Beach Boys - "Smile" reconstruction

[Mike Hunte]

I'll grab this. I did my own and posted on it a year ago (which was met with ridicule and indifference - *whimper* *sob*). I tweaked it since then but I based mine on the new SMiLE too but just went for the 'best' sound and musical experience.

Yeah, this Chick reconstruction often sacrifices the audiophile sound and musical experience in favor of trying to get as close to BWSmile as possible. He did include a few bonus tracks though for those who might prefer "straighter" versions. For example, a fair (not perfect) sync-"stereo" mix of 'Good Vibrations' without most of the embellishments.

I should also add, that Chick didn't do all the work himself. That is, he nicked some other mixes that were done by other people that he felt were the best. Or, at the very least, based some of the work on earlier stuff. For example, Anne Wallace's 'Surf's Up' has been around for a decade, but he actually improved a few details of it.

Ultimately, I think that's what people should do anyway. Take what they like from something like this, and fill in the parts that they don't.

[Mike Hunte]

BTW, has anyone here heard about a boot release of the "Barnyard" backing track in stereo and sourced from tape - vs. the acetate.

I thought I heard a few months back that this was found and on the horizon. Has it been booted yet?

[Chris M]

BTW, has anyone here heard about a boot release of the "Barnyard" backing track in stereo and sourced from tape - vs. the acetate.

I thought I heard a few months back that this was found and on the horizon. Has it been booted yet?

Beach boys vault guy Alan Boyd mentioned on the Smiley Smile shop board that they have an (I think) 8 track comp reel that contains one or two versions of Barnyard. I don't think this has been booted. Sound quality should be much better than the acetate that has been doing the rounds for ages. Andreas might know more...

[Mike Hunte]

A couple of other comments:

Nitpicking...a few things stick out for me that could have been improved. On 'Surf's Up' the sync up of the Brian vocal/piano track to the stereo backing is generally fair. But there are some stray piano notes from the backing track at the end of the first verse that are there, and shouldn't be. This could have been a little tighter. In fact, the spaces between the verses could have been tightened up a little.

Also, why did they let 'Good Vibes' come to a cold studio ending? It's awkward. The BWSmile fades out...as should this.

[Andreas]

Beach boys vault guy Alan Boyd mentioned on the Smiley Smile shop board that they have an (I think) 8 track comp reel that contains one or two versions of Barnyard. I don't think this has been booted. Sound quality should be much better than the acetate that has been doing the rounds for ages. Andreas might know more...

I am not up to date with respect to new findings in the Beach Boys vaults. So I have not heard about this. If it had been booted, I would have known, though. The most recent revelation that I am aware of was All Day, an early short piano-only version of Love to Say Da Da.

[Andreas]

By the way, Desper mentionned an attempt to synch Brian's Surf's Up vocal (from the piano demo) with the backing track, in 1971. That version would hae been interesting to hear.

[Andreas]

What's wrong with the Linett mix of Wind Chimes on the GV box? I'm not sure I've heard the 'unmixed' Wind Chimes on SOT17. How does it compare to the Linett mix?

Linett mixed this in a very muddy and cold way. Hard to describe, but it sounds as if he used some noise reduction as well. Other than that, his mix is not bad; but I prefer the unmixed elements of the songs if no Brian mix is available. The SOT 17 edit has a pause before the chorus.

[Mike Hunte]

By the way, Desper mentionned an attempt to synch Brian's Surf's Up vocal (from the piano demo) with the backing track, in 1971. That version would hae been interesting to hear.

Definitely. Though I must admit, I think the standard released version that we all know is a masterpiece. I think it's one of the crowning production achievements in the BB's catalog. Everything just works for me: The contrast between Carl's verses and Brian's bridge. I find it very effective!

[Mike Hunte]

One other comment:

I thought they could have done the 'Barnyard' sync a little better. Obviously, once one gets over the hurdle of having to digitally pitch and tempo correct the piano demo, another problem still remains - the same problem that Jeff Lynne had to deal with on 'Free As A Bird'. That being that the voice and piano can't be separated.

So here, whoever did it mixed it a bit too low in relation to the studio backing track. I think with a little more judicious use of some parametric EQ and some additional processing, he should have been able to get it "up" a little more without the clunky piano playing being too obvious. As it stands, it fights the backing track a bit to noticably. His desire to make everything "stereo" also worked against him here.

[Andreas]

Vegatables mono mix, my edit.

http://s37.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2N7N ... KNFHOSOOKQ

[czeskleba]

I honestly think that the one thing these reconstructions do is make a valid case for the superiority of the original Beach Boys recordings. As much as some people go gaga over the Wilson/'Mints version...this will always be the real deal for me - despite Brian's current proclamations.

Arguing that the (unfinished) BB version of Smile is superior to the new Brian version is kind of like arguing that OJ is guilty. Anyone who disagrees with you is going to be either mentally ill or just too stupid to reason with.

[lukpac]

That's too funny.

[Chris M]

I honestly think that the one thing these reconstructions do is make a valid case for the superiority of the original Beach Boys recordings. As much as some people go gaga over the Wilson/'Mints version...this will always be the real deal for me - despite Brian's current proclamations.

Arguing that the (unfinished) BB version of Smile is superior to the new Brian version is kind of like arguing that OJ is guilty. Anyone who disagrees with you is going to be either mentally ill or just too stupid to reason with.

Ha! I love it. It never ceases to amaze me how many fans (or fanboys) have the opinion that the '04 Smile is superior to the '66-'67 sessions. I'm a total Smile geek, to the point of studying tape boxes and shit and I was deeply disappointed with the '04 Smile.

[czeskleba]

Everybody knows Brian is sensitive to criticism, and I think as a result there has emerged this subgroup of Brian fanboys who believe that any criticism of any Brian project is somehow going to filter back to him and cause him to have another breakdown. It's a sort of cultlike "Brian says the new Smile is better so we must agree with him" thing.

I find the new Smile to be interesting but mechanical. Not something I can listen to for pleasure. Even if you factor out the huge decline in Brian's singing and the digital things that were done to try to hide it, I think there is just a big difference between a creative band inventing new arrangements and ideas (the Wrecking Crew in 1966-67) and a technically proficient band replicating those ideas (the Wondermints now). Maybe if Brian had brought the Wrecking Crew out of retirement the new project might have had a more organic feel to it. Maybe if he'd gotten Al or his boys to sing some of it that might have helped. Maybe not.

Oh, and OJ is guilty...

[Xenu]

Has anybody here besides me actually heard the Wondermints' "solo" albums?

Not bad, but...not terribly adventurous. And as much as I like the bizarre cover selection on "Wonderful World," it looks better on paper than it sounds in execution.