As is evident from the tracks included on the Good Vibrations box set, the Beach Boys evidently had songs such as Wonderful, Vegetables, and Wind Chimes already in the can prior to the demise of the SMiLE project.  Why, then, did they re-record these three tracks for Smiley Smile?  What confuses me the most about the whole thing is that compared to the relatively simplistic re-recorded versions for Smiley Smile, the original SMiLE session versions of these songs were far superior in many aspects, especially instrumental arrangement, to the versions that ended up on Smiley Smile.

I've read that the song title and lyrics for Hang on to Your Ego were eventually changed to I Know There's an Answer on account of an alleged drug reference in the former song and title.  Maybe I'm just a little naive, but I've listened to Hang on to Your Ego and didn't notice anything suggestive...what am I missing?

Hi all.

I've been listening to my Good Vibrations box set, and I noticed that near the beginning of the Hang on to Your Ego sessions track on disc 5, someone in the recording booth asks "Does the union know you're recording?"  I'm guessing that this was during a recording with session musicians, and as such, the individual asking the question was wondering whether the musicians' union, probably the AFM, was aware that what was likely a rehearsal was being recorded.  Doesn't seem like it would be a big deal, but I know that the unions can be very strict about this kind of stuff.

Just curious if my assumption is correct, or if there's something else behind that comment.  By the way, a longer version of this same track also appears on the Pet Sounds box set.