Smiley Smile
Encyclopedia
Smiley Smile is the twelfth studio album
by The Beach Boys
, issued in 1967. Released in the place of the much-touted Smile
, Smiley Smile is widely considered to be under-produced, and it was received with indifference and confusion upon its unveiling. However, Smiley Smile has managed to grow in stature over the years to become a cult favorite in The Beach Boys' recorded catalog.
" topped the singles charts in late 1966, the Beach Boys' next album project (eventually titled Smile) was eagerly anticipated. Sessions for the album continued through most of 1966 and by late in the year it was evidently nearing completion. However, in December 1966 opposition to the project from within the group (notably from Mike Love
) led to the departure of Brian Wilson's writing partner Van Dyke Parks
and progress was further hampered by a range of other factors including Wilson's deteriorating mental health, the group's ongoing lawsuit against their label, and Carl Wilson's legal battle against being drafted into the US army. Although some recording and editing continued into early 1967, the project eventually ground to a halt. In May 1967 the scheduled release was officially cancelled, The Beach Boys pulled out of their headlining spot at June's Monterey Pop Festival
and Smile (which took longer to record than any other Beach Boys album) was scrapped.
Nevertheless, the Beach Boys still needed to complete an album to fulfill their obligations to Capitol Records, so a replacement was hastily recorded, largely at Brian Wilson
's new home studio in Bel Air, during June and July. Smiley Smile includes versions of several key Wilson-Parks songs originally intended for Smile. Three of these ("Wind Chimes", "Vegetables", and "Wonderful") were re-recorded in greatly simplified arrangements, along with a fragmentary version of the Smile instrumental "Mrs O'Leary's Cow" which was reworked as the short short instrumental piece "Fall Breaks and Back to Winter". The only remnant of Smile presented in anything like its intended original form was "Heroes and Villains
", which went through numerous permutations before the selection of the shorter version included on Smiley Smile. The group also quickly added some new material (which nevertheless showed obvious thematic connections with Smile). Only "Good Vibrations
" appears in its original version although the song was included at Capitol's insistence to help bolster sales, over Brian's strenuous objections.
When Smiley Smile was finally released in September, after months of hype, its critical reception was unenthusiastic, peaking at only #41 in the US. Its commercial reception a few months later in the UK was better; it reached #9 on British charts. Carl Wilson is reported to have called it "a bunt instead of a grand slam
" comparing Smiley Smile to the much-fabled unreleased album that it eventually replaced.
Pete Townshend
of The Who
is a known admirer of the record, as is Robbie Robertson
of The Band
. Smiley Smile marked the beginning of the end of Brian Wilson as the creative leader of The Beach Boys. Although the album was mostly produced by him, the production was for the first time credited to the group. The following years and albums had Wilson less and less involved in music production. It would not be until 1976's 15 Big Ones
that Wilson was credited as producer again.
Smiley Smile is now paired on CD with Wild Honey
, with bonus tracks from that period. Bonus tracks include "Heroes and Villains (Alternate Take)", "Good Vibrations (Various Sessions)", "Good Vibrations (Early Take)", "You're Welcome", "Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring", and "Can't Wait Too Long". In Australia, Smiley Smile was released on the Music for Pleasure
label as The Beach Boys.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Managed by the Wilsons' father Murry, The Beach Boys signed to Capitol Records in 1962...
, issued in 1967. Released in the place of the much-touted Smile
Smile (The Beach Boys album)
Smile is a previously unreleased album by The Beach Boys recorded throughout 1966 and 1967. The project was intended by its creator Brian Wilson as the follow-up to Pet Sounds, but was never completed in its original form...
, Smiley Smile is widely considered to be under-produced, and it was received with indifference and confusion upon its unveiling. However, Smiley Smile has managed to grow in stature over the years to become a cult favorite in The Beach Boys' recorded catalog.
History
After "Good VibrationsGood Vibrations
"Good Vibrations" is a song by American rock band The Beach Boys. Composed and produced by Brian Wilson, the song's lyrics were written by Wilson and Mike Love....
" topped the singles charts in late 1966, the Beach Boys' next album project (eventually titled Smile) was eagerly anticipated. Sessions for the album continued through most of 1966 and by late in the year it was evidently nearing completion. However, in December 1966 opposition to the project from within the group (notably from Mike Love
Mike Love
Michael Edward "Mike" Love is an American singer/songwriter and musician with The Beach Boys. He was a founding member of the band along with his cousins Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson, and their friend Al Jardine, and continues to perform with the band to the present day...
) led to the departure of Brian Wilson's writing partner Van Dyke Parks
Van Dyke Parks
Van Dyke Parks is an American composer, arranger, producer, musician, singer, author and actor. Parks is perhaps best known for his contributions as a lyricist on the Beach Boys album Smile....
and progress was further hampered by a range of other factors including Wilson's deteriorating mental health, the group's ongoing lawsuit against their label, and Carl Wilson's legal battle against being drafted into the US army. Although some recording and editing continued into early 1967, the project eventually ground to a halt. In May 1967 the scheduled release was officially cancelled, The Beach Boys pulled out of their headlining spot at June's Monterey Pop Festival
Monterey Pop Festival
The Monterey International Pop Music Festival was a three-day concert event held June 16 to June 18, 1967 at the Monterey County Fairgrounds in Monterey, California...
and Smile (which took longer to record than any other Beach Boys album) was scrapped.
Nevertheless, the Beach Boys still needed to complete an album to fulfill their obligations to Capitol Records, so a replacement was hastily recorded, largely at Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson
Brian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
's new home studio in Bel Air, during June and July. Smiley Smile includes versions of several key Wilson-Parks songs originally intended for Smile. Three of these ("Wind Chimes", "Vegetables", and "Wonderful") were re-recorded in greatly simplified arrangements, along with a fragmentary version of the Smile instrumental "Mrs O'Leary's Cow" which was reworked as the short short instrumental piece "Fall Breaks and Back to Winter". The only remnant of Smile presented in anything like its intended original form was "Heroes and Villains
Heroes and Villains
"Heroes and Villains" is a song by the American rock band The Beach Boys, co-written by the group's leader Brian Wilson and lyricist Van Dyke Parks. Originally intended by Wilson to be the centerpiece of the ambitious but shelved album Smile, a re-recorded version of the song was released on Smiley...
", which went through numerous permutations before the selection of the shorter version included on Smiley Smile. The group also quickly added some new material (which nevertheless showed obvious thematic connections with Smile). Only "Good Vibrations
Good Vibrations
"Good Vibrations" is a song by American rock band The Beach Boys. Composed and produced by Brian Wilson, the song's lyrics were written by Wilson and Mike Love....
" appears in its original version although the song was included at Capitol's insistence to help bolster sales, over Brian's strenuous objections.
When Smiley Smile was finally released in September, after months of hype, its critical reception was unenthusiastic, peaking at only #41 in the US. Its commercial reception a few months later in the UK was better; it reached #9 on British charts. Carl Wilson is reported to have called it "a bunt instead of a grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
" comparing Smiley Smile to the much-fabled unreleased album that it eventually replaced.
Pete Townshend
Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career...
of The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
is a known admirer of the record, as is Robbie Robertson
Robbie Robertson
Robbie Robertson, OC; is a Canadian singer-songwriter, and guitarist. He is best known for his membership as the guitarist and primary songwriter within The Band. He was ranked 59th in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time...
of The Band
The Band
The Band was an acclaimed and influential roots rock group. The original group consisted of Rick Danko , Garth Hudson , Richard Manuel , and Robbie Robertson , and Levon Helm...
. Smiley Smile marked the beginning of the end of Brian Wilson as the creative leader of The Beach Boys. Although the album was mostly produced by him, the production was for the first time credited to the group. The following years and albums had Wilson less and less involved in music production. It would not be until 1976's 15 Big Ones
15 Big Ones
-Singles:* "Rock And Roll Music" b/w "T M Song" , 24 May 1976 US #5; UK #36* "It's O.K." b/w "Had to Phone Ya" , 9 August 1976 US #29* "Everyone's In Love With You" b/w "Susie Cincinnati" , 1 November 1976...
that Wilson was credited as producer again.
Quotes
- "In Fort Worth, TexasTexasTexas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
there is a drug clinic which takes people off the streets and helps them get over bad LSDLSDLysergic acid diethylamide, abbreviated LSD or LSD-25, also known as lysergide and colloquially as acid, is a semisynthetic psychedelic drug of the ergoline family, well known for its psychological effects which can include altered thinking processes, closed and open eye visuals, synaesthesia, an...
trips. They don't use any traditional medical treatment whatsoever. All they do is play the patient our Smiley Smile album and apparently this acts as a soothing remedy which relaxes them and helps them to recover completely from their trip." – Carl WilsonCarl WilsonCarl Dean Wilson was an American rock and roll singer and guitarist, best known as a founding member, lead guitarist and sometime lead vocalist of The Beach Boys...
, (1970)
- "Smiley Smile was an album that marked the end of an era." – Bruce JohnstonBruce JohnstonBruce Arthur Johnston is a member of The Beach Boys and a songwriter, remembered especially for composing "I Write the Songs". Johnston was not one of the original members of the band...
- "Smiley Smile was just something we were going through at that time connected with drugs, love, and everything." – Dennis WilsonDennis WilsonDennis Carl Wilson was an American rock and roll musician best known as a founding member and the drummer of The Beach Boys. He was a member of the group from its formation until his death in 1983...
Track listing
Singles
- "Heroes and VillainsHeroes and Villains"Heroes and Villains" is a song by the American rock band The Beach Boys, co-written by the group's leader Brian Wilson and lyricist Van Dyke Parks. Originally intended by Wilson to be the centerpiece of the ambitious but shelved album Smile, a re-recorded version of the song was released on Smiley...
" b/w "You're Welcome" (Brother 1001), 31 July 1967 US #12; UK #8; CAN #5 - "Gettin' Hungry" b/w "Devoted to You" (Brother 1002), 28 August 1967. (Credited to "Brian and Mike")
Smiley Smile is now paired on CD with Wild Honey
Wild Honey (album)
-Singles:* "Wild Honey" b/w "Wind Chimes" , 23 October 1967 US #31; UK #29* "Darlin'" b/w "Here Today" , 18 December 1967 US #19; UK #11....
, with bonus tracks from that period. Bonus tracks include "Heroes and Villains (Alternate Take)", "Good Vibrations (Various Sessions)", "Good Vibrations (Early Take)", "You're Welcome", "Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring", and "Can't Wait Too Long". In Australia, Smiley Smile was released on the Music for Pleasure
Music for Pleasure (record label)
Music for Pleasure was a record label that issued budget-priced albums of popular and classical music, although the latter were marketed under the Classics for Pleasure name...
label as The Beach Boys.
Personnel
- Alan Jardine – vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
, bass, guitar - Bruce JohnstonBruce JohnstonBruce Arthur Johnston is a member of The Beach Boys and a songwriter, remembered especially for composing "I Write the Songs". Johnston was not one of the original members of the band...
– vocals, bass, keyboards - Mike LoveMike LoveMichael Edward "Mike" Love is an American singer/songwriter and musician with The Beach Boys. He was a founding member of the band along with his cousins Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson, and their friend Al Jardine, and continues to perform with the band to the present day...
– vocals - Brian WilsonBrian WilsonBrian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
– bass, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, vocals - Carl WilsonCarl WilsonCarl Dean Wilson was an American rock and roll singer and guitarist, best known as a founding member, lead guitarist and sometime lead vocalist of The Beach Boys...
– vocals, guitars, bass - Dennis WilsonDennis WilsonDennis Carl Wilson was an American rock and roll musician best known as a founding member and the drummer of The Beach Boys. He was a member of the group from its formation until his death in 1983...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, vocals - Mike Deasy Sr. – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Lyle Ritz – upright bass
Sources
- Smiley Smile / Wild Honey CD booklet notes, David Leaf, c.1990.
- Look! Listen! Vibrate! Smile!, Domenic Priore, c.1995
- Catch a Wave, Carlin, c. 2006
- The Nearest Faraway Place: Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys and the Southern California Experience, Timothy White, c. 1994.
- The Beach Boys - The Definitive Diary of America's Greatest Band on Stage and in the Studio, Keith Badman, c. 2004
- Wouldn't It Be Nice - My Own Story, Brian WilsonBrian WilsonBrian Douglas Wilson is an American musician, best known as the leader and chief songwriter of the group The Beach Boys. Within the band, Wilson played bass and keyboards, also providing part-time lead vocals and, more often, backing vocals, harmonizing in falsetto with the group...
and Todd Gold, c. 1991. - Top Pop Singles 1955–2001, Joel Whitburn, c. 2002.
- Top Pop Albums 1955–2001, Joel Whitburn, c. 2002.
- Allmusic.com