The Beach Boys’ fabled “SMiLE” album is finally hitting shelves, some forty years after recording was first started.
Capitol/EMI has collected the iconic band’s storied ’66 – ’67 sessions for the unfinished LP, with the participation of original Beach Boys Al Jardine, Mike Love, and “SMiLE” mastermind Brian Wilson, to be released in multiple formats November 1.
In multiple marathon recording sessions in 1966 and 1967, The Beach Boys recorded dozens of songs (many co-written by Van Dyke Parks) to appear on an album intended to be the follow-up to the band’s acclaimed 1966 album, “Pet Sounds.” With Wilson’s unchecked depression and paranoia increasing, a ballooning budget and legal problems with Capitol, the unfinished recordings were ultimately shelved. The group then started on new material from scratch, with some versions of potential “SMiLE” songs being re-recorded later for subsequent releases. As envisaged by the ambitious Wilson, “SMiLE” was never released and became the ultimate “lost” album.
In 2004, Wilson released a solo album entitled “SMiLE,” featuring contemporary recordings of the album’s songs, with Wilson being backed by his touring band, including three members of the power pop group The Wondermints.
The upcoming 2 CD/double vinyl release, however, is culled from the original ’60s masters, and will include the album as originally intended, plus additional session highlights and bonus tracks, including demos and stereo re-mixes (I hope you like “Good Vibrations”).
For all the Mr. and Mrs. Moneybags out there, a bigger box set of “The SMiLE Sessions” will also include four CDs of additional audio from the sessions (featuring early song drafts, alternate takes, instrumental and vocals-only mixes, and studio chatter), two 7″ singles, and a 60-page hardbound book. On the group’s site, buyers can order other iterations of the set that include t-shirts, lithographs, autograph and even a custom-made “SMiLE” surfboard.
Here’s the complete track list. You can probably throw out those bootlegs now:
The SMiLE Sessions (2CD; Digital; iTunes LP)
CD ONE
SMiLE
1. Our Prayer (1:06)
2. Gee (0:51)
3. Heroes And Villains (4:53)
4. Do You Like Worms (Roll Plymouth Rock) (3:36)
5. I’m In Great Shape (0:29)
6. Barnyard (0:48)
7. My Only Sunshine (The Old Master Painter / You Are My Sunshine) (1:57)
8. Cabin Essence (3:32)
9. Wonderful (2:04)
10. Look (Song For Children) (2:31)
11. Child Is Father Of The Man (2:14)
12. Surf’s Up (4:12)
13. I Wanna Be Around / Workshop (1:23)
14. Vega-Tables (3:49)
15. Holidays (2:33)
16. Wind Chimes (3:06)
17. The Elements: Fire (Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow) (2:35)
18. Love To Say Dada (2:32)
19. Good Vibrations (4:13)
Bonus Tracks
20. You’re Welcome (1:08)
21. Heroes And Villains (Stereo Mix) (4:53)
22. Heroes And Villains Sections (Stereo Mix) (7:16)
23. Vega-Tables Demo (1:46)
24. He Gives Speeches (1:14)
25. Smile Backing Vocals Montage (8:30)
26. Surf’s Up 1967 (Solo Version) (4:09)
27. Psycodelic Sounds: Brian Falls Into A Piano (1:30)
CD TWO
1. Our Prayer “Dialog” (9/19/66) (3:02)
2. Heroes And Villains: Part 1 (3:08)
3. Heroes And Villains: Part 2 (4:18)
4. Heroes And Villains: Children Were Raised (1/27/67) (2:07)
5. Heroes And Villains: Prelude To Fade (2/15/67) (3:42)
6. My Only Sunshine (11/14/66) (6:52)
7. Cabin Essence (10/3/66) (5:19)
8. Surf’s Up: 1st Movement (11/4/66) (4:55)
9. Surf’s Up: Piano Demo (12/15/66) (3:53)
10. Vega-Tables: Fade (4/12/67) (5:25)
11. The Elements: Fire session (11/28/66) (8:27)
12. Cool, Cool Water (Version 2) (10/26-10/29/67) (3:32)
13. Good Vibrations Session Highlights (8:20)
The SMiLE Sessions Box Set (5CD+Double LP+Two 7″ Singles; digital)
CD ONE
SMiLE
1. Our Prayer (1:06)
2. Gee (0:51)
3. Heroes And Villains (4:53)
4. Do You Like Worms (Roll Plymouth Rock) (3:36)
5. I’m In Great Shape (0:29)
6. Barnyard (0:48)
7. My Only Sunshine (The Old Master Painter / You Are My Sunshine) (1:57)
8. Cabin Essence (3:32)
9. Wonderful (2:04)
10. Look (Song For Children) (2:31)
11. Child Is Father Of The Man (2:14)
12. Surf’s Up (4:12)
13. I Wanna Be Around / Workshop (1:23)
14. Vega-Tables (3:49)
15. Holidays (2:33)
16. Wind Chimes (3:06)
17. The Elements: Fire (Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow) (2:35)
18. Love To Say Dada (2:32)
19. Good Vibrations (4:13)
Bonus Tracks
20. You’re Welcome (1:08)
21. Heroes And Villains (Stereo Mix) (4:53)
22. Heroes And Villains Sections (Stereo Mix) (7:16)
23. Vega-Tables Demo (1:46)
24. He Gives Speeches (1:14)
25. Smile Backing Vocals Montage (8:30)
26. Surf’s Up 1967 (Solo version) (4:09)
27. Psycodelic Sounds: Brian Falls Into A Piano (1:30)
CD TWO
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
OUR PRAYER
1. Our Prayer “Dialog” (9/19/66) (3:01)
2. Our Prayer (10/4/66) (6:37)
HEROES AND VILLAINS
Heroes And Villains Session (10/20/66)
3. Heroes And Villains: Verse (Master Take) (0:57)
4. Heroes And Villains: Barnyard (Master Take) (1:12)
5. Heroes And Villains: I’m In Great Shape (10/27/66) (4:59)
6. Heroes And Villains: Intro (Early Version) circa 12/66 (0:35)
Heroes And Villains Session (1/3/67)
7. Heroes And Villains: Do A Lot (0:53)
8. Heroes And Villains: Bag Of Tricks (2:58)
9. Heroes And Villains: Mission Pak (0:55)
10. Heroes And Villains: Bridge To Indians (1:47)
11. Heroes And Villains: Part 1 Tag (1:19)
12. Heroes And Villains: Pickup To 3rd Verse (0:55)
Heroes And Villains Session (1/27/67)
13. Heroes And Villains: Children Were Raised (2:07)
14. Heroes And Villains: Part 2 (Cantina track) (1:21)
15. Heroes And Villains: Whistling Bridge (1:14)
16. Heroes And Villains: Cantina (1:36)
17. Heroes And Villains: All Day (2:19)
18. Heroes And Villains: Verse Edit Experiment (0:48)
Heroes And Villains Session (2/15/67)
19. Heroes And Villains: Prelude to Fade (3:43)
20. Heroes And Villains: Piano Theme (2:43)
Heroes And Villains Session (2/20/67)
21. Heroes And Villains: Part 2 (2:31)
22. Heroes And Villains: Part 2 (Gee) (Master Take) (2:36)
23. Heroes And Villains: Part 2 Revised (1:54)
24. Heroes And Villains: Part 2 Revised (Master Take) (0:48)
25. Heroes And Villains: Part 3 (Animals) (Master Take) (1:18)
26. Heroes And Villains: Part 4 (2:36)
27. Heroes And Villains: Part Two (Master Take) (2/27/67) (1:44)
28. Heroes And Villains: Fade (2/28/67) (6:35)
Heroes And Villains Session (3/1/67)
29. Heroes And Villains: Verse Remake (4:16)
30. Heroes And Villains: Organ Waltz / Intro (2:04)
Heroes And Villains Session (6/14/67)
31. Heroes And Villains: Chorus Vocals (0:48)
32. Heroes And Villains: Barbershop (1:50)
33. Heroes And Villains: Children Were Raised (Remake) (1:06)
34. Heroes And Villains: Children Were Raised (Master Take Overdubs Mix 1) (0:26)
35. Heroes And Villains: Children Were Raised (Master Take A Capella) (0:27)
Bonus Tracks
36. Heroes And Villains Piano Demo (incorporating “I’m In Great Shape” and “Barnyard”) Brian with Van Dyke Parks and “Humble Harve” Miller, KHJ Radio (11/4/66) (4:17)
37. Psycodelic Sounds: Brian Falls Into A Microphone (11/4/66) (1:10)
38. Psycodelic Sounds: Moaning Laughing (11/4/66) (1:09)
CD THREE
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
DO YOU LIKE WORMS (ROLL PLYMOUTH ROCK)
Do You Like Worms Session (10/18/66)
1. Do You Like Worms: Part 1 (5:21)
2. Do You Like Worms: Part 2 (Bicycle Rider) (1:55)
3. Do You Like Worms: Part 3 (2:43)
4. Do You Like Worms: Part 4 (Bicycle Rider) (1:10)
5. Do You Like Worms: Bicycle Rider Overdubs (Heroes And Villains Part 2) (1/5/67) (0:22)
MY ONLY SUNSHINE (THE OLD MASTER PAINTER / YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE)
6. My Only Sunshine: Parts 1 & 2 (11/14/66) (6:51)
7. My Only Sunshine: Part 2 (Master Take With Vocal Overdubs) (2/10/67) (0:45)
CABIN ESSENCE
Cabin Essence Session (10/3/66)
8. Cabin Essence: Verse (2:14)
9. Cabin Essence: Chorus (2:28)
10. Cabin Essence: Tag (2:31)
WONDERFUL
11. Wonderful (Version 1) (8/25/66) (2:59)
Wonderful (Version 2 “Rock With Me, Henry”) Session (1/9/67)
12. Wonderful (Version 2) (3:25)
13. Wonderful (Version 2 Tag) (2:54)
14. Wonderful (Version 3) (4/10/67?) (2:41)
LOOK (SONG FOR CHILDREN)
15. Look (8/12/66) (4:52)
CHILD IS FATHER OF THE MAN
16. Child Is Father Of The Man (Version 1) (10/7/66) (4:57)
17. Child Is Father Of The Man (Version 2) (10/11/66) (5:38)
SURF’S UP
18. Surf’s Up: 1st Movement (11/4/66) (4:54)
19. Surf’s Up: Talking Horns (11/7/66) (3:42)
20. Surf’s Up: Piano Demo (Master Take) (12/15/66) (3:52)
I WANNA BE AROUND / WORKSHOP (FRIDAY NIGHT)
21. I Wanna Be Around (11/29/66) (3:08)
VEGA-TABLES (VEGETABLES)
Vegetables Sessions (4/4/67 – 4/11/67)
22. Vegetables: Verse (Master Take Track) (4/4 – 4/11/67) (2:02)
23. Vegetables: Sleep A Lot (Chorus) (2:34)
24. Vegetables: Chorus 1 (Master Take) (1:05)
25. Vegetables: 2nd Chorus (Master Take Track And Backing Vocals) (1:03)
26. Vegetables: Insert (Part 4) (Master Take) (0:37)
CD FOUR
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
VEGA-TABLES (VEGETABLES) (continued)
1. Vegetables: Fade (4/12/67) (5:25)
2. Vegetables: Ballad Insert (4/14/67) (1:03)
HOLIDAYS
3. Holidays (9/8/66) (7:32)
WIND CHIMES
4. Wind Chimes (Version 1) (8/3/66) (6:46)
Wind Chimes (Version 2) Session (10/5/66)
5. Wind Chimes (Version 2) (5:00)
6. Wind Chimes (Version 2 Tag) (2:51)
THE ELEMENTS: FIRE (MRS. O’LEARY’S COW)
7. The Elements (Fire) (11/28/66) (8:27)
LOVE TO SAY DADA / COOL, COOL WATER
Da Da Session (12/22/66)
8. Da Da (Taped Piano Strings) (1:00)
9. Da Da (Fender Rhodes) (1:21)
Love To Say Dada Sessions (5/16/67 – 5/18/67)
10. Love To Say Dada: Part 1 (5/16/67) (1:22)
11. Love To Say Dada: Part 2 (5/17/67) (1:57)
12. Love To Say Dada: Part 2 (Master Take) (5/17/67) (1:21)
13. Love To Say Dada: Part 2 (Second Day) (5/18/67) (2:00)
COOL, COOL WATER
14. Cool, Cool Water (Version 1) (6/7/67) (2:21)
15. Cool, Cool Water (Version 2) (10/26/67 & 10/29/67) (3:31)
SMILE ADDITIONAL SESSIONS
16. You’re Welcome (12/15/66) (6:41)
17. You’re With Me Tonight (6/6-6/7/67) (2:46)
18. Tune X (3/3/67-3/31/67) (2:18)
19. I Don’t Know (1/12/67) (3:03)
20. Three Blind Mice (10/15/65) (2:11)
21. Teeter Totter Love (Jasper Dailey) (1/25/67 & 2/9/67) (1:49)
Bonus Tracks
22. Psycodelic Sounds – Underwater Chant (11/4/66) (1:45)
23. Hal Blaine Vega-Tables Promo Session (11/16/66) (1:28)
24. Heroes And Villains: Early Version Outtake Sections (1/67 – 2/67) (5:04)
CD FIVE
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
GOOD VIBRATIONS SESSIONS
1. Good Vibrations: Gold Star 2/18/66 (The “Pet Sounds” Session) (7:27)
2. Good Vibrations: Gold Star 4/9/66 (6:57)
3. Good Vibrations: Western 5/4/66 (First Chorus) (2:24)
4. Good Vibrations: Western 5/4/66 (Second Chorus & Fade) (3:28)
5. Good Vibrations: Sunset Sound 5/24/66 (Part 1) (1:20)
6. Good Vibrations: Sunset Sound 5/24/66 (Parts 2 & 3) (1:45)
7. Good Vibrations: Sunset Sound 5/24/66 (Part 4) (0:47)
8. Good Vibrations: Western 5/27/66 (Part C) (3:32)
9. Good Vibrations: Western 5/27/66 (Chorus) (3:04)
10. Good Vibrations: Western 5/27/66 (Fade Sequence) (1:56)
11. Good Vibrations (Inspiration): Western 6/2/66 (Part 1) (2:44)
12. Good Vibrations (Inspiration): Western 6/2/66 (Part 3) (0:57)
13. Good Vibrations (Inspiration): Western 6/2/66 (Part 4) (0:49)
14. Good Vibrations: Western 6/16/66 (Part 1) (6:24)
15. Good Vibrations: Western 6/16/66 (Part 2 & Verse) (1:06)
16. Good Vibrations: Western 6/16/66 (Part 2 Continued) (5:55)
17. Good Vibrations: Western 6/18/66 (Part 1) (1:10)
18. Good Vibrations: Western 6/18/66 (Part 2) (5:03)
19. Good Vibrations (Persuasion): Western 9/1/66 (1:49)
20. Good Vibrations: Western 9/1/66 (New Bridge) (3:39)
21. Good Vibrations: Session Masters (6:13)
22. Good Vibrations: Single Version Stereo Track (3:49)
23. Good Good Good Vibrations (First Version With Overdubs) 3/66 (3:41)
24. Good Vibrations: Alternate Edit 8/24/66 (3:32)
VINYL
Double LP
Side One
1. Our Prayer
2. Gee
3. Heroes And Villains
4. Do You Like Worms (Roll Plymouth Rock)
5. I’m In Great Shape
6. Barnyard
7. My Only Sunshine (The Old Master Painter / You Are My Sunshine)
8. Cabin Essence
Side Two
1. Wonderful
2. Look (Song for Children)
3. Child Is Father Of The Man
4. Surf’s Up
Side Three
1. I Wanna Be Around / Workshop
2. Vega-Tables
3. Holidays
4. Wind Chimes
5. The Elements: Fire (Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow)
6. Love To Say Dada
7. Good Vibrations
Side Four
1. You’re Welcome – Stereo Mix
2. Vega-Tables – Stereo Mix
3. Wind Chimes – Stereo Mix
4. Cabin Essence – Session Highlights and Stereo Backing Track
5. Surf’s Up – Session Excerpt and Stereo Mix
Two 7″ singles
Heroes And Villains “Smile” single Vega-Tables single
A side: Heroes And Villains Part One A side: Vega-Tables
B side: Heroes And Villains Part Two B side: Surf’s Up
The SMiLE Sessions (2LP vinyl)
Side One
1. Our Prayer
2. Gee
3. Heroes And Villains
4. Do You Like Worms (Roll Plymouth Rock)
5. I’m In Great Shape
6. Barnyard
7. My Only Sunshine (The Old Master Painter / You Are My Sunshine)
8. Cabin Essence
Side Two
1. Wonderful
2. Look (Song for Children)
3. Child Is Father Of The Man
4. Surf’s Up
Side Three
1. I Wanna Be Around / Workshop
2. Vega-Tables
3. Holidays
4. Wind Chimes
5. The Elements: Fire (Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow)
6. Love To Say Dada
7. Good Vibrations
Side Four
1. You’re Welcome – Stereo Mix
2. Vega-Tables – Stereo Mix
3. Wind Chimes – Stereo Mix
4. Cabin Essence – Session Highlights and Stereo Backing Track
5. Surf’s Up – Session Excerpt and Stereo Mix