SMiLE Sessions box set!

[Ron]

Even my Beagle is stunned...

Cute dog. 

[Dunderhead]

One thing,
I wish the Anderle portrait was in the book.

Nice to see Bill Tobelman in the special thanks section

[BiNNS]

I picked up my 2 cd set from the only store in town that was selling it. (They received it at 5pm today). My girlfriend took pics of it on the shelf and of me cheerfully holding it. It was such a weird feeling going up to the counter and buying it....while proudly displaying my home made SMiLE and BB's pins on my coat. (As did the mrs).

Went back to the her place where it was now time to open up the set. I haven't bought a cd in a long time. I missed the smell of a fresh, new booklet. More pictures were taken as i smiled non-stop at what i was holding in my hands.

Unfortunately, we had no other choice but to play cd 1 in her computer over her not too impressive speakers. I didn't really care though. I just wanted my first listening experience to be with her. Long story short, i loved every second of it.

Then we take a listen to Surf's Up '67. We were both just sitting there with our mouths open. About half way through the song i ask her to turn up the volume a little bit. All of a sudden the song skips to the next one. She accidentally pressed the wrong button. Well, the running joke the rest of the evening was how she ruined SMiLE night. Ha.

[37!ws]

After initial samplings of all the CDs of the box...

wow.

[TheLazenby]

Of course, being a fan of the "Remember The Zoo" legend, I skipped right to the fabled 'Teeter Totter Love'....

Yeah, it's the single most random thing on this set and not really Smile related (I'm sorry, it IS officially "SMiLE" now), but damn is that thing entertaining.  I actually kinda wish they'd put on Jasper's other two songs!

[Wirestone]

I actually kinda wish they'd put on Jasper's other two songs!

I don't believe they exist anymore, sadly. This single acetate is all that remains of the J.D. sessions.

[Mitchell]

Been a while since I posted here. Just had to pop in and celebrate this great day and monumental (monomental?) release.

Thanks to those who made it happen and everyone who chipped in along the way!

[Catbirdman]

Happy SMiLE Day!

I recognize that the official release day differed across the world, but just as we Americans toss around terms like the "World Series," I think it's safe to say November 1, 2011 can be safely etched in the annals as a monumental day in 20th century pop history. This was the big one, the mother lode of archival releases.

I want to post this before the clock ticks down to November 2...

Channeling my inner-Brian...

Lots of love in this music, folks. Bask in it.

[JohnMill]

I actually kinda wish they'd put on Jasper's other two songs!

I don't believe they exist anymore, sadly. This single acetate is all that remains of the J.D. sessions.

Oh yeah!  I think Linett mentioned that "Teeter Totter" and "Barnyard" were the two songs taken from acetate. 

[Wirestone]

Oh yeah!  I think Linett mentioned that "Teeter Totter" and "Barnyard" were the two songs taken from acetate.  

Some of the new CITFOTM is from acetate, I believe. The chorus with the new vocal parts.

[Ebb and Flow]

I actually kinda wish they'd put on Jasper's other two songs!

I don't believe they exist anymore, sadly. This single acetate is all that remains of the J.D. sessions.

Oh yeah!  I think Linett mentioned that "Teeter Totter" and "Barnyard" were the two songs taken from acetate. 

I believe what they have of Barnyard is a "second stage" tape with the master take + animal noises in mono and two backing vocal overdubs.

[Dunderhead]

I swear it took like, 2 and a half hours, but I finally ripped all the cds and tagged all the tracks. Now I can finally start listening.

[guitarfool2002]

If the format of the compact disc and lavish multi-disc packaging is on the way out, in favor of all-digital downloads and whatnot, perhaps the Smile Sessions will serve as either the ultimate eulogy for the CD format (going out with the best effort for the target audience), or a wake-up call to the labels that music lovers still appreciate the experience of having such a deluxe box-set in our hands as we're listening and being able to read liner notes and view photos not scrolling on a damned Kindle or iPad or something...

Imagine if compact discs had been phased out a few years ago - would the amazing, funny, and touching experiences of getting the box set have been the same as the ones I'm reading here if they were digital downloads only? Just food for thought.

What a day!

[Dunderhead]

http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16000-the-smile-sessions/

[Heysaboda]

GOT IT

WOO HOO!

unbelievable!

[Shady]

http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16000-the-smile-sessions/

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Dunderhead]

I love You're Welcome. A highlight of the set, it would have been so great had they ended up doing every iteration with a totally different vocal style, underwater, old, etc. They're hilarious.

lol @ "jazz"

[Micha]

Mine went from Shipping Soon to Not Yet Shipped to Shipping Soon within a matter of an hour.  They are a bizarre little outfit that's for sure.  Tired of talking about them though so...

Does anyone else headbang to the bridge in "Wind Chimes"?

Not exactly, but it does rock more than on the 93 box set. How come?

[Micha]

How do you know the SS set actually is in the shipping box if you don't look inside? I mean, if the  Amazon employee responsible had drunk the night before, for all I know there might be a James Last box set inside.

James Last ain't that bad either!

Did you get your box, Don?

[Micha]

sh*t! Pet Sounds store in Stockholm have the box in store now. Does anyone know if it's possible to cancel my Amazon.de order? I've already paid for it!

You can cancel, if is not packed yet. If not, you can send the shipment back.

Go to "Mein Konto" --> "Meine Bestellungen" --> "Artikel zurückschicken"
You need a reason for sending back ("Grund der Rücksendung"), but they have a lot to select from:
- keinen Grund angeben (don't want to say reason)  
- Gefällt mir nicht mehr (Don't like it anymore)
- Günstigeren Preis entdeckt (Found a better price)

You have a store called "Pet Sounds" in Stockholm? How cool is that?

Old joke from my high school German class:

One man encountered another man, apparently drowning in a lake.

Drowning man: "Ich habe keinen Grund, Ich habe keinen Grund!"

Other man: "Also, warum schreist du?"

I'd quit the German class for a joke like that and retreat to Mann's Magic Mountain.

[lance]

A little more than half way through disc three and loving every minute. There truly is a lot of session work that I still hadn't heard.

[The Heartical Don]

http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16000-the-smile-sessions/

Great review, thanks for the link!

[buddhahat]

I love You're Welcome. A highlight of the set, it would have been so great had they ended up doing every iteration with a totally different vocal style, underwater, old, etc. They're hilarious.

lol @ "jazz"

That is one of the highlights for me. The old man voices bit has me in stitches every time - when Brian starts shaking his adam's apple. I think of every recording from Smile, that session achieves Brian's humour goal most effectively!

[desmondo]

I swear it took like, 2 and a half hours, but I finally ripped all the cds and tagged all the tracks. Now I can finally start listening.

Enjoy - I am still waiting for my box - UK

[UK_Surf]

It's HERE! It's BRILLIANT!!!

I can't believe the packaging on this. And I can't believe that, nearly 15 years after streaming my daily rations of 'prayer' and 'omp' in a cold room in Cambridge over crappy dial-up internet that I've got an entire boxed set of digital and analogue media in a resplendant package as a prezzie from my utterly fabulous fiance.

This is a great day. And fitting that the online community that helped me discover this music is going stronger than ever. And y'know, I've been reading the constructive criticisms with as much interest as the praise. Music this good deserves serious scrutiny, so thanks to y'all. It'll go on the platter this evening and tomorrow evening. I can wait a bit longer, but can't wait too long!