12 August 1966: Studio session

From BluWiki

Date: 12 August 1966

Time: 1:00pm-5:00pm

Location: Western studio (3), Hollywood, CA

Producer: Brian Wilson

• [A.] Untitled Song #1 [aka Look] (stereo) - takes 1 & 2 (1:24)

• [B.] Untitled Song #1 [aka Look] (stereo) - takes 4 & 5 (1:10)

• [C.] Untitled Song #1 [aka Look] (stereo) - takes 6-13 (2:12)

• [D.] Untitled Song #1 [aka Look] (stereo) - takes 14-19 (1:08)

• [E.] Untitled Song #1 [aka Look] (stereo) - takes 20 (2:51)

• [F.] Untitled Song #1 [aka Look] (stereo) - take unknown (2:41)

• [G.] Untitled Song #1 [aka Look] (mono) - assembly (3:00)

Brian's second session for SMiLE is a track not dissimilar to Good Vibrations. Untitled Song #1, as it was titled on the AFM sheet, was recorded at Western with Chuck Britz at the helm. The song is more commonly referred to as Look however, as that title was scrawled upon the tape box for this session. Musicians at this session include: Hal Blaine (drums), Jimmy Bond, Jr. (upright bass), Frank Capp (vibes, bongos, tambourine), Al De Lory (keyboard), George Hyde (french horn), Richard Hyde (trombone), Larry Knechtel (organ), Jay Migliori (woodwind), Bill Pitman (guitar) and Ray Pohlman (bass). There are also a tuba and flute present, but those musicians are unknown.

As the entire track is initially recorded in one segment, the surviving tapes of takes 1-19 offer little of significance. The song has already been fully arranged, and it's mainly just a matter of the band getting the right feel. Take 20 is complete and is marked as "best" and assigned a Master No. 56473; duration 2:16. According to SMiLE expert Lou Shenk; "Three edits were made to the master: in the chorus, 10 bars from pickup take 2, then 10 bars from pickup take 1, then the rest of the song from pickup take 2." (The "pickup" sessions for Look have yet to be circulated, even amongst most collectors.)

A completed unknown take of Look exists, running 2:41 and ending with an alternate drum pattern to that of take 20. Also, an "assembly" take has since appeared on the 2003 bootleg The Secret SMiLE, with a run time of 3:00. This is most likely a true Brian Wilson edit, and contains a noticeable five second gap at 1:35.

The bridge to Look is a musical quotation of the standard 12th Street Rag. This section was removed, however, when the song ultimately surfaced as Song for Children on 2004's Brian Wilson Presents SMiLE.

Release history

1999: A-E released in excellent quality on Unsurpassed Masters, Vol. 17.

2003: G released on The Secret SMiLE.