That Lucky Old Sun

Brian Wilson | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 2, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Capitol Records
• ASIN: B001BN732I
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (125 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #70,932 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Brand new album from legendary writer, producer, arranger and performer Brian Wilson, produced by Brian and created in the Capitol Records Studios where he first recorded in 1962.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 55 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Genius of Brian Wilson September 3, 2008

By Frank C. Branchini

Format:Audio CD

That Lucky Old Sun is a work of pure genius. This isn't Wilson's best solo work, the honor still goes to Smile, but it is close.

Conceptually (not sonically) it calls to mind Days of Future Passed and John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band. The concept and the mixture of spoken words and music call to mind The Moody Blues' Days of Future Passed.

On Lucky Old Sun, Brian Wilson speaks directly to the listener and shares what is going on in his life just as John Lennon did on songs like Mother. There is a tremendous honesty here. The message is that Brian is back, mentally as well as physically. When he first started touring again he didn't looked very rigid and it was clear he wasn't entirely comfortable. The video in the deluxe package shows Brian smiling, animated, and looking fully engaged. It is miraculous and joyful.

This is a very emotionally powerful work. I was touched by his memories of his brothers:

I had this dream
Singing with my brothers
In harmony, supporting each other
Tail winds, wheels spin, down the pacific coast
Surfin' on the A. M., heard those voice again

and by his description of his own struggles:

At 25 I turned out the light
Cause I couldn't handle the glare in my tired eyes

This is a beautiful release. Very highly recommended. It is worth purchasing the Best Buy version with three bonus tracks including a duet with Carole King on I'm Into Something Good. King co-wrote the Herman's Hermits hit with Gerry Goffin.

The deluxe version contains a DVD with a 19 minute making of feature (I think this is identical to the special broadcast on VH-1 Classic) and two live performances in the studio.... The making of film and the live performances are interesting but probably essential for casual fans. Read more ›

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars 4 1/2 stars-- the modern Brian Wilson album we've been waitiing for. September 3, 2008

By Michael Stack VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

Brian Wilson is a man with a large reputation to live up to-- to be fair, taking the next step for the guy who wrote, arranged and produced arguably the greatest album of his generation (the incomparable Pet Sounds) must have been exceedingly difficult, and with resistance from the band, it took 37 years for its followup, the magnificent SMiLE, to surface. But Wilson's career during that 37 year window was largely hit or miss-- while Beach Boys fans, myself included, will speak lovingly of many of the later Beach Boys records, many of them were true group efforts, and Brian's "comebacks", 15 Big Ones/Love You and his debut solo album Brian Wilson, while endearing and engaging, were uneven and at times felt propped up. In recent years, as his solo career took off, barring the completion of SMiLE, Brian's records have sounded like forced attempts at adult contemporary-- much as I enjoy Imagination and Gettin' in Over My Head, they've felt like someone else's idea of how Brian should grow old.

Enter "That Lucky Old Sun".

My expectations were a bit low, I figured on either a continuation of the adult contemporary sound or a thoroughly retro record. What I got instead is what I'd hope it'd be-- Brian Wilson getting older gracefully. Conceived as a thematic suite, "That Lucky Old Sun" is a meditation of sorts on the life of Brian Wilson in Los Angeles. Like his best records from the old days, it's full of swagger (the superb "Going Home") and melody ("Forever She'll Be My Surfer Girl"), with subtle arrangements and fantastic vocal harmonies. Ably executed by an ensemble largely drawn from Brian's touring band, the album is quite engaging and entertaining and while it feels more mature than, say, "Surfin USA" or "Wouldn't It Be Nice", it doesn't feel forced....

So is this another Pet Sounds)? Not really. There's some many tracks that just didn't engage me at all ("Mexican Girl"). But is it really, really good? Definitely. And certainly, it's got some of the best songwriting that Wilson's done in a long time.

This album is also available in a deluxe CD with bonus DVD edition-- for the few extra bucks, the DVD is worth checking out, it contains an entertaining, brief documentary and a couple live in the studio pieces.

Bottom line is-- "That Lucky Old Sun" is a fun record. It's not the best of the best of Wilson's catalog, but it's a fine followup to SMiLE, about as high praise as I can offer. Read more ›

28 of 31 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure heaven, pure Brian Wilson in great form. a worthy successor to Smile and Pet Sounds August 20, 2008

By J. Niss

Format:Vinyl

This is just fantastic - Brian Wilson is in better form vocally than in many many years (to my ear anyway) - perhaps its that his pronunciation just sounds totally relaxed and unforced. That alone makes this an enormous pleasure to listen to again and again. Now I admit, I'm "programmed" to respond to the sound of that voice with a big smile and feelings of great joy - but it is soooo easy to do so with material as strong as this.

The band is impeccable as always and Brian's music is (not so simply) brilliant (ok , sorry, I'm stating the obvious). The narratives (written by Wilson and Van Dyke Parks) connecting the songs are just perfect and could only have come from the two of them.

To top it off the mastering, engineering and pressing of this first vinyl edition are excellent.

Lucky old me: I'm really in heaven listening to this!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A modern classic. September 3, 2008

By Robert Busko TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

After listening to the album That Lucky Old Sun by Brian Wilson I am reminded of a brighter time and an optimism that filled my world of the 60's and 70's. I am also more of the opinion that Brian Wilson was the heart and soul behind the Beach Boys as we came to know them; a point many believe but some argue with. The naysayer's need to hear this music! Listening to the songs on That Lucky Old Sun is like listening to the Beach Boys of years ago and yet there is something new here; something richer than before. Perhaps the music on this CD reflects a life full of creativity and full of pain. This music just makes you feel good.

One aspect of this CD that I truly like is the short narratives that run less than a minute each. They add an interlude in the flow of the music, though they are musical also.

The additional DVD provides information on the making of the album along with two live performances. A great one-two punch!

I'm hoping that some of these songs get picked up for "air play" on the radio though stylistically this CD is from another era. "Venice Beach", "Forever She'll Be My Surfer Girl," and "Mexican Girl" are my favorites. The short narrative "Cinco de Mayo" is wonderful with the Latin beat. Ah, forget it. The whole CD is a treat.

Recommended without reservation.

Peace forever.