SMiLE coming soon

Brian Wilson to Appear at London's Roayal Festival Hall Performing His Lost Masterpiece "SMiLE" Live for the First Time

2004 Concert Tour To Include Performances in the U.K. And Europe

Los Angeles, CA -- Brian Wilson, co-founder of the Beach Boys, will return to London’s Royal Festival Hall in February 2004. For the first time in his 40-year career, Wilson will perform his mythical unreleased masterpiece, "SMiLE." In addition, the concert will include classic Beach Boys and Brian Wilson favourites as well as selections from his new solo album (details forthcoming).

The concert tour announcement comes on the heels of the 2003 Ivor Novello Awards at which Brian was presented with the Special International Award. Following the Awards ceremony Brian was honoured at a reception hosted by his publishers Rondor Music, celebrating his achievements on the occasion of the Beach Boys’ 40th Anniversary.

In 2002, Brian Wilson performed sold out concerts to stellar reviews at Festival Hall in January and June. The four January 2002 concerts sold out immediately and when Wilson returned to London later that year to perform at the Queen’s Jubilee Concert, he sold out another two nights. Among those who attended Brian’s Festival Hall performances were Eric Clapton, Roger Daltrey, Elvis Costello, Richard Ashcroft, and others. The gigs were cited as the concerts of the year by most UK critics. Brian Wilson and the Royal Festival Hall were honoured with the prestigious 'Live Event of the Year Award' by Time Out Magazine."

"Blame Brian Wilson. Eleven months to go and we already know the gig of the year." - TIME OUT 6 February 2002

"…there could only be one Gig Of The Year. No one knew what to expect from former Beach Boy Brian Wilson’s first-ever dates in Britain, but to see this icon…as spectacularly as any of those other sixties heroes here and alive and in the flesh was astounding." - THE EXPRESS

"Best Gig: Brian Wilson, Royal Festival Hall, London, January 27. The greatest songs in the history of pop music, exquisitely performed before an emotional, involved audience. What else do you want from a gig?" - THE GUARDIAN

For tour dates and ticket information, please visit the Tour page.

Just one thought. Is he going to perform it in a sandbox?

Very excited about the gigs. February is a bloody long time to wait though.

There's a not-insignificant chance that the whole Smile thing next year could be a colossal disaster for Brian Wilson. I think he's taking a much bigger risk than he did with the recent Pet Sounds tour. If it all goes tits up (and I obviously hope it doesn't) it'll be interesting to see what happens to the critical rep then.

'Student Demonstration Time' is bloody awful. There are some dodgy tracks on the post-Pet Sounds albums I've heard (though admittedly the 6 or 7 albums after that are more hit than miss).

I have to hear the late 70s reocrds to judge whether they contain as much dross as many people say, but it can't all be great.

(Don't get me wrong though - I love huge quantities of the Beach Boys' music.)

Student Demo Time was, yes, very crap as were the odd track on some seventies albums but it was only till the 80s (15 Big Ones notwithstanding) that Beach Boys got really poo. I love many of their 70s records, especially Holland, Love You etc. Carl and the Passions and 15 Big Ones are patchy but still worth getting. I'm serious when I say that comparing output-to-good-song ratio, the Beach Boys win over any other band.

Brian Wilson Readies All-New Recording Of Legendary "SMiLE"

Long-awaited Masterpiece to be Released by Nonesuch Records on September 28

Recording Follows Triumphant "SMILE" Performances in Europe With U.S. Tour Planned For The Fall

Thirty-seven years after its anticipated release, an all-new studio recording of SMiLE - often referred to as the most famous unreleased album in history - will be made available worldwide by Nonesuch Records on September 28, 2004. SMiLE will be produced by Brian Wilson and will feature the ten-member band that has supported him on tour over the past five years, augmented by The Stockholm Strings and Horns.

Wilson and lyricist Van Dyke Parks, who collaborated on the original SMiLE session in 1966-67, listened together to the 37-year old tapes in November 2003, following Brian's announcement of his intention to complete and perform SMiLE in a series of concerts in London. Acting as Brian and Van Dyke’s musical secretary, Darian Sahanaja, of Wilson's touring band, began preparing the music for performance. This led to Wilson and Parks creating new material to make the concerts possible.

The public premiere of the finished SMiLE took place at the Royal Festival Hall in London on February 20, 2004 to overwhelming response. The Los Angeles Times said: "What we do know now is that Wilson and Parks created a glorious piece of music whose grand ambition is outstripped only by its inherent beauty and cumulative power." In London, The Guardian referred to SMiLE's "groundbreaking complexity and sophistication" and wrote it seemed "the grandest of American symphonies," while the Daily Telegraph added, "Leonard Bernstein once proclaimed Brian Wilson one of the greatest composers of the 20th century: he was not wrong." The Independent summarized the feeling in the hall: “we knew we’d witnessed a miracle of sorts."

Wilson is currently finishing the new recording of SMiLE at Los Angeles' Sunset Sound studio.

2004 promises to be the year of Brian Wilson. In addition to SMiLE, Wilson is releasing his first solo studio album in over six years, Gettin' In Over My Head (street date: 6/22) which features guest appearances by Eric Clapton, Elton John, Paul McCartney and his late brother Carl Wilson. He intends to perform music from both albums this summer on a UK and European tour and will embark on a U.S. tour in the fall.

Earlier this month Brian Wilson was named a BMI ICON recipient. Wilson is the first songwriter to receive both the President’s Award and the ICON award.

Additionally, Wilson, along with the late composer/conductor/arranger Henry Mancini, and violinist Sarah Chang will be the 2004 Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame inductees. The opening night concert on Friday, June 25 will feature performances by Wilson and Chang, special appearances by Music Matters spokesperson Josh Groban, Andy Williams, Monica Mancini, and Wilson Phillips, as well as other surprise guests.

What on earth makes you say that? Have you actually seen / heard him recently? Admittedly his upper range may not be what it once was (he certainly struggles occasionally for some of the higher notes) and possibly his mind isn't either (fwiw I gather he forgot the word to one of the songs when he played at The Eden Project last week) but otherwise his voice is still as clear and smooth and rich as ever....

I'm only 2/3 of his age and have only done and been through a fraction of what Brian has, and I wish my voice was still in such a good condition!

ugh, no thanks. i'll take the 'unfinished' originals.

low fi, of course. I'm only at heroes and villans so I can't really say for sure, but this is probably as good as the record is ever going to get.

only thing i noticed (which may be on some bootlegs i don't know) is the sorta dissonant string thing linking two sections on H&V.

same thought as you tyler--never heard that part before. Very strange to hear the 2004 sessions spliced in there with the Mark Linett name on it.

you think that's actually from the 2004 sessions? is that how this is going to be -- mixing 'n' matching parts from 1967 and 2004?

I take that back, it's not from 04.

nothing from 2004 is being used in this collection

only thing i noticed (which may be on some bootlegs i don't know) is the sorta dissonant string thing linking two sections on H&V.

this did stick out to me but it was also familiar - I'm not sure where I would have come across it tho.

George fell into his french horn?

I don't remember hearing the "woo woo woo" part before "you're under arrest" before.

yeah, that's on the 2004 version iirc. jesus this is so confusing. gonna have to quit my job and sort it all out once this is released.

http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php?topic=10946.msg207582#msg207582

Heroes and Villains...STUNNING. Breakdown-
-Verse 1: has no more "carnival" organ. Ends with the dum-be-doo-be-do-waa vox.
-Chorus: Same as the single version (Heroes and villains, just see etc...)
-Verse 2: This is the "la-la-la" section. Same as single, has the organ in it.
-Section 4: Same as the single (doo doo do doo, etc...) with the exception of the slide whistle going off at what seems to be a different time of the section.
-Section 5: Cantina section. Has the laughing and "DAAAAAANCE" backing on it. The part leading up to the woo woo woo woo woo's is MUCH clearer then ever before. Still has "YOU'RE UNDER ARREST"
-Section 6: My children were raised...still the same.
-Section 7: Been in this town...same. Transition easier though then before to.
-Chorus 2: Same.
-Section 8: Bridge to Indians (I believe that's what it's called. "Ahhaahahahahah" you get the picture Tongue) Transitions nicely into
-Section 9: Western theme and this is also much clearer then before.
-End: The flutter horn with the strings that's been booted but nicer sounding.

I was thinking that the western theme was lifted from 04 because it's so clear, and the Smile reconstructions often took that section from 04 because the boots sounded so horrible, but it's just really damn clear.

George fell into his french horn?

yeah this is what I was thinking too...?

hey guys

i'm a little confused, the whole smile thing is so mixed up

but basically

this new "smile sessions" is an attempt to create the original vision for what smile was supposed to be...using only recordings from that time period?

(basically?)

not really. its a release of all the recordings from the original Smile sessions

so you get like an hour and a half of various takes of Heroes and Villains etc

well, the first disc is a reconstruction of what smile was supposed to be/could've been. they seem to be using the 2004 version as a template, but all of the recordings come from 1966-67.

I'm interviewing VD Parks next week and was specifically told not to ask him about Smile. Which is okay, as there's plenty to ask him otherwise, but still I worry that he's being scrubbed from the record.

blecch that stinks. seems weird, but oh well. you should ask him about grace kelly.

these are great btw http://www.bananastan.com/singles.html

Ask him about David Lynch/Twin Peaks, he played Leo's attorney.

Those VDP singles have some vintage RAW mag artwork

ask him about Faerie Tale Theatre!
http://www.imdb.com/video/hulu/vi952042521/

tyler, it only seems weird until you think about this:
Can we be shown weirdos + Mike Love?

who/ what else should i ask him about? Goldie Hawn reggae?
http://rateyourmusic.com/release/single/goldie_hawn/pitta_patta__mono____pitta_patta__stereo_/

Ask him what The Mighty Sparrow is like to hang out with

Ask him about David Lynch/Twin Peaks, he played Leo's attorney.

^^^^

Ask him about Jackie Gleason!

It's the animated unboxing!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvB0glRsolw

I'm interviewing VD Parks next week and was specifically told not to ask him about Smile. Which is okay, as there's plenty to ask him otherwise, but still I worry that he's being scrubbed from the record.

― beta blog, Friday, September 9, 2011 7:41 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark

Ask him if Song Cycle really is a concept album about the death of his brother. And then politely ask him to go song-by-song giving the details of said interpretation, kthxbi

the A cover of Wall Street is sampled from a RAW cover, but the B looks like an actual Spieg commission - that painting style is post-NYer for him. None of the others look anything like RAW stuff that I'm familiar with

I just recognized the one and decided to yell out "bunch of RAW art!"

and this is why I stopped reading BBs message boards.

http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php?topic=11058.msg211808#msg211808

good lord - there's like seven kinds of crazy on that board.

I love these quotes, though:

• "Only damage can arise from this temporary, fleeting image of success known as The Beach Boys." —MURRY WILSON
• "A musician expends as much energy in half an hour as a lumberjack does in 8 hours." —AL JARDINE
• "I used to pretend I was playing a guitar on a toothpick." —CARL WILSON
• "Brian Wilson is not a good looking human being." —DENNIS WILSON
• "I saw Mike Love walk by a computer once." —BRUCE JOHNSTON
• "I gave her the best 8 seconds of her life.” —DAVID MARKS
• "People are thinking Mike Love is crazy." —MIKE LOVE
• "Mike Love? He's Crazy." —BRIAN WILSON

thanking you

lol - def the best quote!

I have to agree with Darin, that board is plentifully crazy, and the level of obsessive analysis really does frighten me sometimes!

omg

Smile would never have been conceptually conceived had Brian been 'dry' - in fact he was full of conserved energy from not ejaculating. Brian mentioned this around the time - that when you cum you lose creative energy, genius, seed, potential, etc. Just saving it up for a while shows you this - cool it for a while and see how your mind improves. Smile the initial urge of conception was from channeling sexual energy into the brain for creative purposes rather than ordinary sexual. Smile did not become what it set out to be because Brian lost his seed either once [losing the entire synthesis of the idea as it resided in his brain] or through once and continual losses. With whoever, Marilyn or Diane or Barbara. Any of the groovy chicks Brian was probably checking out when he saw them. Anyway, that's the secret. That's why Smiley got crude and kind of perverted at times. And Wild Honey continued it. Charles Manson sex guru came on the scene shortly after. They were never as innocent as Smile again. Brian Wilson in the 1970s seems to have had a masturbation addiction. Sobering facts about our beloved guru of sound.

Sobering facts about our beloved guru of sound.
Sobering facts about our beloved guru of sound.
Sobering facts about our beloved guru of sound.
Sobering facts about our beloved guru of sound.
Sobering facts about our beloved guru of sound.
Sobering facts about our beloved guru of sound.
Sobering facts about our beloved guru of sound.
Sobering facts about our beloved guru of sound.
Sobering facts about our beloved guru of sound.

anyway that's the secret.

Where do those people come from!?

They fall out of George's french horn

oh boy

Brian has been quoted saying he has sex twice per day, every day. Brian himself knows, or knew, in the 60s, that, according to the teachings of the oriental mind, semen contains vital brain substances which when not wasted on females are reabsorbed back into the brain and create a more capable brilliant brain. Brian made all his best music due to conserving his semen. The ecstatic chants of California Girls are due to this. It is my own pet theory that SMiLE ceased to become due to Marilyn finally seducing Brian from the piano into the marital bed. Call me crazy but I think SMiLE was contained in Brian's seed and he lost it. Perhaps it became an expertly crafted sandwich. Or Carnie.

Theory: if Brian goes celibate for a few months, he will recover his mid-60s songwriting muse and go on to another 40 years of brilliance.

They fall out of George's french horn

*comedy drumroll*

engineer Mark Linnet interview re: this project

http://www.iconfetch.com/great-music-interviews/2011-shows/406-mark-linett-beach-boys-smile-interview.html

Interesting that he blames Brian's inability to finish Smile in 1967 primarily on technical issues and the complexity of compiling a single LP out of over 6 hours of disjointed recordingghe more common theories that have floated around other the years that Brian was too unstabile to finish it.

Appaently, the vinyl record(s) will be issued separately as well as included in the large deluxe box set

It's not hard to see how the complexity of compiling a single LP from 6 hours of stuff and Brian's mental instability may be linked...

interesting interview! thx for posting.
pretty amazing, the scope of the project. makes you wonder if linnet at this point never wants to hear this stuff ever again!

listening to the box set recently, this is the first time I've listened to smile, the only real beach boys I've really listen to closely is surf's up, so this is way overwhelming for me

I knew they were good and shit but I didn't know they were this good

or insane rather