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Brian Wilson's Last Playlist (Rolling Stone article today by his friend Jason Fine)
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/brian-wilson-last-days-playlist-1235362533/The last time I saw Brian Wilson was in March of this year. I’d been going to visit him every few months or so since his wife, Melinda, died in 2024. Brian had quit touring two years earlier, so he was pretty much in retirement mode. We spent time watching music documentaries and Lakers games or relaxing in his backyard, while his kids swam in the pool or did homework at the kitchen table. His favorite dog, an arthritic 12-year-old black poodle named Jet, would hang by his side, while a menagerie of other dogs barked jealously from the kitchen. Every few minutes, Jet dropped his chew toy in Brian’s lap. Brian, a star athlete in high school who dreamed of playing center field for the New York Yankees before getting “sidetracked” by the music business, would toss the chew toy over and over across the room — at 82, he still had a natural arm.
-snip-
Today, when I arrived, he shouted gleefully, “Jason Fucking Fine, I can’t believe it!” then burst into laughter. He looked gaunt and pale but still boyish, his silver hair slicked back and his clear blue eyes shining. I’ve known Brian for close to 30 years, and to me he’s not just been a fascinating subject to write about — he’s been a caring and hilarious friend, and one of the most kind and sensitive people I’ve ever known. I’ve never heard Brian utter a single negative word about anyone (even people who took advantage of him or abused him), and he always goes out of his way to put friends and even strangers at ease. Not long ago, we were leaving a hotel in New York City, and the elevator stopped at a lower floor. A man got in, gasped at the sight of Brian Wilson (even in his eighties, Brian was recognized everywhere we went), and looked visibly nervous as we descended. Brian gently put his hand on the man’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, sir,” he reassured him. “We’re going to get you to the lobby safely.”
-snip-
We’d planned to go out for sushi, but the L.A. fires had closed roads all over the city and the air quality was low, so Brian asked if we could “mellow out” at home and “boot up some tunes.” Brian called out the songs he wanted to hear, starting with “Be My Baby,” the Ronettes hit that to Brian is the pinnacle of all pop music. He estimates he’s listened to the song “at least 100,000 times” since it was released in 1963, yet watching him grin and sing his own harmonies through the song today, it might as well be the first time. We listened to George Harrison, the Bee Gees, Beach Boys deep cuts, and a batch of his favorite rock & roll songs by the Stones, Creedence, and Buddy Holly. Brian had long dreamed of making an album of rock & roll covers. “I hope I’ve still got it in me,” he said.
-snip-
Brian Wilson’s playlist
1. The Ronettes, “Be My Baby”
2. George Harrison, “My Sweet Lord”
3. The Rolling Stones, “My Obsession”
4. Bee Gees, “Too Much Heaven”
5. The Ronettes, “Baby, I Love You”
6. The Beach Boys, “The Night Was So Young”
7. Elton John, “Someone Saved My Life Tonight”
8. The Beatles, “Strawberry Fields Forever”
9. The Beach Boys, “Please Let Me Wonder”
10. Chuck Berry, “Johnny B. Goode”
11. The Beach Boys, “Mt. Vernon & Fairway”
12. Creedence Clearwater Revival, “Proud Mary”
13. Bob Dylan, “Mr. Tambourine Man”
14. Dennis Wilson, “Pacific Ocean Blues”
15. Buddy Holly, “Rave On”
16. The Crystals, “Then He Kissed Me”
17. The Beach Boys, “It’s OK”
-snip-
Today, when I arrived, he shouted gleefully, “Jason Fucking Fine, I can’t believe it!” then burst into laughter. He looked gaunt and pale but still boyish, his silver hair slicked back and his clear blue eyes shining. I’ve known Brian for close to 30 years, and to me he’s not just been a fascinating subject to write about — he’s been a caring and hilarious friend, and one of the most kind and sensitive people I’ve ever known. I’ve never heard Brian utter a single negative word about anyone (even people who took advantage of him or abused him), and he always goes out of his way to put friends and even strangers at ease. Not long ago, we were leaving a hotel in New York City, and the elevator stopped at a lower floor. A man got in, gasped at the sight of Brian Wilson (even in his eighties, Brian was recognized everywhere we went), and looked visibly nervous as we descended. Brian gently put his hand on the man’s shoulder. “Don’t worry, sir,” he reassured him. “We’re going to get you to the lobby safely.”
-snip-
We’d planned to go out for sushi, but the L.A. fires had closed roads all over the city and the air quality was low, so Brian asked if we could “mellow out” at home and “boot up some tunes.” Brian called out the songs he wanted to hear, starting with “Be My Baby,” the Ronettes hit that to Brian is the pinnacle of all pop music. He estimates he’s listened to the song “at least 100,000 times” since it was released in 1963, yet watching him grin and sing his own harmonies through the song today, it might as well be the first time. We listened to George Harrison, the Bee Gees, Beach Boys deep cuts, and a batch of his favorite rock & roll songs by the Stones, Creedence, and Buddy Holly. Brian had long dreamed of making an album of rock & roll covers. “I hope I’ve still got it in me,” he said.
-snip-
Brian Wilson’s playlist
1. The Ronettes, “Be My Baby”
2. George Harrison, “My Sweet Lord”
3. The Rolling Stones, “My Obsession”
4. Bee Gees, “Too Much Heaven”
5. The Ronettes, “Baby, I Love You”
6. The Beach Boys, “The Night Was So Young”
7. Elton John, “Someone Saved My Life Tonight”
8. The Beatles, “Strawberry Fields Forever”
9. The Beach Boys, “Please Let Me Wonder”
10. Chuck Berry, “Johnny B. Goode”
11. The Beach Boys, “Mt. Vernon & Fairway”
12. Creedence Clearwater Revival, “Proud Mary”
13. Bob Dylan, “Mr. Tambourine Man”
14. Dennis Wilson, “Pacific Ocean Blues”
15. Buddy Holly, “Rave On”
16. The Crystals, “Then He Kissed Me”
17. The Beach Boys, “It’s OK”
EDITING to add that I've posted videos for the playlist at https://www.democraticunderground.com/1034146718 .
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