BEACH BOYS – „The Beach Boys With The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra„ (08/06)
Following in the footsteps of such artists as Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin and Roy Orbison, The Beach Boys have teamed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra for a new album due on June 8 from Capitol/UMe. The Beach Boys with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, to be available in CD, 2-LP, and digital formats, melds The Beach Boys’ original vocal (and some instrumental) tracks with newly-written and -recorded symphonic orchestrations recorded in March at Studio 2 of Abbey Road Studios. The regular 2-LP vinyl version will be released on August 17, with a limited-edition opaque orange version also being made available through the uDiscoverMusic store.
Produced by Nick Patrick and Don Reedman, the album features 17 Beach Boys classics ranging from “Don’t Worry, Baby” and “California Girls” to Pet Sounds (“Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” “God Only Knows,” “Here Today,” “Sloop John B,” “You Still Believe in Me”), SMiLE (“Heroes and Villains,” “Good Vibrations”), Surf’s Up (“Disney Girls (1957)”), and of course, “Kokomo.” A new “California Suite” opens the album. The orchestra was conducted by Steve Sidwell and Sally Herbert, who also wrote many of the arrangements. “Fun, Fun, Fun” is the first single off the album.
The Beach Boys have lent their support of this project. The press release quotes Brian Wilson: “I always knew the vocal arrangements I did back in the 1960s would lend themselves perfectly for a symphony and there is no better one in the world than the Royal Philharmonic. I am both proud and humbled by what they have created using our songs and I hope everyone falls in love with it like I have.” Mike Love notes, “This album is one of a kind. I think the fact that the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra has accompanied the Beach Boys with these great arrangements is just a phenomenal thing. It’s a whole other dimension to our music.”
Al Jardine adds: “Don Reedman and Nick Patrick did a terrific job on this. I can’t imagine having more fun than taking some of these great songs and putting them into this perspective. They did a beautiful job of arranging the music around the original vocals, which I think is a terrific idea. It makes the music feel new all over again!” Bruce Johnston comments, “When I listened to the album, I realized that the new arrangements performed by the orchestra didn’t add the wrong kind of weight. They just added the beautiful fairy dust of the orchestra to what we already recorded. It’s another interpretation of us without losing the groundwork of us. I really like it.”
Album co-producer Nick Patrick adds: “I’m a complete and utter fan of the Beach Boys and the way their music makes you feel. The Beach Boys’ music is so multi-layered — you can experience it on so many layers. You’ve got the obvious harmonies, which are amazing. But what we found making this record is when you dig down into the arrangements, they’re extraordinary. They’re fresh. They’re new. They’re complex. They’re beautiful and constructed in a completely original way.”
Tracklist:
California Suite
California Girls
Wouldn’t It Be Nice
Fun, Fun, Fun
Don’t Worry Baby
God Only Knows
Sloop John B
Heroes And Villains
Disney Girls
Here Today
In My Room
Kokomo
The Warmth Of The Sun
Darlin’
Help Me, Rhonda
You Still Believe In Me
Good Vibrations
Source: Seconddisc
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