Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin

Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin
Studio album by Brian Wilson
Released August 17, 2010
Recorded 2010
Genre Rock, Pop, R&B, Traditional pop
Length 39:04
Label Walt Disney
Producer Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson chronology

That Lucky Old Sun
(2008)		 Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin
(2010)		 In the Key of Disney
(2011)
Singles from Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin
  1. "The Like in I Love You"
    Released: August 2010

Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin is the ninth studio album by Brian Wilson, released on August 17, 2010, by Walt Disney Records as part of the Disney Pearl Series. The album consists of covers of ten George and Ira Gershwin songs, bookended by passages from Rhapsody in Blue, along with two new songs completed from unfinished Gershwin fragments by Wilson and band member Scott Bennett.

The cover artwork is an homage to the album cover for the 1958 jazz LP Sonny Clark Trio by Sonny Clark.

Background

In the summer of 2009, Walt Disney Records approached Wilson about recording his own arrangements of songs from Disney films; however, Wilson first wanted to record an album of Gershwin covers, which the label agreed to support.[1] He and band member Paul Mertens picked the songs to record based on Wilson's vocal range, and which ones he thought he could sing "appropriately."[2]

In addition to the covers, the Gershwin estate granted Wilson access to over 100 unfinished Gershwin songs and fragments for the project to use for new material. Two songs were completed by Wilson and Scott Bennett (who provided lyrics) based on these fragments: "The Like In I Love You" and "Nothing But Love," which serve as the first and last full songs on the album, respectively.[2]

Recording of the album began at the start of 2010.[1] Wilson served as producer, with Mertens writing out the arrangements as well as the linking pieces between tracks. The instrumental tracks were produced using his backing band, who also supplied backing vocals; however, the Rhapsody in Blue harmonies that bookend the album were done entirely by Wilson.[3] According to Mertens, Wilson would spend eight hours a day in the studio perfecting vocal tracks.[1] Elaborating on Wilson's role as arranger, Mertens said:

“ I tried to prepare the band as much as possible for the songs by writing skeletal arrangements from my meetings with Brian. The band tracks were cut live in the studio. So the band would start playing and get the song up and walking around. Then Brian would start to do his thing. He’d hear what people were doing and say, "Can you play that up an octave?" Bass drop out here…That’s how he works best. Or he has it completely done in his mind. He’s done that too, where he has come to a sound check and goes, "Here’s your vocal part, you play this." Since the Gershwin music was new material it was helpful to have the song in front of him so he could manipulate and move things around the way he wanted.[4] ”

Mixing took place in the spring.[5] Walt Disney Records' reaction to the final product was positive, though they hired recording engineer Al Schmitt to remix the original tracks prepared by Wilson.[1]

Release and reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [6]
Cover Me [3]
No Depression [7]
PopMatters [8]
Rolling Stone [9]
Slant Magazine [10]
Spin Magazine [11]

On June 28, 2010, "The Like In I Love You" was released for streaming on Wilson's website in advance of the album's release. The album was released on August 17, 2010. Upon its release, it charted at #26 in the Billboard 200, falling to #53 in the second week. It also reached #1 on Amazon.com and the Billboard Jazz Albums chart.

Critical reaction was generally positive. Rolling Stone described the album as "lovely, weird, subtly psychedelic symphonic lounge music."[9] In particular, the album's arrangements were praised for their uniqueness. Allmusic's John Bush wrote, "As usual, Wilson's musical instincts are impeccable, and with a full orchestra lending additional weight to these songs, it's easily the best production on a Brian Wilson record since 2004's SMiLE."[6] Certain songs, such as "I Got Rhythm" and "They Can't Take That Away From Me," were noted for their Beach Boys' influences.[12] The new songs completed by Wilson and Bennett were also generally well-received; GQ described "Nothing But Love" as "suitably celestial."[13]

Some reviews, however, were less favorable, mostly concerning the quality of the arrangements. Stephen Holden of The New York Times wrote, "On an album that feels like a posthumous competition, Mr. Wilson emerges the clear loser."[14] Michael Hann of The Guardian was particularly critical of the covers, describing the songs as being "reconfigured into pastiches of past Wilson classics."[15]

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Rhapsody in Blue/Intro"  George Gershwin 1:07
2. "The Like In I Love You"  G. Gershwin, Brian Wilson, Scott Bennett 3:20
3. "Summertime"  G. Gershwin, DuBose Heyward, Dorothy Heyward, Ira Gershwin 3:13
4. "I Loves You, Porgy"  G. Gershwin, Du Bose Heyward, Dorothy Heyward, I. Gershwin 3:38
5. "I Got Plenty o' Nuttin'"  G. Gershwin, Du Bose Heyward, Dorothy Heyward, I. Gershwin 2:45
6. "It Ain't Necessarily So"  G. Gershwin, Du Bose Heyward, Dorothy Heyward, I. Gershwin 3:58
7. "'S Wonderful"  G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin 2:48
8. "They Can't Take That Away from Me"  G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin 2:51
9. "Love Is Here to Stay"  G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin 2:59
10. "I've Got a Crush on You"  G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin 2:41
11. "I Got Rhythm"  G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin 2:43
12. "Someone to Watch Over Me"  G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin 3:06
13. "Nothing But Love"  G. Gershwin, Wilson, Bennett 3:24
14. "Rhapsody in Blue/Reprise"  G. Gershwin 0:38
15. "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off [iTunes only bonus track]"  G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin 2:39

Personnel

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 August 17, 2010 (2010-08-17). "Brian Wilson Reimagines Brian Wilson: America’s native tormented musical genius keeps it as real as possible". Peteramescarlin.com. Retrieved 2014-07-08.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Brian Wilson Reaches Back For 'Gershwin' Project". Billboard. Retrieved 2014-07-08.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Cover Me review".
  4. ↑ Hoekstra, David. "Boys Will Be Beach Boys". Chicago Sun Times. voices.suntimes.com. Retrieved 27 July 2013.
  5. ↑ "Brian Wilson". Facebook. Retrieved 2014-07-08.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Allmusic review".
  7. ↑ "No Depression review".
  8. ↑ "PopMatters review".
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Rolling Stone review".
  10. ↑ "Slant Magazine review".
  11. ↑ "Spin Magazine review".
  12. ↑ "Music - Review of Brian Wilson - Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin". BBC. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2014-07-08.
  13. ↑ GQ.CO.UK 16 August 10. "The Ten Best Things In The World Right Now - GQ Editor's Picks - GQ.COM (UK)". Gq-magazine.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-07-08.
  14. ↑ Holden, Stephen; Pareles, Jon (August 15, 2010). "Albums by Brian Wilson, John Mellencamp, Trace Adkins". The New York Times.
  15. ↑ Hann, Michael (September 3, 2010). "Brian Wilson: Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin". The Guardian (London).