"Feel Flows: The Sunflower & Surf's Up Sessions 1969-1971" by THE BEACH BOYS – August 1970 US LP "Sunflower" and August 1971 US LP "Surf's Up" and 34 Unreleased Tracks (27 August 2021 UK/EU UME/Capitol/Brother 2CD Compilation of New Remasters – Mark Linnett and Alan Boyd Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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1970

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"...Touching Your Heart..."

 

Although it's now over 21 years ago, most Beach Boys fans who wanted these cool early 70ts albums plumbed for the Capitol/Brother Reissue that Remastered both LPs onto 1CD released back in July 2000 in the USA (August 2000 in the UK). I've had that 70:22 minutes and its chunky 22-page booklet in pride of 'B' place on my shelves for over two decades now as I say.

 

So even with the promise of 56-Tracks across 2CDs as stated on the shrink-wrap sticker - 34 of which are unreleased - I have to admit (and to my amazement), that I'm a tad underwhelmed by this new 2021 "Feel Flows: The Sunflower & Surf's Up Sessions 1969-1971" compilation. I should explain why.

 

The 103-Track 5CD Super Deluxe Box Set (also issued 27 August 2021) is a beast and a true beauty - book to die for etc. Unfortunately, the standard issue (which I’m reviewing) or just plain 'Deluxe Version' as some are calling it - is no such thing. You get a rather crappy gatefold card sleeve with a 20-page booklet in one of the two slots. The first half is taken up with just listing the tracks, while the remainder of that lesser booklet sports new liner notes from Original/Subsequent Engineers and Producers ALAN BOYD and MARK LINNETT on the new transfers and tape library discoveries (Linnet has a 30-year association with The Beach Boys and was behind "The Smile Sessions" "Pet Sounds" etc - is also a 3-times Grammy Winner). There is some discography material on the inner gatefold by HOWIE EDELSEN and a potted history of the period - especially their absence from the charts for nearly three years (something they dominated with ease for nearly all of the 60ts). But in truth - visually, when the wrap is off, this 2CD set feels and looks wimpy compared to its predecessor of two decades back. Still, there is at least the music, new and old, and all of it sparkling like never before. To the boards...

 

UK released 27 August 2021 - "Feel Flows: The Sunflower & Surf's Up Sessions 1969-1971" by THE BEACH BOYS on UME/Capitol/Brother 00602508790584 (Barcode 602508790584) is a 56-Track 2CD Compilation that offers both the 1970 Album "Sunflower" with 18 Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks and the 1971 Album "Surf's Up" with 16 Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks. 

 

The Album Remasters are New 2019 Versions and the CDs play out as follows:

 

Disc One (78:32 minutes):

SUNFLOWER Original Album (2019 Remaster)

1. Slip On Through

2. This Whole World

3. Add Some Music To Your Day

4. Got To Know The Woman

5. Deirdre

6. It's About Time

7. Tears In The Morning [Side 2]

8. All I Wanna Do

9. Forever

10. Our Sweet Love

11. At My Window

12. Cool, Cool Water

Tracks 1 to 12 are the album "Sunflower" - released 31 August 1970 in the USA on Brother Records/Reprise RS 6382 and November 1970 in the UK on Stateside SSL 8251.

 

SUNFLOWER Bonus Tracks (Previously Unreleased):

13. Loop De Loop (1969 Mix)

14. San Miguel (2020 Mix)

15. Susie Cincinnati (2020 Mix)

16. Good Time (2019 Mix)

17. I Just Got My Pay (2019 Mix)

18. Two Can Play (2019 Mix)

19. I'm Goin' Your Way (Alternate Mix)

20. Where Is She (2019 Mix)

21. Break Away (Backing Vocals Excerpt)

22. Our Sweet Love (String Section)

23. This Whole World (Alternate Ending)

24. Soulful Old Man Sunshine (2019 Mix)

25. All I Wanna Do (a Cappella)

26. Back Home (Alternate Version)

27. When Girls Get Together (2019 Mix)

28. Cotton Fields (The Cotton Song) (2012 Stereo Mix)

29. This Whole World (Live 1988)

30. Sunflower Promo 1

 

 

Disc Two (78:59 minutes):

SURF'S UP Original Album (2019 Master)

1. Don't Go Near The Water [Side 1]

2. Long Promised Road

3. Take A Load Off Your Feet

4. Disney Girls (1957)

5. Student Demonstration Time

6. Feel Flows [Side 2]

7. Lookin' At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song)

8. A Day In The Life Of A Tree

9. 'Til I Die

10. Surf's Up

Tracks 1 to 10 are their album "Surf's Up" - released 30 August 1971 in the USA on Brother/Reprise RS 6453 and November 1971 in the UK on Stateside SSL 10313.

 

SURF'S UP Bonus Tracks (Previously Unreleased):

11. It's A New Day

12. Big Sur

13. (Wouldn't It Be Nice To) Live Again (2019 Mix)

14. 4th Of July (2019 Mix)

15. Lady (Fallin' In Love) (1970 Stereo Mix)

16. Behold The Night

17. Medley: All Of My Love/Ecology

18. Sweet And Bitter

19. My Solution

20. Awake

21. Disney Girls (Live 1982)

22. Surf's Up (Live 1979)

23. You Need A Mess Of Help To Stand Alone (Track & Backing Vocals)

24. Feel Flows (Backing Vocals Excerpt)

25. Disney Girls (Backing Vocals Excerpt)

26. Surf's Up Promo

 

 

The Audio it has to be said is a bit of a mixed blessing - the extra clarity has brought out quite a bit of that tape hiss behind those layers of vocals and you can really hear it in-between those musical gaps. But when it does work like on the gorgeous "Deirdre" or "Disney Girls (1957)", it's so damn sweet. I suppose you could argue that placing 17-seconds on CD1 and calling it a 'Previously Unreleased" song ("Break Away") and following that with a 'push-the-boat-out' one-whole minute of 'String Section' for "Our Sweet Love" is a bit of a stretch on two fronts.

 

One anomaly in the booklet calls Track 17 on CD2 as a Medley with "Happy Birthday" and "God Only Knows" as the duo of tracks when the back of the gatefold card sleeve gets its right – it's actually "All Of My Love" and "Ecology" – and for me it's one of a few unreleased dazzlers. Takes 1 and 2 of "Sweet And Bitter" with Mike on Lead Vocals are damn good too while the 3:43 minutes of "My Solution" complete with spoken and sung lines is just plain Beach Boys bonkers (easy on the mushrooms lads). The Final Take of the Floyd Tucker song "Awake" is so pretty (Brian on Lead) – an outtake that will thrill long-term BB fans.

 

But there is no doubt that when you re-hear Bruce Johnston's truly lovely "Tears In The Morning" that ends Side 1 of "Sunflower" that the band was at that moment swimming in melody and ideas. They were unfortunately saddled with that 60ts Surfin' Beach Boys image thing that did for them in the harder-hitting 70ts. I can remember huge numbers of people discovering these albums in retrospect and being impressed.

 

The 2CD Version of "Feel Flow: The Sunflower & Surf's Up Sessions 1969-1971" is a good reissue for me then, when I was hoping to be hopping up and down in hysterics. I'll just have to wait for the Big Daddy 'Super Deluxe Version' to drop in price and in the meantime, take a load off my feet with this...

"Friends and 20/20" by THE BEACH BOYS – 10 June 1968 and 10 February 1969 US 14th and 15th LPs both on Capitol Records in Stereo – featuring Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson, Bruce Johnston, Mike Love and Al Jardine (April 2001 UK Capitol Reissue – 2LPs onto 1HDCD in STEREO with Five Bonus Tracks – Joe Gastwirt and Mark Linett Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"...Meant For You..."

The entire series of 2001 CD reissues for the voluminous Beach Boys back catalogue is a shining example of how to do it right - both presentation-wise and especially sonically (these 'twofers' have always been fantastic value for money too - mid-priced or less even now in 2020). But four of the duo-combos have screamed 'buy me' more than others – three of which are "Smiley Smile" combined with "Wild Honey" (both from 1967), 1970's "Sunflower" and 1971's "Surf's Up" - and finally 1972's "Carl & The Passions - So Tough" with 1973's brilliant "Holland" being another.

Which brings us back-peddling to door number four - "Friends" from June 1968 doubled with its US follow-up "20/20" from February 1969 – both on Capitol Records and both barely bothering their once total stomping ground of the US LP charts. Despite the Summer of Love in 1967 – there appeared to be no love by the US public for more wake-the-world happy-wappy sentiment in 1968 and 1969 from The Beach Boys. "Friends" took until early July to hit the Billboard album charts after its 10 June 1968 launch and then only peaked at No. 126 – the band's worst chart showing since 1962. While "20/20" made a very respectable No. 3 in the UK on release 10 February 1969 – again American audiences waited until March 1969 to chart it and then only peaking at No. 63 (an 11-week run when "Pet Sounds" had managed 39 in 1966).

These anemic number-placements, however, have more to do with the fractured heavy-heavy politics of 1968 and 1969 than their musical content. Because you could argue that "Friends" and "20/20" began a fabulous run of studio album releases for the surfer boys that would eventually culminate in the "Holland" album in 1973. Let's get to the Cabinessence baby...

UK released 9 April 2001 - "Friends and 20/20" by THE BEACH BOYS on Capitol 531 6382 (Barcode 724353163822) offers 2LPs Remastered in STEREO onto 1HDCD (High Definition Compatible Digital) with Five Bonus Tracks (29 in total) and plays out as follows (66:58 minutes):

1. Meant For You [Side 1]

2. Friends

3. Wake The World

4. Be Here In The Morning

5. When A Man Needs A Woman

6. Passing By

7. Anna Lee, The Healer [Side 2]

8. Little Bird

9. Be Still

10. Busy Doin' Nothin'

11. Diamond Head

12. Transcendental Meditation

Tracks 1 to 12 are their album "Friends" - released June 1968 in the USA on Capitol ST 2895 (Stereo) and September 1968 in the UK on Capitol T 2895 (Mono) and Capitol ST 2895 (Stereo) - STEREO MIX is used for this CD. Produced by THE BEACH BOYS - the album peaked at No. 126 in the USA and No. 13 in the UK.

13. Do It Again [Side 1]

14. I Can Hear Music

15. Bluebirds Over The Mountain

16. Be With Me

17. All I Want To Do

18. The Nearest Faraway Place

19. Cotton Fields [Side 2]

20. I Went To Sleep

21. Time To Get Alone

22. Never Learn Not To Love

23. Our Prayer

24. Cabinessence

Tracks 13 to 24 are the album "20/20" - released February 1969 in the USA on Capitol SKAO-133 (Stereo only) and April 1969 in the UK on Capitol E-T 133 (Mono) and Capitol E-ST 133 (Stereo) - STEREO MIX is used for CD. Produced by THE BEACH BOYS - it peaked at No. 3 in the UK and No. 68 in the USA

BONUS TRACKS:

25. Breakaway

26. Celebrate The News

27. We're Together Again

28. Walk On By

29. Old Folks At Home (Swanee River)/Ol' Man River 

The 24-page booklet is a chunky affair with liner notes from expert/aficionado DAVID LEAF (author of the critically acclaimed biography "The Beach Boys And The California Myth") - artwork in colour and staggeringly detailed track-by-track analysis. The front cover is the "Friends" LP artwork and the rear page "20/20". You even get breakdowns on the five Bonus cuts. Buts its the Audio that shines, best tapes found, no remixing, just care transfers of what was originally laid down by the core six - Brian, Carl and Dennis Wilson, Bruce Johnston, Mike Love and Al Jardine - STEREO Remasters by JOE GASTWIRT and MARK LINETT using the Pacific Microsonics HDCD system. Those walls of harmony vocals are so crisp and clear, it can at times be disconcerting - "Little Bird" and "Do It Again" feel like revelations - those strings...

"Friends" is a short album and opens well with the promising ditty "Meant For You" - a 38-second intro of sorts that acts as a love coda. Capitol issued "Friends" as an advance 45 taster to the LP in April 1968 with Dennis Wilson's gorgeous "Little Bird" on the flipside (Capitol 2160) - but despite the strength of both cuts - it hit only No. 47 on the US singles chart. Al Jardine gets his first songwriting credit with Brian Wilson on "Wake The World" (Brian and Carl handle the lead vocals) - that Tuba wrapped around the chorus clear on the Remaster. The lyrics in "Be Here In The Morning" mention getting no phone calls from "...Korthof, Parks or Grillo..." - we now find out they're Brian's one-time assistant Steve Korthof, Road Manager Jon Parks and Lawyer/Business Manager Nick Grillo. Becoming family men and having children fills the jaunty "When A Man Needs A Woman". That niggling feeling of unfinished songs lingers throughout the semi-instrumental "Passing By" as humming floats over keyboard plinks. The band's masseuse gets her nimble hands immortalized in "Anna Lee, The Healer" - another OK tune that seems more childish than enlightening.

But Side 2 offers up two of the album's true gems – both Dennis Wilson contributions – the "Pacific Ocean View" album man emerging out the songwriting shadows. Brian admits in his liner notes on the original LP that Dennis' contribution "Little Bird" blew his mind – and even though "Be Still" isn't in the same league, it has an aching vocal delivery that is borderline beautiful. Brian then throws in a goody too in "Busy Doin' Nothin'" while I've always found the Hawaiian sound-effects instrumental "Diamond Head" to be little more than indulgent studio experimentation that's interesting but not much more. They end 1968's "Friends" with the decidedly kooky and seriously dated "Transcendental Meditation" - an emancipation of the mind plea that smacks of Maharishi Guru twaddle that so many fell for (at great financial cost too).

1969's "20/20" opens on a barnstormer "Do It Again" - The Beach Boys hitting all the right notes - a hugely catchy chorus, driving rhythm and those unique harmonies and sound effects (they were rewarded with a No. 20 chart position in July 1968 on Capitol 2239 when it was paired on 45 with the lovely "Wake The World" as its flipside). Carl Wilson grabbed the Production controls on the excellent "I Can Hear Music" - a cover of The Ronettes/Phil Spector - a song that would become their 25th and last Top 40 hit of the 60ts (No. 24 chart position on Capitol 2432 in March 1969 with "All I Want To Do" on the B-side).  Even better is Dennis Wilson's majestically dense "Be With Me" - a huge vocal and string plea that has weird overtones of almost-madness as it fades out. Mike Love lets his vocals rock on the decidedly fruity "All I Want To Do" - a unusual Rock 'n' Roll tune for the California Surf boys that feels like The Beach Boys doing The Beatles doing guitar Rock 'n' Roll on the White Album. Van McCoy's string arrangements play a huge part in the Bruce Johnston's lovely instrumental "The Nearest Faraway Place" - another hidden nugget on a great Beach Boys LP (Johnston composed, performed and produced the lot).

I've never held a candle for their cover of Leadbelly's "Cotton Fields" (even if variants did huge business in overseas markets - No. 1 in the Netherlands and No. 2 in the UK). But apparently recorded during the "Friends" sessions – the nice summer day of "I Went To Sleep" is Brian at his simplistic best. I see love in your eyes, Carl sings on the shimmering "Time To Get Alone" – but it's trounced in my opinion by the second Dennis Wilson contribution on here - "Never Learn Not To Love" – a fantastic swirling chunk of Beach Boys greatness that still feels slightly otherworldly even to this day. The 1:10 cathedral-like minutes of "Our Prayer" succeeds in the middle of Side 2 on "20/20" where "Meant To Be" at the beginning of "Friends" only almost did. It's a vocal instrumental that by itself would stamp home the band's greatness if you needed an example (fabulous harmonies).

The album romps home with "Cabinessence" where the boys chant lyrics by Van Dyke Parks that include  'doyn doyn' (whatever that means) before we're hit with a "Pet Sounds" wall of music.  "Cabinessence" is ambitious and overdone for sure (like much of this non-Brian Wilson helmed LP who was checked into emotional rehab at the time of recoding) – but undeniably brilliant too. Dennis remained unimpressed with the outcome calling the LP a mess – but "20/20" is a great Beach Boys album to me, and certainly one of their better late 60ts efforts. Of the bonus cuts my faves are the contractual single "Breakaway" b/w "Celebrate The News" - a Brian ooh-ooh bopper on the A-side with a sophisticated there-ain't-no-blues Dennis Wilson composition on the flip while the outtake "We're Together Again" is also shockingly good.

1968's "Friends" is good to very good - while 1969's "20/20" is brilliant (even if insiders disagree). But at fewer than six quid and with shout-about-it great audio - this Capitol reissue really is a no-brainer must-own HDCD purchase...

"U.S. Singles Collection: The Capitol Years 1962-1965" by THE BEACH BOYS (June 2008 USA Capitol 16-Disc Mini Box Set Of CD Singles) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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"…Surfin' U.S.A.…"

Released June 2008 in the USA on Capitol 509992 15795 23 – the sonically amazing and sumptuously packaged "U.S. Singles Collection: The Capitol Years 1962-1965" by THE BEACH BOYS has elicited a lot of joy amongst fans and the occasional howl of derision too (I'm with the happy bunnies personally). 

With its beautifully laid out 56-page hardback book and repro facsimile sleeves – to look at "U.S. Singles…" is a thing of beauty for sure. But diehard fans have complained about a paltry 8 unreleased tracks (Disc 1, 6, 7, 9, 13 and 16) and a not too insignificant price tag. 

Whatever way you look at it – "The Capitol Years 1962-1965" by THE BEACH BOYS is bit special in my book and in 2017 - its 58-tracks are available for a lot less than its initial steep asking price. So here are the bikini-clad details and Californian heavy waves…

All tracks are in MONO unless otherwise stated:

Disc 1:

1. Surfin’ Safari

2. 409

3. 409 (Live)

Tracks 1 and 2 are their debut USA 45 released May 1962 on Capitol 4777. Track 3 is a Previously Unreleased Mono Live Version

Disc 2

1. Ten Little Indians

2. County Fair

3. Punchline

Tracks 1 and 2 are a USA 45 released November 1962 on Capitol 4880.

Disc 3

1. Surfin’ USA

2. Shut Down

3. Surfin USA (Stereo Mix)

4. Shut Down (Stereo Mix)

Tracks 1 and 2 are a USA 45 released April 1963 on Capitol 4932.

Disc 4

1. Surfer Girl

2. Little Deuce Coupe

3. Surfer Girl (Stereo Mix)

4. Little Deuce Coup (Stereo Mix)

Tracks 1 and 2 are a USA 45 released August 1963 on Capitol 5009

Disc 5

1. Be True To Your School

2. In My Room

3. Be True To Your School (Alternate Version)

4. In My Room (Stereo Mix)

Tracks 1 and 2 are a USA 45 released October 1963 on Capitol 5069.

Disc 6

1. Little Saint Nick

2. The Lord’s Prayer

3. Little Saint Nick (Stereo Mix)

4. The Lord’s Prayer (Stereo Mix)

Tracks 1 and 2 are a USA 45 released December 1963 on Capitol 5096. Track 3 is Previously Unreleased

Disc 7

1. Fun, Fun, Fun

2. Why Do Fools Fall In Love

3. Fun, Fun, Fun (Stereo Mix)

4. Why Do Fools Fall In Love (Alternate Mono Single Edit)

Tracks 1 and 2 are a USA 45 released February 1964 on Capitol 5118. Track 4 is Previously Unreleased

Disc 8

1. I Get Around

2. Don’t Worry Baby

3. I Get Around (Stereo Backing Track)

4. Don’t Worry Baby (Stereo Mix)

Tracks 1 and 2 are a USA 45 released May 1964 on Capitol 5174.

Disc 9

1. When I Grow Up To Be A Man

2. She Knows Me Too Well

3. When I Grow Up To Be A Man (Stereo Mix)

4. She Knows Me Too Well (Stereo Mix)

Tracks 1 and 2 are a USA 45 released September 1964 on Capitol 5245. Tracks 3 and 4 are Previously Unreleased

Disc 10

1. Wendy

2. Don’t Back Down

3. Little Honda

4. Hushabye

5. Wendy (Stereo Mix)

6. Don’t Back Down (Stereo Mix)

7. Little Honda (Stereo Mix)

8. Hushabye (Stereo Mix)

Tracks 1 to 4 are a USA 7” EP “Four By The Beach Boys” released October 1964 on Capitol R 5267

Disc 11

1. Dance, Dance, Dance

2. The Warmth Of The Sun

3. Dance, Dance, Dance (Stereo Mix)

4. The Warmth Of The Sun (Stereo Mix)

Tracks 1 and 2 are a USA 45 released November 1964 on Capitol 5306

Disc 12

1. The Man With All The Toys

2. Blue Christmas

3. The Man With All The Toys (Stereo Mix)

4. Blue Christmas (Stereo Mix)

Tracks 1 and 2 are a USA 45 released November 1964 on Capitol 5312

Disc 13

1. Do You Wanna Dance

2. Please Let Me Wonder

3. Do You Wanna Dance (Stereo Mix)

4. Please Let Me Wonder (Stereo Mix)

Tracks 1 and 2 are a USA 45 released March 1965 on Capitol 5372. Track 3 is Previously Unreleased

Disc 14

1. Help Me Rhonda

2. Kiss Me, Baby

3. Help Me Rhonda (Mono Backing Track)

4. Kiss Me, Baby (Stereo Mix)

Tracks 1 and 2 are a USA 45 released April 1965 on Capitol 5395

Disc 15

1. California Girls

2. Let Him Run Wild

3. California Girls (Stereo Mix)

4. Let Him Run Wild (Stereo Mix)

Tracks 1 and 2 are a USA 45 released July 1965 on Capitol 5464

Disc 16 BONUS DISC:

1. All Dressed Up For School (Original Mono Mix)

2. I’m So Young (Original Mono Mix)

3. Help Me, Rhonda (Alternate Mix)

4. Graduation Day (Stereo Mix)

Tracks 1 and 2 are Previously Unreleased

As other reviewers have quite rightly pointed out – the MARK LINETT remasters in both MONO and STEREO are second to none and worth the price of admission alone. But I’m also loving those spruced up STEREO versions – especially the rare “Four” EP and “California Girls”. I doubt I ever want to hear the festive singles “Little Saint Nick” and “The man With All The Toys” ever again – but “Help Me Rhonda”, “I Get Around” and “Be True To Your School” are still amazing.

It’s a niche product for sure – and aimed squarely at the collector – but in 2014 with its dropped-in-price tab and that storming audio to entice  – "U.S. Singles..." is more than worth a splash of your cash…

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"The Smile Sessions" by THE BEACH BOYS (2011 Capitol '2CD' Mini Box Set Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Giving Me Excitations..."

Although I think the never-released Beach Boy's LP "Smile" is a victim of gross over-importance by historical revisionists (there's an awful lot of meandering faff on here – segments rather than actual songs) – on the evidence presented in this sweet sounding mini box set – there's an actual album lurking about in there somewhere. God only knows - but let's go try and find it...

UK released 31 October 2011 (November 2011 in the USA) – "The Smile Sessions" by THE BEACH BOYS on Capitol 5099902766324 (Barcode the same) is a 2 x HDCD Mini Box Set with a 36-Page Booklet, 15" x 20" Fold-Out Poster and a 'Smile' Button. It plays out as follows:

Disc 1 (79:20 minutes):

1. Our Prayer

2. Gee

3. Heroes And Villains

4. Do You Like Worms (Roll Plymouth Rock)

5. I'm In Great Shape

6. Barnyard

7. My Only Sunshine (The Old Master Painter/You Are My Sunshine)

8. Cabin Essence

9. Wonderful

10. Look (Song For Children)

11. Child Is Father Of The Man

12. Surf's Up

13. I Wanna Be Around/Workshop

14. Vega-Tables

15. Holidays

16. Wind Chimes

17. The Elements: Fire (Mrs. O'Leary's Cow)

18. Love To Say Dada

19. Good Vibrations

BONUS TRACKS:

20. You're Welcome

21. Heroes And Villains (Stereo Mix)

22. Heroes And Villains Sections (Stereo Mix)

23. Vega-Tables Demo

24. He Gives Speeches

25. Smile Backing Vocals Montage

26. Surf's Up 1967 (Solo Version)

27. Psycodelic Sounds – Brian Falls Into A Piano

Disc 2 (64:06 minutes):

1. Our Prayer "Dialogue" (9/19/66)

2. Heroes And Villains (Part 1)

3. Heroes And Villains (Part 2)

4. Heroes And Villains: Children Were Raised (1/27/67)

5. Heroes And Villains: Prelude To Fade (2/15/67)

6. My Only Sunshine (11/14/66)

7. Cabin Essence (10/3/66)

8. Surf's Up: 1st Movement (11/4/66)

9. Surf's Up: Piano Demo (12/15/66)

10. Vega-Tables: Fade (4/12/67)

11. The Elements: Fire Session (11/28/66)

12. Cool, Cool Water Version 2 (10/26-10/29/67)

13. Good Vibrations Session Highlights

Some have moaned about the hard card sleeves inside housing the 2 CDs (put the discs in protective plastics) – I think they look and feel great. I also love the way Capitol have given the "Smile" album that Capitol T 2580 catalogue number and what would have approximated its probable artwork (even if the track list on the rear is confusing). You certainly can't complain either about a near 80-minute playing time on Disc 1. The 36-page booklet is a chunky affair offering Brian Wilson's "Music is God's Voice" liner notes at the beginning - followed by some vacuous assessment of "Smile" by Tom Nolan which goes into 'myth' and 'artefact' babble. There's a plethora of period colour photos followed by lyrics for everything and detailed notes on the tortuous transfer process by compilation producers MARK LINETT, ALAN BOYD and DENNIS WOLFE. They explain that digital editing has now allowed Capitol to 'splice' the album together making sense of Brian Wilson's 'modules' of music (as he liked to call them).

The AUDIO is fabulous – Mixed and Mastered by MARK LINETT at 'Your Place Or Mine Recording' in Glendale, California (edited by ALAN BOYD). This is as clean and vibrant as I've ever heard this much bootlegged material - and the bare piano demo of "Surf's Up" on Disc 2 is a stupendous remaster.

It opens with what could only be track one – the beautiful Acapella "Our Prayer" – one minute and five seconds of gorgeous Beach Boys harmonies – like an opening salvo to a masterpiece. Personally I sequenced "Surf's Up" (which I would have called 'Brother John') next – surely one of the truly great finished songs on "Smile". Equally brill and complicated is the 4:52 minute version of the mammoth "Heroes And Villains". I personally like to follow that with the monk-like chant of "Love To Say Dada". I also dig the pretty clavinet 60ts feel to "Wonderful". And of course we then get the big one – "Good Vibrations". Having grown up like everyone else with the October 1966 seven-inch single mix at 3:59 minutes – how weird is it to hear this altered supposed 'full album version' at 4:15 minutes. It's good – but not nearly as sharp as the 45 released version. I know it only adds about 20-seconds but it actually lessens the song in my books – the single mix was tighter and more extraordinary. This version feels more of a meander – like too many of the album segments did. "Cabin Essence" is pretty as he sings "...I'll give you a home on the range..." and then goes off into yet another tempo change. Other faves include "Plymouth Rock" and "Look (Song For Children)" and the piano-cha-cha of "Child Is Father Of The Man" – brilliant piano breaks with a trombone sailing in over it (gorgeous Bass sound too). Stuff like "I'm In Great Shape" and "Barnyard" at 28 and 48 seconds are nonsense ditties to me but the string arrangements given to "You Are My Sunshine" are beautiful as are the heavy-vibe vocals.

In some respects I actually enjoy Disc 2 more than 1. The dialogue featured in almost every song here gives you insight into their process - for instance one band member clearly feels "Our Prayer" is an ideal opening song while the other only feels it’s an intro to a song. Part 3 of "Heroes And Villains" is the 'ba boom' part that they've called "Children Are Raised" with the boys discussing being in Japan as they get the harmonies right. The "First Movement" of "Surf's Up" will thrill fans as they work out what many consider (outside of "Good Vibrations") to be the album's central masterpiece. It opens with piano and guitar and feels magical. Moving on - I experimented with iTunes edit on "Cool, Cool Water" starting it at 1:32.5. It gives the song that beautifully produced vocal intro (what a finished tune this would have made). The 8:19 minutes of the "Good Vibrations" Session Highlights is the stuff of legend - Brian breaking it down time and time again until they get it right. "OK - here we go - play hard and strong..." he directs - and they do. And those bits around 3:35 that aren't in the final mix - wow...

Frustrating, magical, unfinished business with too much time passed – "Smile" is all of these things and more. "The Most Anticipated Album In Rock 'n' Roll History" the outer sticker screams. Maybe so - but I still don't know if it's the great lost meisterwork everyone latterly claims it is. The true Beach Boys nutter can of course go after the 5CD full-on 'immersion' experience. But in the mean time – we mere mortals and musical Neanderthals can settle for this beautifully presented reissue – now with best ever Audio.

"...The laughs come hard in Auld Lang Syne..." – Brian Wilson sings on the gorgeous and unadorned Take 1 Piano Demo of "Surf's Up" on Disc 2. After all this time – don't those prophetic lyrics still ring true about this troubled slice of genius...

PS: Time to get really contentious - here's my version of the "Smile" LP by THE BEACH BOYS on Capitol T 2580

Side 1:

1. Our Prayer

2. Surf's Up [credited as "Brother John"]

3. Heroes And Villains

4. Love To Say Dada

5. Wonderful

6. Good Vibrations

Side 2:

1. Cool, Cool Water [Edit at 1:32.5]

2. Child Is Father Of The Man

3. Cabin Essence

4. Do You Like Worms (Roll Plymouth Rock) [as "Plymouth Rock"]

5. Vega-Tables

6. Wind Chimes
7. Look (Song For Children)