Just back from 2011 Stomp convention...

[Andrew G. Doe]

Frank Holmes is a most charming man: new info laid on us was that he did the illustrations while the band were in Europe, which means between October 24th and November 15th... the only sessions he attended were a "GV" vocal session and "Fire"... aside from those, he didn't hear a note of the music... the vintage lyric sheets Brian was looking at for BWPS were his, handed over in 1996... the booklet illustrations are even more complex than we suspect... and the original shop was on Washington Blvd in Pasadena.

[Chocolate Shake Man]

And there were no vintage Child is Father of the Man lyrics sheets?

[Andrew G. Doe]

Nope. Or rather, none were given to Frank.

[Chocolate Shake Man]

Shame.

Cool info though. Thanks!

[rab2591]

Indeed! Thanks for the info!

[SMiLE Brian]

Sounds like an awesome convention.

[hypehat]

I guess the 1996 date of the handover is pertaining to Capitol's plans for a SMiLE release at that time, but that's just a guess - Why else would he hand them over then, unless there was a separate archival project? Any ideas?

[Peter Reum]

How is Roy doing, Andrew? Mike?

[Andrew G. Doe]

Roy is, as ever, Roy. Mike wasn't there. Your name cropped up in my conversation with Frank. 

[Mikie]

Glad you guys finally met Frank. I had dinner with him in 2004 and he's a great guy. And now that you mention it, he did say the front cover illustration was of the front of a shop (unoccupied at the time) in Pasadena, California.

Did he also mention his memory of a ride around town with Brian in a convertable and the conversation and long walk he took with Brian around the block and smoking a splif?

[Bill Tobelman]

AGD reports that Frank Holmes relayed that, "the booklet illustrations are even more complex than we suspect."

What a surprise!

[earcandy]

AGD reports that Frank Holmes relayed that, "the booklet illustrations are even more complex than we suspect."

What a surprise!

But, did he mention the lost Zen illustrations?   

[Bill Tobelman]

Nope. But the goal of Zen & the goal of SMILE were the same.

[Bill Tobelman]

I was wrong.

Brian used The Act Of Creation to achieve the goal, not Zen. But this project still ran parallel to Zen especially in spirit.

The goal was always the same.

[Bill Tobelman]

So when Frank Holmes' drawings have another level (such as the Vega-Tables artwork) it's because the whole freaking thing has another level.

[Pretty Funky]

Would be great to get the original store address for the location site!

I have been to Pasadena several times over the years and there are a lot of store fronts that could be the one the cover is based on, such as this one. (not on Washington)

http://travelandtweet.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Violets_shop_front.jpg

[Andrew G. Doe]

Nope. But the goal of Zen & the goal of SMILE were the same.

Oh yeah, and I asked Frank about the zen angle of his work, seeing as that was possibly the one influence he didn't mention in some two hours of talking. Told me it never entered his head, that all the illustrations were based on word play, malapropisms, visual puns, his childhood and the like... and before you say anything along the likes of "well of course, he was lying to you to maintain the mystery", I discount that entirely.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Would be great to get the original store address for the location site!

I have been to Pasadena several times over the years and there are a lot of store fronts that could be the one the cover is based on, such as this one. (not on Washington)

http://travelandtweet.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Violets_shop_front.jpg

It was demolished decades ago. The best he could recall was Washington Blvd.

[Andrew G. Doe]

AGD reports that Frank Holmes relayed that, "the booklet illustrations are even more complex than we suspect."

What a surprise!

He then proceeded to explain those layers, the lyrics they were based upon, both in the group sessions and one-on-one to me, which rather runs counter to your insistence that all concerned have been keeping the secret for some 44 years by any means possible including outright lying.  A lot of  the "Cabin Essence" 'lost and found' sketch originates from Denny's rap.

[Pretty Funky]

Would be great to get the original store address for the location site!

I have been to Pasadena several times over the years and there are a lot of store fronts that could be the one the cover is based on, such as this one. (not on Washington)

http://travelandtweet.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Violets_shop_front.jpg

It was demolished decades ago. The best he could recall was Washington Blvd.

Thats California for you.

119th st Hawthorne, SMiLE shop. Shame.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Would be great to get the original store address for the location site!

I have been to Pasadena several times over the years and there are a lot of store fronts that could be the one the cover is based on, such as this one. (not on Washington)

http://travelandtweet.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/Violets_shop_front.jpg

It was demolished decades ago. The best he could recall was Washington Blvd.

Thats California for you.

119th st Hawthorne, SMiLE shop. Shame.

Bellagio 10452, Gold Star...

[harveyw]

AGD reports that Frank Holmes relayed that, "the booklet illustrations are even more complex than we suspect."

What a surprise!

He then proceeded to explain those layers, the lyrics they were based upon, both in the group sessions and one-on-one to me, which rather runs counter to your insistence that all concerned have been keeping the secret for some 44 years by any means possible including outright lying.  A lot of  the "Cabin Essence" 'lost and found' sketch originates from Denny's rap.

For those who weren't in attendance, (unless I'm mistaken) a lot of Frank's explanations of the lyrics/artwork are featured in his essay which is to be included in the box set.
Frank was indeed a wonderful guest, full of fascinating insight, and the convention was -once again- a great day. You should have been there.

[Andrew G. Doe]

For those who weren't in attendance, (unless I'm mistaken) a lot of Frank's explanations of the lyrics/artwork are featured in his essay which is to be included in the box set.
Frank was indeed a wonderful guest, full of fascinating insight, and the convention was -once again- a great day. You should have been there.

If I may correct slightly, he said he hoped they would be included, as do we all.

[Bill Tobelman]

Andrew G. Doe said,

He (Frank Holmes) then proceeded to explain those layers, the lyrics they were based upon, both in the group sessions and one-on-one to me, which rather runs counter to your insistence that all concerned have been keeping the secret for some 44 years by any means possible including outright lying.

You've likely picked up upon the 'the more they tell you the more you're back where you started' thing with SMiLE, or maybe you haven't. The three creators could talk forever & ever. You can add all your tidbits & factoids together & you end up with a load of tidbits & factoids that don't add up to anything coherent.

Brian still insists this art was too advanced for its time & that it's still advanced. That implies that there's still something you're missing.

Was impressed by Brian's new claims that SMiLE has to do with a child's viewpoint as seems to get closer to the truth. He hasn't stressed this much before & it definitely fits into the goal of spiritual enlightenment. So we're getting closer Andrew, I'll grant you that.

Would like to add that not long ago when I was quoting Frank and certain folks on the SS board insisted that Holmes had essentially operated in a lyric bubble & was outside of knowing SMiLE's raison d'etre. It's nice to see you give such credence to Mr. Holmes & what he has to say. He definitely belongs up there with Brian & Van Dyke.

[hypehat]

Hey Bill, I thought you'd left! Good to see you back