Smiling Pets

Smiling Pets is a multi-artist tribute album consisting of experimental/alternative cover versions of Beach Boys songs from Pet Sounds (1966) and the never-finished Smile project.[1][2] It was released exclusively in Japan by Sony Records in March 1998.[3]

Smiling Pets
Compilation album by
various artists
ReleasedMay 15, 1998 (1998-05-15)
Recorded1997–1998
Genre
Length55:11
LabelSony Records (SRCS 325)
CompilerSeiji Morita

Background

Some song titles differ from how they have been officially published by the Beach Boys. The most prominent of which is "Tones", which is a cover version of the instrumental Smile track "Holidays". Prior to Smiling Pets, most Smile material was only sparsely available on the compilation Good Vibrations: Thirty Years of The Beach Boys (1993). Because "Holidays" had not been officially released until more than a decade later on The Smile Sessions (2011), it is highly likely that unauthorized bootlegs with erroneous track lists were consulted by Smiling Pets artists. "Tones" (also known as "Tune X") was actually a working title for an entirely different composition recorded by Carl Wilson during Smile sessions. Another misleading title is "Heroes and Villains", which can arguably be more accurately described as a reprise of "Do You Like Worms?".

Tracks from this album later reappeared on individual band compilations or album reissues. "Surfin' U.S.A." is present in complete form on Melt-Banana's MxBx 1998/13,000 Miles at Light Velocity (1999). Secret Chiefs 3's cover versions of "Good Vibrations" and "Heroes and Villains" are on their compilation Path of Most Resistance (2007). The Olivia Tremor Control's versions of "Do You Like Worms?" and "Little Pad" were later included as bonus tracks on reissued releases of Music from the Unrealized Film Script: Dusk at Cubist Castle (1996).

An album similarly-fashioned to Smiling Pets was released two years earlier, entitled The Christmas Album, which was a tribute to the compilation A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector (1963). It was also compiled by Seiji Morita and included some of the same performers.[4]

The Ships and FORMS are aliases of the Olivia Tremor Control and Secret Chiefs 3, respectively. OnoTetsu is the pianist for Harpy, an experimental Japanese noise band. Short Hair Front and Feelds were short-lived bands seemingly led by the album compiler Seiji Morita, and he is credited as arranger for their contributions "I'm Waiting for the Day" and "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times". Little is known about the album's more unrecognizable artists Sports Guitar or R. Gree & Grey Tea. They may also be pseudonyms.

Critical reception

Writing in his 2005 book about Smile, Domenic Priore praised Smiling Pets and highlighted "Fall Breaks and Back to Winter" and "Cool, Cool Water" as stand-out tracks.[5]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Performer(s)Length
1."Wonderful"Brian Wilson, Van Dyke ParksAdventures In Stereo2:10
2."Good Vibrations"Wilson, Tony Asher, Mike LoveSecret Chiefs 34:00
3."Surfin' U.S.A. / You're Welcome"Wilson, Chuck BerryMelt-Banana3:22
4."I'm Waiting for the Day"Wilson, AsherShort Hair Front2:58
5."Do You Like Worms? (Do You Dig Worms?)"Wilson, ParksThe Olivia Tremor Control4:00
6."Fall Breaks and Back to Winter (Spring Breaks and Back to Winter)"WilsonJim O'Rourke3:05
7."Wonderful"Wilson, ParksSports Guitar2:48
8."Here Today"Wilson, AsherThurston Moore4:13
9."Tones"WilsonOnoTetsu1:36
10."Tea Break" R. Gray & Green Tee0:38
11."Heroes and Villains"Wilson, ParksFORMS4:42
12."Cool, Cool Water"WilsonHarpy2:46
13."You Still Believe In Me"Wilson, AsherSeagull Screaming Kiss Her Kiss Her2:50
14."Little Pad"WilsonThe Ships2:43
15."Wind Chimes (After Perpetuity's Noon)"Wilson, ParksDavid Grubbs4:08
16."I Just Wasn't Made for These Times"Wilson, AsherFeelds3:15
17."Let's Go Away For Awhile"WilsonJohn McEntire2:41
18."Caroline, No"Wilson, AsherDM33:14
Total length:55:11

Personnel
Production staff
  • Seiji Morita – compilation producer
  • Masami Hatta – executive producer
  • Mitsuo Koike – mastering
  • Hideki Ohtsuka – photography
  • Youko Kobayashi – artwork
gollark: Compromise solution to prizes: each prize gets randomly sent to someone else's scroll as an adult each month.
gollark: Unfortunately, that name was taken.
gollark: Antidisestablishmentarianism forever!
gollark: I mostly want coppers, myself, but want golds because RARITY.
gollark: If mints were rarer than golds, there would be a thriving trade in CB mints.

See also

References
  1. "Smiling Pets". Brainwashed.
  2. "SMILING PETS". Web of mimicry. Archived from the original on June 17, 2002.
  3. Wilonsky, Robert (December 23, 1999). "The Forever Frown". Phoenix New Times Music. Retrieved July 29, 2013.
  4. The Christmas Album at Discogs
  5. Priore, Domenic (2005). Smile: The Story of Brian Wilson's Lost Masterpiece. London: Sanctuary. p. 115. ISBN 1860746276.
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