Top 10 best song Brian wrote post- 1980

[Chris Brown]

I almost went with "Still I Dream of It" piano demo but Melt Away just barely eeeked it out...that demo just kills me though each time I hear it.  It hits especially hard too in the IJWMFTT doc when it plays along to videos of young Brian and seeing how happy he used to be.  Devistating. 

[monkee knutz]

Not necessarily in this order-
Rio Grande
Thank You (there's not a better one that's from deeper in that man's heart- 'crazy beatings by my father'- terribly sad. WOW.)
Don't Let Her Know She's An Angel (too many synths on Sweet Insanity, the flute kills the GIOMH version, but amazing song!)
Lay Down Burden (again, too many synths & programming)
One For the Boys

[I. Spaceman]

You know, I was gonna say Thank You, but I got embarrassed.
That song never fails to bring a tear to my eye. I love it.

[monkee knutz]

Might hit too close to home, but I'd love to see him do that one live in concert. Every word of it is so fitting. So true, it almost hurts. Glad you like it too, Mr. W.  I think I'll put that on right now.

[carlydenise2]

Lay Down Burden
Your Imagination
Dream Angel
Where has love been
Love and Mercy

and a nod to "Let's Go To Heaven In My Car" (and yes, I do like this song!)

[Andy B]

Here we gp

1) Love & Mercy (from BW 88 - i love the extended vocal bridge thing, with the mass of voices. Makes the grade despite the synths!)
2) This Isn't Love (from the Roxy - This blew mw away, thought it was so much better than anything off Imagination.)
3) Rio Grande (Brians band need to re-cut this, or at least do a live version)
4) The Waltz (just love the whole sound, the fiddle, the words)
5) Getting In Over My Head (from the Paley sessions - i know that Paley wrote a lot of the music for this one, but it is still an absolute beauty of a song, great production and arrangement, far better than the official released one)

But there are loads more, especially if you count the Adult Child stuff.

[SurferGirl7]

1. You've Touched Me
2. Fairy Tale
3. Imagination
4. Baby Let Your Hair Grow Long
5. This Isn't Love

[Old Rake]

In No Particular Order:

Chain Reaction of Love
Still a Mystery
Walkin' The Line
The "IJWMFTT" version of "Love and Mercy"
Rio Grande

Im' not counting anything from Smile deliberately -- I'd have to pick 5 Smile songs, and that's not fair.

[wesi72]

Let It Shine
Love & Mercy
Lay Down Burden
Happy Days
Melt Away

[the captain]

Let It Shine

Really? Wow, I never thought I'd live to see the day.

[Peter Reum]

Nice Topic

Meet Me In My Dreams Tonight
Rio Grande
Lay Down Burden
Getting In Over My Head
This Isn't Love

No Smile-it's a unified work

[wesi72]

Let It Shine

Really? Wow, I never thought I'd live to see the day.

I always liked Jeff Lynne/ELO. That's probably why I like this one. Believe it or not, when I listen to the BW88 album, this is the track I repeat a couple of times before moving on. The chord structure is really catchy (IMO). Brian's vocal is spot on as well.

[I. Spaceman]

I agree mightily. Wonderful song, no matter who wrote it.
The next track was an Andy Paley tune, Meet Me In My Dreams Tonight, and that's a great one too.

[Susan]

As i said in the "unreleased BW/BB songs" thread, it's wonderful to see Andy's stuff mentioned so often.  It's some of Brian's best post-88 work, imho.

[I. Spaceman]

I definitely agree, and I would point to the relative lack of quality in Brian's recent non-SMiLE work to his disappearance.

[Susan]

Maybe not entirely, Ian, but...there's a lack of *something* since Andy's been gone.

Lack of...structure?  point?  substance?  I'm not finding the right word...

[I. Spaceman]

Lack of correct Beach Boys imitation/influence with punchy choruses and arrngements, and memorable intros and outros.

[Susan]

Lack of correct Beach Boys imitation/influence with punchy choruses and arrngements, and memorable intros and outros.

LOL!  Not to put too fine a point on it.

I think Andy brought more than that, tho; he made it possible for Brian to just have fun.  His current band does, too, but it seems like there's something that holds Brian back.  I don't sense that with the Paley material that we have...there's an unfettered feeling to the fun in the music to go along with the strong sense of Beach Boy-ness. 

[I. Spaceman]

I think that may be because his current crew leave a lot of responsibility with Brian, whereas Paley picked up the slack whenever Brian didn't feel like contributing. When it comes down to it, Brian is kind of a lazy guy these days, though who could blame him.

[Eric Aniversario]

Just off the top of my head...there's some I may be forgetting:

1. Palm Tree And Moon
2. My Hobo Heart
3. This Town Goes Down At Sunset
4. Sail Away
5. Your Imagination

If OCA doesn't count, then...

1. Your Imagination
2. Marketplace
3. Sunshine
4. This Song Wants To Sleep With You Tonight
5. On Christmas Day
6. Rio Grande

Good vibes,
Eric

[JRauch]

  Aahh, finally someone who digs "Sunshine". Great song with a great coda.

[HighOnLife]

I'll say...

1. Melt Away
2. This Isn't Love
3. Sail Away w/VDP
4. Imagination
5. Baby, Let Your Hair Grow Long

Honorary Mentions:

Love and Mercy, Lay Down Burden, Orange Crate Art w/VDP, Desert Drive, Let It Shine

[the captain]

I like City Blues, but I prefer the piano/vocal version on the hamburger tapes.

Jason, as I listen to that version, I can't say I find it to be a superior version. To me, it's an interesting demo performance of a guy working out a song. I mean, he's still fumbling with lyrics, he stops on one chord to just repeat the main feel, possibly getting his bearings...great historical item. But not a releasable recording in any other context.

[Ken.W]

In no particular order:

Rio Grande
San Francisco (With VDP)
Cry
Your Imagination (A Cappella)
Walking Down The Path Of Life / Love & Mercy

[zeroninety]

Baby Let Your Hair Grow Long
Fairy Tale
Too Much Sugar
There's So Many

and possibly my favorite,
Being With the One You Love