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Pacific Ocean Blue (2CDs – Japanese paper sleeve edition)

$34.99 ... CD 2CD (€25.78 || £22.07 || ¥3283) (approx.)

A surprisingly sweet solo effort from Beach Boy Dennis Wilson – a record of surprising depth and darkness, and arguably stronger than most of the albums at the time from the larger group! Dennis produced the album himself, with some executive help from James William Guerico – whose guidance here seems key, given the overall quality of the set. There's some echoes of Beach Boys' styles in the music, but the sound is much more personal as well – Wilson's ragged vocals in the lead on all numbers, sometimes upfront and fragile, sometimes given a bit more umph through the use of processing – at that level that the whole group would often experience in the studio during the 70s. The album's as much of a showcase for Dennis' writing skills as it is for his vocals – and songs are co-written with co-producer Gregg Jakobson, as well as Carl Wilson, Mike Love, and Karen Lamm-Wilson. Titles include "River Song", "Friday Night", "Thoughts Of You", "Dreamer", "Time", "You And I", and "What's Wrong". This Japanese edition of the vital 2CD version of the album is totally great - with a booklet with notes and photos – notes in Japanese, but the track info and personnel details are included in English – and all those great bonus tracks that include "Mexico", "Holy Man", "Only With You", and "Tug Of Love". Disc Two includes with the sessions for the unreleased Bambu album – with tracks that include "School Girl", "It's Not Too Late", "Under The Moonlight", "Are You Real", "He's A Bum", "Cocktails", "I Love You", "Constant Companion", and "Time For Bed", "Holy Man Taylor Hawkins Version)" and more. (Blu Spec CD.)  © 1996-2013, Dusty Groove, Inc.