Album: Brian Wilson

Pet Projects: The Brian Wilson Productions, Ace

Even though Capitol Records already had him lashed to a production treadmill, cranking out three Beach Boys albums a year, Brian Wilson was such a studioholic he would take every opportunity to work on even the most quotidian of outside projects, 23 examples of which are compiled on this fascinating anthology. Harbouring dreams of emulating his hero Phil Spector, Brian collaborated with friends such as Jan & Dean, the future Byrds producer Gary Usher, and the replacement Beach Boy Glen Campbell, but to little avail. Most of these productions were trifles, but several served as prototypes of Wilson melodies that would be recycled in more substantial form on Beach Boys releases, most notably Sharon Marie's "Thinkin' 'Bout You Baby", which, with new lyrics, became the hit "Darlin'". His Spectorian ambitions were most fully realised in a series of Crystals-style recordings he made with the Rovell sisters as The Honeys, for which he employed much of Spector's Wrecking Crew. These, more Fence of Sound than Wall of Sound, are probably best regarded as learning exercises. Later, Wilson would record the Rovell sisters again in the 1970s, this time as American Spring, whose more thoughtful arrangements reflected his musical maturity and his increasingly troubled temperament.