UK collection. Twelve 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 & King, Dan Penn, Bacharach & David, Jackie DeShannon and Serge Gainsbourg in our 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 & the Continentals, Keith Green and Peggy March, Sahanaja’s luxuriant cover makes it’s 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. Compilation and notes by Kingsley Abbott, Mick Patrick and Harvey Williams.
