Smiley Smile

Untitled

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 catalogue.

History

After "Good Vibrations" topped the singles charts in late 1966, the reported Smile project was eagerly anticipated. However, in May 1967, the album was cancelled, and The Beach Boys pulled out of their headlining spot at the Monterey Pop Festival. The original project (which took longer to record than any other Beach Boys album) was scrapped. Cut largely at Brian Wilson's new home studio in Bel Air during June and July, the album includes alternate versions of songs originally intended for Smile ("Heroes and Villains", "Wind Chimes", "Vegetables", and "Wonderful") and quickly recorded new material. Only "Good Vibrations" appears in its original version. "Good Vibrations" was included to help bolster sales, even though Brian was strongly against its inclusion.

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.

Smiley Smile is generally considered the most controversial Beach Boys album; many fans consider it a massive failure while others consider it among the most distinctive albums of the sixties. Pete Townshend of The Who is a known admirer of the record.

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.

Quotes

In Fort Worth, Texas there is a drug clinic which takes people off the streets and helps them get over bad LSD 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 Wilson, (1970)

• " 'Smiley Smile' was an album that marked the end of an era." Bruce Johnston

• " 'Smiley Smile' was just something we were going through at that time connected with drugs, love, and everything." Dennis Wilson

Track listing

Side one

1. "Heroes and Villains" (Brian Wilson, Van Dyke Parks) – 3:37
   • Features Brian Wilson [verses] and Alan Jardine [chorus] on lead vocals
2. "Vegetables" (Wilson, Parks) – 2:07
   • Features Alan Jardine and Brian Wilson with Mike Love on lead vocals
3. "Fall Breaks and Back to Winter (Woody Woodpecker Symphony)" (Wilson) – 2:15
   • instrumental with group backing vocals
4. "She's Goin' Bald" (Wilson, Mike Love, Parks) – 2:13
   • Features Mike Love, Brian Wilson, Dennis Wilson and Al Jardine on lead vocals
5. "Little Pad" (Wilson) – 2:30
   • Features Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson and Mike Love on lead vocals

Side two

6. "Good Vibrations" (Wilson and Love) – 3:36
   • Features Carl Wilson, Mike Love and Brian Wilson on lead vocals
7. "With Me Tonight" (Wilson) – 2:17
   • Features Carl Wilson on lead vocals
8. "Wind Chimes" (Wilson) – 2:36
   • Features Mike Love, Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, and Dennis Wilson on lead vocals
9. "Gettin' Hungry" (Wilson, Love) – 2:27
   • Features Mike Love and Brian Wilson on lead vocals
10. "Wonderful" (Wilson, Parks) – 2:21
    • Features Carl Wilson on lead vocals
11. "Whistle In" (Wilson) – 1:04
    • Features Carl Wilson and Mike Love on lead vocals

Singles

• "Good Vibrations" b/w "Let's Go Away for Awhile" (from Pet Sounds) (Capitol 5676), 10 October 1966 US #1; UK #1. (UK B-side was "Wendy" from All Summer Long)
• "Heroes and Villains" b/w "You're Welcome" (Brother 1001), 31 July 1967 US #12; UK #8
• "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, with bonus tracks from that period. In Australia, Smiley Smile was released on the Music for Pleasure label as The Beach Boys.

Personnel

• Alan Jardine - vocals, bass, guitar
• Bruce Johnston - vocals, bass, keyboards
• Mike Love - vocals
• Brian Wilson - bass, keyboards, vocals
• Carl Wilson - vocals, guitars, bass
• Dennis Wilson - drums, vocals

• Mike Deasy Sr. - guitar
• 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 Wilson 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

External links

• Smiley Smile at MusicBrainz
• The Beach Boys Album Covers Site