Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. That Lucky Old Sun
2. Morning Beat
3. Room With A View
4. Good Kind Of Love
5. Forever She'll Be My Surfer Girl
6. Venice Beach
7. Live Let Live/That Lucky Old Sun
8. Mexican Girl
9. Cinco De Mayo
10. California Role/That Lucky Old Sun
11. Between Pictures
12. Oxygen To The Brain
13. Can't Wait Too Long
14. Midnight's Another Day
15. That Lucky Old Sun
16. Going Home
17. Southern California

Disc 2:

1. Menu Screen: Southern California
2. First Chapter: Making Of The Album
3. Second Chapter: Live Performances from Capitol Studio A
4. Credit Scroll: Southern California

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #39609 in Music
• Released on: 2008-09-01
• Number of discs: 1

Uncut, September 2008 issue
There are few other albums this year with as much force, verve and sheer musical imagination as 'That Lucky Old Sun'.

Mojo, September 2008 issue
It is a measure of the artistic triumph of 'That Lucky Old Sun' that it's such an utter pleasure, an album of sunshine...

CD Description
After a tumultuous career in and out of the limelight, legendary producer, songwriter and all-round music legend Brian Wilson's follow-up to the much-delayed 'Smile' album arrivesin the shape of 'That Lucky Old Sun'. Using the Louis Armstrong song of the same name as a thematic device, 'That LuckyOld Sun' is an exercise in melancholy and nostalgia, as might be expected from a man still recovering from personal demons. Notably, the song 'Forever My Surfer Girl' shows the closest link to the Wilson of yore, a clear lyrical extension of the 1962 Beach Boys number 'Surfer Girl' (also written byWilson). This release will delight fans, retaining the orchestral intricacy and lush arrangements that has made its composer one of the most influential figures in modern pop music.

Customer Reviews

Another miracle!
The unimaginable has happened, and Brian Wilson has created a new masterpiece, with his latest album (a heartfelt tribute to the mythic Los Angeles of his youth). "That Lucky Old Sun" is a worthy successor to both "Pet Sounds" and "Smile", and contains the familiar layered harmonies and glorious melodies of Brian's previous greatest works, plus some of the same quirkiness as "Smile". Those unfamiliar with Brian's recent work may need a couple of plays to adjust to his current sound, and the brief narrative sections that were written by "Smile" co-creator Van Dyke Parks. However, everything flows together well, and the album is Brian's most accessible and tuneful creation since the beginning of his solo career. The resulting effect is extremely uplifting. Much of the success of the album is due to Brian's supremely-talented backing band - most especially lyricist Scott Bennett (who also helped with the production). As far as the songs go, there is not one weak link, and a wide variety of musical styles are incorporated. Personal favourites include "Forever She'll Be My Surfer Girl" and "Good Kind of Love" on which blonde vocalist Taylor Mills particularly shines (in 2007 Taylor released a fine solo album of her own, titled "Lullagoodbye"). A real highpoint of "That Lucky Old Sun" is the stunning "Midnight's Another Day"- a powerful and moving ballad, which many consider to be Brian's greatest song since "Surf's Up". The album concludes with the sublime harmonies of another true gem in "Southern California". "That Lucky Old Sun" is an album to purchase and treasure, and one to listen to regularly in its entirety. The accompanying DVD includes interviews with Brian and all of the long-term male members of his highly likeable band. It also contains live performances of two of the album tracks, "Good Kind of Love" and "Forever She'll Be My Surfer Girl".

California Sun
It might be an exaggeration to describe Brian Wilson as the greatest composer of the American rock era but his immense influence on the popular music of the era is undeniable. With the Beach Boys, and on his solo albums, his genius for baroque melodies, exquisite harmonies and breathtaking arrangements is unparalleled and his art has not diminished.

Themed around Frankie Laine's 1949 hit That Lucky Old Sun is a day in the life of Brian under the Californian sun. With a nod to his troubled past "At 25 I turned out the lights/Cause I couldn't handle the glare in my eyes" he also evokes the classic Beach Boys era, "Summer 61/A goddess became my sun/I fell in her ocean eyes/As endless as the skies/Forever she'll be my surfer girl."

Brian's voice, at 68 years old, is now achingly expressive and with his trademark harmonies and That Lucky Old Band packed with baritone sax, clarinet, flute, French horn, trumpet etc his flair for the dramatic is as powerful as ever.

There is a feel good factor about this album and, with his thanks to his loving wife Melinda, perhaps Brian Wilson, genius and legend, has laid the ghost of his troubled past to rest.

Brian has done it again!
Brian Wilson's solo career has been a fairly mixed affair with the triumphant return of Smile or the likes of Rio Grande mixed in with some poor (by his standards) album tracks.

Lucky Old Sun, however, is a great return to form for pop music's greatest composer. First performed at the Royal Festival Hall, the album version is solid from start to finish from the instant classic of "Midnight's another day" to the Beach Boys-like "Morning Beat". The spoken narratives (written by Van Dyke Parks) don't detract from the music and instead complement Brian and Scott Bennetts creation.

This is probably more accessible than "Smile" was as it's a much more coherent piece where Smile was such a leap that nobody has done anything like it since.

Brian's & Beach Boys fans will love this album and it deserves a listen or two from everybody else to.