We fans of the Beach Boys have been down this road before, but this time might be different. Capitol Records has announced 'The SMiLE Sessions' will, indeed, see the light of day in 2011. Here are the options: two-CD set, an iTunes LP digital album and a limited-edition boxed set containing four CDs, two vinyl LPs, two vinyl singles and a 60-page hardbound book written by Beach Boys historian Domenic Priore. This article from Billboard has quite a bit of information on the project from engineer Mark Linett, but here are a couple of tidbits I found the most interesting:-- All of the surviving members of the band are on board.
-- "An approximation of the original 'SMiLE' album will occupy one CD or three sides of vinyl, with session outtakes and studio chatter occupying the rest of each version of the release."
-- Brian Wilson's 2004 take on 'SMiLE' will act as a blueprint for this project.
-- 'SMiLE' will be mixed in mono as Wilson originally intended. The extras will probably be in stereo.
Like most die-hard followers of the Beach Boys, I have several bootleg versions of 'SMiLE,' as well as all of the great takes that appeared on the 'Good Vibrations' box set almost 20 years ago, but this impending release is still the most exciting music news I heard in a long time.
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