28 February 2009

What do you get when you cross Ray Charles and the Beach Boys?

Well, see for yourself in this lost gem of a performance: it's Ray himself playing piano with Brian Wilson and the late Carl Wilson and the rest of the Boys singing their classic harmony on a song ("Sail On Sailor") Brian wrote with Ray in mind. This is from the 1986 Beach Boys 25th Anniversary TV special in Hawaii. The blend is miraculous; beautiful; soulful; sublime; ingenious; vibrant... I can't think of enough superlatives. I just wish this had been recorded for an album -- and that Dennis Wilson was with them.

UPDATE: Unfortunately the douchebags at YouTube or somewhere decided that the five hits a month from my blog to this video might provide aid and comfort to al-Qaeda or some shit, and they've removed the video. Bastards.

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