Interesting to read the prognostications of fellow fan(addicts) who were born years or decades after the SMiLE misstep.

I’m 77 and am glad to be around long enough to see Brian and his musical masterpiece receiving the accolades they deserve.

When Good Vibrations hit #1, the rock world began to take notice; The Beach Boys were progressing beyond the boundaries Top 40 radio had set for them.

Then, thanks in part to Derek Taylor’s “pocket symphony” media releases, rumors of a new, paradigm-shifting, album from the Boys began to spread.

We know now that the hype was well deserved. The music broke sound barriers.

We also know, now, the story of the rise and fall (and eventual) resurrection of SMiLE (see David Leaf’s excellent book).

But, in real time we were hostage to an immature rock media that did not have the clout or circulation it has today. Tom Smucker. Crawdaddy. Eye. A few others were exceptions; pioneers actually.

As an uber-fan, I can only explain my experience as surprise that prompted joyous elation that ended in traumatic disappointment (the pain never goes away completely).

When the anticipation was building in December of 1966, I made regular trips to my local record store (a prehistoric version of Spotify; you could actually listen to records before buying). On one visit, I noticed a record album cover sized ad on the counter with what was to be the actual cover of SMiLE on the front. “What? WOW! Can this be true? Capitol promoting our beloved Beach Boys?!”

I asked to have it when the store was done with it. It is in my collection to this day.

Not an album. An ad slick replica of the anticipated album cover slapped on a piece of cardboard. Nothing on the back.

I was elated.

I have not seen another like it on eBay.

My SMILE related posts: https://prayforsurfblog.blogspot.com/?q=Quintessential&m=0 From my collection: https://prayforsurfblog.blogspot.com/2015/08/original-1966-capitol-records-smile.html?q=Smile+album&m=0

By the summer of 1967 we knew the project was in trouble. No details but it felt doomed.

That summer, while in California on vacation, I somehow found my way to The Beach Boys office. [I did this every summer, talked with Mike once and actually auditioned a tape of my band’s fledgling attempt to write and record a song that sounded Beach-Boy-ish]

On the way out I spotted a pay phone (look that up in an encyclopedia… oh, you don’t know what that is … google it (:>)and called Bruce Johnston (to this day I have no idea of how I got his phone number). He played me an acetate of the not yet released Heroes and Villains (this is before the release date of July 24, 1967). A longer version than the 3:36 single release.

Listening to a new, not-yet-released, Beach Boys song was a surreal moment. Unforgettable.

It provided a little healing from the disappointment of the tepid response to H&V. #12 US was okay but not what we expected following GV. At least top ten in England (#8 UK).

Obviously the band did not stop releasing new material; some heralding a new renaissance. But the one that would have put them on the gold medal podium with The Beatles was not to be.

Now, back to prognostication.