50th Anniversary, The SMiLE box, the reunion, new material and things to come

[Dr. Tim]

Hello again - this portion of the Smiley Smile Message Board is brought to you by
THE THREAD

Featuring the long-sought official Franklin Gallery issue of the SMILE BOX SET!

The CDs make terrific drink coasters!
 And the vinyl LPs are great as serving trays for quesadillas!!

With raised rims so the food doesn't SLIDE OFF!!!

[Andrew G. Doe]

Don't forget that SMILEY SMILE was largely the result of Brian recording in his home studio for the first time. Here was a chance to to just experiment and have fun without the pressure (or structure) of working in a proper studio with session players and the accompanying expense. SS just sounds like someone goofing off at home simply because they can. To me, that is the biggest reason SMILEY SMILE doesn't sound remotely like SMiLE.

To me, Smiley Smile was largely the result of having to provide Capitol with any kind of product at all. I'd say the pressure level was pretty high.

[oldsurferdude]

Don't forget that SMILEY SMILE was largely the result of Brian recording in his home studio for the first time. Here was a chance to to just experiment and have fun without the pressure (or structure) of working in a proper studio with session players and the accompanying expense. SS just sounds like someone goofing off at home simply because they can. To me, that is the biggest reason SMILEY SMILE doesn't sound remotely like SMiLE.

To me, Smiley Smile[/b was largely the result of having to provide Capitol with any kind of product at all. I'd say the pressure level was pretty high.

Exactly-all Brian had to do was "throw" on GV and HV along with some inferior arrangements of exsisting material from Smile and Captive had "product". It was Brian's insidious way of backing out of the project and screwing the suits. This was Brian's nascent attack aimed at authority.

[Ganz Allein]

Don't forget that SMILEY SMILE was largely the result of Brian recording in his home studio for the first time. Here was a chance to to just experiment and have fun without the pressure (or structure) of working in a proper studio with session players and the accompanying expense. SS just sounds like someone goofing off at home simply because they can. To me, that is the biggest reason SMILEY SMILE doesn't sound remotely like SMiLE.

To me, Smiley Smile[/b was largely the result of having to provide Capitol with any kind of product at all. I'd say the pressure level was pretty high.

Exactly-all Brian had to do was "throw" on GV and HV along with some inferior arrangements of exsisting material from Smile and Captive had "product". It was Brian's insidious way of backing out of the project and screwing the suits. This was Brian's nascent attack aimed at authority.

Didn't Brian not want to include GV on SS but was overruled by the record company?

[The infamous Baldwin Organ]

I have heard that said before, but don't know if it was true. My question is if he didn't include those two songs, what else would he have used? The album is only 27 minutes, and those two songs are the longest songs on the album.

[Cam Mott]

Don't forget that SMILEY SMILE was largely the result of Brian recording in his home studio for the first time. Here was a chance to to just experiment and have fun without the pressure (or structure) of working in a proper studio with session players and the accompanying expense. SS just sounds like someone goofing off at home simply because they can. To me, that is the biggest reason SMILEY SMILE doesn't sound remotely like SMiLE.

To me, Smiley Smile[/b was largely the result of having to provide Capitol with any kind of product at all. I'd say the pressure level was pretty high.

Exactly-all Brian had to do was "throw" on GV and HV along with some inferior arrangements of exsisting material from Smile and Captive had "product". It was Brian's insidious way of backing out of the project and screwing the suits. This was Brian's nascent attack aimed at authority.

Smiley is certainly a puzzle but Brother Records was the Smiley record label and they were their own suits. They were cowtowing to themselves/f-youing/themselves/screwing themselves, that doesn't seem likely? Another thing [I probably should add this up first but...] it seems to me that Smiley is up at the top of the albums they had released so far in terms of studio time and maybe man hours. Granted it was done in a shorter beginning to end time frame because the sessions are a tighter grouping [because of the home studio presumably] but it seems to me it was no less work.

According to Andrews site:

Pet Sounds
22 instu and vocal sessions Jan.18 - April 13
Released May 15

Smiley Smile
24 instru sessions not counting SMiLE sessions used and I don't think that necessarily includes the vocal sessions either does it Andrew?
June 3 - July 14
Released Sept 18

Wild Honey
15 instru and vocal [?] sessions
Oct. 11 - Nov. 15
Released Dec. 18


Was it rushed to market or did they just begin recording when their legal issues were settled and it didn't take the normal longer lead time at home and then was manufactured and released in normal BB product timeframe and then rinse repeat even faster for Wild Honey?

[oldsurferdude]

Yes, Brother was their's but Capitol was the distributor-don't think for a minute that there weren't some strings attached to the deal.

[Cam Mott]

Yes, Brother was their's but Capitol was the distributor-don't think for a minute that there weren't some strings attached to the deal.

Considering the recent suit against Capitol, Capitol's offer to build a Beach Boys wing on the Tower, and the fact that Capitol had almost never had any effective control over the group, I bet there were a lot of strings attached to Capitol and held by Brothers. I find it extremely hard to believe that Capitol suddenly decided to finally exert deadlines and demands on the group to get out Smiley Smile.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Capitol had invested a huge sum into Smile - sessions, artwork, booklet, advertising - and by late summer 1967, I'm pretty sure they were leaning on Brian to deliver something, anything, that they could release. One of the great unanswered (and possibly unanswerable) questions in BB history is, why Capitol chose to have any part of Smiley Smile. I cannot believe that they were so desperate... but then again, maybe they were.

[Sheriff John Stone]

Maybe Capitol viewed Smiley Smile as simply a place, a "piece of vinyl" if you will, where they could place "Good Vibrations", "Heroes And Villains", and "Gettin' Hungry". That was their way to milk those singles.

And, I guess looking at their contract with The Beach Boys, they knew another album would be coming shortly.

[oldsurferdude]

Capitol had invested a huge sum into Smile - sessions, artwork, booklet, advertising - and by late summer 1967, I'm pretty sure they were leaning on Brian to deliver something, anything, that they could release. One of the great unanswered (and possibly unanswerable) questions in BB history is, why Capitol chose to have any part of Smiley Smile. I cannot believe that they were so desperate... but then again, maybe they were.

Capitol could have been banking that its one two punch(GV/HV) would carry the LP(-back then, people wanted to play albums so they wouldn't have to put the single on the vic as well). Cap figured the balance was filler that people would give a listen to coming off the heels of PS. That's kinda how I looked at it when it was released.

[oldsurferdude]

Maybe Capitol viewed Smiley Smile as simply a place, a "piece of vinyl" if you will, where they could place "Good Vibrations", "Heroes And Villains", and "Gettin' Hungry". That was their way to milk those singles.

And, I guess looking at their contract with The Beach Boys, they knew another album would be coming shortly.

Can't say I remember GH ever making it to radio-I know it was a single but if I remember it tanked-and quickly.

[The infamous Baldwin Organ]

They probably were afraid of pushing back again the Smiley Smile material for fear of not getting any material at all.

For me, I don't think Smiley Smile is any more complicated or lofty than Brian made it sound in that radio interview; they were trying some stuff out at home, played the songs in a certain style, and liked it. Was it weird for an audience expecting Smile; yes. But Brian was off Smile by then, and his head simply wasn't at that place anymore.

[tomstuart]

I can honestly say I would be the happiest human being on the face of the planet if they were to release a SMiLE boxset. I hope we'd get a lot of sessions and unreleased material, and not just Here's windchimes in Mono and now here it is in Stereo and now here it is in Mono again etc.

[A Million Units In Jan!]

I've always wondered how serious Brian was about putting out SMiLE after SS? Remember, there's a memo that circulated around Capitol that says SMiLE was still going to come out. More than likely he told them he would get it done just to get them off his back?

[The Heartical Don]

I've always wondered how serious Brian was about putting out SMiLE after SS? Remember, there's a memo that circulated around Capitol that says SMiLE was still going to come out. More than likely he told them he would get it done just to get them off his back?

Sounds not very credible to me. I would agree with you. To 'send out' a couple of the finest Smile songs in downgraded form (to these ears), such as Wind Chimes and Wonderful, along with Good Vibrations and Heroes and Villains, and then coming up with the real McCoy...

I don't believe it, honestly. Very unreal(istic).

[punkinhead]

I honestly think they should have put the rehearsal from Hawaii of GV on Smiley instead of the original single, it fits so well

[The infamous Baldwin Organ]

I love those sessions. I also love Smiley Smile. 

[punkinhead]

great stuff, though Smile was a genius era, I feel like no other band went through that Smiley/Hawaii era like the Beach Boys did

[Foster's Freeze]

What both surprises me and doesn't surprise me is how f-ing difficult it is for the band & Capitol to just RELEASE A BOX SET OF THIS STUFF already.

Can you imagine a company with a bajillion people pounding on the door outside begging to buy a product if they would simply just make it?  Capitol and the band have rooms and vaults full of this stuff just sitting there.

Maybe in a way this fittingly sums up the screwed up and crossed image of the Beach Boys for the last 25 (+/- ?) years.

So frustrating.

[Mike's Beard]

In regards to anyone doubting if Capital really wanted Smiley Smile? Capital were no doubt STAGGERED by the success of GV. Remember around this time just before it's release most suits in the Tower had pretty much written the BB's off as a fading pop group if releasing "Greatest Hits" or "Best Of" comps meant the same thing back then as they do today. To then have their biggest smash yet... Hmmmm... I imagine Capital would fallen over themselves for SS to be released, even if it had consisted of nothing more than Brian Wilson farting down a microphone for 40 mins.

[Jason]

Hmmmm... I imagine Capital would fallen over themselves for SS to be released, even if it had consisted of nothing more than Brian Wilson farting down a microphone for 40 mins.

The blueboard would have had a field day!

[Foster's Freeze]

Hmmmm... I imagine Capital would fallen over themselves for SS to be released, even if it had consisted of nothing more than Brian Wilson farting down a microphone for 40 mins.

The blueboard would have had a field day!

If only VDP could add some lyrics...

[Mike's Beard]

Lets see... With titles such as "Good Vibrations", "Do You Like Worms", "Let The Wind Blow", "Country Air" and "Wipe Out!" to name a few in their back catalogue I'm sure VDP could weave a botty/farty concept album.

[A Million Units In Jan!]

What both surprises me and doesn't surprise me is how f-ing difficult it is for the band & Capitol to just RELEASE A BOX SET OF THIS STUFF already.

Can you imagine a company with a bajillion people pounding on the door outside begging to buy a product if they would simply just make it?  Capitol and the band have rooms and vaults full of this stuff just sitting there.

Maybe in a way this fittingly sums up the screwed up and crossed image of the Beach Boys for the last 25 (+/- ?) years.

So frustrating.

IS there a bajillion people wanting to buy this stuff, though? I mean, what exactly equals a success nowdays-1 million copies sold, 2 million? Half a million? How many copies of a SMiLE box set would sell? I mean I would buy it in a second, but would it really sell enough units to justify putting together a multi-cd set with a nice booklet? Is the desire for SMiLE material really there-at least, is there enough interest to warrant putting something together? I really don't know.

Does anybody recall how many copies of the official box set sold? What about the PS box set? If those didn't sell well, then maybe that's part of why a SMiLE one has never come out.