The Smiley Smile Message Board

Hey, so I've been listening to "Where Is She?" quite a bit since Made In California has been released, and I've been wondering....how much was the work done recently to put the song in the shape that it is in now? Because there were a few comments about the song before it was released, and it seems that those who heard it kinda seemed to describe it a bit differently that how it sounds to me.

First off, there was Peter Reum's quote in an issue of ESQ that "Where Is She?" is a "waltz tempo musical idea at the piano...", and honestly to me, during the basic heart of the track I don't hear any piano in there. I hear what seems to be a metronome, some organ and guitar. Is it possible that the little piano "practice" bit that is at the beginning of the track was actually originally part of the track, but was removed to make it sound a bit more lush, and not quite as rough?

There is also Andrew Doe's statement that when he heard the song it was "...basically a keyboard, rhythm box and Brian singing very high. Got potential, but very rough." This recollection jibes pretty well with that of Mr. Reum, which pretty much led me to expect a very rough, unfinished sounding recording. But alas, when I finally heard it, it pretty much sounding like it coulda fit onto Sunflower or Surf's Up. Sure, there are no other Beach Boys on the thing vocally besides Brian, but that hadn't stopped him before.

I do recall Andrew also mentioning that it got a pretty substantial edit for MIC. I took that to mean just maybe some reshuffling of sections, or possibly even just making the transitions smoother. But possibly it meant removing the rhythm piano part and adding other things?

Maybe somebody will be able to clarify!

Anyways, anybody know the deal?

I don't know all the deets, but I definitely think there was a piano track in there. It just would've been impossible for him to keep perfect tempo like that with only a droning organ going. The metronome clicks on 2 and 4 wouldn't be enough to keep him in sync.

The final part of the track, where it fades, is a loop of the beginning part.

That's all I can gather.

It's not clear if what is on MIC is what Peter and Andrew heard or if the "leaked" version was a rougher take which Brian refined into what is on MIC.  I doubt anything was added to Where is She in 2013, so likely everything there was done in 1969.  They may of course have muted the piano track, but Brian himself did that on many songs (like the Smiley Vegetables).

I think the clicks were part of a single drum machine track, and Mark decided to keep a few clicks.

Funny that some will post in every inconsequential thread there is just to talk smack, but then when their expertise could actually be put to use ***cough AGD cough*** they don't add anything to this thread, which actually tries to help us better understand the genesis of the song "Where Is She?"

Yeah, let's get AGD in here!

1 - I do actually have a life outside of here (today, working 8.15am-9.30pm)

2 - There's nothing I can add to what I've already said about when I first heard this track, unless you want me to embroider on (that is, lie about) what I heard back then.

3 - every inconsequential thread ? Don't think so...  ;D


Won't presume to speak for Peter, but what I heard was, as stated, a lot rougher, technically speaking, than what has been released.

I'm curios about that piano part heard before the "proper"  song starts. Was it a rough "demo" run through? The two don't really seem to go together. Andrew, was what you heard part of that rough piano version?

‍

I don't buy it. No way you have a life outside of this board.  ;D


Actually there is quite a bit you could add. For instance, was there piano on the version you heard? How about the structure of the song? Anything different? Around how long was it? So yeah, there you go. Feel free to add anything you can remember now!

Yeah, I'd love to hear more about this track, too.

And just for the sake of it, I'd like to throw this out, too....

It seems to me that the track after the demo is "finished", meaning that this was not an idle tinkering.  What we've got is all "final take".  However, there certainly seems to be a lot missing. 

And I've got a theory.  If Brian is going to add more to a track (besides vocals), what's the last thing he usually added?   Strings!

So my theory, (and hopeful wish), is that Brian has, or at least had, an incredible string arrangement somewhere in his head that he was going to add to this song.

(This string arrangement, if real, would have made the song even more like "She's Leaving Home", wouldn't it?)


Love and merci,   Dan Lega

The Beatles invented stringed instruments.

I'd say this was likely meant to be a demo, not a final version. Wasn't it cut right around the time of "Sail Plane Song", also a demo? The sonic vibe is pretty similar.

Total bummer that Andrew Doe won't tell us more in depth about the version he heard. Sucks.


Oh well, guess he's more content to argue with OregonRiverRider.

Not won't - can't. That's all I recall. If you like, I'll go away and concoct some more, and better, detail but - my myriad other faults notwithstanding - lying isn't one of my dominant character traits. Especially here when others can comprehensively trump me.  :old

You don't remember hearing a piano or not? Or what the length of the song was. Or how the track was ordered?

Wow. Guess I just expected more of a self proclaimed "Beach Boys scholar."

Thanks anyways for the little help you did offer. Maybe Peter Reum will be 'round these parts again soon.

Hey, if the guy doesn't remember he doesn't remember. Better to be honest about it than say something he's not sure about... Because coming from him, I know I'd take it for a fact anyway.

Wow. Entitled much? What a backhanded and snide comment.

Yeah, no kidding.   ::)

Can you claim to recall, with the degree of precision you evidently demand, something you heard once ten years ago, in less than ideal conditions, that you'd not heard before and didn't hear again, ever ? Well, can you ?

I'll try to dig out my notes about this one.  I heard it several times back in the day, and now I'm curious if what I heard is different.  Hopefully my notes are comprehensive enough to highlight any differences.

Thank you sir :)

And AGD, we love ya man, don't let him put you down, your book made me the fan I am today :)

Yeah, I can. Thanks for your time.

Prove it.  ;D

Ok find me an interesting previously largely unheard Beach Boys song. We'll talk in ten years.

Fair enough?  ;D

Find it yourself, the way I had to.  ;D

Dunno why you bother.

Yeah, what the hell.  Tough crowd.  I think he does have a woodrow for you, AGD.

 :lol

I f*ing love this board.

I like pulling the wings off flies.  :lol

....and not listening intently to interesting unreleased songs by your favorite band.

Nah, I'm kidding.

Hey, i don't know if this is true or not (maybe one of our experts can help us out here?) but i heard somewhere--i can't remember if someone told me or if i read it once on the internet--that the Beatles actually invented music (well, besides all that old Gregorian chant stuff lol) and that that's why they're the best at music and no one can ever be better than them.

Can anyone conform this? I'm dying to know, it's such an interesting theory!

I read that too. Was it on the Hoffman board? I'm not sure. I don't think music existed before the Beatles. What the hell was jazz? Gersh who? Beethoven? f*** me. Who are these folk?

That's totally absurd! They didn't invent music, but they were the only group around during the 1960s, so that's why people think that.

It's a scientifically proven fact that The Beatles did everything first, and best, from creating the universe to inventing every known form of music, velcro, computers and condoms.

Sorry, but that's just how it is.

Didn't the Beatles also write Handel's Messiah?

 >:D

Not just that, they gave birth to Handel.

I love Where Is She? Great vocals and again early Floyd (Organ and Drums) comes more to mind than anything. With them on Tower I bet Brian got his hands on Piper (US VERSION) or Emily at least. Still Brian in his sixties vocals prime always is something original in itself.

The. Beatles did, indeed, invent condoms- hence, Rubber Soul...

Actually, it was Ringo himself that invented music. Just watch Caveman.  ;D

I lost my virginity to a Beatle and so did all my friends. All British people did.