Brian Reimagines Gershwin

[Roger Ryan]

I am definitely close to writing a lot more about this album. It has real depths.

How about this, though -- for the first time in over 40 years, a Brian Wilson record has theremin? And not on one song, but on four (?!).

There are layers to this thing. Layers.

...But didn't he use theremin on his cover of "I'm Into Something Good" a couple of years back?

But to anticipate your response, using a theremin on a Gershwin covers album (on four tracks!) sounds pretty cool.

[Don't Back Down]

I think it helps to have some familiarity with Gershwin ahead of time.  The material (save the 2 "new" songs) is already rattling around in my head from the distant past... one instance where it helps to be an old-timer!

This album is better with each listen... can't believe how good "Nothing But Love" is...

Yeah when I first heard about this project last year I jumped into the Gershwin library to hear as much
as I could. I knew a good amount from being a fan of Sinatra, Ella & Louis and learning jazz charts - but I didnt know enough. So I basically
prepared myself more this past year to get familiar with the material.

I agree "Nothing But Love" is fantastic, it's so Brian

[Ron]

...But didn't he use theremin on his cover of "I'm Into Something Good" a couple of years back?

Hmm.  Never noticed that.  There's a little sweet melody in the back just before the chorus, but I always thought that was Carole's voice.  Damn.  Somehow that makes it worse, lol.  I'm going to keep pretending there's no Theremin on it. 

[Wirestone]

Always thought it was a musical saw or something -- that's what makes the theremin-like sound on "Baby Let Your Hair Grow Long" on BW88.

[Ron]

I literally thought it was Carol, just doing a beach boys riff.... 'oooh WEEEE ooooh ooooooo' something tells me I'm inta something good!"

[Mikie]

Instead of Brian (or Carole) singing that falsetto on "I'm Into Something Good" (as in the Herman's Hermit's version) Brian used the theremin for that part. Who knows why. If he couldn't sing it himself, he shoulda had Foskett sing it. It's like something's missing. To me, that high "oooh eeee oooh" vocal part is an intergal part of the song that helps to make it the classic pop tune that it is. The theremin sounds weak on Brian's version, but the rest of it ain't bad.

[Ron]

I think the whole song wasn't taken very seriously... it seems like Carol King just wanted to do some stuff with Brian, and they hung out for a few hours and came out with that, and the sing along other version of "Good Kinda Love".  It's got some more of Brian's crazy fingerprints on it like the bass harmonica and that wild acapellaish part.  I think they were just messing around with no real intent to make a single out of it or anything. 

[gsmile]

I think the whole song wasn't taken very seriously... it seems like Carol King just wanted to do some stuff with Brian, and they hung out for a few hours and came out with that, and the sing along other version of "Good Kinda Love".  It's got some more of Brian's crazy fingerprints on it like the bass harmonica and that wild acapellaish part.  I think they were just messing around with no real intent to make a single out of it or anything. 

Exactly why it's so good!    More low-key rock tunes Brian, please!

[Shady]

It's amazing the album is pre-ordering so well on various sites but in typical Brian Wilson fashion the promotion has been dreadful.

yay.

[rab2591]

Number 5 and rising on Amazon US!

[Shady]

Thank god for word of mouth and postive reviews because that's the only way people are hearing about this album 

[mtaber]

Plus from me blasting it in my car with the windows down...

[gsmile]

While listening to some of the more ballady type songs on BWRG, the tone of Brian's voice reminded me of his singing on "Oh Lord"; that spiritual, gut wrenching cry.  Anyone else hear this?  Since "Oh Lord", there have only been a handful of songs that carry that sort of emotional weight that requires that kind of singing: the tag of the BW88 Melt Away, Cry, Midnight's Another Day...any others we can think of?

[bossaroo]

is that definitely a theremin on "I'm Into Something Good"?
sounds like a slide guitar to me.


I'm all over the iTunes version of BWRG at midnight. hello bonus track!!!

[Shady]

It's out on itunes now.

I sampled "I'm Into Something Good", sounds great

[jeffcdo]

It's amazing the album is pre-ordering so well on various sites but in typical Brian Wilson fashion the promotion has been dreadful.

I disagree this seems like it's been a pretty good promotional push to me.

[bossaroo]

i finally own this album!!! listened to the live stream on Sunday, but now I can really spend some time with it.

"Let's Call The Whole Thing Off" is a great addition, with Taylor dueting.
There is a glaring use of auto-tune I gotta say, at the 1:55 mark. Brian has a Cher moment.

I really don't hear it throughout the record though and I've been listening on headphones.

This album is just such a joyful experience. Brian's voice will always be an obstacle to some, but the sheer joy here is undeniable. The arrangements, harmonies, and instrumentation are brilliant and startling..... and pure Brian.


So Wonderful that Brian is in such a good place and hitting the ball out of the park on a regular basis. He has come full circle in so many ways with this one.

[Andrew G. Doe]

It's out on itunes now.

I sampled "I'm Into Something Good", sounds great

I seriously doubt it - not on the album.

[bossaroo]

i truly love this album...

i had to remove Summertime and Porgy from the running order... i prefer them as bonus tracks along with "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off"

Summertime is one of the most overplayed songs of all-time in my opinion and i just can't get into it.
it's a gorgeous arrangement, but kind a letdown after TLIILY.

Porgy I just can't take very seriously, which is fine... and Brian does a great job singing it.
but honestly it's hard for me to listen to anyone but Nina Simone's version (thanks to Brother John!)

so yeah, skipping straight to "Plenty o'Nuttin" after TLIILY is the way to go.

great vocal on "Ain't Necessarily So" ...haven't heard that little rasp in Brian's voice for awhile.
loving the brazilian feel on S'Wonderful... Brian's first bossa since Busy Doin Nothin!

gotta keep absorbing the rest! oh happy day

[The Heartical Don]

Is 'Here Come De Honey Man' on it? In disguise perhaps?

[The Heartical Don]

Plus from me blasting it in my car with the windows down...

Oh... so that is the weird sound we in Holland heard from over the Atlantic...

[chris.metcalfe]

Is 'Here Come De Honey Man' on it? In disguise perhaps?

 

[Andrew G. Doe]

Is 'Here Come De Honey Man' on it? In disguise perhaps?

Alas, no - probably just as well, for I can think of several old-timers (your truly included) who would have died laughing had that come to pass. 

[The Heartical Don]

Is 'Here Come De Honey Man' on it? In disguise perhaps?

Alas, no - probably just as well, for I can think of several old-timers (your truly included) who would have died laughing had that come to pass. 

  Hi Andrew... your post brought a big, big smile on my face just now...

[matt-zeus]

I like the album generally, Brians singing is enjoyable. I'm not that keen on 'It ain't necessarily so' or 'Our love is here to stay' (reminds me of those terrible Rod Stewart standards albums). The Brian 'trademarks' get a little overdone - clarinets etc (which i'm sure weren't used that much in the 'classic' days), but overall it's okay, thankfully light on the hideous twangy 'surf' guitars which are all over some of his other recent solo work.

Favourites include 'Nothing but love' which is ace and very Brian-ish, I could listen to a whole album of this sort of stuff from Brian easily....also like 'S'wonderful', 'The like in I love you' which has a lovely melody, I also really like 'Someone to watch over me' which though is undoubtedly very 'retro' in that 60s way is a great song and works very well. Not too keen on 'I got rhythm' or anything that tries to pretend it's 1964 (this applies to some more of Brians solo stuff - the best retro sound achieved on Brians stuff was during the Paley sessions which have a rawness and live feel which is pretty thrilling).

To my ears, some of the best Brian songs of recent years would include the aforementioned 'Nothing but love' and 'Message Man' from the TLOS sessions, pop-rock songs that seem to pop out of nowhere without getting too bogged down in being referential or profound, anyway I digress....

Overall, an enjoyable album which I would put up with OCA (my favourite Brian album) in the top tier of BW albums and may come back to more often than not.