Here Today! The Songs Of Brian Wilson Various Artists (Songwriter Series)

£11.70

Genre:
Pop
Label:
Ace Records
Format:
CD
Catalogue Id:
CDCHD 1445

This product is also available in these versions:
Here Today! The Songs Of Brian Wilson, LP (£23.45)

Interpretations of six “Pet Sounds” compositions are among the highlights of this celebration of Brian Wilson’s songwriting genius.

It’s hard to believe 12 years have passed since “Pet Projects: The Brian Wilson Productions”, one of the first releases in our much-admired Producers series. Not before time, Wilson now joins such greats as Randy Newman, Laura Nyro, Goffin & King, Dan Penn, Bacharach & David, Jackie DeShannon and Serge Gainsbourg in our high-profile Songwriters series.

The record industry mindset of the early 60s was to maximise output from any successful group, and Wilson often worked with co-writers in order to meet the demand for Beach Boys product. His earliest writing partners were Gary Usher and Mike Love, both of whom provided a streetwise confidence that to some extent eluded him. The songs he wrote with Usher, Love and others such as Roger Christian and Jan Berry extolled the hedonistic joys of Californian teenage life with such verve that it was taken up all over the world. He wrote mainly for the Beach Boys but also for others and for the teen film industry, providing summer lifestyle numbers for a seemingly insatiable market, but once he stopped performing live with the Beach Boys in late 1964, his songwriting moved into deeper, richer, more adult themes. While he invariably wrote the music, it’s often assumed his co-writers provided the lyrics, but it was never as clear-cut as that. A case in point is his work with Tony Asher for “Pet Sounds”, which arose from intimate chats about the personal relationship issues that underpin the album. Here we offer fine examples from all these stages and beyond, illustrating Wilson’s greatness as both a collaborative and individual songwriter.

The collection opens with ‘Do You Have Any Regrets?’ by Darian Sahanaja of the Wondermints, a rare composition from Wilson’s unissued “Sweet Insanity” album of the early 90s. While Wilson’s version was a rather frantic latin-styled piece, Sahanaja’s recording is a homage to the 1965-era Beach Boys. Along with collectable tracks by Johnny Wells, Basil Swift, the Castells, Joey & the Continentals, Keith Green and Peggy March, Sahanaja’s luxuriant cover makes its legit CD debut here. Other highlights include superb interpretations of songs from “Pet Sounds” by Kirsty MacColl, Carmen McRae, Nick DeCaro, Betty Everett, Bobby Vee and Louis Philippe. Those who own a copy of MacColl’s harmony-drenched ‘You Still Believe In Me’ single might have noticed a message etched into the run-off groove: God Bless Brian, a sentiment seconded by all lovers of great music.

Kingsley Abbott, Mick Patrick and Harvey Williams

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Track listing

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Side 1

  • 01 Preview Do You Have Any Regrets? - Darian Sahanaja

  • 02 Preview Here Today - Bobby Vee

  • 03 Preview Guess I'm Dumb - Johnny Wells

  • 04 Preview Don't Worry Baby - The Tokens

  • 05 Preview Farmer's Daughter - Basil Swift & The Seegrams

  • 06 Preview Help Me Rhonda - Bruce & Terry

  • 07 Preview I Do - The Castells

  • 08 Preview The New Girl In School - Jan & Dean

  • 09 Preview Time To Get Alone - Redwood

  • 10 Preview Don't Hurt My Little Sister - The Surfaris

  • 11 Preview My Buddy Seat - The Hondells

  • 12 Preview Move Out, Little Mustang - Rally-Packs

  • 13 Preview She Rides With Me - Joey & The Continentals

  • 14 Preview The Girl From New York City - Tony Rivers & The Castaways

  • 15 Preview Surf City - The Tymes

  • 16 Preview My First Love - The Super Stocks

  • 17 Preview Things Are Changing - Jay & The Americans

  • 18 Preview Girl Don't Tell Me - Keith Green

  • 19 Preview Aren't You Glad - Peggy March

  • 20 Preview God Only Knows - Betty Everett

  • 21 Preview Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) - Carmen McRae

  • 22 Preview Good Vibrations - Hugo Montenegro

  • 23 Preview Caroline, No - Nick DeCaro

  • 24 Preview I Just Wasn't Made For These Times - Louis Philippe with Dean Brodrick

  • 25 Preview You Still Believe In Me - Kirsty MacColl

Delivery & Returns

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We offer free P&P to UK addresses. For all other territories packaging is free and postage is charged on a weight basis.

We use Royal Mail First Class for UK deliveries and standard Air Mail for all other territories, very large orders will usually be sent via parcelforce. You may cancel your order at any time prior to your order being dispatched by emailing us at orders@acerecords.com ensuring that you quote your name, address and order reference number or by telephoning +44 (0) 208 453 1311 between 9am and 5pm GMT/BST, Monday to Friday. Please note: As music downloads are dispatched immediately after purchase, there is no possibility of cancelling these orders.

In the event that any products supplied to you by us are damaged or defective, we agree to replace or repair the damaged or defective products or refund the amount you paid for such goods (including postage & packaging) providing you notify us (either via post at or e-mail: orders@acerecords.com ) and return the goods within 28 days of purchase. Physical goods should be sent back to us in the same condition you received them to: “Returns” Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the e-mail address above including a copy of your notification.

You have the right to cancel your order within seven days of purchase, or seven days of receipt of the goods (whichever is the longer). If you choose to cancel your order, full payment will be returned to you. Returned items should be sent to: “Returns” c/o Ace Records, Such Close, Letchworth Garden City SG6 1JF, United Kingdom. Music downloads should be returned to us via the email address: orders@acerecords.com including a copy of your notice of cancellation and order number.

Press quotes

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★★★★

Mojo

A recommended supplement to anyone's Beach Boy's collection

Ugly Things

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