Our Prayer
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"Our Prayer" is a song written by Brian Wilson for the American pop band The Beach Boys. It was released on their 1969 album 20/20 and was produced by The Beach Boys. The main vocals were recorded on October 4, 1966 with the additional vocals being recorded at Capitol Records Studios in Fall, 1968. The song was originally supposed to be the opening track on the never released SMiLE album. As Peter Reum explains "Brian intended for 'Our Prayer' to be the opening track, a spiritual invocation, for Smile."
Brian once said, "I was sitting at my piano thinkin' about holy music. I poked around for some simple but moving chords. Later I sat down and wrote 'Our Prayer' in sections. The boys were overtaken by the arrangement. I taught it to them in sections, the way I usually do. The purity of the blending of the voices made the listeners feel spiritual. I was definitely into rock church music."
An All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson (2001) began with this song. The Boys Choir of Harlem had performed "Our Prayer" at a live Radio City Music Hall concert on July 4, 2001.
The song was re-recorded and released on Brian Wilson's 2004 solo release of SMiLE although obviously without the other Beach Boys members.
