https://www.discogs.com/The-Beach-Boys-Smiley-Smile/release/9073465

This was released last year - 200g if memory serves. It sounds fantastic (as do others from this reissue programme). There is also a mono.

Coupled with the Smiley outtakes on the upcoming Sunshine Tomorrow CD, I think you're covered for Smiley Smile's 50th!

Anyone know if SS is getting the same 180G reissue treatment as WH?

There's already a great pressing of the mono and stereo version of SS by Analogue Priductions. I have the stereo and it sounds excellent.

Where are UK folks preordering their copies of WH stereo vinyl? I can't see it on Amazon and Diverse Vinyl don't have it listed.

This is exactly the sort of release news that I periodically check the board for. As another poster mentioned, it feels like I'm dreaming to see all those tracks in one place. My favourite period in one package. God I'd love it if they'd done the whole set on vinyl but it's cool that stereo WH is getting the vinyl treatment as a supplement to this set. Am preordering both today. Can't believe I overlooked this thread and news the last time I checked the board!

It lived up to the hype for me. Can't understand why it was left in the can but I guess those unreleased gems are all part of the charm and mystique of the band.

GREAT NEWS - can't wait!!!!

A source that I trust implicitly but that I can not name, has told me what the song is.  This source has never been wrong before.  The song is a new duet for a new album.  The song in question is written and sung by Brian and Andrew G. Doe called "Shitweasels and Fuckwits."

That 'like' button is long overdue, mods 

Somewhere Near Japan and Crack At Your Love a bit embarrassing

Crack At Your Love is my archetypal guilty pleasure song. I honestly believe there is Brian Wilson greatness buried in there - just hard to get to through all the 80s synths and the inescapable anal imagery of the title.

Despite the upbeat production, the song oozes sadness. Imagine Brian hammering the middle eight out on a piano in that gruff wounded-bear Cocaine Sessions howl of his -

Lonely nights
Lonely days
Lonely nights
Lonely days
I'm reaching out for you
In my mind, in my mind ....

Greatness I tells ya!

I have never thought of this song that way before.  The production really hams the whole thing up.  Thinking about the song stripped down however, it does sound really melancholic don't you think?  Perhaps I'll cover it...  

Yes, I really do think the song has a beautiful melody which the hammy production (as you say) does it's best to disguise. You can feel the melancholy in the chords which makes the song fascinating because it seems to contradict itself. I think if you're familiar with Brian's writing, you can pick up on that melancholy thing. Of course it's a co-write with Al, but the melody sounds very Brian to my ears.

I'd love to hear you do an alternative treatment if you get round to it. Make sure you post it here!

Somewhere Near Japan and Crack At Your Love a bit embarrassing

Crack At Your Love is my archetypal guilty pleasure song. I honestly believe there is Brian Wilson greatness buried in there - just hard to get to through all the 80s synths and the inescapable anal imagery of the title.

Despite the upbeat production, the song oozes sadness. Imagine Brian hammering the middle eight out on a piano in that gruff wounded-bear Cocaine Sessions howl of his -

Lonely nights
Lonely days
Lonely nights
Lonely days
I'm reaching out for you
In my mind, in my mind ....

Greatness I tells ya!

If the demo was in Holland, it can't be Bruce he was never there. Likely Brian and Al.

Fair point. That "mmm" at 1.50 sure sounds like Bruce to me though.

I've listened again and I'm struggling to hear any trading or doubling of lines. Somebody else occasionally whistles but that's the only secondary input I can hear.

Put this on the damn bedroom tapes!

Amen!

Thanks for the links Buddhahat! Absolutely beautiful song...No wonder Brian was tinkering with it!

You're welcome! It is a beautiful song and I would have loved to hear how Brian might've produced this, at any point in his career.

I'd love for this community to assemble a list of songs that Brian was interested in throughout the years. A playlist for both Spotify and Apple Music (and Youtube) would be great. It would probably help our understanding for his evolution of musical ideas throughout the years (especially the time between Smiley Smile and Love You).

Good idea - get on it!

This is undoubtedly Brian. Go and listen to the '75 In The Back Of My Mind demo, then this, then tell me whether you still think it's Al!

I don't hear any trading of lines personally. The only other person I hear on the tape is Bruce reacting to Brian demoing this.

Wow. That is SO Brian Wilson. Did we find out if it's an original?

Do you mean the first song? It's 'Little Bird - Daddy Dear' apparently composed in the 30s by Cab Calloway:

https://youtu.be/b85EPad0yPw

I wonder if Brian heard this version from the Lawrence Welk show:

https://youtu.be/-R2QKmuqkZU

I raised this old thread in the AGD topic but am loathed to contribute further to the never-ending Doe Show so will post here instead (thanks for your follow up post, Rab).

I'm a sucker for 70s Brian piano demos and this one is one of my favourites. What a lovely BB's production this would have made. A little corny, granted, but if anyone manages to elevate schmaltz to the sublime, it's these guys.

Brian's delivery here is very similar to the 1975 In The Back Of My Mind demo, imo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAGARvThO58

Why not just lock the thread or move to the sandbox? Honestly, I guarantee AGD is rubbing his hands in glee at all this attention.

And anybody mourning the loss of his expertise, he may have been good with dates and session logs but I always thought his hearing was a little iffy:

http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,550.0.html

IT'S CLEARLY BRIAN SINGING ON THAT DEMO!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAGARvThO58

Just want to chime in to say I'm just over halfway through the book and really enjoying it so far - especially the conversational tone and meandering direction. It reminds me of those lazy directions in Busy Doing' Nothin somehow!

I can really hear Brian's voice and there are some fascinating insights. It's just great to see Brian discussing the more obscure (to the non fanatic) corners of the catalogue such as Smiley Smile and the fact that he talks fondly of that album is a minor revelation (to me).

I'm going to try and steer clear of this thread. A brief skim is revealing the same old 'Is this really Brian' debate and I sense it will only spoil the book for me.

Doubtless I won't be able to resist and will soon be weighing in though!!

What was the verdict on the Frank Holmes illustration that appeared to contain references to the lyrics of Holidays from BWPS, yet was dated 1990s (iirc)? I can't remember if it was ever resolved.

I enjoyed this a lot.

I ordered the latest batch of LP's about a week ago and they haven't shipped yet, but they can't come soon enough. I have all the AP pressings up to Pet Sounds, and although I don't have much experience with other Beach Boys pressings, to me they are the best sounding LP's I own. They've really reinvigorated my love of the band. I couldn't recommend them highly enough. Stereo 'Today!' and 'Summer Days' are particularly impressive. I enjoyed the new mixes on C.D well enough but for some reason they really came alive on these latest pressings.

Yes this is my experience too with stereo Today, SD&SN, Pet Sounds and Smiley - the best I've ever heard these albums sounding.

Anyone else get their copy of Smiley Smile yet?! I have the stereo vinyl. Only had time to give it a quick spin today but With Me Tonight really stood out - sounds awesome. Again, lovely pronounced bass.

This is great. It looks good and is really easy to browse. it would be nice if there was a written review of each album or some sort of historical context but I appreciate that's a lot of work.

Thanks for sharing that press release - interesting to read their own take on the album and recording experience.

I really like this album and the Beach boys influence is very clear!

Favorite track is 'The Noisey Eater'...the band itself calls it a modern take on Vege-Tables

Also love If I Was A Folkstar which samples Hushabye

Yes, Noisy Eater is fantastic. I did not hear the Hushabye sample though! Is it the BBs version?!

Yes, it's very faint. You can hear Brian's falsetto from the intro on various parts of the song

Oh cool, thanks! Can't believe I missed that. I will have another listen ...

I really like this album and the Beach boys influence is very clear!

Favorite track is 'The Noisey Eater'...the band itself calls it a modern take on Vege-Tables

Also love If I Was A Folkstar which samples Hushabye

Yes, Noisy Eater is fantastic. I did not hear the Hushabye sample though! Is it the BBs version?!

This is my favourite album of the year - maybe the last few years.

The band cite Smile as an influence and I can definitely hear it. I guess I would describe it as Smile + De La Soul which is a pretty perfect combo in my book.

Chater has mentioned being inspired by the wall of sounds of Phil Spector and The Beach Boys, and the group itself has compared Wildflower to Brian Wilson’s Smile, a fitting analogy for an album that’s been so exhaustively tinkered over. Like Smile, it’s a far more abstract statement than Since I Left You’s transcontinental, 24-hour party vibe, taking that album’s occasional psychedelic smears and making them the focus, blending them with snatches of drunken revelers, morning DJs, swimming pool splashes, and criminal misdemeanors to create a blurry, hallucinatory block party of idle youth and endless summer.

It loses focus here and there but I am growing to love all of it.

http://www.avclub.com/review/avalanches-are-back-breezy-hallucinatory-wildflowe-239122

The disc one TSS sequence works for me!

I was never satisfied with any personal sequence so it was a relief when the officially sanctioned version came out. It flows fine for me.

But if that's too pedestrian for the thread, I have been known to move I Wanna Be Around & Vegetables so that IWBA follows Fire