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Smiley Smile

Updated: 12/20/2025, 1:43:35 PM Wikipedia source

Smiley Smile is the twelfth studio album by the American rock band the Beach Boys, released on September 18, 1967. Conceived as a simpler and more relaxed version of their unfinished Smile album, Smiley Smile is distinguished for its homespun arrangements, "stoned" aesthetic, and lo-fi production. Critics and fans generally received the album and its lead single, "Heroes and Villains", with confusion and disappointment. The album reached number 9 on UK record charts, but sold poorly in the U.S., peaking at number 41—the band's lowest chart placement to that point. Following principal songwriter Brian Wilson's declaration that most of the original Smile tapes would be abandoned, the majority of the recording sessions lasted for six weeks at his makeshift home studio using radio broadcasting equipment, a detuned piano, electronic bass, melodica, found objects for percussion, and a Baldwin theater organ. The unconventional recording process juxtaposed an experimental party-like atmosphere with short pieces of music edited together in a disjointed manner, combining the engineering methods of "Good Vibrations" (1966) with the loose feeling of Beach Boys' Party! (1965). Despite leading these sessions, Wilson deliberately credited the album's production to the group collectively for the first time. From late 1966 to mid-1967, Smile had been repeatedly delayed while the Beach Boys were subject to a considerable level of media hype proclaiming Wilson to be a "genius". After settling payment disputes with Capitol Records, Smiley Smile was distributed in collaboration with Brother Records, the band's new self-owned record company. A second single, "Gettin' Hungry", was credited to Wilson and Mike Love and failed to chart. Smile was left incomplete as the band immediately moved onto the recording of Lei'd in Hawaii, an unfinished live album featuring performances in the style of Smiley Smile, and Wild Honey, released in December 1967. Smiley Smile has since become a critical and cult favorite, influencing the development of the lo-fi, ambient, and bedroom pop genres. It is often regarded as one of the finest chill-out albums for having positive effects on listeners experiencing an LSD comedown, a usage adopted by at least one drug clinic. In 1974, it was ranked number 64 in NME's list of the greatest albums of all time. Outtakes and session highlights from the album were included on the compilations The Smile Sessions (2011) and 1967 – Sunshine Tomorrow (2017).

Infobox

Released
September 18, 1967 (1967-09-18)
Recorded
February 17, 1966 (1966-02-17) – July 14, 1967 (1967-07-14)
Studio
Beach Boys (Los Angeles)Wally HeiderWesternColumbiaSound Recorders (Hollywood)
Genre
Lo-fi psychedelia avant-garde bedroom pop minimal
Length
27:36
Label
Brother/Capitol
Producer
The Beach Boys

Tables

Professional ratings · Reappraisal
Source
Source
Review scores
Source
Review scores
Rating
AllMusic
AllMusic
Review scores
AllMusic
Review scores
Blender
Blender
Review scores
Blender
Review scores
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Review scores
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Review scores
MusicHound
MusicHound
Review scores
MusicHound
Review scores
Pitchfork
Pitchfork
Review scores
Pitchfork
Review scores
9.5/10
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
Review scores
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
Review scores
Review scores
Source
Rating
AllMusic
Blender
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
MusicHound
Pitchfork
9.5/10
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
· Charts
UK Record Retailer LPs Chart
UK Record Retailer LPs Chart
Chart (1967)
UK Record Retailer LPs Chart
Peakposition
9
US Billboard 200
US Billboard 200
Chart (1967)
US Billboard 200
Peakposition
41
Chart (1967)
Peakposition
UK Record Retailer LPs Chart
9
US Billboard 200
41
· Charts
Greek Albums (IFPI)2001 reissue
Greek Albums (IFPI)2001 reissue
Chart (2025)
Greek Albums (IFPI)2001 reissue
Peakposition
27
Chart (2025)
Peakposition
Greek Albums (IFPI)2001 reissue
27

References

  1. It is unlikely that Brian was aware of Taylor's announcement. In a June 1967 issue of Hit Parader, Dennis reported that
  2. From February to May 1967, this included Jefferson Airplane's Surrealistic Pillow, the Jimi Hendrix Experience's Are You
  3. In retrospect, rock critic Paul Williams wrote that Anderle's idea to form Brother Records was reasonable, "but the time
  4. The Beatles' "Yellow Submarine" and Bob Dylan's "Rainy Day Women#12 and 35" (1966) were similar examples of party tracks
  5. In 1976, Brian denied that it was a conscious decision for the group to become more democratic.
  6. Later, as he remembered the album's recording for his 2016 memoir, he wrote that "these were not pleasant memories for a
  7. The new "Wind Chimes" coda also shares the same melody as the ending of "Holidays", a Smile instrumental, while "Fall Br
  8. Dennis mentioned that it was "Heroes and Villains" that was recorded in a swimming pool.
  9. Music historian Andrew Doe speculates that the memo may have reflected Brian "being his usual agreeable self and telling
  10. Their respective B-sides were "You're Welcome" and "Devoted to You", both non-album tracks. The latter had been released
  11. Their 1962 debut Surfin' Safari reached 32.
  12. The column entry was juxtaposed with a review for Pink Floyd's debut LP Piper at the Gates of Dawn. After Piper, co-foun
  13. The same review bemoaned the absence of "Surf's Up", writing that the song is "better than anything that is on the album
  14. Goldstein later suggested that his editor removed comparisons Goldstein had made between the album and Fauré's Requiem.
  15. Session drummer Hal Blaine said, "I think the main period of hit-making ended when they put that studio in the home, bec
  16. "Cool, Cool Water" evolved from the Smile instrumental "Love to Say Dada".
  17. "Can't Wait Too Long" is an unfinished song recorded between late 1967 and mid 1968. It was included as a bonus track in
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