SOT LP1001 SMiLE

[Mikie]

What is your favorite for sound quality?  And content.   I have enjoyed my Landlocked LP over the years.  Sort of stands on its own/

I like these the best:

Smile (SOT 17 sessions box w/book of course!)
Smile (SOT 16)
Smile (Purple Chick)
Smile (Vigotone 2-CD)
Project Smile CD
Smile (Japanese 2580)
Smile (Anne Wallace mix)
Smile Shop (stereo/mono editions)
Heroes & Villains Pt. 1 & 2
Smile (Odean/Gema CD's)
Smile 3 LP
Smile 2 LP
Smile (1983)
Smile - Second Edition (1985)
Smile (Dave Prokopy CD set)

[Andrew G. Doe]

Brian signed my SOT SMILE CD cover backstage in 2005.  He didn't seem to even think about what he was signing.  David Leaf also had Brian sign a SMILE CD cover for me in 2000.  I've also heard that Brian's "assistants" won't let him sign instuments any more except for charity.

Back in 1980, when the band were in Scandinavia, a well-meaning fan gave Brian a repro of the Smile cover to sign. Result: one very agitated Brian, one shredded print, one confused fan.

Well think about it for a second.  "Here, Brian, would you sign this cover of an illegally obtained bootleg of material that was stolen from you that you haven't wanted released since the project was canned?"

I see the weirdness! 

No, not a boot - a print of the Smile front cover.

[smile-holland]

What is your favorite for sound quality?  And content.   I have enjoyed my Landlocked LP over the years.  Sort of stands on its own/

I like these the best:

Smile (SOT 17 sessions box w/book of course!)
Smile (SOT 16)
Smile (Purple Chick)
Smile (Vigotone 2-CD)
Project Smile CD
Smile (Japanese 2580)
Smile (Anne Wallace mix)
Smile Shop (stereo/mono editions)
Heroes & Villains Pt. 1 & 2
Smile (Odean/Gema CD's)
Smile 3 LP
Smile 2 LP
Smile (1983)
Smile - Second Edition (1985)
Smile (Dave Prokopy CD set)

A bit curious on this: is there much difference in quality between the Vigotone 2CD and the 3LP boot LP (coloured vinyl)? Same songs, practically the same artwork. But yet the vinyl version is positioned way lower on your list than the 2CD.

[?]

A bit curious on this: is there much difference in quality between the Vigotone 2CD and the 3LP boot LP (coloured vinyl)? Same songs, practically the same artwork. But yet the vinyl version is positioned way lower on your list than the 2CD.

Hmmm, maybe I have a quieter pressing than Mikie, but I don't hear any difference.  There are multiple versions of the 3 LP set out there too.  Some have blank labels, some printed, some have full sleeves, some have a blank sleeve with an insert of the cover art, some the records are pressed on different colors, etc...  Anyway, if forced to choose between the cd or lp version of that boot, I'd go with the LPs because I like the colored vinyl and the poster is bigger.

[sockittome]

Brian signed my SOT SMILE CD cover backstage in 2005.  He didn't seem to even think about what he was signing.  David Leaf also had Brian sign a SMILE CD cover for me in 2000.  I've also heard that Brian's "assistants" won't let him sign instuments any more except for charity.

Back in 1980, when the band were in Scandinavia, a well-meaning fan gave Brian a repro of the Smile cover to sign. Result: one very agitated Brian, one shredded print, one confused fan.

Well think about it for a second.  "Here, Brian, would you sign this cover of an illegally obtained bootleg of material that was stolen from you that you haven't wanted released since the project was canned?"

I see the weirdness! 

No, not a boot - a print of the Smile front cover.

My bad.  I should have read that a little more carefully!

[Mikie]

A bit curious on this: is there much difference in quality between the Vigotone 2CD and the 3LP boot LP (coloured vinyl)? Same songs, practically the same artwork. But yet the vinyl version is positioned way lower on your list than the 2CD.

To tell you the truth, it's been so long since I played the vinyl LP's, I don't remember for sure. I just listed the above in order of preference, including content and sound quality. Since I've played mostly just CD's since the 80's, I kinda put the vinyl away and only bring them out on occasion to look at them or show people. My 3-album Smile set consists of green, red, and blue LP's, a color poster of the Smile cover, and a sheet with session notes. You may be right though; I've never A-B'd them, but if I remember right, the Vigotone set was supposedly a 'sampler' of more to come. But after a long wait, they never did come out with a more comprehensive set. Maybe they got busted at that point or the tracks never materialized? Or maybe the 3-LP Capitol T-9002 vinyl set WAS the basis for the Vigo 110-111 discs, I don't know.

"Secret Smile" is another Smile boot that's pretty good. And one I never picked up but heard about was a Smile CD put out by "Smile Research Laboratories." Have you seen that one?

[?]

To tell you the truth, it's been so long since I played the vinyl LP's, I don't remember for sure. I just listed the above in order of preference, including content and sound quality. Since I've played mostly just CD's since the 80's, I kinda put the vinyl away and only bring them out on occasion to look at them or show people. My 3-album Smile set consists of green, red, and blue LP's, a color poster of the Smile cover, and a sheet with session notes. You may be right though; I've never A-B'd them, but if I remember right, the Vigotone set was supposedly a 'sampler' of more to come. But after a long wait, they never did come out with a more comprehensive set. Maybe they got busted at that point or the tracks never materialized? Or maybe the 3-LP Capitol T-9002 vinyl set WAS the basis for the Vigo 110-111 discs, I don't know.

The 3 LP set is definitely the same as the Vigotone 110-111 cds.  The sampler you remember was the Heroes and Vibrations boot.  It was supposed to be followed by a much bigger box set but Vigotone was busted before it came to fruition.

[smile-holland]

A bit curious on this: is there much difference in quality between the Vigotone 2CD and the 3LP boot LP (coloured vinyl)? Same songs, practically the same artwork. But yet the vinyl version is positioned way lower on your list than the 2CD.

To tell you the truth, it's been so long since I played the vinyl LP's, I don't remember for sure. I just listed the above in order of preference, including content and sound quality. Since I've played mostly just CD's since the 80's, I kinda put the vinyl away and only bring them out on occasion to look at them or show people. My 3-album Smile set consists of green, red, and blue LP's, a color poster of the Smile cover, and a sheet with session notes. You may be right though; I've never A-B'd them, but if I remember right, the Vigotone set was supposedly a 'sampler' of more to come. But after a long wait, they never did come out with a more comprehensive set. Maybe they got busted at that point or the tracks never materialized? Or maybe the 3-LP Capitol T-9002 vinyl set WAS the basis for the Vigo 110-111 discs, I don't know.

"Secret Smile" is another Smile boot that's pretty good. And one I never picked up but heard about was a Smile CD put out by "Smile Research Laboratories." Have you seen that one?

Reason I asked is I just got hold of the Vigotone 2CD, and as I already have the 3LP SMiLE set, I immediately saw the similarities between those 2.

I know the Secret SMiLE boot. Only available as a download, right? That's a good one indeed. But I'm not familiar with the SMiLE Research Laboratories comp.
A dl only SMiLE release I also like is the Psychedelic SMiLE cdr.

[?]

Although their name doesn't appear on the package the 3 LP boot was by Vigotone as well, as noted on vigotone.com.

Smile boots are really an addictive habit aren't they?  Do they have rehab for this sort of thing?    Sometimes I truly can't help myself when the opportunity presents itself, even if I'm confident I already have the material on a different cd/record.  But I don't bother with any of the cd-r copies (content to dl those) and I have (mostly) drawn the line at buying variations on the same boots I already own.  Also, I've noticed a recent trend of re-booted SOT 16 material on cd but with bonus tracks after track 18.  One of those was almost tempting since one of the bonuses was vaguely titled Another Smile, and that could have been anything really, but I managed to talk myself out of it.  As it is I always have to explain it when someone is looking through my record/cd collection and nearly every other album is another version of Smile.  I'd like to think the official release this summer will put an end to it, but I fear it will only make it worse.  I was only half kidding with my rehab comment!

[Dove Nested Towers]

At a bookstore signing for the Todd Gold "autobiography" in '89 or so, I took along my 2 lp Smile (which I don't actually own) and one of the repro Smile booklets. At first they (Kevin Leslie, the "Surf Nazi") only allowed him to sign the book, but then decided to allow him to sign 1 more item for each person. I had a hard decision, but finally decided to ask him to sign the mirror-image page of the booklet, with the impressionistic photos of him next to the piano strings. I think he would have signed the Smile boot cover though. Always wondered if I made the right call there...

[donald]

After being refreshed with the SOT 16 material ( ;)S.M.) I think my LP from Amoeba Records is mostly that.  But there is some workshop material....the whole thing I think, that is not on sot 16........or is it?

Fun stuff on a February evening

[Mikie]

The 3 LP set is definitely the same as the Vigotone 110-111 cds.  The sampler you remember was the Heroes and Vibrations boot.  It was supposed to be followed by a much bigger box set but Vigotone was busted before it came to fruition.

Yes!  I remember I got that one from Midnight Records in New York. Heroes & Vibrations - VT-163, 21 tracks, including "Mike F#cks with the Formula". The liner notes say,"Heroes And Vibrations" is a taster for future "Smile" riches to come from the good folks at Vigotone.  We're still in the process of assembling the best possible package one could hope for from these legendary sessions, but with public outcry for the release of this set at a fever pitch, we've decided to unleash a few goodies to give you an idea of what's to come...and we think you'll be quite pleased with what you hear!"

And I remember in the late 90's looking forward to the sessions box and it never came out! Vigotone put out some great Beatles & Beach Boys stuff.

[Mikie]

Although their name doesn't appear on the package the 3 LP boot was by Vigotone as well, as noted on vigotone.com.

I never knew that. I'm pretty sure I know where the earlier vinyl releases came from though.

Smile boots are really an addictive habit aren't they?

Yeah, they were until I finally got burnt out listening to all the variations and mixes.  Some of the session takes are still fun to listen to though. I'm hesitant to listen to any Smile tracks again until the impending release this year (if it happens). Agreed the material on one boot may just be a copy from another one. But it does seem that after SOT 16 and 17 came out, the sound quality of other boots Smile suddenly got much better!

[Mikie]

A dl only SMiLE release I also like is the Psychedelic SMiLE cdr.

Yes! Mp3 files only as far as I know. Came out (w/ artwork scans) around 2004. At the time, there was stuff on there that wasn't booted previously.

[MBE]

I still need the second Smile boot from 1985. It's the only major thing I don't have on vinyl.