The Smiley Smile Message Board

The worst transition on BWPS?

When I hear it live it's the most consistent dud to my ears.

"Surf's Up" comes to a close and you're like: 'goshdarn, what a beautiful song!' and then the lifeless start to "I'm in Great Shape" begins...  :brow :shrug

I feel like they (leaving this an open "they") sequenced the first two parts - "Our Prayer"-through-"Surf's Up" - and thought rightly that they had something pretty great on their hands. But what to do with the rest? How should the third part begin? They had seven tracks to choose from (seven, considering that "I'm in Great Shape/I Wanna Be Around/Workshop" were already decidedly joined and they were working from a list that including only what's now on BWPS). Arguably the weakest part of the album and live performance is this third movement - the descent from the massive high of "Our Prayer"-through-"Surf's Up" back to baseline.

And I really like "Wind Chimes", "Fire", and "I Love To Say Da Da" (I refuse to say "In Blue Hawaii").

Yer thoughts? Let the games begin.  >:D

Do you have BWPS on vinyl? That might make the transition more bearable for you. Besides, IMO it is the only way to hear BWPS. The snaps, crackles, and pops contribute to the richness of the music.

You may want switch the second and third movements around.  The intro to Great Shape sounds like it was derived from a portion of In the Cantina.  It works better to my ears, and that way the album concludes with Surf's Up, a decidely better finish.

I agree.

Yeah the intro does indeed steal the "Cantina" melody...it is quite the odd transition though, I agree.  I never thought about switching the movements around, but I think it could work.  Smile was meant to close with "Surf's Up" anyways.

I don't, just the CD.




Hmm, I might program this playlist in and give the ol' thing a run through right now.

And yes, "Surf's Up" (with fade) is the perfect album closer. Not too fond of the "a chiiiild" climax tagged on for BWPS....

No, it's the warm analog mastering.  But you already knew that!

The "Cantina reprise" that opens the third movement was a last-minute addition to the piece a few weeks before its premiere.  Brian was very pointed on this when I  asked him about it during my "Katrina benefit" celebrity call from him.   It wasn't written in 2003, he told me, it was added in 2004.   I think the " 1900 salon orchestra" waltz arrangement is one of the most startling and original of the new additions, especially since it is then juxtaposed with the hippy-dippy-trippy "I'm In Great Shape" with its tape echo feedback.

Just got here from the BWPS-hater's thread, also known as "Brian's production tricks".  I expect we will be told that I am 1000% wrong for saying the foregoing.  We will then be told that  (1) I was speaking to a Brian impersonator; (2) it was written by Van Dyke and orchestrated by Darian; (3) it was  recorded while Brian was out having a beer; and (4) at every BWPS performance Scott Bennett would stick his finger in Brian's good ear when it came around so he wouldn't know it was there.

Brilliant insight...just what the doctor ordered!!

Puh-lease... See what you've done, now we Brian haters will have to trash this thread as well.  ::)

Don yer Phil Spector face masks, boys! It's time for war.

 >:D

WAR!!!!!!!!!

We're Eastern Europe and the Blueboard is the USA.

Only a war and a fuckin' war....every country in da East hates da USA. :)

For what it's worth, from what I understand, the "1900 salon orchestra waltz arrangement" section
was written by Darian (Surprise!) :)

Even though I'd love Surf's Up to close, I like the transition.

Personally, my least favorite transition is Wind Chimes into Mrs. O'Leary's Cow. That's too bad as the transition before that (Holliday to Wind Chimes) is not only the best transition on the album but maybe the best ever period.