Yeah its a shame those Andy Paley sessions went under the wayside like that. It doesn’t make sense because Brian is being creative and having fun on these songs and sounds comfortable. I think Andy helped Brian make his debut sound as good as it is too. Like Billdude said, the debut is the best thing he ever did and it’s not even close. The other stuff doesnt compare. At first I hated that 80s production on his debut solo album but nowadays its one of my favorite things he has ever done. It is a great fun record and Rio Grande, the closing song, is straight up a masterpiece.

I regret that I never got to see Brian live on his Pet Sounds or Smile tour. I was obsessed with the Beach Boys and Smile when the Smile album and shows were done too so I had no excuse! Then again I was a bit of a snob and liked the original recordings and not really the remake that much, but I appreciate them trying to do what they can in 2004 to recreate and “finish” the record up and Im really glad they did in retrospect. I appreciate it more now than back then.