Is beach boys mike love a true bass voice?

Answer 1

In reality there are just a few notes difference between the range of a bass, baritone and tenor. Mike Love's lower notes certainly have timbre which sounds more 'bassy' than an average person's. In reality his lower notes rarely go lower than the F above bottom C. But that is often because the notes he has to hit to harmonize with the others tend to be around F, G or A. He hits an E on Lady Linda (the 'me' on 'come along with me' and either a D above bottom C or the bottom C itself on 'Steam boat' from the Holland album. The main point is the quality of the sound. The G in 'Good Vibrations' with his vocal chords sounds better when sung by most people of a slightly lighter voice who tend to really struggle to get the note. His bass is also particularly resonant towards the end on "Be true to your School" and the bass notes he gets on "California Calling" from the 1985 album which are probably around the E or F above bottom C but which he comfortably gets.

As Mike sang the lead to a lot of their songs in a mid to high baritone range he probably best fits the descirption, "dark baritone" as true basses are usually quite comfortable singing bottom C (but then would be unlikely to be as comfortable singing Beach Boys' leads!).