Reviving the Dream: How an Abandoned Album Idea Transformed into a Beach Boys Hit

In 1966, the legendary band Beach Boys embarked on a project that was supposed to be Brian Wilson's ultimate expression of artistic greatness. Fuelled by his eclectic interests in astrology, numerology, spirituality, and mysticism, coupled with the effects of marijuana, Deskatal, and occasional doses of LSD, Wilson set out to create a concept album that would celebrate Americana, or as he famously called it, "A teenage symphony to God."

Project Smellie and the Grand Ambitions

With the working title "Dumb Angel," Brian Wilson envisioned a pop-rock masterpiece that could rival George Gershwin's compositions. The huge ambition of the project, however, soon dissipated as Wilson faced escalating pressure to live up to the title of "genius." Amidst paranoia, and possibly exacerbated by the amphetamine Deskatal he was taking, the album was ultimately abandoned. Only a few finished tracks and a handful of incomplete works remained.

From Stubborn Vision to Smiley Smile

The abandoned tracks from "Smile" were eventually repurposed for what would become the band's next album, "Smiley Smile." Unlike its predecessor, this album was produced in a more affordable and laid-back manner, recorded in Wilson's home studio with less ambitious production values. Despite its reputation having improved over the years, Smiley Smile was poorly received in the US upon its release in 1967 and became the band's worst-performing album at that time.

Dreams Live on: Brian Wilson Returns to Smile

The years that followed the recording sessions only added to the mystique around "Smile," with fans imagining the full album and documenting several of its completed tracks and bootlegs. In 2004, Brian Wilson reunited with Van Dyke Parks to produce a reimagining of his original concept. This led to the release of Brian Wilson Presents Smile, which was a critical and commercial success, earning Wilson a Grammy Award and going Platinum.

The Smile Sessions: Imagining the Original Concept

In 2011, the allure of "Smile" continued with the release of "The Smile Sessions" – an album comprising various outtakes from the original recording sessions, along with an imagined track list of how the album might have been sequenced. This project, like its predecessor, was a significant success, further cementing the legacy of the abandoned dream.

These projects not only showcased the enduring creativity of Brian Wilson but also highlighted the importance of perseverance and reimagining past ideas. While "Smile" may have been left behind during its time, it ultimately bloomed into a hit album, reminding us that sometimes, the seeds of inspiration can take time to germinate.