SMiLE

I recently purchased Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE, the DVD which includes David Leaf's documentary, Beautiful Dreamer as well as a very nicely executed live performance of the entire SMiLE album. I have to admit; at first, I was a little frightened to insert disc 2 of the DVD set (containing the performance) for fear of seeing one of my songwriting heroes struggle to sing some the material which has haunted him for so many years. For those who may not know the long history of SMiLE, it would be impossible to tell it here. Essentially, it was an album Brian Wilson was writing, producing, arranging and recording for his band, The Beach Boys, in 1966/1967 while they were touring England without him (a standard practice for the band - Brian hated touring). Upon their return, having heard the newly recorded material and the words by Brian's lyricist, Van Dyke Parks, certain members of the band rejected SMiLE it for its "avant-guard" nature and total departure from the Beach Boys formula. Brian, an intensely sensitive and fragile human being, fell under a destructive spell of self doubt and scrapped the SMiLE project and much of the recorded material was lost.

Little was heard from Brian for the next 30 years.

In 2003, he decided to revisit the music and face his demons head-on and perform the album live in front of audiences. After a very successful tour and very strong vocal performances, Brian Wilson went back into Sunset Sound in Hollywood, CA with his touring band and recorded SMiLE.

For me, this album along with Pet Sounds (1966) represents some of the very best pop music ever written. And knowing the tumultuous history of their creator makes listening to them that much more poignant and meaningful. Forget what you think you know about the Beach Boys and their songs. Nowhere on these records is there any mention of surfing or cars. In fact, I can't really think a single standard love song on SMiLE except for "Good Vibrations."

Actually, SMiLE has one song called "Surf's Up," and it's probably my favorite part of the record for its demonstration of Brian's unearthly grasp for chord changes, melody and harmony. But as you'll see, its words are a far cry from "Surfin' Safari."

Van Dyke Parks' lyrics:

A diamond necklace played the pawn
Hand in hand some drummed along, oh
To a handsome man and baton

A blind class aristocracy
Back through the opera glass you see
The pit and the pendulum drawn

Columnated ruins domino

Canvass the town and brush the backdrop
Are you sleeping?

Hung velvet overtaken me
Dim chandelier awaken me
To a song dissolved in the dawn

The music hall a costly bow
The music all is lost for now
To a muted trumperter swan

Columnated ruins domino

Canvass the town and brush the backdrop
Are you sleeping, Brother John?

Dove nested towers the hour was
Strike the street quicksilver moon
Carriage across the fog
Two-Step to lamp lights cellar tune
The laughs come hard in Auld Lang Syne

The glass was raised, the fired rose
The fullness of the wine, the dim last toasting

While at port adieu or die
A choke of grief heart hardened I
Beyond belief a broken man too tough to cry

Surf's Up
Aboard a tidal wave
Come about hard and join
The young and often spring you gave

I heard the word
Wonderful thing
A children's song

A child is the father of the man

A children's song
Have you listened as they played
Their song is love
And the children know the way

That's why the child is the father to the man