The Beach Boys to Finally Release Smile Sessions
The Beach Boys’ Smile is quite possibly the most storied lost album in rock history. The album was stalled in 1967 by sonic mastermind Brian Wilson’s nervous breakdown, and its songs were heavily bootlegged in the ensuing decades. Wilson released a much-loved, reworked solo version in 2004, but all sorts of issues with record labels and band members prevented the official release of the original Smile. But now, Billboard reports that Capitol is finally planning to release The Smile Sessions later this year.
According to Billboard, Mark Linett, who recorded and mixed Wilson’s 2004 Smile, and archivist Alan Boyd are co-producing the release, which will be available as a download, a double-CD set, and a box featuring four CDs, two vinyl LPs, two vinyl singles, and a book by Beach Boys historian Domenic Priore.
Although no release date has been set yet, and previous plans throughout the decades to release Smile have fallen through, EMI exec Bill Gagnon assures Billboard that “it’s coming out,” saying that all of the band members and associated parties have given their support.
Linett and Boyd are working to construct a version of Smile that’s as close as possible to Brian Wilson’s original vision, with the album proper taking up one CD or three sides of vinyl, and outtakes claiming the rest of the space. In a statement given to Billboard, Wilson says, “I’m thrilled that the Beach Boys’ original studio sessions for Smile will be released for the first time, after all these years. I’m looking forward to this collection of the original recordings and having fans hear the beautiful angelic voices of the boys in a proper studio release.”
via Pitchfork
This is absolutely huge news! I can’t wait to hear these. Especially after I’ve been delving into the Pet Sounds Sessions earlier this week.
Back to 1967, on the day the Beach Boys recorded the bare and light-hearted “Vegetables,” another track written for Smile: Paul McCartney decided to drop by the studio. He can be heard chewing vegetables for the track’s only percussion. And, as Al Jardine recalls, McCartney and Wilson could be seen together behind the console at one point, and McCartney even ventured to play Wilson the just-finished “A Day in the Life” before Sgt Pepper was even released. While a supposedly “burned-out” genius was creating the most simplistic recording he’d made in years, he became a first-hand witness to the popular sonic revolution that he could have been. In the public eye, the Beatles were the clear victors, and the people simply weren’t satisfied with second place. Now, with Smiley Smile finally reissued in America after years of out-of-print status, hopefully people will begin to analyze the whole race again. In my mind, it was a photo finish.
— Spencer Owen, March 29, 2001
Usually Pitchfork’s reviews are a source of frustration as I find myself sticking up for the music I love. Thankfully, Spencer Owens eloquently writes of the complexity and talent of a musician and producer who seems to be too often in the shadow of Lennon and McCartney. In my mind these “greats” of 20th century music are all on the same playing field: Wilson, Lennon, McCartney, Dylan, Young. They have changed the way music is heard and written and Brian Wilson has earned his respect as much as any of the others.
If you haven’t heard Smile, Brian Wilson completed the mythic unfinished album which began it’s inception in 1966, in 2004. Even considering the passing of time the album is gorgeous and stands with the high canon of Beach Boys records. I highly suggest it.
I found Daniel Zott through some minimal Bandcamp wandering this morning and I’m really impressed with his music. I’m surprised that more people haven’t heard of him because his music is really melodic and has a vague essence of Sufjan Stevens vocals and (this is a terrible comparison) Grizzly Bear. He goes between acoustic and electronics whilst having great hooks each time. Just go to his site and listen for yourself to figure out what the heck I’m trying to say.
Young Hunting - Into Yr Mind
Fresh, fresh stuff from Los Angeles. Chill-fi pop that takes the Beach Boys, shoves it in a jar of fireflies, shakes it around, swirling it all together and releasing the joy drip by drip onto your welcoming eardrums. Look for more of this coming soon… I hear it’s “freaky gorgeous” (or so band friend Christina tells me).
“Til I Die” by The Beach Boys
I was introduced to the Beach Boys by my dad’s copy of Endless Summer. It was a two-record compilation from the mid-70s with all their hits, and for many years, was the only thing I knew about them. My sister also had a copy, so I could listen anytime I wanted. The artwork for Endless Summer featured a painted mural of big Beach Boys heads positioned in wavy jungle grass, and I spent hours looking at their grinning, bearded faces, imagining what kind of magic strangeness they were really up to behind “I Get Around” and “Catch a Wave”. Later, I found a book about them, and again saw aged, beaten faces, with lots of hair, tacky, yellow pants and inappropriately overweight grown men. I hadn’t even heard Pet Sounds yet, but was convinced these people were sad and interesting. And they usually smiled.
- Dominique Leone
In just over a month this song has grown on me so much that it’s become on of my favorites. Like, “In My Room”, I feel like I can identify with this sadness, as most can. Sadness, when expressed sincerely, feels fragile and beautiful. There’s a deepness in this song that suddenly re-contextualizes The Beach Boys catalog. A deepness that proves these aren’t just pop songs.
* Also, I think Endless Summer should be every kid’s initiation.
Some background information via Wikipedia:
According to Brian [Wilson] in the press material for the Surf’s Up album, the song was inspired after a late night trip to the beach. Wilson recalled the events prior to him writing the song:
“Lately, I’d been depressed and preoccupied with death…Looking out toward the ocean, my mind, as it did almost every hour of every day, worked to explain the inconsistencies that dominated my life; the pain, torment, and confusion and the beautiful music I was able to make. Was there an answer? Did I have no control? Had I ever? Feeling shipwrecked on an existential island, I lost myself in the balance of darkness that stretched beyond the breaking waves to the other side of the earth. The ocean was so incredibly vast, the universe was so large, and suddenly I saw myself in proportion to that, a little pebble of sand, a jellyfish floating on top of the water; traveling with the current I felt dwarfed, temporary. The next day I began writing “‘Til I Die”, perhaps the most personal song I ever wrote for The Beach Boys…In doing so, I wanted to re-create the swell of emotions that I’d felt at the beach the previous night.”
I’ve been working on answering these questions for the past 2 days because I always tend to over analyze questions about what music I like. It’s probably because by love of music falls into the realm of obsession sometimes. I end up idolizing people with encyclopedic knowledge of musicians, songs and albums. Here’s a taste of soem of the obsessions I’ve had over the years.
Also, feel free to reblog this and add your own answers!
- Name your favorite album of all time and why.
- Name your favorite song of all time and why.
- Name your favorite artist of all time.
- Name your most favorite album this year.
- Name your favorite song this year.
- Name your favorite album art of all time.
- Name your favorite album art this year.
- Favorite video of all time and why.
- Favorite video of the year.
1. I think it’s a tie between Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys and Clouds Taste Metallic by The Flaming Lips. Both of these albums make me feel nothing but happiness and sounds perfect in every moment.
4. “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” by The Beach Boys. That opening melody just instantly perks my ears up. I think it’s one of the most beautiful songs ever written.
5. These questions are insanely hard for me (so much that I saved this post as a draft) so I’m not sure if I can choose one favorite band. Instead I’ll limit it to two. I think right now I like Yo La Tengo a lot. It’s come to be my default band if I’m not sure what to listen to. When I’m in the mood for a more adventurous sound I head to The Flaming Lips. I love how they’re pretty much my parents age and yet still pushing themselves to create unique sounds. I love their endless curiosity and the limitlessness of their expression.
6. Teen Dream by Beach House. It is gorgeous from beginning to end. Victoria Legrand has also quickly become one of my favorite female vocalists.
7. Choosing a single track so far is impossible so I’m limiting it to a couple:
- “No One In The World” by Apples In Stereo
- “Remember Last Time” by Avi Buffalo
- “Walk In The Park” by Beach House
- “Excuses” by The Morning Benders
- “When I’m With You” by Best Coast (iTunes says I’ve listened to this 24 times)
8. I just looked through my iTunes for an embarrassingly long time looking at album artwork but the one I thought of first without that stimulation is the one I keep coming back to. It may not be my definitely answer but I think Beck’s cover for Sea Change is wonderful. Specifically the one which includes the sleeve and looks like this.
9. It took even longer for me to think of the best album art so far for this year but then it finally popped into my head. I haven’t even listened to Tokyo Police Club’s new album, Champ, but I remembered it solely on how damn exciting the cover makes it look. See for yourself.
10. I’ve never been one to gush over videos for songs that much (as I think the songs and the album as a whole are the real meat). I feel like videos are just promotion and they rarely become great enough to be called art. That being said, I am a big fan of Michael Gondry’s work and I think he takes the medium of music video to a whole new level. His video for Bjork’s “Bachelorette” creates an elaborate story which mimics the gracious nature of the song and breeds a Charlie Kaufman-esque paradox (which is a whole lot of ambition for five minutes). Gondry’s video for Cibo Matto’s “Sugar Water” is equally clever and surreal.
11. My favorite video of the year so far is definitely Spike Jonzes’s video for LCD Soundsystem’s “Drunk Girls”. I’ve never really listened to them but the video just works so well with the building music that it really adds to it. Plus a gang of riotous pandas is a hilarious idea for a video.
