The Smiley Smile Message Board

so we know that Brian is still talking about that R&R album, so who do you think he should cover? he says he wants to do Chuck Berry, and Paul McCartney and we know he also wants to do "proud Mary." and he already did a Paul McCartney song as well as a Buddy Holly song, and he did songs like "Sweets for my sweets" and "Irene Goodnight." in the past... here's my list (s0ngs that I can picture him actually doing, his range etc, and also songs that may not be huge hits but great songs that he could do cool arrangements for)


1. Elvis (of course)- maybe "Jailhouse rock" or "teddy Bear" or "True Love"
2. Carl Perkins-  "lend me your comb"
3. Jerry Lee Lewis- "Breakup" or  "High school Confidential"
4. Johnny Cash- "ring of fire"
5. Fats Domino- "waking through new Orleans." or "I'm Walkin'"
6. Jan and Dean- "Baby Talk"
7. Bobby Darin- "Splish Splash" or "Artificial Flowers."
8. Roy Orbison- "working for the man." or "Ooby Dooby"
9. Led Zeppelin-  "All of my Love"
10. The Monkees-  "Good Clean Fun."
11. The rolling stones- "Have you seen your mother standing in the shadows?" or "Rainbows."
12. The Doors- "Touch me."
13. Nirvana- "Come as you are."
14. Leonard Cohen- Hallelujah
15. Chicago- "Wishing you were here."

I think he and his band are up for a rollicking good cover of Highway to Hell .   Why, one can just imagine the sweet harmony and the electric guitar.

I don't want Brian to do a R&R album- I want to see him do more mature music that's better suited to his unique gifts.

1/- Buckinghams- "Don't You Care"
2/- Lovin' Spoonful- " Coconut Grove"
3/- Creedence Clearwater Revival- " Proud Mary"
4/- The Ronettes- 'The Best Part of Breaking Up"
5/- Dion and the Belmonts- "I Wonder Why"
6/- Marvin Gaye- " I'll Be Doggone"
7/- Doobie Brothers- "What A Fool Believes"
8/- Elvis Presley- " Suspicious Minds"
9/- Chuck Berry- " Memphis"
10/- Fats Domino- "Walkin' To New Orleans"
11/- Curtis Lee- " Pretty Little Angel Eyes"
12/- The Rascals- "Groovin'''
13/- The Beatles- " Norwegian Wood"
14/- Rolling Stones- ' It's Only Rock and Roll "
15/- The Four Freshmen- " Little Girl Blue"
16/- Dennis Wilson- " You and I "
17/- Elton John- " Cold As Christmas"
18/- Paul McCartney- "1985"

Make it happen, Ray!

In the interview I posted earlier, he says this: "Chuck Berry, Paul McCartney, Elton John. You know, the greats. We’re going to do an album playing their songs."

I'd rather Brian write some of his own rock 'n' roll songs than cover someone else's, but it should be fun either way.

Brian just put out a new album. Why are we talking about  songs for a possible future album. I realize that people are free to post what they want but I really don't quite get it. It's probably just me.

because he's been talking about it in a lot of interviews..

I'm with you.

Given the inspiration to Brian and the 'Boys that artists like Chuck Berry and The Beatles represent, it's awfully tempting to want to hear Brian's take on some of their material.

But that said, I think I'd really much prefer Brian writing an album's worth of hard-rocking originals.  Give the songs a set of lyrics on a theme and call it Pleasure Island.  I'd buy that.  Heck, it would be a Day 1 pre-order from me.


But considering Mr. Wilson has been kicking around a "Rock 'N' Roll album" for, well, a long time time now?  I'm beginning to think that if we're ever really going to see anything happen, Brian and his band busting-out a quick and fun collection of covers might be the only realistic option left.



But if we're talking what we want to see Brian do next more than anything else?  Your call for more "mature" music reminds me that the one thing I want from Brian Wilson more than anything else is that he finish and release the Life Suite.

Same here.  But if he threw in a couple of covers like "This Could Be The Night", I'd be OK with that!

Brian told me he really wants to do a McCartney cover.

Personally, I'd love to hear his take on Paul Simon's "Bernadette". . .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zW1SJnuqMCA&index=4&list=PL1T0hHFDjgDFSzGkOsUiG-dwTaAJNxGMc

I would have loved to see the Best Boys do a Dion/ Dion and the Belmonts Album.
When or Where
I wonder Why
Drip Drop
Teenager  in Love
Lonely Teenager
Ruby Baby
Diane
Teenager in LOve
Abraham Martin and John
Ect Ect
I think it would have been awesome.
I can only imagine what Brian could have done production wise
For a current
No Particular Place to go  Chuck Berry
 I wonder Why<I lOve> Dion and the Belmonts
Rockin Robin Bobby Day
Bird Dog E Brothers
Suspicion Terry Stafford
Little Honda  The Beach Boys
Crazy Horses The OSmonds
Sherry The Seasons
Please Please me, The other B group
Johnny B Goode Chuck again
PAppa Oom Mow Mow 3rd time is a charm

Tell Her No - The Zombies
Friday On My Mind - The Easybeats
Twenty Flight Rock - Eddie Cochran
Beginnings - Chicago Transit Authority
Thirteen Women - Bill Haley and The Comets
Any Time At All - The Beatles
Too Many People - Paul McCartney
Don't Look Back - The Remains
Time Won't Let Me - The Outsiders
Just My Style - Gary Lewis and the Playboys
Don't You Care or Hey Baby They're Playing Our Song - The Buckinghams
Runaway - Del Shannon
A Big Hunk O' Love - Elvis Presley
The Girl I Knew Somewhere - The Monkees

hey, one can dream, right?  ;D


EDIT: Add these two shuffles to the tracklist.
Maybe I Know - Leslie Gore
I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues - Elton John

(expect some heat for the last choice, but it's a terrific song that Brian would knock out of the park)

If Brian were to do an R&R album of covers, I'd prefer that he record relatively obscure songs instead of hits. That way they would sound more like new BW songs. Especially since it's so easy these days to hear the original old favorites whenever you want.

Except for Ray's "The Best Part of Breaking Up" -- he can cover that one if he wants to.  ;)

PS -- And guitarfool's "Maybe I Know" would be ok too!

He covered that one already.  ;D

Was that before or after he recorded Wanderlust?

also it would be cool to finally get to hear his own version of "Surf City."

Summertime blues Eddie cochran, Louie louie Richard berry, Mr peppermint man Dick dale, Sweet lil 16 Chuck berry, Fannie mae Buster brown, California sun Rivieras, Rockaway beach Ramones, All grown up Spector, Heart&soul Jan&dean, any Coasters...,

As much as I love this idea, I just don't think Brian has much of a rock 'n' roll voice. Now if Carl were still around, I could easily throw out a bunch of song titles for him to sing.

Motorhead - Ace of Spades.

I'd like to see him do like his Gershwin/Beach Boys treatment to say...

Led Zeppelin - Rock & Roll
Grand Funk Railroad - Bad Time
Little Richard - Lucille


or actually roughen up a little bit and do his Love You treatment to stuff like The Every Brothers - Bye Bye Love

I'm Henry VIII I Am

+1.

Second verse, same as the first!

If he does do the album then doing it as a set of duets would be a pretty good idea imo.

Honeycomb by Jimmie Rodgers must be a possible.

Brian Wilson singing "Touch Me" by the Doors ? ?  :lol  :lol  :lol

Dixie Lily by Elton John.

or maybe just include his original cut of Drip Drop? Kinda like he did with In The Back Of My Mind (1975)?  ;D

Nothing in Brian's solo career suggests that he either has the voice or production style to suit a rock and roll album.

It would be a collection of anaemic Desert Drives.

I'd much prefer Brian to stick to the mature style he's developed over the past few years.

The Chimes-Once In A While. Great doo-wop.

Jet..........McCartney......his voice could do this and his band would go wild
River Deep Mountain High.....he's not Tina Turner, but he is Phil Spector
Your Pushing Too Hard...Seeds....it doesn't get better than this
Wild Thing....Trogs.....what can I say?
Dirty Water...Standellls...Get Down, Brian!
7 and 7 Is.....Mr. Lee and Love....This is getting serious....

I agree 100%.  

And do we really want another BW covers album?  In the last decade alone, we've had All I Really Want for Christmas, the Gershwin album, and the Disney album.  

Over the same decade, we've also been treated to BW originals on That Lucky Old Sun, TWGMTR, and No Pier Pressure.  

I much prefer the latter three records personally.  I fear a attempt at a rock and roll record at this late stage in the game would result in 15 Big Ones Part 2.  

I'm with you guys. This talk about a rock and roll record for years and years led me to believe it was going to be new material not covers.

If Brian does put out another album, I would like it to have a couple of really up beat rocking tracks. With Blondie and Rickey back in the fold again, it would be great to cut some new tracks with the energy those guys brought to "In Concert". Something new that is not trying to rock like "California Calling" tried and failed, but a true fresh tune that gets people on their feet. One is never too old for a kick ass drum beat.

Anyone know if Scott Bennett has written/worked on anything new that rocks?

SUMMER’S DAY SONGS – Brian Wilson Salutes Great Modern  Songwriters
1.   The Invitation – (Falkner)
2.   The Ghost at Number 1 – (Sturmer/Manning)
3.   London’s Brilliant Parade – (McManus)
4.   Oh Well, Okay – (Smith)
5.   When The Hangover Strikes – (Difford-Tilbrook)
6.   Summer’s Day Song – (McCartney)
7.   Wrapped in Grey – (Partridge)
8.   All That That Implies – (Penn)
9.   Amateur – (Mann-Brion)
10.   Strings That Tie To You – (Brion)
11.   Catherine Wheels – (Finn-Finn)
12.   Time of No Reply – (Drake)
13.   Curtains – (John-Taupin)
CD Trader in Reseda must have some great donators—besides that Brother Records bonus track CD set, this thing turned up just recently. I saw only the one copy, so I grabbed it. (Anybody else get one?)
It has a copyright date of 2015 on it, so my guess is this is a test pressing of next Christmas’ offering—I can’t imagine this is the “rock’n’roll” album we’ve been promised repeatedly, as a number of these tracks are pretty laid back. But wow: what a track list it is. I guess Brian really likes melody and harmony—go figure, with covers of everything from Macca to Jellyfish to Elliott Smith.
No way to tell at this point if these are rough mixes—they sound pretty slick to me, but who knows if they are final?
Here are my thoughts on a quick, first-time spin on the ol’ CD player:
1.   The Invitation- this is longer and lusher than the little song scrap that kicks off Jason Falkner’s second solo album, “Can You Still Feel?” The orchestra is lush and suitable for Great American Songbook tunes, and Brian’s voice soars here—uber-romantic.
2.   The Ghost at Number One – I was afraid this one was too obvious a choice, but on hearing it, I no longer care: it’s perfect for BW. It’s not quite as hard-hitting on the verses as the Jellyfish original is, but it’s more…bouncy. The middle-8 (“Mrs. Lynne, the fruit of your labors…”) is, I daresay, arranged even a little better than the original. Enchanting.
3.   London’s Brilliant Parade – it feels a little weird hearing Brian sing about something so English—maybe it’s a tribute to the land where the BBs hit it extra-big? But it’s an Elvis song, making the “praise” fairly dark. But the melody is the star here. Is BW hitting all those high notes? Or is Jeff lurking about in there somewhere?
4.   Oh Well, Okay – this may be my favorite so far. I have no idea when Brian started listening to Elliott, but Jesus,  this is fantastic. The “whine” of Wilson’s voice just brings out the pathos of the lyrics like you wouldn’t believe. Whoever does the solo on this needs a pat on the back too—being as there aren’t any credits on the CD, I have no idea who it is, and can’t recognize styles enough to say.
5.   When the Hangover Strikes – this isn’t especially unique, and the arrangement feels just a little too Diana Krall for me, but it’s nice enough. I still prefer the original (by Squeeze).
6.   Summer’s Day Song – Wonder when this was recorded—could this be an outtake offering for the “Art of McCartney” CD? It’s pretty plain to begin with—not so different from “Wanderlust”—then the friggin’ harmonies come sweeping in in the last verse. Seriously, you will want to cry. Even better than Paul’s version, which I already loved.
7.   Wrapped in Grey – Okay, this is my OTHER favorite. I thought maybe “Pale and Precious” might be a better XTC cover choice for Brian—I now take that thought back.  This is simply breathtaking. When he gets to the part “Awaken you dreamers”, you’ll feel like you’re lifting off of the ground.
8.   All That That Implies – a Michael Penn cover. I remember reading a long time ago that one of Penn’s early albums was a BW favorite—can’t recall which one. It’s pretty cool to hear Penn’s acerbic lyrics floating out across Brian’s voice—a good combo of salty and sweet. A nice surprise, surprise, surprise…
9.   Amateur – Interesting: now we have a cover by Penn’s wife Aimee Mann! (I see that it’s co-written with Jon Brion; more about him later.) This is really nice—the melody always seemed a bit Burt Bacharach than Brian Wilson, but hey—it works. There’s a female vocal doing the harmony, and it doesn’t sound like Amy. Maybe Taylor? Maybe a young new guest star I’m too old to know? Wish those credits were here.
10.   Strings That Tie To You – hey, it’s Jon Brion again. A Brian/Brion effort, you might say. And I’m betting some of the instruments here might be Jon as well—I hear a Chamberlin for sure, and maybe an Edison cylinder in there somewhere. This is crisper than the super-soft version on “Eternal Sunshine”, which to me serves the melody better.
11.   Catherine Wheels – a Crowded House song from near the end of their first incarnation. This has got to be Al on the harmony vocal—it sure sounds like him. Wow. BB magic yet again. I bet the BW camp had a hard time picking what Crowded House song to cover—I’d forgotten how great this one really is.
12.   Time of No Reply – a very sparse arrangement, this—mostly just piano and acoustic guitar. This is great, but it almost bothers me—the lyric always sounded just a hair morbid, but the tune is just so damn beautiful. With all Brian has been through, it just feels a little…heavy.
13.   Curtains – from Captain Fantastic. Following the Nick Drake song, it could easily have been even more morbid. It ain’t. It’s joyous, especially Brian’s vocal arrangement, which adds lots of counterpoint harmonies over the “lum-de-lay” fadeout. This could be Brian’s “Hey Jude”. Fantastic. An unusual and uplifting way to end the album.
Again, my presumption is that this isn’t the “rock’n’roll” album we keep hearing about, but maybe a placeholder disk until that happens—sort of a BW “Hunky Dory”, if that makes sense? Whether it is or not, this is a covers album that will be very hard to beat.


 ;)

I think the quality of the new LP should be allowed to breathe awhile.

I don't think the Disney LP following so closely on the heels of Gershwin particularly did Gershwin any favors.

Personally, seeing as how Townshend, McCartney, Dylan, and Simon have moved forward while also moving back in terns of historical releases, I really think the time is right for an extended set of Brian's demos hitting the market. You wanna talk about an industry buzz? You wanna see a Grammy nom? That's the way. A winner across the board.

I would love to hear this track start out with his original cut of Drip Drop, the first verse and chorus, then the recording gets all warped and Brian cuts in with a newly recorded 2015 version of this song. Blondie could double track the verse vocals, and Brian, Al, and Blondie could all sing harmonies for the chorus.

I also think that Brian should get some of the old crew together to work on this album - get Carol Kaye to play some bass, etc, bring in Tony Asher to write an original song for the last track of the album. I would love to hear harmony rich covers - I can just hear how amazing a slowed down cover of 'She Loves You' by the Beatles would be.

A radio sort of theme would be killer for this album - interlude a DJ voice every few songs, pretending all these songs are being played from a kickass radio station....hell, a fake advertisement for the Radiant Radish would be so cool to hear for an intermission. Brian loves his a cappella/harmony rich intros, he could do an intro in the classic style of their radio promos ("Wonderful KYA"-esque). Even an interview with the artist himself before the last track would be nice. This could really be a great concept album.

Also, I'm more and more hopeful that this rock and roll album will see the light of day. Brian has mentioned it at least 10+ times in the last few months....during interviews and Q&As. I know he has mentioned it so much in the past, but it seems like there is a much greater emphasis on it lately.

Also, I somewhat agree with you Howie (that NPP should be allowed to breathe for a while), but I also think that Brian should work on anything he wants while he still can. I agree there should be a historical release of his demo tracks (oh please where the hell are the bedroom tapes, Capitol??), but time is limited and the future is always uncertain. I don't really care about grammy nominations or industry buzz too much - I just want to hear all I can from this man while he's still able to sing, compose, and record. edit: though I should add I totally see the importance for industry buzz. It's a tightrope walk indeed, so I totally get where you're coming from.

How about some rock'n'roll comedy, for example Ray Stevens' "Bridget The Midget"?   

yes or "Pancreas" or "Trigger Happy." by Weird Al

DO I LOVE YOU by the Ronettes

in the fall of 2007 I was given the opportunity by Alan Boyd to direct a video shoot at a Bel Air cocktail mixer and mini concert for Brian and guests celebrating the upcoming Kennedy Center Awards.  Lots of A list folks there; David Anderle, Van Dyke Parks, Henry Rollins ( a HUGE Beach Boys / Brian Wilson fan - he loved the mid / late 70s albums like Love You and MIU), etc.  After the show, I was at the bar getting a water, when Brian walked up for the same thing.  He had been rounding up his kids to leave.

I thanked him for a wonderful show (which included a live performance of Midnight's Another Day) and asked him if I remembered "Do I Love You."

He said, "Yeah."

I said, "I'd love to hear you cover that some day."

His eyes narrowed.  He nodded, and said, "Well, you never know."

No one has suggested a  Jerry Lee Lewis  cover.... Come on you guys        I do think his backing band line-up DOES have ability to pull off a R&R album but just don't know how successful this will be.......however I do feel a cover album "could" lead to some mending off the fences having M&B contribute which, hopefully could lead to one last Beach Boys tour.......yeah yeah I know I'm dreaming !!

I don't want him to do any.  This album sounds like an awful idea.

I guess "Ubangi Stomp" would be out of the question.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSrQJqKQeiQ

Unless the tracklisting ended up being pretty darn esoteric and unexpected, I don’t find the idea of a “rock and roll covers” album terribly interesting.

There is probably enough stuff on the cutting room floor from NPP and TWGMTR to put together another “new” album. Even if Jeff Beck was a total d**k during and after the 2013 tour, it sounds like some of the stuff Brian and Al sang on that they cut with Beck sounded really interesting.

There would no doubt be some interesting Brian twists on any covers album he does. If he tackles such an album as simply covering his contemporaries and choosing interesting stuff that suits him, it *could* be interesting. As opposed to literally covering classic “rock and roll” stuff from the 50’s and early 60’s, which could be interesting or really rote and predictable. I really have no interest in hearing Brian cover “Great Balls of Fire.” Remember that cover he did a few years back of “California Sun” from that Curious George soundtrack? I don’t need an album of *that*.

If he does the sort of album where he covers McCartney’s “Let It Be”, I dunno. But if he really tried to tackle something like “Dear Boy”, *that* could be interesting. If he does another “covers” album, I’d rather see a bunch of song titles I *don’t* recognize than see a tracklisting that looks like one of those “Malt Shop Memories” CDs they sell at Target.

I certainly have little interest in seeing him cover himself, even on something like “Surf City.” That was done hundreds of times in concert by the Beach Boys in the 80’s and 90’s, with Mike singing, who probably would have sung it had the BB’s cut it in the 60’s. That’s good enough.

Also, if, and I stress only *if* anybody cares how critics treat a hypothetical new Brian album, I’m not sure how kind they will be in pointing out this would be his third album of largely covers in six or seven years or so.

Also not a fan of covers. Its a bit like when an artist has done 'God Only Knows' over the years. Sounds nice but its impossible to improve on the original so why even bother?

I would take rock n roll like "Morning Beat" and "Country Feelings", i.e., original Brian rocking out.

With Brian's current voice I'm not seeing the logic of a rock n roll album unless others do the great majority of the leads, with a strong emphasis on BW doing his classic background vocals.  The concept really makes a lot more sense as a Beach Boys album than a BW solo album, IMO.  Also needed is a huge emphasis on guitars, as found in the BB's early work.

A lot of great suggestions in this thread thus far, my favorite being Steve Latshaw's suggestion of the Ronettes "Do I Love You".  But some newly composed tunes would be really nice as well.

That's it! This could be his big opportunity to make amends for 15 Big Ones and cut the album of oldies originally projected back in '76.   

The original of "Ubangi Stomp" is exactly the type of material I have always envisaged for this rock'n'roll album of his.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPQ-1OG0mEQ

 

I hadn't given it much thought until now, but I agree that Brian's voice may no longer be suited for a rock and roll album. Someone said he should do "Wild Thing." OMG, that would be a train wreck!!

think abou it, its been stated that there was a 3 yr gap between albums after holland BUT being that 15 big ones was a covers&old outtakes album it was actually a 4 yr gap. And with Love you being brian's album it was evident why they gravitated toward the "oldies". The mid 70s (74-7) was like a new renaissance for rock with the BBs comeback and the advent of punk with the ramones, cramps, etc. But as stated in earlier replies for brian to do a covers/tribute record would be kinda pointless..hes done a few of those already in recent yrs.

Not sure I want to have a 'Brian Wilson Reimagines Rock 'n' Roll'...or 'Songs in the Key of [the] 50s' album.  Brian has been talking about this Rock 'n' Roll style project for quite a few years.  The covers part of it seems to have become more of the working concept lately.

One thing about the tunes back then...They were usually really short.  2:00- 2:40.  Worked for him [and the boys] back in the day too.  I guess there's enough time to make it work and squeeze in all the creativity elements in the 21st century so why not?   I would MUCHLY prefer though maybe 10 NEW Brian tunes and 4 covers...or 11 and 3...or 12 and 2.  To try and out-do the accrued cache of that many original CLASSIC hits would be a tough barometer to go up against for ANYONE.  And...think about it Brian...ALL of your successful albums had variety, tempo changes, some songs more complex...some a little simpler.  Why saddle yourself wit a less dimensional blueprint?

But then again...No Pier Pressure reminds me that you DO know what you're doing.  I'm just a consumer.  [a Brian Wilson fan with exceptionally good taste.]  Wow the bejesus out of me.  Whenever you provide the 'creative' you do just that.  ROCK AND ROLL Brian!!! :hat

You're right, it wouldn't count as a Jerry Lee Lewis cover, although Mr. Lewis did it better than Mr. Smith.

My impression is that Brian has often been a little defensive about some of his music. Like when he promises the crowd that his band will really be rockin' after they play this next pretty ballad. I think he's offered the R&R album as a safe answer to questions about what he's going to do next. So I  doubt that a true R&R album will be coming our way.

(But if it happens, Brian should consider the Trashmen's "Bird Dance Beat". I'd pay big money to hear that.)

My personal wish list aside, it would be awesome to have an album of Brian singing his favorite songs, free of any notions of genre or style and having him cut loose to do his versions of the music he enjoys most.

I think this is a good point.

Any talk of a Beach Boys/Brian Wilson "Rock 'N' Roll" album really does evoke images of the earlier, more guitar-driven material.

I'm not sure that the more keyboard-laden work of, well... almost everything put out by Brian since those early days, lends itself to the R'N'R sound quite as well.  At the very least, not as 'classically.'

And more than a few have mentioned Brian's voice.  Don't get me wrong: Brian's vocals have seen a wonderful resurgence of late and I think he sounds wonderful on NPP.

But it's not necessarily a voice which cries out "rock'n'roll" to me, either.

The other consideration, I think, is the production.

Who knows?  It might be incredible.  It would certainly be different.  But do we want to hear a seventy year old B-Dub singing Chuck Berry songs arranged for keyboards with an adult contemporary mix?


Maybe give us two-out-of-three?  Brian singing these classics with a guitar backing and a raunchier, less... "safe" production?

He could do an Ozzie song,,, they have similar voices...

I can't really picture Brian pulling off "Iron Man." Maybe "Changes"

Dear God no! Two guitars, bass, piano and drums only please.

Hear! Hear!

Y'know what I would love rather than hearing Brian Wilson singing songs that I personally like and have no bearing on his life or music (which is a silly game, anyway) -- I would love an album of new (or finally finished) songs entirely written (music and lyrics) by Brian.

He can do it -- "Good Kind Of Love" is f***ing major.
I would wait FOUR YEARS and release that album.

No more covers. Let every new BW release from here on out be the event it deserves to be.

Ya...I didn't 'say' it but 14-0 was really the number I was going for.  Adding covers was a Beach Boys thing...and he added lots of them to their projects almost from the get-go...so, in keeping with his roots, I COULD go for 1 or 2 but 0 would be better.   We had Gershwin and Disney covers out the wazoo.  Good enough. 

As for Brian doin' an Ozzie tune...When I first heard 'Dreamer' on the radio I strained to HEAR it...and it went w/o an extro or backsell.  I wondered at the time if it was Brian.

YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!

I want a "Brian Wilson Does Fear2Stop" album. Absolutely nobody here is going to get that reference.  ;D

I do ;)


I'd think it'd be killer if Brian did ELO'S Strange Magic one day.

He might do a good version of "Telephone Line" by ELO.

If Brian were to cover an Ozzy Osbourne song, I think The Road to Nowhere could be an interesting song.  If Johnny Cash can cover Soundgarden's Rusty Cage, than this could work.  Speaking of which, if Brian does another album of originals, I've love to see Rick Rubin come into the fold. 

Maybe Brian could do an album similar to the one Pat Boone a few years back with hard rock / heavy metal covers in his style. 

BW&Billy need to tour!

Covers albums are, to me, just about the least exciting things in the world, whoever we're talking about that's making them.  Not to say I've never heard a good cover - there are plenty of them, where artists really reconfigure the original into something unique.  But it's usually just a song here and there amidst all the original material.  "Take Me To The River" by Talking Heads, "Satisfaction" by Devo, etc.  I've almost never heard an album that was entirely/near entirely covers that didn't just seem like  filler at best or embarrassing at worst.  (By "covers" I mean of pop/rock songs - the Gershwin album, for example, was a little different in that regard, and I actually like how it turned out, though even that being said I have very little desire in re-listening to it on a regular basis vs. listening to one of the original albums.)

So the idea of Brian doing a "rock & roll covers album" holds zero appeal to me.  *shrugs*

I wish he'd embrace the idea of not feeling like he needs to put out these big album releases all the time anymore.  Let him knock out an original song or two here and there and release them as digital singles, with videos even.  But I know Brian's got a very old-school mindset about releases.

Brian Wilson singing Touch Me would be interesting. Even more interesting would be The End.  ;D

I just want to add at this juncture when people are suggesting Ozzie covers, that I was joking when I first posted this.   this is silliness.     Reminds me of the Pat Boone does heavy metal project from a few years ago.   As if his 50's covers weren't silly enough.   I'm with the posters that just want BW to do his best stuff of his own choosing.  Might stumble onto another Morning Beat/Spector type groove.   Invite Darlene Love as guest.   I've got to say that Brian still puts out songs and covers songs with great melodies.     Love the newer material along with the Gershwin stuff.  

Actually, some Ozzie covers might appeal to him. I'm sure Murry played Ozzie Nelson's music around the house occasionally. Myself, though, I'd be more interested in hearing Brian do one of Rick Nelson's songs.

Dear Lord, please make this happen.  ;D

Nobody at all. Who at this point in time wants Brian Wilson to cover other peoples' songs?

Pleasure Island should be a completely original  34 minute odyssey of the hardest hitting rock music we've heard from Brian Wilson since a little ditty known as Don't Back Down.

The kind of Rock'n'Roll Brian is influenced by seems to be more of the pop version like Bill Haley on one side and on the other the R'n'B big band sound of Little Richard and Fats Domino a.o. plus of course the whole Doo Wop groups. An exception is Chuck Berry. Otherwise, although he clearly loves Elvis (and he did perform "His latest flame" during the Wilson-Johnston-Stamos jam session) I don't think that is the kind of style he's going for. Adding to that many Presley songs (for example "Jailhouse Rock" which was mentioned in this thread) are b!tches to sing and quite frankly, I don't think Brian could do a good job on them. I could imagine him doing "Don't be cruel" though. After all he produced a very nice version of this in '78 for the Honeys. Also possible are Presley songs in the same style: "All shook up" "Teddy bear" "Paralyzed" "Stuck on you".
I imagine a Rock'n'Roll album in Brian's way more being something like 15 Big Ones though.

But let's think about it. We know he recorded at least one version of "Proud Mary" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odypejBMQjg). He mentioned in an interview he wanted to record "Johnny B. goode" (I'd like to hear the 1980 Beach Boys recording btw) and he also performed it in concert (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGvvTHzCZ9A). He had a short version of Little Richard's "Keep a knockin'" in his set as well (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D81R-EQ_EoI). So those three are good candidates I think. And he already recorded Buddy Holly's "Listen to me" and also "I'm into something good".

Since Brian said he wanted to do fast, rocking numbers I don't think ballads would be used. But should he, then I guess "Earth angel" is the kind of song we would be hearing.


All in all, if we're talking about Brian's Rock'n'Roll album (and I exclude from this songs by McCartney etc.) I think we should look into the early to mid 60s output by R'n'B-influenced pop-girl groups like what was released on Leiber&Stoller's Red Bird label plus of course stuff done by Spector. That kind of pop music seems more to match with what Brian understands as Rock'n'Roll. I'd be up for that. There are so many great songs and records from that time.

How about a Brian version of "Bull dog"?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHzqQj9Cq3w

"Bermuda shorts" seems to be a favorite of Brian and Mike from their early pre-Beach Boys days: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccbGzayOuhc

And during the last Beach Boys tour he and Mike talked about another oldie. I don't remember which one it was. It wasn't Jimmie Rodgers' "Honeycomb", was it?





On a sidenote: I just wanted to state that I love the Beach Boys' version of "Remember (walking in the sand)". What a fantastic performance by all and an incredible Carl lead.

That's one of the greatest songs of all time. Don't know why it wasn't a bigger hit.

Also, if Brian wants to do a rock & roll covers album, then I'd be happy to own it. I can't see the perspective of "I'd rather get another album of originals," because I view them as completely different entities. Cover albums are fun for the artist and pretty easy and quick to crank out.

We know how long it takes Brian to write songs at this point, so complaining about receiving some additional material in between seems odd.

Agreed! It knocks spots off "Be My Baby".   

This should be a Beach Boys album. Enough with the solo stiff's...

Amen Matt; that's the main reason I read this board, just in the hope that it contains an announcement of a BB reunion album. It's the only G-D think I think about all day long (food, family and work aside, but not really).

If Brian would cover a Jerry Lee Lewis song, I think he should go with "Let's talk about us" or "Break up" rather than "Highschool confidential" (which was mentioned in this thread). Although "Rockin' my life away" would be fun to hear sung by Brian.


Let's talk about us: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJW9_dquI9I

Break up (60s version): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4eVRTl3o68


I don't know though, if this was a good idea. Not many people tried to cover the Killer and succeeded.  :lol



I guess Brian's Rock'n'Roll album could sound like his version of "You've got a friend in me", which I really dig.

"I Dig Rock and Roll Music" would make a good opening track.

Peter,Paul & Mary  I Dig Rock & Roll Music (1968): http://youtu.be/iqY35SYsyfQ

Elvis'- "Beach Boy Blues"  ;D which would make total sense...

How about a Zappa song? The two have musically rubbed shoulders on more than one occasion. "Fountain Of Love", besides being wonderfully greasy, has two big things going for it: a monologue (it's high time Brian did another one of those) and a quote from Stravinsky in the fade.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baPj1YG_-Zg

 'Call Any Vegetable' would be great!

I would LOVE to have Brian produce Paul McCartney & Ringo Starr singing "Girl Don't Tell Me", which Brian claims he wrote for The Beatles.