The 1972 album Brian Wilson crowned the best: “His music means a lot to me”
Few artists could rival Brian Wilson for his compositional talents. The Beach Boy gathered gorgeous harmonies and wide-ranging instrumentation to create some of the most beloved songs of all time, from the euphoric ‘Surfin’ U.S.A’ to Paul McCartney’s favourite song, ‘God Only Knows’. Wilson has widely – and rightfully – been regarded as a genius, so his musical recommendations are not to be taken lightly.
Fortunately for Beach Boys fans and budding composers, Wilson has often openly shared his musical interests and tastes. There is one album that seems to crop up every time Wilson speaks about his favourite records from an artist who has amassed similar compositional acclaim in the world of film scoring: Randy Newman.
While Wilson became one of the most important figures in the history of pop composition, Newman has become one of the most recognisable within film composition. The mind behind some iconic animated soundtracks, including Toy Story and Monsters, Inc, but Wilson is a bigger fan of Newman’s earlier solo work.
During a conversation with Spin in which Wilson divulged the albums he can’t live without, between picks from heavyweights the Rolling Stones and the Beatles, the Beach Boy shared his love for Sail Away. “It’s the BEST,” he enthused, “I love Randy… his music means a lot to me.”
Wilson and Newman shared more than a gift for melody. Both had an uncanny ability to pair sophisticated arrangements with deeply human songwriting, proving that ambitious composition never had to come at the expense of emotional warmth or accessibility.
Released in 1972, Sail Away marked Newman’s third studio record. A beautiful album of orchestral pop, marked by Newman’s now-distinctive vocals and compositional talent, Sail Away remains just as remarkable now. The album had a particularly personal impact on Wilson, who was moved by the album and found it helped his mental state.
At the time, Wilson was navigating one of the most turbulent periods of his life and career, making music that offered both comfort and creative inspiration especially valuable. Sail Away became more than just a favourite record and, instead, served as a reminder that intelligent, emotionally rich songwriting could still feel effortless.
Wilson would frequent the album while penning the Beach Boys’ 1973 EP, Mount Vernon and Fairway, a fairy tale of an EP inspired by the mood that Newman’s music created. He was particularly taken by Newman’s words, as he recalled while sharing his favourite albums with Esquire.
“I love the lyrics throughout the whole record,” Wilson enthused, and it’s not difficult to understand why. Newman’s orchestral swells are accompanied by words just as complicated and considered as the instrumentation surrounding them, charting everything from slavery to religion to foreign policy.It’s a masterpiece in composition and commentary on American life.
With just one listen to the record, it’s easy to understand why Wilson was so stunned by it, why he felt compelled to listen to it so frequently, and how it inspired him to create some more music of his own. It’s more than worthy of its permanent place on Wilson’s list.
Wilson’s admiration for Sail Away also highlights his lifelong curiosity as a listener. Despite influencing generations of musicians himself, he never stopped looking to others for inspiration, whether through Newman’s lyrical wit, orchestral ambition or understated emotional depth. It’s a fitting reminder that even the greatest composers remain students of music, always searching for the next record capable of opening a new creative door.
Listen to Brian Wilson’s favourite Randy Newman album, Sail Away, below.
