Review
"`The Like in I Love You' is a stunning love song to love and music themselves -- `the muse in music' as Wilson sings. `Nothing But Love' is similarly a gorgeous musical expression about the timelessness and power of love itself." --David Wild

From The Artist
"I've always loved George Gershwin. The earliest music I remember hearing is `Rhapsody in Blue,'" says Wilson, referring to Gershwin's groundbreaking 1924 orchestral piece. "Along with Irving Berlin, Gershwin basically invented the popular song, but he did something more. He had a gift for melody that nobody has ever equaled yet his music is timeless and always accessible. This is the most spiritual project I've ever worked on."

Product Description
The quintessential signature sounds of Brian Wilson (co-founding member of the Beach Boys), elegantly combined with the timeless classic melodies of some of the most revered songs from George and Ira Gershwin.

Brian Wilson has re-recorded and re-imagined twelve classic songs from the Gershwin Brothers and collaborated on two new Wilson/Gershwin compositions. The Gershwin estate gave Wilson access to rare, unfinished pieces of music by George Gershwin, with which Brian crafted collaborative compositions unlike anything the world has heard with "The Like in I Love You" and "Nothing But Love". Wilson chose to record George and Ira Gershwin songs because he considers the late composers of classics like "Someone to Watch Over Me," "Rhapsody in Blue" and "Summertime" as a critical influence on him.

Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin was produced by Brian Wilson and mixed by Al Schmitt the 15-time GRAMMY® award winner (Michael Buble, Ray Charles, Barbra Streisand, Madonna).

1. Rhapsody In Blue (Intro)
2. The Like In I Love You
3. Summertime
4. I Loves You, Porgy
5. I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'
6. It Ain't Necessarily So
7. 'S Wonderful
8. They Can't Take That Away From Me
9. Love Is Here To Stay
10. I've Got A Crush On You
11. I Got Rhythm
12. Someone To Watch Over Me
13. Nothing But Love
14. Rhapsody In Blue (Reprise)

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002RWKSII/?tag=imwan-20

Brian Wilson asked to finish incomplete George Gershwin compositions
'He had a gift for melody that nobody has ever equalled,' Wilson says of Gershwin

October 8, 2009
http://www.nme.com/news/brian-wilson/47736



Brian Wilson has been given the go-ahead to finish writing incomplete music by George Gershwin.

The Beach Boys mainman will be given full access to the compositions by Gershwin's estate, and will release the music on a forthcoming album of Gershwin covers.

Though the album has no fixed release date, it will come out on Walt Disney imprint Disney Pearl, whom Wilson has recently signed a deal with, reports The Wall Street Journal.

Speaking about the album, Wilson said he has always loved the music of Gershwin, who died in 1937.

"The earliest music I remember hearing is 'Rhapsody In Blue'," he said. "Along with Irving Berlin, Gershwin basically invented the popular song, but he did something more. He had a gift for melody that nobody has ever equalled, yet his music is timeless and always accessible. This is the most spiritual project I've ever worked on."

In a statement, Todd Gershwin of the George Gershwin estate and Michael Owen of the Ira Gershwin [George's older brother who wrote the compositions' lyrics] estate praised Wilson as a songwriter.

"The Gershwin families are delighted that the legendary musician Brian Wilson has chosen to record a collection of George and Ira Gershwin songs for his next project. In every generation, American music has been pushed forward by visionaries, from the Gershwin brothers to Brian Wilson. This latest interpretation will be a new opportunity to discover the magic of Gershwin music."

Wilson's second release for Disney Pearl will be an album of covers from classic Disney productions, which he promises to "Brian-ize".

More info here:

http://www.brianwilson.com/news/press.html
and
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/ne ... 8188.story

How thrilling this must be for Brian...I can't be alone in saying that I absolutely can't wait for the finished product.

And should Brian decide to turn the compositions into pop songs, would there be a better wordsmith than Van Dyke Parks? Van Dyke has always owed a debt to the great Tin Pan Alley composers and lyricists...I wonder if Brian will tap him for this project or fly solo. Either way, the results have the potential to be really stunning...

This is a horrible idea. As much as I love Brian's music, his style is not compatible to Gershwin's. Elvis Costello would have been a much better choice

Can anyone believe how active Brian is/has been in the last few years? No one would have believed this 25-35 years ago. Occasionally, this is an exciting time to be a music fan. Will the Gershwin thing work out? I don't know, but I think it should be interesting to see what Brian does on both projects. (By the way, this is the first I've heard about him being signed to Disney Pearl. I would have thought the alliance with Capitol would continue, but it's a strange time for record labels.)

Jim

I'm second to none as a Costello fan, but Elvis would most likely turn in an exceptional pastiche of Gershwin (and with one hand tied behind his back!)...I'm hoping Brian's admittedly different style might create something wholly unique when he marries his sense of melody to Gershwin's. After all, both melodists broke barriers in their respective eras. We shall see!

It's good to see Brian's iconic status can still ensure a major label will release his work. Although, weren't they making a big to-do about how he resigned with Capitol for his last album??

Brian dug Disney before, as did Dave Brubeck. And Little Richard I think recorded a Disney album.

from http://www.brianwilson.com/cgi-bin/comm ... 0&l=level2

Brian recorded on a Disney CD "For the Children" in 1991...

(posted by Clara Read on October 8, 2009 at 6:48 pm)

Message:

Does anyone remember... Brian sang "Country Feelin's" on it. I was so excited to hear his voice...
and now Brian, the American in Los Angeles is going to the top!
SO great.
L & M
CLara

Yes, but he should leap at this chance. BTW, I don't think you can be signed to two labels at the same time, at least not in the US, can you?

I doubt it, Googa. He probably just signed a one-album deal with Capitol.

Oh well, he's at least making albums...unlike his former band.

I don't think the Capitol hoopla had so much to do with the music contained on "That Lucky Old Sun," but more a "The Boy Wonder Returns Home To The Tower" spin. They did the same thing with Diana Ross in 1989 when she returned to Motown, dismissing the actual LP altogether.

Anything's possible. Beck once had a deal where he could release some things on other labels, although I believe his label had first refusal.

I see Al Jardine's album is finally out now, on CD-R only. But it's got one track on there with vocals by Mike, Brian, Carl, Al, and Bruce, shame it couldn't get a proper CD release.

I like that cover!

Listened to the new "Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin" last night and was very happy with it. I had my trepidations but it quickly vanished when I heard how he reimagine, using his word. to reinvent these classics. His "Beach Boy" touch is evident in some of the songs. A California Girls shuffle is heard and some Van Dyke Smile touches in the instrumental.

All and all I give this release 4 out of 5 stars and glad to see Brian be able to pull this off. He continues to amaze being so creative at his age. God Bless him!

Rick A.