Brian Wilson’s favourite Randy Newman album: “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 has become 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.”
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.
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.
Listen to Brian Wilson’s favourite Randy Newman album, Sail Away, below.
