Since Team Trump is mounting its defense, I thought we all needed an early cocktail. I know I do. I’m sitting through the whole damn thing, after all.

You’re probably wondering where Frank, Dino, and Sammy are this wintry day. Even Rat Packers need a day off. Besides, how could I resist posting Chloe Sevigny, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Bill Paxton from HBO’s show about fictional Mormon polygamists, Big Love.  If you’ve never seen the show, you’re probably wondering why: God Only Knows was its theme song until they foolishly changed it. Bad producers.

God Only Knows was written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher for the Beach Boys classic 1966 album, Pet Sounds. It’s one of the most beautiful songs ever written. I’ve never heard a bad version of it as you’ll learn as you work your way through this post. Make that drink your way.

We begin at the beginning: the Beach Boys with Carl Wilson on lead vocals.

As a session man, Glenn Campbell played on Pet Sounds. In 1977, he took a stab at God Only Knows.

David Bowie loved God Only Knows so much that he recorded it:

The most unusual version is by Marilyn Scott. She funkified the Wilson-Asher classic:

Dixie Chick Natalie Maines recorded a version for the Big Love series finale:

Here’s the songwriter himself: Brian Wilson live with The Corrs.

Finally, the weirdest version of all. Carl Wilson singing his signature song at a friend’s event in 1992:

That was proof positive that God Only Knows is a foolproof song. It’s a pity that Carl didn’t don a chef’s hat for the occasion.

That’s all for this week. Have an early cocktail and toast the House managers. It’s what Bogie, Betty, and Frank would want. Never argue with them.