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Product Description
Review
It’s only right to be sceptical when approaching this album. Just how has Brian Wilson, former leading light of The Beach Boys, approached these songs that have, largely, been covered so many times since they were written back in the 1920s and 30s? But any qualms are soon dispelled by his engaging performances and the imaginative arrangements, ones that remain faithful to the spirit of their melodic and harmonic core values.
This whole selection is infused with a sunny and carefree joie de vivre, emblematic of his roots as lead singer with The Beach Boys, particularly during their early years. The album opens (and closes) with an a cappella arrangement of Rhapsody in Blue, but what follows is of greater interest: a new song that Brian and his team have reconstructed from source material loaned by Warner Chappell Music, the publishers of the Gershwin songbook. The Like in I Love You is an absolute charmer, with a turn of phrase typical of Ira Gershwin: "You reached into my heart / and found the music of my soul / the pain in painting / the muse in music / the like in I love you". He then sings four songs from Porgy and Bess: a burnished Summertime; I Loves You, Porgy, normally sung by Bess to him, but very effective in this translation; a jaunty I Got Plenty o’Nuttin’, with the arrangement including washboard and banjo playing up its southern roots; and It Ain’t Necessarily So, delivered with a nonchalant ironic detachment.
A little instrumental codicil, an arrangement of the Piano Prelude No. 2, segues into a Latin treatment of ‘S Wonderful, one of the many instances where Wilson is joined by an expert mixed vocal group. Later this ensemble has a whale of a time imitating The Beach Boys in They Can’t Take That Away From Me and in the gently swinging Love Is Here to Stay, replete with doo-wah harmonies. The rock’n’roll accompaniment to I’ve Got a Crush On You and the good vibrations of I Got Rhythm both recall earlier vocal groups like The Platters. Nothing But Love, the second Gershwin ‘find’, is given a contemporary work out in a party style, the modulation at the halfway point recognisably Gershwin.
The imaginative artwork, of a black and white keyboard splintering into different colours, emphasises the feel-good factor of this winning collection of songs and arrangements done with great style.
--Adrian EdwardsFind more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
CD Description
Brian Wilson continues to experiment with Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin. This album includes Wilson's interpretations of classic Gershwin numbers such as "Rhapsody in Blue", "Summertime" and "Someone to Watch Over Me". He's also gone further, completing unfinished Gershwin music to create the songs "The Like in I Love You" and "Nothing but Love".
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
49 of 52 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Brian Wilson takes on Gershwin classics and develops some unfinished tunes to deliver a tribute to Gershwin in his own inimitable way. The album gets off to a great start with the multi-layered vocals on 'Rhapsody In Blue (Intro)' comparable to the 'SMILE' opener 'Our prayer', and along with the first of the newly completed numbers 'The Like In I Love You' gives a positive start to the album. Wilson goes back to his roots with a lot of the classics songs his mother Audrey played him in his early years which clearly influenced him throughout his career in his singing, compositions and productions. Through choosing the songs within his register, Brian sings very solidly throughout but a few of the clasic Gershwin songs are a little too shmaltzy, in my opinion. 'I Got Plenty Of Nothin' is a very good track with a SMiLE-esque style and is very catchy, and the other new song 'Nothing But Love' is a typical Wilson song with great backing and harmonies from his band. Throughout the album the production is good and though he does some fairly radical interpretations of some of the songs, I get the feeling that he has really played it a little too safe. The album is very accessible and I wouldn't be surpised if it got a Grammy, and almost all Brian Wilson fans will find a lot to enjoy. It is yet another fine album from the 68 year old genius, as he takes a trip down memory lane.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Forget the processed facsimiles that pass for music these days, get into this - a true meeting of icons. Top notch musicians playing and singing that will take you places Rod Stewart never could in a million years. It's inventive, fun and above all vindication that Brian Wilson still has the ability to deliver high quality work. Best tracks? Take your pick, there's plenty to choose from here - "They Can't Take That Away From Me" and "Nothing But Love" certainly fit the bill. Have no doubts, this is quality stuff, and with a tour due in the UK next year with the entire album performed live, there's a lot more to look forward to.
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This blend of Gershwin and Wilson can best be described as "Pet Sounds meets SMiLE meets Gershwin classics". The unmistakeable Beach Boys sound adds new life to these great Jazz standards, particularly 'I Loves You, Porgy', 'They Can't Take that Away From Me', 'Summertime', and 'Someone to Watch Over Me'. Although Wilson's voice hasn't survived the decades as well as say Paul Mccartney, he adds that quality (harmonies/angelic melody) that makes all his work so listenable. A different approach to some of Gershwin's best output, this album is definitely for anyone who has at any point felt warm inside listening to the Beach Boys or Brian Wilson's SMiLE.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Good-ish In Places Yet Misses The Mark
Some very good intelligent revues expressing many similar feelings to my own; i.e. the 'negatives' of Brians voice labouring somewhat as highlighted for instance on 'It Ain't... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Brian Newbould
Surprisingly S'Wonderful!
Like many I suspect, fans and non-fans alike, my initial reaction to the album title - 'Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin' was "WHAT?-OH NO!". Read more
Published 9 months ago by Brian Stephen Hunt
Sunshine Pop Revisited
A variant of thie sleeve has been issued on the Larry Adler tribute The Glory of Gershwin but its by far not a new thing to adapt the songs for the next generation. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Richard
Some good. Some not so good
This album is a real mixture. There are some brilliant tracks but there are some tuneless ones where the timing and vocals are literally monotonous. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mickey Blue
The Beach Boy does Gershwin
When I saw this release whilst browsing my immediate reaction was "what and who?". its difficult to think of a stranger combination, but it's the best fun i've had from Brian... Read more
Published 12 months ago by David Mills
s'wonderful
Before hearing this I found it hard to imagine how Brian Wilson would reimagine such well known material in any new way. Read more
Published 17 months ago by elmsvendor
Brian Wilson does Gershwin
Recently brought this as a birthday present, I love Brian Wilsons music , the Beach Boys maestro has really come into his own and really experiencing a renaissance at the moment... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Regsboy
A pleasant listen
As a fan of Brian Wilson of over forty years this is not by any strech among his best work.He is an undoubted Musical Giant and i would hope to hear more to come. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Neil
Gershwin with Colours and Textures
The more I hear this album the more I like it! There are a couple of things I'm not sure about, though. Read more
Published 18 months ago
Brian is the Best
Founder of The Beach Boys....
I love this man, i REALLY do.....Loved him since i was 8!! (im in my 50s now)Seen him live TWICE. Read more
I love this man, i REALLY do.....Loved him since i was 8!! (im in my 50s now)Seen him live TWICE. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Cardigan Lady
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