Hey Jeremy, thank you for the GID session information/link!
I wish I could upload (legally) Glen's instrumental track that was released on The Beach Boys' "Made in California" box set for you and other fans to listen to. (It may be on YT by now.)
Thanks for the changes, and I hope I didn't come across as simply an insulted fan.
From the original research (multiple sources, can source later) I had done a few years ago about Brian, Glen, and "Guess I'm Dumb", this is the essence of what apparently occurred:
The Boys had refused to record the vocals to "Guess I'm Dumb". They disliked the song for all its "dumb" references/working title/title. (Your Keith Badman alluded to their refusal/dislike when he used the word "declined" in his book.)
The group well knew they were America's answer to The Beatles. They weren't about to record a song with the title/lyrics Guess I'm
Dumb.
Their refusal to record it only added more fuel to building tension in the group. In Ken Burke's book (sourced below), he writes that "occasionally, the hired hand (Glen Campbell) would be placed in the middle of the power struggles between (Brian) Wilson and Mike Love, as was the case with the session for 'Guess I'm Dumb.'"
So, here's Brian with a song he loved (the stirring of Pet Sounds), one he had invested in artistically and financially (studio time, session musicians), and his group "declines" to record it.
In Glen Campbell's words in a book written by Ken Burke in 2004: "Well, I played on the track ('Guess I'm Dumb') for Brian and the Beach Boys, and the guys didn't want to do it. They didn't want to do 'Guess I'm Dumb'", Campbell exclaims, astonished. "So Brian says, 'Glen you want to sing it?' I said, 'Sure I do.' Because I kind of liked it. It was a great track and the guys already had some background on it." (Burke, Ken [2004]. Country Music Changed My Life: Tales of Tough Times and Triumph from Country's Legends. Chicago, Ill.: Chicago Review Press. p. 34.)
Does Glen's explanation mention anything about "a gift"? "a reward"? "a token of appreciation"? No.
Had Brian written this song for Glen Campbell, a session musician, in 1964? No.
Based on Glen's explanation, I can't support the erroneous information about a "gift", "present", "reward", "token", etc. that permeates the web.
Glen would have been dumb to refuse an opportunity to record the band-rejected song. He recognized the genius of Brian Wilson long before many others in the music business recognized it.
He (and probably Brian) foresaw Glen's recording of Guess I'm Dumb as a springboard (not a jump start since Glen had already had some charting success prior to June 1965) for his solo career.
Brian produced the record--and has presumably made $ on it.
Brian and the song's co-writer received and are still receiving royalties on the song.
Glen (imo) gave Brian a gift, one that is still paying Brian dividends.
After Glen passed away, Brian Wilson was asked in a print interview about Glen's contributions to the BBs.
(I can't find this article but will source it when I locate it.)
If I remember correctly, Brian did not acknowledge Glen's subbing for him in late 1964 and part of 1965.
Instead, he recalled that Glen had recorded one of his songs (
Guess I'm Dumb).
Isn't it interesting that it is Glen's recording of GID that has long remained "gentle on (Brian Wilson's) mind"?
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