Brian Wilson Set to 'Reimagine' George Gershwin on New Album

While the Beach Boys have always been synonymous with providing an excellent soundtrack to the summer months, the group's former mastermind Brian Wilson is getting back into summertime -- literally. Wilson is tackling the George Gershwin songbook for a record called 'Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin,' where he puts his own spin on classics such as 'Summertime,' 'I Loves You Porgy,' 'They Can't Take That Away From Me,' 'Rhapsody in Blue and 'Someone to Watch Over Me.'

While the Gershwin catalog stands as one of the most covered in modern pop music, there still was unfinished business when the songwriter passed in 1937. With the blessing of the Gershwin estate, Wilson also takes two unfinished pieces, 'The Like in I Love You' and 'Nothing but Love' and completes them.

"Along with Irving Berlin, Gershwin basically invented the popular song, but he did something more," Wilson said in a press release. "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."

It was recently rumored that Wilson was to reteam with his former Beach Boys brothers, but that notion's been squashed. This Gershwin project makes more sense, anyway -- 2004 saw Wilson's lost album, 'Smile,' finally reach completion, so he knows a thing or two about picking up the pieces where someone left off.

This isn't the only covers project Wilson has lined up, either. Following the Gershwin record, Wilson will release an album tackling classic Disney songs. We can only hope we're in store for a psychedelic take on "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah."

In exchange for signing up to his email list, Wilson is currently offering a taste of his now-finished version of 'The Like in I Love You' via his website.