The "Leila Revelation"

[Andrew G. Doe]

I've heard all this stuff too... and the box is just amazing. In some respects, I've not heard it all before, because the difference between the original multitracks and a 4th generation cassette dub is significant. "Cornucopia", for example.

[buddhahat]

I don't feel disappointed by the lack of holy grails. After Adamghost's post a few months back it seemed clear that the amazing finds were limited to one or two things. The Wild Honey SU find is mind blowing enough for me, and I'm also keen to hear Heroes Part 2. Have they constructed it via BW's vintage notes, or is it just made up based on what sounds good together? Well, it's so close in structure to Heroes Sections that I'm inclined to think it's a legitimate stab at what Brian intended, otherwise, why bother have a part 2 mix, and a separate Heroes Sections track?

There are some oddities about the structure according to Leila's post - Tag to Part 1 is now in part 2, and not even functioning as a tag! Also, surely Western Theme was Part 1 material? Unless Brian's original plan for Part 2 was just an odds and sods mix of stuff that didn't make the A Side, but that he didn't want to waste. Therefore material originally slated as a 'tag to Part 1' could easily end up in Part 2, just to pad out the stuff that he specifically recorded for part 2 such as Gee etc. He was the master of reshuffling the modules after all!

[buddhahat]

I've heard all this stuff too... and the box is just amazing. In some respects, I've not heard it all before, because the difference between the original multitracks and a 4th generation cassette dub is significant. "Cornucopia", for example.

So AGD - that Mr B is really down on all the fly ins and cross fades within the disc 1 sequence - the Cool Water vocals, Fall Breaks fly ins etc. Are you able to comment on how the playable album sounds to you? Are you happy with it overall? Any disappointments? Is it worthy of the title 'Smile'?!

[Andrew G. Doe]

I've heard all this stuff too... and the box is just amazing. In some respects, I've not heard it all before, because the difference between the original multitracks and a 4th generation cassette dub is significant. "Cornucopia", for example.

So AGD - that Mr B is really down on all the fly ins and cross fades within the disc 1 sequence - the Cool Water vocals, Fall Breaks fly ins etc. Are you able to comment on how the playable album sounds to you? Are you happy with it overall? Any disappointments? Is it worthy of the title 'Smile'?!

Always bear this in mind - CD1 tracks 1-19 is aimed at Joe Public, not us, and I'm more than happy enough with it. The fly-ins are never too glaringly obvious and the mono mix is so good you soon forget it's not stereo. Of course, it's sorely vocally incomplete in parts, but if you were happy with BWPS, you'll like this, a lot. The biggest disappointment for me is the complete absence of Brian's fall 1966 edit/mono mix of the "Child" track. I expect there's a reason but even so...

And the bvs montage will just curl your hair. An eight-minute eargasm.

[buddhahat]

I've heard all this stuff too... and the box is just amazing. In some respects, I've not heard it all before, because the difference between the original multitracks and a 4th generation cassette dub is significant. "Cornucopia", for example.

So AGD - that Mr B is really down on all the fly ins and cross fades within the disc 1 sequence - the Cool Water vocals, Fall Breaks fly ins etc. Are you able to comment on how the playable album sounds to you? Are you happy with it overall? Any disappointments? Is it worthy of the title 'Smile'?!

Always bear this in mind - CD1 tracks 1-19 is aimed at Joe Public, not us, and I'm more than happy enough with it. The fly-ins are never too glaringly obvious and the mono mix is so good you soon forget it's not stereo. Of course, it's sorely vocally incomplete in parts, but if you were happy with BWPS, you'll like this, a lot. The biggest disappointment for me is the complete absence of Brian's fall 1966 edit/mono mix of the "Child" track. I expect there's a reason but even so...

And the bvs montage will just curl your hair. An eight-minute eargasm.

Thanks for this. Yes I'm a huge fan of BWPS and have always hankered for the ultimate playable sequence of the original material so I think I'm going to enjoy the disc 1 set.

The vocal montage does sound incredible. I like the Uncut description that it could be bottled as a new psychoactive drug!

The Child mono mix is a curious omission but then what would there be left for Smile nerds to fantasize about if it was ALL released!?

[trismegistus]

I think there's one part of that last Leila post that we should be taking better stock of: as it's so eloquently put, we're going to have 5 CDs of pristine quality material to mess around with ourselves, and if something on disc 1 doesn't sound right, it can be easily changed. For better or for worse, Smile isn't just a Brian album or a Beach Boys album, it's an album that belongs to all fans, and this one permutation is hardly going to be the last word on the matter. I know that, a couple days after digesting the box, I'm gonna hunker down and start working out my next chapter of my own Smile saga. Disappointed about the lack of new revelations? 46 years after the last tape went down, the fact that we're getting ANY revelations is cause enough for celebration, and Smile is not only a masterpiece in and of itself, but it has the potential for countless masterpieces besides. Hell, I'm getting married in a couple days and I still have to ponder the upcoming box.

[Andrew G. Doe]

I think there's one part of that last Leila post that we should be taking better stock of: as it's so eloquently put, we're going to have 5 CDs of pristine quality material to mess around with ourselves, and if something on disc 1 doesn't sound right, it can be easily changed.

Oddly enough, that's pretty much what Mark said over a week ago - "you can roll your own".

[Sam_BFC]

I know no-one is really 'complaining' about the lack of holy grails in a disrespectful way, but the main reason why most people here won't be hearing much unheard material is down to the illegal practices of certain people that AB and ML had no real control over.

(Obvs I know that it was because of the boots that Smile remained a topic of conversation etc.)

[Cam Mott]

Maybe the '66 mix of CIFOTM track will be an easter egg or available in some special way.

[Wrightfan]

Maybe the '66 mix of CIFOTM track will be an easter egg or available in some special way.

Maybe they're saving something for a possible "50th anniversary box set"?

Maybe it's just that they couldn't find it in listenable quality as well.

[MJP]

When I saw Apocalpyse Now Redux for the 1st time, I was glad I never saw the 5 hour bootleg worktape.  That said, in much the same light I wish I had never heard the Vigotone and Unsurpassed Masters boots.

I'm stilled p-ssed off that some collectors have Smile tapes that they alone can hear.

[Chris Brown]

Maybe the '66 mix of CIFOTM track will be an easter egg or available in some special way.

Maybe they're saving something for a possible "50th anniversary box set"?

Maybe it's just that they couldn't find it in listenable quality as well.

Both possible - I'd be more inclined to believe the former rather than the latter, but there must be some logical reason behind it.

[Dunderhead]

Some folk.

This makes me think of those folk who express disappointment when their first-born isn't the gender they'd hoped for.

Brian Wilson?

[Andrew G. Doe]

 

[18thofMay]

Some folk.

This makes me think of those folk who express disappointment when their first-born isn't the gender they'd hoped for.

Brian Wilson?

Top 5! Great post

[The Shift]

Some folk.

This makes me think of those folk who express disappointment when their first-born isn't the gender they'd hoped for.

Brian Wilson?

Top 5! Great post

 

[Shady]

How has this woman actually heard the album, is she a freelance journalist or something

[Andrew G. Doe]

How has this woman actually heard the album, is she a freelance journalist or something

Claims to have two friends, one of whom is something to do with Westminster, who have access to a review stream. Seeing as she managed to confuse the Defence Secretary (who has just resigned amid considerable scandal) with the Foreign Secretary (who hasn't), the consensus on the Hoff is, bull.  

[LonelyDays]

Weren't they streaming it? Maybe the hidden tracks weren't steamed.

Correct... but neither were the tracks from the 2nd CD of the 2CD set. 

Leila said that B 'finally let her hear H&V parts 1 and 2' or something. Which makes me think it was from another source rather than the stream.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Weren't they streaming it? Maybe the hidden tracks weren't steamed.

Correct... but neither were the tracks from the 2nd CD of the 2CD set. 

Leila said that B 'finally let her hear H&V parts 1 and 2' or something. Which makes me think it was from another source rather than the stream.

I doubt that - the descriptions she related have been previously circulated. I don't doubt that someone she knows has heard the review stream for the 5CD set, but there are a few claims that just don't sit right with me.

[37!ws]

Maybe the '66 mix of CIFOTM track will be an easter egg or available in some special way.

Maybe they're saving something for a possible "50th anniversary box set"?

"Okay, fellow execs, so we need to put together a 50th anniversary box. Of course, we're going to have to include the hits, just like the 30th anniversary box set did, but what else do we need?"
"Oh, I know what all the fans have just been clamoring for. Let's see. Of course, we need to include 'Good Vibrations,' 'Kokomo,' and 'Surfin' Safari.' How about that 1966 mix of 'Child Is Father Of The Man'?"
"YEAH!!! That'll guarantee that we sell a million units!"

[Shady]

How has this woman actually heard the album, is she a freelance journalist or something

Claims to have two friends, one of whom is something to do with Westminster, who have access to a review stream. Seeing as she managed to confuse the Defence Secretary (who has just resigned amid considerable scandal) with the Foreign Secretary (who hasn't), the consensus on the Hoff is, bull.  

What a nut!

I'm pretty sure it's Mark Linett having a laugh

[LonelyDays]

All the mistakes (and the Saint Etienne quotes) are totally deliberate. She's throwing in a bit of misinformation just to make you wonder. And remember the H&V parts 1 and 2 bit is from a 3rd party. Like..  Leila wasn't even in the room and doesn't comment on it.  It's all B and S 

[Wrightfan]

How has this woman actually heard the album, is she a freelance journalist or something

Claims to have two friends, one of whom is something to do with Westminster, who have access to a review stream. Seeing as she managed to confuse the Defence Secretary (who has just resigned amid considerable scandal) with the Foreign Secretary (who hasn't), the consensus on the Hoff is, bull.  

What a nut!

I'm pretty sure it's Mark Linett having a laugh

She also said that Surf's Up has Brian AND Carl on the verse. Didn't Mark pretty much indicate on the interview that it's just Brian (except for the bygones)?

[Iron Horse-Apples]

How has this woman actually heard the album, is she a freelance journalist or something

Claims to have two friends, one of whom is something to do with Westminster, who have access to a review stream. Seeing as she managed to confuse the Defence Secretary (who has just resigned amid considerable scandal) with the Foreign Secretary (who hasn't), the consensus on the Hoff is, bull.  

What a nut!

I'm pretty sure it's Mark Linett having a laugh

I'm still convinced it's Al.

He broke the news to begin with, he hasn't felt this important for years and he wants more!