A new old Beach Boys album....
Blog: Music For Old(er) Folks
November 1, 2011
You know it's got to be a letdown. Capitol Records is releasing unheard recordings from the legendary "lost" Beach Boys LP (so I'm dating myself) "Smile" this week, 44 years after it's original release date. And to be honest, it's not actually "Smile" but "The Smile Sessions", tapes from the recording sessions where "Smile" was almost put together.
Using the 2004 Brian Wilson release of his re-recorded version of "Smile" as a base, the label, with Wilson's blessing, has assembled the tapes from the "Smile" sessions into a coheasive package that should...I haven't got it yet....let us into the concept that was shelved so long ago.
We all know some songs were released on later BB's albums, and that they were absolute masterpieces, but not in the version recorded. "Heros And Villans", for example.....
....when compared to Wilson's version appears to be an edit. And a question has been offered about Carl Wilson's version of "Surf's Up" as to it being a re-recording of the original.
"Smile Sessions" is available in 3 forms. For those of you that must have it all, there's a $140 box set. For the rest of us, the "Smile Sessions" are available on 2 CD's or 2 LP's in the $25 range. 24 cuts in total, which is pretty heady stuff for an LP that originally was scheduled for ony 11.
It's going to be interesting to see how the whole thing comes off. When Van Dyke Parks left the "Smile" project, for all practical purposes it died. When Wilson released his 2004 version, one got an idea of what was in the original LP. Granted, a thin version (I'm not a big fan of Brian's voice nowadays, and the Wondermints sound a little light) AND it is NOT what "Smile" whould have been had it been released. But with that disclamer, I'm looking forward to grabbing a copy.
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psychoteacher 6 months, 3 weeks ago
A new old Beach Boys album....
Sadly, it will go un-noticed. Having seen Smile performed live, I found the recorded version didn't hold up nearly as well. Maybe this relates back to your comment about the Wondermints. I've seen Brian three times (including his first ever solo show at The Michigan Theatre) and have had no complaints at all about the band. As for Brian's voice. It doesn't matter. This is Brian Wilson, the greatest musician genuis in the history of American pop music.
11Bravo 6 months, 3 weeks ago
A new old Beach Boys album....
I had the pleasure of taking my daughter and 14 year old granddaughter to the BB concert in August. The crowd was mostly old folks like myself. There were a lot of younger folk in the audience. I know Brian is not with them anymore, and Mike Wilson is the only one left in the BB touring band but they still put on a great show. I have had the privilege of seeing them in 1964 (with Brian),1965 (Glenn Campbell) and then again in the 80's 90's and 3 years ago with John Cowsill filling in. They have always managed to put on a great show and their songs are timeless!
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