"Brian's Back" is a song by American rock band

the Beach Boys The Beach Boys are an American Rock music, rock band 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 their f ...

that was recorded in two versions during the sessions for Love's unreleased solo album ''First Love'' and the Beach Boys' 1979 album ''

L.A. (Light Album) ''L.A. (Light Album)'' is the 23rd studio album by the American rock band the Beach Boys, released on March 16, 1979, and their first issued through Sony Music, CBS Records. Recorded during a period of acrimony between the band members, it was a ...

''. Written by

Mike Love Michael Edward Love (born March 15, 1941) is an American singer and songwriter who is one of the vocalists of the Beach Boys, of which he was an original member alongside his cousins Brian Wilson, Dennis Wilson, and Carl Wilson and their frien ...

and produced by Paul Fauerso, the song addresses the " Brian Is Back!" media campaign from 1976. The players on the ''First Love'' version included

Carl Wilson Carl Dean Wilson (December 21, 1946 – February 6, 1998) was an American musician, singer, and songwriter who co-founded the Beach Boys. He was their lead guitarist, the youngest sibling of bandmates Brian Wilson, Brian and Dennis Wilson, ...

Ron Altbach Ronald Steven Altbach (December 24, 1946 – February 21, 2023) was an American keyboardist and songwriter who co-founded French-American rock band King Harvest, and played the Wurlitzer electric piano intro on their single " Dancing in the Moon ...

Dave Somerville David Troy Somerville (October 2, 1933 – July 14, 2015) was a Canadian singer best known as the co-founder, and original lead singer, of The Diamonds, one of the most popular vocal groups of the 1950s. Biography Born in Guelph, Ontario, So ...

, and

Jerry Donahue Jerry Donahue (born September 24, 1946, Manhattan, New York City) is an American guitarist and producer primarily known for his work in the British folk rock scene as a member of Fotheringay and Fairport Convention as well as being a member of ...

. Following

Brian Wilson Brian Douglas Wilson (June 20, 1942 – June 11, 2025) was an American musician, songwriter, singer and record producer who co-founded the Beach Boys. Often Brian Wilson is a genius, called a genius for his novel approaches to pop compositio ...

's passing,

shared a tribute film by filmmaker Noven Jaisi—featuring the song—on his social media and at his live shows.

Background and lyrics

wrote the song as a response to the " Brian Is Back!" publicity campaign that had surrounded

and the release of the group's 1976 album ''

15 Big Ones ''15 Big Ones'' is the 20th studio album by the American rock band the Beach Boys, released July 5, 1976, by Brother/Reprise. It includes a mix of original songs and renditions of rock 'n' roll and R&B standards. The LP was the band's first a ...

''. Love wrote in his memoir, Besides his work with the Beach Boys and his side band Celebration, Love also recorded two solo albums in October and November 1978. ''First Love'' was produced by Love's Celebration collaborator Paul Fauerso and featured original songs by Love and vocals from cousin and Beach Boys bandmate Carl Wilson. ''Country Love'' was a

country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. When referring to a specific polity, the term "country" may refer to a sovereign state, state with limited recognition, constituent country, ...

album produced by

Al Perkins Al Perkins (born January 18, 1944) is an American guitarist known primarily for his steel guitar work. The Gibson guitar company called Perkins "the world's most influential Dobro player" and began producing an "Al Perkins Signature" Dobro in 2 ...

pedal steel guitar The pedal steel guitar is a console steel guitar with pedals and knee levers that change the pitch of certain strings, enabling more varied and complex music to be played than with other steel guitar designs. Like all steel guitars, it can play ...

ist formerly of

The Flying Burrito Brothers The Flying Burrito Brothers are an American country rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1968, best known for their influential 1969 debut album, ''The Gilded Palace of Sin''. Although the group is known for its connection to band f ...

and

Manassas Manassas (), formerly Manassas Junction, is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. The population was 42,772 at the 2020 Census. It is the county seat of Prince William County, although the two are separate jurisdi ...

) and mostly featured original songs written by Love. Both albums were not released but were later bootlegged; Love later revisited and re-recorded several songs from ''First Love'' later in his solo career and with The Beach Boys. Two versions of "Brian's Back" were recorded: a solo version (with a guest appearance from Carl) intended for ''First Love'' and a Beach Boys version, intended for their 1979 album ''

''. The lyrics contain references to "

Fun, Fun, Fun "Fun, Fun, Fun" is a song by the American rock band the Beach Boys from their 1964 album '' Shut Down Volume 2''. Written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, it is one of their early songs that defined the idyllic pop aesthetic later dubbed the " Ca ...

", "

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 f ...

", "

Good Vibrations "Good Vibrations" is a song by the American rock music, rock band the Beach Boys, produced and composed by Brian Wilson with lyrics by Mike Love. Released as a single on October 10, 1966, it achieved immediate critical and commercial success, ...

", and ''

Pet Sounds ''Pet Sounds'' is the eleventh studio album by the American Rock music, rock band the Beach Boys, released on May 16, 1966, by Capitol Records. It was produced, arranged, and primarily composed by Brian Wilson with guest lyricist Tony Asher. R ...

''.

Personnel

Partial credits for Mike Love's solo version intended for the unreleased album ''First Love''. *

- lead vocals *

- co-lead and additional vocals * Paul Fauerso - vocals, producer *

- vocals *

- guitar

Release

"Brian's Back" was considered for inclusion on a Mike Love solo album, ''First Love'', which was never released. Instead, the track was first released on the 1998 compilation ''

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 w ...

''. In 2013, an alternate mix was included on the box set ''

Made in California ''Made in California (1962–2012)'' is a compilation album, compilation box set by the Beach Boys, released on August 27, 2013. The set, released through Capitol Records, was designed by Mark London in a form emulating a high school yearbook. Th ...

''. The Beach Boys' version remains unreleased.

References

External links

* {{15 Big Ones Songs written by Mike Love The Beach Boys songs 1979 songs Songs about the Beach Boys Songs based on actual events

Background and lyrics

Personnel

Release

See also

References

External links