BEACH BOYS – SMILE: 1988 MARK LINNETT ROUGH MIXES COMPILATION (CD)
$35.00
ZION – 1 CD
Description
Unreleased 1988 mono mixes SMiLE compilation by Mark Linnett.
　Brian Wilson’s follow-up album to PET SOUNDS, SMiLE, has long been legendary as one of the most famous “phantom albums” in rock history. Although there are now official releases such as the Brian version and SMiLE SESSIONS, before that it was shrouded in mystery, and it was unclear whether the album was even completed. In fact, a huge amount of recording was left behind, but it never reached the stage of being compiled into an album.
　The Beach Boys had tried to release Smile several times, but the plans were repeatedly unsuccessful. In 1988, with the advent of the CD era, they began to work on releasing Smile more seriously than ever before. They asked producer Mark Linett, who was working in one of the few studios at the time that was capable of digital editing, to edit Smile. With the idea that digital editing would allow them to edit Smile, something Brian had given up on in 1967, the vast amount of Smile recordings was entrusted to Linett.
　Now in 2025, digital editing can be done easily by anyone using free software from the internet, but in 1988, the technology was so advanced that the equipment was very large. Using this, Lynette was able to put together the smile that was conceived in 1988.
　However, at the time, it was not released because it coincided with Brian’s first solo album, and instead it was released in small doses as a bonus track when the Beach Boys’ album was released as a 2-in-1 in 1990, and later in the “GOOD VIBRATIONS (Thirty Years Of The Beach Boys)” box set in 1993. Countless enthusiasts were able to experience the Lynette version of Smile through these.
　However, the entire Lynette version of Smile was leaked, and the nostalgic 1993 VIGOTONE version of Smile was based on it. Although many Smile bootlegs had been produced before that, for some reason even the recording of “Can’t Wait Too Long,” which was not actually related to Smile, was mixed in with the DAT, and at one time the song was mistakenly thought to be from the Smile period, which is now a fond memory.
　This Smile was recorded directly from the leaked DAT master of the Lynette version of Smile, which was the basis for this masterpiece. Since the sound source was used for various Smile items starting with the release of the VIGOTONE version, the versions of each song are all familiar, but the sound quality is much clearer. Listening to the sound this time, you will be reminded that even the VIGOTONE version, which impressed me so much at the time, could not escape the deterioration caused by multiple cassette dubbings from the Lynette version.　
　Although the original was digitally edited, the big appeal is that it has been mixed into a much milder mono sound compared to 21st century digital. If you are a Beach Boys fanatic who appreciated the “Good Vibrations” sessions included here back in the day, you will be even more impressed with the clear sound quality of this release.
　I am still amazed that the “T 2580” Smile, a Japanese Kinney product that was released before VIGOTONE, was recorded with a quality comparable to that of this recording. There are also songs with different takes and mixes, and it is clear that the Smile was obtained from a different route than the Lynette recording, but I can’t help but think that it is Kinney after all.
　In this way, the version that everyone has taken care of when it comes to Smile has been upgraded to an ultra-clear version from the master DAT in 2025. Enjoy “Nostalgic Smile” to your heart’s content with completely official sound quality!
(67:00)
01. Our Prayer
02. Heroes And Villains (Sections)
03. Wonderful (version 1)
04. Do You Like Worms
05. Cabin Essence
06. Child Is Father To The Man
07. The Old Master Painter / You Are My Sunshine
08. Good Vibrations #1
09. Good Vibrations #2
10. Vega-Tables
11. Wind Chimes
12. The Elements Part 1: Fire
13. Cool Cool Water (version 2)
14. Surf’s Up (Track Only)
15. Surf’s Up (Piano Demo)
16. Look
17. Holidays
18. George Fell Into His French Horn
19. Good Vibrations #3
20. Good Vibrations #4
21. Good Vibrations #5
22. Can’t Wait Too Long
01. Our Prayer
02. Heroes And Villains (Sections)
03. Wonderful (version 1)
04. Do You Like Worms
05. Cabin Essence
06. Child Is Father To The Man
07. The Old Master Painter / You Are My Sunshine
08. Good Vibrations #1
09. Good Vibrations #2
10. Vega-Tables
11. Wind Chimes
12. The Elements Part 1: Fire
13. Cool Cool Water (version 2)
14. Surf’s Up (Track Only)
15. Surf’s Up (Piano Demo)
16. Look
17. Holidays
18. George Fell Into His French Horn
19. Good Vibrations #3
20. Good Vibrations #4
21. Good Vibrations #5
22. Can’t Wait Too Long
