Wilson Phillips Love Their Parents

Sony Masterworks

Is Wilson Phillips making a comeback? I’d say so, considering the recent success of their covers album Dedicated, which features the trio singing their parents (that’d be The Beach Boys and The Mamas & the Papas, for those of you living under a rock for the last two decades or so) biggest hits. Live From Infinity Hall is it’s followup and spotlights both the covers material from Dedicated and the biggest hits from the ladies own back catalog. The DVD also features a music video for “Good Vibrations.”

This DVD is set up really nicely. There are no real frills about it such as multiple discs or four hour long interviews or ten different concerts included in one set. Instead this is one wonderful performance, that is pretty near flawless, sprinkled with a couple of stories to keep everything moving along.

The setlist here is a delicate balance. Most of the material is from Dedicated but when you hear the big Wilson Phillips hits like “Hold On,” “Release Me,” and “You’re In Love,” you can’t help but want more of their own material. The ladies sound amazing even now, their voices blending in those unique harmonies that made them megastars in the nineties. They definitely still have that “it” factor! The covers sound great, interestingly though  they really do have a Wilson Phillips spin on them. Perhaps it’s the lack of male voices dominating the songs or perhaps it’s just that they grew up putting their own spin on these songs, but either way it’s distinctly them.

In my opinion, the highlights include the Wilson Phillips hits above all else. These songs have been out of our consciousness for far too long. “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” sounds spot on, as do “Monday Monday” and “California Dreamin’” which come back to back causing a crescendo about three fourths of the way through the set.

I had forgotten how much I enjoy Wilson Phillips. They just don’t make music like this anymore, it’s beautiful and smooth and positive sounding without being completely boring or produced to death. This is an excellent DVD for any fan, old or new, of pop music and vocal harmonies. And with a list price just under ten bucks how can you afford not own this?!

Reviewed by Mark Fisher