The Beach Boys Confirm Release Details of 'The SMiLE Sessions'

BY Alex HudsonPublished Aug 30, 2011

In 2004, rock'n'roll legend Brian Wilson released his own version of the Beach Boys' long-lost LP SMiLE. Now, as previously reported, the group are finally getting ready to release their original album, which has sat on the shelf ever since it was recorded in 1966-67. On November 1, The SMiLE Sessions will come out through Capital/EMI.

This album, produced by Wilson, Mark Linett, Alan Boyd and Dennis Wolfe, will offer fans what a press release calls "an approximation of what was intended to be the completed SMiLE album, compiled from the Beach Boys' original session masters." Band members Wilson, Al Jardine and Mike Love are all participating in the release.

All versions of the album will come with a variety of extra tracks including "demos and stereo mixes." In addition to the standard double CD, double LP and digital versions, the album will be available as an expanded The SMiLE Sessions box set. This will include CD and vinyl copies of the original album, plus four CDs of bonus material, two seven-inch singles and a 60-page hard-bound book. This is all housed in a nifty box with a "three-dimensional shadowbox lid." Check out the epic tracklist here.

The album and box set will be available from the Beach Boys' website in an assortment of packages that include extras like T-shirts, signed lithographs and even a SMiLE surfboard.

The Beach Boys are currently creating videos for the tracks "Good Vibrations" and "Heroes and Villains," and they're asking fans to pitch in with their creation. You can help conceptualize the videos over at the creative collaboration website Tongal. The deadline is September 15.

In related news, Wilson's website promises that the band "will celebrate the band's 50th anniversary in 2012. Plans for commemorative releases and other anniversary activities will be announced." Perhaps that means that the rumoured reunion will actually come to pass.

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