The BEACH BOYS History Part Four SMiLE |
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- Опубліковано 21 жов 2023
- Matt dives deep into SMiLE, the Beach Boys infamous unreleased album from 1967. As with many other band histories, Matt tests the integrity of the myths that surround the SMiLE project and lays out the history via a timeline
Listen to Matt's Mix of SMiLE: tinyurl.com/muvwz39a
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The trouble with the so-called 'enlightened' is they lack the self-discipline to see projects through. They needed someone 'unenlightened' like George Martin to pull all the threads together and get some product out.
I think one thing to remember is the abuse Brian suffered at the hands of his father growing up. Brian was the oldest and was constantly receiving the wrath of Murray Wilson. Carl was lost in the shuffle and was probably ignored, while Dennis was the most rebellious and one who gave it right back to Murray. Had Brian gained some coping skills from counseling he could have dealt with the pressure he had in his career. Throw in the high expectations he put on himself, the pressure for writing hits for the band, drug use and his PTSD and you have a perfect recipe for disaster. The Beach Boys only went on due to Mike Love and Carl Wilson’s efforts; who kept the band touring and pushed the band to continue making music. I just bought some of the post-Pet Sounds albums to listen. Surfs-Up, Holland, Sunflower are good listens so far. Not all the tracks are perfect, but you could tell that The Beach Boys weren’t done as a band yet. There was still something there. Thanks Matt! This video made my Sunday!
No way. It already blew my mind that Van Dyke was the guy on the Fairytale Theatre I watched as a kid, but to also learn he was on the Honeymooners I watched as a kid… what?
By the time Brian Wilson worried that he'd mystically started a fire with his recording sessions, he'd already suffered his first psychotic break, as his schizo-affective disorder emerged.
We all know how Mike Love could be a thorn in Brian’s side. But to his defense about the “ Cabinessence “ lyrics, Mike wanted to understand the lyrics for not only the studio, but also singing them live in concert. Understanding the lyrics he could potentially tell an audience the meaning behind them. The Smile songs definitely would’ve been challenging to perform live within the group setting of that time. Anyways, great overview of the album. PLAY LOUD
Your Beach Boy history is a stellar piece of work, easily your best yet. Thank you for your commitment to the 1960's.
As you discuss Brian, you get the sense of someone who is drowning in an expectation of creativity, which is guaranteed to sabotage creativity. One has to wonder how things may have played out had Brian not removed himself from his primary support system.
You always are the best, fair minded, objectively analytical and thorough in your covering of history and context. No one is better than you at these pieces!
This is a very complex moment in rock'n'roll music history. That's why this video is a masterpiece in conciseness, touching all the keys and never losing oneself in them.
This is the best analysis of Smile and what was going on with Brian in this period that I have ever come across. Congratulations on this thorough work.
That very dramatic piano sequence at the end of Child Is Father of the Man, which is then accompanied by strings, and which comes just before Surf's Up on the Smile album is IMO the greatest musical moment of the Smile album and one of the greatest musical moments of all time.
Won-won-won-wonderful job, Matt! The original “Smile” sounds complete to me too.
Great video Matt. I’m 72 years old and followed The Beach Boys as they were happening in the sixties. Because of your in-depth analysis, I never realized all that really went on with this group behind the scenes. Sure, everyone knew Brian was having some problems. However, I was so into the music of that time the Beatles, Stones, I never gave it a second thought. Thank you, Matt for all your great analysis on these iconic artists. All the best…….Philip C.
I love the Smile album. I bought a bootleg CD a long time ago- probably in the mid-late nineties. I saw Brian Wilson play Smile on tour in 2004 and bought his solo version of Smile that I have listened to many times- and will take it out soon for another listen. The harmonies are fantastic. (Of course!) I bought the Smiley Smile album when it was released in 1967. I like that one too! Great series, as usual.
I found your version of what could have been the Smile album a very concise and enjoyable listen. Bonus points for adding the reverb-heavy 'dum dee dum oh ho' vocal harmonies that weren't included on the offically released version of 'Good Vibrations'. It makes a stellar tune even better.
Great stuff, Matt!
The Van Dyke Parks song you exerpted is based on Beethoven's 9th Symphony. A song probably best remembered by pop culture fans as the one sung by the woman in the milk bar in the opening scene of A Clockwork Orange.
Had Smile been released at the time, I think it'll tank. Lost in the dominance of Sgt. Pepper but would be regardless as an underrated masterpiece years later and far superior musically, lyrically and technically.
Incredible.....I learn so much from your shows, and relive my youth considerably "enlightened" :)
I'm not a Beach Boys fan but have found this series informative and entertaining . Thanks again for all the work you put in Matt .