The Beach Boys – SMiLE
Stereo BWPS 2004 Mix by soniclovenoize
- This is a completely stereo construction of SMiLE, using only the best source material (mostly from the SMiLE Sessions box set).
- Tracklist was constructed based solely on the sequence devised by Brian and Darian for the 2004 album Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE. Approximations were used for the original orchestral linking tracks composed by Darian in 2004. All tracks are either crossfaded or hard-edited to create three continuous movements, as per BWPS.
- Absolutely no fly-ins from the 2004 Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE were used. In my opinion, I believe that to be anachronistic and contrary to the project itself. It would be like drawing a moustache on the Mona Lisa. I would rather have an instrumental track than a combination of 1967 and 2004 recordings. Also note mono mixes from TSS were excluded in my synchs if it was obvious that the makers had also flown-in unnecessary pitch-corrected bits.
Track notes:
1. Our Prayer/Gee
Stereo mix created by mixing the 20/20 stereo version of Our Prayer with the remastered mono found on TSS, thus the 20/20 version becomes the stereophonic reverb of the mono mix. Gee is taken from TSS.
2. Heroes and Villains
The stereo mix taken from TSS disc 1 bonus tracks.
3. Do You Like Worms
My own unique stereo mix, returning the Bicycle Rider chorus for both the first and second time. Also note the slow panning of the Bicycle Rider Theme from right to left, symbolizing the pioneer’s journey from the East to the West (what the piece originally represented to Brian).
4. Barnyard
A synch of the mono mix found on disc 1 of TSS panned to the left and the instrumental mix found on disc 2 panned to the right, thus creating a stereophonic room effect.
5. The Old Master Painter/You Are My Sunshine
A synch of the mono mix found on disc 1 of TSS and the stereo instrumental mix found on disc 2, to create a stereophonic room effect.
6. Cabin Essence
The stereo mix found on the remastered 20/20.
7. Wonderful
A stereo mix created by superimposing, onto the mono mix found on disc 1 of TSS, a reverbed double with a high-pass filter panned to the left and a reverbed double with a low-pass filter panned to the right, thus giving the illusion of the harpsichord to the right and bass to the left. Reverb was mixed to match other songs found on the album (notably Wind Chimes).
8. Look
The stereo instrumental found on disc 3 of TSS, edited to match the structure of the BWPS version.
9. Child is Father of The Man
A synch of the stereo backing tracks found on TSS with the mono mix, also found on TSS. The structure was edited to match that of BWPS (major key verses, chorus, major-key verse, chorus, minor-key verse). The unused bridge from TSS stereo tracking was used to replace the linking outro on BWPS; it was edited onto the minor-key fade, matching the descending bass riff.
10. Surf’s Up
The stereo mix taken from TSS 2LP
11. I’m In Great Shape/I Wanna Be Around/The Workshop Song
The solo piano tracking piece from the Cantina section of Heroes and Villains was used to replicate Darian’s intro on the BWPS version. Then follows a synch between the instrumental backing and the piano/vocal demo, both found on disc 2 of TSS. The track is then crossfaded into a synch of the stereo backing track of Friday Night, with the carpentry effects slowly being panned from left to right, to match the eventual placement of the Vege-Tables percussion.
12. Vege-Tables
This is the stereo mix found on TSS 2LP, but edited to match the structure of the BWPS version. The upbeat Sleep A Lot chorus with percussion and glockenspiel was used instead of the a capella/whistling version, simply because it fit better and seemed like the more intended and “complete” section recorded in 1967.
13. Holiday
Simply the stereo mix found on TSS disc 4
14. Wind Chimes
This is the stereo mix found on TSS 2LP, but edited to match the structure of the BWPS version.
15. Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow
My own unique stereo mix, using the instrumental backing tracks from TSS disc 4.
16. I Love To Say Da-Da
First is the Water Chant taken from the Unsurpassed Masters vol 17 bootleg, segued into the I Love To Say Da-Da stereo backing track from TSS disc 4. Note that Mike Love’s “lead” vocal is absent. This is because it’s inclusion would have compromised the soundquality, and a decision was made that the vocal was rather unnecessary and that the song, when put into context of The Elements as a whole, seemed more appropriate remaining as an instrumental.
17. Good Vibrations
My own synch of the stereo backing tracks and mono mixes found on both TSS disc 5 and the Good Vibrations 40th Anniversary remaster to match the structure of the BWPS version. A combination of those two sources were used to create a mix with the original telepathy lyric but with the commonly-heard chorus of the revised single version. The hum-dee-dou middle is used, as well as the longer fade-out. The first verse’s tape-warble was also removed. This synch is an upgrade from my previous one, as I was able to eliminate the accidental phasing just before the second chorus.