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Inside the final burst of Elvis Presley’s creativity, 48 years after his death


https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2025-08-16/elvis-presley-sunset-boulevard-jerry-schilling-death-anniversary-a-star-is-born

Just wanted to bump this to the top for reference later and also to say, for what it's worth, I think this is one of the best SmileySmile threads. Love the other sleuthing one where the Heroes premiere with the reluctant DJ and "put it on you idiot!" is more or less disproven as well. (At least its revealed to have been exaggerated, like a lot of SMiLE stories I'd say.)

In the "Tribute" section, there should be one for Pet Sounds: in the Key of Dee by The Beach Boys vs J Dilla. I thought it was fantastic

I voted LY, wish I could've cast the tying vote but alas.

I can see why someone would vote POB but the LY songs just stick with me more--it's the magic of uninhibited Brian Wilson. I come back to LY a lot, while POB is a "once every few years" listen for me. I do really like it, I like it more than Friends, WH, 20/20, Sunflower, SU, CATP and even Holland. But Smiley and LY top Dennis' best efforts. What can I say? Brian was just on another level.

Nah this aint it, chief.

2

SMiLE

Surprised to see the '71 version win. I never liked Carl's lyric compared to Brian's. This is Brian's song to sing, sorry not sorry.

I said other because honestly, while I appreciate the majesty of the half-realized SMiLE version proper, the lack of a second movement stands out so much more there and I've never been AS impressed with the SU backing track compared to a lot of its SMiLE peers anyway. (Its gorgeous but I prefer GOK, CIFOTM, Wonderful/Look, CE, WC, maybe even DYLW instrumental tracks to it.)

No, my vote is for the WH era solo performance they found for TSS. The intimacy of just Brian playing the song alone is so much more powerful than all the bells and whistles '67 and '71 era BBs threw on top of it.

You know who I voted for.

Poor Bruce. Losing to Mike is pretty bad, even as a non-original member.

Blondie, Ricky and David Marks should be included

the word squaw is very frowned upon. I mean, Im not like offended the group made something that's now considered bad taste. But if this were made today they'd be run out of town. It's just not a word thats used in polite society anymore. Im sure they didnt intend harm though.

Voted Pet Sounds.

If we could've voted for "the SMiLE material" (in any configuration, IE fanmixes on the table) this would've been a different outcome.

I genuinely don't understand how anyone could prefer that embarrassing Disc 1 assembly to what is almost certainly the greatest album of all time.