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Track Listings
| 1. That Lucky Old Sun |
| 2. Morning Beat |
| 3. Narrative: Room With A View |
| 4. Good Kind Of Love |
| 5. Forever She'll Be My Surfer Girl |
| 6. Narrative: Venice Beach |
| 7. Live Let Live/That Lucky Old Sun (Reprise) Medley |
| 8. Mexican Girl |
| 9. Narrative: Cinco De Mayo |
| 10. California Role/That Lucky Old Sun (Reprise) Medley |
| 11. Narrative: Between Pictures |
| 12. Oxygen To The Brain |
| 13. Can't Wait Too Long |
| 14. Midnight's Another Day |
| 15. That Lucky Old Sun (Reprise) |
| 16. Going Home |
| 17. Southern California/That Lucky Old Sun (Reprise) Medley |
Product Description
Review
When, in 1963, Ray Charles recorded the 1949 standard, That Lucky Old Sun, he nailed the real pain behind the lyric: the underdog's dream of an end to the trouble, strife and misfortune of a life spent in servitude and humiliation. Beach Boy Brian Wilson's take on it is somewhat different. Used as a recurring theme to his series of 'rounds' reflecting the passing of a Californian day it's given a Four Freshmen, barbershop blandness that's totally at odds with the heartache it was meant to convey. If there's a sadness anywhere on this album it's in the places where he pines for lost friends, family and non-existant 'Surfer Girls'. All of which begs the question; do we really need more of the airbrushed, idealised California, no matter how couched in sun-kissed harmonies and adolescent innocence it may be? This time, maybe not...
This nostalgic aspect has been used too often. That Lucky Old Sun - premiered last year on London's South Bank - is a romp by a 66-year-old through halcyon days that never existed. When he says ''when you wake up here you wake up everywhere'' it's the sound of a man who's bought into a myth of Los Angeles: one that undoubtedly contributed to him losing touch with reality in the mid-60s. How else could he perform something as trite as Mexican Girl ("Girl, you cast a net/On the day we met")? It's certainly a different vision of immigrant LA compared to that of Ry Cooder on his Chavez Ravine album.
As ever, the Wondermints revive the sound of Wilson's ideal Beach Boys (without the griping of Mike Love, for starters) and they somehow manage to do justice to the legacy of lost brothers Carl and Dennis. But you can't help thinking that they're giving us a photocopy of the idea of the band.
Luckily, Wilson employs genius wordsmith Van Dyke Parks to toughen things up a notch, though his imagery on the spoken interludes sounds sound oddly gruff and stilted compared with the sunny eulogising going on elsewhere. ''Hucksters, hustlers and hawkers/set up their boardwalk shops/ Home for all the homeless hopeless/Well heeled and deranged'' or ''Pumps Drunk with oil/Dance like prehistoric locusts on the hills to L.A.X'', indeed.
None of this makes That Lucky Old Sun an unmitigated disaster. Wilson IS a genius, and there are still enough touches of that melodic brilliance to keep interest alive. But something this pat will never join the ranks of Smile or Pet Sounds. Yet to still have a Wilson in any kind of operating form is probably good enough for now. --Chris Jones
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
Uncut, September 2008 issue
There are few other albums this year with as much force, verve and sheer musical imagination as 'That Lucky Old Sun'.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The unimaginable has happened, and Brian Wilson has created a new masterpiece, with his latest album (a heartfelt tribute to the mythic Los Angeles of his youth). "That Lucky Old Sun" is a worthy successor to both "Pet Sounds" and "Smile", and contains the familiar layered harmonies and glorious melodies of Brian's previous greatest works, plus some of the same quirkiness as "Smile". Those unfamiliar with Brian's recent work may need a couple of plays to adjust to his current sound, and the brief narrative sections that were written by "Smile" co-creator Van Dyke Parks. However, everything flows together well, and the album is Brian's most accessible and tuneful creation since the beginning of his solo career. The resulting effect is extremely uplifting. Much of the success of the album is due to Brian's supremely-talented backing band - most especially lyricist Scott Bennett (who also helped with the production). As far as the songs go, there is not one weak link, and a wide variety of musical styles are incorporated. Personal favourites include "Forever She'll Be My Surfer Girl" and "Good Kind of Love" on which blonde vocalist Taylor Mills particularly shines (in 2007 Taylor released a fine solo album of her own, titled "Lullagoodbye"). A real highpoint of "That Lucky Old Sun" is the stunning "Midnight's Another Day"- a powerful and moving ballad, which many consider to be Brian's greatest song since "Surf's Up". The album concludes with the sublime harmonies of another true gem in "Southern California". "That Lucky Old Sun" is an album to purchase and treasure, and one to listen to regularly in its entirety. The accompanying DVD includes interviews with Brian and all of the long-term male members of his highly likeable band. It also contains live performances of two of the album tracks, "Good Kind of Love" and "Forever She'll Be My Surfer Girl".
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Brian Wilson's solo career has been a fairly mixed affair with the triumphant return of Smile or the likes of Rio Grande mixed in with some poor (by his standards) album tracks.
Lucky Old Sun, however, is a great return to form for pop music's greatest composer. First performed at the Royal Festival Hall, the album version is solid from start to finish from the instant classic of "Midnight's another day" to the Beach Boys-like "Morning Beat". The spoken narratives (written by Van Dyke Parks) don't detract from the music and instead complement Brian and Scott Bennetts creation.
This is probably more accessible than "Smile" was as it's a much more coherent piece where Smile was such a leap that nobody has done anything like it since.
Brian's & Beach Boys fans will love this album and it deserves a listen or two from everybody else to.
Lucky Old Sun, however, is a great return to form for pop music's greatest composer. First performed at the Royal Festival Hall, the album version is solid from start to finish from the instant classic of "Midnight's another day" to the Beach Boys-like "Morning Beat". The spoken narratives (written by Van Dyke Parks) don't detract from the music and instead complement Brian and Scott Bennetts creation.
This is probably more accessible than "Smile" was as it's a much more coherent piece where Smile was such a leap that nobody has done anything like it since.
Brian's & Beach Boys fans will love this album and it deserves a listen or two from everybody else to.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
The unimaginable has happened, and Brian Wilson has created a new masterpiece, with his latest album (a heartfelt tribute to the mythic Los Angeles of his youth). "That Lucky Old Sun" is a worthy successor to both "Pet Sounds" and "Smile", and contains the familiar layered harmonies and glorious melodies of Brian's previous greatest works, plus some as the same quirkiness as "Smile". Those unfamiliar with Brian's recent work, may need a couple of plays to adjust to the current sound of his voice, and the brief narrative sections that were written by "Smile" co-creator Van Dyke Parks. However, everything flows together well, and the album is Brian's most accessible and tuneful creation since the beginning of his solo career. The resulting effect is extremely uplifting. Much of the success of the album is due to Brian's supremely talented backing band - most especially lyricist Scott Bennett (who also helped with the production). As far as the songs go, there is not one weak link, and a wide variety of musical styles are incorporated. Personal favourites include "Forever She'll Be My Surfer Girl" and "Good Kind of Love" on which blonde vocalist Taylor Mills particularly shines (in 2007 Taylor released a fine solo album of her own, titled "Lullagoodbye"). A real highpoint of "That Lucky Old Sun" is the stunning "Midnight's Another Day" - a powerful and moving ballad, which many consider to be Brian's greatest song since "Surf's Up". The album concludes with the sublime harmonies of another true gem in "Southern California". "That Lucky Old Sun" is an album to purchase and treasure, and one to listen to regularly in its entirety.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Fast delivery but the cd itsel is a lemon.
The hopes were high, too high. I thought it would be a high qualitu disc because I love Smile but the standards were apparently not that high alass. Shame on you Brian Wilson!
Published 19 days ago by Fmj Van Weegberg
Up there with 'All Summer Long', 'Sounds', 'Love You', and 'Brian...
I bought this when it came out back in 2008...I think it was. I wasn't too enamoured with 'BW Presents' - you can't top Carl singing 'Good Vibrations', or youthful Brian on 'Heroes... Read more
Published 7 months ago by PATTY O'TUNE
beach boys
The cd is Brian Wilson of the Beachboys with some recent tunes. Good standard worth buying glad I bought it.
Published 8 months ago by Mrs. Annette C. Walker
Lucky Old Brian Does It Again
My first impressions of this album echoed those of some other reviewers - nice melodies, let down by some banal lyrics, and - perhaps - a far cry from his classic work. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Mr. S. Bush
Snatches of brilliance but disappointing
I am a huge fan of Brian Wilson. His perfectionism, his ear for a tune and his ability to arrange for a mix of instruments and harmonies are second to none. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Stephen
Snippets of brilliance not enough.
See Larry's 3 star review. This is an accurate and well informed review from someone who obviously loves BW like i do. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Raffy D
fill up with sunshine !
excellent ... I love this album and everytime I play it I'm singing along.. just fills you up with sunshine, warm days, and looking back with a kind face on the nostalgic days of... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Clipper 314
I might have to agree with the review from Alan J. Stedall "yoss_uk"
Alan says it all really. Perhaps Brian (& hopefully Andy Paley) will write some songs that have some shape for the next one (as everything, other than the title track is nebulus on... Read more
Published on 15 April 2010 by Martin Short
Brian still has a lot to give
I should have reviewed this album a long time ago, because it really is good,some excellent new songs and the whole album tells a story as you move from track to track, very... Read more
Published on 9 Jan 2010 by Regsboy
classic album
Concept album that has all the hallmarks of a classic beach boys album. Quirky vocal interludes between tracks only adds to the pleasure that these songs give. Read more
Published on 20 May 2009 by Baldman
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