Tones by Mr. Carl Wilson

[A Million Units In Jan!]

Has anyone ever heard if there were definitely vocals laid down for this track? I tried looking on the Smile Shop page but it keeps coming up that it can't be displayed, for some reason today. I believe that there was a vocal session, but does anyone know if anything was actually recorded? I think that this is actually a pretty catchy tune....

[Sheriff John Stone]

by Mr. Carl Wilson? I'm not denying that Carl composed/produced it, just questioning it. Where are people (many in the past) getting this information? I've asked the question numerous times....

[Jonas]

Well, for the most part you can hear him running the session...

[c-man]

by Mr. Carl Wilson? I'm not denying that Carl composed/produced it, just questioning it. Where are people (many in the past) getting this information? I've asked the question numerous times....

Because Carl can be heard producing from the booth on the tape of the session.  And because the first of four sessions devoted to the tune is documented as a "Carl Wilson" session (as opposed to a "Beach Boys" session) for Brother (instead for Capitol) on the AFM contract.  

As far as vocals being recorded for it, there is documentation to that effect, in the form of a Capitol Records Popular Session Worksheet.  Here is the history based on the documentation I have:

Mar. 3, 1967 - Sound Recorders: TONES (artist: Carl Wilson, Brother Records)
Mar. 13, 1967 - Sound Recorders: TONES (vocals)
Mar. 15, 1967 - Western Recorders: TONES
Mar. 31, 1967 - Sound Recorders: TUNE X (Tones)

[Sheriff John Stone]

by Mr. Carl Wilson? I'm not denying that Carl composed/produced it, just questioning it. Where are people (many in the past) getting this information? I've asked the question numerous times....

Because Carl can be heard producing from the booth on the tape of the session.  And because the first of four sessions devoted to the tune is documented as a "Carl Wilson" session (as opposed to a "Beach Boys" session) for Brother (instead for Capitol) on the AFM contract.  

As far as vocals being recorded for it, there is documentation to that effect, in the form of a Capitol Records Popular Session Worksheet.  Here is the history based on the documentation I have:

Mar. 3, 1967 - Sound Recorders: TONES (artist: Carl Wilson, Brother Records)
Mar. 13, 1967 - Sound Recorders: TONES (vocals)
Mar. 15, 1967 - Western Recorders: TONES
Mar. 31, 1967 - Sound Recorders: TUNE X (Tones)

Thank you! Printed, saved.

Edit: I just officially deleted "Tones" from my SMiLE mix CD. BTW, I think I've heard Carl
"count down" a song or two from the SMiLE sessions; at least it sounds like him.

[Bicyclerider]

There was also an April 11th session (listed as Tones Part 3) at Western with 5 musicians.

The vocal session had 5 vocalists - I would guess Carl, Mike, Al, Bruce and Brian.

[c-man]

There was also an April 11th session (listed as Tones Part 3) at Western with 5 musicians.

The vocal session had 5 vocalists - I would guess Carl, Mike, Al, Bruce and Brian.

Oops...yeah, I forgot that April 11th one. 
Vocally, I think it might have been Carl, Mike, Al, DENNIS and Brian, simply b/c the Capitol worksheet says "5 artists", wheareas a lot of the other sheets will say "5 artists + Bruce Johnston", implying he was still on salary and not royalties.  But I guess we'll never know, since we'll probably never hear it...   

[Wrightfan]

There was also an April 11th session (listed as Tones Part 3) at Western with 5 musicians.

The vocal session had 5 vocalists - I would guess Carl, Mike, Al, Bruce and Brian.

Woah! There's vocals for "Tones"?

I swear, I learn something new about SMiLE everyday.

[Sheriff John Stone]

I swear, I learn something new about SMiLE everyday.

Yeah, me too. Now, if I could just find out the source of that "Spanish Guitar" snippet....

Knowing that "Tones" was definitely Carl's session makes me re-evaluate my own personal theory that, in SMiLE's final days (Spring 1967), Brian (and the group?) were devoting all of their time to assembling/finishing//piecing together a finished SMiLE album. Here, they spent 5 days/sessions - experimenting on a Carl Wilson track! Now, I have to ask myself - why?

[c-man]

I swear, I learn something new about SMiLE everyday.

Yeah, me too. Now, if I could just find out the source of that "Spanish Guitar" snippet....

Knowing that "Tones" was definitely Carl's session makes me re-evaluate my own personal theory that, in SMiLE's final days (Spring 1967), Brian (and the group?) were devoting all of their time to assembling/finishing//piecing together a finished SMiLE album. Here, they spent 5 days/sessions - experimenting on a Carl Wilson track! Now, I have to ask myself - why?

One theory is, that the BBs themselves re-evaluated their OWN vision of what SMiLE would be in early '67, and to that end both Dennis and Carl produced tracks for possible inclusion on a revised SMiLE lineup.  Brian was, according to this theory, either opening up the project to greater group involvement, or being forced to. 

[Sheriff John Stone]

Is that your theory? Do you think it was possible that had the SMiLE sessions continued another couple of months, through the summer, that the final product could've eventually ended up - the bulk of the songs by B. Wilson/V.D. Parks with additional songs by "other" Beach Boys?

[Jason]

Sheriff, the sessions for what became Smiley Smile were considered Smile sessions at the time. The title Smiley Smile came after.

[c-man]

Is that your theory? Do you think it was possible that had the SMiLE sessions continued another couple of months, through the summer, that the final product could've eventually ended up - the bulk of the songs by B. Wilson/V.D. Parks with additional songs by "other" Beach Boys?

No, I didn't come up with the theory, but it's an interesting one.  Especially when you consider that the famous handwritten songlist given to Capitol in late '66 was actually written by Carl, not Brian, as has been recently determined by those who have compared it to known handwriting samples by the two Wilson brothers.  This leads one to the possibility that Brian's brothers began to take a more active role in "assisting" him in shepherding the album to completion...and perhaps his inability to retain complete control over it was one reason he "scrapped" the album the following spring (as Derek Taylor put it).  Like I say, it's just a theory, but it is an interesting one. 

[Bicyclerider]

The album was due Jan 15th, and when it wasn't delivered, there was concern both at Capitol and in the Beach boys about Brian's state of mind and his ability to finish it.  Brian was focusing exclusively on the single (first Heroes, then Vegetables in April) - my theory is that Carl, who was closest to the project and participated on the most sessions of any of the group (other than Brian of course), felt Brian needed help and this is when he stepped in to work on Tones - maybe with a track from Dennis and a track from Carl Brian would be able to finish enough of what he had started to get an album out.  This would mark an abandonment of the strict "track list" submitted in December, but it's now three months later.

Others however feel tones was an experiment in production for Carl and it was not intended for Smile at all - although the project number listed for the session was the same as Smile's project number, wasn't it? (which doesn't necessarily mean anything other than that they wanted to bill Capitol for the session).

[Sheriff John Stone]

The album was due Jan 15th, and when it wasn't delivered, there was concern both at Capitol and in the Beach boys about Brian's state of mind and his ability to finish it.  Brian was focusing exclusively on the single (first Heroes, then Vegetables in April) - my theory is that Carl, who was closest to the project and participated on the most sessions of any of the group (other than Brian of course), felt Brian needed help and this is when he stepped in to work on Tones - maybe with a track from Dennis and a track from Carl Brian would be able to finish enough of what he had started to get an album out.  This would mark an abandonment of the strict "track list" submitted in December, but it's now three months later.

Others however feel tones was an experiment in production for Carl and it was not intended for Smile at all - although the project number listed for the session was the same as Smile's project number, wasn't it? (which doesn't necessarily mean anything other than that they wanted to bill Capitol for the session).

Very interesting....with the typical SMiLE contradictions.

It would've been interesting if Brian, did, in fact, consider tracks from Carl and/or Dennis to fill out the album, when, there were an abundance of other Brian-composed tracks available. There were enough Brian songs to fill almost an entire double album. But, we know Brian, like Dennis, liked to move on. So, he might've considered his other SMiLE songs (like "Look", "Holidays") ancient history by Spring 1967.

[A Million Units In Jan!]

What I find amazing is that communication within the band at this point seems to be non-existent. I know all the stories about how there was this division between the Boys and Brian, and he was into 'communication on a non-verbal level', but still, it seems pretty weird.  In virtually every interview the other Boys have given about SMiLE, they really seem to be in the dark about the whole thing. I know Brian was the mastermind of these tracks, but wouldn't you at some point- since you ARE a member of the band-ask Brian questions about the tracks? Everyone just says 'he seemed out of it, he was spaced out, etc.'. They appear to have no clue whatsoever about any of it.

[Andrew G. Doe]

The album was due Jan 15th,...

That was actually the 2nd deadline - the initial date that Brian gave Capitol was late November/early December, and as I recall the wording on the memo - dated 12/12/66 - was "the album... will in all probability deliver some time prior to January 15th". Or in other words, there was no cast-iron guarantee.

Personally, I think this theorising that the rest of the band might have contributed material is an interesting notion... but nothing else.

[Sheriff John Stone]

Personally, I think this theorising that the rest of the band might have contributed material is an interesting notion... but nothing else.

Yeah, I never heard/read anything about this "theory" until this thread.

Good post, A Million Units In Jan!....There are so many issues that defy logic or common sense - which defines SMiLE, I guess. Melinda has talked about the dysfunctional Wilson family, and I think that carried over into the relationships and communication within the band also.

There is always something that bothers me about the SMiLE Era, which is kind of along the same lines that A Million Units In Jan! was getting at. And that is the fact that one can't just ask a direct question about a SMiLE issue and get an accurate answer. Using this thread, "Tones", as an example. The Beach Boys devoted five sessions to this tune, and it was unique because Carl was supposedly in charge. Five sessions! But, if you asked any of the Beach Boys who were present at these sessions about the tune, what kind of answer(s) do you think you'd get?

[A Million Units In Jan!]

But, if you asked any of the Beach Boys who were present at these sessions about the tune, what kind of answer(s) do you think you'd get?

'I don't know, I mean, there was so much stuff recorded....you'd have to ask (insert name here) about it-I mean, that was 40 years ago, that stuff is all in fragments'.

And the one thing I never understood was Al's comment about how 'we did as much work on SMiLE as we did on Pet Sounds'. I know that there are some vocals missing that we will probably never hear, but still , it  seems a stretch to say that they did more work on SMiLE than on Pet Sounds, IMO.

[grillo]

But, if you asked any of the Beach Boys who were present at these sessions about the tune, what kind of answer(s) do you think you'd get?

 it  seems a stretch to say that they did more work on SMiLE than on Pet Sounds, IMO.

I don't know. How many vocal sessions were there just for H&V? It probably seemed like a million sessions for the guys, even if it was just for one song. I'm sure there's plenty more vocal experiments that we'll never hear from those days, unlike PS where Brian seemed to have exact ideas for the vocals. I can see how Al might feel like SMiLE was more work than PS.

[the captain]

I think grillo is right. It isn't a matter of how much material was finished, but how much work went into what was recorded. They did a lot of work, it's just that all that work didn't result in a finished album or as many finished songs.

[A Million Units In Jan!]

That's true-I don't think that Brian had as clear a vision for vocals on SMiLE as he did on Pet Sounds. Or, his mind was changing so rapidly that by the time one set of vocals was done he was unhappy with them and wanted to do them again. I imagine that for Heroes and probably Vegetables there was a lot of vocal work done, not so much on the other tracks.

After my last post, I started thinking about something. I made a comment about how the guys always seemed to take the stance that the album was in all of these fragments. While the songs are fragments edited together, there still seems to be, for the most part, cohesive mixes of quite a few of the songs (not necessarily final final mixes, just a rough mix to give someone an idea of how the song would go) . Is it possible that back then, Brian never played them entire tracks? That all they heard was actually a 20 second snip here, a 40 second part there? And that still, even after everything we know, blows my mind. That he worked on this material for months, and they never heard full tracks of material (if it indeed is the case that all they heard were snippets). You can  see where they would think the album wasn't going anywhere.

[the captain]

Is it possible that back then, Brian never played them entire tracks? ... You can  see where they would think the album wasn't going anywhere.

That's a great question. I don't know if I have ever considered it. We've heard people like Vosse talk about getting rough mixes of songs pieced together, but what about the band? Without knowing otherwise, it would seem logical that he'd give them possible mixes of the album, or at least songs and groups of songs. But ... did he? I have no idea.

[A Million Units In Jan!]

Is it possible that back then, Brian never played them entire tracks? ... You can  see where they would think the album wasn't going anywhere.

That's a great question. I don't know if I have ever considered it. We've heard people like Vosse talk about getting rough mixes of songs pieced together, but what about the band? Without knowing otherwise, it would seem logical that he'd give them possible mixes of the album, or at least songs and groups of songs. But ... did he? I have no idea.

When we, or any other 'Smile Historian' talk about how the Boys really did a number on Brian by not letting him complete the album, I think we all think of the tracks as we hear them now-as full, complete songs. It would seem logical that Bri would play them full tracks, but we know that during this time, Brian wasn't always 'logical'. Imagine for a second, though, that all the guys were hearing were these small snippets, and then they were being asked to do vocals that weren't really 'vocals' per se, but chants, or animal noises, or water noises. And you had the record company breathing down your neck for the album, which is already not going to be ready by the original release date. I used to be of the opinion that SMiLE was this real black and white issue: Brian was a genius, and The Boys were idiots for not liking the music and pretty much forcing Brian to quit the album. While I still think the music is amazing, and I think that at one time Brian was a musical genius, as time goes on I start to see things from the Boys perspective a little bit more.

[mikeyj]

When we, or any other 'Smile Historian' talk about how the Boys really did a number on Brian by not letting him complete the album, I think we all think of the tracks as we hear them now-as full, complete songs. It would seem logical that Bri would play them full tracks, but we know that during this time, Brian wasn't always 'logical'. Imagine for a second, though, that all the guys were hearing were these small snippets, and then they were being asked to do vocals that weren't really 'vocals' per se, but chants, or animal noises, or water noises. And you had the record company breathing down your neck for the album, which is already not going to be ready by the original release date. I used to be of the opinion that SMiLE was this real black and white issue: Brian was a genius, and The Boys were idiots for not liking the music and pretty much forcing Brian to quit the album. While I still think the music is amazing, and I think that at one time Brian was a musical genius, as time goes on I start to see things from the Boys perspective a little bit more.

Great point Million Units and a great question posed in the previous post... as Luther said, I had NEVER considered that, but it might just be true and if that's the case then I agree with everything you say.