The Smiley Smile Message Board

According to one S.Kalinich 'in the next year/2 years'

Is this the album that Brian did the music for? When in the 70s was it? Anyone heard it - I've heard it's not that good?

I think it was done during the Sunflower era. The little snippit I heard is a little over the top, but some of it sounds interesting.

I've heard that Brian & Steve were in the studio together recently, not necessarily recording but maybe just listening to something.  Would stand to reason it was this.

When did Kalinich say that?
Maybe he needs to release a certain number of records for Capitol and this would be easier for him to create, as it's probably almost finished. What next? Vail's country-album (which I honestly would love to hear as it features some of the best musicians)

To me anything Brian did before 1975 would be worth hearing.

It's worth hearing. There are some really amazing poems on there. "America, I Know You" is a great poem, but it's delivered a little over-the-top. The backing track for that one is insanely good. But the other poems on the album, in my opinion, are delivered a lot more austere than "America." As far as Brian's production and backing tracks, they range from studio experimentation for echo and reverb, to him singing backup vocal, to him producing the Honeys on vocals, to organ and piano tracks, and sometimes more complex stuff. I had the pleasure of listening to it a few years ago, all the way through, in one sitting, and I really, really liked it a lot. I went in skeptical, and came out converted. Will it change the world? No. But it's a cool album.

Also, I suppose I should say that American Spring did backup vocals on one or two cuts (if I remember correctly). No Ginger Blake involvement.

I would doubt this was part of any Capitol contract. They may be taking a calculated risk on TLOS, but they're not nuts.

Whomever puts it out would be wise to include isolated backing tracks for the few songs that have full BW orchestrations. Put those on there as bonus tracks.

Late summer/fall 1969

I think work continued on this record up to, like, 1974 or something.

Or perhaps better the words without music.  ;D Just kiddin'
I would be very interested to hear the complete work, I didn't know that it was more than just a few unfinished bits & pieces.
What I've heard is certainly interesting on an arty level.

Yes I just heard America I need you (or love you - can't remember the specific name) and that is some crazy sh**t!! Talk about over the top. I thought that maybe this music would have kitsch 'crazy 70s Brian' appeal, but I have to say I find the over the top pathos of his reading too off-putting to be especially enthused about this. The backing track did sound interesting - kind of reminded me of the Animal Collective if they were making soundtracks to Westerns!!

Anyway, for all my negativity I will still be keen to hear this. Do all the tracks have Brian Wilson produced backing then?

I've heard "America, I Know You" on a double disc-set entitled Harmony Friends, where it is wrongly credited to one Steve Desper. The poem doesn't exactly blow my mind, and some of it sure is odd ("America, you are not perfect ...some of your students have destroyed property and rioted"). That said, BW's backing track sure sounds nice enough and if the whole thing is going to be released, I'm most definitely going to check it out. It's great to get a glimpse into Brian's activities during a time that still remains somewhat mysterious and obscure to this day. 1969 must have been quite a year for Brian.

I hope this does come out- I can't wait to hear "Lonely Man," which has been much written about...

i really hope this comes out. i've heard America I Know You and i think its beautiful. the thought of an album containing impressionistic Brian Wilson compositions from his prime is exciting

Do all the tracks have Brian Wilson produced backing then?

All but two, I believe. Even those two tracks have some weird effects, via BW. I'm not sure any are as full-on produced as "America, I Know You," in terms of backing tracks. But they are all pretty cool cuts, and like I said earlier, "America" is probably the most over-the-top reading. Many of the peoms sound really breezy and serene. Brian and Stevie actually sing a duet on one song (no poem), and another has a poem, with a musical breakdown of Brian's classic chord structures with Honeys vocals on top, then bacvk to poetry. It's got some really dynamic moments.

btw where was this information of a potential release taken from?