As an Afterthought the Brian Wilson/George Gershwin ‘Restoration Project’ is Brilliant!

On October 8th the Los Angeles Times published an article by Randy Lewis, Brian Wilson to finish some George Gershwin songs. I heard about it, but only read some shorter blurbs mentioning Wilson`s work in restoring some Gershwin song fragments. The more I thought about it, the more unusual, the more striking it became in my imagination, as I pictured Brian crafting these unfinished Gershwin fragments into complete songs. I read Randy Lewis` piece this morning, and I`m a believer now! “I can hear music, sweet sweet music.” Please read it, but noteworthy for me was Wilson`s comment that Rhapsody in Blue is his earliest musical memory. Brian may be well suited for the task at hand.

I pulled out my Beach Boys stuff this morning. I`m about ready to hit the beach surfin` right now! “Gershwin don`t surf.” I have Endless Summer, Smile and Pet Sounds. Givin` em a proper spin this rainy morn. Girl Crazy is my only Gershwin title. Go & figure. Todd Gershwin, George`s great nephew, believes in the project as does David Agnew, the label president at Walt Disney Records. I think this is a brilliant strategy. Otherwise, those Gershwin song fragments would lay dormant permanently, lost to time.

This sorta thing has been done before, but this sticks out like a sore thumb nonetheless! Cited in the LA Times article is the commission of writer Guy Gavriel Kay, by J.R.R. Tolkien`s son, to complete The Silmarillion, an unfinished Tolkien novel. I thought of Free as a Bird and Real Love, two Lennon fragments that were completed by the remaining Beatles. This was organic, though…? I anxiously await the release of this record, with tempered expectations. Wouldn`t it be nice to hear Rhapsody in Blue Good Vibrations? Huhh…HAPPY HALLOWEEN! That`s my buddy on the left, Ricky…