How to ressurect Brian's musical career: Rick Rubin.

[Alex]

How do we know Rubin won't try to make Brian's stuff sound like modern, slick, mainstream hard rock? Isn't mainstream hard rock one of Rubin's calling cards?

Slayer, early Beastie Boys, Johnny Cash's 'American' albums, Neil Diamond... Slick mainstream hard rock?

Red Hot Chili Peppers?

So you're judging Rubin solely on the Chilli Peppers when his resume is far more varied than you're giving him credit for.  Johnny Cash's "American Recordings" are NOTHING  like what you describe.

Add the Dixie Chicks to Rubin's resume too.

I stand corrected. The Chili Peppers just happen to stick out in my mind the most when I think of Rick Rubin. Run DMC, too.

[Sheriff John Stone]

Over the last twenty years or so, Rick Rubin's track record speaks for itself. Over that same time period, unfortunately, so does Brian Wilson's....

don't know why "unfortunately" is in there -

BW88, Imagination, Roxy, BWPS - TLOS (hopefully)
Return to touring, highly acclaimed tours of Pet Sounds, Smile and Lucky Old Sun, hugely successful appearance at Glastonbury.  Not sure just how much people want from the bloke...

You shouldn't have to ask "why" because you went ahead and answered your own question.

I hate to keep using percentages, but who wants another BW88, Imagination, Roxy? You conveniently left out Pet Sounds Live, Getting In Over My Head, and The Christmas album. The answer is a very small number of people. I'm not even sure Brian is proud of some of those efforts? Where is Seymour Stein, Lenny Waronker, Clive Davis and those guys now?

And, now, Brian is going to tour "The Beach Boys' Greatest Hits" because?

The question/point of the thread is/was about Rick Rubin, and I believe that he could help. Simple as that. Nobody's talking about locking Brian up in some room. If you're familiar with Rick Rubin you would know that's not his style. But Brian Wilson NEEDS a producer, and I wouldn't hesitate investing in Rick Rubin. Would Neil Diamond endorse him? Would the late, great Johnny Cash endorse him? Or Tom Petty? Or Flea (Al Jardine's new buddy)?

The point about the term "resurrection" was raised. In 2008, Brian Wilson has a recording contract with who?

[RickD]

The point about the term "resurrection" was raised. In 2008, Brian Wilson has a recording contract with who?

it's Brian Wilson, not Britney Spears!

[Dancing Bear]

Neil Diamond benefited from the hype of working with Rubin, that's how it works. If "12 Songs" had been produced by Joe Nobody in Nashville and sounded exactly the same, no one would have given a damn. Now, realistically. Do you people want Brian to "make it, again"? Hire a super-producer like Rubin, Godrich or O'Rourke. That'll hype the project and make people give it a chance. Or have Brian write and/or sing like in the sixties.

[Sheriff John Stone]

Neil Diamond benefited from the hype of working with Rubin, that's how it works. If "12 Songs" had been produced by Joe Nobody in Nashville and sounded exactly the same, no one would have given a damn. Now, realistically. Do you people want Brian to "make it, again"? Hire a super-producer like Rubin, Godrich or O'Rourke. That'll hype the project and make people give it a chance. Or have Brian write and/or sing like in the sixties.

Please, no more Brian Wilson hype.

But, I think some are underestimating the importance of a producer, especially when it relates to Brian. Haven't we/they learned their lesson yet with BW88, Imagination, and GIOMH?

....oooh dit dit Silent Night dit dit Holy Night dit dit....

[the captain]

But, I think some are underestimating the importance of a producer...

Or underestimating the importance of having an artist with much to say anymore. 

I love TLOS. I'd buy it whether the production were (in order of decreasing quality) classic BW, a quality modern producer (whether of the "classic" type like T-Bone Burnett or Rick Rubin or a more hip, younger name), Jeff Lynne or Gene Landy back from the grave. But the days of major innovation and popularity combined from BW are long gone, and frankly, even (either) one out of two is pretty unlikely.

[Sheriff John Stone]

Luther, I don't disagree with what you wrote. I'm not suggesting that - keeping with the thread topic - collaborating with Rick Rubin WILL GUARANTEE a success. What I am suggesting is that Brian NEEDS a co-producer, and to me, Rick Rubin is as good as anyone around today. And, again, keeping in mind what you wrote, at least it gives Brian a fighting chance. Brian's gonna keep making and releasing music until the day he dies. I just wish the people handling him would learn from the past mistakes (selection of producer), that's all.

[the captain]

Yeah, in keeping with the thread, then, I guess I'd say a very smart marketing campaign to renew interest in his classic material is the way to resurrect his career, with selected tours or shows featuring his complete band doing increasing doubling or replacement vocals to ensure he doesn't embarrass himself. That's how to sell more Brian Wilson product and keep the name out there. And I don't really care one way or the other whether that happens.

[Alex]

I'd still prefer someone who "gets" Brian to help him produce. Darian and/or Scott with Linett engineering would ork for me.

[Smilin Ed H]

You know, a lot of the more striking pieces on the Cash series were covers and the Diamond, to be honest, just isn't in the same league and I can take or leave (okay, mostly don't play).

[Awesoman]

Brian's career is just fine and doesn't need resurrection. Just by saying that it implies that Brian's career is in the tank. Compare him to any of his Rock and Roll contemporaries and honestly tell me Brian is somehow not on the same level. BWPS was more than anyone could ever ask for from the man. Maybe the best thing to resurrect his career would be a T.V. special anthology with the proper CD's that go along with it. That might be better publicity than a new album produced by Rick Rubin, if more interest, sales, and new music from Brian is what you mean by resurrection.

Rick Rubin is not some kind of miracle worker who would resurrect Brian's career. Personally, I like Rick Rubin a lot. Hell, I'm sure I would like the work he would do with Brian very much. However it wouldn't resurrect something that doesn't need resurrection to begin with.

I wouldn't say Brian's career is in the tank, but save for SMiLE, which is a whole other beast in and of itself, he hasn't put out anything noteworthy as a solo artist.  If any producer can bring Brian Wilson's projects attention, Rick Rubin is the man.

Anyone listen to David Gilmour's new album? It's alright, definitely has it's moments. His voice is still great. It wasn't the Rolling Stone record of the year though.
 

It's a pretty good album.  I especially love the title track.  Great backing vocals by Crosby and Nash.  Anyone who loves harmonies should definately check that one out.

[Smilin Ed H]

BW88 may not have been a top ten hit but it got some good reviews in rags as diverse as NME and Rolling Stone and it's still well-thought of by influential BB critics, one of whom shows up here now and then...

[lance]

88 is a decent album, except for the dated production.  The music has that wonderful Wilson weirdness to it behind the sheen. I actually haven't heard the rest of his solo stuff, 'cept for Smile.

[phirnis]

Why not release That Lucky Old Sun as a live performance album? It's obvious that BW today is not so much the brilliant studio wizard he used to be in the sixties, but as far as I'm concerned he's done some fine and very emotional stage performances with his band over the last few years. TLOS was even premiered that way, so why not just put it out? Everybody knows it's not 1966 anymore and I have to say I even like the Smile live DVD more than the BWPS studio album.

[endofposts]

I don't really see stylistic compatibilty between Brian and Rick Rubin.  Brian would be better of not being overproduced, but Rubin is probably too minimalist.  I also agree that it really begins and ends with the material that Brian writes.