The Smiley Smile Message Board

http://www.latimes.com/entertainmen...0,2518188.story

!!!

It seems the server's down, but to paraphrase the article, it looks like the Gershwin estate has authorised Brian to finish some of the incomplete fragments Gershwin left when he died. It's unclear whether Brian will working towards a whole album of these Gershwin 'collaborations' or just do a couple for a Gershwin tribute album, and other artists will do the same. My guess is the latter, but a whole Brian/Gershwin album could be fantastic.

http://www.brianwilson.com/news/press.html (http://www.brianwilson.com/news/press.html)

BRIAN WILSON SIGNS WITH WALT DISNEY RECORDS

BEACH BOYS CO-FOUNDER TO RECORD TWO ALBUMS, INCLUDING COVERS OF GEORGE AND IRA GERSHWIN CLASSICS

WILSON TO CRAFT COLLABORATIVE COMPOSITIONS FROM PREVIOUSLY UNPUBLISHED MUSIC FROM GEORGE GERSHWIN

[...]

He will follow that with an album of classic Disney songs, which the artist promises to “Brian-ize” with his trademark vocal stacks and unique arrangements. Release dates for each album have yet to be determined.

I have but one request and I will die a happy man.

"April Showers".  ;D

What about "Pink Elephants on Parade"? :-D

If this were true... wowee! Words fail me... but tears do not.

I'm also have trouble figuring if they mean a whole abum or just Brian finishing a couple.  But then he signed for a 2 album deal.  that second one...um...i'll wait and see on the disney one. but i loove me some disney.

I'm looking forward to these, initially I thought 'hmmm' but then I realised if I had to hear covers rather than original material i'd rather hear Gershwin and Disney songs as covers by Brian rather than hear 'Proud Mary' or Phil f****** Spector.......

Thinking of the lushness of the melody and harmony involved in classic Disney songs and Gershwin seems to make sense - both those influences come together in Brian (Of course 'When you wish upon a star' influenced 'Surfer Girl') and of course Gershwin is all Pet Sounds/Smile etc....

Covers albums rarely get multiple plays from me but if the song selection is right and i'm not too familiar with the originals then I will enjoy them. Bryan Ferrys 'As time goes by' which covers standards from the 20s and 30s is one of my alltime favourites.

It's a whole album of Gershwin material.

I'm made up about the Gershwin covers album, and the story that Brian is to complete some of Gershwin's unfinished stuff. Tremendous.

I suspect I'll have to hold my tongue about the proposed Disney Classics album until it's out. "Whistle While You Surf" isn't getting me going, though "When You Wish Upon a Star" has to have plenty of mileage -  it's got BW written all over it.

Wonder whether Van Dyke Parks will have input here, as he's scored/arranged for many Disney movies, and it's an obvious collaboratioon on such a project.  Thouygh Darian's been working on Disney projects too, recently.

And a live tour to follow? Jeff, Probyn, Darian, Scott, Nicky, Paul, and Nelson dressed as dwarves and Taylor as Snow White?  I'm liking it!

Does anyone here like the Hal Willner Disney Tribute Album? I, for one, adore it.

Here's the LA Times article again as the former link doesn't seem to work:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/music/la-et-brian-wilson8-2009oct08,0,2518188.story

This bit particularly interesting:

Wilson, who says "Rhapsody in Blue" is his earliest musical memory, said the pieces he's working with are very likely to remain as instrumentals, and that they could easily wind up as three-minute pop songs. But he's also holding open the possibility of expanding them to more substantive pieces.

Wilson said many of them aren't easy to evaluate.

"I can't decipher the verse from the chorus from the bridge," he said, "so I'm going to try to insert some new music into them. I might even write some music for an introduction.

So from this article it looks like two pieces will be 'collaborative' i.e. Brian working on unfinished Gershwin tunes, and the rest will be covers.

I'm not sure what to make of the Disney album. I too love a lot of the classic Disney tunes and it does seem like logical material fro him to work with. If he 'brianizes' to the point that he really messes with the arrangements (similar to Old Man River etc.) then it could be really interesting, but if they're just to be staright covers, except with lots of harmonising I'm not sure if it will be my cup of tea. The thought of Brian getting on stage and singing "Oo be doo, I wanna be like you" could be just a step too far!

Now that you mention it... I had a dream about JUST THAT very scene a few years ago. Weird.

Dude, step away from the message board!!

S'good to see the overwhelmingly positive reaction to this news across so many boards.

A rare day indeed!

Quick someone, some barbed cynicism before our reputation's in tatters!

It's no picnic being psychic.

Knew you were gonna say that...

Yeah. It stinks. I had hoped for a BW album with covers of Muppets songs. Meh!

I'm VERY excited about this...Brian doing music close to his heart? Hell yeah...works for me.

So much for Pleasure Island or the Rock & roll album.

Seconded.

Did he have just a one album deal with Capitol? It's a bit of a shame that he apparently left that label again, I kinda liked the "full circle" idea.

Woooooooooooo hooooooooooooo!

This could be a great album. Two undisputedly great composers - albeit generations after one stoped composing (and started decomposing....bad joke)

Brian has always revered Gershwin, and with good reason. He'll treat the music with respect while at the same time being enthusiastic about the project. And we all know what happens when Brian is enthusiastic about music....his brain starts working! And that could make the Gershwin/Wilson 'collaboration' album something truly great.

And as for the Disney covers album...it could be good. With some Brian rearranging and harmonies (backing vocalists, please...not a Wall of Brians) the familiar tunes could gain a new lease of life. But it does depend how enthusiastic Brian is, and which Disney tunes are chosen - and who chooses them.

All in all this is really positive. Chalk me up for a copy of the Gershwilson album.....I hope it's available on vinyl!

Of course I swear solemnly that I won't delve into the scores of bootlegs awaiting us  :police:

Wow, really can wait to see what songs he chooses for the Disney Album. That should be interesting.

His wife and managers will decide upon that matter.

This is amazing news, really wanted pleasure Island though  ;D

Hope not - the R&R album had serious potential.

This is great news. I really can't wait to hear the results!


That song used to freak me out when I was younger!

How many comebacks has our Brian made by now?

Must be close to 10?

How about "Under the Sea" (Little Mermaid) with the Esso Trinidad Steel Band?

Not if it had 'Proud Mary', 'Be my Baby' or any 'Shortenin Bread' variation on it...! ;D

Good one! I can imagine Brian singing that - one of the few that I reckon might sound decent if done well.

I find the Wilson-Gershwin idea fascinating, since I consider them to be peers, and Brian is clearly influenced by Gershwin.

As for the Disney project: "She loves the Mon-un-un-key's Uncle!" :lol

Interesting ! Don't know what to expect but at least it is something artistically challenging. Should/Could bring out the best in Brian. Go man !!

Oh, and I am dreaming of Van Dyke Parks doing the arrangements, a bit like those on 'Discover America', or 'Tokyo Rose'.

Nope - Brian has to do these.

Hmmm... but then he should leave out synths and use real instruments, but no Spanish guitars.

These two sound absolutely epic. The comment about writing new music for them is also very encouraging - he's getting into it!

Hey Andrew, is there any truth to the rumour i heard that during the OCA sessions, Brian did an acapella cover of 'Rhapsody'?

I wonder what the albums will be titled?

I'm wondering about a release date, for both albums.

Also I'm looking forward to seeing how Disney does promo, I'm not expecting any vinyls  ;D

"Brian Wilson & Phil Collins Present: Tarzan"

 ;)

Vocal for sure - don't know about acapella.

He'll use the band, and hopefully the Stockholm guys & gals. Allegedly.

Well... there's a tour to do... then the sessions... then the mixing. My impression is that the Gershwin project will take priority, and late spring/early summer 2010 would be the earliest.

Rhapsody in Bloo ? ::)

Am I honestly the only one who feels underwhelmed from the big announcement. To me it just seems that the BW camp had built up a little momentum with his TLOS. Gershwin and Disney  just sounds a little dated to me. I'm sure both the albums will be nice listening experiences but......meh. Rant off.

Gershwin? Dated? Did you take peyote?

Kinda, it seems like Disney offered some big bucks and they took it.

As long as Brian's excited (doubt we will ever know if he really is) then that's all that matters.

You're right, I just called my mom and she said that Gershwin is in no way dated, my bad.  ;)

 :lol sure. Right. Moms are always right, and Grandmas even more so.

Ouch.....  :-D :-D
I'd go for "Sum-sum-summertime"

Seriously, the more I think about it, the more it really is exciting. I'd expected a totally different thing, but this could become something really great and important to Brian's musical legacy

The bloo board is now blue, that's quite nice.

Nothing wrote with dated really, I mean BW's most successful solo album was 37 years old before it event got rerecorded.  Dated works with BW.

In a word, wow. Should be interesting.

Oh yeah... 'Summertime' has those alternating minor, bluesy scales and uplifting major parts. It would ideally suit Brian's approach. Think a bit of 'Walk On By', for instance... the stuff of dreams.

Very true but that was original material.  I know that the Gershwin material holds a special place in Brians heart so that is reason enough for the album. I guess that it's just that the world already has so many Gershwin tribute projects and dont even get me started on Disney tribute albums . Anyways, just sharing my opinion, I guess I should hold off on crticism before actually hearing it. Thanks for participating in the debate.

Summertime is a great song.....alright, you're talking me into it here...

Brian had his summertime (no pun) in '63:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlZpvERPlHQ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlZpvERPlHQ)
Would love to hear him doing a new version...

As the L.A. Times wrote: the prospect of seeing songs credited to 'Gershwin-Wilson' borders on the enticingly surreal...

...but what will Mike Love think of all this? Will he sue George Gershwin's estate now?...

It certainly beats the idea of a whole album of new Brian material. He just doesn't deliver it in those quantities anymore, and the last time he did (1988) he had like almost 10 years to stockpile songs. I hope he Brianizes things up to an extent. Then we'll debate if it was really him or Scott or Darian or...  :) But that's how things are. I guess some tracks will be more interesting than others.

What would give you the idea that this is about money?  I didn't read anything about the terms of this contract.  Where did you get this information? 

I think this sounds like something that Brian would love to do, even if just for the hell of it.  He loves Gershwin.  You know he listened to those old Disney songs, and was inspired enough by one of them to write Surfer Girl.  Brian is 67 years old now.  To me, this seems like the perfect project for a 67 year old Brian.     

Didn't really read that info anywhere about money. I have been thinking about this project and it is making more sense. At first I was like Brian singing Disney songs, what the hell, but like you said Brian was insprised by them.

Hopefully the whole thing is being done with the right intentions, which I'm now sure they are. With Bob Dylan doing a Christmas album I guess anything is possible.

I'm excited though, should be an interesting project.

 ???

IMO, That Lucky Old Sun is easily one of the best albums of the decade.

Damn!!   :-[ I was looking forward to Pleasure Island!!  :'( :'( :'( Why do Brian's "wifeandmanagers" keep distracting him from his "rock and roll" record???!!!!!! >:( >:( >:(  I was hoping for a "Love You 2", not a collaboration with the Evil Mouse Empire!!!

He's been working on the "Rock n Roll album" for going on 12 years. It can wait another couple, especially for a project that isn't just an answer he uses to shut up interviewers.

But he could've at least picked a "less evil" company to sign with!!

Agreed (and by default, therefore, this millennium!)

Oh, I don't know. It's no Microsoft. It's also a California icon, a company he's worked with before (Monkey's Uncle!) and source of the inspiration for the first song he ever wrote. Sure, it might be evil to 20 somethings who see it as a corporate monolith, but for someone like Brian, it's an integral part of his childhood and life.

Things are moving fast. From the NY Times:

"A representative for Mr. Wilson said he would begin recording with his band on Oct. 18 and finish after Thanksgiving. In a statement, Mr. Wilson called the album “the most spiritual project I’ve ever worked on.”

(http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/08/the-boys-of-summer-brian-wilson-will-rework-george-gershwin-for-new-album/)

Tour starts October 22, finishes November 13. I think someone in Brian's organisation needs to check with the tour manager before saying stuff like this.  ;D

Because a pretty, helpless, white girl will fall in love with and marry a random guy who tries making advances on her while she's sleeping!! If I tried to do what Prince Charming did, I'd be in jail!!

And, I wouldn't be surprised if Disney tried to copyright Brian as a character and sue the hell out of anyone else who tries to use his likeness!! :lol :lol :lol

Now THAT is funny....

Well, AGD, if they record for the 18th-2oth, and then take the time off for the tour, they could indeed finish up after Thanksgiving. That's how I read the comment -- not that the recording would be continuous over that time.

I'm glad to hear it's coming soon, really is there anything better than a new Brian CD.

So exciting  :smokin

This is indeed very exciting and proof there is nothing certain in the World of Wilson and nothing can be predicted...

except it will probably contain at least one occurance of the "Shorternin' Bread" riff

I would hope that Brian spends slightly more than a month in the studio for this project.

Yeah, I'd hope it, too, but things don't look encouraging on that point. BWPS -- tracks recorded in five days. The X-Mas and TLOS tracks were also recorded quickly, if I recall correctly. Then a month or two are taken for vocal work/tweaking. That's been the pattern, so I wonder if that's what they're planning for this time as well.

I'm actually pretty excited about this.  I was expecting a new album, but these projects open up some interesting possibilities.  I look forward to hearing the Gershwin album in particular...I've always wanted to hear Brian do more instrumental music.  He's very underrated in that area.  Too bad we'll have to wait awhile to hear these (hopefully not too long), but I think at least one of them will be worth it.

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

This sounds wonderful!

This is the kind of project that I would have wished for.. for Brian Wilson !

At his age, this sounds like the kind of project that he can get  into.. something he has said he loves...

If his wife and and his handlers set this up for him, that shows real love.. and if this was all Brian's choice...

still excellent and I know that whatever the results, I'm sure that it will be done sincerely !

 :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D

BWPS & TLOS were worked up on the road prior to recording. Unless they've been secretly rehearsing this summer, the band are coming to this pretty cold.

Time for a discretely placed phone call, I'm thinking...

BTW, don't read me wrong - I'm very excited for Brian over this: properly executed it could enhance his stature significantly. Which is why I'm hoping for 1) low level of static and 2) not a half-assed run at it.

Are we thinking albums of Disney classics and Gershwin fragments in that megaphone he's been blessing us with for years a la GIOMH? :)

Andrew -- I'm actually quite pumped for it as well. I'm sure I'll enjoy the results (heck, I enjoy GIOMH, so you know how little discernment I actually possess in matters BW).

This seems like an ideal way for Brian to keep recording and keep his profile up without the stress of creating a major themed project /suite (something that "Pleasure Island," as he described it, almost seemed to parody).

But so much depends on the level of care and taste brought to the projects (both of them). And care and taste -- as we know -- are not always something Brian has consistently through projects. Frankly, I'd be pleased with something of the quality of the Christmas album, although I hope and expect better.

I'd guess that Gershwin's people will also have a word to say if it's not having a certain level of quality. At least when it comes to the unfinished pieces. All in all, Brian has quite some pressure but the kind he's probably much more comfortable to take than touring....

Maybe this new album of Gershwin stuff will be an excuse for Brian to release his version of Rhapsody In Blue which has been collecting dust since 1995. :)

I only hope the production is good and interesting, don't want to hear anymore attempts at trying to recreate Brians 60s sound (only done well on the Paley sessions IMO).....he should do Gershwin in a 'Beach Boys Love you' style! :-D

Considering my favourite BW solo album (by far) is 'Orange crate art', I hold some hope for these albums, I want to hear more interesting jazzy orientated stuff.

I expect him to be singing in a tone similar to That Lucky Old Sun's opening track.

Nice thought, though hopefully in the context of a bonus track so-as not to detract from a body of work that will hopefully be handled by the same producer (will BW produce this as well?), and have a coherent thematic vibe running throughout*.

* Sorry, this is a bit up-its-own-arse as phrases go. I'd just like the tracks to sound like they were all recorded contemporaneously and share an atmosphere.

Oooh, I'm wishing! Dangerous!

Agree with AGD too that this could do wonders for Brian's stature and cred. It must already have boosted his self confidence, just to be asked/invited to handle such a prestigious project.  I'm chuffed for him, I really am.

I'm also excited at the prospect of this being instrumental. One of my favourite BBs moments is hearing the isolated string quartet section from "Don't Talk" that Mark included on the PS boxed set. I could handle hours-worth of similar quality stuff.

Maybe I need a cold shower...

Sorry if this was discussed before but I can't recall it:
Was the Capitol-deal just for one album (TLOS). Such a fuss was made that I thought it was fore more projects

I read over at Brian's board that it was, don't know if there is much truth in that.

I don't think anyone -- Brian or Capitol -- ever said the deal was for more than the one album. I would say that in the record business, if no one says its for more than one, than it's just for the one.

Allright. I was just wondering because of all that "Brian is finally home"-stuff. I thought it might be like Fogerty being back on Fantasy....

Capitol/EMI have bigger problems -- like the decimation of the entire packaged music industry. I just wish Brian would go with a smaller label (like Fantasy or Anti, or any number of others) that would actually care about his longer-term career. But that argument has been made by others, with a lot more eloquence than I'm capable of right now.

His inability to hold down a record contract is shocking, given his name is gospel to people who almost always buy music. Maybe he keeps the facepaint close to hand....?

Surely TLOS is a win-win situation for any company - Brian and Scott recording most of it at home, minimising on costs, and Brian doesn't exactly spend much time in the studio these days, so that's ok financially. Plus, it was guranteed to sell something if you throw about the words 'Wilson', 'Parks', 'song suite' and 'california' around enough... I guess the tourings the dealbreaker