Influences of SMiLE

[rab2591]

A recent thread talked about the exotica influences of Pet Sounds and that got me thinking about SMILE -

What were Brian's major influences for SMiLE?

Songs like 'Love to Say Da Da' seem to have somewhat of an exotica feel but go far beyond exotica. What about 'Holidays'? Or the Cello ending of 'Child is Father Of The Man' in BWPS?

I ask because I have become a huge fan of exotica since reading the 'Martin Denny' thread. Songs like 'Child is the Father' and 'Holidays' really appeal to me, and I'd like to find more music like it!

[Roger Ryan]

As I've noted before, I tend to think Brian was, in part, inspired by Disney songs. In fact, I believe Van Dyke Parks played some piano on the sessions for THE JUNGLE BOOK just prior to working on the SMiLE sessions. "Little April Shower" from BAMBI always struck me as a precursor to some of the SMiLE material, and it's a track I would dearly like Brian to cover on his upcoming Disney album!

Here's a link to it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJZnIHwzvzM

(Listen for the disturbing "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow"- like middle section!)

[Mr. Cohen]

He was listening to Bach, Beethoven, and Mozart a lot, from what I can tell. Brian said that "you have to know your Bach" to write music like Smile, and people back in the day say that Brian could never get over the fact that Beethoven went deaf.

[Mr. Cohen]

Oh, and it's clear that Phil Spector was still a huge influence. The bass line for "Heroes and Villains" has a lot in common with "Save the Last Dance For Me" and "River Deep, Mountain High" (I think Brian even attended the "Last Dance" session).

Edit - More information: He was clearly a fan of Disney's Fantasia. He used to imitate Mickey Mouse and his magic wand from the movie.

[buddhahat]

As I've noted before, I tend to think Brian was, in part, inspired by Disney songs. In fact, I believe Van Dyke Parks played some piano on the sessions for THE JUNGLE BOOK just prior to working on the SMiLE sessions. "Little April Shower" from BAMBI always struck me as a precursor to some of the SMiLE material, and it's a track I would dearly like Brian to cover on his upcoming Disney album!

Here's a link to it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJZnIHwzvzM

(Listen for the disturbing "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow"- like middle section!)

indeed and vdp makes references to the cartoon nature of the music in beautiful dreamer iirc. Also on the subject of Disney cartoons I've always wondered how much of an influence spector's cover of zip a dee doo dah was on the direction brian took with smile especially in the way he deconstructs familiar standards such as you are my sunshine etc turning sing a long favourites into more sophisticated, more edgy pop.

On a related note I actually feel excited at the prospect of a BW Disney covers album. I love a lot of the classic Disney tunes and if it were anything near the quality of the Gershwin album it could be a lot of fun, especially to listen to with the kids in the car!

[Bicyclerider]

The "false Barnyard" ending of the cantina Heroes has always reminded me of cartoon music, as do other parts of Heroes (the clip clop sweeping strings section, the French horn at the end of the verses), Cabinessence verses, Holidays, Vegetables fade, etc.

Definitely a Disney/Loony tunes influence.

[rab2591]

Thanks to all who responded thus far!

I find it amazing how drastically different the SMiLE music was compared to Pet Sounds....It seems as if Brian was making huge evolutionary leaps in his music from Surfer Girl to All Summer Long to Pet Sounds - then we're introduced to 'Fire' and 'Do You Dig Worms' - completely different music.

[Ron]

So what we're secretly all saying is, "Brian Wilson reimagines Disney" has the potential to be as good as SMiLE!  Admit it!  This next album is going to be fucking great!

[willy]

So what we're secretly all saying is, "Brian Wilson reimagines Disney" has the potential to be as good as SMiLE!  Admit it!  This next album is going to be friggin' great!

I soooooo hope Van Dyke will be involved in the Disney project — what an opportunity for greatness!

[hypehat]

I think more than any specific records, that the very idea of american music fascinated Brian at this point. Americana is obviously a big thing lyrically in Smile, but I think a lot of the instrumental choices are quintessentially American - banjos, tack piano, harmonicas, ukuleles, the ever present vocal harmonising (in country, jazz, doo-wop, tin pan alley, etc), slide guitars are all staples of 'American' music, but they were never used all together like Brian was using them. He crafted an orchestral sound of these instruments thats really similar to Ennio Morricone's spaghetti western soundtracks (They were during/after the fact, though, so maybe not much of an influence).

Smile music sounds like American music, but then most American music doesn't sound like Smile, if that makes sense? It's every cliche about American music chewed up through Brian Wilson's mind and put on tape.

And that's just the americana stuff - i can't even begin to think what influenced Wonderful, or Look, or Child Is The father of The Man. It's more 'jazz', i suppose, what with the trumpets, clarinets and flutes. Gershwin/Grofe type stuff. but then you've got harpsichord running throughout the entire set of tunes, which is either really old baroque influences or really modern ones showing through....

[Ron]

Smile music sounds like American music, but then most American music doesn't sound like Smile, if that makes sense? It's every cliche about American music chewed up through Brian Wilson's mind and put on tape.

It's like Paul McCartney said about him, they're just musical notes but somehow Brian has the ability to create moods and suggestions through his music that touches people.  So he creates these tracks that for whatever reason represent american music, although the real american music doesn't pull it off.

What it comes down to is, of course, the Beach Boys *WERE* American music.  It sounds so American because Brian is so American.  America has the ability to be simultaneously great and horrible.  The best and the worst happen in America, and in Brian's music, lol. 

[willy]

That is an excellent post there Hypehat, some great points!  

[The Heartical Don]

So what we're secretly all saying is, "Brian Wilson reimagines Disney" has the potential to be as good as SMiLE!  Admit it!  This next album is going to be friggin' great!

I soooooo hope Van Dyke will be involved in the Disney project — what an opportunity for greatness!

Me too. Intensely so. A dream team with the proper material to work on.

[Ron]

All I know is Zippity Doo Dah is a must.  If there's no Zippity Doo Dah, heads will roll. 

[PS]

Amazing to read this, this morn - I just described Morricone's film music and his uncanny combinations of timbre in his orchestration to my class yesterday (a course on Film and Sound, including film scores) as kin to Brian Wilson, circa SMiLE. I've never read that anywhere, but it always struck me so. Morricone - he of over 500 film scores (and I've never heard one that wasn't compelling, if not gorgeous) - is to me one of the towering artists of our time, with a gift for melody to rival Macca and our beloved Mr. Wilson.

Check out the "chum chum chum" Cabinessence-like riffs in "Duck, You Sucker (AKA, "A Fistful of Dynamite") sometime, for a Brian-like vibe.

[rab2591]

Amazing to read this, this morn - I just described Morricone's film music and his uncanny combinations of timbre in his orchestration to my class yesterday (a course on Film and Sound, including film scores) as kin to Brian Wilson, circa SMiLE. I've never read that anywhere, but it always struck me so. Morricone - he of over 500 film scores (and I've never heard one that wasn't compelling, if not gorgeous) - is to me one of the towering artists of our time, with a gift for melody to rival Macca and our beloved Mr. Wilson.

Check out the "chum chum chum" Cabinessence-like riffs in "Duck, You Sucker (AKA, "A Fistful of Dynamite") sometime, for a Brian-like vibe.

Have you listened to Morricone's work on the 'Mission to Mars' soundtrack? Say what you want about the film but it has some of the best soundtrack compositions I have ever heard.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hql-U8Okheg - pure brilliance, especially from 3:30 to the end.

[The Heartical Don]

All I know is Zippity Doo Dah is a must.  If there's no Zippity Doo Dah, heads will roll. 

...and Heigh Ho. If this one's left out, I will act according to Sha'ria.

[Awesoman]

As I've noted before, I tend to think Brian was, in part, inspired by Disney songs. In fact, I believe Van Dyke Parks played some piano on the sessions for THE JUNGLE BOOK just prior to working on the SMiLE sessions. "Little April Shower" from BAMBI always struck me as a precursor to some of the SMiLE material, and it's a track I would dearly like Brian to cover on his upcoming Disney album!

Here's a link to it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJZnIHwzvzM

(Listen for the disturbing "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow"- like middle section!)

This song would be a no-brainer for Brian Wilson to cover. 

[Menace Wilson]

Mark me down as another Morricone nut.  The "Duck You Sucker" soundtrack is fantastic, and contains an element of humor that might have appealed to Brian.  Another good example is the "My Name Is Nobody" soundtrack.

[willy]

Mark me down as another Morricone nut.  The "Duck You Sucker" soundtrack is fantastic, and contains an element of humor that might have appealed to Brian.  Another good example is the "My Name Is Nobody" soundtrack.

Same goes for me. Throw in some Spike Jones & His City Slickers and we're edging closer.

[Mike's Beard]

Me three!! He's made fantastic scores for many a 70's Italian Giallo movie in my film collection.