Brian Wilson

IMO, Brian was one of the very few 'geniuses' of modern music.  To my ear, the Beach Boys produced some of the most beautiful, memorable songs of the generation.  RIP

Just now listening to Pet Sounds 50th Anniversary Edition on Qobus as I type.  The instrumental tracks are a fresh take on some truly influential sounds.  Good recording if you want some fresh take.  Insturments all come through in this recording.

Brian Wilson and Sly Stone.

Different musical genres (obviously) but a lot in common:

Their songwriting and musical styles created new paths in music that basically did not exist beforehand; their (Top 40) popularity was only a few years each - but their influence on fellow songwriters and musicians spanned decades.

2 musical giants; 2 troubled geniuses. 2 musical legacies that will live on.

RIP to them both.

What a loss. Knew Brian a bit.His oldest daughter Carnie and my Daughter went to school together in Sherman Oaks , Ca. and were in the Brownies together then Girl Scouts. He lived up at the top of the hill off Mulholland Drive at the time and we lived down on the flats. He picked Carnie up I recall twice at our house and I was at his place couple of times. He was very cordial and just a regular guy. That was around 1973-1976. Twenty years later I was a service advisor at Martin Cadillac in W.L.A; and took care of his Cadillac for him. At first he didn't recognize me then it came to him. He hung around quite a bit after that because he started dating a sales gal there named Linda Ledbetter who he later married about 1995. He was the same cool dude. I always treated guys like him just like regular people which is what they wanted. I never told him that I thought he was the greatest voice that ever lived and I loved the Beach Boy's music. I you want a great album it's The Beach Boys Classics selected by Brian Wilson. The two copies I have are both HDCD's and a very good recording for a redbook. It is relatively unknown but if they ever make a SACD of it , I'll be first in line. I remember the first time I heard Surfer Girl , I was dating one at the time and almost flipped. What a beautiful young woman she was , hope she has had as good a life as mine. R.I.P. Brian as you cross the rainbow bridge.

Good Vibrations was a timeless masterpiece.  I often use it as an audio reference track.  A Wall of Sound indeed.