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Finally it's time to see what triumphs, reality or myth, the destination or the journey. We've waited almost 45 years for this, the near-as-dammit definitive version of one of the great lost classics. So was it worth the heartache, the horse-trading for bootlegs, even the filler surrounding the odd SMiLE relic on flaky later albums like Smiley Smile or 20/20? No doubt about it. The world has a decent sense of how this is going to turn out from those bootlegs and – more pertinently – the 2004 version fashioned by a croaky Brian Wilson, lyricist and co-conspirator Van Dyke Parks and Beach Boys understudies the Wondermints. But there's surely nothing like the real thing. Or the real-ish thing.
It all started with SMiLE's closing statement Good Vibrations, a 1966 number one and mini-masterpiece that reputedly took Wilson a year to complete as he experimented with ‘modular’ recording. Despite the sheer ball-ache, the modular method – the recording of individual elements that could be grafted together at a later date – was to inform the creation of this entire album, a move that put session musicians through ridiculous paces and tried the patience of Capitol Records and the other Beach Boys to such a degree that something had to give. That something was the actual release of the record.
That's one take, anyway. Memories are fuzzy, but the music now it's here is pure and gorgeous, the familiar mesh of brotherly voices exquisite as ever. Its glittering peaks are singles Good Vibrations and Heroes and Villains, along with Surf's Up (a different recording from the finale of its 1971 album), harmonic jewel Our Prayer and Wonderful (far prettier and fuller than its cousin on Smiley Smile); but Wilson and Parks had envisaged SMiLE as a song cycle, a "cartoon consciousness" in Parks' own words, that would be naturally symbiotic, the songs hanging together as one. All the sadder, then, that it was shelved and then filleted for ensuing albums.
Some constituents aren't perfect, with Wilson's sillier side peeking out on beautifully constructed follies like Holidays, Barnyard and Vega-Tables of course, but even at their least remarkable these are stepping stones to the good stuff. And, my, if you want stepping stones (remarkable or otherwise) The SMiLE Sessions has got 'em: the standard release is one CD with the cherishable album and another with the best of the earlier/alternative takes, but if you're prepared to remortgage your sandbox you can get five CDs of this, serving up each fascinating (and occasionally less fascinating) ‘module’. Not to mention a 3D SMiLE shop and custom-built surfboard. That's one for completists, then. But your Beach Boys collection hasn't been complete until now, has it? --Matthew Horton
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
Classic Rock - November 2011 - 9/10
"Featuring five CDs, double vinyl, two seven-inch singles and a book, it couldn't be any more comprehensive - there are 25 variations, out-takes and snippets of Good Vibrations alone. Elsewhere Surf's Up is the type of pure golden Californian pop that would be ubiquitous in so many hit singer-songwriters of the 70s, while Vega-tables and Do You Like Worms? display a surreal sense of humour offset by haunting melodies that manage to recall both Spector and Mozart. Every home should have one."
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
A remarkable product, and in this (expensive) form probably only for the real Beach Boy fans and buffs. That said, it is a treasure trove of information including many sessions/outtakes and newly written reminisces by many people who were intimately involved with SMiLE. Bootleg versions of all this material, and more, have abounded for decades but you will never beat this for the breadth and depth of material combined with the superb audio quality (but do remember, this stuff was recorded in the 60s!).
As has already been pointed out elsewhere on these pages, the decision to store the discs in cardboard pockets in the large folder is a stupid one, and could only have been made by a designer more interested in form than function. The discs are prone to marking by the card edges, so be very careful or better still, store the discs in paper sleeves separately within the box (there is plenty of room!).
An amazing historical collection!
As has already been pointed out elsewhere on these pages, the decision to store the discs in cardboard pockets in the large folder is a stupid one, and could only have been made by a designer more interested in form than function. The discs are prone to marking by the card edges, so be very careful or better still, store the discs in paper sleeves separately within the box (there is plenty of room!).
An amazing historical collection!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is a truely wonderful boxed set. Each of the items is of interest on there own. Disc 1 gives you the album as it may have been. while the othyers allow you to make you own version. The Vinyl versions are nice to have and the book is great reading. And although the tracks and running order on Disc 1 cannot be certain to be how it might have been back in 66/67. It has involvement from Brian Wilson and hence it is hiw view now, rather than as it might have been back then. Put thyisone along with Pet Sounds, Sgt Pepper, Tommy and other Beach Boy greats like Sunflower, Surfs Up, Holland and Today. Although any greatest hits compilation are always welcome, especially come Summer.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This boxset is for every music fan and/or Beach Boys collector! It's design is unequalled. The most important thing of course is the music in this beautiful package! Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys present the original recordings (utilizing "Brian Wilson present Smile" from 2004 sequence as the foundation) for this first official release!
In 1993 The Beach Boys released already 11 songs (and 4 bonus tracks) from the "Smile Sessions" on their " Thirty Years of The Beach Boys Good Vibrations" boxset. Combine them with the songs "Good Vibrations" and the "Heroes and Villains" demo from the "Endless Harmony Soundtrack" and you have "Smile"! That's what I thought ... but I was wrong!
"Smile" was recorded in many different little pieces. And many of those pieces have different variations. (For instance: cd2 has 32 tracks of "Heroes and Villains" sessions!) Now, the beautiful thing about this masterpiece is that Brian created an infinite number of ways that the songs could be assembled. But at the same time this posed a problem. The 1960's recording technology had its limitations. To look for the right sequence of the pieces to give the song its most beautiful colour would take days or weeks. "Good Vibrations" was recorded in the same way and that took nearly six months before Brian was satisfied!
Almost all of the songs on the "Smile Sessions" are assembled in a different way than the ones that were previously released . Adding pieces of music or vocals that were never before used. Only "Our Prayer" and "Cabin Essence" are the same versions as on the "Thirty Years ..." boxset. Is it better? That's for you to decide! The album was unfinished and it still is. Some pieces were never recorded or only exist as a demo.
Some sections flow beautifully into the next one but some don't! For me has the song "Look (Song For Children)" the same feel as "Child is the Father Of The Man" and would better be an outtake. But hey ... maybe that's what the producers want with this box! With 4 cd's full of session material and the right software on your computer you can create your own version of "Smile"!
In 1993 The Beach Boys released already 11 songs (and 4 bonus tracks) from the "Smile Sessions" on their " Thirty Years of The Beach Boys Good Vibrations" boxset. Combine them with the songs "Good Vibrations" and the "Heroes and Villains" demo from the "Endless Harmony Soundtrack" and you have "Smile"! That's what I thought ... but I was wrong!
"Smile" was recorded in many different little pieces. And many of those pieces have different variations. (For instance: cd2 has 32 tracks of "Heroes and Villains" sessions!) Now, the beautiful thing about this masterpiece is that Brian created an infinite number of ways that the songs could be assembled. But at the same time this posed a problem. The 1960's recording technology had its limitations. To look for the right sequence of the pieces to give the song its most beautiful colour would take days or weeks. "Good Vibrations" was recorded in the same way and that took nearly six months before Brian was satisfied!
Almost all of the songs on the "Smile Sessions" are assembled in a different way than the ones that were previously released . Adding pieces of music or vocals that were never before used. Only "Our Prayer" and "Cabin Essence" are the same versions as on the "Thirty Years ..." boxset. Is it better? That's for you to decide! The album was unfinished and it still is. Some pieces were never recorded or only exist as a demo.
Some sections flow beautifully into the next one but some don't! For me has the song "Look (Song For Children)" the same feel as "Child is the Father Of The Man" and would better be an outtake. But hey ... maybe that's what the producers want with this box! With 4 cd's full of session material and the right software on your computer you can create your own version of "Smile"!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
SMILE
Fantastic box set and arrived promptly. However, very disappointed at the packaging it was sent in.For an expensive item containing vinyl, expected more secure packing than a box... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Heidi
Wonderful
An astonishing selection of tunes and ideas. It's great to have this released on one place after so long. Highlights are too numerous to mention. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Dave Gilmour's cat
PLEASE BE CAREFUL!
There is no disputing this is an absolute magnificent package containing the most eagerly awaited release from the past 44 years plus outtakes, snippets and rehearsals. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Colin W. Green
44 Years Late, But Well Worth It!
Well Finally It's Here This Morning And I Love The 3D Box Front And Reverse And It Also Weighs A Ton! Read more
Published 7 months ago by BEATLEDAVE
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