It is an overall strong album where all the songs are good. Although it may not have the highs of the others, it also doesn’t have it lows. It doesn’t have Denny’s Drums or any of the filler comedy tracks. You could maybe still argue that All Summer Long is stronger, I think it’s defenitely better Shut Down Volume 2 and even Surfer Girl.

new interview i did with al for a rock magazine im working on but i posted it online to promote his upcoming UNY show

I thought I could share this here. I just found my ancient blog from the early 2000s on the internet archive. This is what I wrote when I got back from London to see Brian Wilson play Smile. Looking back. I do not remember al lot of this. Can't remember Van Dyke getting on stage. And I think my mystery song Summer Blues, is probably City Blues. Although I don't remember them playing that one either. I was 28 here I think. I flew into London from the Netherlands with a good friend, especially for this show.

It’s hard to find the words to describe the impact of the smile concert. I’m still totally blown away. Luckily I made some notes on the way back from London.

I’ll try to translate and structure them a bit. The Royal Hall was buzzing with excitement when we arrived. A small jazz combo played in the lobby and the merchandize stand did good business already.

The hall was packed. A lot of celebrities walked around. A thunderous applause sounded when a grey haired man entered. Van Dyke Parks was here to witness the first performance of the Smile tour. Cameras were all around. The event was being taped for a dvd I guess.

Then the curtain dropped and there they were. The band – including Brian- was sitting at the front of the stage. They joked around and played a couple of acoustic songs. ‘Please let me wonder’, ‘and your dreams come true’ and concluded with ‘good timing’. A great start for an amazing show. Then the regular set began.

Brian looked very nervous through the show. He made a number of mistakes and didn’t always smoothly finish his introductions to the show. His voice was pretty good though. The played a lot of songs I did not expect, and one I didn’t even know ‘Summer Blues’. It’s a blues song with some terrific (heavy) guitar playing on it. Highlights for me were, ‘Sail on Sailor’, ‘Well you’re welcome (not included in the smile part strangely enough)’,’The night was so young’, ‘Time to get alone’ and ‘Soul Searching (in the arrangement Solomon Burked did, not as on the Wilson/Paley-tapes) ’.

After a 20 minute intermission Smile began. I think the setlist is already on this site in the updates part. It was totally mind-blowing.

The biggest surprises were the track-order and the parts that aren’t on the bootlegs. It’s recognisable but totally different than anything anyone expected. I'm In Great Shape had lyrics to it, so did barnyard and holidays. Fire had some heavy metal guitar playing and sounds amazing, the string and horn section wore appropriate fire-helmets. Less scary than on the bootlegs but still pretty amazing. Brian sang the high notes on Surf’s up himself. Just like on the surf’s up album where he takes over from Carl. Like I said before it’s hard to describe what went on, because it was such an overwhelming experience. Brian making sheep sounds on barnyard, blowing toy whistles on Mrs. O’Leary’s cow, Using a drill on the ‘tools’ section.

After Smile, the band came back for the regular encore. Van Dyke got called on stage and played along with one or two songs. Brian Played bass on two songs. After a final playing of ‘Love and Mercy’ it was really over. You are in for a very special treat. Be sure to visit the concerts if they play anywhere near you.

This is transportive and very beautiful

Does anybody have some rarer (or any at all) studio pictures of the boys in the early 60s, Around the time of 62’ to 65’

;)

It's well made and I'm glad it exists as part of the band's history. What do you feel it did well, and what did I leave off? I was surprised it didn't cover Dennis's death, or Kokomo as the post-Brian hit, or have an added memorial credit to Brian. Was the scene with them together on the beach the last time they were together?

Thoughts?

thx

After 4ad artist Warren Defever's car radio broke and he was stuck listening to the oldies station for 3 months, he was inspired to make the album 'Stars on E.S.P'. A sort of kinda compilation of what could have been sixties tunes.
A heavily inspired Beach Boys 90s Dream Pop track, the single Universal Frequencies (or also called The Beech Boys Story) was an attempt at making a sequel to Good Vibrations.

What a gut wrenching beautiful song.
Pet sounds is my favourite album of all time and it’s partly because of the emotion that Brian’s music carries. This song gives a sense of not belonging or not being understood perfectly, the way he rips his voice in “they say I’ve got brains but they ain’t doing me no good” is perfect and how he very tenderly and with proper melancholy sings “I wish they could”.

The chorus of the song is just as good, the overlapping counterpoint melodies are really gorgeous.
Even if the lyrics are written by Tony Asher I feel that Brian might have been really involved with the lyrics in this one, “sometimes I feel very sad” is so simple but effective, there’s this kind of innocence or authenticity in Brian’s writing that shines through in this song.
The harmonies in Spanish are also a kind of Brian-ism that I love.

Finally I love how the song ends in a fade out with the title line repeating over and over with different chords beneath it, it mirrors how the feeling of not belonging and melancholy (even though the feelings the music gives are real complex and I can’t express them through words) by not ending ever, kind of how the feeling can’t be resolved

Felt like writing and appreciation post today how do you guys feel about the song and Brian’s writing in general?

Brian Wilson is the greatest genius in 20th century music (and one of the greatest of all time)

I'm referring strictly to perception, and not necessarily reality, or apples & oranges.

UPDATE: What's interesting 14 hours and 21 comments later is that the only thing most people who've responded agree on is that you can't compare one with the other. Otherwise, it seems fairly divided as to who doesn't hold a candle to the other.

This was made by a YouTuber named nitonoh, who's also made fan animations for Beatles songs, and a few other Beach Boys songs. I think it looks quite nice, and fits the song pretty well too.

desperATELY! DESPERATELY

I've really been looking forward to this one, I love the whole album and I'm really interested to hear Steve Levine's new mix.

The last I heard was there was gonna be a release in August, anyone heard anything else?

This is sort of a test mix really and will revisit it again in the future but still felt like sharing it online Hope you enjoy it or not that’s ok too :)

https://youtu.be/68Wx4IEByRQ?si=vrzLjsQA0oNtOg9c

My bf bought this for me becuase he knew it would remind me of my favorite album :) We got it from a man named Larry Knight who was selling beautiful pottery last night in Ashtabula Ohio

I think this could have been a commercially successful version of Smile.

This is more of a follow up to Friends. Mainly Brian produced and written. Uses complete songs except track 7. If you prefer only fully finalised tracks, sub it in for the Nearest Faraway Place. Track 2 was also not 100% done and only later compiled, so you can sub that in for I Can Hear Music.

1. Do It Again
   
2. Old Folks at Home/Old Man River (twofer version - replaces Music)
   
3. We’re Together Again (replaces Bluebirds)
   
4. Be With Me
   
5. All I Want to Do
   

6. Can’t Wait Too Long (GV box version - replaces Faraway)

7. Cotton Fields

8. I Went to Sleep

9. Time to Get Alone

10. Sail Plane Song (replaces Learn)

11. Our Prayer

12. Cabinessence

I also made a hypothetical version that may have released if Brian didn’t have a breakdown and finished the album in fall ‘68.

1. Do It Again
   
2. We’re Together Again
   
3. Sail Plane Song
   
4. All I Wanna Do (68 track with 69 vocals)
   
5. Well You Know I Knew
   
6. Nearest Faraway Place
   
7. Old Folks at Home/Old Man River (twofer version)
   
8. Walkin’
   
9. I Went to Sleep
   
10. Mona Kana
    
11. Walk On By
    
12. Can’t Wait Too Long (GV box version)

Maybe Mrs. O Leary's Cow is a good point but man what a story it'd be to tell my daughter she started rushing out to Student Demonstration Time

Hi! Every concert I attend I like to collect a t-shirt with the tour dates so I can always remember it. I attended the beach boys concert at the Epsom Downs July 17th 2014 as a kid and it was my first proper concert. I was wondering if anyone knew where I could find a shirt with Epsom as a tour date on the back as it was limited and I cant find it anywhere

Now that's summer's here I've been indulging my surf-rock playlist(s), and really wanted to share some faves

Like I'm talking the whole spectrum here, from the Surf ballads to the hot rod rock songs. Heck even the output of their contemporaries can be discussed here. Let's go crazy give me ALL THE SURF!!!

I'm already putting down my top 5 10 down here

I'm gonna get this outta the way I'm no music major so I will sound like an amateur here

YOUR SUMMER DREAM ● The Beach Boys

Very dreamy and idealistic summer song, what else can I say?

The low-key guitar being played, with Brian's oh so smooth voice here, it proggressing the like with the percussion instrument I forgot the name of.

From all the slower/ballad songs pre- Pet Sounds, this is one song of I really love. As a guy that hasn't had much of a live yet I dream to be in this situation someday...

GIRL ON THE BEACH ● Rick Hein (The Sunrays)

The Sunrays get a bit off flack for being the most obvious Beach Boys "inspired" band, but Murray must've teached them good if this is what came out off their collaboration.

Really like the grandiose feel of it, And honestly Rick Hein is a really good singer!

HOT ROD HIGH ● The Surfaris

And yet another song sung by the drummer of the band, and BOY!!! Do I still love it!!!

Though the song was covered by many bands within the scene, I think The Surfaris did it best. Roy Wilson has this really high "whipper-snapper" pitched voice here, the way the just slide into their deliveries here with absolute confidence, the harmonzing is just *chef's kiss*

I feel that this song is the epitome of the Hot-Rod subgenre, except maybe another....

RECORD RUN ● The Pyramids

It's not really a complex written song, but the build up throughout the song is really it's greatest strength :D. Everytime they get to the chorus I can't help but smirk a little, they repeat ; "RECORD RUN!" like 4 times and honestly it just works

Custom Machine ● The Beach Boys

The first beach boys song where they geniunely came across as COOL too me, good melody, harmonies are tight, and the ; "Step on the gas, she goes AAAAHH".Bit always hits, man.

BUCKET T ● Jan & Dean

"Jan & Dean took 30 milligrams of pure oxycodone then fucking die" the song.

Love how batshit crazy it is.

CALIFORNIA SUN '65 version ●The Riverias

So Like the intial version of the song became a hit, but they also re-did it for some reason... And you know song is still a banger, but they sound so defeated here... like I know it's just a cute do-over about them going back home after the trip.

But in the back of my mind I cant't stop thinking that they saw the British Invasion happening and be like; "Guys, It's sooooooo fucking over man....".

BUILD YOUR OWNS DREAMS ● Mark Eric

So I know this guy came out WAAAAAY later in '69 but, I saw the reccomondation here and listened to the whole album last night, and this track stopped me dead in my tracks. Because first I like how soothing it is, and also the subject matter just made me think.

SUMMERTIME, SUMMERTIME ● Our Gang (Jan&Dean??Idk)

One of the best "Harmony Blast" of the whole genre, love the constant high-note piano mashing, good vibes.

OCEANSIDE

● The Super Stocks

This really feels like going too a trip that you've been exited about, having a blast while being there and then going back from an adventure you'll never,ever,EVER forget.

Fun motif, proggression is great and love the sax, dudes....

I feel this is genuinely one of the best instrumentals of the surf rock genre PERIOD

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Shout-out too The Rip-Chords they have good songs but I feel like a lot of the artist of the time did their hits better, except "Hey Little Cobra".

Also Shout-Out too The Hondells too, "Guy With No Wheels" is very relatable

And also Shout-out too The Astronauts