Sweet Insanity (album)
Encyclopedia
Sweet Insanity is an unreleased album from Brian Wilson
, originally due for release in 1991.
. However, during this stage in Wilson’s life, he was under the care of controversial psychologist Dr. Eugene Landy
, who is known for his unconventional method of “24 hour therapy”. This meant that Landy was micro-managing Wilson's life, including his creative career, and, thus, was Wilson's primary collaborator on this unreleased album. The pair had also collaborated previously on Wilson's first solo album as well as, uncredited, on The Beach Boys Love You album.
The recordings from the album's sessions have frequently been generally criticised by fans and critics as being sub–par over the years and they were ultimately rejected by Brian's label at the time; Sire
. However, the album is not without its fans in the media. Brett Milano called it "a brilliant album" in the Boston Phoenix. "For the first time since 'Till I Die,' he's writing directly about his breakdown and recovery...Landy may have written these lyrics, but it hardly matters; Wilson didn't write the lyrics to Pet Sounds either." Milano later labeled it one of Wilson's best post-'60s albums. Jackson Griffith praised it in Tower Records' Pulse magazine, calling it "easily the finest, most consistently satisfying Wilson disc since The Beach Boys' Sunflower. He's still got it." And writer Bill Holdship championed the album in both BAM and MOJO magazines. The Detroit News' Susan Whitall and Entertainment Weekly's Dave DiMartino also praised the album in their publications, and the album showed up on several 1991 year-end poll lists. Wilson has said in interviews that the master tapes were stolen so there is no chance of there ever being an official release, although the songs have shown up on numerous bootlegs. Five of the songs were rerecorded over a decade later and released on Wilson’s 2004 album, Gettin' in Over My Head
, although some critics believed the remakes weren't as good as the ones recorded for the original album. It has become one of the more sought-after bootleg albums in the years since its recording.
and Eugene Landy
, unless otherwise noted.
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
, originally due for release in 1991.
Background
Initially titled simply Brian, the album was intended to be a follow up to his 1988 solo debut, Brian WilsonBrian Wilson (album)
Brian Wilson is the eponymous first solo album by Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys, released in July 1988 on Sire Records. The album was reissued on Rhino Records with an extensive selection of bonus tracks in 2000.-Background:...
. However, during this stage in Wilson’s life, he was under the care of controversial psychologist Dr. Eugene Landy
Eugene Landy
Eugene Ellsworth Landy, Ph.D. was a controversial American psychologist and therapist known for his unconventional treatment and eventual exploitation of composer/musician Brian Wilson...
, who is known for his unconventional method of “24 hour therapy”. This meant that Landy was micro-managing Wilson's life, including his creative career, and, thus, was Wilson's primary collaborator on this unreleased album. The pair had also collaborated previously on Wilson's first solo album as well as, uncredited, on The Beach Boys Love You album.
The recordings from the album's sessions have frequently been generally criticised by fans and critics as being sub–par over the years and they were ultimately rejected by Brian's label at the time; Sire
Sire Records
Sire Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer, each investing ten thousand dollars into the new company. Its early releases as a...
. However, the album is not without its fans in the media. Brett Milano called it "a brilliant album" in the Boston Phoenix. "For the first time since 'Till I Die,' he's writing directly about his breakdown and recovery...Landy may have written these lyrics, but it hardly matters; Wilson didn't write the lyrics to Pet Sounds either." Milano later labeled it one of Wilson's best post-'60s albums. Jackson Griffith praised it in Tower Records' Pulse magazine, calling it "easily the finest, most consistently satisfying Wilson disc since The Beach Boys' Sunflower. He's still got it." And writer Bill Holdship championed the album in both BAM and MOJO magazines. The Detroit News' Susan Whitall and Entertainment Weekly's Dave DiMartino also praised the album in their publications, and the album showed up on several 1991 year-end poll lists. Wilson has said in interviews that the master tapes were stolen so there is no chance of there ever being an official release, although the songs have shown up on numerous bootlegs. Five of the songs were rerecorded over a decade later and released on Wilson’s 2004 album, Gettin' in Over My Head
Gettin' in over My Head
Gettin' in Over My Head is Brian Wilson's seventh solo album, and third of new studio material. It was recorded over several years and, making use of many previously written songs never before released, was issued in mid-2004 on Rhino Records....
, although some critics believed the remakes weren't as good as the ones recorded for the original album. It has become one of the more sought-after bootleg albums in the years since its recording.
Tracks recorded during the Sweet Insanity sessions
All tracks, listed alphabetically, were recorded between 1989–1991 and produced by Brian WilsonBrian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
and Eugene Landy
Eugene Landy
Eugene Ellsworth Landy, Ph.D. was a controversial American psychologist and therapist known for his unconventional treatment and eventual exploitation of composer/musician Brian Wilson...
, unless otherwise noted.
- "Concert Tonight"♢
- "Don't Let Her Know She's An Angel"♦
- "Do You Have Any Regrets?"♢
- A cover version was independently released by Wilson's bandmate Darian Sahanaja.
- "Hotter"
- Recorded between 1987–1988, produced by Brian Wilson and Russ TitelmanRuss TitelmanRuss Titelman is an American record producer and songwriter. He has to date won three Grammy Awards. He earned his first producing the Steve Winwood song "Higher Love", and his second and third for Eric Clapton's Journeyman and Unplugged albums...
- Recorded between 1987–1988, produced by Brian Wilson and Russ Titelman
- "Let's Stick Together"♦
- Featuring "Weird Al" Yankovic"Weird Al" YankovicAlfred Matthew "Weird Al" Yankovic is an American singer-songwriter, music producer, accordionist, actor, comedian, writer, satirist, and parodist. Yankovic is known for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts...
on accordion, and retitled "The Waltz" in 2004.
- Featuring "Weird Al" Yankovic
- "Love Ya"
- originally recorded as "Sweetie" in the early '80s, then re-recorded between 1987–1988, produced by Brian Wilson and Russ Titelman.
- "Make A Wish"♦
- "Rainbow Eyes"♦
- "Save The Day"♦
- Re-recorded with new lyrics and retitled "Fairy Tale" in 2004.
- "Smart Girls"♢
- A rap sound featuring samples from well known Beach Boys songs. was sent out to radio stations and journalists as a promotional cassette tape but officially remains unreleased.
- "Someone To Love"♢
- Deriving a melody from his younger brother Dennis' "San Miguel" from some twenty years back.
- "Thank You"♢ (aka "Brian")
- "The Spirit of Rock'n'Roll"
- with Bob DylanBob DylanBob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
on co-lead vocals; recorded between August 1986–January 1987, produced by Brian Wilson and Gary UsherGary UsherGary Usher was an American surf rock musician, songwriter, and record producer.-Biography:Usher's early life was spent in Grafton, Massachusetts. He attended Norcross Grammar School with his sister, Sandra, who was in the same class and was likely his twin. Gary was kiddingly called "Chicken Feed"...
; re-recorded for the 2006 Beach Boys album Songs From Here & Back.
- with Bob Dylan
- "Water Builds Up"♢
- Features the same verse melody as "Let's Go To Heaven In My Car".
- All tracks marked ♢ remain unreleased.
- All tracks marked ♦ were re-recorded for the 2004 album Gettin' In Over My HeadGettin' in over My HeadGettin' in Over My Head is Brian Wilson's seventh solo album, and third of new studio material. It was recorded over several years and, making use of many previously written songs never before released, was issued in mid-2004 on Rhino Records....
.