The history of the 'Smile' album has been so widely documented that its mystery is sometimes more interesting than the actual music. This is due in part to the fact that 'Smile' was never finished and all that remain are hundreds of recorded fragments that were supposed to make up a masterpiece. Listening to all of these bits on various bootlegs can be rather tedious, hence the need for a complete 'Smile' album such as this.

My 'Smile' disc is based upon several versions described within 'Look, Listen, Vibrate, Smile," by Domenic Priore and a version by Dauber on his 'Smile' website, http://www.fortunecity.com/tinpan/parton/543/smile.html. The idea is to envision what the running order of the album might have been and how the songs would have flowed together to create Brian's concept. Because no one is really sure what the hell Brian's concept actually was, much of this process is based on speculation. Domenic Priore's book contains some of the most interesting theories and I combined several of them to create my own personal 'Smile.'

I started my disc with the "Smile" promotional advertisement, simply for historical interest. I find it fascinating that Capitol was already trying to push the album to record store before it was even near completion. 'Our Prayer' is generally regarded as the opening track, because during the sessions, Brian refers to the piece as the 'intro to the album.' This leads us into 'Hereos and Villians,' parts one and two, which set the stage for the 'Americana' theme of the first side. Brian had described his vision of creating real "American" music in several interviews, and many of the 'Smile' songs fit well into this theme. One of my favorite theories speculates that the 'Bicycle Rider' is side one's central character, who rides across the country and experiences several "American" things along the way, like a 'Barnyard,' 'Plymouth Rock' rolling over and life on the range in 'Cabinessence.' 'Wonderful' and 'Child is the Father of the Man' are more personal songs that are harder to place within this theme, but perhaps they provide some insight about the Bicycle Rider's character.

The second side of the album starts off with 'Good Vibrations,' simply because know Capitol wanted their hit single on the LP, and it seems be least intrusive here. 'Look' ends up here on the album as well because no one really knows where this fits either. After that begins the heart and soul of side two, the 'Elements Suite.' This piece was intended to include music representing the earth (Vegetables,) wind (Wind Chimes,) fire (Mrs. O'Leary's Cow) and water (I Love To Say Da Da.) Keep in mind that the water section is rather ambigious, as 'Cool Cool Water' was actually recorded after the Smile sessions and it really doesn't belong here. Other theories contend that 'I Love To Say Da Da' is the real 'water song' on Smile because it sounds 'bubbly.' To compensate, I included both.

There's generally no question that the final piece on the album was the epic 'Surf's Up.' I included the 1966 rhythm track (which was eventually used for the 1971 version) and Brian's solo piano and vocal version. 'You're Welcome' is thrown in as another tid-bit that thematically works well as the last song. Incidentally, for all of the songs, I tried to pick the most complete and best-sounding versions. Several of them are sourced from the 'Good Vibrations' boxed set and many others come from a plethora of 'Smile' boots.
-greg potter

1. Smile Promotional Ad
2. Our Prayer
3. Heroes and Villians Part One
4. Heroes and Villians Part Two
5. Barnyard
6. With Me Tonight
7. Do You Like Worms?
8. Bicycle Rider
9. The Old Master Painter - You Were My Sunshine
10. She’s Goin’ Bald
11. Wonderful
12. Child is the Father of the Man
13. Cabinessence
14. Bicycle Rider (Reprise)
15. Good Vibrations
16. Look
The Elements Suite:
17. Vegtables
18. Holidays
19. Wind Chimes
20. Mrs. O’Leary’s Cow (Fire)
21. I’m In Great Shape
22. I Love to Say Da Da
23. Cool Cool Water
24. Surf’s Up
25. You’re Welcome