via WFMU's "Beware of the Blog"
"In 1989 Brian Wilson began recording "Sweet Insanity", an album
that was due for release in 1991 but was rejected by Sire. The album
was made during one of Wilson's supposedly troubled periods when he was
under the influence of psychologist Eugene Landy (who was listed as a
co-producer) and included guest performances by both Bob Dylan and
Weird Al Yankovic. The album has long been available as a bootleg and
four of the songs were subsequently released on later albums.
"Smart Girls" was produced by Matt Dike, the co-founder of Delicious Vinyl who was also part of the production team behind hits by Tone Loc and Young MC. By varying accounts Dike was at one time a member of the Dust Brothers and responsible for a some of the production on The Beastie Boy's "Paul's Boutique" which was recorded in 1989 (roughly the same time as Wilson's album). You can actually hear some vague links as "Smart Girls" employs a similar cut-and-paste sample aesthetic (to far worse effect) as bits of past Beach Boy hits are chopped up and sprinkled throughout the song. "Smart Girls" was supposedly released as a promo to radio stations and Wilson played the song on the air during an interview on Dr. Demento's show in 1992. The LA Weekly dug up this "Brains and Genius" J-Card at a used record shop which may be the radio promo or something else entirely."
I laughed, I cried. Thank you for this.
Posted by: Randy | December 04, 2007 at 08:52 PM
There are a few different mixes of this one floating about on a few bootleg BW discs. Most BW fans feel embarassed by it, but I like it. It showcases Brian's oft-misunderstood sense of humor nicely, as does most of Sweet Insanity. It is, at the very least, light years beyond the "Gettin' In Over My Head" release a few years back.
Posted by: Terry | December 07, 2007 at 01:24 AM
Supposedly troubled? I guess you had to see Brian's vacant eyes and smell his bloated body up close and personal, before you understood just how 'supposedly troubled' he was.
Wake up Cookie, for whatever Landy did or didn't do wrong, he saved Brian's life.
Posted by: Burned Cookie | December 08, 2007 at 02:27 PM
Uh- I didn't write "supposedly troubled" - I quoted it from someone. That's why there are quotation marks around everything. Follow the links to the original author.
Spike AKA Cookie
Posted by: Spike | December 10, 2007 at 12:09 PM
Just listened to this album. It's not awful, though Smart Girls is just bizarre.
Posted by: Roger Green | June 17, 2010 at 11:06 AM
There's more Beach Boys rapping in Wipe Out (1987) on "The Platinum Collection - Sounds of Summer" Beach Boys Collection.
You can see a very strange music video version here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-kAnNgqN9o
Posted by: Handleym99 | August 22, 2012 at 03:39 PM