Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin

Brian Wilson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 17, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Disney Pearl Series
• ASIN: B002RWKSII
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (138 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,801 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Like in I Love You' is a stunning love song to love and music themselves -- `the muse in music' as Wilson sings. `Nothing But Love' is similarly a gorgeous musical expression about the timelessness and power of love itself." -- David Wild

Product Description

WILSON BRIAN REIMAGINES GERSHWIN

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

85 of 92 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Remarkable - Everyone should own a copy August 17, 2010

By P. Kennedy

Format:Audio CD

I would have to say this album is Brian Wilson's Nice 'n' Easy. It feels uncannily smooth and cool, like a perfect summer evening - and for all my wondering whether the blending of Wilson's California style of sunshine pop and Gershwin's Tin Pan Alley east coast sensibilities would prove an uneasy marriage melted away. It's been well documented that Brian has been a long time fan of Gershwin's "Rhapsody In Blue" and how he wanted one day to do a vocal-only version of the concert staple, and here, bucket-list-like, Brian bows into the album with the fulfillment of that wish. Brian's love of these melodies, and hit suitability to them is a happy shock - although it shouldn't be - Gershwin-style songs fill Brian's oeuvre, although you'd have to be familiar with their respective canons to realize it: the soaring melodicism and melancholy of "Summertime" is echoed in the wistfulness of "Caroline, No"; the cheeky socio-double-entendres present in "I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'" is taken to its modern-day extreme in Brian's "Busy Doin' Nothin'"; and the resilient note found in "They Can't Take That Away From Me" can be found in "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times." But this album succeeds in more than sympathetic compatablility - Brian sounds completely immersed in these songs - he's never sounded this invested in his singing - not even in his earliest recordings - he interprets these songs in what sounds like deeply personal ways, alternately sly, wistful, and smiling - from the silky Bacharach-flavored bossa-nova found on "S' Wonderful" to the call-and-response party of "They Can't Take That Away From Me" to the Beach Boys bass-line groove found on "I Got Rhythm" - this album is absolutely wall-to-wall fantastic. As for the two Wilson/Gershin "collaborations" - "The Like In I Love You" and "Nothing But Love" - although they're not on par with the classic songs that surround them, they're wonderfully realized, and it's impossible to tell where Gershwin's contributions end and Brian's begin. For those who've witnessed the blossoming of Brian's soul since the completion of SMiLE, open your ears again - Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin is one of his all-time best.

44 of 50 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Who's Brian Gershwin? August 18, 2010

By Michael Neiss

Format:Audio CD

A sobering and unexpected question from a co-worker when I mentioned the imminent release of this titanic pairing of recognized masters - hoping against hope that the potential downside and inflated expectations of "reimagining" such a well known and respected canon of Gershwin classics would be avoided. Well, generational amnesia not withstanding, Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin is a really good (almost great) recording that builds-out on the strengths of Wilson's nonpareil gifts as an arranger and producer while deftly compensating for his understandably diminished vocal capacity.

Wilson's Gershwin is a beautiful, fully realized soundscape that deserves uninterrupted and repeated listening. What Wilson summons is an America before surfboards and Elvis when music was the province of melody, nuance and a full spectrum of emotions beyond anger. This is a gorgeous (and wonderfully flawed) record that may get a Grammy nod on sentimentality alone - but just might deserve it even if you have never heard of Brian Wilson or the Gershwin brothers.

Highly recommended.

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing arrangements and exquisite harmonies ...this album just blew me away! August 19, 2010

By Paul Tognetti TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Just got my pre-ordered copy of "Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin" in the mail. This is a release I have been looking forward to with great anticipation. I figured that given the significance of this undertaking and the potential criticism that it might induce the album was either going to fall flat on its face or be simply sensational. I spent the better part of last evening listening to this disc and I am very pleased to report that Brian Wilson has done it again. "Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin" succeeds on just about every level. It is an album that is at once extremely interesting to listen to and highly enjoyable as well.

Critics are already touting "Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin" as one of the year's best releases. I couldn't agree more. New York Magazine says "Wilson has created gorgeous and unexpected arrangements that strip away decades of familiarity." Although this disc is relatively short by today's standards (about 40 minutes) there are several highlights worth mentioning. "Summertime" is one of the greatest tunes ever penned and Brian Wilson does Gershwin proud and makes this venerable favorite all his own. I was particularly taken by Wilson's instrumental version of "I Got Plenty O' Nothing". This one will get your toes tappin' lickety split. Meanwhile, experience Brian's take on other Gershwin favorites like "It Ain't Necessarily So", "I Got Rhythm" and "I've Got A Crush On You". Outstanding! And sample Brian Wilson's fine arrangement of "Someone To Watch Over Me". As far as I am concerned that one ranks right near the top of the list of tunes in the Great American Songbook. Now what makes this project so unique is that with the permission of the Gershwin family Brian Wilson was able to complete two unfinished Gershwin tunes. The results were simply sensational. Check out "The Like In I Love You" and "Nothing But Love" and see if you agree.

Over the years I have always been a sucker for great harmony and "Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin" certainly does not disappoint. This is an outstanding recording and if the initial reviews on Amazon and in other media are any indication Brian Wilson just might have a major hit on his hands. He certainly deserves it. This was an extremely well thought out and flawlessly executed project. Very highly recommended!