Brian Wilson Listens To Young Fan's Cover of "Wonderful". (audio) скачать в хорошем качестве

Brian Wilson Listens To Young Fan's Cover of "Wonderful". (audio)

From Elliot Stein's interview with Brian Wilson on July 15th 1998. Here's my story: The year: 1998. I was 14 years old, and just that past Christmas my parents had bought me my first multitrack recorder: a Tascam 424 mkII. I started experimenting with recording at 11 years old. The way I had to do it back then was fairly primitive. I would record myself playing an instrument on one cassette, then I'd play that cassette back & overdub myself playing something else onto another cassette, and the process would continue until I was at the end of both tapes. The hiss levels were crazy (I'm sure other home musicians coming up at this time can relate) but that's how I first got my feet wet with recording. Needless to say the Tascam 4-track was a huge step up for me at the time, even though you could only milk 15 minutes out of each tape. The massive upgrade in quality was well worth it. That 4-track was my life. As soon as I'd get home from school, I'd run right to my room and start recording. At that time I was learning recording, producing + the art of making music in general by recording "albums" of Beatles, Beach Boys & other 60's covers mixed in with maybe 3 or 4 originals per "album". I think I made it up to my 8th "album" before I got my first job in the music business. Even though the aesthetics of my own production changed to more current commercial sounds, I'll always maintain that Brian Wilson's catalogue was an absolutely essential part of my musical education. At the time I just bought the GV Box Set, and when I made it to disc 2 I immediately locked in with the song Wonderful. I hadn't even heard the Smiley Smile version yet, so hearing the song for the first time in its' SMiLE form was truly mind blowing. The chord changes. The arrangement. Brian's effortless lead vocal sweeping in and out of falsetto for the entire duration of the song. I was hooked! So, of course, that was something I had to cover for my then upcoming.. umm "album". My Dad was friends with a guy named Elliot Stein, and Elliot had what was probably one of the first online radio shows on the internet. He interviewed a bunch of celebrities, including Carnie & Wendy, and I guess he mentioned to my Dad that he had an exclusive coming up with Brian Wilson. Honestly, I don't remember whose idea it was, but somehow the wheels started turning and my Dad approached Elliot about possibly playing one of my covers for Brian. Elliot took a listen to my version of "Wonderful" and flipped out over the fact that I was recording full songs at such a young age, and he happily obliged. I remember the day of the interview. July 15th 1998. My little brothers were in their rooms, watching TV. My Mom was running around the house like a mad woman: cleaning up, doing laundry, etc. And I was in my room listening impatiently, waiting to hear my musical idol Brian Wilson take a listen to something that I recorded. Talk about being nervous! I was a wreck! Especially considering the fact that Brian wasn't especially talkative during the interview. When the moment finally came, and I heard Brian say the words "Boy Genius?" I remember taking a victory lap around the house. I was high, way before the first time I actually got high. Best moment of my life up until that point. And I'm proud to share it with u all now - in all its late 90's era RealAudio-quality glory. Listening back to it years later, all I can say is that I wish Brian could hear what I'm capable of musically & vocally now. But, that's where I was at the time, and I'm truly grateful that I had this opportunity to cross paths with my idol whose commercial success & muscial prowess I still try to emulate to this day. Thanks for reading + listening. J