Gershwin - Disney - That's Whay God Made the Radio : Three late period classics, a true return to form.
Absolutely agree with this. It's an incredible turnaround from That Lucky Old Sun onwards.
At some point post-GIOMH I may well have thought that Brian had become a disinterested and substandard singer with nothing new to offer (and I like GIOMH), touring with weak performances of Beach Boys hits backed by a good band who inadvertently emphasised Brian's flaws as a singer and performer rather than covered for them. At his age, with his problems and his track record, there wasn't exactly much to hope for from future output. I enjoyed BWPS for what it was but it still wasn't something to fill me with confidence in anything new and the follow up wasn't exactly thrilling. But since 2008 he's completely turned things around in my view. His vocals are very good again and sometimes excellent, studio work has been very well produced and there's been some great new material. His work over the last five years is really something to be proud of. I think Brian hit his stride with TLOS and has rediscovered his true home in the studio (with some apparently good live performances along the way). So I'm really looking forward to what comes next.
After GIOMH I pretty much lost interest for a while. I couldn't see what Brian had left to offer and although I enjoyed TLOS a bit (without listening too much to it) I didn't even listen to the Gershwin or Disney albums when they came out (partly due to low expectations and partly because I was so busy with other things in life). Two things changed for me:
1. The reunion and That's Why God Made the Radio - that made me take notice of Brian again, with good vocals, good performances etc.
2. My son got into Dumbo from 3-4 months old. I'd loved the film when I was young and put it on one day when he was due a nap and he was transfixed - he wasn't and isn't hugely into TV and doesn't sit through anything else for more than 5 minutes but he'll happily watch Dumbo right to the end. After rediscovering Dumbo I wondered if Brian had recorded anything from that on his Disney album, which led me to Baby Mine and then the whole album. His version of Baby Mine is fantastic and its a stunning vocal.
I might change the song choices slightly but by and large they're well-chosen, well produced and very well sung. My main complaint would be that 'A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes' was included only as a bonus track on some releases, which still puzzles me. It's one of the best recording of Brian's solo career - with the fantastic intro reminiscent of a sinister 'Sail on Sailor'.
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