was really no concious decision, per se, to change or keep intact, any of the songs. Some just felt natural to interpret a little and some felt right keeping pretty much the same as the original as the same. I think the intro to "Wild Honey" sounds like Saturday Night Live. Tim Gordon is the horn player (he also plays with The Temptations and The Four Tops) and whatever he plays sounds good to me. Also, with Misha Wade and I both singing background vocals on this tune, it gave it a little more R&B flavor.
I added the horn section to "Susie Cincinatti" (and raised it a half a key), because I saw the BBs do it that way once on "The Midnight Special". Always liked that.
Q: Now that it's out, is there anything you would change about the album?
A: Sure; but i didn't have unlimited time or money. My first wish would be to produce it with automated mixing; much more attention to detail. For example, on "God Only Knows" the voice on the intro is too loud. It was supposed to be much softer, and the French Horn was to be predominant. Lots of little things.
Q: Why did you cover so many songs from the 80s and 90s work of the band? Was there something special about these songs?
A: I did the 80's and 90's songs mostly because they constitute a major portion of the BBs catalog that has not been exposed that much. I fell in love with 'Lay Down Burden"s harmonies the first time I heard it. Same with Alaina Aloha. Carl's voice is so graceful on the "You know I love you but.....". The "Somewhere Near Japan" was done with the video that the guys did for it in mind. The tendancy to sound like the different members was indeed intentional, but also seems natural to me. I've always dug Al's voice.