Wikipedia

The Smile Sessions

This article is about the 2011 compilation. For the original album, see Smile (The Beach Boys album).

The Smile Sessions is a compilation album and box set recorded by American rock band the Beach Boys, released on October 31, 2011, by Capitol Records. The set is the follow-up to The Pet Sounds Sessions (1997), this time focusing on the abandoned recordings from the band's unfinished 1966–1967 album Smile. It features comprehensive session highlights and outtakes, with the first 19 tracks comprising a hypothetical version of the completed Smile album.

The Smile Sessions
Compilation album and box set by
the Beach Boys
ReleasedOctober 31, 2011 (2011-10-31)
RecordedOctober 15, 1965 – 1971
Studio
Length
  • 48:03 (album reconstruction)
  • 140:57 (2-CD)
  • 396:28 (box set)
LabelCapitol
ProducerBrian Wilson (original recordings)
Compiler
The Beach Boys chronology
Summer Love Songs
(2009) 		The Smile Sessions
(2011) 		That's Why God Made the Radio
(2012)
Singles from The Smile Sessions
  1. "Cabin Essence" / "Wonderful"
    Released: June 15, 2011

The compilation is the first and only package devoted to the 1960s Smile recordings originally produced by Brian Wilson, arriving after decades of public anticipation and numerous false starts. The project was led primarily by audio engineers Alan Boyd, Mark Linett, and Capitol A&R director Dennis Wolfe, with Wilson acting as a remote supervisor, assisting the engineers with some mixing decisions. Previously, Wilson had completed a solo album based on Smile in 2004, which Boyd, Linett, and Wolfe used as a blueprint for The Smile Sessions. Wilson later stated that, while the compilation is "not a far cry" from his original vision, he prefers his 2004 version.

The Smile Sessions received virtually unanimous critical acclaim upon release.[1] It was ranked number 381 in Rolling Stone's 2012 list of the greatest albums of all time[2] and won the Grammy Award for Best Historical Album at the 2013 Grammy Awards.[3] A spiritual successor, 1967 – Sunshine Tomorrow, followed in 2017.

Background

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Plans for a Smile archival release go back to at least early 1980s, when it was proposed that the album be issued in some form.[4] In his 1978 biography The Beach Boys and the California Myth, David Leaf wrote that Smile "can never be completed as Brian intended, so a compromise solution might be to release the surviving tapes and outtakes in a series of records called The Smile Sessions [like] Elvis' Sun Sessions ..."[5] In 1993, the box set Good Vibrations: Thirty Years of The Beach Boys included the debut of several unreleased Smile recordings. In 1997, Capitol Records issued The Pet Sounds Sessions, which featured an assortment of alternate mixes and highlights of the Pet Sounds recording sessions spread over four CDs. The releases provoked speculation that an official Smile release was imminent.[6]

In 2004, Wilson released a reimagined version of the album, Brian Wilson Presents Smile. A comprehensive and official package dedicated to the original Beach Boys' recordings had not been compiled partly due to the logistics in organizing the dozens of convoluted song components. Band producer/archivist Mark Linett stated, "All we had were a bunch of bits and pieces—a few songs that were more or less completed later. And without some kind of a sequence from the artist, it would have just sort of been a jumble of sessions. And I think frankly until Brian felt comfortable with after all that time, he was able to finish what he started, there really wasn’t anything to seriously talk about."[7]

In mid-2010, before the project was officially greenlit, Linett and the other compilers began assembling what would become The Smile Sessions.[4] It was originally planned as a three-CD set, but ultimately grew to five CDs, with two of those devoted solely to the sessions for "Heroes and Villains" and "Good Vibrations", respectively.[7]

Smile reconstruction

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This isn’t a project where an album was completed and just shelved for one reason or another and we’re bringing it back after all this time. It was largely unfinished and unsequenced. And it certainly wouldn't have been what it became in 2004.

—Compiler Mark Linett[7]

The first nineteen tracks of The Smile Sessions constitute a hypothetical version of a completed Smile album that loosely follows the template established by Wilson's 2004 version. Wilson himself made a few suggestions to the compilation's sequencing after it was presented to him by the compilers Mark Linett, Alan Boyd and Dennis Wolfe.[7] Linett said that the track listing would "present the whole piece as close to it as was envisioned, or as is envisioned, as possible ... with input from Brian as from everybody else".[4]

According to Darian Sahanaja, "there was a discussion about whether to follow the 2004 sequence or completely present something new. In the end, of course, it all has to be approved by the Beach Boys themselves, and Brian lobbied hard for The Smile Sessions to follow the template of Brian Wilson Presents Smile."[8] Asked if there had been anything newly unearthed from the sessions that would have influenced the 2004 assembly, Sahanaja responded, "No. Nothing major. Perhaps a few variations here and there, but nothing that would have altered the making of Brian Wilson Presents Smile."[8]

The reconstruction runs at over 48 minutes, which would have been too much content to fit on a two-sided vinyl LP in 1967. Referencing this, Linett argued that The Smile Sessions may be more accurate to Wilson's vision than if he had completed the album in 1967, surmising that Wilson "would have been happier if he had had a bigger canvas to present [Smile]."[9] Asked if Linett and Boyd had arrived at what he had envisioned during the 1960s, Wilson responded: "Somewhat, yeah. To some degree. It's not a far cry from what I thought it would be."[9] He added that he preferred his 2004 version.[10]

Technical details

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The reconstruction is presented in monaural due to missing stems and as a nod to Wilson's producing methods at the time. Digital manipulation was used. For instance, on "Surf's Up", the instrumental track was mashed up and synced with the vocal stem from an alternate performance of the song.[4]

Not all of the tracks feature material that was originally recorded for the Smile album. In reference to including sessions from Smiley Smile, Linett stated, "Of course there's things that some people think—should Smiley Smile sessions be there—[with tracks such as] 'Can't Wait Too Long', we get into a very fuzzy area."[7] A list of notes on the reconstructed album assembly were given in the booklet:

  • Brian Wilson's lead vocals for "I'm in Great Shape" and "Barnyard" are taken from his and Van Dyke Parks' piano demo of "Heroes and Villains" (which includes the other two songs), recorded on November 4, 1966, for KHJ Radio and featured in full as track 36 on Disc Two in the five-CD box set edition. The vocals were stripped from the demo and laid on the existing backing tracks, comprising instrumentation, backing vocals and animal noises by the band.
  • "The Elements: Fire" contains wordless vocals that were recorded for "Fall Breaks and Back to Winter" on June 29, 1967.
  • "Holidays" and "Wind Chimes" segue together with a pitch-shifted version of the Smiley Smile "Wind Chimes" coda, recorded July 11, 1967.
  • The "Cool Cool Water Chant" intro to "Love to Say Dada" and Carl Wilson's "da-da" vocals were recorded in October 1967.
  • Carl Wilson's lead vocal on "Cabin Essence" was recorded for the 20/20 album on November 20, 1968.
  • The "bygones", Carl Wilson's backing vocals and the "Child Is Father of the Man" coda of "Surf's Up" was recorded in summer 1971.[11]

Release

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The reunited Beach Boys in 2012, performing "Heroes and Villains" during their 50th anniversary tour

On February 3, 2011, Al Jardine told an interviewer that "Capitol Records plans to issue a Beach Boys version of Smile sometime this summer to begin the celebration of the Beach Boys’ 50th anniversary. Smile is the Holy Grail for Beach Boys’ fans, so it will be good." Jardine also mentioned that the surviving Beach Boys "didn't do any new recording. I'm happy to see it finally come out. Brian’s changed his mind about releasing the material, but it was inevitable, wasn’t it?" The release was confirmed by Capitol Records on March 11, with the acknowledgement that an official release was planned for later in 2011.[citation needed]

After numerous delays, The Smile Sessions was released online via iTunes on October 31, 2011, and the next day on CD, vinyl and through other online services via digital download.[12] The compilation was released in an array of physical format releases, including a single CD release, a double LP release, a deluxe 2-CD package, as well as a limited edition deluxe box set composed of 5 CDs, 2 LPs, 2 singles on 7" vinyl records, a poster and a 60-page booklet that features high quality photographs, essays and liner notes on the reconstruction process. The CD is encoded with HDCD and can be decoded with Windows Media Player. HDCD is backwards compatible. [citation needed]

The crowdsourcing film studio Tongal was used to create the music videos for The Smile Sessions, where fans in 2011 could submit video concepts, which were voted on and ultimately selected by other fans for two videos.[13][14]

Reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic96/100[15]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [16]
The A.V. ClubA[17]
Consequence of SoundA+[18]
The Guardian     [19]
One Thirty BPM100%[20]
Paste          [21]
Pitchfork10/10[22]
Rolling Stone     [23]
Ultimate Classic Rock     [24]
Record Collector     [25]

The Smile Sessions was met with universal acclaim. It was named the best reissue of 2011 by Rolling Stone magazine,[26] while The Wire magazine placed it fifth in its annual critics' poll of the top releases of the year.[27] In 2012, it was ranked number 381 in Rolling Stone's list of the greatest albums of all time.[2] It won the Best Historical Album award at the 2013 Grammy Awards.[3]

Pitchfork reviewer Mark Richardson gave the album a perfect score and wrote, "What's here is brilliant, beautiful, and, most importantly, finally able to stand tall on its own."[22] The Los Angeles Times' Randall Roberts encouraged its inclusion in "every library of American recording history," suggesting, "university composition departments, music professors, budding recording engineers and composers should study it."[28] Rolling Stone's David Fricke declared in his review, "there is delight and confidence in Wilson's exchanges with his studio crew. ... Wilson never found it, but the greatest pop album ever made is still in here, somewhere."[23]

Writing in LA Weekly, musician Henry Rollins praised the compiled recordings as "even better than advertised ... Sonically, the album is one of the best things you are likely to hear in all of your life. There are moments on SMiLE that are so astonishingly good you might find yourself just staring at your speakers in unguarded wonder, as I have."[29] PopMatters' Thomas Britt wrote "There is something holy in the tapestry of the album" and when reflecting on the drama surrounding the album's history stated "Contemporary bands could certainly stand to realize that all the band myths and stories in the world don’t matter much if you can't bring the songs, and no one brought the songs like Brian Wilson."[30]

Track listing

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Smile (tracks 1–19 all editions)

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All tracks are written by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks, except where noted

Movement one
No.TitleLead vocalsLength
1."Our Prayer" (Brian Wilson)group1:05
2."Gee" (William Davis, Morris Levy)group0:51
3."Heroes and Villains"B. Wilson (verse), Al Jardine (chorus), Mike Love ("Cantina"), group4:52
4."Do You Like Worms (Roll Plymouth Rock)"group3:35
5."I'm in Great Shape"B. Wilson0:28
6."Barnyard"B. Wilson0:48
7."My Only Sunshine (The Old Master Painter / You Are My Sunshine)" (Gillespie/Davis, Mitchell)Dennis Wilson1:55
8."Cabin Essence"Carl Wilson (verses), group (chorus), D. Wilson (2nd chorus), Love (tag)3:30
Total length:16:59
Movement two
No.TitleLead vocalsLength
9."Wonderful"B. Wilson2:04
10."Look (Song for Children)" (B. Wilson)group2:31
11."Child Is Father of the Man"group2:10
12."Surf's Up"B. Wilson (sections one and two), C. Wilson, Jardine (tag)4:12
Total length:10:54
Movement three
No.TitleLead vocalsLength
13."I Wanna Be Around / Workshop" (Johnny Mercer/B. Wilson)Instrumental1:23
14."Vega-Tables"Jardine, B. Wilson (tag)3:49
15."Holidays" (B. Wilson)Instrumental2:32
16."Wind Chimes" (B. Wilson)C. Wilson3:06
17."The Elements: Fire (Mrs. O'Leary's Cow)" (B. Wilson)group2:35
18."Love to Say Dada" (B. Wilson)B. Wilson2:32
19."Good Vibrations" (B. Wilson, Mike Love)C. Wilson (verses), Love (chorus and bridge), group4:15
Total length:20:10 48:03

Bonus tracks

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Two-CD deluxe edition

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Disc one
No.TitleLead vocalsLength
20."You're Welcome" (B. Wilson)group1:08
21."Heroes and Villains (Stereo Mix)"B. Wilson, Love4:53
22."Heroes and Villains Sections (Stereo Mix)"The Beach Boys7:16
23."Vega-Tables (Demo)"Love, B. Wilson1:46
24."He Gives Speeches"B. Wilson1:14
25."Smile Backing Vocals Montage"The Beach Boys8:30
26."Surf's Up 1967 (Solo Version)"B. Wilson3:47
27."Psycodelic Sounds: Brian Falls into a Piano" (B. Wilson)spoken1:30
28."Capitol Smile Promo" (Capitol Records/hidden track)spoken1:02
Total length:31:04 79:07
Disc two
No.TitleSession dateLength
1."Our Prayer 'Dialog'" (B. Wilson)(09/19/66)3:02
2."Heroes and Villains: Part One" 3:08
3."Heroes and Villains: Part Two" 4:18
4."Heroes and Villains: Children Were Raised"(01/27/67)2:07
5."Heroes and Villains: Prelude to Fade"(02/15/67)3:42
6."My Only Sunshine"(11/14/66)6:52
7."Cabin Essence"(10/03/66)5:19
8."Surf's Up: 1st Movement"(11/04/66)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)"(10/26/67) –
(10/29/67)		3:32
13."Good Vibrations Session Highlights" 8:20
Total length:62:52 2:20:57

Vinyl edition

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Vinyl-exclusive tracks (disc two, side two)
No.TitleLead vocalsLength
20."You're Welcome (Stereo mix)" (B. Wilson)The Beach Boys1:08
21."Vega-Tables (Stereo Mix)"Jardine3:49
22."Wind Chimes (Stereo Mix)"C. Wilson3:06
23."Cabin Essence (Sessions highlights and stereo backing track)"C. Wilson5:19
24."Surf's Up (Session excerpt and stereo mix)"B. Wilson4:46

Box set edition

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All tracks are written by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks, except where noted

Disc one
No.TitleLead vocalsLength
20."You're Welcome" (Brian Wilson)The Beach Boys1:08
21."Heroes and Villains (Stereo Mix)"B. Wilson, Love4:53
22."Heroes and Villains Sections (Stereo Mix)"The Beach Boys7:16
23."Vega-Tables demo"Love, B. Wilson1:46
24."He Gives Speeches"B. Wilson1:14
25."Smile Backing Vocals Montage"The Beach Boys8:30
26."Surf's Up 1967 (Solo Version)"B. Wilson4:09
27."Psycodelic Sounds: Brian Falls into a Piano" (B. Wilson)spoken1:30
28."Capitol Smile Promo" (Capitol Records)spoken1:02

All tracks are written by Brian Wilson, except where noted

Disc two
No.TitleSession dateLength
1."Our Prayer 'Dialog'"(09/19/66)3:01
2."Our Prayer"(10/04/66)6:37
3."Heroes and Villains: Verse (Master Take)"(10/20/66)0:57
4."Heroes and Villains: Barnyard (Master Take)"(10/20/66)1:12
5."Heroes and Villains: I'm in Great Shape"(10/27/66)4:59
6."Heroes and Villains: Intro (Early Version)"(12/??/66)0:35
7."Heroes and Villains: Do a Lot"(01/03/67)0:53
8."Heroes and Villains: Bag of Tricks"(01/03/67)2:58
9."Heroes and Villains: Mission Pak"(01/03/67)0:55
10."Heroes and Villains: Bridge to Indians"(01/03/67)1:47
11."Heroes and Villains: Part 1 Tag"(01/03/67)1:19
12."Heroes and Villains: Pickup to 3rd Verse"(01/03/67)0:55
13."Heroes and Villains: Children Were Raised"(01/27/67)2:07
14."Heroes and Villains: Part 2 (Cantina Track)"(01/27/67)1:21
15."Heroes and Villains: Whistling Bridge"(01/27/67)1:14
16."Heroes and Villains: Cantina"(01/27/67)1:36
17."Heroes and Villains: All Day"(01/27/67)2:19
18."Heroes and Villains: Verse Edit Experiment"(01/27/67)0:48
19."Heroes and Villains: Prelude to Fade"(02/15/67)3:43
20."Heroes and Villains: Piano Theme"(02/15/67)2:43
21."Heroes and Villains: Part 2"(02/20/67)2:31
22."Heroes and Villains: Part 2 (Gee) (Master Take)"(02/20/67)2:36
23."Heroes and Villains: Part 2 Revised"(02/20/67)1:54
24."Heroes and Villains: Part 2 Revised (Master Take)"(02/20/67)0:48
25."Heroes and Villains: Part 3 (Animals) (Master Take)"(02/20/67)1:18
26."Heroes and Villains: Part 4"(02/20/67)2:36
27."Heroes and Villains: Part Two (Master Take)"(02/27/67)1:44
28."Heroes and Villains: Fade"(02/28/67)6:35
29."Heroes and Villains: Verse Remake"(03/01/67)4:16
30."Heroes and Villains: Organ Waltz/Intro"(03/01/67)2:04
31."Heroes and Villains: Chorus Vocals"(06/14/67)0:48
32."Heroes and Villains: Barbershop"(06/14/67)1:50
33."Heroes and Villains: Children Were Raised (Remake)"(06/14/67)1:06
34."Heroes and Villains: Children Were Raised (Master Take Overdubs Mix 1)"(06/14/67)0:26
35."Heroes and Villains: Children Were Raised (Master Take A Capella)"(06/14/67)0:27
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"(11/04/66)4:17
37."Psycodelic Sounds: Brian Falls into a Microphone"(11/04/66)1:10
38."Psycodelic Sounds: Moaning Laughing"(11/04/66)1:09
Disc three
No.TitleSession dateLength
1."Do You Like Worms: Part 1"(10/18/66)5:21
2."Do You Like Worms: Part 2 (Bicycle Rider)"(10/18/66)1:55
3."Do You Like Worms: Part 3"(10/18/66)2:43
4."Do You Like Worms: Part 4 (Bicycle Rider)"(10/18/66)1:10
5."Do You Like Worms: Bicycle Rider Overdubs (Heroes and Villains Part 2)"(01/05/67)0:22
6."My Only Sunshine: Parts 1 & 2"(11/14/66)6:51
7."My Only Sunshine: Part 2 (Master Take With Vocal Overdubs)"(02/10/67)0:45
8."Cabin Essence: Verse"(10/03/66)2:14
9."Cabin Essence: Chorus"(10/03/66)2:28
10."Cabin Essence: Tag"(10/03/66)2:31
11."Wonderful (Version 1)"(08/25/66)2:59
12."Wonderful (Version 2 "Rock With Me, Henry")"(01/09/67)3:25
13."Wonderful (Version 2 Tag)"(01/09/67)2:54
14."Wonderful (Version 3)"(04/10/67)2:41
15."Look"(08/12/66)4:52
16."Child is Father of the Man (Version 1)"(10/07/66)4:57
17."Child is Father of the Man (Version 2)"(10/11/66)5:38
18."Surf's Up: 1st Movement"(11/04/66)4:54
19."Surf's Up: Talking Horns"(11/07/66)3:42
20."Surf's Up: Piano Demo (Master Take)"(12/15/66)3:52
21."I Wanna Be Around/ Workshop (Friday Night)"(11/29/66)3:08
22."Vegetables: Verse (Master Take Track)"(04/04/67) –
(04/11/67)		2:02
23."Vegetables: Sleep a Lot (Chorus)"(04/04/67) –
(04/11/67)		2:34
24."Vegetables: Chorus 1 (Master Take)"(04/04/67) –
(04/11/67)		1:05
25."Vegetables: 2nd Chorus (Master Take Track and Backing Vocals)"(04/04/67) –
(04/11/67)		1:03
26."Vegetables: Insert (Part 4) (Master Take)"(04/04/67) –
(04/11/67)		0:37
27."Vegetables: Crunching Session (hidden track)"(04/04/67) –
(04/11/67)		1:02
28."Workshop Session (hidden track)"(11/29/66)1:40
Disc four
No.TitleSession dateLength
1."Vegetables: Fade"(04/12/67)5:25
2."Vegetables: Ballad Insert"(04/14/67)1:03
3."Holidays"(09/08/66)7:32
4."Wind Chimes (Version 1)"(08/03/66)6:46
5."Wind Chimes (Version 2)"(10/05/66)5:00
6."Wind Chimes (Version 2 Tag)"(10/05/66)2:51
7."The Elements (Fire)"(11/28/66)8:27
8."Da Da (Taped Piano Strings)"(12/22/66)1:00
9."Da Da (Fender Rhodes)"(12/22/66)1:21
10."Love to Say Dada: Part 1"(05/16/67)1:22
11."Love to Say Dada: Part 2"(05/17/67)1:57
12."Love to Say Dada: Part 2 (Master Take)"(05/17/67)1:21
13."Love to Say Dada: Part 2 (Second Day)"(05/18/67)2:00
14."Cool, Cool Water (Version 1)"(06/07/67)2:21
15."Cool, Cool Water (Version 2)"(10/26/67) &
(10/29/67)		3:31
16."You're Welcome (Session)"(12/15/66)6:41
17."You're With Me Tonight"(06/06/67) –
(06/07/67)		2:46
18."Tune X" (Carl Wilson)(03/03/67) –
(03/31/67)		2:18
19."I Don't Know" (Dennis Wilson)(01/12/67)3:03
20."Three Blind Mice"(10/15/65)2:11
21."Teeter Totter Love" (Jasper Dailey)(01/25/67) &
(02/09/67)		1:49
22."Psycodelic Sounds – Underwater Chant"(11/04/66)1:45
23."Hal Blaine Vega-Tables Promo Session"(11/16/66)1:28
24."Heroes and Villains: Early Version Outtake Sections"(01/??/67) –
(02/??/67)		5:04
25."The Elements: Fire (Mrs. O'Leary's Cow) (Burning Wood Session) (hidden track)" 0:45
Disc five
No.TitleSession dateLength
1."Good Vibrations: Gold Star (The Pet Sounds Session)"02/18/667:27
2."Good Vibrations: Gold Star"04/09/666:57
3."Good Vibrations: Western (First Chorus)"05/04/662:24
4."Good Vibrations: Western (Second Chorus & Fade)"05/04/663:28
5."Good Vibrations: Sunset Sound (Part 1)"05/24/661:20
6."Good Vibrations: Sunset Sound (Parts 2 & 3)"05/24/661:45
7."Good Vibrations: Sunset Sound (Part 4)"05/24/660:47
8."Good Vibrations: Western (Part C)"05/27/663:32
9."Good Vibrations: Western (Chorus)"05/27/663:04
10."Good Vibrations: Western (Fade Sequence)"05/27/661:56
11."Good Vibrations (Inspiration): Western (Part 1)"06/02/662:44
12."Good Vibrations (Inspiration): Western (Part 3)"06/02/660:57
13."Good Vibrations (Inspiration): Western (Part 4)"06/02/660:49
14."Good Vibrations: Western (Part 1)"06/16/666:24
15."Good Vibrations: Western (Part 2 & Verse)"06/16/661:06
16."Good Vibrations: Western (Part 2 Continued)"06/16/665:55
17."Good Vibrations: Western (Part 1)"06/18/661:10
18."Good Vibrations: Western (Part 2)"06/18/665:03
19."Good Vibrations (Persuasion): Western"09/01/661:49
20."Good Vibrations: Western (New Bridge)"09/01/663:39
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)"03/??/663:41
24."Good Vibrations: Alternate Edit"08/24/663:32
25."Good Vibrations: Tape Rewind (hidden track)" 0:27

Bonus 7" records

All tracks written by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks.

Single one, side one
No.TitleLength
1."Heroes and Villains: Part One"3:09
Single one, side two
No.TitleLength
1."Heroes and Villains: Part Two"4:08
Single two, side one
No.TitleLength
1."Vega-Tables"3:49
Single two, side two
No.TitleLength
1."Surf's Up"4:12

Personnel

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Adapted from band archivist Craig Slowinski.[11]

Recording

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These credits pertain only to the first 19 tracks.

The Beach Boys

  • Al Jardine – lead, harmony and backing vocals, vegetable chomping (on "Vega-Tables")
  • Bruce Johnston – harmony and backing vocals
  • Mike Love – lead, harmony and backing vocals, vegetable chomping (on "Vega-Tables")
  • Brian Wilson – lead, harmony and backing vocals; grand piano (on "Child Is Father of the Man", "Surf's Up", "Vega-Tables", and "Wind Chimes"), harpsichord (on "Do You Like Worms?" and "Wonderful"), tack piano (on "Heroes and Villains", "Child Is Father of the Man", "Wind Chimes", and "Good Vibrations"), Baldwin organ (on "Heroes and Villains"), electric harpsichord (on "Heroes and Villains" and "Vega-Tables"), Fender bass (on "I'm in Great Shape"), temple blocks (on "Love to Say Dada"), tambourine (on "Good Vibrations"), vegetable chomping (on "Vega-Tables")
  • Carl Wilson – lead, harmony and backing vocals; electric guitar (on "Child Is Father of the Man", "Wind Chimes" and "Good Vibrations"), Fender bass (on "Vega-Tables", "Holidays" and "Wind Chimes"), acoustic guitar (on "Cabin Essence"), castanet (on "Child Is Father of the Man"), shaker (on "Good Vibrations"), vegetable chomping (on "Vega-Tables")
  • Dennis Wilson – lead, harmony and backing vocals, drums (on "Vega-Tables" and "Holidays"), percussion (on "Vega-Tables"), Hammond organ (on "Good Vibrations"), xylophone (on "Vega-Tables"), vegetable chomping (on "Vega-Tables")

Guests

  • Gene Gaddy – "You're under arrest!"
  • Van Dyke Parks – piano with taped strings (on "I'm In Great Shape", "Do You Like Worms?", and "Holidays"), upright piano (on "Cabin Essence"), tack piano (on "Heroes and Villains", "Barnyard", and "Do You Like Worms?"), marimba (on "Wind Chimes")

Session musicians

Production

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  • Alan Boyd – compilation producer, editing, liner notes, producer
  • Chuck Britz – engineer
  • Stacey Freeman – product manager
  • Frank Holmes – design, drawing
  • Mark Linett – compilation producer, editing, liner notes, mastering, mixing, producer
  • Mark London – hard-cover book design
  • Domenic Priore – project consultant
  • Tom Recchion – art direction, design
  • Peter Reum – photography
  • Diane Rovell – contractor
  • Mikel Samson – production design
  • Guy Webster – photography
  • Brian Wilson – arranger, compilation producer, composer, liner notes, main personnel, photography, producer
  • Dennis Wolfe – compilation producer, liner notes

Charts

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Chart Peak
position
Belgian Albums Chart (Flanders)[31] 84
Dutch Albums Chart[32] 20
Finnish Albums Chart[33] 46
French SNEP Albums Chart[34] 84
German Media Control Albums Chart[35] 26
Greek Albums (IFPI)[36] 39
Japanese Oricon Albums Chart[37] 14
Norwegian VG-lista Albums Chart[38] 13
Spanish Albums Chart[39] 90
Swedish Albums Chart[40] 9
Swiss Albums Chart[41] 65
UK Albums Chart[42] 25
US Billboard 200[43] 27
US Billboard Vinyl Albums[44] 1

Accolades

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Year Organization Accolade Result
2011 Rolling Stone 10 Best Reissues of 2011[2]
1
2012 The Wire Top 50 Releases of 2011[27]
5
2012 Rolling Stone The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time[2]
381
2013 National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences Grammy Award for Best Historical Album Won

References

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  1. ^ "The Smile Sessions – The Beach Boys". Metacritic. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: The Beach Boys, 'Smile 2011 Version'". Rolling Stone. 2012. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  3. ^ a b Alyssa Toomey and Rosemary Brennan (February 10, 2013). "2013 Grammy Awards Winners: The Complete List". E!. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d Christman, Ed (March 11, 2011). "Beach Boys Engineer Mark Linett Talks 'Smile' Release". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  5. ^ Leaf, David (1978). The Beach Boys and the California Myth. Grosset & Dunlap. p. 119. ISBN 978-0-448-14626-3.
  6. ^ Wilonsky, Robert (December 23, 1999). "The Forever Frown". Phoenix New Times Music. phoenixnewtimes.com. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  7. ^ a b c d e "SMiLE Sessions – Mark Linett Interview (transcript)". Icon Fetch. iconfetch.com. October 21, 2011. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  8. ^ a b Roedel, J. (October 12, 2011). "The AD Interview :: Darian Sahanaja (Behind The Smile Sessions)". Aquarium Drunkard. Retrieved July 24, 2013.
  9. ^ a b Masley, Ed (October 28, 2011). "Nearly 45 years later, Beach Boys' 'Smile' complete". Arizona: AZ Central. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
  10. ^ Campion, James (July 1, 2015). "Recalling The Eternal Wave: A Brief Conversation With The Legendary Brian Wilson". The Aquarian.
  11. ^ a b The Smile Sessions (deluxe box set booklet). The Beach Boys. Capitol Records. 2011.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ "Beach Boys' 'Smile Sessions' Bumped to August 9 Street Date". Archived from the original on October 7, 2011. Retrieved August 10, 2011.
  13. ^ "Beach Boys Announce Track Listing For 'Smile Sessions'". Rolling Stone. 2011. Retrieved October 27, 2011.
  14. ^ "The Beach Boys Crowdsource Videos For "Good Vibrations" and "Heroes & Villains"". Mashable, Inc. 2011. Retrieved October 27, 2011.
  15. ^ The Smile Sessions at Metacritic  
  16. ^ "The Smile Sessions". Allmusic. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  17. ^ Murray, Noel (November 8, 2011). "The Smile Sessions". One Thirty BPM. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  18. ^ Roffman, Michael (November 3, 2011). "The Smile Sessions". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  19. ^ Petridis, Alexis (October 27, 2011). "The Smile Sessions". The Guardian. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  20. ^ McMullen, Chase (November 9, 2011). "The Smile Sessions". One Thirty BPM. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  21. ^ Kane, Tyler (November 1, 2011). "The Smile Sessions". Paste. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  22. ^ a b Richardson, Mark (November 2, 2011). "The Smile Sessions". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  23. ^ a b Fricke, David (November 1, 2011). "The Smile Sessions Box Set". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  24. ^ Swanson, David (November 12, 2011). "Smile Album Review". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved November 12, 2011.
  25. ^ Atkins, Jamie (October 27, 2011). "The Smile Sessions". Diamond Publishing. Retrieved May 13, 2021.
  26. ^ "10 Best Reissues of the Year: The Beach Boys, 'The Smile Sessions Box Set'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  27. ^ a b "2011 Rewind: Releases of the Year 1–10". The Wire. No. 335. London. January 2012. p. 31 – via Exact Editions. (subscription required)
  28. ^ Roberts, Randall (November 6, 2011). "'Smile Sessions' reveals creation". The Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on April 16, 2014. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  29. ^ Henry Rollins. "Henry Rollins: The Column! The Beach Boys' SMiLE: Even Better than Advertised". LA Weekly. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
  30. ^ Britt, Thomas (December 15, 2011). "The Beach Boys: The SMiLE Sessions". PopMatters.
  31. ^ "ultratop.be The Beach Boys – Smile" (ASP). Hung Medien (in Dutch). Ultratop. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  32. ^ "dutchcharts.nl The Beach Boys – Smile". Hung Medien. MegaCharts. Archived from the original (ASP) on November 8, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  33. ^ "finnishcharts.com The Beach Boys – Smile". Hung Medien. Archived from the original (ASP) on January 20, 2016. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  34. ^ "lescharts.com The Beach Boys – Smile". Hung Medien (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original (ASP) on November 8, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  35. ^ "Album Search: The Beach Boys – Smile" (in German). Media Control. Retrieved August 23, 2012.[dead link‍]
  36. ^ "Official IFPI Charts – Top-75 Albums Sales Chart (Week: 30/2024)". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on August 1, 2024. Retrieved August 1, 2024.
  37. ^ "ビーチ・ボーイズ–リリース–ORICON STYLE–ミュージック Highest position and charting weeks of Smile by The Beach Boys". oricon.co.jp (in Japanese). Oricon Style. Archived from the original on February 20, 2013. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  38. ^ "norwegiancharts.com The Beach Boys – Smile". Hung Medien. VG–lista. Archived from the original (ASP) on August 13, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  39. ^ "spanishcharts.com The Beach Boys – Smile". Hung Medien. Archived from the original (ASP) on December 8, 2015. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  40. ^ "swedishcharts.com The Beach Boys – Smile" (in Swedish). Archived from the original (ASP) on March 19, 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  41. ^ "The Beach Boys – Smile– hitparade.ch". Hung Medien (in German). Swiss Music Charts. Archived from the original (ASP) on February 4, 2013. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  42. ^ "The Official Charts Company – The Beach Boys – Smile" (PHP). Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  43. ^ "'The Smile Sessions' Billboard Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved August 23, 2012.
  44. ^ "Vinyl Albums : November 19, 2011". Billboard. Retrieved July 6, 2015.
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