The Smiley Smile Message Board

Percussion

I find the percussion during the verse to be distracting and I have no reason to believe Brian would have kept this idea.

they've always been there - just lower in the mix  :-X

the "enhanced" percussion aside, I think this track is the pièce de résistance of the collection  :)

While the groovy "take 5" is great, I still prefer the GV box version. The tag there is divine. Now with the session material it will be easy to reconstruct this version in a great quality!

My percussion do you mean the click clack noise in the background? Because I always liked that part.

I like it.


Well, in fact he junked the WHOLE track, not only the percussion! ;D

This is another song on the SMiLE Sessions which has benefited from an exciting new mix in my opinion.

WAY better than the 93 version!!!!

The percussion is annoying and distracting.

Why?

Because it is intrusive, because its unnecessary, because its the wrong sound in the arrangement, because it sounds dumb, and because it's partially out of time. Apart from that its great!  ;D

Agree.

I really really prefer the harpsichord/celesta version. I hope I'll be able to use that one in my mix, because we have a pretty long take of that version.

The percussion is indeed a bit distracting.

Must be the only one who disagrees. I've ALWAYS loved that percussion and though I kinda liked it better when it was lower in the mix, I still like it.

-I like how they combined the two versions in the piano break.
-Chorus sounds MUCH better.
-Ending sounds awesome!

This one really blew me away. The mix is great and I love the percussion. This and DYLW are very improved I think.

So you are Brian Wilson????

I absolutely loved this track. I love the percussion, and I love the extended "bridge" if that's what you want to call it. The build up during that bit to the refrain is spectacular.

The percussion, at least, during the verses do take away from the subtle feel the '93 mix has. And then the blatant pitch shifting at the end to try to match the Brian Wilson Presents version. Why?? For any person that hasn't heard the original sessions before, it's deceiving in a way. The fading out tinkling pianos are so understated and cool.

I do miss the music box fade, but I actually like the percussion. Is that Brian beatboxing in the background? Whatever is making it that sound, it's a perfect example of how Brian was trying to add some goofiness/childishness to some of the songs. Like the yodeling on "Wonderful", the doy-ing sounds on "Cabinessence", and the arrest bit on "Heroes and Villains". This is Brian's idea of humor.

Is Wind Chimes sung by Carl and Brian together? And is Brian double tracked on certain phrases?

I thought it was Carl alone

I miss the piano fade also. I don't really like how the song ends abruptly, but it isn't a huge deal.

I do, though, like the added clicking percussion.

Edit: Nevermind.

Really love the stereo mix of this. My only issue is that the second chorus comes in too early. The riff on the piano bridge only repeats six times instead of the eight originally played on "pick-up take 5" (from SOT 17).

"Subtle feel"? So that's what I didn't like about the 93 version! :) I very much prefer the TSS version.

This is the only part I don't dig. I always think about it, cause it sounds so bad. One of the vocals sings the chromatic riff, but starts at the wrong note, creating new harmonies that I don't think were in Brian's mind. Mark and Alan may not have the best musical ears.

I don't think there's any pitch shifting going on, merely pasting vocals into an alternate version of the chorus that is constructed the same as the final chorus on BWPS. I know I've heard that last chorus as it is here sans vocals somewhere before, as I remember finding it and being surprised that it wasn't an 03 invention.

Yeah, it's probably just pasted, but some of the notes don't fit. I didn't like it in JMZs mix and I'm not keen on it here either. This is actually the only thing I get irritated with when listening to cd 1.

There definately isn't any pitch shifting going on. Also the notes do fit (until a beat or two before the end, which is why they suddenly drop out). The difference is that in the other choruses they come in with the first part of the vocal "Doo(G) doo(A) ooh(D)" followed by the second "Doo(F) doo(G) ooh(A)" part then both parts are repeated. The final chorus starts with the second part and finishes with the first. Perhaps that is what sounds odd to your ears but it's not been manipulated.

You are right my friend, thank you. Evidently I was being fooled by my ears. The sudden drop out and the reversing of the 1st/2nd parts is what got me. A "doh!" is appropriate here.

This has always been my favourite smile song. The first part is nothing too special, but jeez, when the massive vocals and horns come in, I challenge any spine not to get a tingle.

I'm too find the percussion a little distracting, but I can live with it

Anyone else had a go at synching the piano/harpsichord version? I just made a quick 'n' dirty attempt for my own amusement; sounds OK. The timing differences vary slightly throughout the track, so it'd take a bit of chopping and moulding to get it perfect.

I've done it in stereo, sounds great. I've kept the vocals in their original pitch, and put the backing track a half step higher. Sounds cool.

I don't have any issues with the mixing on this track - think it sounds great. However I do love the alternate backing track (track 4, cd 4), those chord changes are just so beautiful.

I realize I'm over 3 years late here, but should you or anyone else more talented than I whose done this be up for posting their work online I'd be most appreciative.


I love all of it. It's what really helps set the music apart in my opinion. Ties into the goofiness of the cover and silly song titles incredibly well. Fits the psychedelic experience too with the disconnected yet connected feelings all at once. However, I'm not sure what you mean by beatboxing. Like...the vocals in the chorus in general?


For my money, the percussion is great but I also prefer the piano fade. I think this is one of the most underrated tracks on the album, and I seem to be in the minority in thinking it blows the Smiley version out of the water and that it fits well with the Cycle of Life songs.

I prefer the SMiLE version, too, except for the Smiley Smile "whispering winds" part, unless you consider the fade of "Holidays" to be part of "Wind Chimes".

There is something else I find ironic about "Wind Chimes". Most fans, including me, absolutely consider it an integral part of SMiLE; it fits musically, it fits the mood, it fits the atmosphere, it's a no brainer. But consider it's origins.

Some people don't like to include "Good Vibrations" on SMiLE, the lyrics being of the reasons, although there's others. But look at "Wind Chimes". I'm paraphrasing a bit here, but I remember reading Brian saying that, "I was looking at (or listening to) some wind chimes, and I thought I'd write a song about wind chimes." And yet we like to attach so much meaning to many of the songs and try to make this perfect fit/match/mix. When all along, there was no meaning behind "Wind Chimes". Brian just thought it would be cool to write a song about them! :-D   

I don't understand the "Wind Chimes" or "Good Vibrations" "doesn't fit" the Smile album theories. The lyrics are all over the place in any form of the album you could conceive of. Yeah, a few sets of songs have slight common themes, but not much, and not enough to exclude the likes frigging "Good Vibrations", which was absolutely intended for the album.

Folks're too rigid with their interpretations of Smile and its lyrics, the album title, etc. To me, there's a huge amount of freedom in those songs and sessions and lyrics, and the idea of being so strict with it just doesn't make sense. "A song entitled 'Our Prayer' belongs on an album called Dumb Angel, but not Smile!" "'Surf's Up' is waaay too dark for an album called Smile!" "There isn't even a lyric about worms in the song titled 'Do You Like Worms?' JEEZ!" To me, that sort of thinking doesn't jive with what Smile was.

I completely agree with you.

That bunch of disconnected weirdness on Smiley isn't even a song to me.  THIS is Windchimes.  THAT is an abomination

Also, speculation on whether GV was meant for the album?  I think it being printed on the cover 3 times would be a clue.  This is the 60s equivalent of a "Contains the hit single Good Vibrations!" sticker on the shrink wrap

No need for speculation - "This LP will include Good Vibrations" -Brian Wilson in 1966 on Smile