Yet another Smile mix

[Jason Penick]

Hey everybody. So certainly there's no shortage of fan-compiled Smile mixes already out there-- but in case any of you were dying to hear another one, here's my latest attempt.

In an effort to at least put something of a unique spin on it, I've tried to present this as the 1966 Smile. In other words, I intentionally tried not to use any sessions from January 1967-on (though I may well have messed up somewhere along the line-- I'm sure you all will let me know either way). Additionally, I stuck with the order on the handwritten tracklist, opening with Worms and closing with OMP/YAMS. Of course, since nobody knows what "I'm in Great Shape" or "The Elements" were supposed to be, I took some liberties with those. Hopefully these factors will change things up enough to where this mix compliments the TSS mix instead of seeming like poor clone of it.

Anyway without any further spiel, I present to you "Smile '66" as assembled by *me* in the spirit of what Brian might have had in mind before he shifted gears early the next year. Thanks!

https://www.sendspace.com/file/zplpk0

[Willy Wilson]

That link downloads some downloader file that just crashes the browser.

[Jason Penick]

Uhh, no? Shouldn't be. When I click it I just get the basic Sendspace page asking if I want to download the file or not.

EDIT: Oh sh*t. Yeah, you definitely want to uncheck that box where it says "Download with sendspace accelerator and get recommended offers." They must have just added that crap onto the site recently because it never used to do that. Sorry.

[Sam_BFC]

I would much prefer it if people uploaded these kind of things to soundcloud or something rather than these horrible file sharing sites that try to trick you into downloading undesirable content and make you jump through hoops to avoid doing so alongside the file you actually want.

[Please delete my account]

That was brilliant. I never heard your previous mix because at the time I couldn't figure out how to get the file to play. Nice to hear a really vintage-sounding mix.
I set no store by the handwritten song list but, as I've probably said before, I think the Smile fragments sound great in pretty much any order.

[Mujan, 8@$+@Rc| of a Blue Wizard]

I'd absolutely love to hear this too. I really love your idea to just do the Capitol list as is. Personally, I don't think it would have been in that exact order had it come out back then, but it's still a great idea to try out and I'm shocked no other mixer has attempted it yet. At least, none that I know of.

However, I'm having problems downloading this too. Is there any way you could reupload it somewhere else or post it to YouTube or something?

[Jason Penick]

Yeah, sorry again for using Sendspace, but I just figured people would prefer lossless FLAC files they could download verses a lossy stream. I would have put it on one of my Bandcamp pages, but they're not down with people posting copywritten content.

If someone would like to suggest a way to better share this losslessly, I'm all ears. Actually Mujan (or anyone) if you're on SoulseekQT message me and I'll give you my name there so we can share directly. But really, I've had a Sendspace account for over a decade and it's always worked thus far. Just be mindful of the little check box.

Unreleased Backgrounds: thank you so much for your kind comments! I still have my old Smile mixes available as well if you're ever curious to hear them.

[Mujan, 8@$+@Rc| of a Blue Wizard]

Yeah, sorry again for using Sendspace, but I just figured people would prefer lossless FLAC files they could download verses a lossy stream. I would have put it on one of my Bandcamp pages, but they're not down with people posting copywritten content.

If someone would like to suggest a way to better share this losslessly, I'm all ears. Actually Mujan (or anyone) if you're on SoulseekQT message me and I'll give you my name there so we can share directly. But really, I've had a Sendspace account for over a decade and it's always worked thus far. Just be mindful of the little check box.

Unreleased Backgrounds: thank you so much for your kind comments! I still have my old Smile mixes available as well if you're ever curious to hear them.

I actually did get it to work, thank you though.

So, I have to say this really just confirms what I strongly believed all along, that being that the Capitol list order makes for a very disjointed listening experience. Of course, that's not your fault and you're to be commended for doing what no one else (to my knowledge) has done by putting it out there.

I love how you incorporated the veggie fight into the track itself. Very, very well done. For me, that was the highlight of the mix.

Constructive criticisms: Is there any pre-'67 material that could serve as an intro to Wind Chimes? I found the transition between that and Worms to be somewhat sudden and jarring. I have to say as well, while I love Look and Holidays and usually feel bad cutting them off, I think it's pretty certain (as certain as anything can be regarding SMiLE) that they werent going to be on the album. Especially going by the Capitol list. So to me, it seems kinda dishonest to claim youre going strictly by that and then take that big of a liberty. One final note, there's a pretty big difference in time between the two sides. Your version of Heroes is pretty long with all the tedious chants, so perhaps it'd be a good idea to cut that down a little bit? Or perhaps add more to Great Shape to even it out? Just a suggestion.

Overall though, really great work. Thanks for sharing!

[Jason Penick]

I actually did get it to work, thank you though.

So, I have to say this really just confirms what I strongly believed all along, that being that the Capitol list order makes for a very disjointed listening experience. Of course, that's not your fault and you're to be commended for doing what no one else (to my knowledge) has done by putting it out there.

I love how you incorporated the veggie fight into the track itself. Very, very well done. For me, that was the highlight of the mix.

Constructive criticisms: Is there any pre-'67 material that could serve as an intro to Wind Chimes? I found the transition between that and Worms to be somewhat sudden and jarring. I have to say as well, while I love Look and Holidays and usually feel bad cutting them off, I think it's pretty certain (as certain as anything can be regarding SMiLE) that they werent going to be on the album. Especially going by the Capitol list. So to me, it seems kinda dishonest to claim youre going strictly by that and then take that big of a liberty. One final note, there's a pretty big difference in time between the two sides. Your version of Heroes is pretty long with all the tedious chants, so perhaps it'd be a good idea to cut that down a little bit? Or perhaps add more to Great Shape to even it out? Just a suggestion.

Overall though, really great work. Thanks for sharing!

Fair enough. You sort of figured out the dilemma I experienced when putting this together. There was no way to make the second side realistically long enough without adding Look, Holidays and the rest. To accomplish this I added Look to I'm in Great Shape and the other bits to the Elements. It works for me, but I'm always receptive to constructive criticism. Thanks again for listening.

[Nile]

Great job, Jason!

I really like the way you made some changes with restricted "66 stuff", and the way you tied it up!

I would´nt agree with Mujan that it doesn´t work, for me it does work, and this line up is quite nice, as is is every other line up as well!
Sonic´ did something similar, I mean in terms of "official" line up from that December ´66 list, with few more deatils added.

I really dig your Heroes mix, and is quite breathtaking, and maybe just what Brian wanted in that magic burst of enery in October/November of 1966!
3 minute musical comedy! Of course, it would have been floop in charts  just my opinion..but very Zapp-ish!

[Jason Penick]

Thank you, Nile. Appreciate your feedback! 

[soniclovenoize]

Listening now..  I really like it!  I'm a big fan of the attempts for a"vintage" SMiLE mix. 

Some thoughts/constructive criticisms
- No Our Prayer!!!  ;_;
- On Heroes and Villains, you used the Sunny Down backing vocals (aka Barbershop), and the Part 2 sections (Gee, etc), which were recorded in 1967.  To have a truly 1966 H&V, you are limited to the verse, the "chimes" intro, False Barnshine fade, and then Barnyard and I'm In Great Shape fragments.  That's it.  It would have probably been structured like on the piano demo. 
- As it was already discussed, I don't see Look as a part of anything, let alone I'm In Great Shape.  I would have used Workshop. 
- Also I don't see Holiday as a part of anything, let alone The Elements.  But I understand you are running low on options at this point.

I think the one major problem is you are attempting a completely '66 SMiLE following a tracklist that is very '67.  I think by the time that list was compiled, Brian had rethinked SMiLE and dropped some songs (Look, Holiday), moved fragments to their own song (I'm In Great Shape) and added new segments to complete others (Heroes and Villains).  I think you are attempting a SMiLE that pre-dates all of those decisions, and you should thus abandon that "Capitol Sequence" and make your own, so you are not limited to trying to finish songs that simply weren't worked on until 1967 anyways, you know?

But very cool though, and if anything your SMiLE here, to me, really proves that the Capitol memo was ordered as per the most finished songs at the time. The album begins solid but starts to really fall a part at the end because the songs were simply incomplete (even by 1967!). 

[Summertime Blooz]

Listening now..  I really like it!  I'm a big fan of the attempts for a"vintage" SMiLE mix. 

Some thoughts/constructive criticisms
- No Our Prayer!!!  ;_;
- On Heroes and Villains, you used the Sunny Down backing vocals (aka Barbershop), and the Part 2 sections (Gee, etc), which were recorded in 1967.  To have a truly 1966 H&V, you are limited to the verse, the "chimes" intro, False Barnshine fade, and then Barnyard and I'm In Great Shape fragments.  That's it.  It would have probably been structured like on the piano demo. 
- As it was already discussed, I don't see Look as a part of anything, let alone I'm In Great Shape.  I would have used Workshop. 
- Also I don't see Holiday as a part of anything, let alone The Elements.  But I understand you are running low on options at this point.

I think the one major problem is you are attempting a completely '66 SMiLE following a tracklist that is very '67.  I think by the time that list was compiled, Brian had rethinked SMiLE and dropped some songs (Look, Holiday), moved fragments to their own song (I'm In Great Shape) and added new segments to complete others (Heroes and Villains).  I think you are attempting a SMiLE that pre-dates all of those decisions, and you should thus abandon that "Capitol Sequence" and make your own, so you are not limited to trying to finish songs that simply weren't worked on until 1967 anyways, you know?

But very cool though, and if anything your SMiLE here, to me, really proves that the Capitol memo was ordered as per the most finished songs at the time. The album begins solid but starts to really fall a part at the end because the songs were simply incomplete (even by 1967!). 

Ever since I heard Look, which is long before there was BWPS (so my thoughts were not colored by that), I always felt it was connected to CIFOTM. For me it evokes memories of playgrounds and childhood fun and innocence, the Child part of CIFOTM. What we all recognize as CIFOTM is the grown-up adult half of the CIFOTM idea, rather deep and serious sounding. So that's where Look works; as part of CIFOTM. BWPS connects Holidays to DYLW as a sailing song, which sounds really cool as a modular song when you edit them together.

Thanks for sharing your efforts with us, Jason. I happen to think the Capitol sequence works perfectly fine for the most part. Major caveat: To me, Wind Chimes makes more sense as a Side 2 song.

[Jason Penick]

- On Heroes and Villains, you used the Sunny Down backing vocals (aka Barbershop), and the Part 2 sections (Gee, etc), which were recorded in 1967.  To have a truly 1966 H&V, you are limited to the verse, the "chimes" intro, False Barnshine fade, and then Barnyard and I'm In Great Shape fragments.  That's it.  It would have probably been structured like on the piano demo. 

Ahh, okay. I knew I was asking for trouble with "Heroes and Villains", as I can never keep track of what parts were recorded when. I've got "barbershop" listed as 12/17/66 in my notes. Part Two I can see now is February of '67, so I guess we'll have to push it forward and say this is the early '67 mix. 

Do we know the exact date for the track listing? I always thought the cover slicks were printed in January. Could just be my mind playing tricks on me again. Thanks for your feedback!

[Jason Penick]

Ever since I heard Look, which is long before there was BWPS (so my thoughts were not colored by that), I always felt it was connected to CIFOTM. For me it evokes memories of playgrounds and childhood fun and innocence, the Child part of CIFOTM. What we all recognize as CIFOTM is the grown-up adult half of the CIFOTM idea, rather deep and serious sounding. So that's where Look works; as part of CIFOTM. BWPS connects Holidays to DYLW as a sailing song, which sounds really cool as a modular song when you edit them together.

Thanks for sharing your efforts with us, Jason. I happen to think the Capitol sequence works perfectly fine for the most part. Major caveat: To me, Wind Chimes makes more sense as a Side 2 song.

Yep, to me the only place "Look" makes sense is where it landed on BWPS, right between "Wonderful" and "Child". Having to shoehorn the actual "I'm in Great Shape" in between them was difficult to say the least, which is why I utilised a couple of sound snippets there to try to find a workable transition. Initially I didn't even want to use "Look", but the second side was just way too short without it.

Anyway it is what it is, guys. Glad you all seem to be appreciating it, contextual flaws and all.

[soniclovenoize]

Ever since I heard Look, which is long before there was BWPS (so my thoughts were not colored by that), I always felt it was connected to CIFOTM. For me it evokes memories of playgrounds and childhood fun and innocence, the Child part of CIFOTM. What we all recognize as CIFOTM is the grown-up adult half of the CIFOTM idea, rather deep and serious sounding. So that's where Look works; as part of CIFOTM. BWPS connects Holidays to DYLW as a sailing song, which sounds really cool as a modular song when you edit them together.

Thanks for sharing your efforts with us, Jason. I happen to think the Capitol sequence works perfectly fine for the most part. Major caveat: To me, Wind Chimes makes more sense as a Side 2 song.

I can't really agree, as it seems contrary to the standard that was set, as in both Look and CIFOTM were self contained songs rather than fragments meant to be put together in the end.  I agree they sound neat together and whoever thought to sequence them like that in 2004 gets an A+ for originality but the chronology suggests Look was simply a track that bit the dust as Brian went on to work on different things (the "different things" being settling for the shortlist of 12 songs). 

Of course, show me the test mix acetate connecting the sections, and I'll change my mind.  We have heard several different vintage CIFOTM test edits Brian made with different structures, and Look was not in them. 

Ahh, okay. I knew I was asking for trouble with "Heroes and Villains", as I can never keep track of what parts were recorded when. I've got "barbershop" listed as 12/17/66 in my notes. Part Two I can see now is February of '67, so I guess we'll have to push it forward and say this is the early '67 mix. 

Do we know the exact date for the track listing? I always thought the cover slicks were printed in January. Could just be my mind playing tricks on me again. Thanks for your feedback!

I've seen it posted here, but I don't remember when or where.  I wanna say January 1967, but unsure.  Possibly it's in this massive thread http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,17737.0.html

[Mujan, 8@$+@Rc| of a Blue Wizard]

Ever since I heard Look, which is long before there was BWPS (so my thoughts were not colored by that), I always felt it was connected to CIFOTM. For me it evokes memories of playgrounds and childhood fun and innocence, the Child part of CIFOTM. What we all recognize as CIFOTM is the grown-up adult half of the CIFOTM idea, rather deep and serious sounding. So that's where Look works; as part of CIFOTM. BWPS connects Holidays to DYLW as a sailing song, which sounds really cool as a modular song when you edit them together.

Thanks for sharing your efforts with us, Jason. I happen to think the Capitol sequence works perfectly fine for the most part. Major caveat: To me, Wind Chimes makes more sense as a Side 2 song.

I can't really agree, as it seems contrary to the standard that was set, as in both Look and CIFOTM were self contained songs rather than fragments meant to be put together in the end.  I agree they sound neat together and whoever thought to sequence them like that in 2004 gets an A+ for originality but the chronology suggests Look was simply a track that bit the dust as Brian went on to work on different things (the "different things" being settling for the shortlist of 12 songs). 

Of course, show me the test mix acetate connecting the sections, and I'll change my mind.  We have heard several different vintage CIFOTM test edits Brian made with different structures, and Look was not in them. 

Ahh, okay. I knew I was asking for trouble with "Heroes and Villains", as I can never keep track of what parts were recorded when. I've got "barbershop" listed as 12/17/66 in my notes. Part Two I can see now is February of '67, so I guess we'll have to push it forward and say this is the early '67 mix. 

Do we know the exact date for the track listing? I always thought the cover slicks were printed in January. Could just be my mind playing tricks on me again. Thanks for your feedback!

I've seen it posted here, but I don't remember when or where.  I wanna say January 1967, but unsure.  Possibly it's in this massive thread http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,17737.0.html

If the Look vocals had survived, we could put this to bed. But for right now, I agree, I dont think Look was anything more than its own little track that was scrapped. If anything, maybe sections of it would have been up for grabs as the middle eight in Wonderful or something. But I dont see any evidence of it being CIFOTM part 1. I think, while the songs on each side would have been linked thematically and musically, that they still would have been standalone tracks. Theyd work as parts of a greater whole but stand alone as their own independent clause. Who knows what Look was going to be. We never will unless the vocals or a lyric sheet turns up. Had it been included I think it's almost certain it would be rubbing elbows with Wonderful, Child and Surf's Up as it was in 2003. But I dont think it'd be Wonderful Part 2 or Child part 1 any more than Cabin Essence is Worms part 2 or Vega-Tables is Heroes and Villains Part 1.