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Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin, Featuring Former Beach Boy, Available August 17

Kennith Jones, Playbill.com - Tue Aug 17, 6:18 pm ET

Brian Wilson, co-founder of the Beach Boys, sings the classics of Broadway and Hollywood composer George Gershwin on the new recording, "Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin," on the Disney Pearl label. It's in stores and available through online retailers starting Aug. 17. A special vinyl edition will be released Aug. 24.

Listeners can expect the classics "Rhapsody in Blue," "I Got Rhythm" and "Summertime," plus two "new" songs — "The Like in I Love You" and "Nothing But Love" — with Wilson music blended with never-before-published music by Gershwin. Did Wilson write new lyrics? A spokesperson told Playbill.com, "Brian worked/collaborated with two of his longtime band members on lyrics (Scott Bennett) and the orchestral arrangements (Paul Von Mertens)."

Wilson said in a statement, "Along with Irving Berlin, Gershwin basically invented the popular song, but he did something more. He had a gift for melody that nobody has ever equaled, yet his music is timeless and always accessible. This is the most spiritual project I've ever worked on."

The disc is produced by Wilson, mixed by multi-Grammy winner Al Schmitt and features Wilson's band. The album, according to the label, "features the trademark stacked vocal harmonies and orchestrations that made Wilson a towering and revered figure in popular music."

An a capella version of the groundbreaking 1924 orchestral piece "Rhapsody in Blue," showcasing Wilson's vocal harmonies, opens and closes the album.

"The Like in I Love You" is based on "Will You Remember Me?," a song Gershwin composed in 1924 for the musical Lady, Be Good!, which never made it into the show. "Nothing But Love" is based on "Say My Say," a 1929 song fragment the Gershwin brothers (composer George and lyricist brother Ira) never fully completed.

According to label notes, in 2009, "Warner/Chappell Music and the Gershwin estates made available to Wilson more than 100 piano demos of unfinished or obscure songs and melodies left by George Gershwin at his death in 1937. Wilson narrowed these fragments down to two favorites, then created new music blending both the Wilson and Gershwin styles."

The following is a complete track listing for "Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin":

• Rhapsody in Blue (Intro)
  
• The Like in I Love You
  
• Summertime
  
• I Loves You, Porgy
  
• I Got Plenty o' Nuttin
  
• It Ain't Necessarily So
  
• 'S Wonderful
  
• They Can't Take That Away from Me
  
• Love Is Here to Stay
  
• I've Got a Crush on You
  
• I Got Rhythm
  
• Someone to Watch Over Me
  
• Nothing But Love
  
• Rhapsody in Blue (Reprise)

Wilson, a Southern California native, along with his brothers, a cousin and a friend, formed the Beach Boys while still in his teens. With Wilson as chief songwriter and arranger, the band enjoyed dozens of hits, including "I Get Around," "Help Me, Rhonda," "California Girls," "Wouldn't It Be Nice," and the No. 1 smash "Good Vibrations."

For more information on Walt Disney Records releases, visit DisneyRecords.com, become a fan at Facebook, or follow on Twitter. For more information on Brian Wilson, visit BrianWilson.com.

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L.A. BABY!

Walt Disney Records' JONAS L.A. Soundtrack Features Hits from the Emmy-Nominated Disney Channel Original Series

Burbank, CA — Walt Disney Records will release the soundtrack to "JONAS L.A.," the Emmy-nominated Disney Channel Original Series which recently premiered its new season on Sunday, June 20th (8:30 p.m., ET/PT). The soundtrack includes songs featured on the show all performed by the Jonas Brothers, including "L.A. Baby (Where Dreams are Made Of)." The album hits stores and online retailers on Tuesday, July 20th.

The JONAS L.A. soundtrack received its worldwide broadcast debut on Radio Disney's Planet Premiere feature Saturday, July 17th (7:00 p.m., ET/ 4:00 p.m., PT) and Sunday, July 18th (12:00 p.m., ET/ 9:00 a.m., PT).

"JONAS L.A.," which stars multi-Platinum-selling artists and pop culture sensations Joe, Kevin, and Nick Jonas kicked off the season with a summer splash. The premiere episode debuted as TV's No. 1 series for the week in kids 6-11 (1.3 million/5.1 ratings) and Tweens 9-14 (1.2 million/4.8 rating), and Cable's No. 1 entertainment series in Total Viewers (3.3. million). Produced entirely on location around Los Angeles, the series showcases music performances and fuses clever comedy with an authentic portrayal of rock star brothers on summer vacation in a new city.

With the show's successful season premiere, anticipation for the soundtrack is running high. The all-new 13-song album includes a song co-written by Joe, Kevin, and Nick Jonas titled "Your Biggest Fan" and seven songs co-written by Nick Jonas ("L.A. Baby (Where Dreams are Made Of)," "Things Will Never Be the Same," "Fall," "Drive," "Invisible," "Make It Right," and "Set This Party Off"). Each physical CD also includes special bonus features that will allow fans to "Unlock More Rock," giving them access to exclusive music videos and an acoustic version of "Critical," accessible through computer ROM drives. The accomplished songwriters who contributed songs to the soundtrack include: Kara DioGuardi, Adam Watts, Andy Dodd, Adam Anders, Matthew Gerrard, and Robbie Nevil.

In addition to "JONAS L.A.," the Jonas Brothers will be kicking off a three continent summer concert tour with fellow Disney star, Demi Lovato beginning August 7th featuring songs by both artists in addition to music from their blockbuster Disney Channel Original Movie, "Camp Rock" and the upcoming "Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam." On Friday September 3rd, the highly anticipated sequel, "Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam," starring Joe, Kevin, and Nick Jonas and Demi Lovato will premiere on Disney Channel.

The JONAS L.A. soundtrack will be available nationwide on July 20, 2010 wherever music is sold.

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Six-Disc Disney Parks Series Coming to DVD and Blu-ray on June 1

"Disney Parks: The Secrets, Stories and Magic Behind the Scenes"

It is all here... the secrets, the stories and the magic of the places where dreams come true!

Disc 1 - Walt Disney World Resort: Behind the Scenes - In this exciting program you will get an unprecedented look behind the scenes at many Walt Disney World attractions, including The Haunted Mansion, Mission Space, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster and The Seas with Nemo and Friends! This is the story behind the story of how a theme park made Orlando, Florida the nation's number one vacation destination.

Disc 2 - Disneyland Resort: Behind the Scenes - The Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, is the first in the family of Disney Parks that now span the entire globe. Despite its relatively small footprint, Disneyland Resort boasts an incredible variety of attractions, entertainment, and experiences. Your journey starts on Main Street and takes you on classic attractions like The Matterhorn Bobsleds, It's a Small World, and Pirates of the Caribbean. Then take an exclusive look into the future of Disney Parks with a sneak peek at Disney's California Adventure. Blu-ray

Disc 3 - Ultimate Walt Disney World - Do you crave speed? Adrenalin? Ultimate fun? Then follow us on a journey as we explore the ultimate thrill rides at Walt Disney World Resort. Experience a flight into space, a thirteen story elevator plunge, a high speed coaster that travels in the dark and another one that actually travels backwards! If you’re looking for the best thrills Disney has to offer, then Ultimate Walt Disney World is it! Blu-ray

Disc 4 - Disney's Animal Kingdom - A behind the scenes tour of Disney's most ambitious theme park to date in Orlando, this program showcases the incredible challenge of how to combine theme park rides and live animals in a park environment. Go backstage and get under the skin of the Dinosaur attraction, including one of Disney's largest audioanimatronics figures. Then tour the Tree of Life for an inside look at Disney's most advanced three-dimensional special effects show, and experience the thrilling Expedition Everest and Kilimanjaro Safari!

Disc 5 - Disney Cruise Line - Ahoy mates! All aboard the Disney Cruise Line in Port Canaveral for more adventures and fun at sea. Disney is the only cruise line navigated by "pixie dust" and "magic." See a black and white restaurant turn into full color. You'll get an exclusive VIP tour behind the scenes of the ship and Disney's own private island paradise, Castaway Cay, a tropical oasis reserved for cruise guests only!

Disc 6 - Undiscovered Disney Parks - Think you know Walt Disney World? Think again. Beyond the theme parks, beyond the mouse – we'll show you how Disney Parks can make your vacation magical when you want an alternative to rides, restaurants, and souvenirs. This program takes you to the unknown sites and attractions, as our cameras get off the beaten path. At Disneyland in Anaheim you can "Walk In Walt’s Footsteps" and discover secret spots that Walt Disney himself visited. At Walt Disney World in Orlando, learn how to surf, make and ride your own roller coaster, go on a private safari, and drive a real race car. Blu-ray

Buy: DVD | Blu-ray

New in Hardcover: Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making More Magic Real

How can you make dreams come true? Or transform a fantasy into a colorful, exciting world that visitors can move through, touch, and enjoy? Such fabulous work is the daily business of Walt Disney's Imagineers, a core group of creative and highly skilled professional wizards who combine imagination with engineering to create the reality of dreams that are the Disney theme parks.

In this sequel to the bestselling Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making the Magic Real, the Imagineers serve up another dose of magic with an even closer look at who they are, what they do, and how they do it, illuminating their theories and explaining what tools they use, and where and how they use them. Contained within this deluxe tome are rough drawings, conceptual models, and behind-the-scenes stories showcasing Disney's newest attractions and innovations from the inside out. There's also an exclusive peek into the Research and Development Lab to see what new magic will soon be appearing.

The Imagineers will tell their own stories, as well–how they got there, what they do on a daily basis, what they show their friends in the parks, and how you can learn what it takes to become an Imagineer.

Presented in a large, lavish format, this book is sure to be a must-have for every Disney collector.

Buy: Walt Disney Imagineering: A Behind the Dreams Look at Making More Magic Real

Walt Disney Records Launches Its Biggest-Ever Giveaway of Free Music With '50 Days of Disney Music'

Burbank, CA — Fifty days, fifty fabulous tunes, all free for the downloading: That's the idea behind Walt Disney Records' "50 Days of Disney Music."

Offering fans more free music than any program in the label's history, "50 Days of Disney Music" draws on songs spanning the Disney universe, from classic animated films such as "Aladdin," "Beauty and the Beast," "Toy Story" and "Bambi," to hit Disney Channel series such as "Hannah Montana," "Wizards of Waverly Place," "Phineas and Ferb" and "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse," plus Disney Channel Original Movies "High School Musical" and "Camp Rock."

With free downloads available via social media sites including Twitter and Facebook, as well as via a special mobile phone list, "50 Days of Disney Music" kicks off May 3.

Walt Disney Records launched an extensive advertising and media campaign to announce the program, including a pair of promotional videos (#1, #2) on the label's YouTube page and a Facebook ad buy.

Fans can get in on the program by following DisneyMusic on Twitter, Facebook, or by texting "Disney" to 66937.*

*Must be at least 13 years of age with parents' permission. You will get 4-6 messages a month. MSG&DATA Rates may Apply. For terms and conditions, visit http://www.mozes.com/go/tos.

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