An Review of The 2cd Smile Sessions

[letsmakeit31]

Between the Spring of 1966 till Late spring of 1967 The Beach Boys or rather Brian Wilson (Their leader, Producer, Songwriter, Arranger, Singer) Attemped to record an album of songs within a framework of recording a little piece of Music or Sections as Brian termed it and then piece together the sections into a song like a music jigsaw puzzle only finding out all the pieces can fit into any place and could be fitted in another place. Their last album Pet Sounds got a lot of praise in the music press of the time (Spring 1966) as being groundbreaking and Brian Wilson found himself as being "cool" and "with it" from the Beatles to the man on the street, It was during the Pet Sounds Sessions that a track called Good Vibrations was being created. During the Spring & Summer of 1966 Brian would go back and record and rerecord little sections for Good Vibrations until he felt he had the right sound and mix was ready for the rest of the boys to add their vocals to the track(If you listen to Good Vibrations it is made out of 5 different versions of the same song!!). The result was a worldwide No1 hit and it give Brian the belief to carry on recording in sections  and so plans for an album made up of sections was born first titled "Dumb Angel" then quickly retitled "Smile". Now in 2011 with the release of Smile Sessions we can hear officially what was recorded, session tracks & Vocal tracks too as well as a finished album in mono just as it may of been had it been released in 1967. So here is my review of the 2cd box set of The Smile Sessions. CD1. Tracks 1-19. Is the Smile Album presented in full and in mono too. (Mono records was standard in the 60's as most people didn't have stereo systems during this time plus some producers preferred mono as it give a more truer mix to their own vision). For anyone who just thinks of The Beach Boys as just being about Sun & Surf With a touch of Fun, Fun, Fun. This whole album may come as a shock (In a good way!!) Put simply there is a hell of a lot going on on each single track, You can hear sounds that you didn't think was possible before the age of computers, Hi tech Keyboards, Modern Studio equipments and ways. And because it was done during the 60's there is a beautiful nature sound untouched by soulless computers (If you needed a sound you had to find a way of getting it using what you had!!). Anyway from Tracks 1-19 on CD1 really flows along very well esp IMHO Tracks 1-7 but that's not to say that I didn't like the rest of the tracks e.g track 12 Surf's Up is a masterpiece Brian's Singing Piano playing and the groups vocals at the end lifts this song into a wonderful place it's amazing that it took this song 5yrs to be released (1971) but this mono mix is even better Brian is singing lead throughout the whole song rather than from the 2nd half of the song as in the 1971 version. Some tracks like Track 6 Barnyard or Track 13 I Wanna Be Around/Workshop may sound strange to some of you but also may make you Smile too just go with it and it will grow on you trust me. The Lyrics By Brian Wilson & Van Dykes Parks are breathtaking e.g Surf's up has the lines "Hung velvet overtaken me. Dim chandelier awaken me to a song dissolved in the dawn. The music hall - a costly bow. The music all is lost for now, to a muted trumpeter swan. Columnated ruins domino!." A bit different to Surfing USA don't you think?. The whole Finished. Mono mixed album takes you on a journey which ends in nothing but Good Vibrations (The song that started Brian on his road towards making this album). Bonus Tracks from Track 20-28 is all in stereo you can hear a little of how much hard work when into the sessions for the songs, Track 22 Heroes And Villains Sections for e.g is 7mins of some of the used and unused sections of this one song you can hear car horns, sliding strings, an music box piano playing an seemingly old  western medley lots of background vocals by the boys too but edited in such a way as to seem as if it was all recorded all at once instead of it really being recorded over many months. I'm saving what for me are the two best bonus tracks till last. Track 25 Smile Backing Vocals Montage gives the boys a chance to shine like I've never heard before all in full stereo remixed to bring out the best. Track 26 Surf's Up 1967 (Solo Version) is at once both sad, joyful, & beautiful. This version sees Brian some months after Smile was left unfinished and unreleased due partly to the fact that in Brian's words "Smile was killing me, It might've killed The Beach Boys too if we had kept going. So I ended it. Sometime in the spring of 1967, I just told everyone that we weren't going to finish Smile.", Sees Brian alone playing Surf's Up with just the piano & his voice it's simply stunning and seems to of been done with such ease too. Perfect tone of both voice & piano and Brian is able to hit all the right notes (you wouldn't ever get this on X-Factor!!!). The Second CD is given over to more sessions of songs presented on the first cd. We have a scary dialog of Our Prayers which Brian asked "Can you feel the acid coming on?" Sessions work for Heroes And Villains. Noteworthy IMHO are Track 6-11 My Only Sunshine, Cabin Essence, Surf's Up, Vega-Tables, The Elements Fire Sessions WOW you hear Brian directing the cream of the LA music scene again and again. But it never out stays it welcome and the listener never gets bored of being a fly on the wall. So to sum up this short review Please just go out and buy this and listen for yourself how amazing this is and how the music scene would of changed had this been released in 1967......If only if only. But I for one I'm thankful to see it being released today it truly has made me Smile as I'm sure it will you too. So do your soul a treat and buy this beautiful album.   

[letsmakeit31]

I did this mostly for people who know little about Smile which is most of my friends on Facebook. Feel free to give me feedback

[rab2591]

Really nice summary of the project. I recommend putting paragraphs in to ease the eyes, however.

I hope your friends take your advice! I know I'll be buying some copies for friends around Christmas-time.

[letsmakeit31]

Thanks rab2591 I wish I could of laid it out better but I had to use my Blackberry to type and sent this review out . I enjoyed writing it thanks for the feedback

[rab2591]

Typed on a Blackberry? - I'm impressed. I once typed a long email on my BB and it took at least an hour and a half.

[letsmakeit31]

I do alot of writing when I can. I have done 89 notes on facebook short stories, etc just for fun really

[Jason]

Mr. letsmakeit is an hero.

[letsmakeit31]

I just wished their didn't use the same as the GV box set Good Vibrations Session Highlights but it still good to hear it again

[Jason]

That's why you have the fifth CD of the box set.

[letsmakeit31]

It's going to be awhile before I will be able to get my hands on the 5cd set still 2cd set better than none .

[STE]

That was what Phil Spector would call a Wall of Text

[letsmakeit31]

Ha ha

[Leo K]

That was what Phil Spector would call a Wall of Text

Fantastic idea!

[Wrightfan]

That was what Phil Spector would call a Wall of Text

Fantastic idea!

What would be the literary equivalent to Wagner? Goethe? 

[Catbirdman]

What would be the literary equivalent to Wagner? Goethe? 

Well, to me, the first author that comes to mind when I hear "wall of text" is James Joyce.

[letsmakeit31]

Well James Joyce was known for his  stream of consciousness writing wasn't he? I suppose that's one thing to say about the review

[Leo K]

James Joyce's review of SMiLE:

"Between the Spring & Summer of 1966 till Late spring of 1967 The Beach Boys too if we had kept going. So I ended it. Sometime in the dawn. The music all is lost for now, to a muted trumpeter swan. Columnated ruins domino!." A bit different to Surfing USA don't you think?. The whole Finished. Mono mixed album takes you on a journey which ends in nothing but Good Vibrations until he felt he had the right sound and mix was ready for the songs, Track 22 Heroes And Villains Sections for e.g is 7mins of some of you but also may make you Smile too just go with it and it give a more truer mix to their own vision). For anyone who just thinks of The Smile Sessions. CD1. Tracks 1-19. Is the Smile Album presented in full and in mono too. (Mono records was standard in the spring of 1967 The Beach Boys as just being about Sun & Surf With a touch of Fun, Fun, Fun. This whole album may come as a shock (In a good way!!) Put simply there is a hell of a lot of praise in the 60's there is a beautiful nature sound untouched by soulless computers (If you needed a sound you had to find a way as to seem as if it was done during the 60's as most people didn't have stereo systems during this time plus some producers preferred mono as it give a more truer mix to their own vision). For anyone who just thinks of The Beach Boys or rather Brian Wilson & Van Dykes Parks are breathtaking e.g Surf's up has the lines "Hung velvet overtaken me. Dim chandelier awaken me to a muted trumpeter swan. Columnated ruins domino!." A bit different to Surfing USA don't you think?. The whole Finished. Mono mixed album takes you on a journey which ends in nothing but Good Vibrations it is made out of 5 different versions of the LA music scene again and again. But it never out stays it welcome and the groups vocals at the end lifts this song 5yrs to be released (1971) but this mono mix is even better Brian is able to hit all the right notes (you wouldn't ever get this on X-Factor!!!). The Second CD is given over to more sessions of songs presented on the wall. So to sum up this short review Please just go with it and it will you too. So do your soul a treat and buy this and listen for yourself how amazing this is and how the music press of the time (Spring 1966) as being groundbreaking and Brian Wilson (Their leader, Producer, Songwriter, Arranger, Singer) Attemped to record an album of songs presented on the street, It was during the Pet Sounds got a lot of praise in the 60's as most people didn't have stereo systems during this time plus some producers preferred mono as it may of been done with such ease too. Perfect tone of both voice & piano and Brian Wilson found himself as being groundbreaking and Brian is able to hit all the pieces can fit into any place and could be fitted in another place. Their last album Pet Sounds Sessions that a track called Good Vibrations until he felt he had the right sound and mix was ready for the songs, Track 22 Heroes And Villains Sections for e.g is 7mins of some of the 2cd box set of The Smile Sessions. CD1. Tracks 1-19. Is the Smile Album presented in full stereo remixed to bring out the best. Track 26 Surf's Up 1967 (Solo Version) is at once both sad, joyful, & beautiful. This version sees Brian some months after Smile was left unfinished and unreleased due partly to the track(If you listen to Good Vibrations it is made out of 5 different versions of the used and unused sections of this one song you can hear officially what was recorded, session tracks & Vocal tracks too as well as a shock (In a good way!!) Put simply there is a hell of a lot going on on each single track, You can hear car horns, sliding strings, an music box piano playing an seemingly old western medley lots of background vocals by the boys too but edited in such a way as to seem as if it was done during the 60's as most people didn't have stereo systems during this time plus some producers preferred mono as it may of been had it been released in 1967......If only if only. But I for one I'm thankful to see it being released today it truly has made me Smile as I'm sure it will grow on you trust me. The Lyrics By Brian Wilson & Van Dykes Parks are breathtaking e.g Surf's up has the lines "Hung velvet overtaken me. Dim chandelier awaken me to a muted trumpeter swan. Columnated ruins domino!." A bit different to Surfing USA don't you think?. The whole Finished. Mono mixed album takes you on a journey which ends in nothing but Good Vibrations it is made out of 5 different versions of the used and unused sections of this one song you can hear sounds that you didn't think was possible before the age of computers, Hi tech Keyboards, Modern Studio equipments and ways. And because it was all recorded all at once both sad, joyful, & beautiful. This version sees Brian some months after Smile was left unfinished and unreleased due partly to the fact that in Brian's words "Smile was killing me, It might've killed The Beach Boys as just being about Sun & Surf With a touch of Fun, Fun, Fun. This whole album may come as a finished album in mono just as it may of been done with such ease too. Perfect tone of both voice & piano and Brian is singing lead throughout the whole song rather than from "

[letsmakeit31]

Leo K that was so good made me laugh out loud mate here's a reply "Well seeing this put together towards the vast awaking joyful pictures of sounds if an thousand words painted this it would be but fact within this period of time and space namely the 12 months between May 66 till May 67 to which some of us can only but dream that we could of be there maybe not in body but our thoughts and soul travel as lightly as melted butter on a microwaved plate. Brian's state of mind and/or musical talents has taken roughly 40(ish) years to get to where we are now we could and have thanked him for this and can but hope that somehow he is able to rest and not prompt any more demons and wild beasts for within his soul rest easy Brian for your road has been won an hard. Win war indeed with many battles lost and won but lost and found together forever in our hearts Rest your Brian, Be Happy and Smile." James Joyne told me to write this . 

[letsmakeit31]

Just had a tweet from Actress Frances Barber about this review (V Good, My fav track is God Only Knows) a lady of fine taste methinks