Thanks for The Smile Sessions

[buddhahat]

I thought it might be appropriate for those that feel inclined, to have a thread where we thank all those involved in making The Smile Sessions a reality.

I wanted to specifically thank Mark Linett and Alan Boyd for the terrific job they have done in organising, editing and sequencing this set. I have to say I approached it with gritted teeth as this music is almost too precious, but I have been overwhelmingly relieved with the fantastic job done on the disc 1 sequence and edits. The sound is incredible through good headphones. The intro to Worms sounds like a canon going off! Some of the 'new' versions are fantastic - the aforementioned Worms with fuzz guitar cross fading into the Waha la lu ley section, the spectacular Vega-Tables which was once my least favourite Smile track, but is now one of the highlights. Similarly, Windchimes now has a much stronger personality within the set. Child with the recovered vocals, Old Master Painter with Barnshine reinstated - there is so much to love in this new sequence and I will most likely be listening to nothing else for months to come!

Then there are the staggering bonus tracks: A significantly  improved Heroes sections, the vocal montage, SU 67. And finally the sessions which surely present the ultimate window into the album that never was for The Smile purist. And as I bought the box set, I haven't even heard H&V parts 1 & 2 yet (hoping to pick up the 2cd today).

So thank you for all your diligent hard work. For this Smile fan The Smile Sessions have more than exceeded my high expectations.

[adamghost]

Tremendous sacrifices have been made so that that we all could have this music.  Thanks are definitely in order.

[letsmakeit31]

I know Brian & the rest of the group & family had to go through hell after Smile was recorded but I'm pleased to say I'm in heaven as I'm listening to the 2cd set. Thank you one and all but esp to Brian for facing up and beating his demons Love you Brian .

[LostArt]

Yes.  Thanks to all who had a hand (or two) in making this release happen.  It's a beautiful thing.    

[OneEar/OneEye]

I think of all those who may have wanted to hear this and who won't get the chance, who maybe even never got to hear BWPS or any bootlegged stuff.   BWPS was a shock to me, never thought it would happen.  This release is the same, and as I (hopefully) am now just a day or so away from recieving my order I am very excited.   For some reason I keep remembering that Doonesbury comic when Pet Sounds was first released on CD.  You all must know the one I'm talking about.  I think of that with this release for some reason.   
Anyway, yes, THANK YOU to all who helped this release to happen!

[Dove Nested Towers]

A miraculous culmination of 44 years of loyalty, passion and dedication on the part of devotees and producers alike. Thank you Mark, Alan, the Beach Boys (Brian Wilson especially), Van Dyke Parks and everyone else involved in bringing this miracle about. The degree of satisfaction and closure represented here is monumental. The joy and artistic elation this music has brought us is inexpressible. Thank you!

[hypehat]

Linett & Boyd, i'm barely on the bonus tracks on disc one and I'm already blown away. Thank you so, so, so, so much! It's the greatest boxset I've ever seen/heard.

[Shady]

Big Thank You to everyone involved

[AllIWannaDo]

love it - great effort all round - been alooooooong time coming for this release!

interesting to wonder would this have ever happened without the creation of the internet and the accessibility it gave to all the boots?
First i heard were 'Our Prayer, Brian Solo Surfs up, and wonderful' - beautiful, had me hooked straight away

amazing to think this music could have never come out, brilliant we're able to hear this in such quality (minor hiss's n pops aside )

anyone know what the stand outs on the box n vinyl are? i've only got the 2CD release atm

[Austin]

Still on disc 1 and it's even better than I hoped.

Thanks, guys. Major, major kudos.

[SMiLE Brian]

Thanks for this great album.

[Boiled Egg]

I'll stick all the above through a whopping reverb. A colossal undertaking -- daunting, even -- done with care, detail, enthusiasm, love and bags of talent. Thank you all. I'd waited half my life for a release. Worth every day.

(And, buddhahat -- good call.)

[John Stivaktas]

Alan and Mark I too want to thank you for a great job done bringing this project to fruition after so many years. For me, it really is a dream come true!

[Catbirdman]

I've been so immersed in this box set that I have barely even peeked in at this message board. Alan and Mark, if you're reading this, THANK YOU. This is historical and, in Al's words, "life changing." The two of you, along with Dennis Wolfe, are sensitive curators, and tireless workhorses. We, the crazed fans, often can't see past our obsessions, and we nit-pick according to our own idiosyncratic bedsit preferences, but please, don't let that detract from the heart of the matter: you guys have poured your heart and soul over material that Brian crafted so meticulously all those years ago, and in so doing - and it was work! I'm sure - have done the world a great service. I hope you receive accolades from more official and weighty sources than some dumb schmuck like me on a message board; nothing short of a Grammy is in order here. May the SMiLE you send out return to you!

[Pretty Funky]

Thanks to S Desper for that post over a year ago that the BB were planning something special for the 50th. Months of ideas and speculation on this board however all expectations exceeded when the set was announced and exceeded again with the final product and variety of options.

Nice job to all involved.

[Emdeeh]

A huge thank you to all those involved in bringing TSS to fruition!

[MaroonMike]

My box set just came.  It is beautiful!  Thank you to all that made this possible!

[CosmicDancer]

There are way to many people that were involved to rattle off names, but thanks is definitely due here.  I will single out Alan and Mark.  Both of your dedication to this project over all of the years is very appreciated.  This is a day that I wasn't sure would ever come, a day that I've waited for for 16 years.  A day that others have waited for for much longer.  You guys finally made the grand slam that Carl spoke of all of those years ago a reality.  Thank you both.

Obviously, a monumental thanks to Brian and the boys.  It's better than I could have ever imagined.  Congratulations on it finally being out there.  If there was any doubt of your brilliance, it should be settled now.  

Thank you all!

[37!ws]

Thank you to Mark, Alan, Brian, Van Dyke, Melinda, Andrew, and all else involved whom I can't think of right now.   Made for one helluva Tuesday evening! Honestly, after being familiar with the GV box, most of the Smile-era boots, and BWPS for years, this is seriously a brand new listening experience for me. Thank you guys and gals so much!!!!

[SunBurn]

WONDERFUL work everyone. Surpassed my lofty expectations. Thank you!!

[Jaspy]

Yes, I would like to add my thanks as well.
From a to z a perfect product, exactly what the SMiLE music deserved!
The box with the great 3D shop, the essays and words, artworks, poster and details like each CD has a different studio thing on it etc. Just brilliant!
Ok, I could do without the 'finished' album but that's just a small objection.
Really really great!

[The Heartical Don]

Happy to join the queue:

something happened that almost none of us had expected, I guess. I mean: probably a single-disk SMiLE could have been realized at some point in time, done with far less technical and human effort. To please us, so to speak, or just to shut us up 

But the opposite happened, and there is not one excuse to not be very grateful. We got one of the finest box sets ever produced, a benchmark release that is a yardstick along which future such products will be measured. Sound quality is beyond reproach, and as for the cultural and spiritual value, I would simply refer to Jon Savage's MOJO review. It is so touching to read a perfect assessment of the box by a writer who is predominantly known for his devotion to punk and new wave music. Which means: what links SMiLE and the best of the new wave material is the desire to find new frontiers, and the will to leave behind received notions and predictable cosiness.

So: kudos and all possible laurels to messrs. Boyd, Linett, Wolfe, and, a certain Wilson (would that be Wally Wilson?).