(Photo by Louise Panaker)
The argument can be made that alongside Bob Dylan, Brian Wilson is one of the greatest living American singer-songwriters thanks to a legacy that includes The Beach Boys and almost single-handedly creating the California Sound, steeped in the imagery of beach culture, sun and fun steeped in the idyllic innocence of being a teenager. Check the resume and what you’ll find are 36 U.S. Top 40 hits, four chart toppers and a canon that’s sold well over 100 million records worldwide. Wilson’s genius has also wound up having him be honored by a number of organizations that have led to his being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Beach Boys, the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the UK Music Hall of Fame and a recipient of a Kennedy Center Honor. So the question that begs to be asked is what are Brian Wilson’s favorite songs that he’s written and why.
“California Girls”
“Because of Mike [Love’s] voice and the great lyrics.”
“Good Vibrations”
“Because of my putting the cello on there.”
“Be True To Your School”
“Because of the originality of the lyrics, the chorus and the arrangement.”
“Wouldn’t It Be Nice”
“Because of the melody.”
“Darlin’”
“Because of the horn arrangement and because it has a very beautiful vocal.”
