The Smiley Smile Message Board

I downloaded "Wonderbill" off of Walmart and was wondering about the history of "Don't Worry Bill".  Who wrote it?  When was it written? What album was it for?  Why the medley with "Wonderful".

It was written by Blondie Chaplin and Ricky Faatar and first appeared on the Flame's Brother Records debut.  Really what you're hearing in "Wonderbill" is just the second half of that song-- the Flame's version has a really lovely intro section that was excluded from the Beach Boys' take.

I have no idea why the band chose to merge "Don't Worry Bill" with "Wonderful".  Maybe the idea evolved out of a jam session?

According to the information on the record it was written by all 4 Flame-members, which also include Brother Fataar and Steve Fataar. The intro of that song is indeed great. Very Beatles-like too. If you want to hear the original version: The Flame-album has just been released on cd. Most internet-cd stores offer it at the moment.

Great news !! Why didn't I know this before?  :o Anyway, that album is a great one ! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GCF8ZE/sr=1-1/qid=1155300469/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-3611490-6212735?ie=UTF8&s=music

That's cool to know.  I only have a CD-R of a needle drop, so I've never seen the writing credits.  At the 1972 Radio Luxumborg show, Carl says the song was written by Blondie and Ricky, but then he probably didn't want to confuse the audience.

I was HIGHLY disappointed that the recent Flame re-issue does not include the lost second Brother album, as Stephen Desper had previously alluded to.  Sad to say, I probably will not be buying it for that fact.

It looks like a rush-release, with no Brother-involvement whatsoever. I als have the idea that Desper wasn't (or minimally at most) informed on this. IT would've been a better release if bonustracks would have been added. Second album...or some single-edits.

I agree completely. Not only based upon personal opinion though. The fact that most people who'd be interested in this album probably would've tracked it down by now so a CD version would only be something of a novelty. If it had been re-mastered or packaged with unreleased or unavailable tracks, there would be more interest from the hardcore fans, thus, more sales and more pubilicity. Basically, a win/win situation. It seems that everyone loses out this way (except for those who aren't lucky enough to have it on LP that is)..still, it would've been more respectful to the group if they made an effort with liners, extra tracks, etc...

I think they should do what they are doing with Pet Sounds. Have a CD and 2 LP set that has both Flame projects with original posters and inserts.

I have to add a couple of things about "Don't Worry Bill."  It is my favorite song off the Flame album, and that is really saying something.  The brief guitar solo after the last "don't worry Bill, she loves you still" is about as orgasmic a musical moment as I have ever heard.  And when Ricky really kicks out with the rolling drum fills on the fade -- just incredible.

Has anyone noticed the similarity between the chord progression on the early verses and that of the verses on John Lennon's "Free As a Bird."  Seems like a case of plagiarism to me -- by Lennon, who composed his song about six years after "Don't Worry Bill" was released.  John also plagiarized "Don't Worry Baby" for "Just Like Starting Over."

I guess that would be too expensive. I don't think "The Flame" would sell enough to get the money back.

@BDN: Yeah, "Free as a bird" always comes to my mind when I hear "The Flame"

The best way to lose the fight against mp3 is releasing ordinary-sounding CDs with minimal, poor packaging and no bonus tracks.

I think the cd and 2 LP set idea would work because so many labels (Get Back, Sundazed, Norton etc.) release a lot of cult bands material (Pretty Things, Dutch Outsiders) and seem to do well. The pressings are small but there enough people who would but something like this to do 1000 or so.