To the average person in the 1990s, "Wilson Phillips" might've sounded like a sleepy suburban drugstore by name alone. But that moniker belied a tremendous amount of second-generation talent--and huge pop hits, to boot. Now, U.K. label Caroline is reissuing the group's 1990 self-titled debut as a generously expanded 2CD set.
The trio of Carnie and Wendy Wilson and Chynna Phillips marked an incredible culmination of talent passed down from several of the most luminary musicians of the '60s. Carnie and Wendy's father was none other than Beach Boys mastermind Brian Wilson, while Chynna was the daughter of John and Michelle Philips, one half of consummate folk-rock quartet The Mamas & The Papas. The three grew up closely together, eventually creating their own blend of gorgeous close vocal harmonies and securing a deal with the new label SBK Records.
With immaculate production from Glen Ballard (the co-writer of Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror," now starting his career as producer in earnest), Wilson Phillips dominated the airwaves and the charts over the next year. The album sold over 10 million copies worldwide (making the group, at the time, the biggest-selling female group ever) and yielded five Top 40 hits: "Hold On," "Release Me" (both Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary chart-toppers), "Impulsive" (a Top 5 single), "You're in Love" (a third No. 1 on both Hot 100 and AC charts) and "The Dream is Still Alive," a Top 20 single. The group and the album were nominated for five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, Song of the Year ("Hold On"), Best New Artist and two consecutive nods in Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group ("Hold On," "You're in Love").
While sophomore album Shadows and Light (1992) was successful, it could not match the heights of its predecessor, and the group eventually split, with The Wilsons and Chynna Phillips pursuing separate careers until 2004's California, a collection of pop covers from their home state.
The expanded Wilson Phillips, available this Friday, features a bonus disc of 14 original single edits, mixes and B-sides, with one unreleased bonus track, an a cappella version of "Hold On," added to the first disc. Liner notes by Paul Lester of The Guardian round out the package. Check out the specs and pre-order links below!
Wilson Phillips: Deluxe Edition (Caroline (U.K.), 2016)
Disc 1: Original LP (released as SBK Records 93745, 1990) plus unreleased bonus track
1. Hold On
2. Release Me
3. Impulsive
4. Next to You (Someday I'll Be)
5. You're In Love
6. Over and Over
7. A Reason to Believe
8. Ooh You're Gold
9. Eyes Like Twins
10. The Dream is Still Alive
11. Hold On (A Cappella)
Disc 2: Bonus material
1. Release Me (Single Edit)
2. Hold On (Single Fade)
3. Impulsive (AOR Mix)
4. Impulsive (Single Edit)
5. Impulsive (Album Edit)
6. Mi Sueño Vive Aun (The Dream is Still Alive)
7. Otro Amor (You're in Love) (Radio Version)
8. Otro Amor (You're in Love) (Spanglish Version)
9. The Dream is Still Alive (Radio Edit)
10. The Dream is Still Alive (Spanglish Version)
11. You're In Love (Single/Radio Edit)
12. Hotel California (Live in Japan)
13. Hold On (Live in Japan)
14. Conversation with Wilson Phillips & Glen Ballard
Disc 1, Tracks 1 and 14 from SBK Records promo single DPRO-05342, 1990
Disc 2, Track 2 from SBK Records single B-07322, 1990
Disc 2, Tracks 3-5 from SBK Records promo single DPRO-05359, 1990
Disc 2, Tracks 6 and 9-10 from SBK Records CD single K2-19736, 1991
Disc 2, Tracks 7-8 from SBK Records promo single DPRO-05388, 1991
Disc 2, Tracks 11 and 13 from SBK Records CD single K2-19729, 1991
Disc 2, Track 12 from "You Won't See Me Cry" U.K. CD single - SBK Records 8 80026 2, 1992
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