Another vote here, I love the song. The problem comes from the arrangement as well as the performance I think. It would really sound great with a more Smile-ish arrangement. Also I always want Brian to sing 'I know it may sound funny, but you're the kind of honey...' 

My theory is that Brian intended to finish smile post SS either as a solo album or with Redwood. Smiley Smile was intended as the Beach Boys take on the material whilst Brians version (which was still being touted as a possible post-SS release) would have been the 'real thing'.

Firstly an album was in demand, Brian was still months away from potentially finishing Smile so he agreed to put out a 'quickie' with the BBs. They quickly rerecorded all the Smile material except for H&V which was altered by adding an organ overdub (iirc), therefore technically making it a different master to the Smile version which may, or may not, have been longer and completed (...or not ).

SS was also an attempt to appease the fans who wanted to hear Smile material, as a sort of introduction to what Brian had in store later. I think SS was the compromise Brian had to make in order to buy time to finish Smile alone - editing the mixdowns of the studio sessions into a cohesive whole on his home multitrack whilst the boys did their stuff. My belief is that this explains some of the flotsam around from post-Smile days such as 'Can't wait too long', 'Lonely days' etc. These were recorded, imho, as parts with which to complete Smile, either as links that were needed or expansions on ideas. I also think that Redwood were going to be used in the completion of Smile as I've got a real suspicion that TTGA was, at some point, intended for a later version of the album. What, I think, happened is that Brian lost focus as the pressure to produce Smile faded and the project was either abandoned or (in my dreams) finished and stashed away (the Dumb Angel tape possibly).

The mere fact that the albums title is SMILEY Smile is, I think, a give away that it was intended as SMiLE-Lite, otherwise why not call it Smile or something entirely unrelated. I'm convinced there's more to this than meets the eye

And what's funny is -- at least according to what was said at the performances -- Darian put the whole shebang together. One wonders how much Brian really thought of it as a cohesive whole -- but it still works. The songs are that strong.

On the first nights show Jeff introduced Paul Mertens as doing most of the linking sections between tracks, Scott as working on the lyrics and Darian as also working on some of the structure and such. I think it's exactly what BW needs, people who can facilitate his ideas and  give a bit of focus to what Brian's doing.

I think that over the years there's  been a lack of focus from BW and a lack of support from the group he's working with. Now we have a band who not only 'get' BW but also are supportive, understanding and, not least, really tallented and enthusiastic. There's also no ego-struggles against BW - they all respect his music and just want to a great job for the boss (BW, not Melinda! )

Ultimately, we've ended up with (imho) the best new music BW has been involved with since the 60s and although I'm sure he had a fair bit of help putting it together at least it got finished and performed on time!

Just listened to this for the first time, I didn't realise there was a bit of SMiLE I hadn't heard before but d/loaded odeon track 25 and there it is.

My impression is that the first section reminds me a little of Water chant (the backing vox) and the second sections backing vox remind me of the 'rock, rock roll' section of DYLW.

I've never 'got' CWTL and it's potential relevance to SMiLE. All the sections circulating were recorded post SMiLE, right? At one point I had a theory that it was part of Brian's continuation of work on the original SMiLE concept (remember it was still supposed to be released post SS at one point) but then abandoned as Brian actually gave up hope of ever finishing SMiLE. The H&V content in the BWTL/CWTL segments make no sense post SMiLE.

Imho, it's one of the bigger mysteries left regarding SMiLE.

Hey!
What happened to Peter Reum?
I used to always enjoy his insightful posts back on the old smile shop board and wondered if there's a reason he doesn't post here anymore. I think I learnt more about Brian, as a person, from his posts than anywhere else, I miss them.

Just thought I'd highlight this vid...BW's in great form. I think maybe he enjoys singing 'covers' more than his own stuff, 'Then I Kissed Her' on the first night blew me away at the time.

Johnny B Goode from Edinburgh...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGvvTHzCZ9A

As Biz Markie said..."damn it feels good to see people up on it!"

Hope more of this vid turns up, so far it's just the 'hits' section at the end.

I really love this band and what they've brought to BW and his music. Back in 1988 (when I first 'discovered' BW) I never thought I'd see him where he is today. This band and the enthusiasm of BW's current audiences make the gigs so full of energy and love, and TLOS is by far the best new music from the man in a LONG time. I hope it keeps going in this direction!

I've heard the Wednesday now and I think, apart from the digital ticks (at least on my copy), it's clearer in general but the balance of instruments/vocals and the 'power' of the sound isn't so smart compared to the mondays. It's much easier to hear the lyrics though and work out what the vocal harmonies are up to.
Interesting that '..up to now' became 'California Role', it reminds me of an Hawaiian version of 'Don't Be Cruel' in places
I feel the same as others about Mexican Girl - I can take it or leave it mostly though that 'L&M'ish chord sequence near the end, with the harmonies on top, really do it for me.
I was wondering whether 'Southern California' was always supposed to close the piece. Lyrically it sounds like it should have come earlier - dreaming, waking up, etc. It's a lovely ending though, sort of an epilogue to the piece.

So what's the clearest version doing the rounds atm?
I've only got hold of the first night and it's OK but could be better.
I've really grown to love the songs which on first hearing I didn't. "forever..surfer girl" is growing on me and I can hear "Good Kind of Love" sounding a bit like "Soulfull Old Man Sunshine", a really swinging tune. The groove on 'California Role' is also excellent, really groovy!
CWTL completely brings back the memories of the night and from that moment through to the end I'm just blown away. I still get a lump listening to MAD, every time.
'Going Home' is up there with 'Do it Again' as my fave Brian 'rocker', the 'At 25' breakdown going in to the harmonica solo had me in shivers on the night and it still does, it's beautiful AND it rocks, that's what I love about Bri's rockier tunes.
I cant wait (can't wait..) to see an official release of this, as a DVD-Audio in surround with the video's from the show on screen. How good would that be? I'm also really excited as to what Bri and band will get around to next. It looks like things could be getting really interesting (in a good way!! )

Found this on my hard drive, a couple of years old now but I forgot I even made it.

www.edenofflowers.com/DJ Mic Luv - Mike Love is Crazy.mp3

 

The legendary Dickie Crickets!?!...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PlhJOzH0gY

 

Well the bass comes in first, then Carl's vox has a reverb added on the word 'song' and in the left channel you can hear what sounds like studio 'chatter', along with a low cymbal ride that leads into the 'child' group vox. Not sure if it's from the group vox tape (spliced in?), the carl vocals track, the cymbal track or the piano backing track but I think it's just room noise picked up on a mike.

Peter - There is already a live recording of TLOS floating around.

I'd HATE it if someone PM'd me a link. It would really make me glum! 

So, as far as I know, this hasn't been answered yet. Is "Goin' Home" in TLOS the Paley sessions tune?

Not sure, is 'Going Home' doing the rounds with a different title, it's not on Paley Sessions bleg?
Parts of it were also very similar to "Rollin' up to heaven", minus the filthy lyrics!

Here's what I can remember about TLOS...

The TLOS refrain was repeated several times. The whole thing broke down into several sections, sort of like SMiLE's movements with actual silence between them. Each section was 3 or 4 songs, some linking instrumentals and some with TLOS lyrics, sort of like vocal rounds, appearing every now and then. The audience applauded during the silences and sometimes at the end of individual songs. I think there was only one naration part per 'movement' except of the final movement (the best one) which sort of started with 'Can't Wait Too Long' intro (the oooohh, beeeeeen toooo loooong bit) which was accompanied by an un-narated video montage of the 3 brothers together (which got some spontaeneous applause when Denny appeared for the firs time and also for Carl). The last 'movement' is the personal one. Oxygen to the Brain I think segued straight into CWTL and then MAD through Going Home and ending with Southern California. It's hard to remember where the actual 'breaks' where in the music but the TLOS 'round' was mostly used to link tracks. I can't wait until a recording surfaces 'cos it was hard to take it all in at the time.

[ROOM WITH A VIEW]

The narration was pre-recorded (sounded like a very peppy Brian) and played over a video showing animations whilst the band performed the music over this live.
Here's the narration parts taken from the show programme...


ROOM WITH A VIEW

Just now I was thinkin' 'bout another perfect day
Wishin' it would come again your way
Down below a sparkled city scatters by the bay
Tells you your suspicions are at play
One by one a carpeted star spangled city sleeps
Like so many dancin' diamonds with a beat
Each of them a home with walls of stories they could tell

Meet the crack of dawn
A freeway starts to roll
An owl hoots its last goodbye to a coyote on patrol

Each day keeps me guessin'
Will you take what I'm confessin'?
WILL YOU FIND A HEART BEAT IN L.A.?


VENICE BEACH

Venice Beach is poppin' like live shrimp dropped on a hot wok
Hucksters hustlers and hawkers set up their boardwalk shops
Home for all the homeless hopeless well heeled and deranged
Still nothin' here seems out of place or strange
There's an old smudge of a beatnik by the bay,
lookin' like a dog who's had his day
Like a dream he drifts away
He'd like to go out on the pier to hear the reedy carousel
It's got a melody that sets you free and says let's set a spell
JUST TO HEAR THE HEART BEAT IN L.A.


CINCO DE MAYO

Down on Olivera Street
A Mexicano cry
A grito! Te quiero!
Te quiero! Te adoro!
That is where the Anglo gets his Latin lover's sigh
Adios muchachas y boleros - and goodbye

Salsa rumbles rafters in a chop shop filled with cars
Custom chopped and channeled with a drag race in their stars
City of Angels
Be all you can be
Be Moveis
Be A-list
Be seen just to see your part
REPEAR THE HEART BEAT IN L.A.


BETWEEN PICTURES

Pumps drunk with oil dance like prehistoric locusts on the hills to L.A.X.
People fill their tanks in flights of fancy
Actors waiting tables with a method they can't share
Waitin' for what's next
Waitin' for the big screen in disrepair
I mean despair
I mean that actor standing there
I mean are we all not actors?
and the whole wide world our stage?
Naw - some are worthy writers with the grit to hit the page
NOW JUST PART OF THE HEART BEAT IN L.A.


Another thing I'm not sure has been mentioned was the 'Tequila!' refrain in Mexican Girl and Darian playing 'Love You' style bass synth on one of the TLOS tracks.

Now I've had a day to get over the experience and take it all in a bit I'm really excited to hear it again. The Stockholm S&H's really brought the whole thing to life and the harmony (you know the one) on MAD was unbelievable breathtaking. Oh and the 'At 25 I turned out the light...' refrain broke my heart, it was pure Brian - a beautiful vocal moment in the middle of a very rocking track. I'm hoping that TLOS will be the start of a great period for Brians music, it sounded like the music Brian would have made following the release of Smile in '67. It's a continuation of the same instrumentation but builds on it. I'm very happy with what I heard last night, even the songs we've heard online are hugely better live. MAD is a great song, live with the whole band, strings and horns, it's beyond that.

Live Let Live was part of TLOS.
So was Can't Wait Too Long, seriously!
Tears were shed, it was awesome. Now I'm tired!

I'm feeling less nervous than the smile debut but still quite excited.
With SMiLE there were a lot of long-held personal expectations but with TLOS our only excitement really so far has been from MAD which, I personally think, is a wonderful song.
There's just not the weight of expectations on TLOS so on Monday there's either the possibility that it will a) fail in meeting my personal expectations (not massively high but optimistic), b) it'll meet those quite realistic expectations or c) I'll be absolutely blown away by it. I'd be happy with b) but I've got a  slight feeling that it might just be a c).
It just feels like the pieces might be in place for Brian to have created something awesome.
I'm optimistic but only as optimistic as being a Brian fan allows.

Darren, good to see you here.  Your JUST THE FACTS was and is an important part of the SMiLE info I was putting together for the main board. 

Thanks!! That honestly means a lot to me!  I've been lurking constantly but I've never really got a lot to contribute to the discussions beyond 'I agree' or 'I disagree' so I just enjoy the rest of the passionate and informed posts. Still the best board on the net by far imo. Top people.

Darren

Hi!
First post on the 'new' (how many years now?) board, since the smileshoppe, but a long time BB fan and longtime lurker.
A year or two ago, when BWPS was around the corner, I put together a document called 'Smile-Just the facts' for which I had to listen to the relevant SOT sets (and other blegs) and make notes about each tracks content (takes, in-between banter, etc). I actually found the experience quite interesting and rewarding.
So, I'd like to offer to do propper anotations for the SOT sets as part of a larger project about unreleased BB material.
humanoidboogie, let me know (pm or mail) and I'd be happy to get to work on them, I've got plenty of time on my hands at the moment and would appreciate a rewarding challenge that might benefit the BB comunity in some way.
lemme know.

darren