The Smiley Smile Message Board

http://somethingelsereviews.com/2014/07/29/definitely-a-momentum-killer-mike-love-laments-the-lost-beach-boys-classic-smile/

Mike wonders what if drugs hadn't been involved in the Beach Boys history. Well, just for starters, SMiLE probably wouldn't have been written.

Thing is, imo Smile (albeit a completely different version) couldv'e come out by the time Carl had gained confidence in his abilities in the early 70's. It wasn't going to be Brian's vision of Smile, but it surely would be titled Smile and contain much material from thos sessions. I'll bet Carl and Dennis would be able to figure out some problems and overdubs + perhaps completely new recordings or new structures, but it seems as if the initiative beyond Surf's Up was never there. If Mike really wanted Smile out within a decade of its recording then it could've been.

Brian is on record putting it on hold.  It must have taken a long time to do all those vocals.  What would be the motivation to shelve it on the part of the band?  They were clearly invested as evidence by the work product.  I'm not buying it.  Mike was correct in using the correct  word. Momentum.  But it was a combination of factors in my opinion.  First, lack of confidence by the record company.  Second, Carl's draft status.  Staying out of jail and working in the band was a big enough problem.

Drugs do no one any favor.  Ultimately substance, tobacco, and booze robbed us all.  Brian has an old interview around the Hey Little Tomboy era where he spells that out.  And Dennis has one with Peter Fornatale.  They know what transpired.  The rest is pure conjecture.

They couldn`t put anything out without Brian`s say so.

Are you sure? Don't forget the ads, and the costly booklet point to the record company expecting quite a marketable product. Capitol would have put out whatever Brian had delivered.

ML is an idiot. I think the first comment after the article sums it up pretty well.