A year ago next week songwriter/musician/producer, Jonathan Wilson, released his sophomore LP, Gentle Spirit – a record I was hipped to shortly thereafter, digging my heels in deep. I’ve since been exploring related Wilson ephemera, most recently his re-working of “La Isla Bonita“, culled from a 2007 Madonna tribute compilation. And while it’s by no means a favorite Madge tune, I bring it up here as Wilson’s re-imagining is both interesting and inventive. Ditching the vaguely ‘latin feel’ and arrangement of the original, Wilson takes things down Crazyhorse lane opening up with a prelude that sounds like an excerpt from ‘The Other One‘, before transitioning (via ‘War Pigs‘, no less) into the meat of the song – which itself sounds a bit like a twisted homage to “Cortez The Killer“. Or… something like that.
California coast and canyon incarnate, this guy.
MP3: Jonathan Wilson :: La Isla Bonita (Madonna)
That is awesome.
1 | Woody September 6th, 2012 at 11:45 amFuck yes. Just drive Topanga this morning listening to Gentle Spirit. Kismet?
2 | Alex Kinsel September 6th, 2012 at 11:59 amMads goes to Zuma Beach… & Jonathan’s cool. Cheers!
3 | Ramone666 September 6th, 2012 at 1:37 pmThis has been on my JW playlist for such a long time. First time I heard it, I was astonished that he was doing a Madonna. Everything he touches seems to be magical and his own.
4 | nadine September 6th, 2012 at 2:43 pmGenius
5 | Andy Weissman September 6th, 2012 at 3:07 pmGolden touch, this guy. Great track!
6 | Wise Greasy Bastard September 6th, 2012 at 3:24 pmHe released a cd before Gentle Spirit called Frankie Ray. Its hard to find a copy.
7 | Randy September 6th, 2012 at 5:21 pmhence, the descriptor, “sophomore LP”.
8 | Satisfied '75 September 6th, 2012 at 5:45 pmHaha “hence the descriptor!” Was Frankie Ray released anywhere? Available as an import? I’ve heard “Your Ears are Burning,” is it from that album?
9 | Alex Kinsel September 6th, 2012 at 6:31 pmLOVE love LOVE his sound!! The first song I heard of his was Desert Raven on a Relix CD sampler. Thanks for sharing!
10 | Abby Faulkner September 7th, 2012 at 6:08 amwhoa. now, i gotta check out his entire catalogue.
11 | mizzike September 7th, 2012 at 7:28 ama nice one . . . he’s referenced at the end of that big coffee table book that came out a few years ago on Laurel Canyon as the “next gen” of that sound, along his running mates, dawes; then, lo and behold, they both seem to come out of nowhere, (i.e., the canyons of LA).
12 | d.cook September 7th, 2012 at 1:23 pmD. Cook,
13 | Alex Kinsel September 7th, 2012 at 4:48 pmYou’re talking about ‘canyon of dreams,’ right? That books is pretty great. Fetishizes the canyons for sure. Laurel still feels the same.
- A
Love it!
14 | Justin September 7th, 2012 at 6:31 pmThis song is sweet – now go listen to BOC – Then Came the Last Days of May.
P Greens Fleetwood Mac > Sabbath > Blue Oyster Cult.
15 | Muddy September 9th, 2012 at 11:12 amFrankie Ray was pulled from Itunes last year. JW will probably remix based on the reception of Gentle Spirit. If you look hard enough, you can find at least two more albums worth of material out there. JW is a beast!!!
16 | Brett September 9th, 2012 at 9:59 pmIf your interested in more of Jonathan’s work. check out Muscadine 1997 album on Sire Records.
http://www.amazon.com/Ballad-Hope-Nicholls-Muscadine/dp/B000005JBJ/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1347603641&sr=8-5&keywords=muscadine
Jonathan shared vocals with Benji Hughes thru out the record. I saw them play when they lived here in Charlotte, North Carolina. Great live band. Benji Hughes still lives here in Charlotte and has released a record as well.
http://www.amazon.com/Love-Extreme-Benji-Hughes/dp/B001AJIWQ4/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1347603908&sr=1-1&keywords=benji+hughes
17 | Robert September 13th, 2012 at 11:26 pm[...] more and more artists who seem to find their true voice a little further down the weathered track (Jonathan Wilson and Hiss Golden Messenger are two others who come to mind). However the hell you end up discovering [...]
18 | Aquarium Drunkard » Aaron Embry :: Tiny Prayers September 18th, 2012 at 4:04 pm[...] became familiar with Jonathan Wilson via a post on Aquarium Drunkard where he covered Madge’s La Isla Bonita. It was simply amazing and had me [...]
19 | Jonathan Wilson – Pity Trials & Tomorrow’s Child EP November 27th, 2012 at 8:33 am