The Smiley Smile Message Board

I like this song and I'm curious about how it came about.  How is it that Brian collaborated with Tony Asher after so  many years?  Was it written specifically for "The Wilsons" project or was it something Brian intended to record himself at some point?  I like the version on "The Wilsons" and I've just ordered Jeffrey Foskett's "Stars in the Sand" and I'm looking forward to hearing that version as well.

Jim

to follow up, i was wondering if This Isn't Love was also in the same collaboration date? at least the lyrics, because i was sure the piano tune was written earlier

The piano tune was early 80s, I believe. (Cocaine/Hamburger sessions recordings, I think, although I could be wrong on that specific.)

yeah, thats what i was thinkin

Ah yes. The aborted Tony Asher collaboration. This is what I remember, although I may be faulty on the details.

Brian and Tony were reunited through the Pet Sounds 30th anniversary, I believe. They were interviewed together for the PS boxed set booklet, and Brian asked Tony -- in the interview -- if he wanted to collaborate again. 95-96 time frame, I think, so it would have been right after Brian's work with Andy Paley.

Brian brought back the wrecking crew -- or what was left of them -- to record the basic track of Everything I Need. The idea at the time was that Brian was going to produce his daughters' album. The session was covered in the BW fan club newsletter at the time.

When the song came out, it was miles away from the wrecking crew. Brian had begun working with Joe Thomas shortly after the session (on the BB's Stars and Stripes, I suppose), and Joe Thomas overdubbed and rearranged the track.

The original arrangement has been bootlegged, and that's the version Foskett used as the basis for his. That being said. Foskett's version is not great, and Brian sounds phoned-in.

Brian and Tony collaborated overall on a half-dozen or so new songs in the late 90s. One was called "The Rock and Roll Express" and was about a rock train. There was a ballad or two and "This Isn't Love," which is indeed based on a melody that shows up in the cocaine sessions. That being said, "This Isn't Love" is a far more developed composition.

"This Isn't Love" first appeared officially on Windham Hill records "Songs Without Words" compilation in 1997-98, performed by Brian on two overdubbed pianos -- perhaps his most naked playing ever released. It was then used in "The Flintstones -- Viva Rock Vegas" movie, which was its first appearance with lyrics. Brian's first full version appeared on "Live at the Roxy" in 2000.

Ultimately, I don't think the second Asher collaboration amounted to much. Brian sent him some demos, Tony wrote some lyrics. It wasn't a return to the intensity of the Pet Sounds days -- although I think Tony, to his credit, retains much of his ability.

I agree with that--I think it's one of Brian's worst released vocals, reminiscent of some of his worst moments on GIOMH.

Thanks a lot for that info!