Hey gang. So, I suppose it's inevitable, but as time goes on I've begun to second guess my first attempt at a SMiLE remix. In my spare time, I've been working on an alternate edit, but like Brian, I've been completely overwhelmed by the endless possibilities of this music. It can fit together in so many different ways, to pick one almost feels like an injustice. So instead, I'm going to release a series of remixes, in honor of the 45th anniversary of SMiLE's original intended release year. It'll be 4 different arrangements, each with a unique structure to excentuate the complexity and adaptability of SMiLE. I'm not sure what to call each individual remix yet, but the whole collection will be called "SMiLE 45." Simple, but effective.
Without giving too much away, I'd like to have the first mix mirror Brian's original intention. That is, a simple 13 track album with minimal "links" between the songs and 2 distinct "sides." With the second, I'll go in the opposite direction and do one long continuous piece of music with no breaks, similar to Jethro Tull's "Thick as a Brick" album. For the third, a remix of the traditional "3 suite" SMiLE, like my first mix, just with some various alterations to keep things fresh. And for the fourth, a happy medium between the first two. This one will be structured like Abbey Road in that the first side will be the "complete" songs while the second will be a medley of the unfinished ones, and various H&V outtakes.
Two things will remain consistent among all four: Our Prayer is always the opener (where else could it go?) and Good Vibrations will not appear on any remix (it was the precursor to the SMiLE Era, not a part of it). I do this because I believe they coincide with Brian's wishes. Our Prayer was undeniably going to be the intro (as heard in the studio chatter outtake) and it was Capitol, not Brian, who pushed for Good Vibrations to be included (he wanted to leave it as a standalone single). Besides that, Good Vibrations, as revolutionary as it is, is still just about boy/girl relationships. It doesn't fit in with the various themes and recurring motifs of SMiLE.
Each one will be made in the same way as my first mix: beefing up the official released versions of each song with various studio outtakes and alternate cuts. The order, and structure of songs in each version will be completely different though. I hope to be finished sometime this summer, but no promises. Until then, keep on SMiLiNG!
~Mujanus
14 окт 2024
