Wilson Phillips

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Wilson Phillips
Wilson Phillips circa 2004
Wilson Phillips circa 2004
Background information
Origin Los Angeles, California, USA
Genre(s) Pop, Adult contemporary
Occupation(s) singers
Instrument(s) vocals
Years active 1989–1993
2000–2001
2004–present
Members
Chynna Phillips
Carnie Wilson
Wendy Wilson

Wilson Phillips is an American vocal group consisting of Carnie and Wendy Wilson and Chynna Phillips. Their 1990 self-titled debut album scored four Grammy Award nominations, two American Music Award nominations and a Billboard Music Award.[1] The group is also known for being the offspring of prominent musicians; the Wilsons are the daughters of Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys, while Phillips' parents are John Phillips and Michelle Phillips of The Mamas & the Papas.

Contents

[edit] Early life

The Wilson sisters and Phillips grew up together in southern California in the 1970s and 1980s. The three shared a love of music and songwriting, and developed their own style of vocal harmonies. In 1989, the trio signed with SBK Records.

[edit] Chart Success

Wilson Phillips released their debut album Wilson Phillips in 1990.

Cover for the 1990 debut album, Wilson Phillips
Cover for the 1990 debut album, Wilson Phillips

Their debut single, "Hold On", hit #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, bumping Madonna's "Vogue" out of the #1 position. Follow-up singles, "Release Me" and "You're in Love" also went to #1. The singles "Impulsive" and "The Dream Is Still Alive'", peaked at #4 and #12, respectively, on the Hot 100.[2] The album sold over 5 million copies in the US alone and peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200 album chart.[3]

Cover for the album, Shadows and Light
Cover for the album, Shadows and Light

In June 1992, Wilson Phillips released their second album, Shadows and Light. The album was deeply personal and adopted a more serious tone, with tracks exploring issues such as child abuse ("Where Are You") and their estrangement from their fathers ("Flesh and Blood", "All the Way From New York"). Although the album received good reviews, it failed to generate the same success as the group's debut album.[4] The first single, "You Won't See Me Cry'", peaked at #12. Follow-up singles, "Give It Up" and "Flesh and Blood", failed to crack the top 20. The album sold over one million copies in the US and peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200.

Shortly after the release of Shadows and Light, Chynna Phillips announced plans for a solo career, and the group decided to split up.

[edit] 1993-2003

During the next decade, the group went their separate ways. In 1993, Wendy and Carnie Wilson released the Christmas holiday themed album, Hey, Santa!, a collection of classic holiday themes with an original song (the title track). In 1995, Chynna Phillips released a solo album, Naked and Sacred. The same year, Carnie went on to host her own short-lived syndicated television talk show entitled, Carnie!.[5] In 1997, Carnie and Wendy, along with their father, Brian Wilson released The Wilsons and the single, "Monday Without You".[6]

Wilson Phillip's Greatest Hits album cover
Wilson Phillip's Greatest Hits album cover

A Greatest Hits album was released in 2000, although the group did not officially reunite for the release. On March 29, 2001, they reunited to perform the Beach Boys' song "You're So Good to Me" at a tribute show to Brian Wilson held at New York's Radio City Music Hall. Chynna Phillips dedicated the performance to her own father John Phillips who had died a few days earlier.

[edit] Reunion

Wilson Phillips reunited in 2004 to release California, an album of cover songs. A single, "Go Your Own Way", a song originally recorded by Fleetwood Mac, peaked at #13 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart. The album debuted at #35 on the charts with 31,000 copies sold.

In New Zealand, the album was a surprise hit, reaching the top 10 and amassing gold sales after "Go Your Own Way" topped the country's adult contemporary radio chart for several weeks.[citation needed]

[edit] 2004-Present

Carnie and Wendy Wilson have announced that they will once again tour as The Wilsons. They have created a new website containing both tour dates and information about their return to the music scene.[6]

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

Year Album Charts RIAA
US UK
1990 Wilson Phillips
2
7
5× Platinum
1992 Shadows and Light
4
6
Platinum
2000 Greatest Hits
2004 California
35

[edit] Singles

Year Single Chart Positions RIAA Album
US Hot 100 US AC UK
1990 "Hold On"
1
1
6
Gold
Wilson Phillips
"Release Me"
1
1
36
Gold
1991 "Impulsive"
4
2
42
"You're in Love"
1
1
29
"The Dream is Still Alive"
12
4
"Daniel"
7
Two Rooms
1992 "You Won't See Me Cry"
20
4
18
Shadows and Light
"Give It Up"
30
12
36
"Flesh and Blood"
115
17
2004 "Go Your Own Way"
13
California
"Already Gone"A
"Get Together"A
  • A Failed to chart.

[edit] Awards & nominations

Year Award
1990 Grammy Award nomination for Song of the Year ("Hold On")
1990 Grammy Award nomination for Album of the Year (Wilson Phillips)
1990 Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist
1990 Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Duo Or Group
1990 American Music Award nomination for Favorite Single - Pop / Rock ("Hold On")
1990 American Music Award nomination for Favorite New Artist - Pop / Rock
1990 Billboard Music Award Win for Hot 100 Single of the Year ("Hold On")
1991 Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group ("You're in Love")

[edit] In Popular Culture

  • In the movie Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, the main characters steal a truck from a group of misfits that bully them throughout the movie. They find a tape in the bullies' car and the song "Hold On" can be heard.
  • Chynna Phillips dated session guitarist Michael Landau around the time of the release of Wilson Phillips' debut album. Landau's solo album Tales from the Bulge, released in 1989, features an instrumental ballad called "Chynna".
  • "Where Are You?", from the album Shadows & Light, is the recollections of a man abused as a six-year-old boy.
  • The group was spoofed numerous times on Saturday Night Live, with Chris Farley playing Carnie.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links