Album Review 443: The Beach Boys - Smile (Sea of Tunes LP001)

[@Lambert1386]

Boy, does this bring back memories! I way overpaid for the first one, but got it signed by Brian and Van Dyke back in 2000, so I think I made my money back.

[@Giggens]

That's awesome they signed it!

[@modjohnny]

I was lucky to start gathering all the bootlegs, the Boxset along with Priore’s “Look, Listen, Vibrate Smile!” Around 1995 so what followed in the next 20 years was mind blowing.. that being said, I miss that era of being a Beach Boys Archaeologist

[@Giggens]

Those were the days haha

[@PeasGraveny]

Me too. When we finally got to hear what the Sea Of Tunes people liberated it was a dream come true. And just to hold and own an actual record with the full size artwork, well we ALL had to buy it, didn't we.

[@purevycara]

I feel blessed to be a younger fan and have all these sessions available to listen everywhere, I can't imagine being a fan in the 60's and 70's and having no way to listen to the entire project These bootlegs must've been an event back in the day, when the album really was a 'myth'

[@Giggens]

Truly, it must have been difficult back in the day!

[@jackblondie9424]

What I like to think is that had it been finished in early ‘67, it would’ve been lauded critically and taken its rightful place as the cutting edge pop art record. He was winning the production race against the Beatles at that precise moment and Smile was on track to come out first before Pepper. Imagine owning some of those early ‘67 Capitol promotional materials that they were producing in anticipation of the record that never followed today! Anyway, I treat this music with the reverence as if that were the case, in whatever form it’s presented in. I’ve collected some of the bootleg (and official) material over the last 15 years and am glad to have the box set now as well. It’s not hypothetical at all to me. I think there’s a clear enough trail of songs, vocals and production in various forms to have a good idea how it might’ve come out. Whatever was left unfinished, incorporated, would’ve only made it even better. It’s nice to have some legends.

[@Giggens]

Well said!

[@ronfowlermusic]

Alright! This is the one I picked up, after seeing a couple of earlier versions at record shows and passing them up - and regretting it immediately. Found this one at a store called Easy Street in Seattle. I did not know the back story on it, though, so thanks for sharing that. After the Smile Sessions came out in 2011, I didn't think us fans would be playing the bootlegs anymore, but I put this on a few months ago, glad I hung onto it.

[@ThatGuy-dp5ni]

Just picked this one up, it is a very great listen considering how different it can be to other versions of smile

[@joelgoldenberg1100]

My favorite Smile fan mix is the one done by Dae Lims, with some unexpected tempo changes on some songs and which sounds like it was completed by the Beach Boys.

[@Giggens]

It's a great mix!

[@expandedidea]

One note: You’re welcome was recorded on December 15, 1966 and it was intended for SMiLE.

[@aerialtour]

I like this Smile video Giggens! I’m glad you mentioned the Sea of Tunes boot cd’s of The Beach Boys material released in the 90’s, they were awesome- hours of outtakes/alternates on those cd’s they just let the tapes roll as you should w/that stuff. I could be wrong on the title but I remember a song on one of those SOT cd’s called- Josephine or Josie?(was a female name) and there were a lot of outtakes of the song on it. My first Smile was a double cd I bought in 1993 or 94 on Vigotone(not sure if they are the Mark Linett mixes) it is great I still have it & came w/Smile poster. I also have a 4 CDR set of Good Vibrations alternate’s plus it has other Smile outtakes on it, and of course the official Super Deluxe Smile Box Set. When did the Smile sea of tunes Lp come out that is in your video? Did you say the Prayer track was from 2020? Sounds like some of the tracks are exclusive to that album- excellent. I know Smile was completed in 2004, but was it really the 1966/67 vision Brian had in his head back then?

[@Giggens]

This one came out in 2003. So cool your cd came with a poster back in the 90s, awesome!

[@modjohnny]

Hell yeah . Been waiting forever for you to talk about all this

[@LolLol-xe3fi]

Been way too long

[@Giggens]

It's here haha!

[@jennyjamball]

This was so interesting! I dont have any BB boots - youre such a wealth of knowledge ❤

[@Giggens]

You're my favorite!!

[@Almarigold]

I got a double vinyl colored disc vigitone Smile in early/mid 90s.. that was my favorite smile bootleg.. i used to make my own versions based on the priore book..

[@Giggens]

So awesome!

[@jasonsmith2032]

I did a good amount of cdr trading in the late 90s and early 2000s and traded for a lot of the sessions and "what if" song orders of Smile like this one. It was fascinating to listen to! When BW released his version I was blown away, especially by the live show, and then when we got the Smile Sessions I was even more blown away. It's in my top 20 albums and top 5 performances ever. Thanks for your videos!

[@Giggens]

Thanks for watching!

[@WhisperinWinds67]

While the ‘83 brother records smile bootleg will always be my favorite (I love the otherworldly low quality of that one, it’s almost creepy) this is probably the BEST smile bootleg

[@Giggens]

I can dig it!

[@PeasGraveny]

Barnyard is from an acetate which is why it's lower quality.

[@Giggens]

Ahh there we go!

[@TheTreyBlue]

It would be cool if you did a review of the endless harmony documentary soundtrack :)

[@Giggens]

Coming soon!

[@daddybog7189]

Good review, decent album - in the middle of my collection as I still favor the 60's.

[@Giggens]

Totally!