Posted on 08/17/2010 11:07:04 AM PDT by JennysCool
It doesn't carry quite as much of a surprise factor as it might have some years back, before so many pop/rock stars felt the urge to sing standards from the great American Songbook, but the album by the near-legendary Brian Wilson due out on Tuesday certainly commands attention.
A Disney Pearl release, "Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin" -- it could have been called "Gershwin Goes Surfin' " -- puts the iconic leader of the Beach Boys and a great deal of that group's vintage sound into a blender with some of the 20th century's best loved songs. It's very much a time-travel kind of recording; it would have had no trouble soaring to the top of the charts in, say, 1966. "I Got Rhythm," for example, sounds so idiomatically and infectiously Beach Boys that it's hard to believe it's not some long-lost flip side of a single from the old days.
(Excerpt) Read more at weblogs.baltimoresun.com ...
Let us know what you think a la “FReep Review”
I love Brian. He’s a musical genius. I’m in.
Will do!
Not only a genius, but I think one of the most inspiring stories in the history of pop music. Seldom has someone conquered his demons as much as Brian has over the past 25 years or so.
Absolutely.
Brian Wilson doing standards is cool.
I heard him interviewed on Jim Bohanan's radio show last night. I won't judge his musical talent, but he came across to me in that interview as very inarticulate. I never heard him interviewed before and was a little surprised that a guy in his 60s still sounded like a dopey surfer dude. I'd also suspect that the Gershwin thing was contrived by a promoter and not something Wilson came up with on his own.
Gotta get that one.
Please post your review and ping me..thanks..
Many years ago I photographed a gig with Brian and the Beach Boys; he wasn’t a pretty picture.
He did conquer his demons. I wish this man the best and look forward to this album.
not to be unkind, but that’s brain damage.
” Pet Sounds” knocked the Beatles out for awhile. Great album.
“Smile” is superb, too. “That Lucky Old Sun” from a couple of years ago is less so, but has some great stuff on it.
I agree.
Brain *is* inarticulate. Years of drug abuse took its toll. He’s very shy, and although he’s deaf in one ear, he hears music and sounds us mere mortals cannot. I’m certain the album is all his. I recall an interview a few years back from his home in Chicago when he was just starting to work on it.
Agree that “Summertime” is the best track (a great song) but still pales to Linda Ronstadt’s trilogy with Nelson Riddle.
That said, Frank, Nat King Cole and Ella will never be matched. I have CDRs of those 3 burned direct from the master tapes and the sonics are simply spectacular using tubes in the recording chain back in the 50’s and early 60’s.
Brian - not brain.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.