Smiley Smile songs we would miss

[Nicko1234]

No, I think Brian knew what he was doing.

I agree. Intentionally failing.

[Iron Horse-Apples]

Also with the glut of Smile boots out there it's clear to see that a decent Smile release was clearly within the groups grasp. The bulk of the album was in the can for months. How long would it have taken to finish off the leads for Plymouth Rock and have Carl cut a lead for Cabin Essence in 66? You never see my name in the Smile Sessions discussions because frankly I could give a sh*t what part of Barnyard was meant to fit in what song or where The Old Master Painter was to be sequenced. All the little bits Brian was tinkering with are to my ears insignificant fluff. Nice, but not worth stalling an album for. Here's a perfectly decent Smile tracklist that was a good 90% done when Brian junked it;

1- Our Prayer/Gee
2 - Heroes and Villians
3 - Roll Plymouth Rock (just finish the lead vocal)
4 - Windchimes
5 - Cabin Essence (just add lead vocal)

6 - Vega - tables
7 - Wonderful
8 - Mrs O' Leary's Cow
9 - Surf's Up (with or without a second movement. The piano half works fine as it is)
10 - Good Vibrations

And the ensuing unfair comparisons the Sgnt Peppers?

No, I think Brian knew what he was doing. And aren't we lucky, we now have two wonderful albums.

But you can argue that if he hadn't spent so much time jerking off in the studio then Smile would have come out long before Pepper.

But he didn't. Maybe I misunderstood, I thought we were talking about a June assembly of Smile tracks instead of re-recording them as Smiley Smile. In this case Sgt Peppers had been released and my point stands. Had Smile come out in June it would have suffered unfair comparisons with Pepper. Brian avoided this by going in a completely different direction.

Obviously this is all conjecture. I love Smile, and a finished Smile in '67 would have been amazing. However........

It has been noted before though that maybe if they had finished Smile in Jan '67, it would not have had the impact Brian had hoped for, and even if it had, their career may still have nosedived soon after. It may well be that, by not releasing Smile and having it become the legend that it did, has, in the long term actually been very beneficial to their legacy.

Also, if you listen to the Smile sessions chronologically, they segue, in some cases quite seamlessly into Smiley Smile. I'm talking about the April Vegatables, which is very stripped down, and more importantly Wonderful. Listen to all four versions of that. There are no gaps in that fossil record. Who is to say that, if Smile had been released, Brian wouldn't have headed in this more stripped down direction on his next project?

Finally, I know some people don't llike Smiley. This is fine. I can only think it's to do with the sound, as there is nothing wrong with the music. Try to listen past the sound, this music is every bit as inventive as anything that came prior, if not more so.

I'm not trying to change anyone's mind. It's all about taste. I've said it before, but I think the Smiley Smile version of Wind Chimes is one of the greatest things ever put down on tape by anyone. It is certainly my favourite Beach Boys recording by miles. I for one would not swap Smiley Smile for anything.

[AndrewHickey]

I'm not trying to change anyone's mind. It's all about taste. I've said it before, but I think the Smiley Smile version of Wind Chimes is one of the greatest things ever put down on tape by anyone. It is certainly my favourite Beach Boys recording by miles. I for one would not swap Smiley Smile for anything.

Agreed with this. The Smiley Wind Chimes is one of the most transcendentally beautiful pieces of music ever, and I still to this day can't conceive how a human being could come up with something like that. The Smile version sounds like a badly-thought-out demo for the finished Smiley version.

[Mike's Beard]

Stephen I agree with you on the Smiley version of Windchimes, I also prefer the Smiley cut of Heroes and Villians over the somewhat daft 90 odd edit "Cantina" version. But then you have the Smiley version of Wonderful which sounds like a sloppy demo compared to the Smile version. I also agree that Smile may not have sold by the bucketload whatever time Brian put it out. Actually I'm inclined to believe that it would have sold less than Pet Sounds.

[DonnyL]

Forget Smiley's ties to Smile for just a second and just focus on what it is and the end result for me is just the same - a weird, rushed off sounding record that just doesn't hold up to what the boys had put out before it. The bar had been set very high by their previous releases. Smiley wasn't acceptable as a follow up to Pet Sounds for many of their fans.

I really don't see Smiley and Wild Honey as all that different from some of their earlier albums in terms of approach. I mean, 'Girl From New York City' could ALMOST fit on Wild Honey ... I think Smiley was really just like a cross between Pet Sounds and Party.

Summer Days, Party, Pet Sounds, Smiley, WH, Friends ... doesn't seem that strange to me at all.

Personally, I think the Smile stuff that people have come to accept as definitive versions ('Wonderful', 'Wind Chimes', etc.) sound unfinished and more demo-like than the Smiley to me.

[Nicko1234]

Finally, I know some people don't llike Smiley. This is fine. I can only think it's to do with the sound, as there is nothing wrong with the music. Try to listen past the sound, this music is every bit as inventive as anything that came prior, if not more so.

I can't agree that there's nothing wrong with the music. There's a lot wrong with Gettin' Hungry imo.

Several of the other songs sound half finished.

[Iron Horse-Apples]

I agree Getting Hungry is probably the weakest track on there. Doesn't make it any less than fantastic though. The spirited vocals, the dynamic changes between the verses and choruses. The organ riff. The whole sound of the organ. Wonderful stuff.

[leggo of my ego]

I wonder what a really stoned Mike was like to be around?

cough....UM 18....cough.

Which tracks in particular? I'm listening to this now -- trying to reassess this album, maybe I haven't given it enough time. 

I dunno, I haven't listened to the set in a while...not that I've ever heard it, I mean. Nudge nudge.

I remember hypehat turned me on to one of the H&V (IIRC) sessions on the official box where Mike seems to be "affected". He giggles quite a bit!

Lol. Oh is it Taboo?? I listened to a Wind chimes track where Mike was complaining (my voice is coming back in the...blankety-blank phones) - and Brian said something about "oh man, Sh!t on a stick that was...." fades out. 

[hypehat]

Yeah, the entire lot are baked as Snoop Dogg on some of those H&V sessions! Not sure how this is news, it's so unbelievably obvious. I think even Mike tells Al to smoke some dope in so many words.

[Micha]

I would miss absolutely nothing, considering that any one of us could probably produce an album of equal or better quality in about two hours with a four track cassette recorder.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the stupidest post ever!

Exactly. You'd need at least 3 hours to produce your own Smiley Smile album.

Not quite got the hang of quoting AuldSurfaDood?

That's "Awldsyrfadood" with a "y", Paulos, that's important!

http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,15436.msg360374.html#msg360374

[bonnevillemariner]

Ok, I'm going to make another concession.  I've been cycling SS because of this debate and......turns out I really like "Little Pad."  I think what initially (and until just last night) turned me off about that track was the goof-off intro.  While I still hate that intro with a fiery passion, the simple track that follows is quite beautiful.  The wordless vocals sound just like (and I have no doubt that Brian was mimicking) the strings in what most people considered "Hawaiian" music at the time.  Flawlessly executed.  I also like the uke.

So there you go.  If we never got SS, I would miss the first minute or so of Vegatables and most of Little Pad.

[bgas]

Ok, I'm going to make another concession.  I've been cycling SS because of this debate and......turns out I really like "Little Pad."  I think what initially (and until just last night) turned me off about that track was the goof-off intro.  While I still hate that intro with a fiery passion, the simple track that follows is quite beautiful.  The wordless vocals sound just like (and I have no doubt that Brian was mimicking) the strings in what most people considered "Hawaiian" music at the time.  Flawlessly executed.  I also like the uke.

So there you go.  If we never got SS, I would miss the first minute or so of Vegatables and most of Little Pad.

Oh , gee, the beginning of another convert. I can't begin to fathom what a relief this is

[bonnevillemariner]

Ok, I'm going to make another concession.  I've been cycling SS because of this debate and......turns out I really like "Little Pad."  I think what initially (and until just last night) turned me off about that track was the goof-off intro.  While I still hate that intro with a fiery passion, the simple track that follows is quite beautiful.  The wordless vocals sound just like (and I have no doubt that Brian was mimicking) the strings in what most people considered "Hawaiian" music at the time.  Flawlessly executed.  I also like the uke.

So there you go.  If we never got SS, I would miss the first minute or so of Vegatables and most of Little Pad.

Oh , gee, the beginning of another convert. I can't begin to fathom what a relief this is

I'm touched.

[bgas]

Ok, I'm going to make another concession.  I've been cycling SS because of this debate and......turns out I really like "Little Pad."  I think what initially (and until just last night) turned me off about that track was the goof-off intro.  While I still hate that intro with a fiery passion, the simple track that follows is quite beautiful.  The wordless vocals sound just like (and I have no doubt that Brian was mimicking) the strings in what most people considered "Hawaiian" music at the time.  Flawlessly executed.  I also like the uke.

So there you go.  If we never got SS, I would miss the first minute or so of Vegatables and most of Little Pad.

Oh , gee, the beginning of another convert. I can't begin to fathom what a relief this is

I'm touched.

1, or 2? 

1. Emotionally affected; moved;
2. Somewhat demented or mentally unbalanced.

[runnersdialzero]

I don't get the aversion to the beginning of "Little Pad". "THIS IS THE BEACH BOYS, PLEASE APPROACH YOUR MUSIC WITH A DEAD SERIOUS ATTITUDE. DDDDRRRRAAAAGGGHHHHWHATISTHIS?!?!?!?!"

[Myk Luhv]

yeah seriously, the catina section in heroes has that dumb (not pejorative!) "you're under arrest!" bit and you all seem to love that so back the f*** up off "little pad" homies

[Dudd]

Didn't like the beginning of Little Pad at first, but it's grown on me. Freakin' awesome song anyway.

[Cabinessenceking]

yeah seriously, the catina section in heroes has that dumb (not pejorative!) "you're under arrest!" bit and you all seem to love that so back the f*** up off "little pad" homies

I disliked that line! Part of why i never include a H&V version with it in my playlist

[Myk Luhv]

well you know what i mean dude: most people here like the beach boys when they're "obviously", intentionally funny but then turn around and start stompin' and hollerin' when they're funny but it might be unintentional or just them being high or whatever. like, dudes, the beach boys were not deadly-serious people, least of all brian, even when they made "art music" or whatever the hell

[Generation42]

I am in a very lonely minority that loves and reveres Smiley Smile and doesn't care about drugs. Just wanted to make clear that my love for Smiley is, plain and simple, coming from a strictly musical perspective/appreciation.

I'm with you, too.  See, not so lonely, after all, is it? 

[Myk Luhv]

smiley is great sober or not. it's not like smoking a bowl is suddenly going to make m.i.u. an album worth listening to, haha, know what i mean?

[runnersdialzero]

it's not like smoking a bowl is suddenly going to make m.i.u. an album worth listening to, haha, know what i mean?

... have you ever tried it, though?

[Myk Luhv]

i haven't, haha. i don't want to waste a bowl like that, man. next time i pick up an ounce i should get high as hell and blitz the post-love you catalogue though... solid thread material there i bet huhuhu

maybe "sumahama" will make me cry

[EgoHanger1966]

I find MIU an album that is worth listening to sober. Anyway, usually, an album you listen to sober you're just going to like more when you're...not. On the other hand, you'd have to pay me to listen to LA in an altered state! 

[leggo of my ego]

No, I think Brian knew what he was doing.

I agree. Intentionally failing.

I used to entertain this thought myself. And then maybe after spending all those many tens of thousands of dollars
on Pet Sounds and (broken) SMiLe he figured a home studio and a quickie LP would appease the Gods at the Tower.

Did go back and do some focused listening to Smiley Smile and I still just cant groove with it. Maybe its because my best
friend Charlton who always seemed to have money to buy the latest music bought Sgt. Pepper about the same time as Smiley
and liked the former, better -- and the record player was his too.