BRIAN WILSON-esque: All The Songs Imitating His BEACH BOYS Music Styles!

...with 3 Music Players:
1 of THE BEACH BOYS and BRIAN,
+ 2 WILSONesque playlists
of all their imitators!
_____
T H E
B E A C H
B O Y S
& BRIAN WILSON

BRIAN WILSON defined THE BEACH BOYS with his writing, singing, playing, vocal arranging, and studio production. Competing with Phil Spector's production and Paul McCartney's inspiration, Brian took the band from Surf and Hot Rod songs to the stunning pop hymnals of the Pet Sounds and Smile albums, considered among the greatest and most influential albums ever made.

Here's that sonic revolution in chronological order, covering the band and solo projects from 1962 to today, with tidal waves of great music that many folks have never heard beyond the early radio hits.

"Come on a safari with me!"

BRIAN WILSON/Beach Boys:
1962-Today
Spotify playlist title=
BRIAN WILSON/Beach Boys This is a Spotify player. Join up for free here.

---

B R I A N
W I L S O N e s q u e:
2 Tribute music players!

Here are over 350 artists from every era and genre, lovingly imitating Brian's styles with THE BEACH BOYS.

Note: The songs are arranged in "sonic order": The Beach Boys' originals are included in chronological order, and paired with each song are covers, clones, and cousins of that particular song or sound from across time.

Each of Brian's varied styles are tributed from 1962 to 1978:
• in the 1962-1965-esque Music Player, all of the early Surf hits, the Drag racers, and lush ballads.
• in the 1966-1978-esque Music Player, all of the Baroque Pop of PET SOUNDS, the Acid Americana of SMiLE, the Groovy Folk of the late '60s, and on into the Moog Rock sounds of the mid '70s, followed at the end by a coda of songs about the band.


B R I A N
W I L S O N e s q u e:
1962-1965-esque
Spotify playlist title=
BRIAN WILSONesque: 1962-1965-esque These are Spotify players. Join up for free here.
*(This Player is limited to the first 200 songs.
Hear the unlimited Playlist here.)

B R I A N
W I L S O N e s q u e:
1966-1978-esque
Spotify playlist title=
BRIAN WILSONesque: 1966-1978-esque

*(This Player is limited to the first 200 songs.
Hear the unlimited Playlist here.)

_____

The Beatles; Queen.

There are favored guests and many surprises along the way.

You would expect Jan And Dean, The Beatles, The Mamas And Papas, Sagittarius, Chicago, Queen, Electric Light Orchestra, 10cc, XTC, Jellyfish, and The High Llamas.

Frank Zappa; Brian Eno; Sonic Youth.

But how about rabble-rousers like The Who, Pink Floyd, Frank Zappa, Sparks, John Cale, Brian Eno, Ramones, Blondie, Gary Numan, The Clash, Plastic Bertrand, The BusBoys, Sham 69, Descendents, Jesus And Mary Chain, R.E.M., Sonic Youth, Psychic TV, The Flaming Lips, Garbage, Yo Lo Tengo, and The Dirtbombs? Paired with the original songs that inspired them, the unlikely influence becomes clear.

From tough melodic sunshine to symphonic pop to shining hymnals to languid confessionals, Brian has rippled through every kind of band with his waves: Surf, Chamber Pop, Songwriter, Power Pop, Punk, New Wave, Indie Rock, Neo-Psychedelic, and more.

Along the way, the Music Players reveal Brian's influence on unsung classics by peers like The Supremes, The Kinks, The Shangri-La's, The Turtles, Buffalo Springfield, Love, The Monkees, The Zombies, Vashti Bunyan, Harpers Bizarre, The Tokens, Laura Nyro, The Association, The Free Design, Sly And The Family Stone, Spirit, Three Dog Night, Genesis, America, Todd Rundgren, Sweet, and War.

And shines light on rare gems by later artists like Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty, Squeeze, Joan Jett, The dB's, U2, The Dukes Of Stratosphear, The La's, Lush, Bjork, Beck, Ween, Weezer, Wilco, Telekinesis, Chicks On Speed, BC Camplight, and Dirty Projectors.

The music surfs the equator with Los Mabber's (Mexico), Equipe 84 (Italy), Les Nautiques (Canada), Trubrot (Iceland), Ilious & Decuyper (France), Frida of ABBA (Sweden), Klaatu (Canada), Hoodoo Gurus (Australia), Shonen Knife (Japan), Fugu (France), The Luminanas, (France), Preuteleute (Belgium), Sin Fang Bous Of The Loch Ness Mouse (Iceland), Jorn Aleskjaer (Norway), and Zumpano (Canada).

Best Coast; Panda Bear; Jacco Gardner.

Brian's radical arrangements and angelic harmonies opened new vistas and depths, and contemporary acolytes like Wondermints, Olivia Tremor Control, Goldfrapp, The Heavy Blinkers, The Shins, Grandaddy, The Explorers Club, Best Coast, Fleet Foxes, Father John Misty, Beachwood Sparks, She & Him, The New Pornographers, The Ruby Suns, Pas/Cal, Panda Bear, Maston, Django Django, The Sunchymes, and Jacco Gardner are still riding his tides.


Welcome to an alternate universe
of BEACH BOYS music you've never heard!


"Surf's Up
Aboard a tidal wave
Come about hard and join
The young and often spring you gave
I heard the word
Wonderful thing
A children's song..."


© Tym Stevens

---

See Also:

• BEATLE-esque: 450 Albums That Homage Specific BEATLES Albums, with 2 Music Players

• BEATLESQUE Songs: 1966-esque, with Music Player!

• LENNONesque: Artists imitating John Lennon's BEATLES and Solo styles, with 2 Music Players

• McCARTNEYesque: Artists imitating Paul McCartney's BEATLES and Solo styles, with 2 Music Players

• SLICE TONES: Artists imitating Sly Stone's SLY & THE FAMILY STONE styles, with 5 Music Players



• TWIN PEAKS: Its influence on 30 years of Film, TV, and Music, with 5 Music Players

• MORRICONE-esque: The influence of the Spaghetti Western sound on 50 years of Rock and Soul, with 3 Music Players


• The Real History of ROCK AND SOUL!: The Music Player Checklist

---

---

McCARTNEY-esque: All-Star Homage Playlists To His BEATLES And SOLO Styles!

To honor PAUL McCARTNEY's unending impact on music, here are two Music Players of famous artists imitating him.

One playlist tributes his many BEATLES styles and the other homages his SOLO styles.

---

T H E
B E A T L E S :
McCartney-esque Tribute

Here are 150 artists from every era and genre, lovingly imitating Paul's styles with THE BEATLES. The songs are arranged in "sonic order", meaning each of Paul's Beatles styles in order sonically from 1962 to 1970; the early MerseyBeat, the Folk Pop, the Psychedelia and Baroque Pop, and finally the boogie Rawk and piano Hymn sounds.

There are favored guests and many surprises along the way.

You would expect THE RUTLES, BADFINGER, ELO, CHEAP TRICK, THE BANGLES, CROWDED HOUSE, and ELLIOTT SMITH.

But how about SIOUXSIE SIOUX, GENE SIMMONS, ELASTICA, THE BETA BAND, and QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE?

Because THE BEATLES' sounds and fashions were so fluid, they are a nexus point for every possible angle of Rock music. Without boundaries and only possibilities, they have influenced every kind of band in their wake. This takes us to the current wave of youth who wear Beatles T-shirts and listen to acolytes like SUPERGRASS, KOMEDA, SLOAN, THE DONNAS, GRANDADDY, KAISER CHIEFS, TRAVIS, BON IVER, PANIC AT THE DISCO, and THE NEW PORNOGRAPHERS, all here.


Welcome to an alternate universe of BEATLES music
you've never heard!

This is a Spotify player. Join up for free here.

---

---

P A U L
M c C A R T N E Y :
McCartney-esque
Tribute

Here are 150 artists from every era and genre, lovingly imitating Paul's SOLO styles. The songs flow in basic chronological order with his peers responding to or covering Paul's styles from 1970 to today; the piano Ballads, the boogie Rockers, the power Pop, the robo Synth, the beatle-ish Renaissance, the avant collages, and the new acoustic Classics. (Some artists are arranged in "sonic order', meaning they are placed next to songs where their sound matches that era.)

Again there are favored guests and many surprises along the way.

Paul's influence has no boundaries. His optimistic vitality, expressed though raunchy blues, hymnal piano, renaissance strumming, ethereal harmonies, and experimental noize, speaks to everyone.

Here are acolytes from every era and angle:
From the '70s and THE MOVE, ELO, CHEAP TRICK, QUEEN, NILSSON, EMMIT RHODES, and TODD RUNDGREN.

To the '80s and ELVIS COSTELLO, SQUEEZE, XTC, THE BANGLES, THAT PETROL EMOTION, and CROWDED HOUSE.

To the '90s and GUNS 'N' ROSES, ELLIOTT SMITH, FASTBALL, PAUL WELLER, CARLEEN ANDERSON, BOO RADLEYS, and THE MELVINS.

To the 2000s with SUPER FURRY ANIMALS, HOT CHIP, FOXY SHAZAM, SCISSOR SISTERS, JET, and FLAMING LIPS.


Welcome to an alternate universe of McCARTNEY music
you've never heard!


This is a Spotify player. Join up for free here.





You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll gasp, you'll remember how wonderful life is and how lucky we are. A splendid time is guaranteed for all!




© Tym Stevens

---

See Also:

• BEATLE-esque: 450 Albums That Homage Specific BEATLES Albums, with 2 Music Players

B E A T L E S Q U E
Songs series,
with massive Music Players!:
• 1963-esque
• 1964-esque
• 1965-esque
• 1966-esque
• 1967-esque
• 1968-esque
• 1969-esque
• 1970-esque
• 'REUNION' 1970-Now

✭ BEATLESQUE: Christmas


• LENNONesque: Artists imitating John Lennon's BEATLES and Solo styles

• WILSONesque: Artists imitating Brian Wilson's BEACH BOYS and Solo styles

• SLICE TONES: Artists imitating Sly Stone's SLY & THE FAMILY STONE styles


• TWIN PEAKS: Its influence on 25 years of Film, TV, and Music, with 5 Music Players

• MORRICONE-esque: The influence of the Spaghetti Western sound on 50 years of Rock and Soul, with 3 Music Players


• The Real History of ROCK AND SOUL!: The Music Player Checklist

---

---

ROCK Sex: 'The Dreams that You Dare to Dream' - The Wizard of Oz > Electric Light Orchestra

ROCK Sex wishes upon a star.

_______________

"Somewhere over the rainbow,
skies are blue..."

In THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939), the Wicked Witch of the West gets a shock when she goes for the ruby slippers.

Jeff Lynne made a concept album with the Electric Light Orchestra about a man escaping his dull life through dreams. So what's a better cover photo than this?

Electric Light Orchestra,
"El Dorado" (1974)

© Tym Stevens

---

See Also:

• "Don't Bring Me Down" -The Animals, The Beatles, Neil Young, WAR, McCartney, ELO


• BEATLESQUE Albums: 450 Alternate Universe BEATLES Albums You Need!, with 2 Music Players!

• BEATLESQUE Songs: 1967-esque, with Music Player!

• BEATLESQUE Songs: 1969-esque, with Music Player!

• BEYOND COOL: Badfinger, the Beatles of the 1970s!, with Music Player!


• The Real History of Rock and Soul!: The Music Player Checklist

---

PAUL McCARTNEY: Playlists Of His BEATLES And SOLO Songs!

To honor PAUL McCARTNEY for his timeless work, here are 2 Music Players of his BEATLES and SOLO songs!

---

T H E
B E A T L E S

Here are songs Paul wrote and sang with THE BEATLES in order from 1959 to 1970.

Spotify playlist title=
McCARTNEY 1: The Beatles songs 1959-1970

---

P A U L
M c C A R T N E Y

Here's an overview of Paul's solo songs from 1970 to today.

Power Pop, Techno Funk, Tough Blues, perfect Ballads, Grunge, and fun curveballs!

Spotify playlist title=
McCARTNEY 2: Solo Career 1970-Today


© Tym Stevens

---

See Also:

• BEATLESQUE Albums: 450 Alternate Universe BEATLES Albums You Need!, with 2 massive Music Players!

B E A T L E S Q U E
Songs series,
with massive Music Players!:
• 1963-esque
• 1964-esque
• 1965-esque
• 1966-esque
• 1967-esque
• 1968-esque
• 1969-esque
• 1970-esque
• 'REUNION' 1970-Now

✭ BEATLESQUE: Christmas


• McCARTNEY-esque: All-Star Homage Playlists To His BEATLES And SOLO Styles!, with 2 Music Players

• JOHN LENNON: Playlists Of His BEATLES And SOLO Songs!, with 2 Music Players

• LENNON-esque: All-Star Homage Playlists To John Lennon's BEATLES And SOLO Styles!, with 2 Music Players

• BEYOND COOL: Badfinger, the Beatles of the 1970s!, with Music Player!


• The Real History of Rock and Soul!: A Music Player Checklist

---

ROCK Sex: "Don't Bring Me Down" -The Animals, The Beatles, Neil Young, WAR, McCartney, ELO

ROCK Sex was brought up to bring friends up.

The running connection this time is a song title; "Don't Bring Me Down", or variations thereof.

_______________

Who wants to be brought down? Nobody, so we all like a good defiance or uplift song on that score. Here's decades of both.


JOHNNIE DEE did an R'n'B song (which sadly I don't have a link for) that was covered by proto-garage band THE PRETTY THINGS and became a Top 10 hit in the UK.

THE PRETTY THINGS -"Don't Bring Me Down" (1964)



At the same time, THE ANIMALS asked hit-writing duo Gerry Goffin and Carole King for a song and they came up with this eternal.

THE ANIMALS -"Don't Bring Me Down" (1964)



On their first album, JEFFERSON AIRPLANE did a song called "Bringing Me Down".


Later John Lennon and THE BEATLES turned the warning to a hearfelt request.

THE BEATLES, with Billy Preston -"Don't Let Me Down" (1969)



Of a similar mind, NEIL YOUNG turned the sentiment to solace.

NEIL YOUNG -"Don't Let It Bring You Down" (live, 1971)


(Here's a luminous cover by ANNIE LENNOX.)


Another variant on the theme is this early solo track by MICHAEL JACKSON.

MICHAEL JACKSON -"Don't Let It Get You Down" (1973)



Alan Clarke and THE HOLLIES had their own angle on it.

THE HOLLIES -"Don't Let Me Down" (1974)



Meanwhile DAVID BOWIE remade the Johnnie Dee/ Pretty Things song.


And here's an empowerment anthem, "Don't Bring Me Down" by Labelle, written by New Orleans' funkmeister Allan Toussaint.

LABELLE -"Don't Bring Me Down" (1974)



In the uplift corner is the wonderful embrace of this Latin psalm by WAR, sung by keyboardist Lonnie Jordan.

WAR -"Don't Let No One Get You Down" (1975)



Paul McCartney had a second go at that same outlook with this overlooked gem, sounding like a timeless sea shanty.

WINGS -"Don't Let It Bring You Down" (1978)



Jeff Lynne, a peer and acolyte of many of these acts, topped them all with Electric Light Orchestra's smash hit.

ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA -"Don't Bring Me Down" (1979)



Recently new songs in the "Don't Bring Me Down" relay appeared by THE SAW DOCTORS, ECHO AND THE BUNNYMEN, THE BLACK EYE PEAS, and SIA.


Hey, I'm feeling glad all over!


© Tym Stevens

---

See Also:

• "Don't Bring Me Down" - Ronnie Dawson > Electric Light Orchestra > Dazz Band > The Hives

• "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" - Ray Charles > Gerry And The Pacemakers

• "California Dreamin'" - The Mamas and The Papas > Eddie Hazel

• "Sweet Dreams" - Squeeze > Eurythmics


• THANKSGIVING!: A Rock'n'Soul Music Player


• The Real History of Rock and Soul!: The Music Player Checklist

---

ROCK Sex: "Don't Bring Me Down" - Ronnie Dawson > Electric Light Orchestra > Dazz Band > The Hives

ROCK Sex gives you the lowdown with no letdown.

_______________

"Don't Bring Me Down" was accidently the biggest smash hit Electric Light Orchestra ever had.

Leader Jeff Lynne melded together a lot of influences in this throwaway song that became a perennial classic.

• The tune was created off-the-cuff in a German studio and the spare metallic drum loop hearkens to the influence of Kraftwerk.
• The "downdowndadowndown" ad lib at the end recalls a similar one from "Who's been Here" (1961) by Commonwealth Jones, actually a psuedonym for young Rockabilly firebrand Ronnie Dawson.
• The bassline recalls "I Can't Take No More" (1970) by Atomic Rooster.
• There is a quiet structural similarity to "You Can't Do That" by The Beatles, particularly in the boogie vamp at the end.
• Some of the harmonies on the chorus sound like The Bee Gees who were then at the height of their fame. And the "Oo-ee-hoo" recalls Little Richard.

Jeff threw in a made-up word, "grrooooosss", for harmony. Since it was done in Germany it was first mistaken for a similar German word for 'greeting'. But everyone else in the world mishead it as "don't bring me down, Bruce", which Jeff cheekily sings now in concert.

ELECTRIC LIGHT ORCHESTRA -"Don't Bring Me Down" (1979)



THE DAZZ BAND was inspired to their name by the song "Dazz" ('disco jazz') by Brick. For this great hit they also adopted Devo's robotic Funk and just may have borrowed the signature "oo-ee-hoo" from Jeff:

THE DAZZ BAND -"Let It Whip" (1982)



Recently the ELO song has been covered by OK GO and The New Pornographers.

The Dazz Band song was covered by Boyz II Men, SR-71, and in Cantonese by George Lam of Hong Kong!


The ELO song is also the clear inspiration for this song, with some Chuck Berry/Glam swagger in it.

THE HIVES -"Go Right Ahead" (2012)




© Tym Stevens

---

See Also:

• Revolution 1950s: The Big Damn Bang of Rock'n'Roll!

• "Don't Bring Me Down" -The Animals, The Beatles, Neil Young, WAR, McCartney, ELO

• BEATLESQUE Songs: 1969-esque, with Music Player!


• 'The Dreams that You Dare to Dream' - The Wizard of Oz > Electric Light Orchestra


• The Real History of Rock and Soul!: The Music Player Checklist

---