Brian in todays Observer (UK)

[hypehat]

he's busy while he's over here.... it's one of those short features where they talk about songs. The usual suspects - Be My Baby, The Beatles (She's leaving Home, specifically) Four Freshmen, Bill Haley (Rock Around The Clock being the first record he ever bought, he thinks), and the Doobie Brothers. he also mentions that 'He Came Down' came from an old gospel song they used to sing.

He's also going to be doing a 'hard rock' album, and is 'not sure' how the Peter Blake thing happened  Contrary to appearances, he says 'it feels real good to be on the road once more'. He also says he's recording....

Also, british journalists are useless - the little blurb underneath it states that he started PS in 1964.... 


EDIT: here's a link http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/jul/12/soundtrack-my-life-brian-wilson

[phirnis]

If 'hard rock' means Love You, Proud Mary, and "rock'n'roll album", count me in on those looking forward.

[the captain]

Hypehat modified the original post to include the link. That makes my post unnecessary. Drat. Sucks to be unnecessary. Hmpf.

[matt-zeus]

'Hard rock'?! 

[the captain]

I think it's important to remember to filter his statements through his viewpoint. "Hard rock" to Brian Wilson probably means music in the vein of Morning Beat, Goin Home, Marcella, etc. I doubt we have to wonder whether a collaboration with Axl Rose is in the works. (Although considering some of his solo career decisions...)

[hypehat]

I wish he'd hurry up. he's been wanting to do a 'rock' album for the past decade.

[Chris Brown]

Also, british journalists are useless - the little blurb underneath it states that he started PS in 1964.... 

Although clearly the journalist misstated the year, technically speaking Brian did, in a way, start Pet Sounds in 1964..."I'm Waiting For the Day" was written that year.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

I think it's important to remember to filter his statements through his viewpoint. "Hard rock" to Brian Wilson probably means music in the vein of Morning Beat, Goin Home, Marcella, etc. I doubt we have to wonder whether a collaboration with Axl Rose is in the works. (Although considering some of his solo career decisions...)

Those tracks count as death metal to Brian . And besides, you don't want him to work with Axl...you think Brian can't finish anything now ???

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Forming the Beach Boys ...
He Came Down, The Beach Boys (1972)

We formed a band called Carl & the Passions first, because I wanted my brother Carl to be in the band and he didn't want to be so I thought if I called it after him he would do it. This is a spiritual song, an old gospel song, and it was the first-ever piece of music we sang together [a version appears on the 1972 Beach Boys album Carl & The Passions - So Tough].

The f***?! The first song the Beach Boys ever sang together was He Came Down?! Oh f*ck me... this is heading into Reagan territory.

[Roger Ryan]

Forming the Beach Boys ...
He Came Down, The Beach Boys (1972)

We formed a band called Carl & the Passions first, because I wanted my brother Carl to be in the band and he didn't want to be so I thought if I called it after him he would do it. This is a spiritual song, an old gospel song, and it was the first-ever piece of music we sang together [a version appears on the 1972 Beach Boys album Carl & The Passions - So Tough].

The foda?! The first song the Beach Boys ever sang together was He Came Down?! Oh f*ck me... this is heading into Reagan territory.

I'm pretty sure what Brian is getting at is that the gospel song that inspired "He Came Down" was one of the first pieces of music the brothers sang together. In the interview response, he just doesn't bother delineating between the original song and the Beach Boys rip-off of said song. 

By the way, I much prefer this interview format where they apparently have Brian respond in writing to questions instead of sitting for a face-to-face. You get more thoughtful answers, but it's still obviously Brian behind the thoughts (for those who might persume Melinda is providing the answers).

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

I'm pretty sure what Brian is getting at is that the gospel song that inspired "He Came Down" was one of the first pieces of music the brothers sang together. In the interview response, he just doesn't bother delineating between the original song and the Beach Boys rip-off of said song.

With Brian, it's really hard to tell. Remember, SMiLE was never a Beach Boys project 

I do wonder what song he was talking about, or if he got mixed up.


edit

lol...God really has a sense of humor. I just checked my email, and I got an advertisement about Brian & Peter Blake that was sent out two minutes after I posted my rant earlier. Coincidence?

[Ebb and Flow]

I think Brian's just burned out talking about Brian.  Most of the time he opens up is when he's asked about other people's music, which conversely can often open him up more about his own.

[LostArt]

I'm pretty sure what Brian is getting at is that the gospel song that inspired "He Came Down" was one of the first pieces of music the brothers sang together. In the interview response, he just doesn't bother delineating between the original song and the Beach Boys rip-off of said song.

With Brian, it's really hard to tell. Remember, SMiLE was never a Beach Boys project 

I do wonder what song he was talking about, or if he got mixed up.

Somewhere in the TLOS package, Brian mentions a gospel song that he and his brothers would sing as kids.  I believe the name of the song is "Come Down, Come Down From Your Ivory Tower".  I've never heard it so I wouldn't know if "He Came Down" is a 'rip-off' of the song, or was simply inspired by it.

[Roger Ryan]

Good catch LostArt! Brian's always referred to "Come Down From Your Ivory Tower" as the inspiration for "In My Room", but, perhaps there's some of it in "He Came Down" as well (especially given the use of the same words "come/came down").

[LostArt]

Lyrics to "Ivory Tower":

Come down, come down from your ivory tower
Let love come into your heart
Don't lock yourself in an ivory tower
Don't keep us so far apart

I love you, I love you
Are you too far above me to hear?

Come down, come down from your ivory tower
You'll find true love has its' charms
It's cold, so cold, in your ivory tower
And warm, so warm in my arms

I love you, I love you
Are you too far above me to hear?

Come down, come down from your ivory tower
You'll find true love has its' charms
It's cold, so cold, in your ivory tower
And warm, so warm in my arms

[Aegir]

I've heard that song. There's nothing gospel about it. That's a standard 50s pop song.

[pixletwin]

Hard Rock? So the long awaited Wilson/KISS partnership is finally happening?