I'm following this thread for some time now, and I'd love to have a PM as well!

Favourite bass lines: I Just Wasn't Made For These Times and the bass on the bridge of Wouldn't It Be Nice. The 'Wild Honey' album also contains some nice bass sounds - Let The Wind Blow and Darlin' for example.

Indeed it's hard to tell what Brian is singing on the first line. One other option I came across somewhere was "freshnin' air around my head...". I don't know if that makes sense, but to my ears it sounds quite good.

Thanks for the SOT explanation, petsite.
This still doesn't explain the strange thing about my 1990 twofer, which sounds exactly the same as the GV Boxset version except for the longer fadeout. Can someone tell me in what way they here a clear difference between the two?

The least static is on the 1990 2 fer, because of the noise reduction.  The same track was used on the SOT Smile (copied directly from the 2fer)!

Now I'm getting confused again. On my copy of the 1990 twofer, the distortions are present as well. But, on the SOT Smile (Vol. 16) disc, the distortions are completely gone! They don't sound the same at all. How do your copies of these discs sound?

I listened to my rip of the 1990 twofer again, and the HAV Cantina mix sounds exactly the same as the GV Boxset to my ears, maybe I've got some different pressing?
EDIT: there is a difference actually: the fade on the twofer is slightly longer than the GV, which fades out earlier. So it is not an exact copy.

Thank you Bicyclerider for the explanation about the EQ/mastering thing, your answer has been very helpful.

Hello everyone,
I followed the Smiley Smile message board as a guest for some time, and now I decided to join in and register.

And immediately I have a question. The HAV Cantina mix was released on the 1990 SS/WH twofer and on the GV Boxset.
Today I bought the 2001 HDCD SS/WH twofer, also including the Cantina HAV, and that tracks sounds noticeably different. Firstly, the distortions (most noticeable in the a capella part) that were present in the earlier releases, is gone with the 2001 release.
Secondly, the new release seems to have some strange background noise going on, not hiss, but as if it was heavily equalized around the midrange frequencies. The old releases sound more balanced and clear to my ears.
Thirdly, the track runs longer for a split second.
can someone explain to me, how the new release can sound SO much different? Was it equalized, or mastered from a different tape?
Thanks
Paul