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Smiley Smile Stuff => Book Reviews => Topic started by: b00ts on August 29, 2009, 07:34:02 AM



Title: The Wilson Project
Post by: b00ts on August 29, 2009, 07:34:02 AM
Has anyone read this book? Is it worth getting? I understand that it paints a decidedly different picture of mid-80s Brian than "Wouldn't it Be Nice."



EDIT: pictures added

(http://i48.tinypic.com/23wwutt.jpg)          (http://i47.tinypic.com/2mn438n.jpg)


Title: Re: The Wilson Project
Post by: Andrew G. Doe on August 29, 2009, 07:53:25 AM
Has anyone read this book? Is it worth getting? I understand that it paints a decidedly different picture of mid-80s Brian than "Wouldn't it Be Nice."

It's essential reading. Based directly on Gary Usher's diaries 1985-1987, it gives a truly chilling insight into Brian's world as directed by Landy.


Title: Re: The Wilson Project
Post by: othereric on August 29, 2009, 10:42:28 AM
And where might one find a copy of this book?


Title: Re: The Wilson Project
Post by: Andrew G. Doe on August 29, 2009, 12:43:43 PM
Go here - http://www.garyusher.com/ (http://www.garyusher.com/) - click on 'CMusic books' then scroll down some.


Title: Re: The Wilson Project
Post by: othereric on August 29, 2009, 01:08:12 PM
43 dollars?! jumpin' jehosophat!


Title: Re: The Wilson Project
Post by: Matt H on August 30, 2009, 05:51:12 AM
I have the original book that does not include tape 10.  Is there a lot of good information from tape 10?


Title: Re: The Wilson Project
Post by: Andrew G. Doe on August 30, 2009, 06:14:44 AM
I have the original book that does not include tape 10.  Is there a lot of good information from tape 10?

Have to say, no... not really. More of a supplement.


Title: Re: The Wilson Project
Post by: smile-holland on December 06, 2009, 04:10:16 AM
Well I just finished reading this book.

As AGD said: essential. But I'd like to add the words depressing and speechless. Many interesting facts. The introduction of Melinda, the several encounters with the Beach Boys (and the tensions between them), Landy's work behind the screens as the instigator. It's nothing short of a miracle that a single like "Let's Go To Heaven In My Car" and the addition of "The Spirit Of Rock And Roll" in the 86 Hawaii special happened at all.  Let alone that Brian fortunately survived all this. And I haven't started on the appendix of the accusation papers from 1988 against Dr. Landy (not just concerning Brian Wilson).

Gary Usher did a heck of a job by keeping up a day-to-day journal of his renewed collaboration with Brian in 1986-87. And Stephen J. MC Parland did an equally terrific job of making it a fascinating read.

I only read the first release (pink cover). The re-issue - The Wilson Project Tapes 1-10 - is an expanded issue which combines the first issue with "Brian Wilson Tape #10". Can't tell about the additional value of that re-issue, but I think just reading this first release will leave you behind astonished as well.

And I'd like to add that it's worth having the "The Wilson Project" CD (Invasion Unlimited, IU 9419-1) as well, to get an idea of what Gary and Brian were working on.

(http://i50.tinypic.com/pbua1.jpg)


Title: Re: The Wilson Project
Post by: punkinhead on December 06, 2009, 04:47:19 PM
whats on the "tapes?"


Title: Re: The Wilson Project
Post by: smile-holland on December 06, 2009, 11:55:31 PM
It’s the title of the book, which content is based on those tapes.

To quote from www.garyusher.com, www.garyusher.com/cmusic.html to be exactly:
Quote
THE WILSON PROJECT TAPES 1-10
This 232 page book brings together the acclaimed 1993 book, THE WILSON PROJECT, telling the story of the struggle encountered by Gary Usher in his at-tempt to provide a creative musical atmosphere for his old friend, Brian Wilson, then encumbered by the shadow of Dr. Eugene E. Landy, and BRIAN WILSON TAPE #10, the briefly available and limited issue that brought the story to its end, complete with reproductions of various documents, court depositions, memorabilia and handwritten lyrics.  Now as the one book, THE WILSON PROJECT TAPES 1-10 is an insightful look at the dealings that prevailed during the mid to late '80s that eventually led to the release of BRIAN WILSON, the Beach Boy leader's first solo LP issued by Sire Records in July 1988.  THE WILSON PROJECT TA-PES 1-10 is based on a 10 audio cassette diary maintained by Gary Usher during the "ordeal" and captures the day by day interaction, the creative out-pourrings and the problems faced by Usher and Brian Wilson as they struggled to produce a foundation upon which Wilson could be re-introduced to contemporary music.  THE WILSON PROJECT TAPES 1-10 exposes the total control exercised by "the good doctor" over his patient. It also concerns the battles that ensued for Brian's well-being and musical soul. It is a story that proves beyond a shadow of doubt that FACT is STRANGER than fiction.  THE WILSON PROJECT TAPES 1-10, besides the main story, includes full recording particulars and a total of five appendices to expose the full INSIDE story; a sad melancholy tale with humour, drama and all the machinations of a Shakespearean play.


There are quite a few books on that site I’d like to read btw


Title: Re: The Wilson Project
Post by: grillo on December 07, 2009, 10:58:20 AM


There are quite a few books on that site I’d like to read btw
The two volume Jan & dean bio is great! I hardily recommend it.


Title: Re: The Wilson Project
Post by: MBE on December 07, 2009, 08:43:06 PM


There are quite a few books on that site I’d like to read btw
The two volume Jan & dean bio is great! I hardily recommend it.
A lot of good facts in there. Little did I know he would do a deluxe version.


Title: Re: The Wilson Project
Post by: NatureShowInStereo on January 11, 2012, 07:38:54 AM
Has the music from these sessions surfaced at all? I just got the book recently and it's been a very interesting read so far and I'm really curious about what all of this music sounded like.


Title: Re: The Wilson Project
Post by: Mikie on January 11, 2012, 08:22:06 AM
Most of it has surfaced on a few bootlegs. "Spirit of Rock & Roll" and "Let's Go To Heaven In My Car" are two that have been released.


Title: Re: The Wilson Project
Post by: NatureShowInStereo on January 11, 2012, 10:15:01 PM
So the tracks we have are the same recordings mentioned in the book? I knew we had those tracks and all, but wasn't quite sure if those were re-recorded, "Landyized" versions.


Title: Re: The Wilson Project
Post by: Andrew G. Doe on January 12, 2012, 02:14:25 AM
Nothing from the actual sessions has been released (officially). FWIW and YMMV, while GU was undoubtedly a great friend to Brian at a time when exactly that was sorely needed, as a producer he probably wasn't the best choice.


Title: Re: The Wilson Project
Post by: stack-o-tracks on January 12, 2012, 03:35:32 AM
Where can you find this? Not available on his site anymore. Somebody want to let me borrow their copy? Talk the publisher into reprinting it or scan and upload every page of it?



Title: Re: The Wilson Project
Post by: NatureShowInStereo on January 12, 2012, 10:08:12 AM
I got my copy from Ebay for $20  :3d

Really interesting read. I recently went back and read the whole section about the GU/BW sessions in WIBN:MOS and you can tell that it's incredibly loosely based on few events that actually happened. It mentions the sessions briefly, but doesn't quite match up with what Usher and McParland have to say (It seems Landy caused A LOT of unnecessary headaches during the time). I'm only about half way through right now, though.


Title: Re: The Wilson Project
Post by: Mikie on January 12, 2012, 11:37:36 AM
Where can you find this? Not available on his site anymore. Somebody want to let me borrow their copy? Talk the publisher into reprinting it or scan and upload every page of it?

Ask Steve directly. I think I paid 15 bucks each for the two volumes back in the early 90's, and I think he compiled it into one volume since then so it should be somewhere between 20 - 30 bucks now for the new edition.

cmusic@hotkey.net.au


Title: Re: The Wilson Project
Post by: Editions Berlot on April 27, 2013, 04:57:21 AM
Hi guys,

I wanted to let you know that "The Wilson Project, 2013 Edition" by Stephen Mc Parland will be released May 6th.
It will be available on amazon.co.uk, amazon.fr, ebay.com, ebay.fr.
Pre-order with reduced shipping costs are available via our website : http://editionsberlot.com/?page_id=142

The Wilson Project, 2013 Edition contains the previously released tapes 1-10.
Differences from the previous edition : colour photographs, new format (A5), new layout.

If you have any question, please let us know

cheers.



Title: Re: The Wilson Project
Post by: punkinhead on April 27, 2013, 06:27:54 AM
Sweet! Thanks for the update ! I've wanted to get this for so long but it's always really expensive.


Title: Re: The Wilson Project
Post by: Paulos on June 29, 2013, 04:43:24 AM
Finished reading this a few weeks ago, a quite heartbreaking read. Felt so sorry for Gary Usher being continually screwed over but if it weren't for Gary's meticulous notes Brian may have been under Landy's sway for a whole lot longer.


Title: Re: The Wilson Project
Post by: punkinhead on July 01, 2013, 02:58:34 PM
Finished reading this a few weeks ago, a quite heartbreaking read. Felt so sorry for Gary Usher being continually screwed over but if it weren't for Gary's meticulous notes Brian may have been under Landy's sway for a whole lot longer.
Any info on songs from that era that you read that don't have a lot of info out there?


Title: Re: The Wilson Project
Post by: Andrew G. Doe on July 03, 2013, 01:29:46 AM
Finished reading this a few weeks ago, a quite heartbreaking read. Felt so sorry for Gary Usher being continually screwed over but if it weren't for Gary's meticulous notes Brian may have been under Landy's sway for a whole lot longer.

Undeniable... but on first read (back when it was first published), I was close to beating my head against the wall with frustration at how naive Usher was in his interactions with Landy, time and time again. Also, it has to be said, his cosmological slant on everything rapidly became wearing, the music is, by and large, more Usher than Wilson and (granted this is a personal observation) the retelling of the incident concerning Brian and the golf club (intended to illustrate his wacky SOH) backfired as it made Brian seem (in the words of a friend who read it and is no huge BB fan) "close to retarded" as opposed to lovably quirky.

That said, an indispensable book if you're a serious BW acolyte... and yes, truly, truly heartbreaking.


Title: Re: The Wilson Project
Post by: seltaeb1012002 on July 19, 2013, 05:36:22 PM
I just ordered a copy off eBay. About 200 pages into it so far. Gotta say this is a really interesting read. It gives you a very clear idea of what it was like to be in the studio with Brian around this time. I'd say it's also very educational for anyone coming up in the music business, as it shows how Gary, as a producer, was able to "handle" a sensitive artist like Brian in and out of the studio, as well as his managers and minders. Definitely learning a lot in that aspect. Lots of typical industry fuckery going on here that people can learn from. Gary seemed like a really good dude, and Landy constantly tried to take advantage of that.

Cool reading about a bunch of unbooted songs like "Magic", "All Over You", "Still I Dream Of It" with new lyrics, etc.  Maybe they'll pop up on an official release one of these days.

Bottom line: DEFINITELY recommended if you haven't read it yet! About to start reading the rest now...


Title: Re: The Wilson Project
Post by: kwan_dk on August 02, 2013, 01:25:54 PM
I also just finished reading this. Very interesting book that all serious Beach Boys / Brian Wilson fans should seek out. Gosh, we should all be extremely grateful for Gary Usher's incredibly detailed documentation of his dealings with Brian & Dr. Landy. (and of course also major kudos to Stephen McParland for getting this important text out to us fans.)

I already had a lot of respect for Gary Usher, the producer but this book also gave me a lot of respect for Gary as a person. Of course, we only really have his word for the incidents that are described and the relationship he had with Brian during their work together. But he definately comes across as a very humble, honest and straightforward guy who is not out to overplay his importance or role in all the preceedings,... just a guy who wants to help out an old friend, rekindle the magic they once shared and in the process right the wrongs he sees unfolding before him.

A highly recommended read - and it's great that this book is out again since it also adds to the legacy of Gary Usher, besides being a text of major historical value in the Brian Wilson / Beach Boys realm.


Title: Re: The Wilson Project
Post by: Lowbacca on August 05, 2013, 04:22:53 AM
Would love to read this. It's a shame it's quite pricey if you want to purchase it from Germany. Best offer I can find is around $30. :-\


Title: Re: The Wilson Project
Post by: Editions Berlot on August 08, 2013, 01:56:22 AM

Hi there Lowbacca,

If you live in Europe, the cheapest way to get the book might be to purchase it via our website : http://editionsberlot.com/?page_id=142

cheers


Would love to read this. It's a shame it's quite pricey if you want to purchase it from Germany. Best offer I can find is around $30. :-\


Title: Re: The Wilson Project
Post by: Lowbacca on August 08, 2013, 08:26:39 AM

Hi there Lowbacca,

If you live in Europe, the cheapest way to get the book might be to purchase it via our website : http://editionsberlot.com/?page_id=142

cheers


Would love to read this. It's a shame it's quite pricey if you want to purchase it from Germany. Best offer I can find is around $30. :-\
Thank you, I will consider it. :)


Title: Re: The Wilson Project
Post by: Heysaboda on August 08, 2013, 09:34:28 AM

Hi there Lowbacca,

If you live in Europe, the cheapest way to get the book might be to purchase it via our website : http://editionsberlot.com/?page_id=142

cheers

Would love to read this. It's a shame it's quite pricey if you want to purchase it from Germany. Best offer I can find is around $30. :-\

I purchased this book thru Amazon USA last month and I recommend it to anyone who's interested in this period of Brian's life.  It's a fascinating and sometimes harrowing story.  It's a great read, lots of details, plenty of exhibits too.  Recommended!


Title: Re: The Wilson Project
Post by: punkinhead on October 20, 2013, 07:46:10 PM
200 pages in? I have an original copy I believe, pink cover. It only has 141 pages. Or is this the new 2013 version that's just been put out?