Beach Boys - "Smile" reconstruction

Andreas · Postby **Andreas** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 10:03 am

Good question....there are people (respected Beach Boys historians) who have mentionned him for years (starting from the moment the SOTs came out in 1999), and claimed that his role is known at Capitol and BRI. This was even mentionned in some Smile threads at SH.tv, where RF is a member...but he did not chime in.

Xenu · Postby **Xenu** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 10:22 pm

I had always heard the "American Band" lineage version of the tale, which I guess makes some sense (given those odd mixes heard in the video).

And yes, I dislike the little NR on the SOT discs...the only thing that keeps 'em from being perfect. It's not totally oppressive by any means, but one has to wonder what the point was. It also calls into question the YD guys' involvement, as I think they were well over the use of NR by the late 90s.

This thread, BTW, marks the first time I've ever heard of the Archaology boot discussed in any sort of positive fashion...I always assumed it was just a compilation of stuff that's already out there. Does it actually have better sources?

Andreas · Postby **Andreas** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 1:26 am

Xenu wrote:This thread, BTW, marks the first time I've ever heard of the Archaeology boot discussed in any sort of positive fashion...I always assumed it was just a compilation of stuff that's already out there. Does it actually have better sources?

Better sources? Yes, in most cases.

Some cases are not so clear, however. There is the final edit of "Look", called "Take 20" on SOT 17, but it's not a take, it is an assembly of the best takes. This is in rather wide stereo on SOT 17, but with noise reduction and a somewhat muffled sound. On Archaeology, it is hissier, without any trace of noise reduction and quite clear, but almost mono.

MK · Postby MK » Mon Jan 09, 2006 2:03 am

Goddammit, I wish this thread would die, it just reels me in again. Prompted by the latest posts, I took another listen of my mono SMiLE creation and I'm wondering how I can improve it, or if better sources of the boot stuff is available.

Would anyone want to hear it? I can post it here tomorrow.

Andreas · Postby **Andreas** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 3:50 am

Re: Archaeology bootleg.

Initially, most people wrote this bootleg off because it contains only two new things: The long unedited Surf's Up piano demo, and the Child Is Father Of The Man mono instrumental mix. People were spoiled and did not notice the upgrade in sound quality. Also, some tracks are mislabelled (but who even cares about how bootlegs name their tracks?), and some tracks were strangely edited (the Prayer session, the H&V demo).

Funny, the so-called "1988 Mark Linett Smile Rough Mixes" bootleg was recognized as an important upgrade of sources....which it is not. It is just louder and noise-reduced, compared to Vigotone.

Xenu · Postby **Xenu** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 1:32 pm

People are stupid, apparantly. Feel like posting samples?

Andreas · Postby **Andreas** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 2:06 pm

The Fire Intro (also known as Heroes And Villains Intro), taken from the Archaeology bootleg.

http://s7.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1E3E7 ... DJ6JP8IARX

Mike Hunte · Postby **Mike Hunte** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 7:48 pm

Get a load of the latest BW shootout going on over at you know where...lol.

"Battle lines being drawn..."

Chris M · Postby **Chris M** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 8:35 pm

Apparently I've ruffled a few feathers over there by suggesting that BW wasn't really back..

Mike Hunte · Postby **Mike Hunte** » Wed Jan 18, 2006 8:41 pm

Chris M wrote:Apparently I've ruffled a few feathers over there by suggesting that BW wasn't really back..

You done good Chris. I wish I was as courageous as you to put forth such a suggestion in a sea of Brianistas.

The truth sometimes hurts. They'll get over it.

http://www.geocities.com/viva_brianistos/Brinista.html

Mike Hunte · Postby **Mike Hunte** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 4:33 am

Apologies to the original poster:

"You know, I'm glad Brian is surrounded by band members and disciples who love him and help him get his music out there. If he had all these forum critics advising him, he might be cowering in a cottage somewhere in southern California, afraid to do a show."

Czeskleba...didn't you make note of this uber-fan "Fear of Offense" syndrome some time ago? Amazing...lol.

Andreas · Postby **Andreas** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 4:50 am

Chris M wrote:Apparently I've ruffled a few feathers over there by suggesting that BW wasn't really back..

Well...I don't really agree with you in this generality. There were many events where he was back for a short moment (some Love You tracks, some Sweet Insanity tracks, some Wilson-Paley tracks, the Smile concerts), and these moments are precious for me.

Xenu · Postby **Xenu** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 12:10 pm

Maybe my standareds are high, but I think of "back" as "back producing, back trailblazing, back doing whatever the hell I want without the multi-tiered support of a bunch of sycophants." By that yardstick, he was certainly "back" briefly for "Love You," but since then? I don't know. All I know is that he doesn't need to be "back" for him to make enjoyable music...I just wonder how he feels about the entire thing.

Whatever the case, I don't think "Getting In Over My Head" or "sMIlE" (or however the fuck one capitalizes that) are really great testaments to being "back," simply because they're both retreads on the "established" BW formula. If Brian hooks up with Rick Rubin and does something utterly jaw-dropping--some variation on his "formula" that shows he's active and once again looking toward the future--then ehhh, maybe.

czeskleba · Postby **czeskleba** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 10:33 pm

Mike Hunte wrote:Czeskleba...didn't you make note of this uber-fan "Fear of Offense" syndrome some time ago? Amazing...lol.

The Brianistas are so black and white. If you don't slobber over every thing he does as a work of genius, then you obviously just want him to fail and go back in the sandbox. Like it isn't possible to be a fan but still dislike much of what he's done over the past 20 years. Or to be happy that he is physically healthy and doing new work but still believe that his singing sounds kinda mechanical on everything he's done since the 80s started.

The debate about whether he is "back" is a straw man debate. People who say he is "back" obviously have a different definition of "back" than those of us who say he is not. Brian is back in the same way Jan Berry was back when he hit the road with Dean in 1975. "Sing potato sing!"

Andreas · Postby **Andreas** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 3:58 am

There is an interesting thread on the new Smile Shop board:

http://thesmileshop.phpwebhosting.com/f ... .php?t=721

This book will be a surprise/disappointment for many of those over-protective fans. I can't wait for it.

And czeskleba,

I agree with your general point about Brianistas, but Brian does not sound mechanical on "everything". Pieces of evidence: Melt Away. Don't Let Her Know She's An Angel and The Spirit Of Rock'n'Roll. Wilson-Paley sessions. The Waltz.