My favorite radio station had a theme week just now with reports and discussions on the subject of how social media and internet forums incite hate and radicalisation. They say the reason is that hate needs approval and community, and that's what the internet offers. You can witness that right in this thread. People have formed their radicalised opinion and emphasize on quotes and facts that weigh in for their own point of view, and other people who try to have a more balanced point of view are shouted down.

Micha, in my opinion, your post ^ is the most important post of the last five years, and easily the relevant one as it pertains to this board. Thread topics aren't even important anymore; they are just a front or an EXCUSE to incite more hate. I'll tell you what, even though I believe it IS hate, so some aren't offended, I'll scratch that and instead substitute attack, destroy, or avenge.

The thread topics offer very little in the area of new information. This new information could easily be discussed and if necessary, debated, in a couple of pages. Instead, some posters will take a sentence, hell, even a single phrase, and turn it into an entirely different "case" - based on a single phrase! And, if there isn't enough ammo in the new topic, by God we'll go back several years and we'll find another case and enter THAT into the discussion. Take that, Mike! Fun isn't it? No, it's sad, actually. What's even sadder is when some brave souls offer a different side or perspective - and there are (at least) two sides to every story - and they are the ones accused of trolling. Unbelievable...

But, it's OK to attack Mike, over and over and over, because, well, that's what Mike is doing to Brian, right? As long as Mike keeps complaining, it's OK to "give it right back" to him because he deserves it. As long as Mike keeps saying these bad things about Brian (and others), and with his overall whining and repeating, he deserves to be hammered for it! So, therefore, it's OK for us to, in turn, do the same thing - that is, say derogatory things about Mike and whine and repeat bad things about HIM. What's that called, when one criticizes somebody for doing/saying something, and then one proceeds to do the same thing?

But, I guess it's all good. I mean, look at how long these threads are running. There's never enough pages or opportunities to attack a Beach Boy, especially when they deserve it. And, the moderators are allowing it, so it must be OK...

12.  Don't Fight The Sea (a bit of a cheat, but...)

Don't Fight the Sea seems to be a bit of a wild card when people on here put together alternate albums, so it's fine. I'm using it for an 81 alternate album, but I've seen people use it for all kinds of things. Some people put it on TWGMTR or L.A, and I've even seen people make a 90's reunion album with Don't Fight the Sea on it.

I put it on my Alt LA, though I know it still had a lot of work to do, to put it mildly.

"Don't Fight The Sea" would've been perfect on L.A. (Light Album), which needed more Al - and more energy. I think "Don't Fight The Sea" fits nicely after "Goin' South" (or "Full Sail", take your pick) and before "Sumahama".

So kwebb, are you sticking with your above ^ track lineup/sequence, or did you do some tweaking?

Matthews Southern Comforts version of "Woodstock" would have been beautiful with the boys harmony, maybe even a "Meant for You" style vocal from Mike in the verses 

Great one! Love that song/version. It would've fit nicely on Carl & The Passions: So Tough.

The Beach Boys - Getcha Back

Side A
01  Getcha Back
02  California Calling
03  One For The Boys
04  Love And Mercy
05  Let It Shine
06  Where I Belong

Side B
07  Meet Me In My Dreams Tonight
08  It's Gettin' Late
09  Melt Away
10  She Believes In Love Again
11  Rio Grande
 

Why didn't Brian sue years earlier? Beyond legal machinations to which we're not privy, he was f**ed up on drugs and booze for some of that time, which overlapped with bouts with mental illness, and then the mental illness overlapped with his overmedicated, abusive care under Landy.  

But, what about this list:

When I Get Mad I Just Play My Drums
Crack The Whip
Little Red Book
Tones
I Love To Say Dada
Little Pad
Good Time Mama
Fall Breaks And Back To Winter
With Me Tonight
She’s Goin Bald
Whistle In
Gettin Hungry
Wild Honey
Aren’t You Glad
Time To Get Alone
The Letter
Game Of Love
Italia
Cool, Cool, Water
Here Comes The Night
A Thing Or Two
Darlin
Can’t Wait To Long
Lonely Days
Let The Wind Blow
Mama Says
I’d Love Just Once To See You
Country Air
When A Man Needs A Woman
You’re As Cool As Can Be
Be Here In The Morning
Friends
Our Happy Home
Passing By
Busy Doin Nothin
Wake The World
Meant For You
Anna Lee The Healer
Transcendental Meditation
Diamond Head
Walk On By
Old Folks At Home/Old Man River
Do It Again
We’re Together Again
I Went To Sleep
Sail Plane Song
Loop De Loop
Santa’s Got An Airplane
Walkin
I’ll Keep On Loving You
As Tears Go By
Cotton fields
Tonight You Belong To Me
Tonight My Love
When Girls Get Together
All I Wanna Do
Deidre
Break Away
A World Of Peace Must Come (album)
Games Two Can Play
Our Sweet Love
Til I Die
Soulful Old Man Sunshine
Raspberries and Strawberries
At My Window
This Whole World
Add Some Music To Your Day
Where Is She?
Take A Load Of Your Feet
I Just Got My Pay
Good Time
Cows In The Pasture (album)
H.E.L.P. Is On The Way
My Solution
Lady Love
A Day In The Life Of A Tree
Silly Walls
Awake
Now That Everything’s Been Said
Beatrice From Baltimore
You Need A Mess Of Help
He Come Down
Marcella
Spark In The Dark
Funky Pretty
Mount Vernon And Fairway
Is Jack Reilly Really Superman
Burlesque
Sweet Mountain
Tennesse Waltz
Slip On Through
Mama Said
Superstar
Everybody
Starlight, Star Bright
Forever
Down Home
Baby I Need Your Lovin/Gimme Some Lovin (medley)
Sail on Sailor
Mike Come Back To LA
Some of Your Love
Snowflakes
Shyin Away
Fallin in Love
Had To Phone Ya
Shortenin Bread
Patty cake
Just An Imitation
Clangin
Ding Dang
Battle Hymn of the Republic
California Feelin
Child of Winter/Here Comes Santa Claus
Good TImin
It’s OK
You’re Riding High On The Music
Lucy Jones
Honeycomb
Come Go With Me
Winter Symphony
Running Bear
He So Fine
Let’s Dance
Secret Love
Peggy Sue
Blueberry Hill
Palisades Park
Honkin Down The Highway
Chapel Of Love
Talk To Me/Tallahassee Lassie
On Broadway
In The Still Of The Night
Mony Mony
Rock and Roll Music
Just Once In My Life
A Casual Look
TM Song
Everyone’s In Love With You
That Same Song
Michael Row The Boat Ashore
Shake Rattle And Roll
I’m Begging You Please
Let’s Put Our Hearts Together
Airplane
I’ll Be He’s Nice
Love Is A Woman
Mona
Still I Dream Of It
It’s Over Now
They’re Marching Along
Little Children
Marylin Rovell
That Special Feeling
Let Us Go On This Way
Johnny Carson
The Night Was So Young
I Wanna Pick You Up
Hey Little Tomboy
Lazy Lizzy
Sea Cruise
Solar System
Roller Skating Child
Hey There Mama
I Saw Santa Rockin
We Gotta Groove
You’ve Lost That Lovin Feelin
My Diane
The Boogie’s Back In Town
Cruise To Harlem
Life Is For The Living
Deep Purple
Lines
Everybody Wants To Live
It’s Trying To Say
Wontcha Come Out Tonight
She’s Got Rhythm
Sweet Sunday Kinda Love
Belles Of Paris
Pitter Patter
Matchpoint Of Our Love
Our Team
Don’t Be Cruel
Christmas Day
How About A Little Bit Of Your Lovin
How’s About A Little Bit
It’s Like Heaven
Almost Summer
Do Ya?
She’s Just Out To Get Ya
Basketball Rock
Bowling
Santa Ana Winds
Boys and Girls
Sunshine
Oh Darlin
Goin On
Goin To The Beach
Night Bloomin Jasmine
There’s So Many
Be My Baby
River Deep, Mountain High
Greenback Dollar
Why Don’t They Let Us Fall In Love?
Bucks
Children Of The Night
I’m A Man
Stevie
Sweetie
Love Ya
I Feel So Fine
Oh Lord
Yeah!
You’ve Been Good To Me
City Blues
Black Widow
Let’s Do It Again
In The Nighttime
The First Time
Crack At Your Love
California Calling
I’m So Lonely
It’s Just A Matter Of Time
Male Ego
The Lost Song
I’ve Been Through This One Before
Walking On Water
What’s Wrong With Starting Now?
Wondering What You’re Up To Now
You
A Bad Time Soon Forgotten
Water Builds Up
I’m Broke
Don’t Let Her Know She’s An Angel
Walkin The Line
Miller Time
After The Storm
A Little Love
All Over Me
California
Christmastime
Heavenly Bodies
I’m Tired
It’s Getting Rough
Labor Of Love
Magic
Magnetic Attraction
Pair Of Troops
Turning Point (a.k.a. So Long)
Just Say No
Brian/Thank You
The Spirit Of Rock And Roll
The Tiger’s Eye
Christine
Living Doll (a.k.a. Barbie)
Let’s Go To Heaven In My Car
Carl And Gina
Melt Away
Love and Mercy
Nighttime
Heavenly Lovers
Hotter
Magic Lanterns
Too Much Sugar
Rio Grande
Saturday Evening In The City
Baby Let Your Hair Grow Long
One For The Boys
Let It Shine
Meet Me In My Dreams Tonight
He Couldn’t Poor Old Body To Move
Doin Time On Planet Earth
Being With The One You Love
Goodnight Irene
In My Car
Country Feelins
Daddy’s Little Girl
Metal Beach
I Sleep Alone
Concert Tonight
I Do (a.k.a. Do You Have Any Regrets)
Let’s Stick (Get) Together
The Waltz
Smart Girls
Someone To Love
Rings
Make A Wish
Rainbow Eyes
Is There A Chance
Save The Day
Fantasy Is Reality/Bells of Madness
Sweets For My Sweet
This Could Be The Night
In My Moondreams
This Song Wants To Sleep With You
Gettin In Over My Head
Desert Drive
Soul Searchin
Chain Reaction Of Love
Dancin The Night Away
Elbow ’63
Everything’s Alright With The World
Frankie Avalon
God Did It
Goin Home
In The Wink Of An Eye
It’s Not Easy Being Me
Mary Anne
Marketplace
Must Be A Miracle
Slightly American Music
Some Sweet Day
Turn On Your Love Lights
What Rock And Roll Can Do
You’re Still A Mystery
Proud Mary
I Can Hear Music
Melinda, Honey
Our Babies Have Grown Up On Us
Right Before Your Eyes
Rock And Roll Express
Everything I Need
Miracle
This Isn’t Love
Your Imagination
South American
Where Has Love Been
Dream Angel
Cry
Lay Down Burden
Sunshine
Happy Days
Joy To The World
We’re Still Dancing
On Christmas Day
Silent Night

That was the list which was posted a few pages back to show how often Brian WASN'T f**ed up, how much he was actually ... productive.

Then YOU followed that post/list with "From late 1976 through some time in 1982, I'd say Brian was a pretty "regular" touring band member. He missed some shows, increasingly so in 1981 and especially 1982. But I think one could call him a regular during those five or six years. I don't think he missed that many shows from 1977 to 1980 in particular.

And certainly, with the exception of "Summer in Paradise", had some level of involvement in every studio album they recorded during this weirdly wide "1967-2002" time frame. Especially weird is that they choose 2002 as the cut-off for this supposedly inactive time frame. This ignores numerous solo albums and several solo tours."

So, which is it, Hey Jude? It appears that YOU are the one who is playing the drug/alcohol/mental illness card to suit YOUR case. In your response to Cam's question, it appears that Brian is back to being fu**ed up, mentally ill, and a drug addict. Can you give us a hint what condition you'll consider Brian in a few pages from now? How fu**ed up and how much of a drug addict and how mentally ill will he be? I guess we'll have to wait and see what points are being made before you decide.

Found a 1920s song "Keep on the sunny side" by The Carter Family.  Dig it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Lrh39vlB9A

June Carter Cash (with Johnny Cash on background vocals) covered "Keep On The Sunny Side" on her 2003 album, Wildwood Flower:  https://youtu.be/dJb0qlaxQGs 

M.I.U. is a fun one to play with; I continue to tinker with it. There's three things I like to change:

1)  M.I.U. kept the tradition alive of terrible album titles such as Shut Down, Volume 2, Smiley Smile, Carl & The Passions - So Tough, and L.A. (Light Album). Winds Of Change would've been a nice title, but the album isn't THAT deep - or much of a change. Wontcha Come Out Tonight is fun. How about Our team? That would've been ironic and sarcastic as the Beach Boys, at that particular time, were never less a team.

2)  The Beach Boys went from 15 songs on 15 Big Ones to 14 songs on Love You to 12 songs on M.I.U. So, I added two songs. The album desperately needed a Dennis song. "Tug Of Love" was left off of Pacific Ocean Blue as was "Baby Blue"; I went with "Baby Blue" to get another Carl Wilson vocal on the album. Also, "Our Team" was just sitting there unused, so I plugged that one in, too.

3)  I re-sequenced it!


The Beach Boys - Our Team

Side A
01  Come Go With Me
02  Hey Little Tomboy
03  Sweet Sunday Kinda Love
04  Kona Coast
05  She's Got Rhythm
06  Baby Blue
07  Wontcha Come Out Tonight

Side B
08  Peggy Sue
09  Belles Of Paris
10  Pitter Patter
11  My Diane
12  Matchpoint Of Our Love
13  Winds Of Change
14  Our Team

I saw the Beach Boys perform "Lady Lynda" in concert, with Dennis Wilson in attendance, three times. And, each time the song was played, Dennis left the stage.

I have to say, reading the original 2005 complaint, it's just a really ugly, nasty document. I'm AMAZED Brian or Al wanted to get back on the stage with the guy that okayed that document.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Gotta keep this thread alive 

I decided to take a stab at another mix of H&V and thought to strip my version down a bit.

https://youtu.be/a19YspRVCK8

It starts out, as per usual, with the "Cantina version of H&V" intermixed with one or two snippets from "alternatebrianwilson's" version (which I recently, very pleasantly, discovered) and, unlike my previous mix, I chose to exclude the Bicycle Rider piano theme for this one altogether. Soon-after it cross-fades into "I'm In Great Shape" which is followed by the reprise of "I've Been In This Town So Long.." and this is where it gets interesting - I edited in the  H&V chant per the "Part 2" version of "H&V" and overdubbed the "Workshop" sounds over it. It ends with a, typically, earlier section in "H&V" the "Peace In The Valley" lyric and finally the "fluttering horn".

Nice work, yonderhillside! Very good flow and editing. It cracked me up the way you mixed that Van Dyke Parks' spoken word in there followed by the la-la-la's. I also liked your ending with the fluttering horn. I missed the word "dance" in the cantina section, and the "workshop sound effects", which I liked, might be mixed a little more prominently. But, overall great job.

Because it says "A Beach Boy Looks Back..." I would think it is Mike Love because he IS a Beach Boy. Brian Wilson isn't a Beach Boy and neither is Al Jardine. I'd be surprised if Bruce would be the one looking back...

Responding to the 40th Anniversary of Brian's Back/15 Big Ones/It's OK Documentary thread made me think of this song - "Shannon" by Henry Gross. I distinctly remember laying on the beach in Wildwood, New Jersey in the summer of 1976, and this song was played on the radio constantly. What a great summer song!

Anyway, to this thread's topic, the song sounds like a Beach Boys' song, from the lead vocal to the background vocals and, of course, Henry Gross' falsetto. As far as being inspired by The Beach Boys, I've read that the lyrics were about Carl Wilson's dog, but I never knew if that was true or a rumor. Actually I think Carl appeared on one of Henry's albums. I think about this song with a Carl Wilson lead vocal (or a Brian attempt maybe?) and I think it would've been a great cover.

Cool story man, thanks for sharing I'll look up the song...

Here's a link: https://youtu.be/CPvjtUq9paA

Responding to the 40th Anniversary of Brian's Back/15 Big Ones/It's OK Documentary thread made me think of this song - "Shannon" by Henry Gross. I distinctly remember laying on the beach in Wildwood, New Jersey in the summer of 1976, and this song was played on the radio constantly. What a great summer song!

Anyway, to this thread's topic, the song sounds like a Beach Boys' song, from the lead vocal to the background vocals and, of course, Henry Gross' falsetto. As far as being inspired by The Beach Boys, I've read that the lyrics were about Carl Wilson's dog, but I never knew if that was true or a rumor. Actually I think Carl appeared on one of Henry's albums. I think about this song with a Carl Wilson lead vocal (or a Brian attempt maybe?) and I think it would've been a great cover.

What I remember the most, with the exception of the unevenness of 15 Big Ones, was that everything was so positive. The Beach Boys, and specifically their music, were perfect for that time frame. Yes, they did appear old(er) than the typical rock star (it's hard to believe they were only in their early 30's), but with their long hair and beards, they still had an element of coolness. "Rock And Roll Music" was on the radio, the band and specifically Brian were on TV every couple of weeks it seemed, the record bins were starting to fill up with different Beach Boys' albums, there were articles in several music publications, and to steal a Mike Love-ism, there were a lot of good vibrations and fun, fun, fun.

Stories about Brian's problems were starting to surface, but he was viewed at that time - and I say this affectionately - more as "a loveable nut", than a drug addict or somebody with mental illness. There was nothing in the public yet about Dennis' problems. Many people on this board might dispute this, but Mike Love, with his hats/outfits and jewelry and prancing around on stage and being the voice on the hits, was a popular figure; he had plenty of years ahead of him to grate on people.

15 Big Ones was the first new Beach Boys' album I purchased, and, yes, I did some creative moving around of the record player needle. The two things I remember about 15 Big Ones was, first, I couldn't believe how Brian and Dennis' voices had deteriorated; it was real WTF moment. And, second, I didn't really consider 15 Big Ones a failure or a step back because I was a relative newbie, hadn't yet purchased the back catalogue, and didn't realize how 15 Big Ones compared to the previous trifecta of Surf's Up, CATP, and Holland. But, I mean, I DID KNOW it wasn't Endless Summer or Spirit Of America. Half of 15 Big Ones was enjoyable I guess, it had/has its moments, but I do remember thinking, especially regarding Side B, that a good number of fans are gonna be disappointed.  

But, finally, the main thing I remember from that time period was how obsessed I was with Brian Wilson's voice and physical appearance. I was almost in a state of shock how his voice sounded, again compared to Endless Summer. And, frankly, it made me very sad. I also remember looking at older photos of Brian and thinking, "that can't be the same guy", not just the weight gain, but the long hair, the eyes, and no Fender bass strapped on. These were pre-internet days, and I would scour the TV Guide each week, looking for Beach Boys' TV appearances. I couldn't wait for those TV appearances, just to get a peek at Brian to see how he was progressing. I would look for little things...did he hit a particular note, was his hair washed/combed, did he lose any weight, was he still talking out the side of his mouth, and those eyes... As far as the It's OK TV Special, no pun intended, but it was OK. Lorne Michael's humor escaped me at the time. I could've done without the "personal" segments of the special. I was hoping for more Brian participation in the concert footage, again not fully realizing how inactive he had been. I appreciate the It's OK TV Special more now than I did in 1976.

Actually, each time I did see Brian on TV, he looked better and sometimes sounded better, too. I was very optimistic about the future. Again, I had no idea about the underlying problems that would soon surface. And, not to get ahead of the thread, but when Love You came out in the spring of 1977, I was doing cartwheels!

Best I know, Landy was fired in December 1976. According to the Gaines book, Rocky wasn't officially in Brian's employ until spring 1977 (at $40,000 pa).

That's what I thought. So, in the summer of 1976, Stan & Rocky were...just hanging out with Brian? And Landy allowed that?

Part: 3  "Wha--Ooh"

       That next week Brian did perform with the Beach Boys at Anaheim stadium on July 3, 1976, where before a capacity crowd of 55,000 rabid fans, the group nearly brought the house down, literally.

I'm a little confused by the timeline. If Stan & Rocky were employed in June 1976, then Landy was already gone? I thought Landy lasted longer than that. When was he dismissed the first time?

If The Beach Boys Love You was scrapped or rejected, I think Brian would've moved seamlessly into the Adult/Child project, which is almost like More 15 Big Ones anyway, so it wouldn't have been a drastic follow-up album.

Brian recorded some decent NEW songs for Adult/Child, but one or two leftovers from the Love You sessions probably would've made its way onto the new project, maybe "Roller Skating Child", "Honkin' Down The Highway", or "Airplane". There were more oldies raring to go including "Deep Purple", "On Broadway", "Shortenin' Bread", and possibly "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'". And, of course, you had your vintage 1969-70 era tracks a la "Susie Cincinnati" and "Good Time" with "Games Two Can Play" and "H.E.L.P. Is On The Way".

So what you basically have is 15 Big Ones - Volume 2 

But it is also clear that Brian had enough material for an incredible album in early 67, just not the album that he initially envisioned.  His perfectionism finally worked against him-he just couldn't stop tinkering with already incredible tracks.  If he'd just moved on from Heroes, he could undoubtedly have gotten an album together by March-April.  The endless Heroes sessions in January (plus in my opinion needless tinkering with the gorgeous Wonderful) really hurt him.

And, you're absolutely right. Brian did have enough incredible material for an early 1967 release. Maybe he just felt (as you suggest, because of tinkering), he needed more time. Smiley Smile bought him more time.

Another thought on Brian using "Vegetables" and "Wind Chimes" on Smiley Smile. I'm not just saying this to bolster my argument (though I'm not really arguing with anybody ), but I always felt that, like "Good Vibrations", "Vegetables" and "Wind Chimes" were the most un-SMiLE-like songs, mainly because of the lyrics. In Vegetables" you have the lines "my tenny flew right off" and "...when you send us in your letter". And, as we know, Brian's inspiration for "Wind Chimes" wasn't some brilliant Van Dyke Parks' lyric; it was Brian staring at his wind chimes and deciding to write a song about them!

You can remove "Good Vibrations", ""Vegetables", and ""Wind Chimes", and still have a unified ten track SMiLE:

Side A
01  Our Prayer
02  Heroes And Villains (an album version different from the single, maybe including "Cantina" and other goodies)
03  Do You Like Worms
04  Holidays
05  Cabinessence

Side B
06  I'm In Great Shape/I Wanna Be Around/Workshop/Barnyard/The Old Master Painter/Fade
07  Wonderful (original version)
08  Look
09  Child Is Father Of The Man
10  Surf's Up

[Smile]

Unless there are two, three (minimum) session contracts missing, "The Elements" consisted of "Fire" and nothing else since 11/28/66. Knowing Brian's working methods for the preceding few years, that means at least two, three more tracking sessions. Add to that, say, six, seven vocal sessions, the sweetening, the mixing, the editing, the sequencing and the mastering... you're looking at another good two months work. In the 2000s, Brian said he needed another year to finish it. Carl et al may have thought Smile was finished and ready to go... they may have even been told that... but the available hard evidence contradicts that, and no amount of smoke & mirrors can make it read otherwise. If Smile was capable of being rush released by late April 1967, or again in late summer, then surely it would have been. As someone else noted, downthread, when Brian said something, he may have truly believed it at that moment in time. The next morning... that afternoon... an hour later... who knows ?

Yes, it would've taken a few (several?) sessions for Brian to complete "The Elements" - if he still planned to complete the track. It would've been nice to hear a completed "The Elements", but he didn't necessarily need it for a subsequent (after Smiley Smile) album; he had enough quality material left. And, due to the fact that he used up "Vegetables" and "Wind Chimes" on Smiley Smile, maybe he didn't want "The Elements" on the ten track SMiLE anyway (not that I'm necessarily insinuating "Vegetables" and Wind Chimes" were part of "The Elements" )

I'm surprised the Kinks ain't been mentioned. I'm a huge fan but don't really want to see a reunion.

Speaking of a Kinks' reunion, this was interesting; just happened a little over a month ago: https://youtu.be/V6mL7s_FIA4

[Smile]

Just for yucks, a timeline:

4/29 - Someone* states that Smile is finished and ready to be rush released once the Capitol lawsuit is settled.

  5/2 - European tour starts (ends 19th)

  5/6 - Derek Taylor states that Smile is "scrapped"

  6/3 - Smiley Smile sessions commence

  7/5 - Brian previews "H&V" at KHJ

7/20 - Smiley Smile assembled & mastered

7/24 - "H&V" single released (Brother)

7/25 - Engemann "10-track Smile" memo

7/31 - Best of... Volume 2 released

8/26 - and 27: Hawaiian shows for live album

8/28 - "Gettin' Hungry" single released (Brother)

9/11 - Wally Heider session for fake live album

9/15 - Smiley Smile released (Brother)

9/26 - "Wild Honey" session (and 27th)

10/18 - "Wild Honey" single released (Capitol)

10/25 - Wild Honey sessions commence

[* seeing as it was Carl who later claimed the album was finished, this earlier statement must make him at least a suspect...]

So... between July 25th and some time before August 26th, the Smile redux album went out the door. Why ? If Carl is to be believed, the tracks were waiting and ready to go, as was the booklets and cover art. Someone had to have said "no". Who ? And why ?

This is my opinion, speculation if you will. No, I don't have...facts; just making conversation on a message board. I mentioned in an above post that, per Karl Engemann's memo, I believe that Brian intended to finish/release SMiLE as a follow-up album to Smiley Smile. I think there were enough quality tracks "left over" to compile a ten track SMiLE including:

01  Our Prayer
02  Heroes And Villains (a more fuller, longer, album version)
03  Do You Like Worms
04  I'm In Great Shape
05  I Wanna Be Around/Workshop
06  Barnyard
07  The Old Master Painter/You Are My Sunshine
08  Cabinessence
09  Look
10  Holidays
11  Mrs. O'Leary's Cow (and/or other Elements)
12  I Love To Say Dada
13  Child Is Father Of The Man
14  Surf's Up
15  You're Welcome
16  He Gives Speeches
17  Tones/Tune X
18  I Don't Know

Looking at the songs that were used on Smiley Smile, "Good Vibrations" wasn't necessary for a follow-up SMiLE album, and the other tracks - "Heroes And Villains", "Wonderful", "Wind Chimes", and Vegetables" - could've been finished into the fuller, better (it's a matter of opinion) versions that we eventually heard on The Smile Sessions. It wasn't unheard of for Brian to re-record songs - significant songs - within months of each other, "Be True To Your School" and "Help Me Rhonda" being the prime examples. "Help Me, R(h)onda" did appear on back-to-back albums. Hell, we even got two versions of "Papa Oom Mow Mow".

Now to answer AGD's question. I give Brian the benefit of the doubt. I believe that Brian did discuss - in good faith - with Karl Engemann, a ten track SMiLE album to follow Smiley Smile. Maybe he was under the influence of drugs, maybe mental illness was affecting his judgment, maybe he was being an asshole, or maybe it was a combination of all three. But, maybe Brian was lucid, honest, and sincere. If he was, and I believe he was, for some period of time - a day, a week, a month - Brian was going to finish and release SMiLE after Smiley Smile, complete with the original album cover and booklets.

Why didn't that "plan" come to fruition? I think David Leaf said it best in one of the documentaries. Brian turned out the light, or turned off the switch, or whatever he (David) said. I believe that one day, during the time frame AGD laid out, Brian just came to the realization that, "I don't want to record like this (modular) anymore", or "I don't want to finish these songs", or "I'm tired of these songs", or "I want to go back to my old way of recording (two minute, non-modular recordings)", or "I just want to record "normal" music", or "I just want to record songs, not album projects", or "I just want to make a Beach Boys' record", or... whatever.

Not to appear hypocritical, but I think Brian, again for some period of time, SINCERELY INTENDED to finish and release SMiLE after Smiley Smile. However, the drugs, the mental illness, the conflicts around him, the burnout, the fill in your own reasons, probably got the best of him. I do think it was a COMBINATION of things, things that have been discussed ad nauseum. I think at that precise moment, when Brian finally dropped SMiLE and went into Wild Honey, he was never the same again, much like David Leaf was inferring.  

Congratulations, Ray!

That Engemann memo has always fascinated me. I wish we knew more about it.

Over the last 55 years, The Beach Boys have shown a propensity to, shall I say, not exactly tell the truth in interviews, for a variety of reasons. That makes it difficult and sometimes impossible to use quotes to make a point and certainly to prove (or disprove) one. I suppose we all, to some extent, use (cherry-pick?) quotes that strengthen our personal positions and dismiss the ones that weaken our arguments. However, to get down to the bare basics, as a Beach Boy diehard, I have learned, just because Brian or Mike or Carl or whoever said something, doesn't automatically mean it is true - or a fact. It might be all we have, and you have to consider it, and you have to assign some weight to it, but you also have to consider the source, and I'm sorry if that's being too blunt or negative.

I tend to put more weight on things that took more time to think over, discussed, and ultimately put down in writing. I think you get a better shot at the truth, or at least honest thoughts, when people (specifically the individual Beach Boys) take the time to discuss issues, maybe in a meeting setting, as opposed to just blurting out comments or sound bites to an interviewer. At the top of my wish list has always been meeting minutes. I think we would be astounded at what was discussed there and by whom. I think long-held myths would drop like flies.

Anyway, back to things in writing... I always put a lot of stock in the handwritten SMiLE tracklist submitted to Capitol in December 1966. It had to be thought out. It had to written down. It had to be submitted. It had to be/should have been taken seriously due to the reason/request for the tracklist in the first place. It wasn't something blurted out in a minute or two to satisfy fans or a reporter who wanted some quotes for a magazine article.

I'm finally getting to my point of this post! I guess I put more stock in the Karl Engemann memo than most do. This memo was the result of a series of conversations with Brian Wilson. It wasn't a quickie interview where Brian blurts out a few lines. This memo stated "After discussing a number of alternatives with Brian..." To me the key words are "discussing" and "a number". The memo mentioned specifically ten songs, SMiLE booklets, and a specific time frame, meaning the NEXT  Beach Boys'album. This was important stuff, not Teen Beat magazine fluff. Oh, and did I mention that it involved $$$$$$$$$$?

Brian Wilson could be a jerk in the way he treated various people including his wife, his children, and sometimes his bandmates and lyricists. But I would hope when he was discussing projects DIRECTLY with representatives of the record company, that he was being honest and fair. I believe that the December 1966 SMiLE tracklist was honest, and, at least for some period of time (insert your own), based on the Engemann memo, he intended to release a ten track SMiLE album after Smiley Smile. Based on that belief, I tend to view Smiley Smile as a laid back, Party-like album, used to buy more time, giving the record company and fans some "product", while Brian could satisfy himself with his next work of art (like Pet Sounds, now SMiLE). Yes, obviously things didn't come to pass as the Engemann memo planned, but, again, I believe, for a short period of time, it was THE PLAN. I hope Brian wasn't conning anybody. And, now it raises more questions. Why didn't it come to pass. Why did they go into Wild Honey? In SMiLE's history, it serves as a marker, I believe, and an important marker to at least consider. Hey, Karl Engemann is still alive and kicking. Anybody know how to contact him?

Aw, what the hell...

The Beach Boys - Stars And Stripes

01  Long, Tall Texan - Doug Supernaw
02  Fun, Fun, Fun - Ricky Van Shelton
03  I Can Hear Music - Kathy Troccoli
04  Little Deuce Coupe - James House
05  409 - Junior Brown
06  I Get Around - Sawyer Brown
07  Don't Worry Baby - Lorrie Morgan
08  Be True To Your School - Toby Keith
09  The Warmth Of The Sun - Willie Nelson
10  Help Me, Rhonda - T. Graham Brown
11  In My Room - Tammy Wynette
12  Sail On Sailor - Rodney Crowell
13  Sloop John B - Collin Raye
14  Caroline, No - Timothy B. Schmit