15 Big Ones / Love You (CD)

15 big one's and love you is a twofer in a series of reissues from the beach boys own brother records. these two albums cover Americas best band in the late seventies, which is regarded by some as an lost era and by others as an era filled with underrated gems. 15 big one's kicked off the brian is back campaign where former leader and principle songwriter/producer brian wilson would return to a more productive role in the band. since the shelving of smile in 1967, brian's involvement with the beach boys was sporatic contributing a lot to some albums (sunflower) to not contributing much at all (surf's up and holland.) the producing reigns and leadership of the band were in the capable hands of younger brother carl. but carl stepped aside and allowed brian to take his place at the helm in hopes of getting his elder brother to return to his former glory in the mid sixties. in some ways he did, while the production value does not equal brian's masterworks of the mid sixties (today and the landmark pet sounds), he does prove that his composing skills are very much intact. on 15 big one's brian contrubuted it's ok, had to phone ya and that same song which are all great catchy songs. mike love penned a wonderful ballad everyone's in love with you and brian and carl perform a great cover of the song just once in my life, which is the highlight on the album. the album is filled with too many covers most noteably tracks like blueberry hill, but brian was really just getting started and songs like that same song was a sign that better things were going to come from the genius. and it did in the form of love you where brian wrote performed and produced every track on the album. while again the production value does not match brian's work on pet sounds, the so called lack of production gives the album a raw brutal honesty as does brian's new lower voice and his earnest lyrics. the compositions are still the high note. the album opens with rockin' numbers like let us go on this way and uber rockin' numbers like roller skating child and mona. good time is a throw back recording from the early 70's which is a great song but kind of out of place on love you. honkin' down the highway features a great vocal by alan jardine and solar system is a you have to hear it to believe type song. "if mars had life on it i might find my wife on it" only brian wilson could write this! next comes three ballads about lost love and regret. the best of the three comes first in the night was so young which features the great carl wilson on lead vocals, one of brian's best songs ever. it is followed by i'll bet he's nice which is a song i can really relate to. which is about losing someone you love to someone who is probably better for that person but you still love that person, again brian really strikes a cord with this song it's raw emotion, it is brian at his finest! it is why i relate to him so much. let's put our hearts together is a duet with then wife marilyn which completes the trilogy in fine fashion. airplane features a great vocal by mike love and is the last great song on the album. love you is masterpiece in it's own right while it does not have the critical praise of pet sounds it is equally as brilliant. it's just different, but that is what is great about brian wilson he never gives it to you the same way twice, if you think he is you are missing the point. he is without a doubt the most brilliant songwriter/producer of all time, just believe in the light and it will shine bright as this album does.