That Pulp is a masterpiece.
But This Is Hardcore was even better.

A masterpiece it may (not) be, but I can still think of at least 10 British masterpieces that wipe the floor with it.  Jarvis Cocker still gets mad propz for bum rushing Michael Jackson.

... Pulp?  There wasn't one song on that album I cared all that much about listening to twice.  Apparently these albums are judged on a 25% quality/75% pure British-ness standard because otherwise this list makes very little sense. 

"Sgt. Pepper?  Too much universal appeal for the top 10!  Revolver?  That's the one with 'Taxman' and 'Eleanor Rigby,' right?  VERY British songs there, good job chaps pip pip spot of tea eh wot."

Overrated material (Love And Mercy is the only great song). Vocals are shouted which ruins some of the songs (i.e. Melt Away). The production doesn't bother me too much. Some of the lyrics are embarrassing (Night time is delight time, it's starlight time, and it's the right time for me). Should've been incorporated into a Beach Boys' album. I read somewhere that Brian didn't care for this album. It reminds be of the Landy era. Rio Grande sounds contrived (those yelping indians are annoying). Why wasn't his collaboration with Lindsey Buckingham "He Couldn't Get His Poor Old Body To Move" included on the album? I can't listen to the complete album from beginning to end - it sounds like Brian is yelling at me! Just my opinion...

What the hey, no way is love and mercy the best song on that album.  Most undeveloped, maybe (the chorus comes in WAY TOO FAST.)  I gotta give it up for Melt Away as best song.  I don't think's there's much sense in complaining about Brian's post Love You vocals as they basically are what they are (and the same can probably be said for his lyrics,) but I really don't see how they detract from that song.  BW 88 is a really nice album.

I agree that “Time To Get Alone” and “Diamond Head” seem a little out of place on Smile, but maybe Brian didn’t intend them in the arrangements and with the lyrics we know today.

Does anyone really think if you asked Brian today, he would even remember having an instrumental called "Diamond Head"?  He didn't even remember doing "White Christmas" on the 1964 Christmas album for crying out loud.

I think there's a big difference in his likelihood of remembering a cover song done during a highly prolific period and an instrumental sound collage thought up during an inactive period, yes.

I think people make too much of the synth/80's production.  I don't find it half as annoying as the last 10 years tendency to, say, mix voices all the way in the front (the last Cure album, anyone?)

We knew about Time To Get Alone, just up until the list came to light it was never considered as part of SMiLE.  (As far as I know.)  Therefore it seems awkward that anyone but Brian would insert it in a proposed tracklist.

But it's presented as a cohesive whole, with parts not of the whole listed seperately (and Holidays listed twice, hmm.)  This is clearly more than a "random songs for Brian to pick from" list.   I'm inclined to believe it's from Brian as I don't think anyone else would have a precedent for including "TTGA.'

I realize I'm late to the game here, but Brian sitting on Can't Wait Too Long is a teeth-clenching musical crime far eclipsing any of Bob Dylan's nonreleases.  Actually, it's the sequel to Good Vibrations that Heroes and Villains wanted to be and it's got a nice groovy feel that H&V is too dorky to pull off.  It would have fit in real nice-like on Wild Honey.

There we go, thanks.  I really like Diamond Head leading into DYLW and Fire as FALL BREAKS gone to hell.

Edit:  What's the source for this tracklist?  The DVD, an interview?

You realize the last time this train of thought was followed, the album ended up getting shelved.

That said, I feel everyone involved should have shut up and did whatever Brian wanted in terms of the preliminary tracklist, bootlegs and recording dates be damned.  Incidentally, if anyone can post that (the tracklist with Time To Get Alone and, I think, Diamond Head) I'd be greatly obliged.