For years Brian Wilson/Beach Boys fans have been exposed to mostly over-exaggerated and misdirected storylines filled with hyperbolae regarding Brian Wilson. More often than not documentaries have focused more on Brian’s shortcomings of drug abuse and mental illness as opposed to his amazing musical gifts and the way he altered the course of popular music forever. Brian Wilson Songwriter 1962 – 1969 brings into focus Wilson’s studio fortitude and compositional genius.
More importantly, the tightly edited chronology of Brian’s life is articulated with thorough firsthand accounts by David Marks, Bruce Johnston, Danny Hutton, Hal Blaine, Carole Kaye, Billy Hinsche and Fred Vail. The third-party interviewees – Domenic Priore, Peter Ames Carlin and Philip Lambert – perfectly balance history, opinion and musical composition.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this particular release is having David Marks tell of Brian’s early success and Bruce Johnston’s reflections on Brian’s career-defining work in 1966, which together create an aptly honed storyline. While this documentary doesn’t exactly reveal anything new, it does provide the viewer with a better understanding of a magical era when Brian Wilson reigned supreme.
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