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Classics Selected By Brian Wilson
''Classics selected by Brian Wilson'' is a compilation of songs by The Beach Boys and released through Capitol Records in mid-2002. It was compiled by Brian Wilson himself that February. It includes a new recording of an unreleased 1970s track, "California Feelin'" not by The Beach Boys but Wilson and his live band. Brian wrote in the liner notes: Wilson's choices tend to favor his ballads, from "Surfer Girl" and "The Warmth of the Sun" to his ''Pet Sounds'' and ''Smile'' material. Later song selections include "'Til I Die" and "Sail On, Sailor". ''Classics selected by Brian Wilson'' briefly made the US charts, reaching number 159 during a chart stay of 1 week. Track listing All tracks use stereo mixes available at the time. Thus, tracks 3, 9 and 10 are in mono. #"Surfer Girl" (Brian Wilson) – 2:26 #* "I have to include this one. The first song I ever wrote. I started humming it in my car, then finished it when I got home. It’s a very spiritual song. We recorded it a fe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American Rock music, rock band that formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The group's original lineup consisted of brothers Brian Wilson, Brian, Dennis Wilson, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Distinguished by their vocal harmony, vocal harmonies, adolescent-themed lyrics, and musical ingenuity, they are one of the most influential acts of the rock era. They drew on the music of traditional pop, older pop vocal groups, 1950s rock and roll, and black R&B to create their unique sound. Under Brian's direction, they often incorporated classical music, classical or jazz elements and Recording studio as an instrument, unconventional recording techniques in innovative ways. The Beach Boys began as a garage band, managed by the Wilsons' father Murry Wilson, Murry, with Brian serving as composer, arranger, producer, and ''de facto'' leader. In 1963, they enjoyed their first national hit with "Surfin' U.S.A.", beginning a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
'Til I Die
"Til I Die" is a song by American rock band the Beach Boys from their 1971 album '' Surf's Up'', subsequently issued as the B-side of the single "Long Promised Road". With autobiographical lyrics about death and hopelessness, it is one of the few songs in which both the words and music were written solely by Brian Wilson. An extended mix of the original recording, created by engineer Stephen Desper, was included on the 1998 '' Endless Harmony Soundtrack''. Background and composition Brian Wilson reportedly wrote Til I Die" while suffering from an existential crisis, having recently threatened to drive his car off the Santa Monica pier and ordered his gardener to dig a grave in his backyard. According to biographer David Leaf, these episodes were treated as jokes by Wilson's family and friends. In a November 1970 interview, Wilson discussed his daily routine of "go ngto bed in the early hours of the morning and sleep nguntil the early afternoon". He added: "I'm not unhappy with l ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Caroline, No
"Caroline, No" is a song by American musician Brian Wilson that was released as his first solo record on March 7, 1966 and, two months later, reissued as the closing track on the Beach Boys' album ''Pet Sounds''. Written with Tony Asher, the lyrics describe a disillusioned man who reflects on his aged, former love interest and the loss of her innocence. Musically, it is distinguished for its jazz chords and unusual combination of instruments, including bass flutes, 12-string electric guitar, and muted harpsichord. The words were inspired by a past girlfriend of Asher's named Carol Amen. He initially conceived the title phrase as "Carol, I Know", misheard by Wilson as "Caroline, No". Other reports, which Wilson disputed, variously suggest that the song was written about himself, his former schoolmate Carol Mountain, or his then-wife Marilyn. Asher credited the impetus for the song to Wilson's disappointment with "sweet little girls" who grow up into "bitchy hardened adults". Wils ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
The Pet Sounds Sessions
''The Pet Sounds Sessions'' is a 4- CD box set by the American rock band the Beach Boys. Released on November 4, 1997 by Capitol Records, it compiles tracks from the group's 11th studio album '' Pet Sounds'' (1966) and its 1965–66 recording sessions. The entire album is included in its original mono mix, as well as a specially-created digital stereo mix. The set also contains instrumental tracks, vocals-only tracks, alternate mixes, and edited highlights from the recording sessions for many of the album's songs, along with several tracks not included on the album. The box set was nominated for Best Historical Album at the Grammy Awards of 1999. In 2011, it was followed by '' The Smile Sessions'', a similar compilation devoted to the recording of the Beach Boys' unfinished '' Smile'' project. Background Original producer Brian Wilson writes in the liner notes to ''The Pet Sounds Sessions'': Compiler David Leaf explains the purpose of the new compilation: "The first three C ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Tony Asher
Anthony D. Asher (born May 2, 1939) is an English-American songwriter and advertising copywriter who is best known for his collaborations with Brian Wilson (of the Beach Boys) and Roger Nichols in the 1960s. Asher co-wrote eight songs on the Beach Boys' 1966 album ''Pet Sounds'', including the singles "God Only Knows", "Wouldn't It Be Nice", and "Caroline, No". According to Asher, he mainly served as a lyricist for Wilson's songs, but in some cases also contributed musical ideas. Asher also composed jingles, such as Mattel's slogan "You can tell it's Mattel—it's swell!", and contributed songs to ''The Partridge Family''. Background Tony Asher was born in London on May 2, 1939, the son of American actress Laura La Plante and film producer Irving Asher. He and his mother moved to Los Angeles before he was six months old, while Irving remained in England to serve in the US Army during World War II. As a child, Asher played piano and composed. He graduated from UCLA with a degree i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
God Only Knows
"God Only Knows" is a song by American rock band the Beach Boys from their 1966 album '' Pet Sounds''. Written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher, it is a Baroque-style love song distinguished for its harmonic innovation and its subversion of typical pop music formula. It is often praised as one of the greatest songs ever written and as the Beach Boys' finest record. The song's musical sophistication is demonstrated by its three contrapuntal vocal parts and weak tonal center (competing between the keys of E and A). Lyrically, the words are expressed from the perspective of a narrator who asserts that life without their lover could only be fathomed by God—an entity that had been considered taboo to name in the title or lyric of a pop song. It marked a departure for Wilson, who attributed the impetus for the song to Asher's affinity for standards such as " Stella by Starlight". Some commentators interpret "God Only Knows" as promoting suicidal ideations, although such an interp ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Endless Harmony Soundtrack
''Endless Harmony Soundtrack'' is an anthology album of previously unheard material by The Beach Boys, originally released by Capitol Records in August 1998. Named for Bruce Johnston's song on the 1980 album ''Keepin' the Summer Alive'', it was designed as a tie-in with the band's biographical documentary of the same name. The soundtrack was re-issued in March 2000 with some remixing and different artwork (European pressings retained the original mixes), while the original 1998 edition (with the orange/yellow cover) went out of print shortly thereafter. Background The ''Endless Harmony'' project was undertaken shortly after the death of founding member Carl Wilson, who died of lung cancer in February 1998. At this point, Brian Wilson decided that the band was officially finished and disassociated himself from any further group activity. At odds with Mike Love for continuing after Carl's passing, Al Jardine did the same. Both Love and Bruce Johnston (with their accompanying con ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
California Girls
"California Girls" is a song by the American rock band the Beach Boys from their 1965 album, '' Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)''. Written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, the lyrics detail an appreciation for women across the world and a wish that they all lived in the band's home state, California. It was released as a single, backed with " Let Him Run Wild", and reached number 3 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. It was also a top 10 hit in several other countries, becoming one of the band's most successful songs globally. Wilson conceived "California Girls" during his first acid trip while thinking about women and Western film scores. The song is distinguished for its orchestral prelude, layered vocals, and chromaticism. Wilson later referred to it as "a hymn to youth", the Beach Boys' "anthem", and his favorite record by the group, although he remained dissatisfied with their vocal performance. It was the band's first recording with touring musician Bruce Johnston, who was not ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gary Usher
Gary Lee Usher (December 14, 1938 – May 25, 1990) was an American rock musician, songwriter, and record producer, who worked with numerous California acts in the 1960s, including the Byrds, the Beach Boys, and Dick Dale. Usher also produced fictitious surf groups or hot rod groups, mixing studio session musicians with his own troops ( Chuck Girard, Dick Burns and others). These bands included the Super-Stocks, with the hot-rod song "Midnight Run", and the Kickstands. Death Usher died of lung cancer at his home in his hometown of Los Angeles, California, on May 25, 1990 at the age of 51. Selected discography Production *''Go Little Honda'' (1964, The Hondells) *''Hondells'' (1964, The Hondells) *''Hit City '65'' (1965, The Surfaris) *''It Ain't Me, Babe'' (1965, The Surfaris) *''In Action'' (1966, Keith Allison) *''An Esoteric Qabalistic Service'' (1966, Rev. Ann Davies with the Builders of the Adytum Choir) *'' Gene Clark with the Gosdin Brothers'' (1967, Gene Clark) *'' Yo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
In My Room (song)
"In My Room" is a song written by Brian Wilson and Gary Usher for the American rock band the Beach Boys. It was released on their 1963 album ''Surfer Girl''. It was also released as the B-side of the "Be True to Your School" single. The single peaked at number 23 in the U.S. (the A-side peaked at number 6, for a two-sided top-40) and was eventually inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. "In My Room" was ranked number 212 on ''Rolling Stone's'' list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Writing the song The song is written in the key of B major and features a flat VII A major chord. Gary Usher explained that Gary Usher (who co-wrote the song with Brian Wilson) further describes that "Brian was always saying that his room was his whole world." Brian seconds this opinion: "I had a room, and I thought of it as my kingdom. And I wrote that song, very definitely, that you're not afraid when you're in your room. It's absolutely true." In 1990, Brian wrote, Demo ve ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Don't Worry, Baby
"Don't Worry Baby" is a song by American rock band the Beach Boys from their March 1964 album ''Shut Down Volume 2''. Written by Brian Wilson and Roger Christian, Wilson's lead vocal on the track is considered one of his defining performances, and he later referred to "Don't Worry Baby" as perhaps the Beach Boys' finest record. It was issued in May 1964 as the B-side of "I Get Around", and charted separately at number 24. Deriving from Wilson's obsession with the Ronettes' 1963 hit "Be My Baby", "Don't Worry Baby" has a similar musical structure, but different subject matter and production approach. The lyrics portray a braggadocian man who agrees to a drag race, much to his regret, and is subsequently consoled by his girlfriend with the song's title phrase. The song was originally offered to the Ronettes, but was rejected by their producer, Phil Spector, leaving Wilson to produce it for his own band. On the recording, all of the Beach Boys played their own instruments. "Don't ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
I Get Around
"I Get Around" is a song by American rock band the Beach Boys and the opening track from their 1964 album '' All Summer Long''. Written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, the autobiographical lyrics describe the group's reaction to their newfound fame and success, as well as their restlessness concerning the '' status quo'', and their desire to find new places "where the kids are hip". It was released as a single on May 11, 1964, with the B-side "Don't Worry Baby". The single became the Beach Boys' first chart-topping hit in the U.S., as well as America's first number-one hit by a homeland group in eight months. It represented both a successful response to the British Invasion and the beginning of an unofficial rivalry between Wilson and the Beatles. The single also topped the Canadian charts and reached the top ten in the UK, New Zealand, and Sweden. In 2017, "I Get Around" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Background "I Get Around" was written by Brian Wilson and Mike Lo ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
