Educate me on Smile from The Beach Boys

My idea "Hereos And Villains" [platonic ideal mix]" is pretty simple:

I want "Gee-Heroes and Villains chant"....then every single bit of "Heroes and Villains" that's not on "Heroes And Villains [Smile Sessions/BWPS version]" then the horn intro, then the "HeroesBWPS/Smile Sessions version.

I just want a bunch of "Heroes And Villains" chants, interspersed with "Swedish Frog" and other weird moans and stuff to precede the album. Right now I lazily just put "Hereos and Villains Sections" [stereo] in front of Smile Sessions "Heroes and Villians." It almost works, but I don't need to hear "prelude to fade" twice, though it's OK to hear the alternate prelude to fade with the bicycle horns (which does fit the lyrical theme of bicycle ride").

 

Inspired by you, I did the same last night, although my tracklisting is a little different. Then I got obsessed and overhauled all of my current Smile mixes. No one asked for it, but you got it:

So, here are my three versions:

Mine new SMiLE Mono Mix (44 minutes) :

1. Our Prayer (Good Vibrations)
2. Do You Like Worms (Good Vibrations) -- I prefer the ending to this one than the more canon "woo-woo" version
3. Heroes And Villains Pt. 2 (, Made In California, with Carl scat singing in fade)
4. Heroes And Villains Part 1 [Alternate Version] (Made In California)
5. Barnyard soniclovenoize The Smile Instrumentals -no vocals on this one
6. Vega-Tables (Good Vibrations)
7. The Old Master Painter/My Only Sunshine/fade with the bird song -soniclovenoize)
8. Cabin Essence (Made In California)
   
   
9. Psychodelic Sounds: Moaning Laughter (Smile Sessions) -- I just like the way this contrasts with "Our Prayer" opening side 1
10. Good Vibrations (Good Vibrations)
11. Wind Chimes (Good Vibrations)
12. Fire (Smile Sessions, with the flown in vocals, which work perfectly)
13. I Love to Say Da Da (Good Vibrations, no fly in vocals, just wah-wah-hoo-wah)
14. Wonderful (Good Vibrations)
15. Child Is Father of the Man (Wake The World) a real vintage mix
16. Surf's Up [mono 1966 demo] (Good Vibrations) why not?
17. You're Welcome (Smile Sessions bonus)

SMiLE Stereo Mix (51 minutes) too long to be historical (should probably cut "Look" and "You're Welcome", but F it)

1. Our Prayer (Made In California)
2. Do You Like Worms (Sounds Of Summer 2022) -- hate the woo-woos, but whatever
3. Heroes and Villains [Sections, Smile Sessions 1 bonus] I'd really like to cut "Prelude to fade from this", but otherwise this works really well -- this makes a better transition to as it returns to the main chorus theme after "woo-woo"
4. Heroes and Villains [stereo, Smile Sessions disc 1 bonus track]
5. Barnyard [soniclovenoize, with vocals, doesn't sound great but goes well into "Vega-Tables"]
6. Vega-Tables (Made In California, includes tag)
7. The Old Master Painter/My Only Sunshine/fade with birdsong)
8. Cabin Essence (20/20, still the best version)
   
   
9. Psychodelic Sounds: Moaning Laughter (Smile Sessions disc 2)
10. Good Vibrations( Sounds of Summer 2022)
11. Wind Chimes [Made In California]
12. Fire [Soniclove noize, no vocals]
13. Cool Cool Water [Alternate version] (Sunshine Tomorrow, opens with water chant)
14. Wonderful (soniclovenoize, includes yodels)
15. Look (soniclovenoize)
16. Child Is Father of the Man (soniclovenoize SMiLE Reconstruction)
17. Surf's Up [Brian Wilson version](Feel Flows) .(I know, I know -- or Soniclovenoize's version)
18. You're Welcome -- Smile Sessions Side 4 vinyl

SMiLE Kitchen Sink (stereo where possible) (67minutes)

Side One -Americana

1. Our Prayer (Made In California)
2. Do You Like Worms (Sounds Of Summer 2022)
3. Heroes and Villains [Sections, Smile Sessions 1 bonus]
   
4. Hereos And Villains [stereo, Smile Sessions disc 1 bonus]
5. Barnyard [soniclovenoize, with vocals, doesn't sound great but goes well into "Vega-Tables"]
   
6. Vega-Tables (Made In California, includes tag)
   
7. Vega-tables [Promo] (Hawthorne California includes parts of vegetable chants and Hal Blaine's vegetable arguments) really trippy!
8. The Old Master Painter/My Only Sunshine/fade with birdsong) [soniclovenoize]
   
9. Cabinessence (20/20, still the best version)
   
   Side Two -- The Elements
10. Psycodelic Sounds: Moaning Laughter (Smile Sessions disc 2)
11. Good Vibrations (Sounds Of Summer 2022)
12. Holidays (Soniclovenoize BWPS 2004 Mix -- no "whispering winds" vocals)
13. Wind Chimes (Made In California)
14. Talking Horns (}{eywood Mix) -- @}{eywood mix is a great kitchen sink mix with some great edits -- this sounds great after Wind Chimes and segues nicely into "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow/Fire"
15. Mrs. O'Leary's Cow (soniclovenoize -- no vocals)
16. Cool Cool Water [Alternate version] (Sunshine Tomorrow, opens with water chant)
    
    Side Three - Psycodelia
17. I'm In Great Shape/I Wanna Be Around/Friday Night (opens with cantina piano)
18. With Me Tonight (}{eywood Mix)
19. I Don't Know (}{eywood Mix) -- starts with "Wonderful Tag"
20. All Day (}{eywood Mix)
21. Tune X (}{eywood Mix)
22. With Me Tonight (reprise) (}{eywood Mix)

Side Four-- Cycle Of Life

1. He Gives Speeches (Smile Sessions 1 bonus track)
   
2. Wonderful (soniclovenoize,
3. Look (soniclovenoize)
4. Child Is Father of the Man (soniclovenoize)
5. I Love to Say Da-DA }{eywood Mix -- no water chant -- this one has a few vocals flown in from Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE, but not too much)
6. Surf's Up (Feel Flows or soniclove noize)
7. You're Welcome - needle drop of Smile Sessions side four

Bonus track, side three: Teeter Totter Love

 

Love it!

 

Okay, indulge me here...I don't have Made In California, so what am I missing that isn't on the GV box, Sessions and Sunshine Tomorrow that could tempt me into parting with more cash?

 

Go with The Smile Sessions first. The 2004 version is lovely, but it's a cover, Smilemania.

 

Regarding SMiLE? Just stereo mixes of "Wind Chimes", "Our Prayer", "Vega-Tables", I think.

Also the vinyl single of "Heroes and Villains"(parts 1 and 2) from Smile Sessions is here.

But there's probably about two discs worth of outtakes, alternates and live tracks that aren't connected to SMiLE, or are only found on some other albums of obscurities. Most of them pretty good.

I can list them later, busy right now.

Stuff like this, I just buy on iTunes. NM copies of Made In California are really expensive, so digital is the way to go, I think. The book isn't worth shelling out the big bucks at this point.

 

OK, so tldr: I think Made In California is worth parting with some cash, but not loads and loads if you have all of what you've indicated above. I bought mine off iTunes, and I feel pretty good about that purchase -- it was not cheap but it was not hundreds of euros, which is what I'm seeing physical copies going for. Also there was a glitch in some physical copies, a really terrible indexing error, can't remember specifics. The extra money is not worth hearing it in lossless to me.

Digital versions don't have the indexing problem.

Notes:

• There are a few regular album tracks that are included on MIC that aren't on GV and vice/versa. I won't bother you with those.
  
  
• Made In California offers mostly stereo tracks, some of them are newly remixed for this comp. Good Vibrations first two discs are strictly mono. Some people prefer them, but I tend to prefer stereo for Beach Boys. (Almost uniquely for sixties bands.) I won't bother listing those either as there are just too many.
  
  In that sense nearly all of the first two discs would not be included on what you've got above -- but of course you have most of them in mono.

So below are the main outtakes and alternate mixes that aren't included on GV Box, SMiLE Sessions and Sunshine Tomorrow. I've bolded the ones I think are most "essential".

Disc 1:

• Back Home -- a 1963 version of a song released in 1976 -- very good
• All Dressed Up for School [mono]

Disc 2:

• Amusement Parks USA [early version]
• Graduation Day [also on twofers, this includes some session takes before the proper song]

Disc 3:

• Sail Plane Song [2012 mix -- earlier mix available on Endless Harmony, 2018 mix included on I CAn Hear Music]
• We're Together Again [2012 Stereo Mix] - mono mix only available on twofers
• Old Man River (Vocal Section) -also available on Hawthorne, CA
• Can't Wait Too Long [a cappella]
• Break Away [alternate mix]
• Celebrate The News
• Susie Cincinatti [2012 mix]
• Soulful Old Man Sunshine - also available on Endless Harmony
• Fallin' In Love [2009 remix]
• Sound Of Free

Disc 4:

• (Wouldn't It Be Nice) To Live Again
• Rock And Roll Music [alternate mix]
• It's OK (Alternate Mix)
• It's Over Now (Alternate Mix -- much better than Good Vibrations mix)
• Brian's Back (Alternate Mix)
• It's a Beautiful Day
• Goin' to the Beach
• Why Don't They Let Us Fall In Love
• Do Doo Ron Ron
• California Dreamin'
• Soul Searchin'
• You're Still a Mystery
• That's Why God Made The Radio
• Isn't It Time [Single Mix]

Disc 5:

• "Slip on Through (A Cappella Mix)
• Don't Worry Baby (Stereo Session Outtake w/ Alternate Lead Vocal)♦" B. Wilson, Christian 3:07
• Pom Pom Play Girl (Vocal Session Highlight)
• Guess I'm Dumb (Instrumental Track w/Background Vocals)
• Sherry She Needs Me (1965 Track w/1976 Vocal)♦" B. Wilson, Titelman 2:53
• Mona Kana (Instrumental Track)
• This Whole World (A Cappella)
• Where Is She?
• Had to Phone Ya (Instrumental Track)
• Be with Me (Demo
• I Believe in Miracles (Vocal Section)
• Why (Instrumental Track)
• Barnyard Blues
• Don't Go Near the Water (Instrumental Track)
• You've Lost that Lovin' Feelin'
• Transcendental Meditation (Instrumental Track)
• Our Sweet Love (Vocals w/Strings)
• Back Home (1970 Version)
• California Feelin' (Original Demo)♦
• My Love Lives On

• 
  
  
  Live Songs
• Runaway (Chicago 1965, with Concert Promo Intro – Mono)
• YOu're So Good to Me (Paris 1966 – Mono)
• Friends (Chicago 1968 – Mono)
• Little Bird (Chicago 1968 – Mono)
• All I Want To Do (London 1968)
• Help Me, Rhonda (New Jersey 1972)
• Wild Honey (New Jersey 1972
• Only with You (New York 1972)
  
• It's About Time (Chicago 1973)
  
• I Can Hear Music (Maryland 1975)
  
• Vegetables (New York 1993)
  
• Wonderful (New York 1993)
  
• Sail On, Sailor (Louisville 1995)
• Wendy (BBC—Live in the Studio 1964 – Mono)
• When I Grow Up (To Be a Man) (BBC—Live in the Studio 1964 – Mono)
• Hushabye (BBC—Live in the Studio 1964 – Mono)

 

• Why (Instrumental Track)

This is from the MIU sessions. Wonderful instrumental, and full of those cool chord changes, which only could come from Brian.

 

A SMiLE mix I am not aware of? Do tell

 

Well he is on this board.

 

Thank you for another very thorough answer.

I can probably do without the stereo mixes of those Smile tracks, although as I type this my soft spot for Wind Chimes is making me question this!

Re the non-Smile material, I also have the Feel Flows set as well as various 'normal' BB albums on CD, which may well cover the tracks which you've kindly highlighted from MIC. Of course, there is bound to be a rare version of something which I will need to chase somewhere along the line!

 

Feel Flows will cover several of those other tracks, yeah!

 

Figured out that @}{eywood mix is aka the Ear to Ear Expansion set, which I do have.

 

It's got some good edits on it.

 

"Da-da" doesn't work there. I'd put it at the beginning instead and either put "He Gives Speeches" before that (on "Side 3") or just cut it: in my opinion "He Gives Speeches" actually sucks.

 

Yeah, one of my favourite fan mixes. Historical accuracy be damned but I use the Cool, Cool Water (Keep On Coolin') mix on my, always evolving. ultimate SMiLE playlist.