Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE

[Gabo]

I realize I'm probably going to get kicked off the board for this, but I think the time has come to fess up.... I can't stand this album. I hate everything about it. It is contrived and phony and sounds like the soundtrack to a second rate broadway musical. I bought it when I came out, but was immediately disappointed. It just never felt right. What was cool and edgy for a 25 year old back in the 60s felt, again, contrived and phony for a 60 year old in 2004. I was also pissed at all the adulation that Brian was getting when 90% of the music had ALREADY BEEN RELEASED by the Beach Boys and sounded ten times better by the Beach Boys. The real kicker was the obnoxious jettisoning of Mike Love's GV lyrics for the discarded Tony Asher lyrics. To me it was a spit in the face.

This is a 1 star album for me. I hate that it exists.

I would have to agree with this, but ultimately I'm glad it exists. At least it gave a running order that allowed the original sessions to be released.

I think I would like BWPS if it showed obvious signs of Brian's creativity in 2004. It would have been nice, for example, if he arranged the second section of Surf's Up. As it is, it's an exact replica of the Surf's Up album track, albeit with worse vocals.

[drbeachboy]

I realize I'm probably going to get kicked off the board for this, but I think the time has come to fess up.... I can't stand this album. I hate everything about it. It is contrived and phony and sounds like the soundtrack to a second rate broadway musical. I bought it when I came out, but was immediately disappointed. It just never felt right. What was cool and edgy for a 25 year old back in the 60s felt, again, contrived and phony for a 60 year old in 2004. I was also pissed at all the adulation that Brian was getting when 90% of the music had ALREADY BEEN RELEASED by the Beach Boys and sounded ten times better by the Beach Boys. The real kicker was the obnoxious jettisoning of Mike Love's GV lyrics for the discarded Tony Asher lyrics. To me it was a spit in the face.

This is a 1 star album for me. I hate that it exists.

I would have to agree with this, but ultimately I'm glad it exists. At least it gave a running order that allowed the original sessions to be released.

I think I would like BWPS if it showed obvious signs of Brian's creativity in 2004. It would have been nice, for example, if he arranged the second section of Surf's Up. As it is, it's an exact replica of the Surf's Up album track, albeit with worse vocals.

My understanding was that the second section was never recorded or went missing. So, the fact that you have a recorded string arrangement on BWPS says to me that he completed what was not done back in 1966-67.

[Gabo]

I realize I'm probably going to get kicked off the board for this, but I think the time has come to fess up.... I can't stand this album. I hate everything about it. It is contrived and phony and sounds like the soundtrack to a second rate broadway musical. I bought it when I came out, but was immediately disappointed. It just never felt right. What was cool and edgy for a 25 year old back in the 60s felt, again, contrived and phony for a 60 year old in 2004. I was also pissed at all the adulation that Brian was getting when 90% of the music had ALREADY BEEN RELEASED by the Beach Boys and sounded ten times better by the Beach Boys. The real kicker was the obnoxious jettisoning of Mike Love's GV lyrics for the discarded Tony Asher lyrics. To me it was a spit in the face.

This is a 1 star album for me. I hate that it exists.

I would have to agree with this, but ultimately I'm glad it exists. At least it gave a running order that allowed the original sessions to be released.

Th

I think I would like BWPS if it showed obvious signs of Brian's creativity in 2004. It would have been nice, for example, if he arranged the second section of Surf's Up. As it is, it's an exact replica of the Surf's Up album track, albeit with worse vocals.

My understanding was that the second section was never recorded or went missing. So, the fact that you have a recorded string arrangement on BWPS says to me that he completed what was not done back in 1966-67.

Well... it really still is a re-recording of the piano demo second section, plus strings which he probably did not arrange himself... The second section of Surf's Up is just begging for more instrumentation. Too bad we'll never hear it.

[drbeachboy]

I realize I'm probably going to get kicked off the board for this, but I think the time has come to fess up.... I can't stand this album. I hate everything about it. It is contrived and phony and sounds like the soundtrack to a second rate broadway musical. I bought it when I came out, but was immediately disappointed. It just never felt right. What was cool and edgy for a 25 year old back in the 60s felt, again, contrived and phony for a 60 year old in 2004. I was also pissed at all the adulation that Brian was getting when 90% of the music had ALREADY BEEN RELEASED by the Beach Boys and sounded ten times better by the Beach Boys. The real kicker was the obnoxious jettisoning of Mike Love's GV lyrics for the discarded Tony Asher lyrics. To me it was a spit in the face.

This is a 1 star album for me. I hate that it exists.

I would have to agree with this, but ultimately I'm glad it exists. At least it gave a running order that allowed the original sessions to be released.

Th

I think I would like BWPS if it showed obvious signs of Brian's creativity in 2004. It would have been nice, for example, if he arranged the second section of Surf's Up. As it is, it's an exact replica of the Surf's Up album track, albeit with worse vocals.

My understanding was that the second section was never recorded or went missing. So, the fact that you have a recorded string arrangement on BWPS says to me that he completed what was not done back in 1966-67.

Well... it really still is a re-recording of the piano demo second section, plus strings which he probably did not arrange himself... The second section of Surf's Up is just begging for more instrumentation. Too bad we'll never hear it.

What do you suppose he was going to do different? I have never read anything other than not recording the second part, with strings. This he did on BWPS.

[Seaside Woman]

Sometimes you're simply overwhelmed by the music I was by this, I cried. Why it all means so much I don't know but I really feel sorry for the people who don't have the ability to hear this in all its wonder.

I play this more than the Beach Boys version.

[Rocky Raccoon]

I will never understand the criticism for this album.  To me, it is perfect in every way, as great a recording of music can possibly be.

[drbeachboy]

I will never understand the criticism for this album.  To me, it is perfect in every way, as great a recording of music can possibly be.

Biggest issue is, is that is not the Beach Boys singing. Brian's band performed it better Live, imho. Those shows were spectacular!

[pixletwin]

I have a mix that a member here made using the BWPS backing tracks and a few vocals where they were missing and flies in vintage 66-67/71 vocals. It is a superb.

[Dudd]

Ooh. Sounds good. What mix?

[pixletwin]

Here is his mix of Surf's Up. Gives you an idea of what the rest of the album sounds like.

http://youtu.be/XVENkH7s1eQ

[rab2591]

I have a mix that a member here made using the BWPS backing tracks and a few vocals where they were missing and flies in vintage 66-67/71 vocals. It is a superb.

Does anyone know where one could download this version? That Surf's Up mix is beautiful.

[pixletwin]

I have a mix that a member here made using the BWPS backing tracks and a few vocals where they were missing and flies in vintage 66-67/71 vocals. It is a superb.

Does anyone know where one could download this version? That Surf's Up mix is beautiful.

I don't think he shared it with many people.He posted Surf's Up a few years ago but no one really paid much attention to it and he was weary of sharing more for fear that he would get in trouble so he shared it with me via email.... I pm'd him a few weeks ago to see if it was ok for me to share more but he hasn't responded ( I don't think he has logged on here since April and he rarely posts).

I made that YouTube video to encourage him to let me share the rest.

[rab2591]

I have a mix that a member here made using the BWPS backing tracks and a few vocals where they were missing and flies in vintage 66-67/71 vocals. It is a superb.

Does anyone know where one could download this version? That Surf's Up mix is beautiful.

I don't think he shared it with many people.He posted Surf's Up a few years ago but no one really paid much attention to it and he was weary of sharing more for fear that he would get in trouble so he shared it with me via email.... I pm'd him a few weeks ago to see if it was ok for me to share more but he hasn't responded ( I don't think he has logged on here since April and he rarely posts).

I made that YouTube video to encourage him to let me share the rest.

Thanks for making that video - that's the best version of Surf's Up I've heard - made me extremely curious of what the rest of the mix sounds like. I hope he responds to you!

[Mendota Heights]

I have a mix that a member here made using the BWPS backing tracks and a few vocals where they were missing and flies in vintage 66-67/71 vocals. It is a superb.

Does anyone know where one could download this version? That Surf's Up mix is beautiful.

If you put the letters "ss" before the youtube.com part of the address (like this: ssyoutube.com/watch?v=XVENkH7s1eQ) you are taken to a site where you can download the video.

[Jason]

I realize I'm probably going to get kicked off the board for this, but I think the time has come to fess up.... I can't stand this album. I hate everything about it. It is contrived and phony and sounds like the soundtrack to a second rate broadway musical. I bought it when I came out, but was immediately disappointed. It just never felt right. What was cool and edgy for a 25 year old back in the 60s felt, again, contrived and phony for a 60 year old in 2004. I was also pissed at all the adulation that Brian was getting when 90% of the music had ALREADY BEEN RELEASED by the Beach Boys and sounded ten times better by the Beach Boys. The real kicker was the obnoxious jettisoning of Mike Love's GV lyrics for the discarded Tony Asher lyrics. To me it was a spit in the face.

This is a 1 star album for me. I hate that it exists.

You are my favorite poster right now. This is the greatest review of this album I've ever read. K-TEL repackaging of the Smile music...that's what it sounds like.

[Chocolate Shake Man]

I have a mix that a member here made using the BWPS backing tracks and a few vocals where they were missing and flies in vintage 66-67/71 vocals. It is a superb.

Does anyone know where one could download this version? That Surf's Up mix is beautiful.

I don't think he shared it with many people.He posted Surf's Up a few years ago but no one really paid much attention to it and he was weary of sharing more for fear that he would get in trouble so he shared it with me via email.... I pm'd him a few weeks ago to see if it was ok for me to share more but he hasn't responded ( I don't think he has logged on here since April and he rarely posts).

I made that YouTube video to encourage him to let me share the rest.

Not sure if you noticed but there has been a thread devoted to locating his mix of Barnyard and I'm in Great Shape which were highly praised at the time. All links to those versions, though, have gone dead. If you do get ahold of him, it would be well appreciated to let him know that several of us would love for him to re-up his mix.

[pixletwin]

I have a mix that a member here made using the BWPS backing tracks and a few vocals where they were missing and flies in vintage 66-67/71 vocals. It is a superb.

Does anyone know where one could download this version? That Surf's Up mix is beautiful.

I don't think he shared it with many people.He posted Surf's Up a few years ago but no one really paid much attention to it and he was weary of sharing more for fear that he would get in trouble so he shared it with me via email.... I pm'd him a few weeks ago to see if it was ok for me to share more but he hasn't responded ( I don't think he has logged on here since April and he rarely posts).

I made that YouTube video to encourage him to let me share the rest.

Not sure if you noticed but there has been a thread devoted to locating his mix of Barnyard and I'm in Great Shape which were highly praised at the time. All links to those versions, though, have gone dead. If you do get ahold of him, it would be well appreciated to let him know that several of us would love for him to re-up his mix.

How intriguing. The version I have uses the plain ol' BWPS vocals on those particular tracks. Could you post a link to that thread for me? I'll surely PM him. I need to find his email.

Edit: I found his email and just sent him an inquiry.

[zachrwolfe]

‍

[Dudd]

Me too!

[pixletwin]

He wrote me back and said it was ok to share the rest and that when he gets a free moment he will update his Ultimate Smile mix with the Barnyard and IIGS added.

If you would like to hear his 2007 mix pm me. Or if you'd all rather ill just upload the whole thing to YouTube.

[Niko]

While I really like this record, there is something unsettling about it...it feels like it was produced in a very short amount of time. I can see why so many people just didn't get it when it came out.

Also, Darian's "doo doo" part on Heroes and Villains just bothers me. It's very prominent in the mix and I just can't listen to that song without only hearing him.

4 stars, though I'll listen to The Smile Sessions or a bootleg mix over this 9 times out of 10

[smilethebeachboysloveyou]

Also, Darian's "doo doo" part on Heroes and Villains just bothers me. It's very prominent in the mix and I just can't listen to that song without only hearing him.

I agree completely.  It totally ruins what had been a tour-de-fource a cappella harmonization in The Beach Boys' version.

[Lowbacca]

I 'accepted' BWPS as its own thing (as opposed to the definitive version or conclusion to the SMiLE story*) a long time ago and to this day enjoy the album very much. The vinyl blasted over a good system + speakers is among the best-sounding BBs-related records ever released.


I Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE.





* There ain't such a thing, anyway. Never will be.

[rab2591]

Having a completely finished spiritual suite, a fully completed 'On A Holiday'/'In Blue Hawaii', and a theme that sets it apart from any other record - it's a real gift to any lover of music.

I hate that it's so looked down upon. I understand why it is looked down upon, and don't blame people for disliking the MIDI harpsichord, the lack of Beach Boy vocals, etc. But this album is friggin' brilliant: the chords, the harmonies, the lyrics, the story it tells. It's a shame it will probably never be treated like the masterpiece* that it is (or could have been).

*Well, I guess it is treated like the Holy Grail of 60s music, so in that it is treated like a masterpiece.

[Rocky Raccoon]

It's only looked down upon by super fans on this board in retrospect. When it came out, it was pretty much universally acclaimed.