SMILE: Al Jardine Says Capitol Will Release "Smile" Material This Year

Taking a break from the horror that is the news these days (Libya, New Zealand, PCB's in NYCDOE Schools, etc.), here is SOMETHING that does put a smile on my face:

The musical treats for pop fans continue to roll out in conjunction with national Record Store Day on April 16, the annual event hosted by a consortium of independent record retailers to recognize merchants who still sell music from brick-and-mortar stores.

Capitol/EMI will put out a 78 rpm vinyl double disc set pairing two Beach Boys’ high watermark recordings, “Good Vibrations” and “Heroes and Villains,” both recorded after the “Pet Sounds” album during sessions for the highly anticipated “SMiLe” album that was eventually shelved. The Record Store Day set will include commercially released versions of both songs on the first disc, and early alternate takes of both on the second.

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In addition to the “Good Vibrations/Heroes and Villains” vinyl news, Beach Boys founding member Al Jardine recently told an interviewer that the band’s longtime label would release some version of the “SMiLe” album this year in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the group’s formation.

Others close to the group have confirmed that there have been discussions with label officials about releasing more of the “SMiLe” material than has been previously available. Many of the songs recorded for the album were subsequently released on other Beach Boys collections, but out of whatever context “SMiLe” mastermind Brian Wilson had intended. A sequence of about 30 minutes' worth of the "SMiLe" sessions was included on the 1993 "Good Vibrations" box set.

Wilson put out his own latter-day version of “SMiLe” in 2004, which he completed, recorded and released, to considerable critical acclaim, 37 years after it was to have come out originally. He walked away from the project in 1967 after suffering a nervous breakdown amid heavy resistance from record company executives and other members of the group to the adventurous direction he was taking.

Now this is probably asking too much, but boy would it be nice to see some version of Brian Wilson, Al Jardine, Mike Love and Bruce Johnston tour in conjunction with the SMiLe release.

I saw Brian and Al play at the Beacon a few years ago with Brian's band and I can honestly say it was one of the more religious experiences I have had in my life.

But Brian always did say the music was meant to connect us with the spirit: