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That Lucky Old Sun | 
| Artist: Brian Wilson
Label: Capitol Records
Category: Music
List Price: $18.98
Buy New: $13.99
You Save: $4.99 (26%)
Rating:  81 reviews
Sales Rank: 1101
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.3
EAN: 5099923414723
ASIN: B001BN732I
Release Date: September 2, 2008
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Tracks:
| • | That Lucky Old Sun | | • | Morning Beat | | • | Room With A View (narrative) | | • | Good Kind Of Love | | • | Forever My Surfer Girl | | • | Venice Beach (narrative) | | • | Live Let Live | | • | Mexican Girl | | • | Cinco de Mayo (narrative) | | • | California Role | | • | Between Pictures (narrative) | | • | Oxygen To The Brain | | • | Been Too Long | | • | Midnight s Another Day | | • | Lucky Old Sun Reprise | | • | Goin' Home | | • | Southern California |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Brand new album from legendary writer, producer, arranger and performer Brian Wilson, produced by Brian and created in the Capitol Records Studios where he first recorded in 1962.
Album Description
That Lucky Old Sun is an autobiographical, intimate, personal & emotional work from a living legend who is widely recognized as one of the world's greatest composers & musicians. Produced by Brian Wilson & recorded in the Capitol Records studios where he first recorded in 1962.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 76 more reviews...
Very Nice January 4, 2009
rmannor (Michigan)
A solid effort from Brian. This album is an enjoyable listen from start to finish. It includes several excellent tracks (Good Kinda Love, Live Let Live, Southern California), and one all time classic: Midnight's Another Day. This song ranks right up there with Brian's best, like Surf's Up and God Only Knows.
Not his best, but worth listening to January 4, 2009
Timothy P. Scanlon (Hyattsville, MDUSA)
Allow me to start with a little truth: I was going to give this CD three stars. I'd been impressed with Orange Crate Art, a Wilson masterpiece with musical and lyrical subtlties that indicated a new level of creativity. I saw this CD in a store someplace, and was impressed with all the raving on the package: "This is the best thing since sliced bread." So I asked my spouse for it.
Then, shortly before Christmas, I listened to it. It sounded a lot--too much frankly--like old Beach Boys. Mind you, the Beach Boys were a creative force to acknowledge. I'm of the school that harmony is the element of music that makes it beyond art; it's the classic example of two (or more) voices being so much more than just the number of voices--more than "the sum of its parts." It's like an experience of heaven. And the Beach Boys, fathered by Brian (and a takeoff from the Four Freshman, another early vocal phenomenon) made an institution of that fine, fine harmony. But, again, Brian seemed to be going in a creative direction over the last few years, and I found the Beach Boys recollection to be a little tiring. Then I put the CD in player in my car. The music--the harmony, the narrative, the lyrics--surrounded me and pulled me in. Yep, this is four-star material.
As to the lyrics, I almost tired of hearing so much about California. In one tune, he mentions Los Feliz, which I remembered from my favorite episode of The Outer Limits. (!) But some of Brian's lyrics seemed to address the nostagia portion, i.e., to be young again. (Now that I'm looking for those lyrics in the text that came with the CD, I can't find them. But I seemed to hear them while in my car!)
And I suppose what better to write on than that with which your'e familiar, in Bri's case, Southern Cal!
I have mixed feelings on the cardboard case in which the CD came. There's an enclosure which includes the lyrics, but such packaging I'm just not used to yet. The little pictures inside the folder don't seem significant of all that much.
In short, the music is great, the lyrics fun, the harmony bordering on heavenly. There's a little less musical--or lyrical--creativity that I expected after Orange Crate Art, but I'll survive it. If you didn't like the Beach Boys, you're probably not a Brian fan anyway and you probably won't like this. If you liked the Beach Boys and want to hear something of a similar genre, then this is the CD for you. If, however, you were expecting something a little different, a little more creative (for lack of a better expression), then this may be a little of a letdown.
I do hope Brian keeps producing. Who knows, maybe it was Van Dyke Parks who pushed him in the creative direction in the other CD I mentioned. If that's the case, I hope they team up again!
 Listening to That Lucky Old Sun made me fall in love with Southern California all over again! December 25, 2008
S. Messenger (Corvallis, Oregon USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
A love letter to L.A. That's what Rolling Stone called this CD in a review...and after listening to it several times, I can certainly see why they'd say that. While some may scoff and call that corny, I find it facinating and utterly charming that Brian Wilson, a 66 year old native Angeleno is clearly still very much in love with his hometown. Despite his own personal trials, he's not allowed himself to become jaded like so many living in Southern California, and that's why he's still able to work his songwriting magic and create that very special kind of vibrant, energetic, whimsical, inspiring and absolutely enjoyable daydream enabling music that could make the most world-weary and embittered L.A. resident (or wannabee resident) fall in love with their city once again!
One of the songs on this CD "Forever She'll Be My Surfer Girl", has a very interesting lyric "First Love/ is the moment /you can't repeat /but you'll always own it...." and own it, Brian Wilson does and he seems to be encouraging us the listeners to do the same. I know most of the songs definitely appeal to this former Midwesterner/California dreamer and listening to them makes me want to go back to Southern California for yet another visit or maybe back to live there again!
With the exception of "Can't Wait Too Long" and "Midnight's Another Day" the songs are upbeat in tempo. Any aspiring actors or musicians will totally identify with the lyrics in the song "California Role" all too well. The song "Morning Beat" brings back memories of the days of the Boomer's youth when AM Radio was still king, and while listening to this song, you can just see yourself cranking up your favorite tunes in your convertible car while zipping down one of the California freeway such as the PCH with the sun high in the sky and the wind at your back! I dig the starting "mantra" of this song..."maumamayama glory hallelujah." It seems like one should be doing the yoga sun salutation to that part lol.
Live Let Live is real nice, too. I like the start of the song and how it's so reminiscent of the old school R&B songs ala Smokey Robinson and the Miracles "ooh baby baby." Great message about the importance of protecting the whales, too. The "tribute" song "Mexican Girl" may be viewed by some as politically incorrect, but I still like it anyway. It's a pretty catchy tune that's fun to listen to...and I also like that you can have a Beach Boys kind of song that's doesn't imply that California is some lily-white "surfburbia" from Ventura to the Border. Now if only Brian would write one for us sistahs hahaha
While I definitely enjoyed the "feel-good" lyrics in the more upbeat songs, I also appreciated the honesty in the lyrics of "Midnight's Another Day" where he describes the downs in his life...and the way he describes how he found his way back to functionality and then went on to being the creative songwriting genious we know Brian to be. In the song "Oxygen To The Brain", Brian puts it very well. "never destroy when you can create." I found that an inspiration.
In addition to the songs, one of the things about That Lucky Old Sun that really appealed to me was the four narratives interspersed in the songs. Who would've thought Brian Wilson would be into spoken word poetry? Pretty unique. I thought it was really cool the way the poetry tied all the songs together.
As of right now, I don't have a single clear cut favorite track yet. To me, this CD is very much like one of those yummy breakfast fruit-yogurt-granola parfaits so popular in L.A. restaurants these days....an appealing combination of smooth, crunchy, tart, sweet and all soooo good for you! Each layer of this "aural parfait" has a unique flavor that enhances the other flavors, and makes it tastier and tastier with each listening. I'd say the best way to fully appreciate this CD is to make the time to listen to it without interruptions, and then listen to it in its entirety and in the EXACT order of song list. At least for the first listening. You'll find it definitely enhances the entire experience that is That Lucky Old Sun.
A big, sun-splashed kiss from Southern California... December 10, 2008
M. MESSINA (Brooklyn, NY)
...that's exactly what this album is like. I dare you not to smile from ear to ear while listening!
I have reluctantly come to expect not too much from Brian's albums these days (with the exception of the amazing Smile, that is), acknowledging his genius while believing his best work is for the most part behind him, but this album happily proves me wrong. It's simply a delight from start to finish. Just gorgeous. Of course, Brian's band and backup singers are just about the best around, faithfully helping Brian recreate the sounds he pioneered 45 years ago. Kudos to them.
Brian sounds very good indeed vocally, strong, centered, and happy; that's echoed in the lyrics too. It's a pleasure to hear.
I wonder if this album will have much appeal beyond Brian's long-time fans; it's a shame that it probably won't be very widely heard, but you know what? We have it; I have it, and I'm happy.
Hell, as a life-long New Yorker, I don't even much like South California, but this album could convert me if anything could!
I wrote this having listened through for the very first time (just bought the download - probably going to have to buy a hard copy, too - rare for me - just to have the package).
OMG, this is SO GOOD!!! Don't hesitate - pick this up!
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