[SEPTEMBER 28, 2004]
THE BEACH BOYS' BRIAN WILSON
RELEASES 'SMILE'
Released 38 Years Later After Original Recording Project Started in 1966
The Beach Boys' Brian Wilson released
his new album, a rock opera called Smile, after initiating the project 37 years ago. It was released on Tuesday,
September 28, 2004. Back in 1966 Brian wanted to make an album that would knock everyone's socks off. He came up
with a rock opera called Smile-something to compete with British boy bands-especially The Beatles. With
music he wrote and lyrics by Van Dyke Parks, he began recording the project in 1966. Great publicity surrounded
the recording project.
However, there were too many obstacles
to overcome. Brian had a nervous breakdown, decades of regeneration and other problems. The project was shelved and those
recordings sessions became legend as the most famous album never to be released. Some of the songs that was to be on
the album ended up on other albums in the late 1960s which included favorites Good Vibrations, Surf's Up, Heroes
and Vllians, 20/20. About a year ago, Brian started to reconstruct the project, he and Van Dyke Parks got back together
and finished Smile. He recorded and performed the material again and decided to try to produce a live version of
Smile with his current band. He performed Smile live in London at Royal Festival Hall on February
20, 2004. There was an overwhelming standing ovation. The performance got outstanding reviews and press.
The rock opera has 17 songs divided into three parts-each anchored by an origial
Smile session hit from the 60s-Surf's Up, Heros and Villians and Good Vibrations. Others included
are Vege-tables', which was originally recorded without the dash in the title, Our Prayer and Wind Chimes.
Some of the songs have revised lyrics. It was reported that aside from the album, Brian and his band will be performing Smile
live in limited number of venues in the next few weeks.
