The Smiley Smile Message Board

What songs would you prefer have come out as singles or replace A/B-sides...I know some singles are perfect, like I get Around and Don't Worry Baby, perfect match! But Susie Cincinnati as a b-side, seriously? Or putting the live version of GV from London (69) as a b-side on one of the 80s singles? Come on, they're more creative than that.

Another thing that bugs me about their catalog is the lack of singles that don't appear on albums, was that Capitol being greedy? I mean, look at the Beatles' Past Masters Volumes, a lot of those don't appear on their regular albums, they're just singles. I guess that's why Brian had single mixes and album mixes (Be True To your School, Help Me R(h)onda, etc.). Really, the only singles I can think of that aren't on any albums (when they were recorded): The Little Girl I Once Knew, Breakaway/Celebrate the News, You're Welcome, Lady/Sound of Free (if you wanna include that), The Lord's Prayer (I think), Child of Winter, California Dreamin', Chasin' the Sky (on a BB album), Luau, Cotton Fields (single mix unless you count Sunflower from UK), Lady Liberty, Here Comes the Night (single mix, I think, and a couple of other mixes like the medley and backing track?), and some other mixes and random 80s/90s singles I'm sure I forgot.

Furthermore, branching out to Brian's outside productions (Pet Projects and beyond*) (which didn't fare too well, thanks to Murry and others), I'd like to extend the idea of 'What songs/melodies would be or are worth saving for Brian?'
Whether in terms of 'what if' or realistically applying it to Brian re-using the song/melody as he has done so much in the past.


*beyond*- projects/songs/albums you may have listened to that aren't on Pet Projects or Still I Dream of It: BW Productions (Japanese release).

Well, I looked through my resources of research by others and myself and came up with a list of mostly side projects/songs that have a melody or riff or idea that's worth re-using (perhaps because releasing it with another artist just didn't work as well with the BB) or at least noteworthy to ponder on how surprising it is that Brian never returned to those ideas/melodies/riffs to re-use. Lastly, before my list, I think it's evidence like Sharon Marie singing Thinkin' Bout You Baby then Brian using the basis of it for Darlin' then re-doing TBYB for American Spring gives me good reason to wonder about the re-using of certain, not as well recognized material.

-Raindrops
-Run Around Lover (really surprised that backing track wasn't re-used)
-Number One (considering when it was recorded, very surprised it wasn't re-used)
-She Rides with Me (an ideal song that would fit perfectly in the LDC or SDV2 album era)
-After the Game (wonder how Carl Wilson never played this as a solo on a ballad or something)
-The One You can't Have
-I Do (Spector influence that was perfect for the BB)
-Go Away Boy (a melody too good not to use)
-Guess I'm Dumb (really, this could have ended Today!, give Glen the spotlight and an appropriate ending to the album, what a backing track)
-Endless Sleep (there's been so many times this backing track has made me think it has such a Smile vibe to it but it's so weird because it was recorded so early on)
-Love of a Boy and a Girl
-Story of my Life
-Let's Live Before We Die
-The Letter (I just wanna throw this on here as I think it should have ended the WH album, live or studio cut, I don't care)
-Now That Everything's Been Said
-Sweet Mountain
-It's Like Heaven
-Tennessee Waltz (specifically the section where all the vocals sing "I remember" with the farty synth, it's so good)
-Star Light/Star Bright (sheer genius that I can't believe was only used for American Spring's cut of This Whole World)
-Our Team
-She's Just Out to Get Ya
-Snowflakes
-Soulful Old Man Sunshine
-Come To Me (really underrated melody)
-Slip On Through (The American Spring cut, particularly the production of the track, was that really Brian?)
-Winter Symphony
-How's About a Little Bit of Your Sweet Lovin
-Do Ya?
-Silly Walls
-Shyin' Away
-Pamela Jean (that song really could have been pushed as a BB song)
-Daddy's Little Girl
-Almost Summer
-Everything I Need (Brian just seriously needs to re-record this, it needs a bigger release than the Wilsons)

Wow, nice set up. I feel a little intimidated after all that since I was merely going to suggest that the BB's should've recorded "Surf City" instead of J&D if just for that possibility of it going to #1 for them.

I think the band only really realised the whole Single-not-on-an-album thing in the late 80's/early 90's since quite a few of their soundtrack songs aren't collected on any album, compilation or otherwise (as far as I'm aware). I for one would maim to get my hands on a compilation with "Problem Child" on it. Don't think I would for "Happy Endings" but still, it'd be nice to have the option.

And I think "Cool, Cool Water" b/w "Don't Go Near the Water" would've made a ... cool combo. Since I have the Sunflower/Surf's Up 2fer I sometimes let them run back-to-back and transitioning from CCW to DGNTW shows a drastic tonal shift on what is essentially the same topic. Would've made for a nice eco-conscious single, then again I'm no Jack Rieley.

Not BW productions.

A few -  The Letter (written by Wayne Carson Thompson), Tennessee Waltz (written by Redd Stewart and Pee Wee King), for eg,– aren't BBs' compositions.  Not even BB-related compositions.