Classics: Selected by Brian Wilson

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Just when you thought that the Beach Boys canon was complete, the band's mad genius, Brian Wilson, has taken it upon himself to compile his 20 favorite hits from his band's oeuvre, and believe me his favorites are as idiosyncratic as you might think. Fortunately for fans, Wilson has also chosen some of the band's best-beloved songs for this collection, including the deceptively simple but symphonically constructed "California Girls," the wistful "Surfer Girl," and the rowdy and harmlessly macho "I Get Around," as well as the band's artistic high-water mark, "Good Vibrations," all of which reminds fans once again what a sublime poet he is. Most of the Beach Boys' mindless hot-rod songs and surf anthems are absent; instead, Wilson has selected some of the band's more reflective and intelligent tunes, including the brooding "In My Room," the equally downcast "'Til I Die," and the melancholy "The Warmth of the Sun" (which, Wilson reveals in the brief accompanying notes, was written as a tribute to President John F. Kennedy on the night of his assassination). These strangely confessional notes are worth the price of the entire CD, shedding a brief light on some of the dark corners of Wilson's troubled life, as well as including warm remembrances and snatches of Beach Boys trivia--that "California Girls" is his favorite song, and that he considers the chord pattern on "This Whole World" to ramble. Also included in the collection is the recently recorded "California Feelin'," a song Wilson wrote in the early '70s but never was "officially" recorded. It gives an interesting trajectory to the disc, showing the changes in Wilson's voice and delivery and marking the psychic journey from Beach Boy to man. --Jaan Uhelszki

Album Description
This 20 track HDCD remastered collection includes a brand new (2002) recording from Brian 'California Feelin' (originally written for the band in the 70s but never recorded). 20 tracks. 2002.

Classics: Selected by Brian Wilson, Music, The Beach Boys, Baroque Pop, Pop, Pop/Rock, Popular Music, Psychedelic, Psychedelic Pop, Rock, Rock & Roll, Rock/Pop, Sunshine Pop, Surf, United States of America

Classics: Selections By Brian Wilson
Average customer rating:

FINALLY! A BEACH BOYS COMP WORTH BUYING

50 years distilled.

Beach Boys Sublime

Really the best...

Worth getting, if you only have compilations

Classics: Selections By Brian Wilson
Beach Boys
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | Styles | Music
Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
General | Rock | Styles | Music
General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B0000682VW
Release Date: 2002-07-02

Tracks:

Surfer Girl
The Warmth Of The Sun
I Get Around
Don't Worry Baby
In My Room
California Girls
God Only Knows
Caroline, No
Good Vibrations
Wonderful
Heroes And Villains
Surf's Up
Busy Doin' Nothin'
We're Together Again
Time To Get Alone
This Whole World
Marcella
Sail On, Sailor
'Til I Die
California Feelin'

Amazon.com

Just when you thought that the Beach Boys canon was complete, the band's mad genius, Brian Wilson, has taken it upon himself to compile his 20 favorite hits from his band's oeuvre, and believe me his favorites are as idiosyncratic as you might think. Fortunately for fans, Wilson has also chosen some of the band's best-beloved songs for this collection, including the deceptively simple but symphonically constructed "California Girls," the wistful "Surfer Girl," and the rowdy and harmlessly macho "I Get Around," as well as the band's artistic high-water mark, "Good Vibrations," all of which reminds fans once again what a sublime poet he is. Most of the Beach Boys' mindless hot-rod songs and surf anthems are absent; instead, Wilson has selected some of the band's more reflective and intelligent tunes, including the brooding "In My Room," the equally downcast "'Til I Die," and the melancholy "The Warmth of the Sun" (which, Wilson reveals in the brief accompanying notes, was written as a tribute to President John F. Kennedy on the night of his assassination). These strangely confessional notes are worth the price of the entire CD, shedding a brief light on some of the dark corners of Wilson's troubled life, as well as including warm remembrances and snatches of Beach Boys trivia--that "California Girls" is his favorite song, and that he considers the chord pattern on "This Whole World" to ramble. Also included in the collection is the recently recorded "California Feelin'," a song Wilson wrote in the early '70s but never was "officially" recorded. It gives an interesting trajectory to the disc, showing the changes in Wilson's voice and delivery and marking the psychic journey from Beach Boy to man. --Jaan Uhelszki

Album Description

This 20 track HDCD remastered collection includes a brand new (2002) recording from Brian 'California Feelin' (originally written for the band in the 70s but never recorded). 20 tracks. 2002.

Customer Reviews:

FINALLY! A BEACH BOYS COMP WORTH BUYING.......2006-11-29

Everytime I saw a new Beach Boys Greatest Hits come out I would get so excited. Everytime I read the song selection my excitement would turn to bewilderment. I was bewildered for one reason (is this proper english), where the heck was "Sail On, Sailor". The Greatest track ever written by the Beach Boys. I can not believe that the one person to get the comp right was Brian Wilson - this without a doubt comfirms his genius status. All kidding aside - this is one great album, and thank you Brian. (I was starting to think you really did'nt like this song - and that would make you crazy!) By the way - the mastering is superb and look at the used cd prices - crazy.

50 years distilled........2006-09-17

After listening to the Beach Boys for nearly fifty years, if I just wanted one heartfelt compilation, this is it. It embraces the music and outlines a journey. It is wonderful.

Beach Boys Sublime.......2006-04-12

THE BEACH BOYS CLASSICS SELECTED BY BRIAN WILSON is a compilation album with a difference. This set reflects his own personal favorites (as of February 11, 2002 as he admits in the liner notes); it may not comprise a Beach Boys "Greatest Hits" collection, but it does give the listener another window into the brilliant, dark, troubled inner world of Brian Wilson.

From the outset, it is clear that Wilson perceives of the Beach Boys as much more than just a rock band. The Beach Boys is his own private symphonia. The priceless liner notes constantly reference the orchestrations, the lyrics, and the arrangements of what most outsiders might see as some deceptively straightforward pop songs. His is the genius that clearly propelled the Beach Boys during their greatest days; anyone who ever dismissed them as an act of lightweights needs to listen carefully to CLASSICS. There is some very beautiful music here.

The disc opens with "Surfer Girl" and includes some better known hits as "I Get Around," "California Girls" and "Good Vibrations." It also includes the wistful "The Warmth of The Sun" (dedicated to JFK, and written on November 22, 1963), the questioning and questing "Don't Worry Baby" and "God Only Knows," and a series of other lesser-known pieces, all remarkable for their artistic depth if not their longevity as popular songs.

Listening in sequence, one hears the musical and emotional evolution and maturation of the Beach Boys. One also hears Wilson's increasingly desperate voice seeking apotheosis and inner peace through experimentation and creative expression.

Mad like Mozart, Brian Wilson touches us profoundly even as he transcends the narrow boundaries of rock music. Eleanor Rigby move over.

Really the best..........2005-09-27

Absolutely the best Beach Boys "best of" I've heard. If you're going to get one Beach Boys CD, this is the one.

Worth getting, if you only have compilations.......2005-09-18

If you only have Beach Boys compilation albums, you may not have recordings of some terrific songs that are not usually included. I bought this set because I did not have copies of the terrific Warmth of the Sun, Surf's Up and Sail On, Sailor.

But Time To Get Alone and Til I Die are not to be sneezed at. It is also interesting to listen to Marcella, Brian's attempt to emulate the Stones.

Pleasant listening and worth buying if you don't have the 3 songs I first mentioned, as they are, like a farmer, outstanding in their field.

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