SMiLE Sessions box set!

[Ron]

Andrew.  What if it comes out and it also has "Solar System" on it???   

[PhilCohen]

What's intriguing here is that "Cabinessence" will now have to appear in mono for the first time!

But, if it has the 1968 "20/20" vocal overdubs it will have to be "folded down" mono, because it has always been stated that the multitracks for the 1968 overdubs can't be found.

Why would it have the 1968 overdubs ?  Unless they retitle it The Smile (and a bit of 20/20) Sessions.  

Answer: because otherwise, the sections that have Carl's solo vocals(on the "20/20" mix) will be instrumental.

[rab2591]

What's intriguing here is that "Cabinessence" will now have to appear in mono for the first time!

But, if it has the 1968 "20/20" vocal overdubs it will have to be "folded down" mono, because it has always been stated that the multitracks for the 1968 overdubs can't be found.

Why would it have the 1968 overdubs ?  Unless they retitle it The Smile (and a bit of 20/20) Sessions.  

So maybe we'll get a legit issue of "George Fell Into His French Horn"?  The thought of that makes ME smile.  Also, the "Vegetables Arguments" please, although they might edit out Hal Blaine's dildo joke!   

If this thing costs me over $150 I damn well expect that joke to be left in!

[Andrew G. Doe]

What's intriguing here is that "Cabinessence" will now have to appear in mono for the first time!

But, if it has the 1968 "20/20" vocal overdubs it will have to be "folded down" mono, because it has always been stated that the multitracks for the 1968 overdubs can't be found.

Why would it have the 1968 overdubs ?  Unless they retitle it The Smile (and a bit of 20/20) Sessions.  

Answer: because otherwise, the sections that have Carl's solo vocals(on the "20/20" mix) will be instrumental.

Yes... like "Worms", "Child" and quite a few others. This is an archival release of an album whose fame rests on it never being finished. I don't see a problem.

[Rocker]

What's intriguing here is that "Cabinessence" will now have to appear in mono for the first time!

But, if it has the 1968 "20/20" vocal overdubs it will have to be "folded down" mono, because it has always been stated that the multitracks for the 1968 overdubs can't be found.

Why would it have the 1968 overdubs ?  Unless they retitle it The Smile (and a bit of 20/20) Sessions.  

Answer: because otherwise, the sections that have Carl's solo vocals(on the "20/20" mix) will be instrumental.

Yes... like "Worms", "Child" and quite a few others. This is an archival release of an album whose fame rests on it never being finished. I don't see a problem.

I just was about to ask what you guys think, if the finished "Surf's up" from '71 will be on the CD or just strict 60s recordings.

[Andrew G. Doe]

What's intriguing here is that "Cabinessence" will now have to appear in mono for the first time!

But, if it has the 1968 "20/20" vocal overdubs it will have to be "folded down" mono, because it has always been stated that the multitracks for the 1968 overdubs can't be found.

Why would it have the 1968 overdubs ?  Unless they retitle it The Smile (and a bit of 20/20) Sessions.  

Answer: because otherwise, the sections that have Carl's solo vocals(on the "20/20" mix) will be instrumental.

Yes... like "Worms", "Child" and quite a few others. This is an archival release of an album whose fame rests on it never being finished. I don't see a problem.

I just was about to ask what you guys think, if the finished "Surf's up" from '71 will be on the CD or just strict 60s recordings.

Been there, a bit further down the thread.

[All Golden 74]

Damn - you wait 44 years for a Smile box, then two come along at once !  

When it rains it pours can, I guess, be used in a positive way too.  Some people keep talking about all this in proximity to some natural disasters but I'm a little spooked because it looks like the long rumored and eternally held-up John Fahey box set will drop this year.  Little miracles I guess.  Maybe the Box Set Fairy is granting wishes!   

[Rocker]

What's intriguing here is that "Cabinessence" will now have to appear in mono for the first time!

But, if it has the 1968 "20/20" vocal overdubs it will have to be "folded down" mono, because it has always been stated that the multitracks for the 1968 overdubs can't be found.

Why would it have the 1968 overdubs ?  Unless they retitle it The Smile (and a bit of 20/20) Sessions.  

Answer: because otherwise, the sections that have Carl's solo vocals(on the "20/20" mix) will be instrumental.

Yes... like "Worms", "Child" and quite a few others. This is an archival release of an album whose fame rests on it never being finished. I don't see a problem.

I just was about to ask what you guys think, if the finished "Surf's up" from '71 will be on the CD or just strict 60s recordings.

Been there, a bit further down the thread.

Hang my head in shame....

This is gonna be legendary..... 

[Ron]

Damn - you wait 44 years for a Smile box, then two come along at once !  

When it rains it pours can, I guess, be used in a positive way too.  Some people keep talking about all this in proximity to some natural disasters but I'm a little spooked because it looks like the long rumored and eternally held-up John Fahey box set will drop this year.  Little miracles I guess.  Maybe the Box Set Fairy is granting wishes!   

Probably the box set fairy is running out of ideas. Kind of like the "television shows that are now off the air but we'll release them as dvd sets" fairy. 

You know somewhere there's some record execs who for years have been going "HELL NO! NO SMILE BEACH BOYS ALBUM!" and then they eventually ran out of other things to say yes to, so here we have it. 

[juggler]

It'd be a crying shame not to include the 20/20 Cabinessence if that's the only version out there with a lead vocal.  I can't imagine anyone objecting to anything about that version.  If Carl added his vocals in '68, so be it.  Nothing sounds odd or out of place.

The '71 Surf's Up is a different story.  It's a bit of a "frankenstein" mixture of things that weren't necessarily intended to go together (i.e., the instrumental track in the first section and Brian's piano version in the second, along with reputedly non-vintage lyrics on the tag).  If it's excluded or relegated to deep "bonus track" status, that's okay by me.

[shelter]

It'd be a crying shame not to include the 20/20 Cabinessence if that's the only version out there with a lead vocal.  I can't imagine anyone objecting to anything about that version.  If Carl added his vocals in '68, so be it.  Nothing sounds odd or out of place.

The '71 Surf's Up is a different story.  It's a bit of a "frankenstein" mixture of things that weren't necessarily intended to go together (i.e., the instrumental track in the first section and Brian's piano version in the second, along with reputedly non-vintage lyrics on the tag).  If it's excluded or relegated to deep "bonus track" status, that's okay by me.

I would actually be perfectly fine with a 1969 Cabinessence and a 1971 Surf's Up. Those songs were left unfinished in 1967, and any mix that would be ensembled now, even if it doesn't include any post-1967 recordings, would be a 2011 product and therefor less authentic. A version of a Smile song finished and officially approved by The Beach Boys within four years from the original sessions is relatively authentic enough for me. If a modern band like Coldplay or Kaiser Chiefs would mess around now with a song that they originally recorded in 2007, than nobody would question it's authenticity, right?

[Shady]

Wondering what input Brian will have in this? 

[All Golden 74]

I would actually be perfectly fine with a 1969 Cabinessence and a 1971 Surf's Up. Those songs were left unfinished in 1967, and any mix that would be ensembled now, even if it doesn't include any post-1967 recordings, would be a 2011 product and therefor less authentic. A version of a Smile song finished and officially approved by The Beach Boys within four years from the original sessions is relatively authentic enough for me. If a modern band like Coldplay or Kaiser Chiefs would mess around now with a song that they originally recorded in 2007, than nobody would question it's authenticity, right?
[/quote]

I would actually be perfectly fine with new mixes that are ensembled (assembled?) now.  Couldn't someone do a better mix of "Vegetables" or at least put the Bicycle Rider section into "Do You Like Worms"?  Of course that happened on BWPS, which is the model for this.  Now I'm wondering if they will use stuff from Smiley Smile like on BWPS?  I don't mean whole songs, just little pieces, like the tag to "Vegetables" or the whispering winds stuff from "Wind Chimes".

[Jeff]

It'd be a crying shame not to include the 20/20 Cabinessence if that's the only version out there with a lead vocal.  I can't imagine anyone objecting to anything about that version.  If Carl added his vocals in '68, so be it.  Nothing sounds odd or out of place.

The '71 Surf's Up is a different story.  It's a bit of a "frankenstein" mixture of things that weren't necessarily intended to go together (i.e., the instrumental track in the first section and Brian's piano version in the second, along with reputedly non-vintage lyrics on the tag).  If it's excluded or relegated to deep "bonus track" status, that's okay by me.

It would seem bizarre that on the one hand, they would be purists to the point of excluding the followup work on Cabin Essence, but on the other hand, would model the "finished" album after a suite concept that was developed 37 years after the fact (and which excludes the tags, which I think was some of the best music recorded for Smile).  Frankly, this is starting to sound like a worst-of-all-worlds disaster.

[bgas]

Frankly, this is starting to sound like a worst-of-all-worlds disaster.

Wow, elation to devastation in less than 12 hours.

[All Golden 74]

Frankly, this is starting to sound like a worst-of-all-worlds disaster.

Wow, elation to devastation in less than 12 hours.

The worst-of-all-worlds disaster, as regards SMiLE, would be Brian dying and stipulating in his will that the master tapes be destroyed or maybe buried with him!  I believed for some time that he might allow a release after his death: it looks like I am wrong and I couldn't be happier.  I'm still pretty elated!

[armona]

Frankly, this is starting to sound like a worst-of-all-worlds disaster.

Wow, elation to devastation in less than 12 hours.

The worst-of-all-worlds disaster, as regards SMiLE, would be Brian dying and stipulating in his will that the master tapes be destroyed or maybe buried with him!  I believed for some time that he might allow a release after his death: it looks like I am wrong and I couldn't be happier.  I'm still pretty elated!

Yep. Prior to that interview with Al, I really didn't see this happening until after Brian had passed away.

[Ron]

It'd be a crying shame not to include the 20/20 Cabinessence if that's the only version out there with a lead vocal.  I can't imagine anyone objecting to anything about that version.  If Carl added his vocals in '68, so be it.  Nothing sounds odd or out of place.

The '71 Surf's Up is a different story.  It's a bit of a "frankenstein" mixture of things that weren't necessarily intended to go together (i.e., the instrumental track in the first section and Brian's piano version in the second, along with reputedly non-vintage lyrics on the tag).  If it's excluded or relegated to deep "bonus track" status, that's okay by me.

I think the 71 Surf's up is a completed finished song.  Brian still does that, reuses things he wrote 30 years ago... Carl did a good job (with Brian) finishing that sucker up.  Not how it was originally intended, but the original recordings are what they are.  Unfinished.  Personally... I don't see a problem welding Brian's vocal onto the band version, since they were both recorded about the same time... obviously the one is a demo, though. 

[Ron]

Wondering what input Brian will have in this?  

Mark = "Well, We're finished.  Whuddya think Brian?"

Brian = "It's GREAT! I LOVE IT! Talk to you Tommorow!"  (points at Melinda, then the door, then makes a car steering wheel motion with his hands)

[Ron]

Frankly, this is starting to sound like a worst-of-all-worlds disaster.

Wow, elation to devastation in less than 12 hours.

The worst-of-all-worlds disaster, as regards SMiLE, would be Brian dying and stipulating in his will that the master tapes be destroyed or maybe buried with him!  I believed for some time that he might allow a release after his death: it looks like I am wrong and I couldn't be happier.  I'm still pretty elated!

Here's a thought.  We all know for years Brian said he burnt the SMiLE tapes, right?  I wonder if somebody appeased him somewhere along the way and gave him a bunch of copies of the tapes to torch, lol.  It may have actually happened!  LOL  This would make a good Saturday Night Live skit. 

[Ron]

whoops, double post

[Custom Machine]

$300? No way. What's a reasonable price for a 4 CD set nowadays? $80 max, right? A new double LP? $40 max. A new 7" single? $10 max. So I'd be very surprised if this box would be over $150.

I have no idea what the set will cost, but don't forget to factor in the 60 page hardcover book.  That's definitely gonna add to the list price of the set, especially with color printing on premium stock pages.

[bossaroo]

who gives a damn what it costs???
we will all beg, steal, or borrow whatever it takes.

i'm just wondering how limited the limited edition will be.
at least 100,000 copies i'm hoping/guessing.

[lance]

I doubt if the 1971 version will be there. Surely we all own that anyway, so if you want it to include that instead of whatever it ends up including, you can burn yer own CD.

[Andrew G. Doe]

It'd be a crying shame not to include the 20/20 Cabinessence if that's the only version out there with a lead vocal.  I can't imagine anyone objecting to anything about that version.  If Carl added his vocals in '68, so be it.  Nothing sounds odd or out of place.

The '71 Surf's Up is a different story.  It's a bit of a "frankenstein" mixture of things that weren't necessarily intended to go together (i.e., the instrumental track in the first section and Brian's piano version in the second, along with reputedly non-vintage lyrics on the tag).  If it's excluded or relegated to deep "bonus track" status, that's okay by me.

I would actually be perfectly fine with a 1969 Cabinessence and a 1971 Surf's Up. Those songs were left unfinished in 1967, and any mix that would be ensembled now, even if it doesn't include any post-1967 recordings, would be a 2011 product and therefor less authentic. A version of a Smile song finished and officially approved by The Beach Boys within four years from the original sessions is relatively authentic enough for me. If a modern band like Coldplay or Kaiser Chiefs would mess around now with a song that they originally recorded in 2007, than nobody would question it's authenticity, right?

This is being released as sessions, not the finished item.