Where Can I Find These Vocal Harmonies?

June 23, 2009 12:18 PM

Is it possible to find sheet music for background vocals of a 40 yo cover of a classic tune?

The Beach Boys did a cover of Leadbelly's "Cotton Field's Back Home" in 1969 on their "20/20" album. The single version has more emphasis on background vocal harmonies that I find amazing in both complexity and spirit. I'd actually like to get a group together to sing this and am wondering where I can find the written version of this recording with both lead and background vocals.

posted by goalyeehah to media & arts (2 comments total)

A cursory google search throws up a few books with sheet music for Beach Boys tunes, if you care to look through them for the specific song. I doubt a specific written version exists, but I saw some of the books have SATB arrangements. Still it'd probably be easier to make a transcription of how they sing it - you can still refine once you hear your group sing it...
posted by yoHighness at 3:37 PM on June 23

I agree---this is an esoteric enough request that you'll probably be more satisfied in the end if you transcribe it yourself, or hire someone to transcribe it. Music transcription services aren't tough to find, and are relatively inexpensive. (Not sure how they feel about transcribing material whose copyright you don't own, though...)
posted by aparrish at 8:33 PM on June 23