Smile: The Story of Brian Wilson's Lost Masterpiece [Paperback]

Van Dyke Parks (Foreword), Brian Wilson (Foreword), Domenic Priore (Author)

Book Description

Release date: November 1, 2007

Author Dominic Priore, dubbed by MOJO ‘the world’s foremost Smile-ologist’, has written the definitive book on the entire experience – from the original recording to the revival tour and beyond. He has been in the studio with Wilson, as well as on the road for the celebrated European Smile concerts, and the result is the full version of one of pop’s mythic stories. Features forewords by Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks. Previously published by Sanctuary.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Bobcat Books; annotated edition edition (November 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1860746276
• ISBN-13: 978-1860746277
• Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,139,695 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Not definitive by any stretch March 10, 2006

By Misao Misako

Format:Paperback

Domenic Priore had previously published a curious book called "Look Listen Vibrate Smile" which was in effect a scrapbook of press clippings from the sixties about the "Smile" album. For a while that messy, offbeat primary source collection stood as the only book completely devoted to the subject of the famous lost Beach Boys album, and as such it was woefully insufficient. It has long been hoped that 1.) Brian Wilson would finish his odd masterpiece album and that 2.) somebody would sit down and write a proper, readable, blow-by-blow account of the original album's making - its writing, recording, detailed contents, business wrangling, emotional crack-ups, etc. Hope number 1 was fulfilled in 2004. Hope number 2 has not been fulfilled (though at least Keith Badman's book "The Beach Boys - the definitive diary" gives us a solid chronological overview.) This Priore book is short, spotty and sycophantic. It does not deal with the making of the original album in enough significant detail, though it does address the songwriting aspect a little bit with a few choice quotes from Van Dyke Parks (that is, when you can decipher whatever the heck Van Dyke is trying to say. He really is a convoluted speaker.) The book is filled with the author's own quirky opinions and is not terribly well organized or written, nor does it support many of its assertions with confirmation from more than one source when possible. Most of Brian Wilson's own significant emotional problems and eccentricities are glossed over. Famous "Smile" anecdotes are ignored and not investigated. The photographs included are scant; one might hope for more, especially studio shots which are known to exist. Also absent are many memories and input from musicians who worked on the original album. Complicated matters such as the album's original sequencing vs. its 2004 sequencing are half-heartedly dealt with, and are not handled in a way that could be understood by the average reader. That said, anything to do with 'Smile' is of interest, and this is the first book to address the making of the 2004 version. It also includes a fine appendix of art work (in black and white) that was originally intended for the album's packaging. So, this isn't the one we've waited for, but it will have to do until that one comes. Priore seems to be a good, devoted fan but not the guy to write a proper, journalistic book.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars SMILE as part of the big picture October 22, 2005

By Mike Stax

Format:Paperback

Smile has taken on almost mythical status over the years. Rivers of ink have been spilled, speculating as to its exact content, its possible impact had it been released, and the circumstances that derailed the project, along with its creator's peace of mind, back in 1967.

In his new book, Smile historian numero uno Domenic Priore de-shrouds the myth and dispels decades of misinformation -- much of it PR spin spewed out by the Beach Boys organization-to deliver the real story of "Brian Wilson's Lost Masterpiece," from its inception in 1966 in the wake of Pet Sounds to its resurrection and final delivery almost 40 years later. The author based his work on interviews with all the main figures, including Van Dyke Parks and Wilson himself, along with an extensive archive of press material. The book includes forewords by both Wilson and Parks, plus a photo section, including many never before published shots.

Priore writes in a passionate but clear-headed style, placing Smile in the larger context of its time and place: the creative ferment of mid-`60s Los Angeles centered on the Sunset Strip. He emphasizes that the album was not, as many have claimed, the work of a troubled loner frying on acid in his living room sandbox, but rather a collaborative effort driven by a musical genius riding a tidal wave of creative inspiration that surged across Southern California in 1965-67.

The erudite Parks provides fascinating insight into the songwriting process of the team, the meanings behind his often elliptical lyrics, and the album's grand theme of Americana. The project's many recording sessions are also covered in detail, as is the creation of album's original cover art by Frank Holmes.

While it has often been stated that Smile was abandoned and that some of the tapes were even destroyed (by Wilson himself, in some kind of mad purge), Priore states that this is false. Smile was more or less finished by early 1967, he argues, but fell victim to political power plays by both the Beach Boys and Capitol Records, who effectively pulled the plug on the project, sending Brian into a tailspin that would last for several decades.

But Smile refused to die. Tracks from the album were doled out piecemeal to bolster various Beach Boys albums, while others leaked out on tapes and bootlegs. The quality of the music was undeniable, and the "lost masterpiece" gathered a cult following. As Priore explains in the aptly named chapter "An Underground Train," this growing fan-base kept the flame burning for Smile, through tape trading, fanzine and magazine articles, books (not the least of them being Priore's own Look! Listen! Vibrate! Smile! tome) and new Smile-inspired music by bands like Ant Bee, the High Llamas, Velvet Crush, Super Furry Animals and the Wondermints. The latter group would eventually become Wilson's backing band and musical collaborators, helping Brian rebuild his confidence and his career and ultimately leading him to revive Smile and deliver it to his fans.

All these decades later, the story of Smile has something nobody would have predicted: a happy ending. The title that once seemed cruelly ironic finally fits perfectly. Smile's time has come and this book has everything you need to know about it.

19 of 24 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Not Reliable June 16, 2005

By Surfside66

Format:Paperback

When the author, Domenic Priore, isn't presenting his own outrageous opinions as absolute fact, he's giving incorrect factual information. It also doesn't help that there are several sections in the book where the author exudes attitude and immaturity, such as his rather unnecessary use of the F word. He does know a lot about The Beach Boys, but his sense of context of the music world of the time is where most of his errors creep in. Many of his cases of citing one particular record as the inspiration for another are highly questionable (I'd wager something substantial that neither Roger Waters nor Paul McCartney ever told anyone their bass parts on "See Emily Play" and "Tomorrow Never Knows" were directly inspired by the bassline of The Byrds' "Eight Miles High," yet this book states they were.)

I wouldn't call this book a total bomb. It certainly presents some interesting quotes from the 'Smile' crew and scenesters of the day, but I urge any readers to be wary of any factual tidbits contained within. I personally would love to see noted rock writer Richie Unterbeger write about 'Smile.' He always has a keen sense of historical perspective, and is more trustworthy that Priore.