Unanswerable Question?

[Micha]

Had it came out, it would have been just another great album in a year of many great albums.

I agree with this. And like some other posters here I do think that the next album would have been something like Wild Honey recorded in a real studio. Maybe it would have sounded more like Solful Old Man Sunshine. I vaguely remember that Brian had promised to Mike to write the album after Pet Sounds with him, a promise he broke with SMiLE and then fulfilled with Wild Honey.

And about the sound quality of the finished Wild Honey compared to the SOT stuff: Was it Jon Stebbins who posted about the technical stuff about the 60s mixing gear being the key factor?

[Wilson Love]

It would have taken another exceptional follow- up single of Good Vibrations caliber to have launched Smile in spring of '67., imo.
I think Brian would have been pretty fried anyway, with all that it took out of him in terms of drug-fueled  creative sessions to see the album through. That one huge, missing single could have been the deal breaker in terms of Smile being comlpeted and released, I think.
In terms of commercial success, you would have had GV,  the smash hit follow-up to it, say in late Jan.-Feb '67, then Heroes and Villians, which may have fared better had there been a follow up to GV to keep the momentum going. Speculation, of course, but it feels right to me.
They would have beaten the Beatles to the punch and looked upon as the head of the class in the Pop world. Until Sgt. Peppers' release at least. But the BBs would have gotten there first.

[cube_monkey]

I am one of those warped people that listened to Smiley Smile as a kid and was completely taken by it.  Didn't need to know what was going on. Didn't know about drugs. It was just "wild", you know? 
Ok, I like Carl and the passions (most of it)  so take my comments (cough) with a grain of salt.

Listening to the Smiley Smile session tapes,  Brian sounds pretty "there" on the counts off and talking ect. even though  the pressures and drugs and drive to come up with the next big thing kinda destroyed him.
I get the impression somewhat that Brian is just bulldozing through the sessions to fulfill the obligation to Capitol.  Did he start staying in the bedroom a little later?

Course I have heard this album so many times, it sounds "normal". hahahaha.

[Lonely Summer]

I am one of those warped people that listened to Smiley Smile as a kid and was completely taken by it.  Didn't need to know what was going on. Didn't know about drugs. It was just "wild", you know? 
Ok, I like Carl and the passions (most of it)  so take my comments (cough) with a grain of salt.

Listening to the Smiley Smile session tapes,  Brian sounds pretty "there" on the counts off and talking ect. even though  the pressures and drugs and drive to come up with the next big thing kinda destroyed him.
I get the impression somewhat that Brian is just bulldozing through the sessions to fulfill the obligation to Capitol.  Did he start staying in the bedroom a little later?

Course I have heard this album so many times, it sounds "normal". hahahaha.

I never knowingly indulged in psycadelic drugs, but you really don't need to if you listen to Smiley Smile. Either you "get it" or you don't. Smiley Smile gets me stoned every time. 

[cube_monkey]

Exactly.  And if you have taken them, you go "oh yea, i remember now".      To me is just "escapism" music.  takes my mind off my current problems.   to ME, the album is exactly what it should be.  I just have never been
a SMILE fan, but I appreciate it.  Too polished with studio musicians ect.  I like  SS because it was one of the first real "Home Recordings"  and For the most part, the BB's are playing their own instruments, and a very minimalist production. Somehow through the genius of Brian it sounds like alot more than it is  Not always in the mood for it, but when i am, its great.  That and Wild Honey of course. 

[Lonely Summer]

Exactly.  And if you have taken them, you go "oh yea, i remember now".      To me is just "escapism" music.  takes my mind off my current problems.   to ME, the album is exactly what it should be.  I just have never been
a SMILE fan, but I appreciate it.  Too polished with studio musicians ect.  I like  SS because it was one of the first real "Home Recordings"  and For the most part, the BB's are playing their own instruments, and a very minimalist production. Somehow through the genius of Brian it sounds like alot more than it is  Not always in the mood for it, but when i am, its great.  That and Wild Honey of course. 

Smile and Smiley are both great in their own way. If anyone thought the BB's were a "straight" or "square" band, they should listen to SS. "If I only had a little pad...hahahahahahahahahaha"