I believe that if this came out in 1967, it would today be considered one of the greatest albums of all time. Now it stands as a missed opportunity, now only in the for of a compilation. I recommend everyone to take up these sessions and create there own version of SMiLE.

You also can't go wrong with an album that contains "Heroes and Villains", "Good Vibrations" and "Surf's Up".

This is such a great record. Some moments on it are just so sonically impressive that it makes me wonder whether I like it more than Pet Sounds. The length is perfect; the songs are brief and the band doesn't spend too much time on any one idea. The choral qualities of the vocals make the record seem almost dream-like. Tracks like 'Surf's Up' and 'Do You Like Works?" are just more beautiful than I could ever imagine them being. This record is must listen for any classic rock fan.

This, someday, is going to be in the top 10 in every list of greatest albums.

Endless curiosity surrounds this whole thing, but even unfinished it is a masterpiece. Obvious strengths are heroes & villains, good vibrations, and surf's up.

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Blasphemy I know, but I think I might prefer this to Pet Sounds.

At last a chance to hear Brian's teenage symphony to God. There are some very special moments on here, if only it was released way back when instead of the messy smiley smile. The great tracks are there, heroes and villains, surf's up and off course good vibrations. I must confess though, as a whole it is somewhat uneven. Songs like I'm in great shape just seem muddled and pointless. There's a few more moments like that but on the whole any album that includes wonderful and vege-tables is going to be great. Minor quibbles then, but just thankful to be able to own and listen to this just about masterpiece.

Absolutely phenomenal. If this were to come out in the 60's, it might be in the top 10 of this site. The fact this album stands unfinished, but so heralded is a testament to the genius of Wilson and co. Has a jovial taste and excites constantly in a very abstract way. Best album of 2011 wasnt even made in 2011.

This is not a bad album - in fact, it has a lot of good songs. But given how this was assembled, it feels incomplete and scattershot. Not the biggest fan of Pet Sounds or the Beach Boys in general anyway, but if this had been released as planned I'm sure I would have enjoyed it more.

Finally, after more than forty years, the Beach Boys' unfinished album "Smile" has been released in its entirety - to the extent possible.
"Smile" was in 1966 Brian Wilson's most ambitious project, and he wanted to create music that was as innovative as that of the Beatles - a group which he both admired and wished to match.
Wilson dropped tour-life to concentrate on writing and recording music, while the other Beach Boys occasionally came in the studio and recorded vocals on the new songs.
The amazing single "Good Vibrations" was an indication of directions Wilson's musical ideas took. The single became a huge hit and there were naturally great expectations for the album that would follow.
Unfortunately, Wilson broke down under the stress of the high expectations and his own ambtions before the album was completed. In fact, a cover drawn with a charming beautiful colorful front and a back side with a preliminary tracklist.
Some of the songs were practically finished, while others were under development when the project was dropped. However several of the Smile songs appeared on the next Beach Boys albums where the overall musical ambitions were lowered and the other Beach Boys began to take more part in the songwriting.
The best of these are now well known classics, especially "Heroes and Villains," "Surf's Up," "Wind Chimes" and "Vegetables."
In early 2000 years Brian Wilson re-recorded the Smile songs and also went on tour with them. Although these were fine and impressive performances, they also meant that the wishes the the original versions, with different beautiful Beach Boys voices, became even stronger.
This 2 CD version contains the versions of the many Smile recordings which Brian Wilson believes are the best. CD 1 contains the finished versions of the songs, or in some cases as finished as possible. CD 2 gives a little insight into the work in the studio, and numerous recordings and overdubs behind these contemporary loose shots.
Since there never was any final decision on tracklisting, anyone can try to put an album that may match or perhaps overpass the group's previous album "Pet Sounds" which is considered as the group's masterpiece. I have put such an album together which after the contemporary standards has14 songs and which lasts about 40 minutes. In fact, I think this "album" in respects in on the level of "Pet Sounds", which after all also does contain songs of lesser significance
Side one of this imaginary vinyl version looks like this: Side one 1. You're Welcome / 2. Good Vibrations / 3. Surf's Up / 4. Wonderful / 5. Cabin Essence / 6. Child Is Father Of The Mon 7. Look (Song For Children) - Side two 1. Our Prayer / 2.Heroes And Villains / 3 Holidays / 4. Wind Chimes / 5. Vega-Tables / 6. Gee / 7. Do You Like Worms (Roll Plymouth Rock).
I've played this compilation many times and am very satisfied with it, and I believe it would have received deserved recognition in its time, even if individual numbers may seem a little incomplete.
In any rate, this bunch of beautiful songs constitute an important part in music history.