SMiLE Sessions box set!

[drbeachboy]

Hey, money may not buy happiness, etc., etc., etc., but it surely does help.

[drbeachboy]

I remember getting my Sea of Tunes Unsurpassed Masters SMiLE box set in the mail from Singapore and feeling lucky that it was still in new pristine condition. I also remember getting a Beatles BBC 10-CD box from New York and I had to send it back 'cause it looked like it just came out of a garbage dump.  You never know.

Thankfully, I have never had any issues with Amazon. They pack their stuff pretty well. I too was concerned with both my Beatles Mono Box and earlier with the Beach Boys Singles Box, but both arrived in pristine condition. So, here's hoping that TSS is packaged with as much the same care.

[The Real Barnyard]

Given that there's no Surf's Up from Inside Pop on the box, could it be track 26. Surf's Up 1967 (Solo version) (Bonus Track).
The words Solo version and 1967 (April 26 when it was aired) make me think of that.

[pixletwin]

Given that there's no Surf's Up from Inside Pop on the box, could it be track 26. Surf's Up 1967 (Solo version) (Bonus Track).
The words Solo version and 1967 (April 26 when it was aired) make me think of that.

It has been suggested by someone who says they know someone, that it is a piano+vocals recording by Brian during the Wild Honey sessions that has never been booted.

[tansen]

I remember getting my Sea of Tunes Unsurpassed Masters SMiLE box set in the mail from Singapore and feeling lucky that it was still in new pristine condition.

Nice - we probably used the same supplier then!

[Andrew G. Doe]

Given that there's no Surf's Up from Inside Pop on the box, could it be track 26. Surf's Up 1967 (Solo version) (Bonus Track).
The words Solo version and 1967 (April 26 when it was aired) make me think of that.

It has been suggested by someone who says they know someone, that it is a piano+vocals recording by Brian during the Wild Honey sessions that has never been booted.

This someone suggest those someone's are right. 

[monicker]

Which one is Soul Made Beautiful again? It's only a few second, right?

[pixletwin]

Given that there's no Surf's Up from Inside Pop on the box, could it be track 26. Surf's Up 1967 (Solo version) (Bonus Track).
The words Solo version and 1967 (April 26 when it was aired) make me think of that.

It has been suggested by someone who says they know someone, that it is a piano+vocals recording by Brian during the Wild Honey sessions that has never been booted.

This someone suggest those someone's are right. 

Yup. I am strongly looking forward to hearing it too. 

[Jonas]

My fear is that its not gonna go back down to that beautiful introduction rate of $110

How unfortunate for you, poor soul. Perhaps if you tried a little harder in life you'd have more money to spend in the way of your own happiness & arbitrary pleasure rather than using it to sustain the vitality of your body and pay bills. As for me, I eagerly await my box set on my doorstep at 12:00-12:01am on 11/1/11. I've paid extra for gift wrapping - I wrote a message to myself - "money buys happiness, love ghost".

Nah, the reason I have money is because I AM frugal. Get it right.

[The Real Barnyard]

Given that there's no Surf's Up from Inside Pop on the box, could it be track 26. Surf's Up 1967 (Solo version) (Bonus Track).
The words Solo version and 1967 (April 26 when it was aired) make me think of that.

It has been suggested by someone who says they know someone, that it is a piano+vocals recording by Brian during the Wild Honey sessions that has never been booted.

This someone suggest those someone's are right. 

That would be superb!!
So we still have faith in track 12. Surf's Up - Session Excerpt and Stereo Mix (Side Four) [LP Vinyl] as being Surf's Up material from the 'real' SMiLE Sessions completely new, because all other Surf's Up tracks have been booted or oficially released.
I suppose track 12. Surf's Up on Disc 1 will be the same on both vinyls (LP & 45). Supposing it is an Anne Wallace type of reconstruction.

[Roger Ryan]

Which one is Soul Made Beautiful again? It's only a few second, right?

I believe it's the one replicated on BWPS at the end of "In Blue Hawaii" just before the "Our Prayer" reprise.

A few thoughts:

I'm hoping (and assuming) that "Heroes & Villains" on Disc 1 is more that just the 45 single; to me that would be a letdown to hear that version in a SMiLE sequence. Given the alternate versions available on the set (including the mysterious "Part 1" and "Part 2"), My best guess is it would be a mono version of the HAWTHORNE, CA mix with the "cantina" bridge added (the stereo mix would then be the same as on HAWTHORNE, CA but with "cantina" inserted). That way it would align with the presentation on BWPS.

I'm curious if "Good Vibrations" on Disc 1 will simply be the 45 single - nothing wrong with that (as it kind of sits outside of the SMiLE song cycle), but I wouldn't mind if it included the "Hum de dum" vocals to set it apart from the single.

I was really thinking that Brian's edit of "The Child Is Father Of The Man" (considered for inclusion on both ENDLESS HARMONY and  HAWTHORNE, CA) was a shoo-in for this set - was this from acetate? Or was there a newly discovered acetate that contained something even better than the Brian edit we've known about for a decade or more? I have to believe that the edit is on here somewhere unless it was replaced by something of greater interest.

[earcandy]

Those who ordered the box early at the $110 price also receive a special gift:

[Roger Ryan]

13. Wonderful (Version 2 Tag) [Wonderful (Version 2 "Rock With Me Henry") Session: 1/9/67]

Also what's the tag? I don't have anything that might be considered a tag.

I think this is the "mamma, mamma, mamma" vocals with the ascending humming riff on top.

[Mikie]

Nah, that Arabian tent souvenir will be in all of the Smile box sets.  Along with a vial of sand from the sandbox, complete with small 'souvenirs' signed by Banana and Louie. 

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

Which one is Soul Made Beautiful again? It's only a few second, right?

Right.


AHHHH-DO DO DO DO DO, DO DO DO.

[pixletwin]

Which one is Soul Made Beautiful again? It's only a few second, right?

Right.


AHHHH-DO DO DO DO DO, DO DO DO.

A Carnberries song made the SMiLE  cut? 

[The Heartical Don]

Those who ordered the box early at the $110 price also receive a special gift:

Hm... so we're entering Church Relic Territory now... when I'll have bought the Box, I'll expect nothing less than a couple of fingernail parts of Brian's, and perhaps a bit of Denny's pubic hair (which I'll hock on Ebay for a silly price, after having had tested its DNA patterns). I must recoup that Box money, after all.

[SMiLE Brian]

If it were down to me, I'd release it at 11/11/11, 11.11am local time.  

That would be one epic Armistice Day. A saying along the lines of the famous statement of "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" should be made for the real day when the box comes out.

You should see what happens in Germany on 11/11 at 11:11 am every year....or maybe you shouldn't.....

What happens on 11/11 ?  Andrew's post just reminded me of the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" statement I have heard in a bunch of WW1 movies and documentaries.

Strange things. This is the more "normal" part of it   :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIqZMTO0y9Y

Strangely awesome indeed, looks like I need to go to Germany to see these events in person.

[ghost]

Wouldn't an indoors tent get very hot in L.A? Even with air conditioning, if you're hot boxing a tent with your bros seems like it would get... hot. Pool time. Tabavegles.

[SMiLE Brian]

Those who ordered the box early at the $110 price also receive a special gift:

Hm... so we're entering Church Relic Territory now... when I'll have bought the Box, I'll expect nothing less than a couple of fingernail parts of Brian's, and perhaps a bit of Denny's pubic hair (which I'll hock on Ebay for a silly price, after having had tested its DNA patterns). I must recoup that Box money, after all.

So Brian Wilson's bathrobe is the beach boys fans' version of the shroud of Turin. The one who walks the true path of Wilson eats steak and birthday cake.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

The way this thread is going we'll make 500 pages by November!

Let's go for 2580.  

We're sure to have a million posts by January!

[guitarfool2002]

Those who ordered the box early at the $110 price also receive a special gift:

Classic!

Do those paying full price get a bigger piece of the tent? They should be careful shipping that, who knows if whatever may still be on that fabric could alert a drug-sniffing dog and the DEA.

[The Heartical Don]

BTW -

has there been any word about why VDP is not to be seen (as a commentator) in the box paraphernalia? I could think up several valid reasons myself why not. The man perhaps thought: now, I have a career of my own, do quite a bit of shows, just started a new label and do releases on that... and I did my fair share with BWPS already, and did not back down from interviews elsewhere, in which SMiLE was mentioned. I am fully entitled to return to my own work, instead of going through it all again.

Another: I have nothing to add of much news value any more. Everything's been said, I think.

Another: this is the shelved version of the project after all, and I wasn't treated that well at the time.

All fair, IMHO.

[guitarfool2002]

BTW -

has there been any word about why VDP is not to be seen (as a commentator) in the box paraphernalia? I could think up several valid reasons myself why not. The man perhaps thought: now, I have a career of my own, do quite a bit of shows, just started a new label and do releases on that... and I did my fair share with BWPS already, and did not back down from interviews elsewhere, in which SMiLE was mentioned. I am fully entitled to return to my own work, instead of going through it all again.

Another: I have nothing to add of much news value any more. Everything's been said, I think.

Another: this is the shelved version of the project after all, and I wasn't treated that well at the time.

All fair, IMHO.

Interesting points, and again I'm sure the only person who could give the answer is Van Dyke himself if he were asked and felt like opening up. I cannot imagine the amount of baggage attached to this for someone like Van Dyke Parks, maybe it's best to leave it up to him if he wants to open up about it. More than anyone else other than Brian himself, when Smile first became a reality on stage Van Dyke had a look of pure joy and relief as it all was happening, like a weight had just been lifted off of his shoulders and the music he knew was special for 40+ years was finally out there. It was a triumph on many levels, all hype aside.

It would be hard to measure that in terms of emotion, and how much more someone has left to offer up for what is basically the same music. Maybe it's a legal-contractual thing, maybe he just didn't want to do it (again)...only he can answer that.

[Boiled Egg]

The alt DaDa must qualify as one of the earliest recordings of a Rhodes, no?

I was thinking that as well, but the Rhodes piano had been on the market since 1965 when CBS bought out Leo Fender. Before that Rhodes was known for the smaller "Piano Bass" keyboard that Ray Manzarek used live with The Doors, then they did the full-size piano to compete with Wurlitzer's electric piano, which basically owned the market in the US until Rhodes caught on.

It was an early use of a relatively new instrument, but I'm guessing not as early as we might have thought. Offhand I don't know when the first hit record featuring a Rhodes piano was made.

Chapter and verse is hard to get on this, but ten minutes' websniffing suggests that the earliest recording featuring a Suitcase Rhodes (as opposed to the Rhodes Bass) may date from July 1966, when Joe Zawinul played one on Cannonball Adderley's recording of 'Mercy, Mercy, Mercy'. Which means Brian was only six months behind. Very much in the vanguard.