I have never heard of "In The Beechwoods".. I am intrigued. Time to go a-hunting.

Are you implying that Murray may have had some part in Brian's lack of confidence?  No, it was the drugs! 

Call me crazy, I know. 

Paul McCartney has been quoted as saying that before Sgt. Pepper even the Beatles popularity was on the wane. Many contemporary publications were thinking the Beatles were washed up by early 1967.

..just thinking that the drugs might have not only helped Brian hear new sounds in his head but also give him something he never had before...Doubt.

Brian never felt doubt before he took drugs? It was my impression that he was pretty much fed doubt for breakfast every morning since childhood.

Piper is one of my all time faves.

Saucer is great, but it noodles around quite a bit. Syd's Jugband Blues is the highlight.

In between that and AHM it's mostly just soundscapey experiments with the odd gem here and there (Green is the Colour/The Nile Song/Furry Animals).

Instead of laughing I only have a cold place in my heart. 

No AGD, you just gotta open your mind to the possibilities.

(in case some are not following, I am in sarcastic mode suggesting that Amusement Parks is a druggie song) 

Amusement Parks USA I can see as a drug inspired song.... that insane clown laughing... woa man. Just "whoa". 

So basically what you are saying is they are the equivalent of the O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.S. in the Harry Potter books? 

I can see it both ways. I think for Brian it was one of those situations where he was damned if he did or damned if he didn't.

Something tells me Fishmonk has done quite a few "LARGE DOSES". 

I wish he would come to Salt Lake City, like he keeps promising me in his song. 

He heard The Lagoon burned down and thinks he's responsible.

In fact, Brian has played Utah. Once. 9/15/2000, USANA Pavilion, West Valley City.

That was back during the dark times when I thought the Beach Boys were daft. Surely 11 years is long enough to stay away?

Agreed. Introducing Brian to hard drugs was far worse than anything Mike Love or anyone else is supposed to have done to Brian.

I wish he would come to Salt Lake City, like he keeps promising me in his song. 

Hold on, people.  

The Examiner article says that's the artwork, but they're merely duplicating the graphic that Capitol issued with its press release a couple weeks ago.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-beach-boys-legendary-smile-album-sessions-to-be-released-this-year-by-capitolemi-117927084.html

The very same press release says the "artwork will be unveiled soon."  If the graphic IS the artwork, wouldn't the press release say "see attached graphic" instead  of "artwork will be unveiled soon"?

Obviously the blue "THE BEACH BOYS" and red "SMiLE" on a white background is simply a rearrangement of the non-Holmes portion of the original cover.  It wouldn't necessarily be a bad cover if the Smile Shop can't be obtained, but let's not jump to conclusions.

Glad someone else besides me can read. 

The only real conclusion I can draw so far after a couple thousand posts and replies: AGD knows more than we mere mortals do.

I would agree with that......

Bad form to report was told to you in confidence via PM. Perhaps you should edit your post? 

I'm not sure what is described on those websites as a "logo" can be equated with album cover art work. Still, whatever it is, like Phil said, it is the music that matters most.

Question:  How much stake or say does Bruce actually have in all this SMiLE release hoopla?  I know he was at the sessions but what's his holding in Brother or Capitol when it comes to SMiLE material?

Judging from quotes from Bruce which people have posted here, it sounds like he is a complete spectator just like the rest of us on TSS.

To avoid that frustration I always have things delivered to my office. 

Immense was a strange choice of word.. Spiritual is a much better adjective... 

I never though Our Prayers key made it sound sad. To me it makes it sound immense.

I like both. I used to think if you loved one it meant you would hate the other.... Took me years to figure out they they were talking about the Beatles vs. The Rolling Stones.

 

You know, this is the is the song that led me to this board. I sure hope the song gets an official release someday soon because I actually want to hear this more than anything SMiLE related.

 

Would really love to hear Brian's demo. My fave is actually Brian's re=recording. The Pamplin version is amateurish, and Carl's just comes off depressing....awful

I was one of the lucky few who got to hear this demo, back in the early 'aughts, at an East Coast Beach Boys convention. Oh, I would so love to hear it again. From my notes at the time:

California Feelin’ demo. 1974. Just Brian and a piano. Wow. The first time I heard it I was a bit disappointed because the approach was so unexpected. Then when I had the chance to hear it a second time its beauty hit home. Brian plays a GOSPEL piano on this cut. Gone is the straight reading and measured ease of the remake. Gone is the soft, sauntering laze. Instead it’s a dangerous and desperate stab at reclaiming the landscape as a haven for the soul. Brian believes what he’s singing but it’s crumbling around him. The more the scary truth threatens to overtake him – the truth that it’s all a veneer – the more his voice breaks in an earnest, exuberant plea. There are some gulped phrasings bordering on embarrassment; some rushed lyrics and some frankly goofy interpretations on the theme. He wants this to be a postcard sung in Las Vegas. He wants it to be a classic. It’s not, just like California is not. At least not in a God Only Knows sense. Now THAT’S a classic. But that’s also an ideal, and wouldn’t it be nice if it were true. When you’re 24 and on top of the music business the love of the ideal can just about take you away. When you’ve lost your father and you’ve returned from exile, your mind shattered, your drugs medicating less and less, the ideal taunts you no matter how hard you try to still believe. This is a very moving cut, if nothing else. I really hope everyone gets to hear it someday. When you do, you will be surprised. Expect a gospel piano (not the usual chordal banging), an affected, bewildered crooning, and a wandering, lost-at-sea tempo, and you might just get the spirit of it all.

Nicely done but I resent you.