Top questions you'd like answered about SMiLE

[doinnothin]

I've seen a lot of complaints about the interviews and articles on SMiLE recently, and wondered if we couldn't put together a list of our top 10 questions. Who knows, maybe some intrepid reporter would see them and take a stab at it.

Make a post of your ONE TOP QUESTION and at the end of the week I'll make a poll of them, and we can vote it out.

No need to argue on this thread, just throw in your piece and we can argue when the poll results are clear.

[runnersdialzero]

What the hell, dude?

[doinnothin]

What the hell, dude?

Did I say something wrong?

[Jason]

What does "over and over the crow cries uncover the cornfield" mean?

or

Who ran the iron horse?

[Dunderhead]

Who ran the iron horse?

I think we call them engineers

[bgas]

Who ran the iron horse?

I think we call them engineers

There's no call for answers!  Only questions

[CanaanDavis]

What type of candy bar?

[Winston Wrong]

Just a box set track list would be nice....

[desmondo]

How long was the longest H&V mix??

[buddhahat]

Does Country Air have anything to do with the Air element?

[earcandy]

Please elaborate on the Americana/Elements theme?  Just how vital was it to the intended (if there ever was one) lineup?

And by QUESTIONS, I'm assuming you mean questions to Brian, since only he and Van Dyke could really answer them.

[rogerlancelot]

Are you guys feeling the acid yet?

[Don_Zabu]

Is it true that Mike Love wears a salt-and-pepper merkin on his head when he goes to pick up chicks?

[The Shift]

Which one event in particular led you to abandon Smile back in 67?

And if it was a culmination of events, which ones do you remember having the most impact:

VDP's first and/or second departure?
A particular acid trip?
Hearing the latest Beat1es tracks?
Having Mike Love query the lyrics?
Exhaustion?
Boredom?
Being overwhelmed by your own concept?

Tick any/all that apply!

[37!ws]

Denny, do you have any hash joints left?

[bgas]

What will bring you the most happiness from this release of the SMiLE sessions?

[onkster]

1. Did the Beach Boys actually get letters from fans about what their favorite vegetables were? And did anybody shake out the results? Where are those letters now? (This counts as one question!)
2. What really is "Air"? Did you do a demo? Did the piece get recycled into anything else?
3. What's the story behind "He Gives Speeches"? Was this really intended for SMiLE, or was it just...a side track, kind of like "My Little Red Book"?
4. Did you ever attempt to write the "candle" piece that was supposed to replace "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow"?
5. You got several fantastic songs out of using the sandbox--would you ever consider having one again?
6. There are a couple of radically different versions of "Child"--there's the "Surf's Up"-styled version that got used in '04, and there's also the "jazzy" version that only turned up in session form. What's the story on the latter?
7. What was your plan for "H&V Part 2"? Would this two-parter have been the same thing as what you wanted on the original album, or did you have something even longer in mind?
8. Out of all the fan mixes presented to you, were there ever any you liked at all? Or at least in part?
9. There are extra lyrics in the "Smiley" version of "Wind Chimes"--were those ever intended for use in the SMiLE version?
10. Did you ever attempt to incorporate the unused "telephone" lyrics into "Cabinessence" at any point?

There. Dig that.

[bgas]

1. Did the Beach Boys actually get letters from fans about what their favorite vegetables were? And did anybody shake out the results? Where are those letters now? (This counts as one question!)
2. What really is "Air"? Did you do a demo? Did the piece get recycled into anything else?
3. What's the story behind "He Gives Speeches"? Was this really intended for SMiLE, or was it just...a side track, kind of like "My Little Red Book"?
4. Did you ever attempt to write the "candle" piece that was supposed to replace "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow"?
5. You got several fantastic songs out of using the sandbox--would you ever consider having one again?
6. There are a couple of radically different versions of "Child"--there's the "Surf's Up"-styled version that got used in '04, and there's also the "jazzy" version that only turned up in session form. What's the story on the latter?
7. What was your plan for "H&V Part 2"? Would this two-parter have been the same thing as what you wanted on the original album, or did you have something even longer in mind?
8. Out of all the fan mixes presented to you, were there ever any you liked at all? Or at least in part?
9. There are extra lyrics in the "Smiley" version of "Wind Chimes"--were those ever intended for use in the SMiLE version?
10. Did you ever attempt to incorporate the unused "telephone" lyrics into "Cabinessence" at any point?

There. Dig that.

Evidently you don't understand the meaning of "One"

[onkster]

Sure I do. It's the loneliest number.

OK, I could've submitted each question one at a time. But I was trying to make up for all the joke questions people were putting up!

OK, going back to one question:

Brian, did you ever continue to work on SMiLE tapes in secret after the project was canned, as has been rumored?

Somebody stop me...

[earcandy]

Sure I do. It's the loneliest number.

OK, I could've submitted each question one at a time. But I was trying to make up for all the joke questions people were putting up!

OK, going back to one question:

Brian, did you ever continue to work on SMiLE tapes in secret after the project was canned, as has been rumored?

Somebody stop me...

No, no - keep 'em coming!

Also:

Was the "intro" (firebells/whistles) intended as intro to Heroes & Villians or Mrs. O'Leary's Cow?

Is there a recorded vocal for "Old Master Painter"? (YOU sang this at the Atlanta Smile show)

Was "With Me Tonight" intended as part of Heroes & Villians?

[rab2591]

Sure I do. It's the loneliest number.

OK, I could've submitted each question one at a time. But I was trying to make up for all the joke questions people were putting up!

OK, going back to one question:

Brian, did you ever continue to work on SMiLE tapes in secret after the project was canned, as has been rumored?

Somebody stop me...

No, no - keep 'em coming!

Also:

Was the "intro" (firebells/whistles) intended as intro to Heroes & Villians or Mrs. O'Leary's Cow?

I would love to know the answer to this.

And agreed, keep the good questions coming!

[onkster]

11. Are there more parts to the "story" within the H&V song that weren't recorded but were written/considered?

12. Was there ever a simple piano demo for H&V that contained the entire song/plot laid out in one go, like the "Surf's Up" demo?

13. It's generally presumed that "Can't Wait Too Long" isn't a SMiLE track yet...one version seems to contain recorded bits at the end from H&V, if I recall correctly. "Wait" was never finished. What's the story on that track, and does it actually have any connection to the SMiLE project?

14. Did you actually consider using any of the laughing horn experiments ("George") in SMiLE? If so, how did you imagine you might fit that in?

15. "Wonderful" and "Look/Song for Children" fit together spectacularly well in the '04 version...was this the original intent for these in '66?

16. Was there ever any deliberate attempt to write an "Earth" section for the elements? If so, what? Did it ever get recycled in anything else?

17. Can you tell us about how you came across Wordsworth's line from "My Heart Leaps Up" that inspired the title/concept of "Child"? Was this through your own reading adventures, or did someone turn you onto it?

18. You originally included "12th Street Rag" in "Look/Song For Children"--why did you? What caused you to delete it in '04? (Did this have anything to do with rights?)

19. At a dinner party, you directed your guests in a spontaneous mini-symphony of silverware/glasses percussion. Did you ever take this any further? Was it incorporated into "Vegetables" or any other piece for the album?

20. Did "Da Da" get recycled into "Had to Phone Ya"? Or are they merely similar?

21. Did the deleted instrumental break in "Time To Get Alone" originate from the "Look" lick? (Which seems also to appear in "Good Vibrations"?) Or are they merely similar?

22. The SMiLE party tape--sounds like you weren't having a good time that night. Can you describe what's going on, from your point of view?

OK, I gotta take a break. Y'all's turn for a bit...

[earcandy]

Was "You're Welcome" EVER intended for the Smile album?

Who was "Henry" in the "Rock Me Henry" version of "Vega-Tables"?

Was "Friday Night" the earth element and was it to immediately follow "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow"?  And WHY did you move its place in BWPS?

What's the REAL story with "Look" and "Holidays"?  Part of Smile?  Or out-take?

Was Smile to be individual tracks of a normal album length - or were there "link" tracks and "everything but the kitchen sink" to press the bounds of a 1967 album length?

Were you aware that "Love to Say Da da" stands for LSD?

[runnersdialzero]

What the hell, dude?

Did I say something wrong?

No - that's my question.

[onkster]

I think we know about the Henry thing...wasn't that from the old R&B song "Rock with Me, Henry"?