3 August 1966: Studio session

From BluWiki

Date: 3 August 1966

Time: 10:00am-1:00pm (some musicians stay until 2:30, others leave at 1:30)

Location: Gold Star studio (A), Los Angeles, CA

Producer: Brian Wilson

• [A.] Wind Chimes - takes 1-3 (stereo) (2:45)

• [B.] Wind Chimes - take 4 (stereo) (1:47)

• [C.] Wind Chimes - take 5 (stereo) (3:21)

• [D.] Wind Chimes - takes 6-7 (stereo) (1:34)

• [E.] Wind Chimes - takes 8-9 (stereo) (2:01)

• [F.] Wind Chimes - Pick Up - takes 1-5 (stereo) (4:06)

• [G.] Wind Chimes - Ending - take 3 (stereo) (0:37)

The SMiLE sessions began in earnest with the first version of Brian's Wind Chimes. This session was engineered by Larry Levine at Gold Star, and at this early stage featured multiple keyboards (including Al De Lory, Larry Knechtel and Don Randi), two clarinets, two saxophones (Jay Migliori and Sam Glenn), multiple basses (including Carl Wilson and Carole Kaye), percussion (Frank Capp) and drums (Hal Blaine).

Takes 1-4 are interrupted by Brian, who seems concerned with attempting to achieve a proper balance of the instruments. Take 5 is a complete take, which reveals a build-up of multiple keyboard instruments and a brief breakdown featuring heavy use of electric bass before returning to the final chorus. Takes 6-8 all break down, and take 9 is ultimately marked as the best, though it is significantly shorter than take 5.

With the beginning of the song now in place, Brian turns his attention to the "Pick Up" or piano build-up. After take 1, Brian re-arranges a counter-melody based off of what he's deemed a "happy accident" - Don Randi's harpsicord going up two notes when it should be going down.

With the Pick Up out of the way, the musicians have another crack at the final chorus, or Ending. All that has surfaced so far is take 3, which apparently Brian was not satisfied with, as he calls out for "one more" shortly before the tape runs out.

A composite of today's sessions based around take 9 is given a Master No. 56448; duration 2:28.

Release history

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

2003: G released in slightly longer form (in mono) on The Secret SMiLE.