Customer Reviews

Brian Wilson Productions: New Edition

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This is a great CD. I bought it several years ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. However, for a lot less money, you can get the Ace release, "Pet Projects:The Brian Wilson Productions" that has a few MORE songs on it.

Brian Wilson, the mastermind behind the Beach Boys sound. Wilson was often judged by his creative output via the Beach Boys. The triplicate "wall-of-sound" and gorgeous harmonies that make the listener ache.

Wilsons time, however wasn't always spent just on Beach Boys Material. This recent reissued set of Productions documents Wilson's extraciricular activities. The material here isn't of great monumental consequence, with exception of "Guess I'm Dumb" a presecuer of Pet Sounds quilted material, performed superbly by Glen Campbell (who was touring with the Beach Boys;Brian gave this song to him as a "thank-you"), the rest of album is filled with not-so-one-shot wonders and simple songs.

What we see is wilsons development as a producer/arranger; with each passing track we see a glimpse of man with a mission. The Honeys (Brians wife Marilyn, sister Diane and cousin Ginger Blake)are prominently featured, Wilson at the time was trying to make the trio a "girl group" similiar to the Ronettes. It would've worked, if material had been better.
Included is the Survivors "Pamela Jean" (actually the Beach Boys) a extravaganza of spectorish sound, which could've done great as a single but was immediately followed in release by the Beatles "I want to hold your Hand". Of all the luck.
Wilson is not deterred. He holds true to production and effort; I'm saddened that his studio chatter, which is trademark Brian Wilson isn't included as a bonus here. The Honeys version of "Goodnight my Love" is pure pop blush, only by this time (1969) noone was even listening-not even to the Beach Boys.
The album serves how Wilson developed his songwriting, arranging and production; purists say he copied the Phil Spector style, but I have to disagree. Wilson goes much deeper that. We hear a young guy with burning desire to be the best as what we does-creating music. Sure, the materials corny and cliche, but listen to the heart of the performance-and the backing track.

This was originally released as a bonus LP to a superb out-of-print European box set ...