Mark Linett Billboard Interview About SMiLE

[Dunderhead]

There is also the fact that when Brian was asked to prepare a list of tracks for inclusion in the SMiLE live performances he included Diamond Head on the list as having some SMiLE connection.
Having multiple writers doesn't, I think, diminish it's claim. Brian did after all use You Are My Sunshine, Old Master Painter, and I Wanna Be Around, none of which he wrote.
Also Diamond Head is not really a "song" like a lot of others are. I think Brian was in charge of the session, had the ideas regarding the songs tone and theme, and then he gave his players a lot of latitude to improvise.

It works really well I think. When you hear all the stories about recording sound effects of water for use in The Elements, I think Brian essentially had Diamond Head in mind. I never really cared for the Water chants section as water, it's certainly not as mellow and evocative as Diamond Head is.

[B-Rex]

The other songs you mention were standards which Brian covered (one with a changed tense, exemplefying sadness).  Diamond Head is an original.

[Andrew G. Doe]

There is also the fact that when Brian was asked to prepare a list of tracks for inclusion in the SMiLE live performances he included Diamond Head on the list as having some SMiLE connection.
Having multiple writers doesn't, I think, diminish it's claim. Brian did after all use You Are My Sunshine, Old Master Painter, and I Wanna Be Around, none of which he wrote.
Also Diamond Head is not really a "song" like a lot of others are. I think Brian was in charge of the session, had the ideas regarding the songs tone and theme, and then he gave his players a lot of latitude to improvise.

It works really well I think. When you hear all the stories about recording sound effects of water for use in The Elements, I think Brian essentially had Diamond Head in mind. I never really cared for the Water chants section as water, it's certainly not as mellow and evocative as Diamond Head is.

I think the composer credits for "Diamond Head" tend to indicate that it was a jam, conceived and worked up in the studio that very day.

[Dunderhead]

^^^I agree with you AGD. But if I had to take a stab at who suggested doing an instrumental exotica track with water sound effects, I'd guess Brian and not the session musicians.

Right, but why does every song on SMiLE have to be written solely by Brian? I don't think it does. In fact they weren't, Van Dyke contributed quite a lot as well.
Diamond Head isn't a SMiLE track simply by virtue of it being recorded a year after SMiLE was ended. But I think a lot of the songs Brian did reused musical material Brian had written for SMiLE, and many songs were thematically very similar to Brian's preoccupations on SMiLE.

There's Wind Chimes being recycled into Can't Wait Too Long
Time To Get Alone has the middle section that cops from SMiLE
Wake the World has the same theme as I'm In Great Shape
Then there's the whole rumored link between air and Country Air (which I don't buy)

The point is, Brian wanted to do a track exemplifying water. He wanted to use water sound effects in it. That's all we know about Water really. In the whole Beach Boys catalog there's one song that matches that description, Diamond Head.
Brian recorded that with the help of session musicians and produced the session. He gave them room for improvisation on all the steel guitar parts, but the idea to do an instrumental water track using water sound effects came from Brian.

[bossaroo]

I've spoken to Al Vescovo, the steel guitarist on Diamond Head. the song is basically a steel guitar instrumental with sound effects, and he did indeed come up with it on the spot. he described Brian as being very animated and in charge of the sound effects: water in a basin, bonking rocks together, the reverb tube making the volcano sounds.


Diamond Head is not about water. Diamond Head is the famous volcanic mountain on Waikiki for anyone who doesn't know.
 
The song seems to contain all the elements: water, birds chirping (air), rocks and jungle sounds (earth) and volcanic eruptions (fire).

it works nicely both as an Elements piece and a happy ending in Hawaii a la BWPS.

[onkster]

I wonder if anybody ever turned up the tape of water effects that was going to be used.

Or am I having a hallucination based on "Glimpses"?

Might make for a Secret Smile Vol. 3...

[hypehat]

You mean the ones Stephen Desper made?

Wiped 

[bgas]

I also think this theory hurts the idea that Vegetables was Earth. I mean, LSD is synthetic. Brian also used hash it sounds like more than he smoked weed. Hash isn't "natural" but is a refined form of THC.

I've never really heard this theory stated before. But I'm absolutely convinced that it's right.

I can't even begin to be able to debate with you all the points you're making, but I'm starting to think you're just trying to come up with new theories to give yourself a position in the SMiLE hierarchy somewhere.  
 On this one point above, tho:  I really doubt that Brian ever put thought into " Are LSD and Hashish natural or synthetic?" that wouldn't be anything that would flow from him, or VDP.  

As to the Four Elements, don't even get me started on that, because, as everyone knows, it's THE FIFTH ELEMENT that makes all the difference.  

[Dunderhead]

I also think this theory hurts the idea that Vegetables was Earth. I mean, LSD is synthetic. Brian also used hash it sounds like more than he smoked weed. Hash isn't "natural" but is a refined form of THC.

I've never really heard this theory stated before. But I'm absolutely convinced that it's right.

I can't even begin to be able to debate with you all the points you're making, but I'm starting to think you're just trying to come up with new theories to give yourself a position in the SMiLE hierarchy somewhere.  
 On this one point above, tho:  I really doubt that Brian ever put thought into " Are LSD and Hashish natural or synthetic?" that wouldn't be anything that would flow from him, or VDP.  

Ads to the Four Elements, don't even get me started on that, because, as everyone knows, it's THE FIFTH ELEMENT that makes all the difference.  

I'm going to rip that crown right off Dom's head!
But seriously. It's not a "new theory for the sake of a new theory", I think it's a really solid fit.
And knowing whether LSD or Hash are natural or synthetic don't require very deep thought. We're just talking about the basic properties of those substances that Brian was known to have used. In most psychedelic books I've read from the '60s they've recounted the origin of LSD, it's psychedelic effects were discovered by Albert Hofmann who was exposed accidentally. When Hofmann was riding home on his bicycle, he began tripping, and believed he was experiencing a psychotic break.
This story is why the bicycle is often used as an image in psychedelic music. Think, Tomorrow's "My White Bicycle". Also, think of the "Bicycle Rider" part on SMiLE itself. That connection was pointed out by Bill Tobelman and I think is certainly a valid point.

The point is, the story is well known and available to readers in many psychedelic books printed in the '60s. My argument was that if Vegetables was really a drug song, it makes it harder for Vegetables to be Earth as many of the drugs Brian was using were not natural. That's not complicated information and many people refine their own Hash using household materials.
It's just one nail in the coffin of the Vegetables=Earth theory, one nail of many. In my mind Vegetables is a drug song.

Again, the line on the early version "tripped on a cornucopia, stripped the stalk green..."
is really solid evidence. Van Dyke loved puns, and we know of many many puns he worked into the SMiLE lyrics. This is just one undeniable example. In the context of 1966 LA, in an environment of heavy drug experimentation, where words like "trippy" were common slang among the hip crowd, I don't think anyone can deny that "tripped" was meant as a double meaning by Van Dyke.

I really want to give props to Bill Tobelman. His theory is really the best one there is. I think people often forget that SMiLE is a psychedelic album. Of course there's going to be all types of references to drugs, new age spirituality etc. The Beatles had Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, The Beach Boys had Vega-Tables. The more I listen to the early version of Vega-Tables the more obvious it seems that the song is a drug song.

[pixletwin]

Except Lucy wasn't about LSD, at least not consciously. Lennon was pretty honest about which songs were written on or about drugs so I don't see why he would lie about this instance... OT. Sorry.

No I can see it your point though. It is a valid interpretation and certainly puts an interesting spin on things. Especially the bicycle rider reference.

[The Shift]

I believe what the BBs did at home mostly stayed at home and didn't stray on to disc. They had a fan base of mostly younger kids and a clean image to maintain - they weren't ones o start trying to influence kids to take drugs. Yes they recorded vocals while stoned, but the lyrics weren't "hey kids, I'm high as a kite".  Even the oft-referred to "This is the worst trip" line on Sloop on PS was nothing to do with drugs, and had actually been used on earlier recorded versions of the song by other artists. Smile might have been psychedelic, but mostly on reflection.

[Dunderhead]

I believe what the BBs did at home mostly stayed at home and didn't stray on to disc. They had a fan base of mostly younger kids and a clean image to maintain - they weren't ones o start trying to influence kids to take drugs. Yes they recorded vocals while stoned, but the lyrics weren't "hey kids, I'm high as a kite".  Even the oft-referred to "This is the worst trip" line on Sloop on PS was nothing to do with drugs, and had actually been used on earlier recorded versions of the song by other artists. Smile might have been psychedelic, but mostly on reflection.

I think the Sloop lyrics are much different than Van Dykes. It's clear on the sloop lyrics that it was not necessarily intended. But on the Vega-Tables lyrics I don't think you can deny it. Again this is Van Dyke Parks. Why is this the single time in all the SMiLE lyrics that a pun WASN'T intended? Seems hard to believe.
I mean what you described is the one of the fundamental conflicts of this era. "They had a fan base of mostly younger kids and a clean image to maintain", wasn't that what Brian wanted to get away from? I don't think there's anything about the SMiLE project that screams "we're clean cut". Wasn't that even part of Surf's Up, didn't an emotional Dennis complain to Brian and Van Dyke about their poor reception in Europe? Didn't Van Dyke say that Surf's Up was written to overcome that?
Also note, that version of Vega-Tables was never released. Because Brian was worried that it was too hip. It's the same thing with the well established story of Hang On To Your Ego. I don't think you can deny that there were drug references in Brian's music, because we had one undeniable example of just that, a drug reference that was removed from the final version.

Also, if the "I tripped on a cornucopia" lyric isn't about drugs, why did Brian remove it from the final reference. If the "tripped" wasn't a reference to LSD trips, then why take it out? What was Brian worried about?

[rab2591]

I believe what the BBs did at home mostly stayed at home and didn't stray on to disc. They had a fan base of mostly younger kids and a clean image to maintain - they weren't ones o start trying to influence kids to take drugs. Yes they recorded vocals while stoned, but the lyrics weren't "hey kids, I'm high as a kite".  Even the oft-referred to "This is the worst trip" line on Sloop on PS was nothing to do with drugs, and had actually been used on earlier recorded versions of the song by other artists. Smile might have been psychedelic, but mostly on reflection.

'Hang on to your Ego'...Had Brian had his way that would have stayed on Pet Sounds - and that entire song is one giant drug reference LOL. And with SMiLE he had full control over what he wanted on that album...So I don't doubt that there were a lot of intentional drug references. And I think the younger fans would have been more pissed off at the incomprehensible abstract lyrics in SMiLE than over a few drug references.

[Les P]

Here is what I believe, after decades of observation, deduction and thought:

Fire - Mrs. O'Leary's Cow (no sensible debate here)
Earth - proto-Fall Breaks
Air - proto-Country Air
Water - Da Da.

During my phone call from Brian in 2005 to thank me for my Hurricane Katrina donation, I asked him if "Country Air" originated during SMiLE.  "No."  I asked him whose idea was it to write about air, his or Mike's.  "Mike's".

Having said that, I think we all know his replies aren't always consistent/accurate.  I still think it odd that in an album full of boy/girl songs (plus "Mama Says", a SMiLE remnant), we get a song about air.  So I also think it is possible that a proto-Country Air was the air section.  I also wonder if in his "piano piece - we never finished that" comment, he was remembering the "Wind Chimes" tag (as others have posted).

How I wish someone could get him to open up at length ("OK, Brian, one last time, and we promise never to ask you about SMiLE again!")  Assuming he even remembers.

[desmondo]

Diamond Head is an instrumental about water containing sound effects.  It sounds very SMiLE like.  It has no historical basis in the SMiLE sessions and has multiple writers.  It shouldn't have any relevance to SMiLE except for the fact that SMiLE was never completed and never released.  Brian could have continued work on SMiLE under later album sessions.  There is no historical reason to include it.  Musically, there are multiple reasons.  It plays extremely well after MOC.  It has strong wave sound effects (could be putting out the fire).   It has very SMiLE like runs with the notes.  It exemplifies water.  It was recorded later with multiple writers...which seemingly would preclude it from any SMiLE discussion.   Musically, it just works!

Thanks

[Roger Ryan]

I'd say it's also telling that on the second go-round for "Vegetables", we have the "ate the wrapper" line which is the only line eliminated when the song is finally released.

At the same time, I don't think hidden drug references are the first and foremost aspect of SMiLE. "Vegetables" plays around with it and the title "Cabin Essence" is the most blatant reference (the subject matter of this song, however, doesn't seem to deal directly with drugs). Like with The Beatles' "A Day In The Life" ("had a smoke and went into a dream"), one could interpret that the state-of-being in a song like "Wind Chimes" as being drug-induced, but it works as a simple meditative song as well.

As to the idea of "Bicycle Rider" being a drug reference: maybe three or four levels down, but Parks' use of the phrase to both describe the European settler and a pack of playing cards (symbolic of the Native Americans being relegated to casino operators) takes precedent.

[Rocker]

the title "Cabin Essence" is the most blatant reference

I don't get it. Could anyone explain it to me?

[LostArt]

Cabin Essence
Cabinessence
Canibessence
Cannabissence
Cannabis

[B-Rex]

I personally think Fishmonk has built a solid case for the veggies/drugs duality.   I've always appreciated the song but even moreso now with the "new to me" information.

Country Air and Time to Get Alone have very similar themes and fit in well with the health part of SMiLE.   They are a case of carrying over themes which never saw fruition.  I don't see Country Air as an element but it seems to be borne out of the idea of an element.  Brian continued to compose material based on the ideas of SMiLE.

[hypehat]

Haha, I never got that! And I, er, inhale rather a lot.

This is all a bit reminiscent of some excerpt from a book on Shakespeare I got in a lecture, wherein the author spends a good page or two detailing what the word 'Will' means. Which includes the 'will' to do something, he 'will' do something, it is his 'will', obviously, until he starts expounding that it means his junk, her junk, the act of combining the two, and so on until it gets to the point where you just want to say to them,  "Is there something on your mind?"

[Wrightfan]

Cabin Essence
Cabinessence
Canibessence
Cannabissence
Cannabis

I think that's a stretch imo.

[bgas]

As to the idea of "Bicycle Rider" being a drug reference: maybe three or four levels down, but Parks' use of the phrase to both describe the European settler and a pack of playing cards (symbolic of the Native Americans being relegated to casino operators) takes precedent.

VDP, Prescient as always. Writes a reference to "native American Casino operators" who aren't even in exuistence until 1988 or so...

[bsten]

Why do we always think "albumwise"? Why do we always talk about SMILE as a finished product - but then it wasn't. The creation of songs is an ongoing, endless process. How do we really know SMILE was "abandondoned"? Was it really? How do we know Diamond head and many songs written later on couldn't have been on a later version of SMILE, like the one that was going to come out in the 70's? Yes, there was a track list back in 1966, but was SMILE really meant to be that way? We really don't know, do we? Only Brian knew for sure - or maybe he didn't... Or maybe he really didn't care... Yes, we have the 2004 release, but in the early 00's Brian was another person, not the 1966 Brian that most of us know - and miss...

[The Shift]

Why do we always think "albumwise"? Why do we always talk about SMILE as a finished product - but then it wasn't. The creation of songs is an ongoing, endless process. How do we really know SMILE was "abandondoned"? Was it really? How do we know Diamond head and many songs written later on couldn't have been on a later version of SMILE, like the one that was going to come out in the 70's? Yes, there was a track list back in 1966, but was SMILE really meant to be that way? We really don't know, do we? Only Brian knew for sure - or maybe he didn't... Or maybe he really didn't care... Yes, we have the 2004 release, but in the early 00's Brian was another person, not the 1966 Brian that most of us know - and miss...

Yeah, maybe he' smessing with us for kicks. Maybe the '67 announcement that it was cancelled was just a put on. Maybe the later tracks that surfaced were just parts of a work in progress that he was teasing us with. Maybe the 2004 BWPS was red herring to make us think he'd wrestled it into submission. Maybe this year's box set is a ploy to put us off the scent for what's to come a few years down the line - and who knows -  perhaps that'll just be a big new red herring to fox us yet again!  And Brian's had this grand scheme in his head all along!  What a great guy... Geez...

[Roger Ryan]

As to the idea of "Bicycle Rider" being a drug reference: maybe three or four levels down, but Parks' use of the phrase to both describe the European settler and a pack of playing cards (symbolic of the Native Americans being relegated to casino operators) takes precedent.

VDP, Prescient as always. Writes a reference to "native American Casino operators" who aren't even in exuistence until 1988 or so...

Yeah, sorry about forecasting that lyrical reference a bit. I'll clarify and restate that the playing cards represent the vices (such as gambling) that would corrupt the "church of the American Indian" (this is pretty much what Parks himself has stated). Of course, the repression of Native Americans which is one of the themes of SMiLE is the main factor that lead to Native American-ownership of casinos in the U.S. so Parks wordplay continued to have resonance in new unexpected ways.