Search - Various Artists :: Pet Projects: The Brian Wilson Productions

I love you most of all

Johnny Heering | Bethel, CT United States | 04/23/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This CD features most of the non-Beach Boys records that Brian Wilson produced back in the '60s and '70s. The most notable omission is "The Surfer Moon" by Bob & Sheri. None of the songs here were hits and, in fact, Brian never produced a hit record for anyone other than The Beach Boys. Was it that Brian saved his best material for The Beach Boys, or was it that the other artists he worked with weren't that talented? Probably a combination of the two (although no one would say that Glen Campbell was untalented). Truthfully, the songs here just aren't as good as The Beach Boys best material. There are a few minor gems here, but for the most part, the songs are pretty forgettable. This is a well put together package that will appeal to Brian Wilson fanatics, but most other people probably won't like it very much."

Mourning for lost music

edzmalim | Kuala Lumpur Malaysia | 11/14/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It pains me sometimes to think that most people will never hear the lovely, heart-wrenching Thinkin' Bout You Baby, the sentimental After the Game, the danceable Revolution and so much more. The songs on the CD are on par or even better than some of the acclaimed big hits of the day yet were never appreciated. This CD can be treasured not only by Brian Wilson fans but by fans of an era when music sounded crystal clear, honest and beautiful. Its a shame that it took so long for these artistes to get their dues. Like Big Star's Thirteen and Holocaust, these songs will remind you of how great music truly is ageless."

Masters from a master

Laurence Upton | Wilts, UK | 08/12/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Brian Wilson produced or co-produced all the Beach Boys albums in all but name up until the Smile debacle and developed over the years into a skilled master producer who could match in his own unique style his contemporary influences and rivals Phil Spector and George Martin. The recording studio became his comfort zone, where he could intuitively use his extremely sensitive musical ear to best advantage, and he found production therapeutic. As well as turning out a couple of albums per year for the Beach Boys he frequently used Gold Star, Western Recorders, Capitol Towers, Columbia and other favourite Los Angeles studios to record other acts and try out songs and ideas. For example, the song Thinkin' 'Bout You Baby, that he produced for Sharon Marie in 1963, four years later later mutated into the Beach Boys hit Darlin'; and The Survivors' instrumental B-side After The Game pre-figured some of the sounds used on Pet Sounds.



Fourteen singles that he produced have been selected for Pet Projects, along with eight of their B-sides and one other stray B-side (Vegetables). Some of these are by Brian's co-songwriting buddy Gary Usher, and the pair sing back-up on some of the others. Several more are by the girl group the Honeys, featuring Marilyn Rovell, who became Brian's wife. The girl group sound gave Brian the opportunity to try out his version of Spector's Wall Of Sound, using many players from the same top session crew that Spector used, though his results could be mixed. He also produced Marilyn and her sister Diane when they became Spring in 1971. Nothing of that enterprise makes it onto Pet Projects but both sides of the single they made as American Spring in 1973 are included.



He also helped out other surf/hot rod acts such as Jan and Dean (although Brian neither surfed or hot-rodded, they were favourite songwriting topics, along with high school and, naturally, girls), helping arrange and produce their number one hit Surf City (unfortunately this and other collaborations such as Drag City are missing from Pet Projects). Dean of Jan and Dean recorded a cover of the Smiley Smile (+5 Bonus Tracks) (Remaster track Vegetables in 1967, with Brian, Marilyn and Diane helping out on vocals, and this came out on the White Whale label credited to Laughing Gravy (the name of Laurel and Hardy's dog in The Chimp). Although this is listed as having been included on the album, the version that actually plays is the 1972 Jan and Dean re-make on United Artists that was on the flipside of Jenny Lee, though it does have Brian Wilson on backing vocals.



Ultimately, and unsurprisingly, Brian Wilson's most accomplished work was with and for the Beach Boys, but these outside interests are a fascinating sideline, fully reflected on this collection despite some curious omissions, and also of historical value since they no doubt helped in developing and enhancing the skills that he employed on masterpieces such as Pet Sounds."