Smile
The Greatest Album That Never Was finallyis. The Beach Boys' uncompleted 1967 albumSmilehas remained the elusive touchstone of Brian Wilson's brilliant, star-crossed career for decades. Artistic Holy Grail and troubling professional Waterloo for Wilson, a tantalizing prism of unfulfilled promise to his loyal cadre of fans, its story has become pop music'sRashomon. Finally completed via spring 2004 recordings with his stellar, longtime touring band (none of the original '60s sessions were used, though they've been recreated here with often stunning authenticity), it's arguably as alien to contemporary pop as it might have seemed in its intended '67 context--even to ears freshly primed by the glories ofPet Sounds.Collaborator Van Dyke Parks's impressionistic, often mischievous lyrics conjure a collage of arcane 19th-century Americana that's equal parts artful ellipse and aloof nostalgia. But wed to Wilson's innovative composition and recording techniques (echoing beat author William Burroughs's fabled cut 'n' paste methodology and exemplified by the modular "Good Vibrations"), the resulting semisuite confections challenge the boundaries of both song and album form, but with an insouciant charm that's as different fromPet Soundsas that landmark was from "I Get Around." Turns out those hypothetical comparisons toSgt. Pepper'sweren't so far off the mark.--Jerry McCulleySmiling with BrianAmazon.com Music Editor Peter Hilgendorf called Brian Wilson to congratulate him on the release ofSmile, and to talk about the recording and some of the history behind this highly anticipated release.Listen now.Catch Up with Brian Wilson and the Legend ofSmile:Here are a few lists to help unravel the stories and sounds ofSmile.Essential Brian Wilson CDsEssential Brian Wilson DVDsEssential Brian Wilson books