Differences between Japan and US 2012 Smiley Smile

[lance]

I think it's a clavinet, not a clarinet. but what do I know?

[Theydon Bois]

You know what, Mr P, I think it's actually a melodica. You hear it on several tracks on Smiley, whatever it is. The scary echo-repeated dischordant note in Wind Chimes (before the 'ting-urr-ling' section) is played on the same instrument. I don't think it's a clarinet, though I could be wrong.

... was the correct answer, all along.

[Dr. Tim]

Thanks for all this detective work.  Much is explained.  Like how some of the early reviewers were hating on this stereo mix, I am now surmising because of the errors in the Japanese CD version.  Now fixed in the US.  And the US is  the only stereo version I have, which is why I was scratching my head at some of the complaints about things I couldn't hear because they were already fixed.