Where did you purchase the hi-res Surf's Up acapella??

On Qobuz. I think HDTracks has it too....

Not to turn this into a "Diamond Head" discussion, but for those players and people who record who want a simulation of those Fender reverb springs being kicked and knocked around to create those thunder sounds on Diamond Head, the Danelectro company added one of the coolest features I've seen on a pedal...well, cool if you're into that kind of music and sound...with their "Spring King" reverb pedal.

If you stepped on that rubber "kick pad" on the bottom left, you'd get that crashing/rumbling sound without having to kick or whack an actual Fender reverb tank or an old Fender tube amp with reverb springs:



Whoever designed that into the pedal deserved an award of some kind. 

I *love* the Dano spring king! I wish I'd never sold mine...what a brilliant piece of kit! That said, a well-aimed boot at the ol' verb tank does the same job (though not with such nuance). I like what you're saying about the Hawaii connection re: DH. I mean, I don't think anyone pressed that Smile associations too hard, but it's difficult to overlook its Smile-esque vibe and motifs on the track (sfx, laid back instrumental, slide etc).
 

[Fall Breaks is also, to my mind, the track most strongly connected to Smile]

'hile I prefer to take Smiley Smile on its own terms, Fall Breaks is also, to my mind, the track most strongly connected to Smile (apart from H&V/GV) - the tag to Wind Chimes is also firmly in that category (moreso than the actual SS track in some ways!). Little Bird, Let the Wind Blow, and CCW, and some of the Friends-era instrumentals and outtakes also fit that group (totally respect the Way Too Long argument, though that never floated my boat quite as much as it should). A Desper engineered early-70s Smile could have been incredible. I'd love to hear any fantasy remix recreations incorporating the 'roll-your-own' treats dispensed on Feel Flows!

I'm having a lot of trouble understanding what you're suggesting here. "Fall Breaks" is clearly "connected to Smile" in the sense that it's based on "Fire," "Little Bird" has a bit of "Child" in it, "Can't Wait Too Long" has bits of "Wind Chimes," and "Cool Cool Water" has various Smile pieces in it as well.

But to my knowledge "Let the Wind Blow" and the Friends stuff (e.g. "Diamond Head") have absolutely nothing to do with Smile at all. Brian didn't even compose most of "Diamond Head", I thought?

Let the Wind Blow was, for a while, thought to be connected to the lost 'air' movement of The Elements. Diamond head was simply a groovy instrumental that was rumoured to be an element hold-over, and Unititled was unveiled on the old Smile Shop board, and there was a lot of speculation that it was also related to air/elements. So, this folds in some Smile lore in late-90s/early00s fan boards as well as actual compositional or session links.

The thought experiment went something like, 'OK, it's 1970 and the BBs have to deliver Smile to Capitol. How do they do it?'  Answer: patching together stuff they had in their vaults and record some leads over it. I recall some very fascinating discussions about that, and some great ideas for mixes.

'Wake the World' delivered us the CIFOTM backing track, with the cheeky mobile-phone-acetate-grab snippet of a previously-unheard I'm in Great Shape backing track mix as an unannounced bonus (surely an audio first in an official release?). 

I've just bought the hi-res audio FF Surf's Up A Capella mix at 4.06. It's Carl on the lead in Part 1, and Brian is in Part 2 - an isolated double-tracked vocal, which is very cool to have. It's stunning, and a real aural and musical treat, especially the glorious CIFOTM tag. I tip my hats to mssr. Linett - this collection is going to be a mind-blower.

"Cool, Cool Water (Alternate 2019 Mix)" at 06:24.
Disc 4 track 10 gives us "Surf's Up (Brian Wilson Lead Vocal 2019 Mix)" at 4.10.
Disc 5 track 4 gives us "Surf's Up, Pt. 1 (1971 Remake Track With 1966 Brian Vocal)" at 1:40.

Any ideas or intel about how the two BW versions of SU will play out?

CCW might have some tasty treats in store for us...check out that running time! I remember reading Smile-era interviews about field recordings that Stephen Desper made for a Chamberlin (proton-sampler precursor to the Mellotron) 'water drip' set as being his first official gig for the BBs. I wonder if any of that is here (I'd bet *very* surprised if that survived)?

And any chance of another acetate revelation, or some other unexpected Easter Egg?

To me, Smile is the ultimate Longue Duree pop creation. Some of my favourite pieces remain the 20/20 Our Prayer and Cabinessence stereo versions, which to me are the definitive cuts. While I prefer to take Smiley Smile on its own terms, Fall Breaks is also, to my mind, the track most strongly connected to Smile (apart from H&V/GV) - the tag to Wind Chimes is also firmly in that category (moreso than the actual SS track in some ways!). Little Bird, Let the Wind Blow, and CCW, and some of the Friends-era instrumentals and outtakes also fit that group (totally respect the Way Too Long argument, though that never floated my boat quite as much as it should). A Desper engineered early-70s Smile could have been incredible. I'd love to hear any fantasy remix recreations incorporating the 'roll-your-own' treats dispensed on Feel Flows!

The cool Canuck indie movie Whale Music delivers a thinly-veiled BW biopic:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whale_Music_(film)
The soundtrack by the Canadian alt-prog-rock group the Rheostatics is very BBs inspired (lots of their catalogue is very orchestral, mid-60s-early70s-BB inspired)"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whale_Music_(album)

Lots of people whose opinion I respect love the Rheostatics, but they were never really thing. Live, however, they were stunning, and *everyone* needs to hear this stone-cold-BW-inspired classic Claire. It's sublime:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzHZB2GgunA

After 133 pages of build-up I'm thrilled to see the flow's been freed! This looks amazing, huge congrats to all involved.

It's also a brilliant sign that the music press is involved and making some seriously good noise about this, not just in music terms, but about the bones of the set itself:

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/beach-boys-feel-flows-box-set-guide-1176987/

Plus a brief teaser here:
https://pitchfork.com/news/the-beach-boys-releasing-box-set-of-sunflower-and-surfs-up-sessions/

Brilliant tips, thanks a lot.

Personally, I would like the 'real life water sounds' Stephen Desper reportedly recorded in the field (or a stream near the field) for a Chamberlin sample suite for Cool Cool Water (and/or its variants), and then never use them!

Yep, BW was creating sample libraries in the 60s....

Ace, thanks!

Hi all,

An infrequent poster but persistent lurker here - I'm always amazed logging in here to see so many familiar names from the Smile Shop days still hanging out and posting amazing info and insights. Awesome. The standard of commentary is so consistently high here, so many congrats to the mods for maintaining what is usually an island of civility in the raging digi-seas of our current age. Anyway, I pop up (usually in lurker mode) when any archival-related stuff is in the wind and have managed to follow each of the currently 127 pages of discussion on the new Feel Flows set - from the dizzying highs to the terrifying lows, to the creamy, nugat-filled centres. Mmm.

In that discussion I found something I'd missed: the CIFOTM/IIGS nugget on the Friends release. I've hung my head in shame, gnashed my teeth and even managed a low-volume wail so as not to awake my snoozing fam. Then I tried to buy it in hi res audio and only found a wall of MP3s. More wailing etc.

My question is this. Where do the current crop of audiophile nerds on this board currently get their hi-res audio? I've recently shifted to an Apple Lossless library I play on Swinsian, but still buy cds where I can [drags knuckles]. The thing is, I refuse to buy on Apple Music platforms, because it's not the only system I use (and extracting stuff you buy seems more trouble than it's worth), and I feel hopelessly out of my depth when looking for other ways to purchase hi-res audio (Flac or ALAC both cool). Where do y'all recommend?

I'm also a devotee of Smile mixes, from Annie Wallace through Paul Carr to Soniclovenoize's (my current go-to Smile mix), and any new stuff you care to point me towards would be gratefully received.

Super excited about the Feel Flows stuff...I've always felt 71/72 to be an important part of the evolution of Smile (which to my mind didn't stop in 67...it kept on evolving through SmileySmile-Friends-20/20-Sunflower-SU, right up to the present day).  What brilliant thing a Desper-engineered Smile package would have been in that era (or now, for that matter...big fan of Linnet-Boyd et all as I am)! I hope the new archival release have and will continue to provide more raw material for remixers to bring new riches to the treasure trove of Smile arcana.
Cheers, EricW

Van Dyke Parks suggested the inclusion and title, according to AGD's book. He was an exec at that point as I recall...VDP,  not AGD. The narrative was that SU was floundering and VDP'S suggestions helped rescue the situation. Sounds plausible, if a little too tidy. The service it would do to VDP'S self interest sells it for me...However much he had the bb's best interests at help, chances are that one more payday and a bit of exposure wouldn't have hurt at that point.

It's just more of the usual attempts to throw dirt on one of the best things fans of Brian and of Smile going back decades got to witness. It was the impossible actually happening in front of us.

I'll say it upfront - I'm biased as hell about Smile. And I wear it proudly on my sleeve. I was glued to the computer screen as others who couldn't make the trip to the UK were the night of the RFH debut reading as Matt B and others started sending back reports from the show. I sat in stunned silence when I finally got a chance to hear a tape of that show. I had tears running down my face as the preview tracks from the BWPS album started appearing in low mp3 quality and the pure power of something like In Blue Hawaii came across the speakers. And I had an incredible experience getting to see the show live in Boston when the tour hit the east coast of the US.

Again, the history rewrites will fail as long as people who were there can speak about how things really were.

Word up GF, good times. For some reason I keep feeling  compelled to post this link and invite Smiles to walk down memory lane:
http://earcandy_mag.tripod.com/smileliveRFH2-21-04.htm

Self-indulgent but it makes me smile. ..

A "Hail Mary attempt to save a foundering solo career. "

His solo career was doing pretty well before BWPS was it not? On the road at least, which is where BWPS began.  I think there was an upward trajectory from the early tours through to Pet Sounds tour and then BWPS.

Yep. And to evaluate BWPS as a reording or album misses the point. It was first and foremost a Live Event. Being given at night 2 at Royal Festival Hall I'm sure I'm not alone in saying that was one of the best Live Events I have ever witnessed. Off stage was pretty incredible too...everyone was so elated at what they were witnessing, it was really unique.

BWPS as released was a studio recreation of a live event. Very, very different from the Smile Sessions. So judging each on their own appropriate context makes for more fulfilling listening. BWPS also provided a narrative for the 'album' version, which worked pretty nicely. We all have our pet grumbles, but seriously, griping about BWPS  is...it never occurred to me it would ever be a thing. Nice problem to have!

Great stuff! I remember well the excitement that caused at the time, and how a real sense of an online Smile research culture that could make a difference in the actual world started to galvanise then. Nice one - thanks!

Not sure if someone's already mentioned this stuff, but I think Durrie Parks once visited the old Smile Shop message board (or someone reported his interview with her there...gettin' rusty here); regardless, fans have been aware of her acetate collection for at least a decade (but not of its specific contents), and of course, the MIC audition process was reported.  The value in that audition may not have been in the audio, but in the editing decisions.

However, this itemised list is excellent (though I share the suspicion that although "unreleased", some, maybe all of these items may be on boots on one form or another).

Still. Cool to be a BBs fan.

Oh, as I've been living under a rock for the last year, is there anything useful related to Smile on MIC?

That was me ... I'm the one that broke the news, back in '99. I knew Durrie personally in the late '90s.

Not sure if someone's already mentioned this stuff, but I think Durrie Parks once visited the old Smile Shop message board (or someone reported his interview with her there...gettin' rusty here); regardless, fans have been aware of her acetate collection for at least a decade (but not of its specific contents), and of course, the MIC audition process was reported.  The value in that audition may not have been in the audio, but in the editing decisions.

However, this itemised list is excellent (though I share the suspicion that although "unreleased", some, maybe all of these items may be on boots on one form or another).

Still. Cool to be a BBs fan.

Oh, as I've been living under a rock for the last year, is there anything useful related to Smile on MIC?

Yep - I think that's a fair cop. However, music is a broad church, and the BB's current rep (in the UK at least) has a great deal to do with the great enthusiasm of those 'hipsters' who seem to be the popular targets of derision here. They were the ones buying the BW tix, the merch, and writing the articles, posting the blogs, etc. and soforth.

Often those folk are dedicated specialists into a very specific aspect of music. Slating them for not liking the *image* of Mike Love? How about extending the same courtesy to that specialised fan base,  many of whom kept the BW/BB flame alive when most others had lost interest. Fashion sense - not always, but often - has little to do with it.

Very good question! It's just not possible in this case unfortunately...for a variety of reasons too tedious to get into. It's pretty heartbreaking, all told, but for me, the highlight of my BB fan-dom was seeing BWPS Smile live on night two, so I still figure I'm in credit.

I hope you all have an amazing time...it's been a real thrill sharing the build-up on the board, both for the release of TSS box and for the live reunion. I hope to see some pix posted!

Both tix now gone, thanks for the interest folks!

Oh yeah...I'll send it guaranteed next day delivery...

Apologies if this is an inappropriate post (mods, please accept my apologies and delete if it is).

Unfortunately (for me!) I've just learned that I have to teach on the night of the 50th Anniversary show at Royal Albert Hall on Thursday 27 Sept 2012. Grr. Arg.

The tix are in the nosebleeds (Circle X Row 6 seats 224-5) and I'll pass 'em on at face value (£55 each) plus the service charge (£6 per ticket), plus next-day delivery costs (@ £5). Basically, I'm not making money out of this, I just don't want to be out of pocket and I'd prefer that they go to real fans.

UK only, regular smiley-smilers only, paypal or bank transfer only, please pm me asap.
Thanks, Eric

I always loved the Beach Boys, but felt somehow vindicated when Frank Black released HOTYE as a single. Whenever anyone says the pre-PS BBs aren't hip, I usually roll my eyes. If, however, a smack-down is required, these eight little words do the trick:
The Jesus and Mary Chain Covered Surfin' USA.

Billy Bragg, Credence Clearwater Revival, U2 (shudder), Professor Green, Lethal Bizzle,  The Byrds, Bob Marley...the Beach Boys (Student demo time, trader, 4th July, etc & so forth).

Which is to say that, done well, just as any subject, politics & aesthetics can go hand and hand. But it doesn't have to. Context and timing can be powerful factors in determining that success.

Thank goodness that the Beach Boys never used their music to preach their politics. 

While it is important for artists to take there art seriously it rarely works out well when they take themselves too seriously.  Outside of Marvin Gaye, I can't think anybody who benefited artisitcally by melding their politics with their art.

Gil Scott Heron? The Clash? Public Enemy? Bob Dylan? Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five? REM? The Dixie Chicks?

Obviously a Byron fan.... 

'I was in a position of defending my lyric poetry…it went from ‘ding witty pearl hang-ten-childe-harold’ …I mean, I didn’t know that language…to….ah, like…Weep for Adonais, he is dead'

Awesome advice, as always. If I don't pass out from altitude sickness, it should be a great show!