The Smiley Smile Message Board

Dont know if this has been mentioned, but Brian has posted a playlist on the iTunes music store.

Throw in Ronettes "Be My Baby" then shake into a mix.
 

A playlist with his favorite songs by other artists or his own songs?

(http://static.flickr.com/85/235211565_0380ec701e.jpg?v=0)(http://static.flickr.com/90/235211564_76e27f0ee9.jpg?v=0)

Cool! Thanks for posting! :)

It's really interesting to see this.  Nice to see Brian expounding on the choices too, even though it's not much, at least there's some comment.

I think the Stones' influence on Brian has been under-understood.  He really, really digs 'em.

every celebrity that creates a playlist comments on it, Brian's responses are about the same length as every other artists

I think it's a surprising playlist, especially since his musical taste never seems to change very much. I would've expected a Beatles song, a Four Freshmen song, and I've heard/read a few times that his favorite Stones song was "My Obsession".

Well, the playlist can only contain songs that iTunes has on its site, so that means the Beatles are out. I've never searched for the Freshmen there. As for My Obsession, I believe the reason Brian mentions that tune is because he attended the recording session.

Is there any Gershwin on iTunes, or Rosemary Clooney?

yes on gershwin and rosemary clooney

More than half of Brian's selections are either Phil Spector productions (4), or Brian Wilson productions (3). Sounds about right to me.

Nice list. I just wonder why there's no song by Randy Newman on it.

When's Brian gonna listen to something recorded later than, say, the 1970s?  You never know it might spark some new ideas and inspiration in him.  You just don't get this regressive time-warped feel from somebody like Bacharach.

I'm only 30 and mainly listen to older music. Jet, or the Coral once in a while do a retro song I like but I like old fashioned Rock, Blues Gospel, and Country. Heck I am always discovering an unknown band that I like from then. Brian has great taste, when he tried to sound hip is when he was at his worst (SI). Taste is taste and I don't knock anyone who has passion for their music now, but I think that the music of the early fifties to the early seventies will never be equalled. Especally if your talking about what is "popular".

It wouldn't be so bad if he seemed to investigate more even the music of his own generation.  At a London meeting a couple of years ago he reportedly claimed no knowledge of 'Forever Changes'.  If Brian was creating great new music nowadays I wouldn't be saying this but I just get the feeling of an absence of ideas.

I guess Brian's no more the ahead-thinker or progressive guy. He's just a songwriter who has his own style totally worked out and thus probably doesn't care about new influences

The (male) singer from The Magic Numbers says Brian -when they toured togheter- told them they were the best band of the latest 20 years. Well, not su much but they're very good.

Don't forget that this a playlist for iTunes, not his fav songs.

I guess the most Stone-influenced BW track is You're so good to me (Stones meet Stax, actually). I wonder if the Stones took the idea for the background vocals on She's a rainbow from that one.