Smile and Smiley Smile — The Beach Boys Albums That Either Never Really Was Or That Nobody Really Wanted
Some 54 years ago, instead of their and rock’s possible masterpiece Smile, The Beach Boys came up with Smiley Smile, an album that baffled practically everybody and was berated by both the critics and fans. And although Smile surfaced in some form or other, either as a Brian Wilson solo recreation or as a set of The Bach Boys finished and unfinished tracks, the ‘real’ Smile still remains the dream of many rock fanatics that keep recreating their own versions of the album.
On the other hand, for many Smiley Smile remains as an infinite dilemma — is it a complete fluke, or a brilliant stroke with the band’s tongues firmly behind their cheeks?
(A Certain) “Smile” — The Beach Boys Masterpiece Album That Never Was
Smile was to be the title of the 12th Beach Boys album (who said 13 was the unlucky number?) that was to be released anywhere between January and June 1967. It was to be their masterpiece. Actually, it was supposed to be THE rock and roll masterpiece, better than anything The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix or Bob Dylan came up with.
Now, many would frown at even using the word masterpiece in connection with The Beach Boys and would be more inclined to connect them with the…
