Hello there ...
I know TONS of fan mixes of SMiLE have been made, I only know the most notorious ones, like Purple Chick, Ann Wallace, Mok, whom I thanks BTW.
As we're only a few weeks from the so much awaited
official release, I wanted to bring you my take on SMiLE with a few improvements (or attempts at least) as a little "appetizer" to the
REAL THNIG !
Here is an -almost comprehensive- list of what I did on my mix
(everything is from vintage Beach Boys recording no BWPS bits here) :
-
Our Prayer/Gee: nothing new except that "Gee" ends a bit differently than BWPS and upcoming release.
-
H&V part1: I remixed the verses so they sound less "overprocessed" than the 2001 Remaster, more like the upcoming version sounds
but in stereo. I also restored the "dance, dance" BVs and the mandolins. They're even a bit louder than the upcoming mix. It segues with "IIGS" with rather seemlessly flown-in demo vocals. You might find it pretentious but I never heard a better fly-in. You
SHOULD have a listen
.
-
H&V part2: Starts with a pretty clean version of Barnyard with demo vocs flown in (I'm not completely satisfied here, but it's better than a lot of things I heard on other fan mixes). I've done an attempt of "intelligent stereoization" of the backing track. It doesn't work
very well, but it's better than the usual "10ms delay on one channel". Here, when you mix both channels back into mono, you have the exact mono original. My version of H&V ends differently than on BWPS.
-
Do You Like Worms: a totally different song structure than the one we know. I did this because I extensively listened to SMiLE during 2 years. And I started to feel a little "bored" by this one although IMO, enough vocals had been recorded to make it a bit more into a song. Listen to it, I hope you'll be surprised, or at least amused
.
-
Cabinessence: I removed the ADT on Carl's voice, so it's dead center and sounds a lot more natural and "66" rather than "68". It sounds rather close to the MOJO version, except that it's STEREO. The "Truck Drivin Man" vocals are louder (as on the MOJO vinyl) and I extended the beautiful tag using the intrumental stereo version.
-
The Elements Intro: Ok, just the "Fire" Intro but in stereo. Segues into:
-
Vega-Tables: Pretty close to the upcoming official version
but in stereo. I really liked how Sir Mark Linett rebuilt this song (the Facebook version) ! I was just frustrated it's mono. Segues into:
-
Water: a new stereo mix of the water chant. Segues into:
-
Wind Chimes: everything (even vocals) in stereo. 2nd verse using an alternate backing version. I hope you'll like the bridge (with horns). Ends LIKE BWPS (there's a little harmony/vocals twist on the last chorus that people usually miss).
-
Fire: Nothing new here. "Fall Breaks" vocals flown-in just like in the Purple Chick version, but not better IMO.
-
Good Vibrations: in stereo. Tape phasing in the begining removed. Tack piano backing on 2nd verse
. Reworked bridge "humm De humms". Ends pretty much like Purple Chick but sounds a little bit better IMO.
-
Holidays: Starts the "Adult/Child" suite. Sounds pretty clean. Like Barnyard, I tried to "stereoize" this one. Well, it's kinda shy, but it sounds a bit more "open" than the mono version. Features the "Rock Rock Roll" flown-in vocals from Do You Like Worms on top of the second chorus (and in stereo, please). Ends on a crossfade with the "whispering winds" vocal tag (but in better quality/sync than Purple Chick). Segues into:
-
Wonderful: Stereo (
REAL stereo, no synchronisation of two IDENTICAL mono tracks like Purple Chick). Features the "Yodel" vocals. I maybe could've done better with a bit more time spent on that. Segues into:
-
Look: with the Beach Boys (
not the Wondermints) singing "won-won-wonderful" on the begining, and "Child, child, child" on the choruses. Awright dudes, digital manipulation here, but the result got a few by surprise. I know purists will be shocked, but you definitely should put an hear on that
.
-
CIFTTM: well, nothing new here. I tried to improve the sound quality, but failed !
I'm quite unhappy with it.
-
Surf's Up: new Brian vocals synchronisation. A funny intro. Extended vocals on the "child father of the man" tag by the boys.
If you're interested in hearing this,
Please
Message me, or users "SloopJohnB" or "Rab2591" whom I both thank a lot by the way for having helping me doing this.
Have A Nice Day.
And don't forget to buy The Smile Sessions as soon as it gets released !!!