From: danielm@tekgen.bv.tek.com (Daniel Murphy)
Newsgroups: rec.music.misc
Subject: More regarding Brian Wilson's "Sweet Insanity" (kinda long)
Keywords: update on Wilson's second solo album
Date: 8 Apr 92 01:24:48 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Tektronix Inc., Beaverton, Or.


	Richard Schiavi, David A. Pearlman, and Dave Norment have commented
on the situation with Brian Wilson's second solo album, which was to be
called "Sweet Insanity." Richard Schiavi observed that some of the critics
in a BAM magazine article placed the album in their top 10. dap noted
the involvement of Don Was following the settlement of Wilson's legal
situation. Dave Norment wrote how Sire/Warners' experience with Eugene
Landy during the creation of Wilson's first solo album may have soured
them on the new project.

	I'm a big fan of Brian, and I wanted to add my $0.02, from what
I've read and heard.

	The April 3rd issue of Goldmine magazine states "Cassette bootlegs
of the unreleased Brian Wilson album 'Sweet Insanity' are reportedly making the
collector rounds. In other Wilson news, a documentary of the Beach Boy is being
produced by Don Was, who also produced the album which *will* become Wilson's
second solo release." (emphasis in original article)
	This makes it sound as if the new album will be something different
from what was originally submitted to Sire. I had a chance to hear a tape
of "Sweet Insanity", and I felt it was a mixed bag. There were some great tracks
like "Water Builds Up" which apparently was the original form of what turned
into "Let's Go To Heaven In My Car". This song would then date back to 1990
or so: I don't recall offhand just when "...Heaven..." was released. 
Another good song was "Don't Let Her Know She's An Angel" which was referred
to as early as 1985 in an article by Timothy White in Musician magazine.
The story on Wilson and Landy that appeared on "Prime Time Live" several
months ago had a snippet of a song called "Rainbow Eyes" that sounded very 
good. 
	There were also some songs I didn't think were all that great.
"Do You Have Any Regrets" was a clumsy attempt at something in a Latino
style, akin to Miami Sound Machine. There was also a song in waltz time
that I can't recall the name of. If the new album is being reworked, I hope
these tracks are replaced with something better.
	I thought Brian's vocals were great, definitely better than in his
first album. I liked his first album but I thought it had a few weak tracks.

	It's interesting to note that BAM magazine had a cover story in its
December 13th issue in which the author, Bill Holdship, has a good deal of
criticism for those who claim that Landy is ripping off Brian and that 
Brian's autobiography was bogus. A lot of his criticism is targeted at 
Timothy White, who has written a number of articles about Brian Wilson
over the last several years. Mr. White outlined a rebuttal to the Holdship
article in a recent issue of Billboard magazine, of which White is the 
editor-in-chief.
	I agree with White's viewpoint that Eugene Landy very likely saved
Brian's life, but is also a charlatan who manipulated his way into a
position of power in Wilson's life and business affairs. More than a few
writers and fans have pointed out the numerous factual errors in "Wouldn't
It Be Nice". It's almost inconceivable that Brian would say some of the things
that are in that book.

	If the new album is delayed for very long, I'd be glad to see
Sire/Warners (or whoever holds the rights) put out a CD5 with some of the
songs that aren't currently in print. There are at least five tracks I 
can think of: "Let's Go To Heaven In My Car" and its flipside, "Too Much Sugar",
"He Couldn't Get His Poor Old Body To Move" (the flipside of the "Love and
Mercy" single), "Being With the One You Love" (the flip of "Melt Away"),
and "Daddy's Little Girl" which was on the "She's Out Of Control" soundtrack
album. I won't hold my breath waiting for such a release, though.

-- 
"I am fearful when I see people substituting fear for reason."
-Klaatu, a/k/a Major Carpenter, from "The Day The Earth Stood Still"

Dan Murphy         danielm@tekgen.bv.tek.com 
Newsgroups: rec.music.misc