The Gershwin sessions - end of part one.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Well, the sessions are done, to reconvene in December post tour, apparently: to extrapolate from the pix posted on Facebook, these were just (just ?!) the basic tracks, the horns & strings being added later. Taking everything into account, my strong impression is that everything went very well, better than anticipated, and that I could be justified in being strongly optimistic as regards the outcome. 

[DonnaK]

Thanks for letting us in Andrew....you are THE MAN!

[Andrew G. Doe]

Not 'letting' anyone 'in' - just my musings based on available info. 

[DonnaK]

Don't be cruel Andrew : }

[Wilsonista]

Three days is a little fast for a record of this magnitude to be finished.

[Wirestone]

Donna -- if you take a look at the twitter from Brian's account thread and Brett Simon's Facebook pics thread, you'll see most of the primary source data. Scott and Probyn have weighed in in Facebook messages -- both saying the sessions were going well -- and the pics from Brett show exactly what AGD was saying -- most of the band (Darian, Nicky, Scott, Mertens, Probyn, Brett and former touring drummer Todd Sucherman) are recording basic tracks. The pics show guitars, bass, vibes and some organ. Mark Linnett is in the booth next to Brian.

In short, it looks like a Brian Wilson studio project from the last 10 years or so. But it's also for an interesting project and occurring in real time. Awesome!

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Sounds intriguing...

[Andrew G. Doe]

And now... Brian goes on tour for six weeks or so. Another triumph of management & scheduling. 

[Wilsonista]

Back in the 70's, it worked for Fleetwood Mac and the eagles.

[Shady]

I'm so excited for all this new material

[Jay]

Back in the 70's, it worked for Fleetwood Mac and the eagles.

But that was the 1970's, when musicians weren't damn near 70.

[DonnaK]

Donna -- if you take a look at the twitter from Brian's account thread and Brett Simon's Facebook pics thread, you'll see most of the primary source data. Scott and Probyn have weighed in in Facebook messages -- both saying the sessions were going well -- and the pics from Brett show exactly what AGD was saying -- most of the band (Darian, Nicky, Scott, Mertens, Probyn, Brett and former touring drummer Todd Sucherman) are recording basic tracks. The pics show guitars, bass, vibes and some organ. Mark Linnett is in the booth next to Brian.

In short, it looks like a Brian Wilson studio project from the last 10 years or so. But it's also for an interesting project and occurring in real time. Awesome!

I saw the photos and comments from Scott and Probe, but didn't want to push the issue by asking them too many questions about the project. I'm glad that they're sharing as much as they do with us. I do smell a Grammy in the future.........................

[Wilsonista]

OK, I'm hopeful that this will be a good record. But man, some of you are actling like Paul Williams and Derek Taylor circa 1966!

[Andrew G. Doe]

OK, I'm hopeful that this will be a good record. But man, some of you are actling like Paul Williams and Derek Taylor circa 1966!

Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...

Yeah.

[Wilsonista]

Exhibit A in the prosecution's argument - the first post in the thread:

"Well, the sessions are done, to reconvene in December post tour, apparently: to extrapolate from the pix posted on Facebook, these were just (just ?!) the basic tracks, the horns & strings being added later. Taking everything into account, my strong impression is that everything went very well, better than anticipated, and that I could be justified in being strongly optimistic as regards the outcome.  "

[Wirestone]

Happy hugs and smiles all round, okay? Whee.

I just think it's neat to know about something like this as it's happening.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

OK, I'm hopeful that this will be a good record. But man, some of you are actling like Paul Williams and Derek Taylor circa 1966!

When the people who are the most enthused about it are usually the most skeptical of us, that's a very good sign.

I'm...cautiously optimistic. I'm getting good vibes.

[Mr. Cohen]

I was going to write a mocking Derek Taylor style piece for the Gershwin sessions, but I came across this while I was looking for copies of his press releases and decided it was more worthwhile than anything I'd write.

This statement from Brian Wilson was read at Derek Taylor’s funeral:

September 8, 1997

"I just heard the news that we've all lost a great friend of music, Derek Taylor."

"When I first met Derek in 1966, I was immediately impressed by his great mind and his fantastic wit. I just knew that I had to convince him to come work his magic for us. And he did. Derek Taylor had as much to do with the success of "Pet Sounds" and "Good Vibrations" in England as anybody, including me, and for that alone, I'm forever indebted. But besides all the great publicity he created for our music, during the time we worked together, we had so much fun, so many laughs, munched so many great hamburgers together. And despite what he wrote about me, it was Derek Taylor who was the genius. HE was a genius writer. He had an unerring instinct about what was important, about what people would want to know and a stylish way of saying it that was as classy as the man himself."

"Derek was the one who came up with the term "pocket symphony" to describe "Good Vibrations." He encapsulated the record perfectly! I admired the way he could express things."

"We've lost many great people in recent days so I hope his death isn't overlooked. He was a jovial type person, a happy person. I know I'll never forget him."

Brian Wilson

[Aegir]

That was the best prose Brian's ever written. Brought a tear to my eye.

[TdHabib]

And now... Brian goes on tour for six weeks or so. Another triumph of management & scheduling. 

It actually might have a decent effect on him---he might get lots of ideas on the project while on the road. Just a thought.

[Andrew G. Doe]

OK, I'm hopeful that this will be a good record. But man, some of you are actling like Paul Williams and Derek Taylor circa 1966!

When the people who are the most enthused about it are usually the most skeptical of us, that's a very good sign.

I'm...cautiously optimistic. I'm getting good vibes.

Someone giving you excites ?   

[Andrew G. Doe]

That was the best prose Brian's ever written. Brought a tear to my eye.

Ummmmmmmmmmm... you know what I'm going to say, don't you ? 

[doc smiley]

I look at it this way...

Brian and the crew spend the next 6 weeks on the road....
so what do they do in their spare time?
I picture Darian and Brian and company  listening to  Darian's laptop and getting ideas and making notes...

then Brian has a burger    (just kidding)

I've read people complain on how fast this may be put together.. well this tour I think will help when it comes
to the overall result.

fingers crossed  

[Aegir]

That was the best prose Brian's ever written. Brought a tear to my eye.

Ummmmmmmmmmm... you know what I'm going to say, don't you ? 

Either
A) I belong on the Blueboard
or
B) It was actually written by Todd Gold or Melinda or David Leaf

[Mr. Cohen]

No, you don't belong on the Blueboard. Hey, did you know that Brian actually wrote and arranged all of TLOS, and that he only gave Bennett 1/2 of the credit because Bennett's condo was about to get taken away? It's better than anything he released since Pet Sounds!