Brian Wilson is to return to the record label which started his career with the Beach Boys in order to release his new album.

Wilson’s new solo project, entitled ‘The Lucky Old Sun’, will be released on EMI in September.

The narrated album, which featured spoken narrated interludes from Wilson, has been described as a “musical love letter from South California”.

Hailed as a “triumphant homecoming” by EMI, the record label will hope that Wilson helps to lift their US market share, which yesterday (May 19th) fell to its lowest level for half a decade.

With a shortage of big name artists, the label, which was purchased by private equity company Terra Firma last year, is also pinning its hopes on Coldplay’s new release, ‘Viva La Vida’, to improve sales.

(by Jason Gregory)