1990s

Brian released two albums simultaneously in 1995. The first was the soundtrack to Don Was's documentary I Just Wasn't Made for These Times, which consisted of new versions of several Beach Boys and solo songs. The second, Orange Crate Art, saw Brian as lead vocalist on an album produced, arranged and written by Van Dyke Parks. I Just Wasn't Made for These Times includes Brian performing for the first time with his now-adult daughters, Wendy and Carnie of the group Wilson Phillips. During the early 1990s, Brian also worked on some tracks with power pop band Jellyfish, which remain unreleased. In 1997, Wilson and his daughters Carnie and Wendy would release an album together, titled The Wilsons (1997).

In 1998, Brian wrote recorded and co-produced the album Imagination with Joe Thomas. A return to form, the album contained top-shelf songs including the title track, “Cry,” “She Says That She Needs Me,” and “Lay Down Burden,” dedicated to brother Carl, who passed away in 1998. For the first time in decades, Brian started to perform live consistently, including performing the entire Pet Sounds album live throughout the US, UK and Europe. Other tour highlights include a successful tour of Japan and a performance at Neil Young’s annual Bridge School Benefit in 1999, where Brian shared billing with Young, Pearl Jam, Emmylou Harris, The Who, Sheryl Crow, Green Day, Tom Waits and others. Brian was truly back.

A man with brown hair, wearing a black shirt with rolled-up sleeves, is playing a keyboard or piano on stage. He is singing into a microphone in front of him, illuminated by yellow-stage lighting. The background is dark with some blurred stage equipm

A man with brown hair, wearing a black shirt with rolled-up sleeves, is playing a keyboard or piano on stage. He is singing into a microphone in front of him, illuminated by yellow-stage lighting. The background is dark with some blurred stage equipment.

A man in a denim shirt and yellow t-shirt smiling in a recording studio with audio mixing consoles in the background.

A man in a denim shirt and yellow t-shirt smiling in a recording studio with audio mixing consoles in the background.

A man in dark clothing standing by a swimming pool at night, with a stone patio and landscaped yard in the background.

A man in dark clothing standing by a swimming pool at night, with a stone patio and landscaped yard in the background.

A man sitting at a piano, looking at the camera and smiling, wearing a denim shirt, in a room with musical equipment and a microphone.

A man sitting at a piano, looking at the camera and smiling, wearing a denim shirt, in a room with musical equipment and a microphone.

Black and white photo of a man with short hair, looking upwards, sitting in what appears to be a car.

Black and white photo of a man with short hair, looking upwards, sitting in what appears to be a car.

Two men sitting in a professional recording studio with mixing consoles and audio equipment.

Two men sitting in a professional recording studio with mixing consoles and audio equipment.

Two middle-aged men smiling outdoors with the man on the right placing his arm around the man on the left, with green trees in the background.

Two middle-aged men smiling outdoors with the man on the right placing his arm around the man on the left, with green trees in the background.

A man with gray hair giving two thumbs up while performing on stage with a microphone, and other band members playing instruments in the background.

A man with gray hair giving two thumbs up while performing on stage with a microphone, and other band members playing instruments in the background.

Black and white portrait of a man with slicked-back hair, wearing a turtleneck and dark jacket, looking intensely at the camera.

Black and white portrait of a man with slicked-back hair, wearing a turtleneck and dark jacket, looking intensely at the camera.

A man with slicked-back hair wearing a black shirt, sitting on a patterned sofa, holding a red pin that says 'I Voted'.

A man with slicked-back hair wearing a black shirt, sitting on a patterned sofa, holding a red pin that says 'I Voted'.

 The Albums

I JUST WASN’T MADE FOR THESE TIMES: 1995

I JUST WASN’T MADE FOR THESE TIMES: 1995

ORANGE CRATE ART: 1995

ORANGE CRATE ART: 1995

IMAGINATION: 1998

IMAGINATION: 1998

 

1990s Demos

In the mid-1990s’ Brian reunited with Andy Paley, who helped with Brian’s 1988 solo debut album. The material Brian and Andy wrote ranged from full-blown rockers to delicate ballads. These demos make up the first five of six demos below. The last track “Sunshine,” was a demo for Brian’s 1998 album Imagination. Three of these Wilson/Paley demos were re-recorded and appeared on Brian’s 2004 album Gettin’ In Over My Head. “Soul Searchin’” and “You’re Still a Mystery” were recorded with the Beach Boys and were unreleased until the 2013 compilation album Made in California. The only track that has not been released is the rocker “I’m Broke,” featuring Brian and Andy on all instruments.

bb-1995-02.jpg

A Return to the Stage 

After years out of the spotlight of touring, Brian started to perform live for the first time in decades. The results were astounding: critical acclaim and selling out venues, Brian would start touring the world, which continues to this day.

Memorable performances included Neil Young’s Bridge School Benefit on October 30, 1999, had Brian performing on a bill including Neil, Pearl Jam, Emmylou Harris, The Who, Sheryl Crow, Green Day, Tom Waits and others. 1999 also included a wildly successful tour of Japan, with sell-out crowds and ecstatic reviews.

“I like doing the concerts, you know? I get standing ovations wherever I go – its a trip.”

Tour Books 2.jpg
A man playing a keyboard and singing into a microphone during a live performance, with stage lights creating a yellow glow.
Three men standing together at a party, with decorations behind them. The man on the left is wearing a hat and a T-shirt with a guitar and the word 'Blinge'. The man in the middle is smiling and has his arms around the other two. The man on the right
Two men on stage, one singing into a microphone and the other standing behind him, both smiling. The man singing is wearing a black shirt, and the other man is wearing a hat and a dark jacket. In the background, a man is sitting with a guitar, and th
Two middle-aged men standing together inside a room with Halloween decorations, including a carved pumpkin and a spiderweb with skeletons, smiling at the camera.
A man in a black leather jacket sitting at a piano or keyboard, singing into a microphone, with a blue lighting background.
Musicians performing on a stage with colorful purple and blue lighting, including a keyboard player in the front, drum set, guitarists, and saxophonists in the background.
A man with styled hair wearing a dark shirt, with a serious expression, standing in front of a microphone on a stage with red lighting.
Music band performing on stage with a keyboard, guitars, drums, and various percussion instruments, under red stage lighting.
A man with styled hair sings into a microphone while playing a Yamaha keyboard on stage with red curtains in the background.