SMiLE Sessions box set!

[juggler]

That's a good question. The so-called "solo version" we know is Brian's piano version, but that's from November of '66. What is this elusive 1967 version?!?

I also have to wonder what version of Surf's Up they're using as the "main one" (i.e., track #12 on Disc 1).  It's not the piano demo because that's track #9 on Disc 2.  Could it be the 1971 version?  Personally, I hope not, but if they went with that, so be it.  As many of us have been saying for months, we'll all be free to use this box to create our own playlists, burn our own CDs, etc., so I certainly won't complain.   All in all, it looks like an awesome package, and if we had running times for the tracks on Disc 1, we might be able to guess a bit more as to what's what.

[dmcguire70]

Too bad Greg Larson or the Coach wasn't around for this.

Coach & Greg are not forgotten. Even in absentia, they're part of the story.

Speaking of those gone but not forgotten,Phil was watching this thread earlier today and was conspicuous with his silence.

Last I heard, he was banned.

They must of un-banned him because I and others here saw his name at the top watching the thread earlier.

[Jay]

Didn't Adam Marsland once post about being quite surprised upon being told of something that *might* be included? I got the impression that he was referring to something we don't have...yet.  Hmmm...

[thevigilanteoflove]

The tracklist isn't completely identical to BWPS. Great Shape is before Barnyard instead of with I Wanna Be Around/Worskshop.

[Winston Wrong]

Ha Ha - I see there is a Spector box set out in October!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Spector-Presents-Phillies-Album-Collection/dp/B005BSCQPI/ref=sr_1_12?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1314428990&sr=1-12

[Dunderhead]

One wonders what some of these tracks are, 6 minutes of "sunshine"? Sessions I guess? H&V 1&2 is what I'm really curious about. Is this an invention of Mark and Alan, or is it the holy grail of smile recordings, the 7 minute contemporary mix. If it is, one wonders why they didn't use it on their faux-finished version. To me the big three of smile questions are:

1. Is there a two part H&V
2. Is there a Surf's Up second movement
3. What precisely was the Elements

We'll see how we come out answering them.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Too bad Greg Larson or the Coach wasn't around for this.

Coach & Greg are not forgotten. Even in absentia, they're part of the story.

Speaking of those gone but not forgotten,Phil was watching this thread earlier today and was conspicuous with his silence.

Last I heard, he was banned.

They must of un-banned him because I and others here saw his name at the top watching the thread earlier.

I'm cool with that. Obviously. 

[seanmurd]

That's a good question. The so-called "solo version" we know is Brian's piano version, but that's from November of '66. What is this elusive 1967 version?!?

I also have to wonder what version of Surf's Up they're using as the "main one" (i.e., track #12 on Disc 1).  It's not the piano demo because that's track #9 on Disc 2.  Could it be the 1971 version?  Personally, I hope not, but if they went with that, so be it.  As many of us have been saying for months, we'll all be free to use this box to create our own playlists, burn our own CDs, etc., so I certainly won't complain.   All in all, it looks like an awesome package, and if we had running times for the tracks on Disc 1, we might be able to guess a bit more as to what's what.

Mark Linett strongly suggested in March that he'd be doing his own version of the Anne Wallace/Purple Chick "Surf's Up" -- i.e., flying in the Brian piano demo over the "1st movement" backing track. From the Billboard interview:

For example, we can put Brian's vocal back into "Surf's Up," which was a group track in the 1970s [on the "Surf's Up" album]. Brian recorded a basic track with a full band for part one. And he also recorded a sort of a demo version, its just him double-tracked and a piano track. What the band did was they used the part one backing track and tried to fly Brian's vocal into that, but the technology at the time really made that impossible. So what happened was that Carl sang the [lead] vocal and overdubs were added [forthe Surf's Up album version]. And for the second half, they used Brian's piano vocal piece and added very few additions.

With the technology we have today, its much much easier to take Brian's vocal for part one and put it onto the backing track. I have done it and its quite nice. Now we have the ability to shift time things very easily so those synchronizations can be accomplished.

[The Shift]

Could all the 45rpm tracks be from rough/early mix acetates? ThaT might explain 67 SU, H&Vii, 45 mix of Vega-Tables... And makes one wonder what's been used for H&Vi !

Kinda miss Peter, Craig, Mark & Alan's input in this thread but my god the speculation is fun! How long's that gagging order got to run?

[The Shift]

... Maybe they represent the Durrie Parks collection, even!

[juggler]

Could all the 45rpm tracks be from rough/early mix acetates? ThaT might explain 67 SU, H&Vii, 45 mix of Vega-Tables... And makes one wonder what's been used for H&Vi !

Kinda miss Peter, Craig, Mark & Alan's input in this thread but my god the speculation is fun! How long's that gagging order got to run?

Your early-mix acetate hypothesis is certainly intriguing.  

Billboard needs to do Linett Interview Part 2.  Pronto.

[dmcguire70]

Smile sessions is now number 5 on the current Amazon best sellers list after only 1 day.
That's quite astonishing!


http://www.amazon.com/best-sellers-music-albums/zgbs/music

[Mike's Beard]

Hey Flash, remember the other week when you spouted that "Smile isn't popular"?

[JMZ]

2. Is there a Surf's Up second movement

SU part 2 (or second movement) is simply the "Dove nested towers" part. Remember the "modular recording" technique he developped on GV. At this time "movements" could be simply parts of the song.

The musical breath, the stop after "Brother John" is clear enoungh so we feel it's a new movement that starts here.

We never know, but I wouldn't make a big deal out of this "SU pt2" stuff.

[over and over]

Just placed the order......
Saw the original price on my phone then went home and BOOM!!!! $148 
Happy its coming, just feel like I flushed $40 down the toilet though.

[seanmurd]

Just placed the order......
Saw the original price on my phone then went home and BOOM!!!! $148 
Happy its coming, just feel like I flushed $40 down the toilet though.

Don't panic -- the price is likely to go down again before 11/1/11, and Amazon will honor the lowest price since you ordered.

[over and over]

Just placed the order......
Saw the original price on my phone then went home and BOOM!!!! $148  
Happy its coming, just feel like I flushed $40 down the toilet though.

Don't panic -- the price is likely to go down again before 11/1/11, and Amazon will honor the lowest price since you ordered.

I like "likely"  
So if it goes down to say $120 they'll only charge that amount on 11/1/11? Sweet!

[dmcguire70]

Hey Flash, remember the other week when you spouted that "Smile isn't popular"?

Nope,u must be thinking of someone else I think.

[Dunderhead]

Hey Flash, remember the other week when you spouted that "Smile isn't popular"?

Sorry to burst your bubble but I don't think it is. I've so far heard more talk about The Neutral Milk Hotel box that got announced today than I have about this.

[desmondo]

Interesting that there are no timings on the "finished album" part of this release

[David Kennedy]

What is the 25. Smile Backing Vocals Montage (Bonus Track)?  I am a little confused with this one.

[Zander]

Any news on when a box set listing will be available on Amazon.co.uk?

[puni puni]

What is the 25. Smile Backing Vocals Montage (Bonus Track)?  I am a little confused with this one.

it will be lots of aaahhhh ooooohhhh dododo dododo dummm beeedoobeedooowaaahhhh

[Andrew G. Doe]

What is the 25. Smile Backing Vocals Montage (Bonus Track)?  I am a little confused with this one.

It's a montage of backing vocals from the Smile sessions.

[David Kennedy]

What is the 25. Smile Backing Vocals Montage (Bonus Track)?  I am a little confused with this one.

it will be lots of aaahhhh ooooohhhh dododo dododo dummm beeedoobeedooowaaahhhh

What is the 25. Smile Backing Vocals Montage (Bonus Track)?  I am a little confused with this one.

it will be lots of aaahhhh ooooohhhh dododo dododo dummm beeedoobeedooowaaahhhh

Oh OK, sorry guys for the dumb question. It's very late over here in Indianapolis I and misread that. Thanks for clearing it up for me.