The first official release credited to Wilson as a solo artist was the 1966 Beach Boys single "Caroline, No" (b/w "Summer Means New Love"), due to being the single's arranger and sole vocal presence. Around the same time, Wilson also produced cuts for other artists such as The Beach Boys' spear counterpart The Honeys (member Marilyn Rovell was Wilson's first wife), and Jan & Dean, whose "Surf City" became a #1 hit single. The 1977 album Love You and the unreleased Adult/Child (recorded during the same sessions) were tentatively considered for release as Brian Wilson solo albums, although the idea fell through. Love You would be last Beach Boys albums to feature Wilson's extended involvement for the better part of 35 years.
Brian's solo career, despite a few false starts, began in earnest with the 1987 single "Let's Go to Heaven in My Car" (b/w "Too Much Sugar"), featured in the film Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol. A year later, his debut solo album, the eponymous Brian Wilson, was released, at the time hailed as a 1980s equivalent of what is widely regarded as Wilson's magnum opus, 1966's Pet Sounds. A follow-up in much the same vein, Sweet Insanity, was scrapped due to various personal issues.
Also left on the shelf was a fruitful collaborative project with multi-instrumentalist Andy Paley, informally known as "The Paley Sessions". Over the years, a few tracks were released through various albums, but dozens more have been bootlegged, and a comprehensive release has yet to be assembled.
Instead, 1995 saw the release of two albums: I Just Wasn't Made for These Times, a collection of re-recordings seemingly meant to reintroduce him to the public, and Orange Crate Art, a song cycle written by one-time lyricist Van Dyke Parks with contributions by Wilson, were released. An album of new compositions entitled Imagination followed in 1998.
Wilson began performing live again in 1999, and with his confidence as a performer growing ever stronger, he chose to release a live album documenting the Imagination tour (Live at the Roxy Theatre). In 2002, he began incorporating Pet Sounds in its entirety into his live performances; this, too, was documented in a live album titled Pet Sounds Live.
In 2004, Wilson revived and completed SMiLE, his unfinished 1967 album, performing the work in its entirety on a celebrated tour. The positive response lead him to record a studio version which met similar acclaim; the album cut "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow" won a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental. That same year, he released Gettin' in Over My Head (containing many songs originating with the ill-fated Sweet Insanity album), featuring guest musicians Elton John, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, and brother Carl, who passed away in 1998. Brian's song "Lay Down Burden" was written in tribute of his brother.
Brian released a collection of Christmas songs entitled What I Really Want For Christmas in 2005. His 2008 album, That Lucky Old Sun, marked his return to Capitol Records. As part of a two-album deal with Disney, Wilson released Reimagines Gershwin (2010), a tribute to his idol George Gershwin, and In the Key of Disney (2011), a collection of cover songs from various Disney films.
2012 saw the The Beach Boys celebrate their 50th anniversary, reuniting a majority of surviving band members including Brian, for a worldwide tour as well as the release of an album, That's Why God Made the Radio, composed almost entirely by Wilson with an assortment of co-writers. The album became the group's biggest chart success in decades, peaking at #3 on the Billboard album charts. Status quo was restored as the group members went their separate ways again after the conclusion of the tour.
In 2015, Wilson released his eleventh studio album, No Pier Pressure. Originally conceived as a follow-up to That's Why God Made the Radio before The Beach Boys reunion fell through, the album features guest appearances by contemporary artists such as Kacey Musgraves, She & Him, and Nate Ruess (of fun.), as well as former Beach Boys Al Jardine, Blondie Chaplin, and David Marks. Summer 2015 will also see the public release of Wilson's autobiographical motion picture Love and Mercy (named after Wilson's 1988 comeback single), with actors Paul Dano and John Cusack starring as a younger and older Wilson.
Summertime Blues
Brian Wilson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
About a workin' all summer just to try to earn a dollar
Every time I call my baby, and ask to get a date
My boss says, "No dice son, you gotta work late"
Sometimes I wonder what I'm a gonna do
But there ain't no cure for the summertime blues
Well my mom and pop told me, "Son you gotta make some money"
Well I didn't go to work, told the boss I was sick
"Well you can't use the car 'cause you didn't work a lick"
Sometimes I wonder what I'm a gonna do
But there ain't no cure for the summertime blues
I'm gonna take two weeks, gonna have a fine vacation
I'm gonna take my problem to the United Nations
Well I called my congressman and he said "Whoa!"
"I'd like to help you son but you're too young to vote"
Sometimes I wonder what I'm a gonna do
But there ain't no cure for the summertime blues
The song "Summertime Blues" is a classic rock song originally composed by Eddie Cochran and Jerry Capehart. However, this interpretation by Brian Wilson has become popular in its own right. In the first verse, the singer expresses frustration regarding having to work all summer just to make a dollar. Every time he tries to ask his girlfriend out on a date, his boss denies him permission, forcing him to work late. He concludes that he doesn't know what he's going to do, but the summertime blues have no cure.
In the second verse, the singer's parents tell him that he needs to make some money if he wants to borrow the car for a Sunday ride. However, he decides to skip work and play sick. He is then told he cannot use the car since he did not work. He runs into the same problem, wondering what he is going to do, but still unable to find a cure for the summertime blues.
Finally, in the last verse, the singer decides to take a two-week vacation and take his problem to the United Nations. However, his congressman tells him that he is too young to vote, leaving him with the same summertime blues and the same sense of frustration. The song expresses the frustration of the summer season when one has to work and earn a living, while everyone else seems to be taking advantage of the weather for relaxation and recreation.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm gonna raise a fuss, I'm gonna raise a holler
I am going to complain loudly and demand a change
About a workin' all summer just to try to earn a dollar
I have been working hard all summer to earn some money
Every time I call my baby, and ask to get a date
Whenever I try to make plans with my significant other
My boss says, 'No dice son, you gotta work late'
My boss denies my request and asks me to work overtime
Sometimes I wonder what I'm a gonna do
I am uncertain about what to do in this situation
But there ain't no cure for the summertime blues
Unfortunately, there is no way to change this situation
Well my mom and pop told me, 'Son you gotta make some money'
My parents have advised me to make some money
If you want to use the car to go ridin' next Sunday
To be able to use the car for a leisure activity next Sunday
Well I didn't go to work, told the boss I was sick
I called in sick to avoid going to work
'Well you can't use the car 'cause you didn't work a lick'
The boss denied my request to use the car due to my absence from work
I'm gonna take two weeks, gonna have a fine vacation
I plan to take a two-week vacation to enjoy myself
I'm gonna take my problem to the United Nations
I will seek assistance from the United Nations for my problem
Well I called my congressman and he said 'Whoa!'
I contacted my congressman for help but received a negative response
'I'd like to help you son but you're too young to vote'
The congressman declined to help me because I am not of voting age
Sometimes I wonder what I'm a gonna do
I am still unsure about how to deal with my situation
But there ain't no cure for the summertime blues
Unfortunately, there is no solution to my problem
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc., Spirit Music Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: EDDIE COCHRAN, JERRY NEAL CAPEHART
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind