Smile: The Story of Brian Wilson's Lost Masterpiece

Smile: The Story of Brian Wilson's Lost Masterpiece chronicles the creation and eventual shelving of what was intended to be The Beach Boys' follow-up to Pet Sounds. The book follows Brian Wilson during 1966-67 as he works with lyricist Van Dyke Parks to craft an ambitious album that pushed far beyond the band's surf rock origins. Author Domenic Priore reconstructs the Smile sessions through interviews, documentation, and historical records, providing context about the 1960s music scene and Wilson's artistic vision. The narrative traces the complex recording process, the involvement of session musicians known as the Wrecking Crew, and the mounting pressures that surrounded the project. The work places Smile within the broader cultural framework of California in the mid-1960s, exploring connections to contemporaries like The Beatles and Frank Zappa. Through archival materials and firsthand accounts, Priore documents both the technical innovations and personal dynamics at play during this pivotal moment in rock history. The story of Smile stands as a testament to artistic ambition and the sometimes painful intersection of commerce and creativity in popular music. The book examines questions about the nature of genius, collaboration, and the costs of pursuing an uncompromising artistic vision.

Readers note Priore's deep research and interviews on the Smile album's creation, though many point out factual errors and an overly complex writing style. Positives from readers: - Includes rare photos and documents - Strong coverage of LA's 1960s music scene - Detailed session information - First book to focus entirely on Smile Common criticisms: - Disorganized structure that jumps between topics - Too many tangents about peripheral figures - Multiple typos and inaccuracies - Dense, difficult-to-follow prose Specific feedback: "Gets lost in minutiae about Van Dyke Parks' unreleased solo work while skimming over key Smile sessions" - Goodreads reviewer "The research is impressive but the writing needs an editor" - Amazon review Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (87 ratings) Amazon: 3.6/5 (28 reviews) LibraryThing: 3.5/5 (12 ratings) Readers recommend the book for hardcore Beach Boys fans but suggest casual fans start elsewhere.

Pet Sounds: Making the Greatest Album of All Time by Charles L. Granata A recording-session-by-recording-session chronicle of The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds album provides technical details and cultural context through interviews with participants.

Catch a Wave: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of the Beach Boys' Brian Wilson by Peter Ames Carlin This biography follows Brian Wilson from childhood through the Smile sessions to his late-career resurgence with input from family, friends, and music industry figures.

Tomorrow Never Knows: The Beatles' Last Concert and the Making of Let It Be by Peter Jackson and Ethan Russell The book documents the Beatles' recording sessions and rooftop concert through transcripts, photographs, and first-hand accounts of the band's final album.

In the Studio with Brian Wilson by Gary Usher and John Milward Studio engineer Gary Usher provides documentation of Wilson's recording techniques and creative process during the peak of his career.

Good Vibrations: My Life as a Beach Boy by Mike Love Beach Boys co-founder Mike Love presents his perspective on the Smile sessions and the band's evolution through contemporary documentation and personal recollections.

🎵 Brian Wilson considered "Smile" so ambitious that he called it a "teenage symphony to God" and aimed to surpass the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" 🎼 Author Domenic Priore spent decades researching the project, including conducting interviews with key figures like Van Dyke Parks and surviving Beach Boys members 🌟 The book reveals that "Smile" pioneered modular recording techniques, where songs were recorded in small segments that could be mixed and matched - a method that became industry standard 🎹 Capitol Records had already printed 400,000 album covers and launched a "SMILE!" promotional campaign before the project's cancellation in 1967 🎸 The book details how "Smile" was finally completed and released in 2004, 37 years after its original conception, with Brian Wilson re-recording the entire album with his touring band