Album Review 6: The Beach Boys - Smiley Smile

[@mcdaniels6188]

Pet Sounds is a greater album, but Smiley Smile is my favorite. Smiley Smile is like the west coasts answer to Velvet Underground and Nico.

[@Giggens]

Mc Daniels I like that comparison!

[@TheRecordlover]

Hi Mc Daniels I second the notion. That is a very unique comparison! First time I've heard a fan say that about both those albums !

[@zeldafan9016]

@@Giggenssmiley smile is good

[@jamesodendaal6403]

As a true Beach Boys fan, I truly appreciate your deep and insightful thoughts on this amazing and sometimes deeply misunderstood band. Would be great to see you do a review on the Smile Sessions and Brian Wilson Presents Smile....

[@Chadturner21]

@@jamesodendaal6403 I agree

[@jackthayer1289]

Smiley Smile is a masterpiece in every way SMiLE isn't, they are competly inverted and both are absolute masterpieces, Brian and the boys, always ahead of the curve.

[@jonathanwhitfield4557]

I have always had a complicated relationship with Smiley Smile. I love how bizarre it is and think it might even be a bolder artistic statement than SMiLE...but some moments really unsettle me (Woody Woodpecker Symphony and, to a lesser extent, She's Goin' Bald). Even for 1967, SS is just plain strange. Compelling, brilliant in a subtle way, and vaguely sinister. But I always enjoy playing this one for friends who aren't familiar with their later '60s output. Their reactions are priceless.

[@Giggens]

I do the same thing and play it for friends when they say "you like the Beach Boys?", and I'm like yeah, dig this! This album was WAY ahead of its time for sure!

[@enesnok]

I've read the comments and oh my god I am so relieved that I am not the only one who likes this album. This is my favorite beach boys albüm, absolutely psychedelic piece of 60's

[@Giggens]

Enes you’re not alone!! We all love Smiley Smile here! :)

[@jdd3786]

They were the first band I got into when I was 6 and I got their surf rock tapes and that's all I knew for the last 40 years. Recently I discovered their later stuff one night outta curiosity, and Smiley Smile was the first one I listened to. Cannot believe this fell under the radar for so long but I instantly fell in love with it. As a 90's kid, this stuff sounds like the lo-fi music Sebadoh was putting out. Way ahead of it's time.

[@jeremycline9542]

I actually got to know Smile Sessions first, but I've come to really appreciate this one a lot, especially for the Carl lead vocals. It really blows my mind.

[@Giggens]

Carl can sing anything!

[@jamestulk5111]

I love this album. It was the first BB album I ever owned. I bought it in 1971. Mainly because it contained 'Good Vibrations'. It always has a special place in my heart.

[@Giggens]

Oh man that is cool!

[@TheTestingGrounds]

It was a giant leap, no question about it. Here's something you might not know: in an interview with Tony Visconti (famed producer of Bowie and T Rex) he mentions once he and Bowie were listening to this album wondering why they couldn't make this kind of music. That's about the highest praise for Brian Wilson. When I was in high school and started listening to this we thought the beginning to Little Pad has Mike Love singing "if I only had a lid", which of course is "if i only had a lit-tle pad", and that made it seem even more of a stoned offering. Oh, and for you youngsters, a "lid" was an ounce of weed back in the day.

[@Giggens]

Hahahaha! Awesome comment man! And very cool about Bowie and Visconti, I had no known that!

[@mikem8169]

great review of one my favorite albums. I bought the 2fer cd with wild honey on it from tower records when I was 13 and it blew my mind with how strange it sounded. I remember listening to smiley smile in the dark feeling like i was in the world this lp created.

[@Giggens]

I can totally understand that!

[@TomCwimpRock]

Just discovered and subscribed to your channel.. I am definitely in the pro - "Smiley Smile" camp, it's probably one of my top five favorite Beach Boys albums - really a unique, one-of-kind record...Nice review.

[@Giggens]

Thomas Calden thank you so much for watching! Smiley Smile is easily one of my favorites too, like you said, very unique!

[@carlrudd1858]

Well done review....for a person who is too young to have experienced the debut of this LP or heard it in context of the times. I bought this in September of 1967 at Mayfair Market in Cupertino, California, only three years after The Beach Boys played a concert a mile or two up the street at Cupertino High School. As a major BB fan, I will tell you that this IS the real Smile album. Brian knew what he was doing all along. You shouldn't under estimate him, OR this album.

[@Giggens]

Oh man, I love hearing stories like this. That's so awesome you got it back when it came out, that's exciting! Was it weird to hear it after hearing how polished Pet Sounds was? And then to come to this being so "under" produced?

[@carlrudd1858]

Sure...I really did like your review...it shows that you are a fair person and not just a hater or a worshiper. With respect to comparisons to Pet Sounds, I would say, good music doesn't need to be polished. And of course, 'under' produced is, still, a subjective viewpoint. Ask yourself how 'easy' it would be to go into a studio tomorrow and 'produce' an album comparable to Smiley Smile. Also, remember that when SS was released, it hadn't really been long at all since Brian was 'producing' stuff like, "Barbara Ann", "Bull Session with Big Daddy", or even "Ten Little Indians" or "I'm Bugged At My Old Man"...so you see, Brian was always a bit odd and was a bit of a practical joker. Pet Sounds really is more of a BW solo album, not really a Beach Boys record. Smiley Smile is an actual Beach Boys album, when it comes down to it. So, production values aside, I can tell you, as a psychedelic ranger (at the time), I found SS to be a wildly entertaining and magic experience that really did not beg comparison to Pet Sounds. And of course, at that time, nobody really had heard the prior studio tapes that were supposed to have been the SMiLE Lp that Brian shelved. So there was no point of reference in that respect either. It was what it was, and we (as BB fans) accepted it (or rejected it, as the case may have been).

[@Giggens]

Man thank you so much for that comment, it's so cool to hear first hand experiences with the music I also love, but when it first came out. You're totally right, under produced or polished is of course subjective, but SS really has what they now call a "low-fi" feel. I love both albums, so that's awesome to hear you enjoyed it so much back when it came out!

[@UncleWonderful2]

Carl Rudd like you, I bought the album in '67 and must admit I was initially nonplussed and disappointed after Pet Sounds. I loved Vegetables but it was not until I discovered acid a couple of years later that I appreciated the sonic delights and the humour. "Silken hair, more silken hair.." always hits the spot on She's Goin' Bald, pitching you straight into the madcap song with its hypnotic background harmonies. I remember reading at the time that some of the tracks were recorded with the band clearly stoned and with microphones taped to the floor. Still one of my favourite albums.

[@TheTestingGrounds]

Wow, here I'm watching this again. Smiley Smile is like a Monet painting. Overall it's beautiful, but if you look closer there's a lot to see and appreciate. A good album for tripping.

[@Giggens]

There's a ton of detail in these songs that get overlooked because people think the sound is bad!

[@randallkennedy2066]

@@Giggens I don't hear any details.I hear a band that is being pressured for a new album so they throw this mess together.Indeed a bunt instead of a grand slammer.I love Carl,Brian,and Dennis but they knew this was a throw away and it put the brakes on sales.I threw my copy in the garbage.

[@larrycreature7292]

Glad to see some love for this album my go to Brian peak music was Pet sounds and the Smile sessions along with selected earlier and later tracks but recently i've been incoperating this album too, It's no Smile but it's one of the first Lo-Fi albums to get a wide release and it's very interesting and cosy to listen to not the failure alot of people deem it to be. Great review man, Peace!

[@Giggens]

Thanks for watching Larry! Yeah, commercial sales don't mean anything, this is fantastic album!

[@ChrisJKing-se4dp]

Geat review I was a huge fan of the Beach Boys in my teenage years still am My parents bought me this for christmas and it just blew me away what the hell was Brian on in songs like Little pad wonderful always gave me the shivers in a good way and Heroes and Villains is my all time favourite Beach Boys song played this record to death every night in my room with the lights off very Trippy !!!

[@Giggens]

Now that's the way to play it! Very cool!

[@tonychestnut904]

Thanks , Giggens, for another great review. And thank you for reacquainting me with this quirky album. I owned it in the day and always loved these little gems. I've just ordered it online . BTW Gettin' Hungry was released here in Australia but of course did nothing on the charts.

[@Giggens]

Exactly!

[@Chip8224]

Great review. I've been reviewing the Beach Boys albums in order and this is next up for me. Not sure I can add anything to your thoughts but will have fun doing it all the same.

[@martycray495]

Great job! I love these Beach Boys reviews. I would love to see one for Sunflower or Surf's Up.

[@thedjdarkflow]

Seconded on the Surf’s Up review

[@johnperiard9594]

Great review! Do more reviews!

[@TheRecordlover]

Hey Giggens, "Gettin' Hungry" was released as a single here in US. The B Side was "Devoted To You" from the "Party!" LP. A friend in High School loaned me the Capitol Record Club Issue of "Smiley Smile" on the Rainbow Label. It was also released on the Lime Green label. It took a while for me to warm up to this record. I have the Capitol Mono Reissue and the Brother Records "Stereo" copy (bought it sealed through the Beach Boys Fan Club). Opened it to listen to! It's a first press from September of 1967. Also has a punch hole in cover. Now I absolutely love it. I have a book called "Psychedelia" which praises this LP.

[@Giggens]

Man that is awesome!

[@Flux799]

Fantastic album art though. Absolutely mesmerizing

[@Giggens]

Totally!

[@Flux799]

Giggens are you familiar with the band Frijid Pink? Great acid rock/psychedelic band from Detroit from back in the day. Would love to see you review their self titled LP. Cheers!

[@theretrogamer14]

This was my introduction to the Beach Boys after hearing I Get Around and Good Vibrations in passing, then trying Pet Sounds but not clicking with it yet. I remember I was in university doing some homework outside under the shade of a tree, it was a bright, warm spring day and I put this on for the for the first time and ever since then it has become possibly one of my favorite albums of all time. Some days I even prefer the version of Heroes and Villains on this album to the SMiLE version because of how much more driving the beat feels with less of the clarity. Hearing that chrous for the first time put me on another planet and that was only the first track!

[@Giggens]

That's so cool! Yeah it's a truly incredible album!

[@jamestulk5111]

A lot of Smile leftovers were also used as well as the ones you mentioned. 'She's going bald' evolved from 'He gives Speeches'. Brian also had an idea to use repetitive chants at one stage. 'Well your welcome' is the best known and exists on recording, there were others ' On and on she goes' evolved into 'With me tonight', 'Whistle In' also evolved from a chant, discarded from the 'Smile Sessions'.

[@LucyOLastic]

"Whistle In" is just fantastic...completely self contained, like a song from a dream, certainly the ones I've had, waking up with one line repeated as a hypnotic "chant" but with interesting harmony underpinning it. A happy refrain. Wind Chimes is fascinating also as the boys imitate the sound of slowed down tape with their voices....Ting a ling TING A LINGGG.....then a gorgeous piece of hymnal harmony singing. Contrapuntal even! I love their Hawaiian stuff....even better on "Diamond Head" from the "Friends" album. That's what I like best about music....it's ability to transport you somewhere exotic! The Beatles, particularly George Harrison started doing stuff like this around "The White Album." Maybe TM had something to do with it....

[@Chicago_Podcast_Authority]

The fact that Smile proper wasn’t commercial but then they released this which I love ❤️ but it’s way less commercial if that’s what they were going for 😂

[@Giggens]

Totally!

[@nicholas70paul]

I bought this on vinyl in 1985, I got my Uncle to find it for me from the Virgin record store in London, I was 15yrs old and discovering music from the 60s, and buying a record a week... I mostly just loved the cover art, and the history behind the album, I thought the same as you about the music on it, a bit hit and miss, and a bit disappointed at the time... I remember the label was green with black lettering and it was a hard cardboard cover..with the capitol logo on... I still love 'Little Pad' from this album, and think its a lovely song... nice review, I agree with your overview, spot on.

[@bent2]

One of those albums you just can't get out of your head. Smile was fantastic, but taking THIS album as it is, it's really unique. I have really grown to love it. Got the mono/stereo version from 2012. The stereo mix does this album justice. It really sound marvelous and opened up now!

[@Giggens]

Invisible Drummer man I have got to pick up the stereo remaster of this thing!

[@simonedwards9450]

Love this album - one of the first albums I brought before I even knew what SMiLE was

[@Giggens]

That's so cool! Amazing album

[@timford3599]

Hi Giggens; I've been away from your awesome channel for awhile when I realized that I could really use a Beach Boys fix so... a return to your channel lead me here. I came across this album (the Brother Records version) and fell in love with their new logo. It's just sooo Beach Boys and I always thought that the logo could have been dreamed up by Dennis. Just my hopeful opinion but it seemed to fit. Full disclosure: I've always been a huge fans of Dennis' presence in the group even though, and maybe especially because, I knew that Denny and Mike Love didn't get along and Mike wanted to drop Denny from the band which was and still is nothing less than a sacrilege to me. My introduction to Smiley Smile came in 1971 when I found the album in a discount rummage sale @ the student union bldg @ Northern Arizona University where I attended from 1970 to my 1974 graduation. I rushed back to my dorm room to give it a listen. I must admit that, except for "Heroes and Villains" along with the exceptional "Good Vibrations", I just didn't get the concept @ all. Since I'd only paid $1.00 for the record I put it into my collection as a novelty. Fast forward to 1983, while living in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, Smiley Smile had grown on me to the point where "Smiley Smile" and "Beach Boys Love You" were my favorite go to choices for BB listening pleasure. To this day "Wonderful" and this album's version of "Vegetables" became two of my favorite songs from the group. I guess that, as you pointed out so well, the minimalist nature of these recordings struck me as totally unique in the vast BB catalogue . IMO your interpretations of my all time favorite group are the BEST of ANY reviewer on record (no pun intended.) Glad to be back and see if I can find any more of your excellent interpretations of the greats during this classic time in American music. I hope that you are doing well during this bizarre time of Covid 19. Cheers, Tim!

[@Giggens]

Tim man thank you for sharing that story, that is so cool! It's amazing how music can grow with us. And thank you for the great compliments too, I try haha! Take care, and stay safe man!

[@XxSTAR1977WARSxX]

I think they should've just simplified the SMiLE recordings and put that out. But Smiley is cool too. It's so hard to say what kind of impact SMiLE would've gotten if released at the time. At very least I think people would've found "Cabinessence" and "Surf's Up" to be very very cool.

[@Giggens]

I hear you there for sure, it would have been a whole different game if even if simpler versions of Smile came out. That's what everybody was waiting for anyway!

[@cardboardheadguy7814]

I all way think cabinessence should of been on the album and a alternate smiley smile Side 1 1. With Me Tonight 2. Wind Chimes 3. Heros And Villians 4. Gettin’ Hungry 5. Good Vibrations 6. Cabinessence Side 2 1. Wonderful 2. She’s Goin’ Bald 3. Little Pad 4. Fall Breaks And Back To Winter 5. Vegetables 6. Whistle In The album would be 31 Minutes Long This would of been release in late September It like smile but I just replace the smile song with smiley smile songs

[@Giggens]

I can dig it!

[@AlexanderTuschinski]

I never thought I'd say this about a fan made sequence (and I love "Smiley Smile" the way it came out), but your proposed sequencing of the album improves it, I feel. It starts more laid back; then mixed the larger productions, and by the end of side 1, you are stunned by all the variety, it sounds so deliberate... And then, side two is still long and nice, but more "casual" in its atmosphere. I am very much a purist when it comes to albums and their sequencing, meaning I like to listen to the way the artists intended it - but I feel here is an exception, yours works much better. Kudos. It doesn't follow the "standard" formula of putting singles at the beginning of each sides - which is just appropriate for an experimental album like "Smiley Smile". I feel in the original form of "Smiley Smile", there is the certain "problem" of each side starting out with an elaborately produced song, which is then followed by sparser productions, making the contrast visible and basically having the "highlight" (production wise) already at the beginning of each side. Your lineup makes it appear more exciting, unpredictable, and flowing... And very deliberately so. I love how "Good Vibrations" starts there... Giggens; what do you think?

[@cardboardheadguy7814]

Glad You Like My Version. It Really Like Smile.

[@Janitorscage]

Smiley Smile is one that I've been coming back to since high school as well. I'm Gettin' Hungry is one of my favorite Beach Boys tracks.

[@Giggens]

Such a cool song!

[@jadedjimmy]

My friend played bits of Smile sessions for me and I loved it so I wanted to check out the rest, and so I played this album thinking it was the same thing. 😱 She’s Goin Bald will forever haunt my dreams lmao.

[@thedjdarkflow]

A favorite album of mine. Gotta get that vinyl.

[@matthewrider5906]

Will you ever release a review of Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE, man??? If so, that'd be awesome.

[@Giggens]

Oh totally!

[@THECLARENCES]

“Smiley Smile” rules!!! xoxo The Clarences

[@klemerton1633]

Little Pad makes me feel so much, it's so underated

[@danerd8978]

One of my favorite albums! Every song on the album except Little Pad and Gettin' Hungry has some bit of Smile in it. Including Whistle In, which has the Whistles/Dums similar to the Whistling Bridge from Heroes and Villians. With Me Tonight was recorded right after the Smile Sessions. There's a faster version that wasn't used and it shares similarities to the I know that you section from Vegetables. If you look at the timeline after Smile, Brian focused on the songs: Heroes and Villians, With Me Tonight, Cool,Cool Water and Can't Wait Too Long/Been Too Long.

[@Giggens]

Excellent points there!

[@vinylpride80]

Cool review. Have a good weekend. 🎶🎶🎶

[@allesanbro]

Great review man. I subscribed. I make Beach Boys covers on my channel, "Beach Boys 101" so it's nice to see someone making beach boys material as well on YT.

[@Giggens]

Allesandro Rotondi awesome dude! I'll check it out!

[@peteriuliano5846]

Great Album Brilliant Love It More Of It.

[@josephvirgilio4984]

truly love it . . . but contrary to your assessment, I find Good Vibrations and Heroes & Villains on par artistically and production-wise (and I probably prefer H&V - I guess I am biased) but I see your point regarding the balance of production values. And like others here, I, too, am a big fan of the 4 (including 20/20 which has some great songs) post Pet Sounds LPs. I think current radio jocks do "Bluebirds" a disservice by not doing a double play with the BBs' & recent Robert Plant version. So cool to see how each interprets the old Ersel Hickey song.

[@Giggens]

Man good point! That would be so cool for stations to play the two to show off the different versions!

[@hydra5019]

Another great review

[@chrisfreeman4457]

I've always felt really weird listening to this album. I like experimental things, and I like how you pointed out how this was the beginning of real growth for the group, somewhat minus Brian, for several albums to come. I hadn't seen it that way, but I'm glad you made a point of it. But as I said. I've always felt weird, uncomfortable listening to it. I'm trying to get my footing with this album, and I can never get it. There are a couple of songs on this album I do like. "Little Pad" is a comfortable, out there, experience for me, with Carl's beautiful voice. I also like "With Me Tonight", as you do. Again, sung beautifully by Carl. But overall, the album just doesn't work for me. I'd be lying to say otherwise It's worth noting that Mike Love had some uncomplementary things to say about "Smiley Smile" in his book. But, interestingly, he pointed out that "Smiley Smile" has been used in mental health clinics to help people with mental/emotional issues get better. The Beach Boys' most peculiar album actually helps people that way. Pretty remarkable.

[@Giggens]

It's totally a weird one, that's for sure!

[@jadedjimmy]

Yeah I read that too! I wonder how exactly it’s helped people? Like what about it would actually be comforting for people with mental health issues, it’s honestly so out there and unsettling you think it would stress people out. 😅

[@michaelnyny]

Is your Brother Records copy mono? I didn't know it was released that way. Mine is "stereo" but it's actually a very minimal fake stereo, which is a good thing. Heroes and Villains is one of my favorite songs of theirs. The latest CD release has these tracks in true stereo and is a vast improvement on the sound quality. I never thought it was a disappointment when it was released. At some point afterwards the SMiLE tapes started getting leaked and I have an extensive collection of those on bootleg. Now, of course, I have the official releases.

[@Giggens]

michael7572 man that's so cool, waiting for Smile to come out back in the day. I've gotta check mine again but I'm pretty sure it's mono

[@number9180]

I personally really enjoy this album. Its much different then any of their albums but i like how relaxed it is for the most part(tho i think it would be better if heros and villains and good vibrations were left off)

[@enesnok]

I like this album so much that I am really sorry that no one knows about it.

[@Giggens]

Enes everyone in the comments does! :)

[@cigsindoors]

it’s weird yes, but i find a quote from a clockwork orange to be relevant here. Alex DeLarge, “it was gorgeousness and gorgeousity made flesh”. this music, to my ears at least, sounds raw and pure and has a subtle beauty in it with tracks like fall turns to winter, whistle in, little pad, with me tonight, gettin hungry, wonderful, she’s goin bald. in my opinion, vegetables is done better on this album then on SMiLE but obviously SMiLE is just on another plane of existence. nonetheless, this album deserves to be looked at as an experimental and lofi album that is portrayed as an “acid barbershop quartet”. its beautiful harmonies and syncopations are incredible not to mention the minimalist production which reflects brian’s uneven mindset at the time. even though brian was at basically his lowest point here in his musical journey, he still churned out (along w the rest of the band) an incredibly heart warming and soulful album that i’ll be listening to for the rest of my life

[@Giggens]

Well said!

[@jamestulk5111]

Strip away the silly lead vocals from 'She's Going Bald' and listen to the backing vocal track, it is stunning.

[@juanferreira3850]

I understand why people do not like this album so much. but I think it's a cool album, I would probably give a 7.5 / 10. the problem with this album is that it was released after Pet Sounds (best album of all time for me) and before Wild Honey (one of my top 5 albums of the Beach Boys) and for being a kind of simplified version of the famous Smile. The Beach Boys is my favorite band. I like the way you review their albums.

[@Giggens]

Juan jesus ferreira thanks for the comment and thanks for watching!

[@cazgerald9471]

I would tend to disagree. It's much more than dislike, people hold Smiley Smile in contempt, and it's for one reason alone, the anticipation, disappointment and ultimate mythology surrounding Smile.

[@1983eville]

Love this review! Thanks

[@Giggens]

1983eville thanks for watching!!!

[@darrellklutey9775]

Did I miss something or did you not mention Vegetable

[@Giggens]

Oh man I hope I did!

[@ronfowlermusic]

I know it's not Smile, but I love it. The sparseness of the arrangements just calls attention to some of the most incredible Beach Boys vocals ever. Now granted, I would probably enjoy it even more if I was as high as the guys were when they recorded it, but....if I only had a Little Pad in Hawaii.

[@Giggens]

ronfowlermusic hahahahaha, seriously man, those were baked times. Agreed tho, love the sparseness of this album too

[@ronfowlermusic]

Carl once said "we were all so loaded on hash, it's amazing anything got done."

[@ShaNaNa242]

I wonder why Brian didn't just release the current SMiLE sessions as the album. I do like that this album was released though. I wish they would've just released both albums at once.

[@admiralkrankandhismightyba158]

I love this album. And I like Good Vibrations being on there. The real problem, as I see it, is that there isn't a stronger or catchier track to go with it and Getting Hungry (which I love). The other songs are good, don't get me wrong. But another track with some more oomf would make the latter half stronger and more memorable. And some sequencing changes might do the trick.

[@Giggens]

That makes sense!

[@filled_soda]

This was always my least favourite Beach Boys album since I bought it on CD in the 1990s. I always preferred Wild Honey, Friends and 20/20. Going back to it now, I actually quite like it. The stoned laughing, however, I don't think I'll ever warm to. Definitely sounds better than I remember 👍🏻

[@Giggens]

It's totally and album that keeps you interested!

[@NOWtheband]

Dear reader, I believe it vital for you to learn that I & I find Smiley Smile to be The Beach Boys best long playa, next to their Love You long playa. Jah bless.

[@timford3599]

@now; those are two of my favorite Beach Boys offerings as well. Great comment.

[@NOWtheband]

@@timford3599 - right on! mucho thanko

[@davidhigginbotham5451]

Best heard under the influence of Albert Hoffmans finest. LOL

[@Giggens]

That sounds terrifying!

[@davidhigginbotham5451]

Depends on 'set and setting'.... :)

[@randallkennedy2589]

I agree with Carl.

[@TheReverantChoir]

Underrated

[@Giggens]

That's for sure!

[@SearedBite]

much like pet sounds, the first time i listened to it i thought it was pretty meh. But on repeat listenings i learned to appreciate and love it

[@SamParker321]

Why haven’t you done a Smile sessions review yet?

[@Giggens]

Someday!

[@NicolasRALETZ]

Personnaly I prefer Smiley Smile 67 than Smile 2011 It is (Idon't know how to say in english) more "minimalist" (that's right?) and so more light

[@Giggens]

Totally man! I love the relaxed feel of Smiley Smile!

[@scottwalker9105]

I must confess this is not my favourite album. I recently finished reading the Mike Love bio and apparently Brian once said the reason this album bombed commercially and artistically was because at this time "we were getting off on bags that had no value for vocals," which I think is a fair summary. There are some good moments, I like Little Pad and With me Tonight, but the majority sounds self indulgent and whimsical, especially when you compare it to what had come before. I think this album is one of rock music's great missed opportunities.

[@Giggens]

Scott Walker awesome comment man! I love hearing differing views, always makes way for a reassessment or listening again for different reasons. Thanks for watching!

[@jamesrobertson7458]

I like Smiley Smile although I guess I do it knowing that we have the Smile Sessions and Brian Wilson Presents Smile. Without those just having S

[@liamharris9254]

Gig daddy thunder with another key review

[@Giggens]

I try man! Haha

[@ricardonoguedad.247]

Got the Canadian issue, it has the Capitol Records rainbow label.

[@Giggens]

emax se I did not know that! Thanks for the heads up!

[@thewalrus5198]

I think Smiley Smile is a good album. Personally, I like every song on it, but it's not as good as SMiLE would've been.

[@Giggens]

Totally, and it's still an awesome album!

[@OnlyOneKenobi]

Agreed!

[@stephenkater9621]

i would like to own brian wilson's smile ... on vinyl.

[@alwaysamysteryyes2021]

Am I crazy or was Shes Going Bald about Mike but they changed it to She?

[@Giggens]

Bit of a stretch there!

[@alwaysamysteryyes2021]

@@Giggens I just found what I was thinking of on good old Wikipedia. Lol "In 1995, Brian Wilson said that it was only a coincidence that Love himself "was on his way to goin' bald then," and that the group did the song without being aware that he might have thought it was about him. " That mustve made me think that.

[@TheRecordlover]

The trade papers in England said that "She's Goin' Bald" may have had a double entendre. That never entered my mind. When you're 16 and listening for the first time to an album that was way out for its time...I mean The Beach Boys writing a song about that? Nahhh. They were good kids. Tongue firmly-in cheek here!

[@frankjuster8726]

an underwhelming album to say the most about it (though it does have its moments);its 2012 reissue in mono/stereo makes it more enjoyable...i hear that a true stereo mix of "wild honey" is coming out in june 2017.

[@Giggens]

It is! Can't wait!!

[@wombat666ful]

It sounds like they were listening to the Mothers Of Invention and trying to respond to that style. I Love Zappa, so you'd think this was a good thing. Unfortunately, the song writing is vary slapdash, and it sounds more like the Mothers took a bunch of downers and tried to make an album in an afternoon.

[@Giggens]

I just laughed really hard haha!

[@BBfan-hv1qp]

I like smiley smile but I agree wonderful n wind chimes are def not the best version haha

[@edwardwilson7858]

Smilie Smile is the bastardized version of Smile. Aside from the 2 famous hits there's nothing on it that is worth listening to more than once. Not even the creepy Little Pad!

[@julianG1212]

She’s going bald is a fun song

[@stevebradley704]

Unsettling, somewhat creepy and odd. Great record nonetheless.

[@murdockreviews]

An abomination, especially given Smile was meant to appear instead of this. But - I just love 'Smiley Smile'!!

[@diggerthegroundhog8799]

Beach boys fan since 1965 and Smiley Smile is their best album and it is better than Pet Sounds. End of conversation. I did ratings of the top 16 albums (1-10 per song) and Smiley Smile got 9.72. 2. Pet sounds 8.76. 3. Friends 8.5. 4. Wild honey 7.9 5. 20/20 7.9. 6. All Summer long 7.58. 7. Today 7.58. 8. Little Deuce Coupe 7.41. 9. Surfer girl 7.16. 10. Shut down 2 6.83. 11. Surfing USA 6.1 12. Surfin Safari 6.0 13. Surfs up 6.0 14. Sunflower 5.75 15. Party 4.9 16. Holland 4.4. People ask how can I rank Holland and Sunflower so low? Easy. Take away the sentimental value and the fact that each album only has about 4 great songs and there you have it.

[@teamdailey1160]

Test

[@cazgerald9471]

Both H&V and GV do not fit Smiley.

[@Giggens]

Caz Gerald they are weird book ends for sure!

[@danerd8978]

Well the Leid in Hawaii versions do.

[@cazgerald9471]

@@danerd8978 I didn't word it properly to communicate what I was trying to say. I would revise my comment to the production of H&V and GV do not fit the production of the rest of the album. If they had reworked those two songs Smiley would have been more cohesive.

[@TheRecordlover]

Giggens if those songs weren't on there, I don't know if it would have made it to number 41! It was rumored that Brother was going to release the next two albums, Brother 9002 was supposedly "Wild Honey" and 9003 may have been "SMiLE".

[@topgeardel]

Smiley Smile was a POS album when I was a teenager. It's still a POS today to me.

[@Giggens]

topgeardel still can’t get into it? Maybe someday!

[@topgeardel]

Lol ! You can put lipstick on a pig...but it's still a pig.

[@Giggens]

topgeardel hahaha, hell of a pig tho!

[@topgeardel]

Now if you want a true classic Beach Boys album that I think was one of their very best...Shut Down, Vol 2. Totally underrated.

[@Giggens]

topgeardel oh totally, that album rules! I don’t think I’ve made a video for that yet either!

[@Cryo837]

Epic Fail - "Vegetalbes" sums it up. The Beach Boys at their best were about wait for it....sea/sunny/love themes. All their forays into trying to be more hip and "psychedelic" felt forced and were embarrassing....at best. Good Vibrations is the lone exception. It was put on here to try and save the album. Fail....

[@DLEVANS65]

The album Sucks !!!

[@Giggens]

BeatleD65 Evans haha, tell me why it sucks! I love it, so I really wanna hear your opinion!!

[@thomaskemer8109]

Sounds like they got lazy, even though they were great songs! The production. Just wasn't there....very lackluster

[@bobbyd7524]

I like "Getting Hungry" but the rest of it is so unproduced with a bunch of "Smile" remakes. The worst performing Beach Boy album in the U.S. since "Surfin' Safari."

[@thomaskemer8109]

@@bobbyd7524 surfing safari was a pretty good debute..album for a bunch of teens in 1962

[@bobbyd7524]

@@thomaskemer8109 I'm not saying it's a terrible album. I'm just going by how it performed on the charts. I prefer it to "Smiley Smile" actually. For me, their albums from "All Summer Long" and beyond up through "Holland," are for the most part classics. Very creative. Not always commercial. Breaking away from Murray Wilson's control on "All Summer Long" put them as musical equals with the Beatles.

[@robertjordinelli3041]

Heroes and villains was released in July, 1967,not February.

[@Giggens]

Yup!