What Is The Weird Fascination With The "Smiley Smile" Album?

[Griffmanr]

I love Smiley Smile so much!!

of the Smile tracks:

Heroes and Villains: This actually might be my favorite version of this song because it's totally insane.  The organ during the chorus is utterly bizzare and the transitions are so wonderfully jarring.  I heard the Sounds of Summer Stereo version of this before the Smiley one, and was only somewhat fond of it.  Without the discordant transitions I definitely prefer the cantina version (up to the tape explosion) or the TSS version, however the odd transitions on the Smiley version makes it perfect and actually really funny.  I laugh every time "sunny down stuff I'm alright with the heroes and..." goes instantly back into the chorus.  This version actually has the humor that SMiLE was supposed to have

Vegetables: Holy sh*t the harmonies on this are unbelievable!!  Love the key change at the end.  I think I prefer this one, but it's close.


Fall Breaks: Instead of being scary like fire, it's subdued and creepy.  They're equally great in my book.

Good Vibrations: It's the completed song

Wind Chimes: I LOVE this version.  It's so disturbing and then it resolves into some of the most beautiful vocals the Beach Boys ever recorded.  Even though I also love the TSS version of Wind Chimes, this might gets the edge.

Wonderful: The SMiLE harpsichord version is far superior to this, but this version is still great.  Love the Na Na Nas and the sped up vocals.

The Non-SMiLE tracks rock as well.

She's goin' bald is both hilarious and creepy as anything.

Little Pad is just unbelievably gorgeous

With Me Tonight: Ok this one is kind of a SMiLE track, but I love the subdued take here.  The Beach Boys just sound incredible when they harmonize softly together.  Carl is just unreal on this.

Gettin' Hungry is just a great soul parody!  Really humorous vocals, especially the second "Oh come the night time"

Whistle In: Another Soul influenced one with great harmonies.

Seriously I can understand how this album might be offputting at first but understand it's a humorous album that doesn't take itself too seriously.  And plus, by stripping back a lot of the instrumentation, the Beach Boys' vocals just shine on this one. 

What's not to love!

[Alex]

I have a great Smiley SMiLE Story,

About 3 Years Ago, My Family won a fully paid vacation in Saratoga Springs, one of the nicest places in my area, which I love to visit in the summer.

It was around this time actually, and we decided to go in the winter since we'd never do that unless it was free!

I wasn't too excited, so the day before we left I one-day ordered The SMiLE DVD.

I watched it on the short drive to Saratoga, where we decided to walk around town, I stumbled upon a record store.

I went in and found some incredible deals, a 2nd pressing White Album for $6, Wild Honey for $3 and SMILEY SMILE for $1!!!

I Grabbed them all and flew to the register, and quickly went to the hotel to assess my find.

It ended out being a first pressing and I was so excited! I wasn't expecting much because I knew the story of the album, but still! (Actually, I was more excited by Wild Honey )

Anyway, we were getting ready to leave the next day, and I was watching the SMiLE DVD, looking at Smiley, and waiting for my parents to pack.

THE SECOND "Mrs. O' Learys Cow" STARTED UP, IT STARTED POURING SNOW, AND WE WERE STUCK IN THE HOTEL!

I looked at the vinyl, "Fall Breaks And Back To Winter" And Laughed, "Maybe Brian Wanted This To Be A Winter Song Instead After All!" Haha!

Saratoga's quite an expensive city from what I've heard. I've gone by that town many times on I-87 on the way to Albany, downstate, etc., but have never actually been in downtown Saratoga. Nice to see another NYer on the board, BTW.


And to bring it back OT, Little Pad rocks!!!!

[Heysaboda]

Looking at Smiley Smile in retrospect (how ELSE can you look at it), to me, with songs like Good Vibrations and Heroes and Villains, it should have been a smash #1 hit, riding the charts for weeks.

The problem with not with the album, but the Luddites back then who FAILED to appreciate it.

I Have Spoken!