Brian Wilson: Sweet Insanity (UNRELEASED Album Review)

For those that don't know, back in the 1980s, Brian Wilson, former leader of The Beach Boys, was under controversal care by a pyschologist known as Dr. Eugene Landy. Landy had also helped other celebrities deal with problems, Alice Cooper, being one of the ones to mention it. Besides helping (if you can call it that) Brian with his problems, he also took a role in getting Brian to produce/write/record music again. It started in 1983, and Brian finally released songs on The Beach Boys self-titled album in 1985, a solo single in 1986, Let's Go To Heaven In My Car b/w Too Much Sugar (The A-side track also was also on Police Academy: Citizens On Patrol", and Brian Wilson's first solo album, self-titled, in 1988, which featured eleven original tracks, two singles (Love And Mercy, Melt Away), one promo-only single (Night Time), and two b-side tracks.

Well in 1989, Brian decided to do another solo album. He and others recorded probably 70 or so different original songs. There's been so many releases of bootlegs of the album, that I can't specify which songs were meant to be on the album, but I have a basic guess (and you can't always trust wikipedia!). Also, there are two versions of most of the songs as Brian did one version of the album and Sire Records rejected it. They mixed it a second time, and they rejected it then as well.

You can basically find this as a bootleg, but I don't know where. You can also find the songs on Limewire, quite often these days. I highly recommend this album, I have a feeling this is the kind of music Brian would of created had it not been for The Beach Boys, as there's not much surfing involved in these songs.

Tracks
1. Concert (AKA 'Concert Tonite')
A 16 second introduction and also from the full song 'Concert Tonite'
2. Someone To Love
A nice song. Very catchy lyrics with a great rocking chorus. Features tons of 'rocking' vocals, as well as Brian's famous falsetto.
3. Water Builds Up
Features the same melody from the verses of 'Let's Go To Heaven In My Car'... as well as some of the lyrics, but the chorus' are totally different. I like 'Let's Go To Heaven In My Car', but this song is worth hearing.
4. Don't Let Her Know She's An Angel
This song is a nice ballad, and was also re-recorded and released on Brian's 2004 'Gettin' In Over My Head' album.
5. Do You Have Any Regrets (AKA 'I Do')
A very catchy pop song, this track probably would of been a possible single if this album wasn't rejected by Sire/Warner Records.
6. Thank You (AKA 'Brian')
This, I imagine, is one of Brian's favorite songs on the album, which Brian sings about everything! From his family not trusting him, to how his Dad beating him when he was a kid, and then about how he's healthy and he's come a long way, and thanks the ones who believe in him. I enjoy this song. Sire Records hated it.
7. Hotter
Another pop rocker. Brian's singing here about some woman who he meets at a dance club and turns him on. It's a nice and upbeat song, definetely would of been a possible single release.
8. The Spirit Of Rock 'N' Roll
There are MANY versions of this song, and I think it was first recorded in 1986, as Brian with The Beach Boys performed it in Hawaii for their 25th anniversary as a band. This version though, has a guest vocalist singing song of the lines in the verses, Bob Dylan! This song is great and could of been a big hit for either The Beach Boys or Brian, had it been released as a single. It was re-recorded in 2004/05 and released on a Beach Boys album that was only available at Hallmark stores. I prefer the original versions from the 1980s, as the newer one sounds too 'acoustic'
9. Rainbow Eyes
Very nice song and in this song, Brian sings a line in which mentions 'your sweet insanity'. Probably where the album title came from. When this song was re-recorded for Brian's 'Gettin' In Over My Head' album, he changed the lyric to 'your sweet conspiracy' or something like that. I prefer this version. My son, loves both versions of this song. It is his FAVORITE song. He instantly smiles and stops whatever he is doing when he hears the catchy beat from the beginning of the song playing.
10. Love Ya
Very catchy pop song. One of my favorites and plenty of background vocals. Some people might think it's too sugary for their tastes, but I love it.
11. Make A Wish
Great pop song. The only part I don't like is a female vocalist doing background vocals on the chorus. Again, like many Sweet Insanity songs, it was re-recorded for the 'Gettin' In Over My Head' album, but they basically did a note-to-note re-recording of it, so not much has changed except that Brian's vocals aren't as "whiney" as they used to sound.
12. Concert Tonite
The hard rock song of the album. Basically a song about rocking out, rocking around, rocking with everyone, letting loose, etc. Brian even mentions "let's get violent now, we'll be rocking violent tonight" such as in a mosh pit. Great song, and could of been a huge hit.

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Other songs that I have, that were going to possibly be released on The Sweet Insanity album
Heavenly Bodies (Note: beautiful ballad)
Metal Beach (Note: A hard rock instrumental)
Country Feelin' (Note: One of those "sophisticated" Brian songs... I think this was featured in a film)
Smart Girls (Note: This rap, yes rap, song managed to be released as a promo single back in 1989 to radio DJ's only, and Dr. Demento has played it numerous times on his station)
Turning Point
Daddy's Little Girl (Note: Released on the soundtrack to 'Daddy's Little Girl')
Save The Day (Note: Re-recorded with mostly new lyrics and re-titled 'Fairy Tale' on the 'Gettin' In Over My Head' album)
Still I Dream Of It