Smiley Smile

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Smiley Smile is an album by The Beach Boys, issued in 1967. Released in the place of the much-touted Smile, it was poorly received on its initial issue.

After "Good Vibrations" topped the singles charts in late 1966, the widely reported Smile project was widely anticipated. However, in May 1967, the album was cancelled, and The Beach Boys pulled out of their headlining spot at the Monterey Pop Festival. The original project was scrapped, with some of its material reworked and recorded at sessions in June and July. Newer songs were also recorded.

When Smiley Smile was finally released, after months of hype, in September, its critical reception was unenthusiastic. It peaked at only #41 in the US. Its commercial reception a few months later in the UK was better; it reached #9 on British charts. Music journalist Nick Kent described the album as "do it yourself, acid casualty doo-wop music."

1 Track listing
- 1.1 Singles
- 1.2 Personnel
2 Trivia
- 2.1 Sources
3 External links

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Track listing

"Heroes and Villains" (Brian Wilson, Van Dyke Parks) - 3:37
- Features Brian Wilson on lead vocals
"Vegetables" (Wilson, Parks) - 2:07
- Features Brian Wilson and Al Jardine on lead vocals
"Fall Breaks And Back To Winter (Woody Woodpecker Symphony)" (Wilson) - 2:15
- Features group lead vocals
"She's Goin' Bald" (Wilson, Mike Love, Parks) - 2:13
- Features Mike Love, Brian Wilson, and Al Jardine on lead vocals
"Little Pad" (Wilson) - 2:30
- Features Carl Wilson on lead vocals
"Good Vibrations" (Wilson, Love) - 3:36
- Features Carl Wilson and Mike Love on lead vocals
"With Me Tonight" (Wilson) - 2:17
- Features Carl Wilson on lead vocals
"Wind Chimes" (Wilson) - 2:36
- Features Carl Wilson and Mike Love on lead vocals
"Gettin' Hungry" (Wilson, Love) - 2:27
- Features Mike Love and Brian Wilson on lead vocals
"Wonderful" (Wilson, Parks) - 2:21
- Features Carl Wilson on lead vocals
"Whistle In" (Wilson) - 1:04
- Features Mike Love and Carl Wilson on lead vocals

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Singles

"Good Vibrations" b/w "Let's Go Away For Awhile" (from Pet Sounds) (Capitol 5676), 10 October 1966 US #1; UK #1. (UK B-side was "Wendy" from All Summer Long)
"Heroes And Villains" b/w "You're Welcome" (Brother 1001), 24 July 1967 US #12; UK #8
"Gettin' Hungry" b/w "Devoted To You" (Brother 1002), 28 August 1967. (Credited to "Brian and Mike")

Smiley Smile is now paired on CD with Wild Honey, with bonus tracks from that period.

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Personnel

Mike Deasy Sr. - guitar
Alan Jardine - vocals
Bruce Johnston - vocals
Mike Love - vocals
Brian Wilson - guitar, keyboards, vocals
Carl Wilson - vocals
Dennis Wilson - drums, vocals

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Trivia

Despite the "unspoken rivalry" between The Beatles and the Beach Boys, Brian Wilson and Paul McCartney were good friends during this time and remain so today. As a result of this friendship, McCartney made a guest appearance on Smiley Smile. He can be heard eating a carrot during "Vegetables." This led to an amusing story years later, as a Los Angeles radio station was giving away a bag of memorabilia signed by Paul McCartney to anyone who could answer the question "What Beach Boys' song does Paul McCartney appear on, eating a carrot?" Dozens called in with wrong answers, until finally McCartney himself called in and won the prize.

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Sources

Smiley Smile/Wild Honey CD booklet notes, David Leaf, c.1990.
"Look! Listen! Vibrate! Smile!", Domenic Priore, c.1995
"The Nearest Faraway Place: Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys and the Southern California Experience", Timothy White, c. 1994.
"Wouldn't It Be Nice - My Own Story", Brian Wilson and Todd Gold, c. 1991.
"Top Pop Singles 1955-2001", Joel Whitburn, c. 2002.
"Top Pop Albums 1955-2001", Joel Whitburn, c. 2002.
All Music Guide.com

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