SMiLE Sessions box set!

[Iron Horse-Apples]

Hmm.. I wonder if you could increase the volume on the vintage vocal in the Holidays sessions to place it on the backing track. I doubt you'd hear much but it'd be very cool. I'm gonna try that some day.

There's a vintage vocal on the Holidays session??

(Haven't heard the box yet, just the 2CD)

[MBE]

Wow just played the 2 LP vinyl. This is stunning! If this had come out in 1966-67 it would have been just amazing. Now I know it probably wouldn't have been exactly like this, but even if it was close. I always liked this material but man it never sounded so fantastic. I doubt I'll listen much to the 2004 anymore but if it led to this...! It just makes so much sense in a way it never had. Despite a few missing lyrics that weren't finished, this is a complete record now. AGAIN It is stunning! One of a kind! Fantastic. I'm gushing but who cares THIS WAS WORTH THE WAIT!

[Dunderhead]

how is the stuff on side 4?

[homeontherange]

Hmm.. I wonder if you could increase the volume on the vintage vocal in the Holidays sessions to place it on the backing track. I doubt you'd hear much but it'd be very cool. I'm gonna try that some day.

There's a vintage vocal on the Holidays session??

(Haven't heard the box yet, just the 2CD)

Yeah man. Hard to hear the vocals, but Brian's playing Holidays on the piano and singing along.

[Iron Horse-Apples]

Hmm.. I wonder if you could increase the volume on the vintage vocal in the Holidays sessions to place it on the backing track. I doubt you'd hear much but it'd be very cool. I'm gonna try that some day.

There's a vintage vocal on the Holidays session??

(Haven't heard the box yet, just the 2CD)

Yeah man. Hard to hear the vocals, but Brian's playing Holidays on the piano and singing along.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[buddhahat]

By the way, can someone hear what lyrics he's singing?

It just sounds like wordless vocals to me but only listening through a small ipod speaker right now. Not 100% convinced it's a vocal melody he's singing although there's a chance. He could just be voicing the instrumental parts, or just messing around. It is great to hear him singing on this and the worms session though, however brief and quiet it is.

[?]

Wow just played the 2 LP vinyl. This is stunning! If this had come out in 1966-67 it would have been just amazing. Now I know it probably wouldn't have been exactly like this, but even if it was close. I always liked this material but man it never sounded so fantastic. I doubt I'll listen much to the 2004 anymore but if it led to this...! It just makes so much sense in a way it never had. Despite a few missing lyrics that weren't finished, this is a complete record now. AGAIN It is stunning! One of a kind! Fantastic. I'm gushing but who cares THIS WAS WORTH THE WAIT!

The vinyl sounds incredible!!!  Still haven't played the 45's but I suspect they will be awesome as well.  I only wish the whole box was released on vinyl.

[?]

Here's a question I've been dying to ask...  Did anyone actually buy the surfboard set?  How about the light up box?  'Fess up if you've got 'em!

[homeontherange]

By the way, can someone hear what lyrics he's singing?

It just sounds like wordless vocals to me but only listening through a small ipod speaker right now. Not 100% convinced it's a vocal melody he's singing although there's a chance. He could just be voicing the instrumental parts, or just messing around. It is great to hear him singing on this and the worms session though, however brief and quiet it is.

It's definitely a vocal melody, with lyrics. "It goes like this after the second chorus, AND LOVE IS DEE DA DADI AND I CAN'T JUST "... or something. Maybe he's just improvising but the melody is great and I'd kill to hear it recorded.

[MBE]

Wow just played the 2 LP vinyl. This is stunning! If this had come out in 1966-67 it would have been just amazing. Now I know it probably wouldn't have been exactly like this, but even if it was close. I always liked this material but man it never sounded so fantastic. I doubt I'll listen much to the 2004 anymore but if it led to this...! It just makes so much sense in a way it never had. Despite a few missing lyrics that weren't finished, this is a complete record now. AGAIN It is stunning! One of a kind! Fantastic. I'm gushing but who cares THIS WAS WORTH THE WAIT!

The vinyl sounds incredible!!!  Still haven't played the 45's but I suspect they will be awesome as well.  I only wish the whole box was released on vinyl.

I could have writen that myself!

[MBE]

how is the stuff on side 4?

Very cool but I must admit I like the mono better.

[The Heartical Don]

(Gasp...) got my box just an hour ago. Cycling home was a hard and tiring process, as you will understand, and yet some student almost managed to drive the steer of his wonky sports bike, with handles and brakes, straight into the soft leather bag with aforementioned behemoth motherload item, which was hanging around my hip. You choose the relatively safest way, and still some bozo almost manages to, well, cause your first heart attack.

But now it's safely home. Oh, what weekend is awaiting me...  

[Micha]

By the way, can someone hear what lyrics he's singing?

It just sounds like wordless vocals to me but only listening through a small ipod speaker right now. Not 100% convinced it's a vocal melody he's singing although there's a chance. He could just be voicing the instrumental parts, or just messing around. It is great to hear him singing on this and the worms session though, however brief and quiet it is.

At which time in the track?

It's definitely a vocal melody, with lyrics. "It goes like this after the second chorus, AND LOVE IS DEE DA DADI AND I CAN'T JUST "... or something. Maybe he's just improvising but the melody is great and I'd kill to hear it recorded.

[puni puni]

1:22

[The Heartical Don]

1:22

...is the right answer.

[homeontherange]

Weird, it starts at 1:10 for me 

[Micha]

1:22

Thanks! 

The first few notes seem to follow the clarinet line, but I'm not sure if it's the same notes or a harmony line. Words are unintelligible. Brian should have finished this... 

[homeontherange]

Good Vibrations (inspiration) is bad ass! 

[RCTID]

my replacement box set has a damaged book!

has anyone else received the box set with a... "defective" book?

[seanmurd]

Wow just played the 2 LP vinyl. This is stunning! If this had come out in 1966-67 it would have been just amazing. Now I know it probably wouldn't have been exactly like this, but even if it was close. I always liked this material but man it never sounded so fantastic. I doubt I'll listen much to the 2004 anymore but if it led to this...! It just makes so much sense in a way it never had. Despite a few missing lyrics that weren't finished, this is a complete record now. AGAIN It is stunning! One of a kind! Fantastic. I'm gushing but who cares THIS WAS WORTH THE WAIT!

The vinyl sounds incredible!!!  Still haven't played the 45's but I suspect they will be awesome as well.  I only wish the whole box was released on vinyl.

Just to let everyone know -- the version of "Vega-Tables" on the 45 is a completely different mix from the "album" version. "Surf's Up" is the same as on the CDs. Haven't played the "H&V" 45 yet, but I assume it's the same as the "Part 1" and "Part 2" on the 2-CD set.

[Heysaboda]

True story:

The last two mornings I have woken up with the SMiLE "bicycle rider" sections from DYLW playing in my head.  So, even if I don't happen to be spinning SMiLE physically at the moment, it is spinning in my unconscious mind!!!

Spinning in my dreams!

 

Love it!

[Heysaboda]

frig all the people downloading for free and not buying the box set 

It's sad that people would download it and not pay for some format of it.

I bought the 5 CD set, the 2 CD set and also have the SINGLE CD on order.

You can call me crazy!

I feel like my head totally explodes every time I put the CD on!!!!

[Shady]

Oh my, So, I just got the box set today, I never in a million years expected it to be so beautiful

Everything is so perfect, I'm thinking of buying a second one just to keep it in the packaging etc

[prefect319]

Ok so on tuesday morning i walked into best buy and walked out with the box set. I then had to carry it home on a bus and a train since i'm blind and can't drive. That was an interesting experience. I'd heard the samples online and was so so ready to hear what  it all sounded like. I've been a fan of these guys since i was seven which was right around the time the gv box set came out. So i get home, put this on, and am blown away. Someone earlier on this board said that even after hearign brian's smile this one was a revelation and i totally get that. T/his mix is so pristine and it brings out things you've never heard on bootlegs.  The sessions are fascinating and even if you've heard the sot sessions this is more concise and it works better. Ok so some things i've noticed or just want to comment on .
-the packaging looks great in pictures but until you  physically hold it in your hands you don't get the full effect.
-i sort of expected this to be like purple chicks mix of the album and was pleasantly surprised when i heard how different it was. I'd been reading the boards for a week and so things trickled out but  samples and typed words do not an album make. This was so good. I've played this disc about five times now and love it more with each playing.
-the end of old master painter is great with the barnshine section added in
-the version of child here is great with those new vocals and all the sections so clear.
-surfs up sounds great because it takes elements from all previous versions and melds them in a unique way
-love vega-tables with all the sections edited this way
-love having holidays so clear now. Its cool to hear that piano(i think) underneath the marimba
-love that during fire you can hear that part right before the last sections that was only previously available with the sound effects on top. They did a good job of reducing those so you can just hear the music.
-surfs up 67 is as good as everyone say it is. Question though, do you think brian purposly played the second movement in the same key and changed at the end or do you think he realized midway through "oh dear i'm in the wrong key"

one other observation before i stop
The first version of wonderful on the sessions disc is the same one that is on the album only it seems that brian slowed it down for the album and then sang on  it. Incredible.
Sorry for my long post but had to get this off my chest somehow. 

[rab2591]

The sessions are fascinating and even if you've heard the sot sessions this is more concise and it works better. Ok so some things i've noticed or just want to comment on .
-the packaging looks great in pictures but until you  physically hold it in your hands you don't get the full effect.
-i sort of expected this to be like purple chicks mix of the album and was pleasantly surprised when i heard how different it was. I'd been reading the boards for a week and so things trickled out but  samples and typed words do not an album make. This was so good. I've played this disc about five times now and love it more with each playing.
-the end of old master painter is great with the barnshine section added in
-the version of child here is great with those new vocals and all the sections so clear.
-surfs up sounds great because it takes elements from all previous versions and melds them in a unique way
-love vega-tables with all the sections edited this way
-love having holidays so clear now. Its cool to hear that piano(i think) underneath the marimba
-love that during fire you can hear that part right before the last sections that was only previously available with the sound effects on top. They did a good job of reducing those so you can just hear the music.
-surfs up 67 is as good as everyone say it is.

My sentiments exactly.

I'll also add that the 'Surf's Up: Talking Horns' session is FANTASTIC....I love that sound. And I really thought everyone here was overhyping the '67 Surf's Up, so I didn't get my hopes up too much....when Brian sings that first "Domino" - oh wow. I can't even describe my emotions then. It just sounds so bloody fantastic. the hype is real.

I anxiously awaited the mailman today. He put some mail in the box and started to drive away....my heart sank....then he stopped, put it in reverse, and drove up my driveway and dropped the package off. My heart leaped. He left and I went out and got it: I couldn't believe how much the package weighed! I put the first CD in my stereo system and listened. I was appalled at the quality....I was gearing up to join the people demanding a re-issue of sorts. It was so bad I stopped it and ripped it to my computer to see if that would make any difference....apparently my stereo system is broken. This set sounds superb....It's just beautiful. Yes, some parts have some hissing, others, you can tell it's from an acetate.....but mostly, this is just stunning. I'm still in shock over the beauty of both versions of 'Surf's Up'....

Every session sounds so crisp and clear. Gah, I'm back to listening & to read the book. Thanks to everyone who had a hand in putting this set together....it really is a beautiful thing.