The Smiley Smile Message Board

Excerpt from small piece in this month's mojo:

That Lucky Old Sun (A Narrative) has, says Brian, "three different parts: the music of Lucky Old Sun, a spoken word narration, and  original songs. The new songs are very, very excellent." His face lights up in a smile. "Isn't that amazing?"
   Certainly is. Mojo has just heard one of the songs, Midnight's Another Day, and it's glorious: slow, sad, sophisticated, with lines like "All these people make me feel sad so alone ... I'm a flag without the wind, " sung at the piano, backdropped by  harmonies.

Thought this looked really exciting and needed to be posted here. Sorry if it's against board rules to post excerpts like this - if so please remove it. Brian also says in same piece that right now songs are "pouring out of" him and that he might start work on a new album when the tour is over (cue cynical responses from jaded BW fans ...). Anyway definitely sounds promising!

(cue cynical responses from jaded BW fans ...).

A cynic is an idealist with experience   ;D

Amazing indeed - thus far it's been described as having three parts, four parts and five parts.

I'm confussed.

Maybe it's all in where you place the dividers: add an extra one in the middle of a refrain here, end of a verse lyric there--presto! Different number of parts.

btw, glad to see "confussed" broken out again. I laughed.

I think the three parts are the new music, the Lucky Old Sun music, and the narration.
The four parts (or five) are the rounds...like four times in which there is narration or something like that.

Someone on the blueboard posted that Nelson was talking about the music. He compared it to the Smile music and made it sound like it's complete, which is good news. I know some people were skeptical about whether Brian would finish it.
I like the image of a flag without wind. Kind of a "Til I Die"-type of metaphor.
Was the identity of the lyricist ever confirmed?

From what I have heard, it's far from being completed..  Still in lots of pieces

gee, where have we heard that before???? ;D

How ironic - not to mention lousy - would it be for Brian to climb the Smile mountain and leave it behind...only to have the same thing happen all over again???

Interesting that no coherent picture is emerging - some say it's finished, Mark Linett says it's just demos (and he should know), the band apparently haven't heard it in toto yet and Van Dyke may, or may not, be contributing.

How many days to go to the premiere ?

Being the optimist that I am, Brian saying that songs are 'pouring out of him' sounds very promising.
Obviously I am up on my BB history so I know what a load of old tosh it might be, but I've never heard Brian say that in an interview before, he's been going on about writers block for about 10 years!

It's ok, they are sure to sell 1 million copies in September...


 ::)

I look forward to the release of Brian Wilson Presents that Lucky Old Sun (A Narrative) in September 2041.

 :lol

Or maybe Daria, Delanie and Dylan Wilson Present...

or possibly "What's left of my managers present...." oh, wait



featuring an encore presentation of "Ding Dang" and "Shortenin' Bread"

And by then, my daughter will be bitching about how Pacific Ocean Blue STILL hasn't been re-released...

Maybe they are planning something similar to 'BWPS Cycle'.

1)  Brian plays the demos for Darian
2)  Darian and band arrange and learn the songs with rehearsal input from Brian
3) They play it live.
4) They record the album

Something like that.

The Mojo piece also mentions that VDP is contributing. Brian says he is writing the narrative. Brian says "I don't know what it's about, but I think it's about LA and love."

Sounds very promising to me.

Brian doesn't know what his own work is about?!

Umm...

I'm sure it's not the first time. Do you really think he knew what VDP's Smile lyrics were about?

In 1966, yes.

With today's 65 year old BW with the troubles he's had... I would be a very happy fan to get something like this...
I would imagine that VDP is providing the structure (conceptual storyline) and if Brian is happy composing a whole pile of bits and pieces to hang on that structure.. then great!  and having Brian talking about how much he appreicates the new pitch control technology available in studio just makes me happier still...

Isn't this what we are all dreaming about?... new Brian Wilson music with his friends and allies cleaning up the rough edges that Brian's life would otherwise leave.... :hat

Probably more than Van Dyke Parks himself.

Totally agree.  Take a look at "Goodbye Surfing, Hello God" in LLVS.  Brian gives a very sophisticated interpretation of the "Surf's Up" lyrics.  At that point in his life Brian was an extremely articulate and intelligent speaker.

I always thought of that answer as the typical sort of BS Brian was and is likely to give.

Can you honestly say that Brian didn't feel the meaning of the words with every fiber of his being when he recorded SMiLE? I think there are as many meanings as people who listen to it and the interpretations are all as different as you can imagine. I have no doubt Brian had an idea of what he wanted the lyrics to mean. At least thats what I hear in the music he wrote and the performance he recorded (in 66-67).

From what I've read and other sources, I doubt very much if this is what's happening. Was VDP mentioned from the get-go ? Nope. My impression is Van Dyke providing lyrics to existing music.

In an interview yesterday in Vienna he was very excited about the new music ("very good material") and in good spirits, even sang a bit of Dennis' "You and I" for the reporter.

That sounds promising for September and the anniversary of "something"....

They have been heard rehearsing at least one song originally recorded by a very famous band, but also recorded by the Beach Boys. And this year is the xxth anniversary of the album that originally contained that song.  Clear no?   :-D

Anyhow, I dunno why but I'm thinking about POB anniversary..

Can I figure this out on my own, or would I need a little help from my...[/i] am I warm or cold here? :D




[/quote]

Is it hot as hell in here or is it me?!?

not surprising.... BW has been recycling his musical fragments  since the beginning....

still feel upbeat about the whole project....     :-D