New Beach Boys release will make you 'SMiLE'

[PhilCohen]

Getting way ahead of myself here, but a lot of the tracks are in pretty bad shape aren't they? Do good versions of Barnyard or CIFOTM even exist, and if not, how much can these recordings be cleaned up?

I don't see why they couldn't include more lo fi recordings though. When I think of releases like the Velvet Underground box that has all sorts of scratchy demos, there's no reason why a potential smile release wouldn't include more muddy recordings. Let's hope anyway - I'd hate to see good stuff like Child thrown away due to sound quality.

It's true that "Barnyard" only exists as a poor second generation copy, a dubdown to mono recorded onto one track of an otherwise blank 8-track/one inch tape.

[Mahalo]

Getting way ahead of myself here, but a lot of the tracks are in pretty bad shape aren't they? Do good versions of Barnyard or CIFOTM even exist, and if not, how much can these recordings be cleaned up?

I don't see why they couldn't include more lo fi recordings though. When I think of releases like the Velvet Underground box that has all sorts of scratchy demos, there's no reason why a potential smile release wouldn't include more muddy recordings. Let's hope anyway - I'd hate to see good stuff like Child thrown away due to sound quality.

It's true that "Barnyard" only exists as a poor second generation copy, a dubdown to mono recorded onto one track of an otherwise blank 8-track/one inch tape.

Lo-Fi is better than No-fi, but if it is at all possible we need the best sounding stuff as possible without comprimising the mixes...The BB are more of a sonically mind blowing band than the Velvet underground....

[juggler]

At minimum, the best available version of every Smile song, muddy or not, should be included.  

I'm not sure that any package will ever truly "close the book" on Smile '66-'67.  No matter what's released, there will still be unsolved mysteries.  With that said, I truly hope that the powers that be are leaving no stone unturned in an effort to make this thing as complete as possible.  

You don't want a situation where some mind-blowing version of H&V or Surf's Up turns up a couple years later on an acetate, and we all start pining for an even better Smile set from Capitol.  Or maybe we do want that.  

[SloopJohnB]

If Brian has given his blessing, that is a huge roadblock lifted.  

Consider said roadblock lifted.

Colour me flabbergasted.

This potential Smile release is one of the greatest news I've heard these last few years, and I don't even know what to say about it, except "wait and see". I, along with most of you here, have very high expectations about whatever will be released, IF something is released. I sure hope a 3 or 4-CD set is in the works... A single CD wouldn't do Smile justice.

...OR Beach Boys Central could finally be opened, and it would be the ideal way to release "bonus sessions" deemed CD-unworthy. We can dream, can't we... 

[Dunderhead]

Getting way ahead of myself here, but a lot of the tracks are in pretty bad shape aren't they? Do good versions of Barnyard or CIFOTM even exist, and if not, how much can these recordings be cleaned up?

I don't want to be a downer, but this is a salient point. According to Alan Boyd himself, there are many empty tape boxes when it comes to the SMiLE sessions. In fact, Mr. Boyd has stated that at least one session found on the SOT releases (the overdub to the "Vegetables" coda, I believe) no longer exists in the official vaults. With many of the sessions unaccounted for, and given the album was never completed to begin with, I don't think we will see anything more definite than the single disc SOT issued a decade back in terms of a "finished" presentation. An attempt to do this kind of approximation can only be seen by the general public as disappointing coming seven years after Brian completed a much more polished approximation of the same thing.

Therefore, unless the band/Capitol are sitting on material we've not heard before, I don't think the idea of presenting the Beach Boys' SMiLE as an album is a good idea. Better to do a comprehensive session collection. The problem of the missing session tapes also affects the ability to do certain stereo mixes or vocal-only tracks. We know the "Good Vibrations" vocals are gone and Mr. Boyd has also said that Carl's lead on "Cabin Essence" is missing as well. In many cases, we have no vocals at all.

Interestingly, Mr. Boyd has stated that he feels confident that previously unheard material exists in the hands of collectors and/or on the various acetates that were handed out, but is there any hope of obtaining these items? I hope so. Even if the sound quality is appalling, this material should find its way into the set.

Finally, on an up note, I think that Brian's edited backing track to "The Child Is The Father Of The Man" is in good shape!

This. I wish we had some idea what material was actually out there, so much of SMiLE has been officially released, only the second tier of material hasn't been put out somewhere. Are we going to get anything as good as Heroes or CE that we haven't heard yet? After 45 years I hope that we get a special release of this stuff that's worth buying.

[Andrew G. Doe]

If Brian has given his blessing, that is a huge roadblock lifted.  

Consider said roadblock lifted.

Colour me flabbergasted.

This potential Smile release is one of the greatest news I've heard these last few years, and I don't even know what to say about it, except "wait and see". I, along with most of you here, have very high expectations about whatever will be released, IF something is released. I sure hope a 3 or 4-CD set is in the works... A single CD wouldn't do Smile justice.

...OR Beach Boys Central could finally be opened, and it would be the ideal way to release "bonus sessions" deemed CD-unworthy. We can dream, can't we... 

I feel I can state with absolute certainly that, no matter how extensive the track listing or lavish the packaging, someone here will find something to bitch about. 

[Rocker]

Perhaps we've been put on the wrong foot. Perhaps it'll be 1 CD, titled: Mike Love Presents The Real Smile. With mr. Love's personal selection and favourite sequence.

I'd love to hear his lyrics to the instrumentals. 

She belongs there left in her little coupe
never known as a drag-strip racer
she laughs and thanks God she won, won, won, won the race

 

Brilliant ! 

[A Million Units In Jan!]

If Brian has given his blessing, that is a huge roadblock lifted.  

Consider said roadblock lifted.

Colour me flabbergasted.

This potential Smile release is one of the greatest news I've heard these last few years, and I don't even know what to say about it, except "wait and see". I, along with most of you here, have very high expectations about whatever will be released, IF something is released. I sure hope a 3 or 4-CD set is in the works... A single CD wouldn't do Smile justice.

...OR Beach Boys Central could finally be opened, and it would be the ideal way to release "bonus sessions" deemed CD-unworthy. We can dream, can't we... 

I feel I can state with absolute certainly that, no matter how extensive the track listing or lavish the packaging, someone here will find something to bitch about. 

Never have I heard truer words than these. Not that I'm saying I won't be bitching, because I'm sure I will. I hope they do release it as a big set  like PS, but for some reason, I just don't feel that will happen. I think we'll get 2 discs tops. And 99 percent of it is stuff we already have. The reason we always get let down is because we all get carried away by what we 'hope' is going to be on there. Already, most people on here are jacked up about a big box set, and there isn't even any official word.

[Andrew G. Doe]

How about this for an promo tag line ?

"In 2004, Brian Wilson presented Smile. Now, in 2011, Capitol Records present the real thing".

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Methinks there would be some heat over that one

[Mr. Cohen]

Well, I remember reading/hearing somewhere that Brian Wilson/the Brian Wilson "estate" has been collecting Smile material for years now (since the BWPS dream started). They started asking around for any bootlegs/acetates/whatever floating around, and promised not to punish anyone who gave them the material. Supposedly, they have gotten some interesting stuff back over time and Brian now has his own personal archive of Smile material.

I mean, who else was going to have better luck asking people for this stuff than Brian himself?

The fact that Brian is on board for this project could have more do with why it's going to really happen than just Brian providing his approval.

[The Shift]

I feel I can state with absolute certainly that, no matter how extensive the track listing or lavish the packaging, someone here will find something to bitch about. 

Then should we start a visible shopping list, so as the powers TB know where not to slip up? 

1) Frank Holmes' artwork (cos I feel he was wrongly passed over for the 2004 release, and that release was diminished by the absence of his artwork)

[Rocker]

Well, I remember reading/hearing somewhere that Brian Wilson/the Brian Wilson "estate" has been collecting Smile material for years now (since the BWPS dream started). They started asking around for any bootlegs/acetates/whatever floating around, and promised not to punish anyone who gave them the material. Supposedly, they have gotten some interesting stuff back over time and Brian now has his own personal archive of Smile material.

True ? I never heard that?

[SloopJohnB]

Colour me flabbergasted.

This potential Smile release is one of the greatest news I've heard these last few years, and I don't even know what to say about it, except "wait and see". I, along with most of you here, have very high expectations about whatever will be released, IF something is released. I sure hope a 3 or 4-CD set is in the works... A single CD wouldn't do Smile justice.

...OR Beach Boys Central could finally be opened, and it would be the ideal way to release "bonus sessions" deemed CD-unworthy. We can dream, can't we... 

I feel I can state with absolute certainly that, no matter how extensive the track listing or lavish the packaging, someone here will find something to bitch about. 

I can assure you that I, for one, will be happy with whatever we get as long as it's a multi-CD set. Obviously we won't get to hear every little second of the Smile sessions, but a single CD would be an outrage.

[A Million Units In Jan!]

Well, how about this then: If you could choose whittle it down to only 1 official  cd's worth of material, what would it be and how would you sequence it?  And this is your dream line-up; even if you know the stuff is missing, or is presumed missing, it doesn't matter. We'll just pretend it's there and they can release it!

1. Our Prayer
2. A version of H&V with IIGS and Barnyard in it somehow.
3. I Ran w/vocals  (don't care if this isn't 'officialy' a SMiLE track. I think early on it was).
4. DYLW with Bicycle Rider chorus
5. Cabin Essence
6. OMP 'Barnshine'
7. Good Vibrations
8. Wonderful
9. CIFOTM
10. The Elements
      Mrs. O'Learys Cow
      Wind Chimes
      Vegetables
      water chant leading into....
11. Surf's Up

[Runaways]

1) Frank Holmes' artwork (cos I feel he was wrongly passed over for the 2004 release, and that release was diminished by the absence of his artwork)

i totally disagree there.  It wasn't the beach boys record, so it had "smile" looking like holmes is art.  but it shouldn't have had the original cover.  this should

[PhilCohen]

Well, how about this then: If you could choose whittle it down to only 1 official  cd's worth of material, what would it be and how would you sequence it?  And this is your dream line-up; even if you know the stuff is missing, or is presumed missing, it doesn't matter. We'll just pretend it's there and they can release it!

1. Our Prayer
2. A version of H&V with IIGS and Barnyard in it somehow.
3. I Ran w/vocals  (don't care if this isn't 'officialy' a SMiLE track. I think early on it was).
4. DYLW with Bicycle Rider chorus
5. Cabin Essence
6. OMP 'Barnshine'
7. Good Vibrations
8. Wonderful
9. CIFOTM
10. The Elements
      Mrs. O'Learys Cow
      Wind Chimes
      Vegetables
      water chant leading into....
11. Surf's Up

As for "I Ran"(working title later changed to "Look"), while paperwork indicates that a vocal session was scheduled, there is no evidence that it ever happened. Certainly, when the melody became "Song For Children"(on "Brian Wilson Presents Smile"), the lyrics were(likely) a 21st century creation. Waiting for a vocal version of  the 1966/67 "Look" might involve waiting till the end of time. It doesn't exist.

[Andrew G. Doe]

1) Frank Holmes' artwork (cos I feel he was wrongly passed over for the 2004 release, and that release was diminished by the absence of his artwork)

i totally disagree there.  It wasn't the beach boys record, so it had "smile" looking like holmes is art.  but it shouldn't have had the original cover.  this should

Apparently, for the 2004 release Frank was approached regarding the original artwork, but terms couldn't be agreed.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Colour me flabbergasted.

This potential Smile release is one of the greatest news I've heard these last few years, and I don't even know what to say about it, except "wait and see". I, along with most of you here, have very high expectations about whatever will be released, IF something is released. I sure hope a 3 or 4-CD set is in the works... A single CD wouldn't do Smile justice.

...OR Beach Boys Central could finally be opened, and it would be the ideal way to release "bonus sessions" deemed CD-unworthy. We can dream, can't we... 

I feel I can state with absolute certainly that, no matter how extensive the track listing or lavish the packaging, someone here will find something to bitch about. 

I can assure you that I, for one, will be happy with whatever we get as long as it's a multi-CD set. Obviously we won't get to hear every little second of the Smile sessions, but a single CD would be an outrage.

For us, probably... for Joe Q. Public, I think 80-odd minutes of largely unconnected and/or incomplete sections would be ample. Maybe that's the way to go - a mass consumption single CD, and a box set for the likes of us.

[PhilCohen]

The only "Smile" tracks which aren't in circulation with 100% fidelity are "Barnyard", "The Old Master Painter/You Are My Sunshine"(vocal version), "Child is Father to The Man" & "George Fell Into His French Horn", so at least we should get better-sounding versions of 3 of those 4.
                      The scenario that many of us wish for(and which, to varying extents might possibly be true) is that "Smile" may have come closer to completion than existing bootleg and/or official releases of "Smile" material have suggested. We'll see.

[Andrew G. Doe]

The only "Smile" tracks which aren't in circulation with 100% fidelity are "Barnyard", "The Old Master Painter/You Are My Sunshine"(vocal version), "Child is Father to The Man" & "George Fell Into His French Horn", so at least we should get better-sounding versions of 3 of those 4.

Beg to differ, but Brian's 11/66 mono mix of the "CIFOTM" that I've [koff] heard sounds pretty gosh darn fine to me.

Also, by definition, any b**tl*g is less than 100% fidelity. 

[shelter]

What if there would be a few sessions to fill up the gaps? If they'd record some new overdubs or additional sections where necessary? Obviously this should be done with vintage recording equipment, under Brian's supervision, and where possibly with the help of some of the old Wrecking Crew guys (and gal). Would that be sacreligious or a good idea?

[Andrew G. Doe]

What if there would be a few sessions to fill up the gaps? If they'd record some new overdubs or additional sections where necessary? Obviously this should be done with vintage recording equipment, under Brian's supervision, and where possibly with the help of some of the old Wrecking Crew guys (and gal). Would that be sacreligious or a good idea?

It would be a ridiculous idea - these people are all pushing 70.

[bgas]

What if there would be a few sessions to fill up the gaps? If they'd record some new overdubs or additional sections where necessary? Obviously this should be done with vintage recording equipment, under Brian's supervision, and where possibly with the help of some of the old Wrecking Crew guys (and gal). Would that be sacreligious or a good idea?

 Speaking for me, I don't want "new" old Smile; I want the mostest bestest of the original in analog sound, the way Brian heard it.

[shelter]

What if there would be a few sessions to fill up the gaps? If they'd record some new overdubs or additional sections where necessary? Obviously this should be done with vintage recording equipment, under Brian's supervision, and where possibly with the help of some of the old Wrecking Crew guys (and gal). Would that be sacreligious or a good idea?

It would be a ridiculous idea - these people are all pushing 70.

New vocal additions would obviously be not such a good idea, but a few instrumental additions maybe?