Brian says Beach Boys reunion album sounds "mellow".

[Roger Ryan]

I would also add that the co-production of THE WILSONS' version of "Til I Die" is somehow just right even as it leans towards trip-hop aspirations popular at the time. "Everything I Need", however, is an AC mess.

A simpler co-production like "Joy To The World" made it out fairly unscathed, so there is hope. I guess there's a possibility that Brian would exert a bigger influence since he has been a lot busier in modern recording studios over the past eight years than he was in the eight years prior to STARS & STRIPES and IMAGINATION. Again, it might be dependent on who the musicians are.

[Autotune]

Does anybody know what the other members of Brian’s band, especially Foskett, have said about Thomas and “Imagination?” I would wonder as well if Foskett could help Brian and help this new project from veering away from something relatively Brian/BB-sounding. Could he tell Brian “Hey Brian, this is starting to sound like elevator music?”

Back in the day Jeff praised Thomas for having Brian sing falsetto. He was right, I think.
As much as I would like a full BW production, I don't see why a new Thomas co-production should sound exactly like the only stuff that we of him, which was recorded over 10-15 years ago under totally different circumstances.

[Jim V.]

This is kinda off the Joe Thomas/Jeff Foskett discussion, but I hope that if Brian is revisiting older material for this album, he revisits these:

• "Love Ya" or "Sweetie: Catchy little rocker in either variation. I don't think Brian has many convincing latter day rockers, but these are great.
• "You're Still a Mystery": I think if they re-record Brian's lead, this could really work. A nice mature work, something BB fans would like to hear from a group at 50 years along.
• "Dancing the Night Away": A good surf type beat, some great Carl vocals, I think this one should be a shoo-in.
• "Water Builds Up": Catchy little ditty. Yes, the verse melody has already been used, but so what. I know Brian likes it, and if there is a dearth of new material, why not use this?

I personally hope he doesn't dive into an Landy-era material besides "Love Ya" and "Water Builds Up", cuz I don't think there is much left that I've heard from that era that is very special. The songs used on GIOMH weren't very special, and I don't know why "The Spirit of Rock & Roll" was recorded for Songs From Here & Back. That song has never been good. Whether is has bad '80's production or the bootleg Pet Sounds/Wondermints vibe.

And I don't really think that any of the Paley-era stuff besides "You're Still a Mystery" and "Dancing the Night Away" should be used. I always thought a lot of those songs were overrated. Like how people were so disappointed with Imagination compared to those songs? I don't think Imagination is a work of genius or anything, but I don't think much from the Paley sessions was even as good as that album, and I'm not sure that those songs would have made a great Beach Boys songs.

And as far as things like "Where is She?", the demo of "California Feelin'", and "(Wouldn't It Be Nice) To Live Again" from the '60s and '70s, I hope those songs get released, but hopefully not with latter day overdubs.

[GuyOnTheBeach]

If older material was going to be revisited, I'd like to hear "It's Not Easy Being Me", they would probably change the lyrics though, I think they would be considered too personal by Brian or someone to be officially released like that.

[Andrew G. Doe]

...if there is a dearth of new material...

You know something the rest of us don't ?

[SloopJohnB]

...if there is a dearth of new material...

You know something the rest of us don't ?

I'm reading "if", not "since".

[stack-o-tracks]

...if there is a dearth of new material...

You know something the rest of us don't ?

I'm reading "if", not "since".

That's what I'm getting as well. Hmmm. Anybody else?

[Wirestone]

It was stated in one of Brian's interviews earlier this year that Brian was re-recording some unreleased material for a solo album project. So it's not out of bounds to speculate that some of these songs might be considered.

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110727/entlife/707279991/

When Brian Wilson arrives in St. Charles this weekend for a Saturday show at the Arcada, it will be something of a homecoming for the former Beach Boy, who recorded his 1998 album “Imagination” in a house just a few miles from where he'll be playing.

But what really should have his Illinois fans excited is the fact the legendary songwriter liked recording here so much, he plans to do it again.

“One, I'm definitely looking forward to the concert,” he told the Daily Herald in a recent phone interview from sunny California. “And, two, I'm looking forward to recording in a studio there for a couple days. It's going to be some new songs for an upcoming album.”

Wilson isn't known for elaborating in interviews (hey, back off; he's said volumes through music) — and he didn't divulge much this time either. But manager Jean Sievers said the local project has Wilson digging back into his past, perhaps way back, for unfinished gems.

“Some of them are songs he had back from when he was living in St. Charles, before the ‘Imagination' album,” she said. “Some might have been written for the Beach Boys years and years ago.”

Sievers said the tunes likely will be featured on a forthcoming solo album, sometime after Wilson releases a collection of “Brian-ized” Disney classics tentatively due out late this year.

[Wirestone]

Another article from the same paper, with more from Joe -- so this all appears to be the same project, solo or BB.

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110719/news/707199985/

Wilson, a California native, had no connection to Illinois when he and his wife, Melinda, bought the St. Charles house in 1997 for $1.4 million.

During an interview with the Daily Herald last week, Wilson said he moved here because he wanted to work with Thomas. Their wives also were friends.

Thomas couldn't go to California. His River North Recorders business in Chicago — also a place rich in music history — had just gone public and his wife was expecting their fifth child. So the friends decided to buy houses next door to each other in St. Charles so they could make the album. Thomas still lives in the house he bought.

...

Thomas said St. Charles is a perfect environment for someone with a music career and a family, because it has great schools and laid-back fans who don't hound him or other celebrities when they're out and about.

“Everyone we've worked with thinks this is one of the nicest places to live, and they could live anywhere in the world,” said Thomas, who has worked with many famous musicians, including Jimmy Buffett, Stevie Nicks, Toby Keith, Bon Jovi and Dave Matthews.

He also produced many of their DVDs at his St. Charles warehouse and studio, HD Ready, and also produces “Soundstage” on WTTW-Channel 11.

Wilson's St. Charles years weren't without strife. Wilson and Thomas ended up filing nasty lawsuits against each other in 1999 over the “Imagination” album, and settled them out of court a year later. Details of the settlement were not disclosed, Rolling Stone magazine reported.

Wilson and Thomas have since mended fences and resumed their close friendship and working relationship, Thomas said.

“Brian's one of those guys who can just walk over to your house, open the refrigerator, and make himself a sandwich,” Thomas said.

Wilson might be doing just that, because he plans to stay with his former neighbor when he's in town for a greatest hits show Saturday, July 30, at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles.

Thomas wouldn't reveal details during an interview last week, but don't be surprised if Wilson stays in St. Charles and writes some new songs while he's here.

[Jim V.]

...if there is a dearth of new material...

You know something the rest of us don't ?

I thought I said "if". But maybe it read as "since" to you Mr. Doe. If so, my apologies.

And since you sir, are a stickler for having the correct things listed on your site, I figured I'd give you a hand. On the "unreleased songs" page, you can now take off "Child Is Father Of The Man", "Don't Fight the Sea", "Friday Night", "I Ran/Look", "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow", "The Old Master Painter", and "You Are My Sunshine".

And on the 1973 sessions/gigs page, you have a session for "Baby I Need Your Lovin'"/"I'm A Man", but I'm pretty sure the session was for "Baby I Need Your Lovin'"/"Gimme Some Lovin'", and took place in 1972. And also the November 14, 1967 session should be updated to also included "Surf's Up", along with "Country Air".

No hard feelings though Andrew, just wanna help you keep your page right, don't want the fans getting the wrong information.

[runnersdialzero]

Even though the original version has been released already, "Still I Dream Of It" deserves a fresh recording and a wider audience. imo. The original is really nice, don't get me wrong.

[c-man]

Even though the original version has been released already, "Still I Dream Of It" deserves a fresh recording and a wider audience. imo. The original is really nice, don't get me wrong.

Maybe...provided Joe Thomas doesn't decide that the lyrics need to be rewritten to appeal to a wider general audience, which is what Gary Usher did in a misguided effort that resulted in the song being changed to "Still I Dream Of You".  I'm afraid under Mr. Thomas' oversight, the "Time for supper now" lyric just wouldn't cut it.  And that would destroy the whole ingregity of the song!

[Mr. Wilson]

ooh.!!.. i dont have// heard still i dream of you..Wish all my stuff  wasnt in storage..I have the 2 Wilson project books + i dont remember that song being mentioned..

[Austin]

Even though the original version has been released already, "Still I Dream Of It" deserves a fresh recording and a wider audience. imo. The original is really nice, don't get me wrong.

I'll second that. I always thought the Adult/Child version sounded too...smooth, I guess. That piano demo might be lo-fi, but I find it much more emotive.

[runnersdialzero]

Is "Still I Dream Of You" out there? Haven't heard it/seen lyrics for it.

[Shady]

Even though the original version has been released already, "Still I Dream Of It" deserves a fresh recording and a wider audience. imo. The original is really nice, don't get me wrong.

That would be a brilliant addition to a new album

wow, great idea

[harrisonjon]

But part of the charm of that track is Brian's 4-packs-a-day voice, which is far lower pitched than he could reproduce today. He sounds like Jack Rieley on it.

[runnersdialzero]

But part of the charm of that track is Brian's 4-packs-a-day voice, which is far lower pitched than he could reproduce today. He sounds like Jack Rieley on it.

Troof, to some extent. Back then, it was Brian writing a really good song and just singing how he wanted to sing. Nowadays, I worry that it'd be his handlers coaching him into trying to sound important.

[b00ts]

In the aftermath of The Smile Sessions, this new Beach Boys album is exciting. It could be the career-capping album that we have all been waiting for several decades to hear. It also could be lackluster.. and it could simply end up as a Brian Wilson album. Here's hoping we get something good and "rock and roll" from the project.

And yes, "You're Still a Mystery" is one of the best Beach Boys tunes I have heard - but if the lyrics are about who I think they are about, it might explain why YSAM didnt make it onto GIOMH in 2004 and won't be making it onto this album...

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Who do you think it's about?

[runnersdialzero]

Who do you think it's about?

Gay relationship with Rocky Pamlin in 1976 because who the f*** willingly chooses to call themselves "Rocky".

[onkster]

OK, Brian and company, I'm throwing you a curve-ball challenge: please work up a nice vocal arrangement and give us a killer cover of Neil Young's "Flying on the Ground is Wrong". It'd make a great BBs record.

Really.

[Aegir]

I could hear that with Spector drums very easily...

[Ron]

Brian's unreleased stuff is just so hit and miss, man.  Like for instance, the 'released' version of "Spirit of Rock and Roll" is god awful.  It's somehow worse than the cheesy unreleased Sweet Insanity one.  It's so bad I can't listen to it, and THAT is saying something.  I'll listen to anything.  At the end when it turns acapella, it's alright. 

"Saturday Morning in the City" however, I thought he did a pretty good job with.  The part where he sings falsetto about the boys and girls is really fun and cool, the whole song works even though it's so strange. 


Still, i'm a glutton for punishment, so I WOULD like to see him finish and redo "Water builds up".  That's a great song, but to me it sounds either unfinished or wrong the way the unreleased version is.  I think if he reworked it a little bit it would be pretty cool.  Or it might be horrible.  I guess we'll probably find out one of these days.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Brian's unreleased stuff is just so hit and miss, man. 

Also the released material.