The original version of The Beach Boys‘ Smile, arguably the most famous ‘lost’ album in rock history, is set to finally get a proper release.
The oft-told story is that Brian Wilson gave up on what promised to be a mesmerizing psychedelic gospel in 1967 in the face of depression, drug addiction, perceived intense competition from the Beatles and his complex about Phil Spector being out to get him.
Billboard reports, however, that The Smile Sessions is set for release via Capitol later this year. The release will take three forms: a 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 Domenic Priore, Beach Boys historian.
The project reportedly has all the surviving Beach Boys on board, while it is being co-produced by two long-time Beach Boys collaborators and experts, Mark Linett and Alan Boyd.
A release date or even a tracklisting is yet to be confirmed, though Brian Wilson has released a statement expressing his excitement, saying, “I’m thrilled that the Beach Boys’ original studio sessions for Smile will be released for the first time, after all these years. I’m looking forward to this collection of the original recordings and having fans hear the beautiful angelic voices of the boys in a proper studio release.”
This offers the chance to experience Smile as originally intended, as opposed to the 2004 release of Smile that Wilson recorded with his live backing band, the Wondermints.
