Customer Reviews

Pet Projects: The Brian Wilson Productions

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There have been various collection of Brian Wilson's non-Beach Boys productions over the years. Many were homemade boots of poor sound quality or expensive imports. This is the best compiled CD I have found, great song selection, well thought-out liner notes and excellent sound quality. My gripe - why werent any of these monster hits back in the 60's?? Songs like the brilliant "Guess Im Dumb", and "The One You Cant Have" should be played on Oldies stations nationwide today!

This CD features most of the non-Beach Boys records that Brian Wilson produced back in the '60s and '70s. The most notable omission is "The Surfer Moon" by Bob & Sheri. None of the songs here were hits and, in fact, Brian never produced a hit record for anyone other than The Beach Boys. Was it that Brian saved his best material for The Beach Boys, or was it that the other artists he worked with weren't that talented? Probably a combination of the two (although no one would say that Glen Campbell was untalented). Truthfully, the songs here just aren't as good as The Beach Boys best material. There are a few minor gems here, but for the most part, the songs are pretty forgettable. This is a well put together package that will appeal to Brian Wilson fanatics, but most other people probably won't like it very much.

There's no doubt Brian Wilson is a genius. And whatever you think of the rest of the Beach Boys, one can't deny their seraphic vocal talent. Who said genius was part inspiration and part persperation? I think it's clear after having heard this collection that Brian's persperation ("I'm not a genius; I'm just a hard-working guy") required divine inspiration and the Boys provided that aplenty. His work with other artists is more labor than mastery. With the exception of a single with Glen Campbell and a handful of songs with his wife and sister in-law (with both of whom he claimed to be in love; inspiration indeed!) there isn't much to inspire the listener. It's an interesting collection and a necessary one, if for no other reason than to give the Beach Boys and the work Brian did with them their proper due. One would be better served finding Spring's album or Brian's solo albums for better examples of his genius outside the Beach Boys.

Brian Wilson produced or co-produced all the Beach Boys albums in all but name up until the Smile debacle and developed over the years into a skilled master producer who could match in his own unique style his contemporary influences and rivals Phil Spector and George Martin. The recording studio became his comfort zone, where he could intuitively use his extremely sensitive musical ear to best advantage, and he found production therapeutic. As well as turning out a couple of albums per year for the Beach Boys he frequently used Gold Star, Western Recorders, Capitol Towers, Columbia and other favourite Los Angeles studios to record other acts and try out songs and ideas. For example, the song Thinkin' 'Bout You Baby, that he produced for Sharon Marie in 1963, four years later later mutated into the Beach Boys hit Darlin'; and The Survivors' instrumental B-side After The Game pre-figured some of the sounds used on Pet Sounds.

Fourteen singles that he produced have been selected for Pet Projects, along with eight of their B-sides and one other stray B-side (Vegetables). Some of these are by Brian's co-songwriting buddy Gary Usher, and the pair sing back-up on some of the others. Several more are by the girl group the Honeys, featuring Marilyn Rovell, who became Brian's wife. The girl group sound gave Brian the opportunity to try out his version of Spector's Wall Of Sound, using many players from the same top session crew that Spector used, though his results could be mixed. He also produced Marilyn and her sister Diane when they became Spring in 1971. Nothing of that enterprise makes it onto Pet Projects but both sides of the single they made as American Spring in 1973 are included.

He also helped out other surf/hot rod acts such as Jan and Dean (although Brian neither surfed or hot-rodded, they were favourite songwriting topics, along with high school and, naturally, girls), helping arrange and produce their number one hit Surf City (unfortunately this and other collaborations such as Drag City are missing from Pet Projects). Dean of Jan and Dean recorded a cover of the Smiley Smile (+5 Bonus Tracks) (Remaster track Vegetables in 1967, with Brian, Marilyn and Diane helping out on vocals, and this came out on the White Whale label credited to Laughing Gravy (the name of Laurel and Hardy's dog in The Chimp). Although this is listed as having been included on the album, the version that actually plays is the 1972 Jan and Dean re-make on United Artists that was on the flipside of Jenny Lee, though it does have Brian Wilson on backing vocals.

Ultimately, and unsurprisingly, Brian Wilson's most accomplished work was with and for the Beach Boys, but these outside interests are a fascinating sideline, fully reflected on this collection despite some curious omissions, and also of historical value since they no doubt helped in developing and enhancing the skills that he employed on masterpieces such as Pet Sounds.

This CD is great for a Beach Boys/Brian Wilson fan. I love the Beach Boys and own most of the reissue double cds. Anyway, the only complaint i have is that it sounds like the very beginning of "Pamela Jean" (the main reason i wanted the cd) is cut off. maybe it's just my copy or maybe it's supposed to be that way, but i don't like it. besides the beginning being cut off, the song is great. as is may of the other songs on this disc.

These songs go way back to when a catchy hook could have you humming to yourself all day long. You can hear the Phil Spector influence upon Brian in many of these tunes. It seems Brian found his own "Ronettes" in "The Honeys".... even marrying one, just like Uncle Phil. Definitely worth adding to any collection.

It pains me sometimes to think that most people will never hear the lovely, heart-wrenching Thinkin' Bout You Baby, the sentimental After the Game, the danceable Revolution and so much more. The songs on the CD are on par or even better than some of the acclaimed big hits of the day yet were never appreciated. This CD can be treasured not only by Brian Wilson fans but by fans of an era when music sounded crystal clear, honest and beautiful. Its a shame that it took so long for these artistes to get their dues. Like Big Star's Thirteen and Holocaust, these songs will remind you of how great music truly is ageless.

Of course these are all songs produced by Brian Wilson mostly
in the early 60's but Phil Spector's influence is all over.
Brian has his own "Crystals or Ronettes" represented by the
Honeys who recorded many songs but never entered the top 100
according to Billboard.
However there are real Brian Wilson songs as well like the
long sought for "She Rides With Me, Number One, Fallin' in Love
-a beautiful song written by his brother Dennis- Pamela Jean".
I certainly would have given this 5 stars but to my opinion
there are too many songs by the Honeys and others- as mentioned
before- sound like Phil Spector copies. I understand why
Brian once tought he was goin' crazy thinking Phil was trying
to kill him. He luckily went to create his own genuine style
from 1965 on and became one of world's best composers eversince.
I was real glad to finally attend his show last year in July
near Madrid (2005).

Brian Wilsons career has been erratic to say the least, but he is no doubt one of the greatest songwriters and producers of all time.

On this disc there are songs which could have easily been early beach boys tracks, in the vein of "Wendy" and "Surfin' Safari" etc. and also songs which are just interpretations of actual beach boys songs. But the best tracks are the ones which sound like they were done around the time of Pet Sounds/Summer Days & Summer Nights: Shyin' Away by American Springs, and Guess I'm Dumb by Glen Campbell. These are true classics to rank alongside Brian's best work.