The Smiley Smile Message Board

Hi Everyone,
Just finished the first disk of my "Smile Sessions Companion" set. This is a complete stereo re-creation of TSS Disk 1 mix (down to the fades, fly-ins and volume adjustments).
While I dearly love the mono mix, the stereo offers an altogether different listening experience - it's less "punchy" and "deep" than the mono but it allows you to "immerse" in the soundscape in a way that isn't possible with the mono mix. I took an approach of "stereo all the way", tastefully using panning tricks and added reverb for some tracks. It might not be for the taste of some, but the "stereo-philes" will enjoy.

Many thanks for the Smiley Smilers who took the time and care to make their own mixes, especially bruiteur, seltaeb1012002, soniclovenoize and AlternateBrianWilson whose creative mixing ideas are all over my version. And of course thanks to ML&AB who made all this possible! We can't thank you enough.
Now, for the music.

DL in FLAC:
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?ebohkga11j6psub
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?tpclawrtcy757ep
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?0wv63jeg8ftvyd0

3 fixed tracks (flac):
Heroes and Villains - improved stereo mix http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?kuardevwjr4flpx
Surf's Up - shortened silence before the track starts http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?jllddgtpvt39evg
Good Vibrations - fixed the dropout http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?0ukv08bfzo6w6a3

Mp3 version (including the fixed tracks): http://www.mediafire.com/?nteo6eopdleu71t

I hope you enjoy it!

Coming soon -
TSS Componion Disk 2 - Historical Mono Re-Creation
TSS Componion Disk 3 - BW vintage Smile mixes and edits
TSS Companion Disks 4-9 - Additional Session Material

Sources used are -

Our Prayer: Mok's Smile (20/20, GV Box)
Gee: TSS Disks 2, 1
Heroes and Villains: TSS Disks 1, 2
Do You Like Worms: TSS Disks 3, 1, SOT 17, seltaeb1012002's SMiLE A.D
I'm in Great Shape: TSS Disks 2, 1
Barnyard: seltaeb1012002's mix
My Only Sunshine: TSS Disks 3, 1
Cabin Essence: TSS Disks 3, 1, TSS Vinyl Side 4, 20/20, truckdrivindenny's Isolated Vocal, SMiLE A.D
Wonderful: TSS Disk 1, Mark Linett's 1988 Comp Reel
Look: TSS Disks 3, 1, Endless Harmony 5.1 Extractions
Child is Father of the Man: TSS Disks 3, 1, Vigotone, Mark Linett's 1988 Comp Reel
Surf's Up: TSS Vinyl Side 4, Endless Harmony 5.1 Extractions, TSS Disk 3
Friday Night: TSS Disk 3
Vega-Tables: TSS Vinyl Side 4, TSS Disk 3
Holidays: TSS Disks 4, 1, SOT 18
Wind Chimes: TSS Vinyl Side 4, TSS Disks 4, 1
The Elements - Fire: TSS Disk 4, Stereo Smiley Smile
Love to Say Da Da: SOT 17, TSS Disks 4, 1, Mok's Smile
Good Vibrations: TSS Disks 1, 5

Just downloading,  thanks.

...Although I double checked everything, now I found out that 2 mixes are flawed - GV and SU (SU starts a second too late, which is not a big deal, GV has a dropout before the 2nd verse which is really bothering). I'll post those 2 songs corrected as soon as possible.

Sounds great so far.....but what did you do to H&V? The backing track is lower than on the mono and I can't even hear the drums (unless there's something wrong with my system).

Thanks for uploading this. Sounds great.

This was a big complaint of mine regarding the Stereo H&V on the boxset. The mix is just awful. No excuse, hold your hands up Linett, terrible. Once the backing vocals kick in on the verses, you may as well call it an acapella!!

Edit: Actually one of the things Brian was truly best at, was knowing how to bury something in a mix knowing that it still adds to the whole sound of a record. It's always dangerous when people try to mix to get certain things, or even everything heard. I think this stereo mix in question was done to highlight the many brilliant vocal parts in stereo. Unfortunately, it's at the expense of the feel of the entire song. Look at how many things are buried into Brian Wilson mixes that sound genius on their own, yet are hard to pick out individually.  He knew the feel of a complete song and how to get it.

Oh and thank you very much for sharing this. I'll take a listen. I've been really looking forward to this from you since you announced it.

I added the instrumental track on the Stereo H&V, now it's perfectly balanced.

Cool! Did you do it on everything or just the verses? I'm thinking I may have to do that now rather than just sit here dismissing the released version! Nice one.

This is a really great observation.  The only other one of Brian's peers who matched him in the regard was Zappa, IMO.

I'm looking forward to checking this out as soon as those corrections are added.  Does this still include some of those crossfades, like between Workshop/V-T?  I was really hoping to eliminate those so that I could reposition a few tracks.

MP3 preety, preety please?

Another mp3 request please :)

MP3 Please!

was anyone able to download this yet? i've failed everytime i've tired. mediafire site is extremely slow

I downloaded it this afternoon with no problems at all. The dl speed wasn't bad either. Very nice, by the way. Thanks Barnshine!

em pee three please and thank you!

Why are you guys requesting Mp3 files? Flac files play fine on your computer, otherwise just convert the Flacs to Mp3's with 'FreeStudio' or other programs. Piece o' cake!

I know, but then I have to retype the track names.  ;D

Naw. dBpoweramp or something. A God-like application imo.

Do you take a polaroid of your computer screen every time you want to print something?

3 fixed tracks (flac):
Heroes and Villains - improved stereo mix http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?kuardevwjr4flpx
Surf's Up - shortened silence before the track starts http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?jllddgtpvt39evg
Good Vibrations - fixed the dropout http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?0ukv08bfzo6w6a3

Mp3 version (including the fixed tracks): http://www.mediafire.com/?nteo6eopdleu71t

Enjoy!

double post, please delete

Thank you so much for sharing Barnshine.  Now I have this to go with the box. :-D  I love that stereo Surf's Up (but you can't play the vinyl in the car!).

Anybody notice that extra little slot in the right panel of the disk folder in the Box? I supposed it's meant for the singles...though they didn't put them in...but it sure goes well for a disk of the vinyl rips, and now this!

I'm a little late but thanks hugely for sharing this: a great achievement.  You, soniclovenoize and seltaeb1012002 are doing astounding work but following such different approaches. More power to your elbow as they still say in some remote corners of my country!

Thank you very much, great stereo mix!

Great job bro!!!

We look forward to "Disc Two".

I've taken the liberty to apply manual declicking to 4 tracks from Barnshine's mix where the vinyl source was employed. They sound nice as they are, and the fade-outs are superclean, yet I've taken out every smallest vinyl click remaining I could find, so the declicked versions sound now really smooth, almost if they were from a CD. The link is:

http://www.mediafire.com/?ujjunw9rntrpp99

Declicked tracks are of exactly same length as Barnshine's, so there won't be any problems with substitution.

08 Cabin Essence (Stereo) declicked.flac
12 Surf's Up (Stereo) declicked.flac                        fixed version, of course
14 Vega-Tables (Stereo) declicked.flac
16 Wind Chimes (Stereo) declicked.flac

The Completeist, the Purist and the Reinventor? 

So............how is progress with:

TSS Componion Disk 2 - Historical Mono Re-Creation
TSS Componion Disk 3 - BW vintage Smile mixes and edits
TSS Companion Disks 4-9 - Additional Session Material

Also, pickiness on your Good Vibrations track. On an otherwise flawless job, towards the end of the song on the first notes that Carl sings - Do do do do do do do do......the high part of the first notes are much lower then the counter do do's and instrumental part that comes in on the right channel. Maybe it's just the way it is on my computer and stereo, but it's much softer on the left channel and the right channel is more pronounced. Is that the way it's suppose to be or was the left channel mixed a little lower? Just asking.......really nice!!

You know, enjoying these various SMiLE mixes and lapping up all the improved versions and fixed tracks makes me feel a good deal more sympathy for Mark Linett and Alan Boyd (and everyone else involved) in the SMiLE sessions. I truly believe they did as good as they could. It's amazing how ears can hear different things at different times - one track can seem just right one day and yet can sound so different when someone the next day calls 'flaw'! (Someone on this board has almost ruined one track on Pet Sounds for me by raising a supposed defect - I won't say which one and why because it could spoil your enjoyment).

Linett and Boyd were trying to put together hours of music - not just the SMiLE reconstruction on disc 1. In an ideal world free of leaks and piracy they could have run prototype mixes around various expert fans... but then they would have got countless different ideas about how each mix should be improved... so I think there was always going to be room (even a necessity!) for fan mixes, but this doesn't mean we have to be so down on TSS...

Peace!

Oh go on, gi's a clue :p. I'm intrigued now.

All those say "Permission Denied". Can anyone PM me their copies?

Same here! Anybody wanna help a brotha out?

No one?

Oh Come on.

None of you even downloaded the MP3s?

Hi Barnshine,

I missed this the first time around and am getting 'permission denied' on the dl links now. Would it be possible to re up please? I'd love to hear this!

Thanks

Disc Two is never coming out - Phil, you of all people should know that

I'm looking for the fixed FLACs too!

:'(

If someone is looking for the MP3's, this link is still working: http://www.mediafire.com/download/nteo6eopdleu71t/TSSC_Disc+1_mp3.rar

Shame this is down.... Hopefully someone can make a better "Sessions-style" stereo mix since I don't know if Surf's Up is distorted here.