"Brian's Back" is a song by American rock band

the Beach Boys The Beach Boys are an American Rock music, rock band that formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The group's original lineup consisted of brothers Brian Wilson, Brian, Dennis Wilson, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and frie ...

that was recorded in two versions during the sessions for Love's unreleased solo album ''First Love'' and the Beach Boys' 1979 album ''

L.A. (Light Album) ''L.A. (Light Album)'' is the 23rd studio album by the American rock band the Beach Boys, released on March 16, 1979, and their first issued through CBS Records. Recorded during a period of acrimony between the band members, it was a critical an ...

''. Written by

Mike Love Michael Edward Love (born March 15, 1941) is an American singer and songwriter who co-founded the Beach Boys with his cousins Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson and their friend Al Jardine. Characterized by his nasal tenor and occasional bass-bari ...

and produced by Paul Fauerso, the song addresses the " Brian Is Back!" media campaign from 1976. The players on the ''First Love'' version included

Carl Wilson Carl Dean Wilson (December 21, 1946 – February 6, 1998) was an American musician, singer, and songwriter who co-founded the Beach Boys. He was their lead guitarist, the youngest sibling of bandmates Brian and Dennis, and the group's ''de ...

Ron Altbach Ronald Steven Altbach (December 24, 1946 – February 21, 2023) was an American keyboardist and songwriter who co-founded French-American rock band King Harvest, and played the Wurlitzer electric piano intro on their single "Dancing in the Moonli ...

Dave Somerville David Troy Somerville (October 2, 1933 – July 14, 2015) was a Canadian singer operating primarily in the United States, best known as the co-founder, and original lead singer, of The Diamonds, one of the most popular vocal groups of the 195 ...

, and Jerry Donahue.

Background and lyrics

wrote the song as a response to the " Brian Is Back!" publicity campaign that had surrounded

Brian Wilson Brian Douglas Wilson (born June 20, 1942) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who co-founded the Beach Boys. Often called a genius for his novel approaches to pop composition, extraordinary musical aptitude, and m ...

and the release of the group's 1976 album ''

15 Big Ones ''15 Big Ones'' is the 20th studio album by the American rock band the Beach Boys, released July 5, 1976 on Brother/Reprise. It includes a mix of original songs and renditions of rock 'n' roll and R&B standards. The LP was the band's first albu ...

''. Love wrote in his memoir, Besides his work with the Beach Boys and his side band Celebration, Love also recorded two solo albums in October and November 1978. ''First Love'' was produced by Love's Celebration collaborator Paul Fauerso and featured original songs by Love and vocals from cousin and Beach Boys bandmate Carl Wilson. ''Country Love'' was a

country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. It may be a sovereign state or make up one part of a larger state. For example, the country of Japan is an independent, sovereign state, while the ...

album produced by Al Perkins (a

pedal steel guitar The pedal steel guitar is a Console steel guitar, console-type of steel guitar with pedals and knee levers that change the pitch of certain strings to enable playing more varied and complex music than any previous steel guitar design. Like all s ...

ist formerly of The Flying Burrito Brothers and Manassas) and mostly featured original songs written by Love. Both albums were not released but were later bootlegged; Love later revisited and re-recorded several songs from ''First Love'' later in his solo career and with The Beach Boys. Two versions of "Brian's Back" were recorded: a solo version (with a guest appearance from Carl) intended for ''First Love'' and a Beach Boys version, intended for their 1979 album ''

''. The lyrics contain references to "

Fun, Fun, Fun "Fun, Fun, Fun" is a song by the American rock band the Beach Boys from their 1964 album ''Shut Down Volume 2''. Written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, it was released as a single in February, backed with " Why Do Fools Fall in Love". "Fun, Fun, ...

", "

I Get Around "I Get Around" is a song by American rock band the Beach Boys and the opening track from their 1964 album '' All Summer Long''. Written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, the autobiographical lyrics describe the group's reaction to their newfound f ...

", "

Good Vibrations "Good Vibrations" is a song by the American rock band the Beach Boys that was composed by Brian Wilson with lyrics by Mike Love. It was released as a single on October 10, 1966 and was an immediate critical and commercial hit, topping record c ...

", and '' Pet Sounds''.

Personnel

Partial credits for Mike Love's solo version intended for the unreleased album ''First Love''. *

- lead vocals *

- co-lead and additional vocals * Paul Fauerso - vocals, producer *

- vocals *

- vocals * Jerry Donahue - guitar

Release

"Brian's Back" was considered for inclusion on a Mike Love solo album, ''First Love'', which was never released. Instead, the track was first released on the 1998 compilation '' Endless Harmony Soundtrack''. In 2013, an alternate mix was included on the box set '' Made in California''. The Beach Boys' version remains unreleased.

References

External links

* {{15 Big Ones Songs written by Mike Love The Beach Boys songs 1979 songs Songs about the Beach Boys Songs based on actual events

Background and lyrics

Personnel

Release

See also

References

External links