For those not in the know, although I highly doubt that is too large a number, Brian Wilson is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer best known for being the multi-tasking leader and co-founder of the Beach Boys. After signing with Capitol Records in 1962, Wilson wrote or co-wrote more than two dozen Top 40 hits for the group.

Indeed, because of his unorthodox approaches to song composition and arrangement and mastery of recording techniques, he is widely acknowledged as one of the most innovative and influential creative forces in popular music by critics and musicians alike.

In the mid-1960s, Wilson composed, arranged and produced Pet Sounds (1966), considered one of the greatest albums ever made. The intended follow-up to Pet Sounds, Smile, was cancelled for various reasons, which included Wilson's deteriorating mental health. As he suffered repeated nervous breakdowns, Wilson's contributions to the Beach Boys diminished, and his erratic behavior led to tensions with the band.

Following a court-ordered removal from the care of psychologist Eugene Landy, Wilson started receiving conventional medical treatment, and in the late 1990s, he began performing and recording consistently as a solo artist. He remains a member of the Beach Boys' corporation, Brother Records Incorporated.

On December 11th, 2014, cameras captured a once-in-a-lifetime gathering of artists at the stunning Palazzo Theatre at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, headlined by the aforementioned former Beach Boy co-founder and music legend Brian Wilson. Entitled A Soundstage Special Event: Brian Wilson & Friends, the Grammy-winning performer/composer teamed up with an eclectic group of acclaimed musicians to perform beloved hits from his illustrious career, as well as selections from his new album, the quite brilliant No Pier Pressure. Songs included on this Sound Stage Special Event were "Good Vibrations," "Sloop John B" and "Help Me Rhonda", amongst a slew of others, of course.

Disc: 1 [CD]
1. Our Prayer 2. Heroes and Villains 3. Sloop John B 4. Dance Dance Dance 5. Good Vibrations 6. This Beautiful Day 7. Marcella 8. Wild Honey 9. Sail On Sailor 10. Sail Away 11. Half Moon Bay 12. Don't Talk 13. The Right Time 14. Wouldn't It Be Nice 15. Help Me Rhonda 16. Fun Fun Fun 17. California Girls 18. California Saga 19. All Summer Long.

Disc: 2 [DVD]
1. Our Prayer 2. Heroes and Villains 3. Sloop John B 4. Dance Dance Dance 5. Good Vibrations 6. This Beautiful Day 7. Runaway Dancer 8. Don't Worry Baby 9. Marcella 10. Wild Honey 11. Sail On Sailor 12. Sail Away 13. Half Moon Bay 14. Don't Talk 15. Saturday Night 16. Hold On Dear Brother 17. Darlin' 18. On The Island 19. God Only Knows 20. The Right Time 21. Wouldn't It Be Nice 22. Help Me Rhonda 23. All Summer Long 24. Fun Fun Fun 25. Pacific Coast Highway (DVD Bonus Track) 26. Summers Gone (DVD Bonus Track) 27. She & Him, Nate Ruess (Fun), Kacey Musgraves and Sebu (DVD Bonus Interviews) In a performance jam packed with extraordinary talent, Brian Wilson performed this night in Vegas with his 12-piece band along with special (noted above) guests Nate Ruess from Fun; Beach Boys co-founder Al Jardine; singer/songwriter actress Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward (She & Him); Capital Cities’ Sebu Simonian; Grammy-winning country star Kacey Musgraves; and jazz trumpeter/composer Mark Isham.

These talented artists all performed with Wilson on his new album, the aforementioned No Pier Pressure, which itself featured all new arrangements of Beach Boy classics as well as lovely new material. Showcasing both his career and the new album in perfect harmony, A Soundstage Special Event: Brian Wilson & Friends is, as you would fully expect, as good as it gets, folks.

'A Soundstage Special Event: Brian Wilson & Friends' CD/DVD Purchase Link