By 1966 Brian Wilson was,
creatively speaking, the king of the pop world. As leader and
producer of The Beach Boys he'd been responsible for dozens of hit
singles and albums. He'd also produced and written several singles
for other artists as well. In three years he'd basically spearheaded
an entire industry with selling California and it's appeal to the
entire world. 1966 saw the release of The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds,
an album that was inspired by Rubber Soul and in turn was
single-handedly responsible for inspiring The Beatles to make Sgt.
Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Originally
intended for release in January of 1967, Smile was to be the
next progression in pop music. A continuation of the modular
songwriting that began with the “Good Vibrations” single. It had
a loose thematic concept as an American travelogue from starting as
Plymouth Rock and ending in Hawaii (with references to Imperialism,
expansion, Industrial revolution, Manifest Destiny and the Great
Chicago Fire). It also touches on The Elements (air, fire, Earth and
water) as well. However, due to Brian Wilson's excessive substance
abuse, paranoia and his creative partner, Van Dyke Parks walking away
from the project, Smile was never completed. In fact, it's basically
become a common view that Brian Wilson may have been simply
overwhelmed with all of the fragments that were recorded for the
segments of the pieces. And in his ambitions he basically envisioned
the future of digital editing.
An
over-simplified version of Smile was released in late Summer
of 1967 as Smiley Smile. Songs from what would have been on
the finished album did see release in various forms over the years,
including on Smiley Smile. “Cabbinessence” and “Our
Prayer” were released on the 20/20 album in 1969. "Cool Cool Water" later appeared on Sunflower in 1970. The “Mama Says”
segment from “Vege-Tables” was released on Wild Honey in
1967 and “Surf's Up” served as the title track to their
critically-acclaimed 1971 album.
The failure of Smile to materialize in its' intended
form caused Brian Wilson to retreat from the public eye for many
years and serving to ultimately further deepen his mental health
problems. Wilson re-recorded the Smile album and tour in support of
it in 2004 with his excellent solo band. The 50th
anniversary of The Beach Boys in 2011/2012 was the perfect occasion
to finally release the original Smile recordings as The Smile
Sessions on Halloween 2011.
The
Smile Sessions box set included
one double vinyl album (which comes with the original booklet as it
was originally produced in 1966), two vinyl seven-inch singles, five
CD's, and a sixty-page book. The CDs are one disc of the album as it
has now been envisioned/revisioned and four CDs of session
highlights. It's easily one of the most reverend box sets to be
released specifically with it's fans in mind.
In
1966 album sleeves and booklets were produced way in advance as Smile
was on the most highly anticipated releases in Capitol Records
history. The artwork has been properly restored as well the mid-60's
labels. Not one UPC barcode to be found on the item anywhere. The
singles are beautifully reproduced as well, using the original
“Heroes & Villains” picture sleeve as well as more of Smile
artist Frank Holmes artwork for “Vege-tables”. You can also
purchase the vinyl album as a standalone-purchase.
I'd recommend this release for anyone to hear as it's
such an important slice of 1960's recording history that almost
neverwas.
Here's The Video Review:
Special Thanks to Patricia Marson.
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