Indian Wisdom

[DennisWilsonIsMyHero]

What's the deal with this song? I haven't seen much, if any discussion of it. Was it meant to end up on Smile?

[onkster]

It's not a song.  It's a quote from a Hallmark gift book (they used to make cutesy little books to be given like greeting cards).  The artwork including it got used as the back cover of Smiley Smile, with all the color sucked out of it.

I don't recall anyone ever talking about the Hallmark book in a BB thread ever.  I did find a copy at the (deceased) Book Castle in Burbank, and I have that page scanned in full color, if anyone is interested!

[Andrew G. Doe]

It's not a song.  It's a quote from a Hallmark gift book (they used to make cutesy little books to be given like greeting cards).  The artwork including it got used as the back cover of Smiley Smile, with all the color sucked out of it.

I don't recall anyone ever talking about the Hallmark book in a BB thread ever.  I did find a copy at the (deceased) Book Castle in Burbank, and I have that page scanned in full color, if anyone is interested!

Please, do... then I can direct the next person who asks me about it to that page. As opposed to shouting at them, very loudly. 

[A Million Units In Jan!]

Didn't the rumor of this song title start in the Timothy White book? Or did it start somewhere else, and he just perpetuated it?

[Custom Machine]

It's not a song.  It's a quote from a Hallmark gift book (they used to make cutesy little books to be given like greeting cards).  The artwork including it got used as the back cover of Smiley Smile, with all the color sucked out of it.

I don't recall anyone ever talking about the Hallmark book in a BB thread ever.  I did find a copy at the (deceased) Book Castle in Burbank, and I have that page scanned in full color, if anyone is interested!

Yeah, please scan  and post it.  I've never heard this story before, and the album does not have any credits for the front or back cover.  Do you know when this Hallmark book was released?  Does it have a copyright date?

On another note, who was Barry Turnbull, who, according to the back cover of the album, came up with the title Smiley Smile?

[Andrew G. Doe]

Didn't the rumor of this song title start in the Timothy White book? Or did it start somewhere else, and he just perpetuated it?

Said rumor was up and running long before Tim White came along - I recall it from at least 1975.

[onkster]

I don't have the whole book anymore, just the page.

But my recollection of the book was it had a nouveau psychedelic look to it, so I'm guessing it was contemporary--'66, '67.  It was filled with other, similar homilies.

I'll dig up the scan and post it this weekend!

[DennisWilsonIsMyHero]

I hope I didn't ruffle any feathers...

I take it this subject has been beat to death already. The reason I was asking was because I came across it listed as the track title to an instrumental piece. I've never heard the piece before and have no idea what it was intended for.

[Andrew G. Doe]

I hope I didn't ruffle any feathers...

I take it this subject has been beat to death already. The reason I was asking was because I came across it listed as the track title to an instrumental piece. I've never heard the piece before and have no idea what it was intended for.

Does said intrumental piece feature a kinda plunky guitar/mandolin ?

[Jason]

That's most likely what he's referring to. Although I believe the instrument providing the "guitar solo" in the song is actually a bouzouki.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Ah, right... well, the track in question is a Friends out-take, recorded 3/26/68 and logged as "New Song". I've also seen it referred to as a Smile track "Doves Of Peace".

[punkinhead]

isn't it on the Smile Project cdrom?

[Bicyclerider]

Didn't the rumor of this song title start in the Timothy White book? Or did it start somewhere else, and he just perpetuated it?

Said rumor was up and running long before Tim White came along - I recall it from at least 1975.

I remember it was listed in Byron Preiss's book.  That was 1978, I believe.

[hypehat]

isn't it on the Smile Project cdrom?

yeah, which is somewhat misleading.

Is Little Red Book from the Smile period too? Someone told me it was also from Friends

[Andrew G. Doe]

isn't it on the Smile Project cdrom?

yeah, which is somewhat misleading.

Is Little Red Book from the Smile period too? Someone told me it was also from Friends

Rumor was it was Brian's valentine's present to Marilyn, 2/14/67, but I'm most relaibly informed it's a Friends outtake. And yes, I must change the session date on 10452. 

[onkster]

At long last, here's a scan--the upload box was full, so I had to finagle another way.

Here 'tis:

[Andrew G. Doe]

 

[smile-holland]

At long last, here's a scan--the upload box was full, so I had to finagle another way.

Great, thanks onkster.

And if anyone knows more about this gift book, please stand up!

[hypehat]

isn't it on the Smile Project cdrom?

yeah, which is somewhat misleading.

Is Little Red Book from the Smile period too? Someone told me it was also from Friends

Rumor was it was Brian's valentine's present to Marilyn, 2/14/67, but I'm most relaibly informed it's a Friends outtake. And yes, I must change the session date on 10452. 

Thanks as always, Andrew 

And that photo's great, onkster!

[Surfer Joe]

...As opposed to shouting at them, very loudly. 

But that's the only thing that keeps you out of the pool halls! 

When the last remaining shred of Beach Boys Disinformation is stamped out for good, we'll have to get Andrew into an after-school program or something. Idle hands, you know.

*****

The Book Castle in Burbank...geez, do I remember that dusty, yellowed fire hazard.  I even remember the stand with the little Hallmark books up front, near the registers...Happiness Is A Warm Puppy, Second Edition (ninth printing) no dust jacket, as is, $1.19.

It was a big old musty and moldy warehouse with corner entrances, acres and acres of jettisoned and left-behind-forever books with a collective worth in the dozens of dollars.  At the next paper drive.  It always kind of reminded me of the airplane graveyard scene in "The Best Years Of Our Lives", except instead of thousands and thousands of scrapped bombers it was thousands and thousands of cover-stripped Judy Blume novels.  Shudder.

I spent hundreds of hours in there, searching, searching; never buying anything, until finally I had to have a lung removed.  I never made it all the way to the back.  I think from a certain point on it was just a matte painting.

[rasmus skotte]

The Indian Wisdom quote - is it Native American or from India?

[The Shift]

Well I never....   Gobsmacked.

Learn something new every day on this board.

A million thanks Onskter.

[Outie 315]

Me thinks, India.

[onkster]

In fact, the Hallmark book from which Indian Wisdom is derived--is indeed from that Hallmark stand at the front of Book Castle.

Much amazing stuff was there--including a signed first edition of "Tropic of Cancer", just sitting in the racks for $20.  I was out of work at the time, but should have gone into hock to get it.  Regrets, regrets...

I always wonder if the Indian Wisdom thing was Brian's idea--following his pattern of lifting odd things from ordinary pop culture--or whether it was a graphic artist's idea.  I'm betting on the former.

[Dove Nested Towers]

That is a really wonderful mid-'60s image and sentiment (even apart from its association with the album-that-wasn't) and a perfect embodiment of the Smile album aesthetic. Gives me goose bumps.  Do you know if those gift books had titles or any other individual identifying data? I would dearly love to find a copy.