SMiLE Sessions box set!

[TV Forces]

:O 30 bucks for the two disc and you're still buying the box set?

PLUS.. I got the box for $110.. so I ended up with the box and 2-cd version for about as much as most people paid for just the box.
Best Halloween ever. 

[MBE]

Mine will be here tomorrow. Got the box and the seperate vinyl. I haven't said much so far on this but I will once I hear and read everything.

[Jonas]

I wish to find more discussions! This place is dead!

[CosmicDancer]

Seriously, did anyone here actually get their 5 or 2 CD sets at Best Buy or Wal Mart?  I stopped going to those stores because they simply never have what I'm looking for.

My guess none of these stores will stock it if it doesn't say "Garth Brooks".

Also, have you ever noticed that the people who shop at a Wal Mart look a little "off"?  You know.... Crazy?  Crazed?  I dunno......

You are not alone.  See this evidence:

http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/

[SMiLE Brian]

Seriously, did anyone here actually get their 5 or 2 CD sets at Best Buy or Wal Mart?  I stopped going to those stores because they simply never have what I'm looking for.

My guess none of these stores will stock it if it doesn't say "Garth Brooks".

Also, have you ever noticed that the people who shop at a Wal Mart look a little "off"?  You know.... Crazy?  Crazed?  I dunno......

You are not alone.  See this evidence:

http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/

Love that website

[Shady]

I wish to find more discussions! This place is dead!

Most users online today: 207     

Is it really? 

Plus it's Halloween

[CosmicDancer]

Why on earth would you put Walmart in the same category as Target and Best Buy???

Not meaning to answer for T.R.B.B.......

But basically, insofar as music, Walmart, Best Buy and Target all suck equally.  When is the last time you found anything new release at any of these "outlets"?

Even the word "outlet" sounds scary!

I DEFY anyone on this board to find and buy a 5 CD set at any of these joints.  They simply don't stock music that that I am interested in.

I used to love Best Buy before cd sales started to plummet.  My local branch generally had a good selection of artists and decent pricing.  I still check in with them when something new comes out that I want from artists that are somewhat well known.  I scored the new Wilco, Ryan Adams and Rich Robinson (guitarist from the Black Crowes) albums there for $9.99 each.  For the most part though, since the industry has taken a dive, their selection has shrunk big time. 

My best bet these days is to pay a bit more at the local independent store or order online. 

Wal Mart isn't even an option.  No way any Wal Mart in the U.S. has the deluxe box.

[BiNNS]

I'm hoping my box gets here tomorrow...eventhough it will only be open on Xmas morning. There is a small mom and pop music shop here that has ordered the 2cd set but i don't think it has come in yet. Keeping my fingers crossed that it arrives tomorrow.
I called every other place around that would possibly sell it only to be told that they aren't. The kid on the phone at Future Shop went to go see if it was in...he came back on the line and cheerfully said "We have their Christmas album!". Thanks for the help, buddy. I just want to hold a copy of SMiLE in my hands on the official release day.

[hypehat]

My halloween party intervened, but sweet jesus. My american brethren, when this box hits your doormats you are going to go nuts, I swear.

[Shady]

Just downloaded a vinyl rip, incredible..

But what a waste just putting those fantastic stereo mix's on the Vinyl version

[runnersdialzero]

I'm listening to Van Halen in anticipation for hearing the set tomorrow.

[trismegistus]

Well, here we are at 8:30pm and still no shipment confirmation. Worry is beginning to set in. It still says tomorrow for delivery, though.

Yep, just hit 8:30 for me and I'm still staring at "Shipping Soon" on my computer screen. Nerve-wracking.

[sockittome]

Got my box set today, grabbed a six pack, turned off all the lights (which served a dual purpose, 1--successfully deterring the trick or treaters, and 2--setting the mood for SMiLE), put on my headphones and listened to disc 1 in its entirety.  I must say, even with the fly-ins and missing vocals on a few tracks, I believe this is THE definitive SMiLE.  I've argued on this board and in other places that BWPS was the finished SMiLE, but I am presently rethinking that idea.  I mean, BWPS is great and all that, but THIS is the real deal.  The sequencing and editing just flows, and the clarity of these mixes is almost beyond description.  I am not a big fan of mono, but the mix on this is so balanced, I didn't even give any thought to the lack of stereo separation.  I feel like for the first time ever, I really "get" SMiLE (and I've been listening to the boots and various mixes for years).

Btw, I didn't drink the whole 6-pack, just two beers--one for each "side".  

[rab2591]

All of our "Shipping Soon" status' seemed to have occurred around the same time - right around the time when several here emailed/chatted with Amazon.

I know many are getting their boxsets now, and many are shipping out as the hours pass...but it makes me wonder if they did have a shortage, and just put "shipping soon" on everyone's order page to ease the amount of email flow to their 'help' department.

I have never seen the status 'shipping soon' this long on any order of mine. Just a thought.

[Wrightfan]

Packaged arrived at Laurel, MD about half hour ago.

For me that means the next step is only one thing...out for delivery in the morning 

[rab2591]

I spoke too soon - just shipped! And it should be here by Wednesday hopefully!!

[Chris Brown]

Surfs up 67' done in a lower key and complete with that weird wild honey piano.

Is it in a lower key or a lower octave? Sounds like the same key to me.

seems to me to be about a halfstep lower, until "Surf's Up, mmhmmm mhmm" when it modulates up a half step, back to the key of the original demo.

I would guess the change in key isn't so much to do with the piano and more to do with Brian later calling the song a "piece of sh*t" and then saying he wasn't the right vocalist for the song.

Now, i wouldn't necessarily say that.  I'd liken it to something along the lines of the SS version of Wind Chimes, which ended up a half step lower than the original version. It's just a bit of a different vibe....in this case, a more "real" performance (and by real, i mean live) recorded all at once, as apposed to tracking the piano, and then double tracking the vocals like in the '66 demo.

Also, if he wanted to do that modulation at the end like that, maybe he'd rather it end in the original key, so he decided to modulate the first part of the song down, instead of the last part up.

It's amazing how a small key change can make a song sound so different.  The '67 version sounds more sad and lonely - of course, the single-tracked vocal and de-tuned piano help with that too, but the lower key makes an understated impact as well.

[Chris Brown]

My box arrived this afternoon - it's been a busy day/night, but I'm midway through disc 3 now, and I'm still pretty stunned about the whole thing.  It still doesn't seem real.  Just the sound quality alone is such a fantastic thing, it's almost like hearing the music for the first time.  Even a lot of the stuff I've heard before sounds new to me.

[dmcguire70]

Surfs up 67' done in a lower key and complete with that weird wild honey piano.

Is it in a lower key or a lower octave? Sounds like the same key to me.

The whole song is in a different key up until 2.30 where it goes back into the same key as the 66' version.

[dmcguire70]

I spoke too soon - just shipped! And it should be here by Wednesday hopefully!!

Mine shipped today but won't be here till the 7th of November (I'm in Australia) but I've downloaded a few of the  tracks from I tunes ,I just couldn't resist.

[Dunderhead]

f***
Just got done with work, can't wait to wake up tomorrow.
I see there's no pitchfork review up. I wonder if they'll review it at all.

[Shady]

Pitchfork's review will be up in the next few days

[Dunderhead]

Pitchfork's review will be up in the next few days

Shady, I am so so excited. I am freaking out.

[The Shift]

Tracking:

Track your package          
Date   Time   Location   Event Details
31 Oct 2011   03:11:42 AM   Bam_Bridge Depot UK   Arrival Scan
30 Oct 2011   08:57:26 PM   Prime Sort UK   Arrival Scan
30 Oct 2011   12:00:00 AM   Web Customer UK   Order has been handed over to the carrier and is in transit

So… not moved an inch for 17 hours.

Harrumph…

27 hours now. What kind of courier is amazon.uk using?

Harrumph...

[John Stivaktas]

I spoke too soon - just shipped! And it should be here by Wednesday hopefully!!

Mine shipped today but won't be here till the 7th of November (I'm in Australia) but I've downloaded a few of the  tracks from I tunes ,I just couldn't resist.

Same here, shipped today. Mine will arrive on the east coast on the 15th of November.