Of the great American songwriters who emerged from the 60s, none carried such precocious talent for transcending the era’s pop music tropes with heartmelting melodies, soaring harmonies and idiosyncratic musical settings more than Brian Wilson. “Here Today! The Songs Of Brian Wilson” was one of Ace’s most popular releases of 2015. This follow-up set reveals again how Brian’s words and music were so strong they made for perfect cover versions.

Compiled by Mick Patrick and packaged with a 28-page booklet crammed with a 9,000-word essay by Kris Needs, the collection comprises songs that span 1963’s ‘The Lonely Sea’ from the Beach Boys’ “Surfin’ USA” LP and ‘Love And Mercy’ from Brian’s eponymous solo album of 1988, performed by artists ranging from wholesome 60s duos Bruce & Terry and Jan & Dean through to latter-day indie bands such as the Pearlfishers, the Fiction Aisle and Epicycle. Brian’s cowriters on the featured songs include his frequent collaborators Mike Love, Van Dyke Parks and Gary Usher.

Among the many highlights are power pop stalwarts the Rubinoos’ epic chamber chorale rendition of ‘Heroes And Villains’, Lisa Loeb’s subtly impassioned interpretation of ‘In My Room’, self-confessed Beach Boys super-fan Sean Macreavy’s version of ‘Let’s Go Away For A While’ from his “Dumb Angel” album, jazzy song stylist Samantha Sidley’s smoky reading of ‘Busy Doing Nothing’ and a recording of ‘Do It Again’ by Wall Of Voodoo that Brian liked so much he agreed to appear in the promo video.

1. DO IT AGAIN - Wall Of Voodoo
2. HEROES AND VILLAINS - The Rubinoos
3. IT’S OK - Celebration
4. VEGETABLES - Jan & Dean
5. HAWAII - Bruce & Terry
6. WAKE THE WORLD - Epicycle
7. I WANNA PICK YOU UP - Darian Sahanaja
8. IN MY ROOM - Lisa Loeb
9. A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A TREE - The Fiction Aisle
10. THE WARMTH OF THE SUN –
Matthew Sweet & Susanna Hoffs
11. LET’S GO AWAY FOR A WHILE - Sean Macreavy
12. LOVE AND MERCY - Libera
13. THE FARMER’S DAUGHTER - Fleetwood Mac
14. BUSY DOING NOTHING - Samantha Sidley
15. PLEASE LET ME WONDER - The King's Singers
16. LET HIM RUN WILD - Papa Doo Run Run
17. THE LONELY SEA - Steve Almaas & Ali Smith
18. LITTLE PAD - Louis Philippe
19. LET’S PUT OUR HEARTS TOGETHER –
The Pearlfishers
20. ALL I WANNA DO - June & The Exit Wounds
21. DEIRDRE - Bruce Johnston
22. DARLIN’ - Persuasions
23. SAIL ON SAILOR - KGB
24. HANG ON TO YOUR EGO - Frank Black