The Beach Boys' Smile

So much has been written about the "lost" album that the Beach Boys could or should have released in 1967 to followup "Pet Sounds."  I've listened extensively to the outtakes from the disk on their 1993 boxed set, I've listened to bootleg versions, plus the albums that actually contained many of the cuts originally slated for "Smile."  And I was really excited for the 2011 "reconstruction" of what's left of the album (see below).  It sounded to me, though, like a few great tunes surrounded by a lot of atmospheric film music, despite what Rolling Stone magazine says.  None of this era really piques my interest, nor did the 2004 re-recording by Brian Wilson and his touring band.

My advice?  Grab the following songs from the group's late-60s albums; this would be side one:

-Our Prayer (from 1969's "20/20")
-Cabinessence (from "20/20")
-Wind Chimes (from "Smiley Smile," the LP released in place of "Smile")
-Vegetables ("Smiley Smile")
-Cool, Wool Water (from 1970's "Sunflower")
-Wonderful ("Smiley Smile")
-Surf's Up (from 1971's "Surf's Up" LP)

For side two, start off with any of the long, long, long edits of the bits and pieces of "Heroes and Villains."  This would have taken up almost a whole LP side in 1967 -- unprecedented (notwithstanding "Return of the Son of Monster Magnet").  There used to be an amazing, 7-minute version that used only the parts found on the 1993 boxed set.  It was encoded for RealPlayer (I found it around 1997) but, alas, it's long gone.

Close off side two with the mono single mix of "Good Vibrations" (also from "Smiley Smile").

THAT is how you follow-up "Pet Sounds."

On a side note, collecting the Beach Boys' 800000 releases (and wading through the BS) can be daunting.  I recommend the 1993 boxed set (for singles and key album tracks... ignore the fifth "Sessions" disk of weird outtakes that you'll listen to once), and the LPs "Pet Sounds," "20/20," "Sunflower" and "Surf's Up."  And that's it!