Here Today! The Songs of Brian Wilson

Now on white wax with a fully illustrated inner sleeve.  It's hard to believe 12 years have passed since "Pet Projects: The Brian Wilson Productions", one of the first releases in Ace's much-admired Producers series. Not before time, Wilson now joins such greats as Randy Newman, Laura Nyro, Goffin and King, Dan Penn, Bacharach and David, Jackie DeShannon and Serge Gainsbourg in their equally high profile Songwriters series. The collection opens with 'Do You Have Any Regrets?' by Darian Sahanaja of the Wondermints, a rare composition from Wilson's unissued 'Sweet Insanity' album of the early 90s. While Wilson's version was a rather frantic latin-styled piece, Sahanaja's recording is an homage to the 1965-era Beach Boys. Along with collectable tracks by Johnny Wells, Basil Swift, the Castells, Joey and the Continentals, Keith Green and Peggy March, Sahanaja's luxuriant cover makes its legit CD debut here. Other highlights include heavenly versions of songs from the Beach Boys' masterpiece 'Pet Sounds' by Kirsty MacColl, Carmen McRae, Nick DeCaro, Betty Everett, Bobby Vee and Louis Philippe. Those who own a copy of Kirsty MacColl's harmony-drenched 'You Still Believe In Me' single might have noticed a message etched into the run-off groove: God Bless Brian, an emotion seconded by all lovers of great music.