Brian Wilson – erstwhile Beach Boy and the living embodiment of “fragile genius” – has recorded a new album of George Gershwin compositions.

The album, entitled Brian Wilson Reimagines George Gershwin, will be available via Disney Pearl on August 17, with a vinyl edition coming on August 23. It features 68-year-old Wilson’s takes on classic Gershwin numbers such as ‘Rhapsody In Blue’, ‘Summertime’ and ‘Someone To Watch Over Me’. It also features two songs, ‘The Like In I Love You’ and ‘Nothing But Love’, that Wilson (pictured above in his Pet Sounds pomp) has developed from unfinished Gershwin sketches.

“Along with Irving Berlin, Gershwin basically invented the popular song,” says Wilson, “But he did something more. He had a gift for melody that nobody has ever equalled, yet his music is timeless and always accessible. This is the most spiritual project I’ve ever worked on.”

You can listen to ‘The Like In I Love You’ here.

Tracklist:
1. Rhapsody in Blue /Intro
2. The Like in I Love You
3. Summertime
4. I Loves You Porgy
5. I Got Plenty of Nothin
6. It Ain’t Necessarily So
7. ‘S Wonderful
8. They Can’t Take That Away from Me
9. Our Love Is Here to Stay
10. I’ve Got a Crush on You
11. I’ve Got Rhythm
12. Someone to Watch Over Me
13. Nothing But Love
14. Rhapsody in Blue/Reprise