from pitchfork:

The Beach Boys' Smile is quite possibly the most storied lost album in rock history. The album was stalled in 1967 by sonic mastermind Brian Wilson's nervous breakdown, and its songs were heavily bootlegged in the ensuing decades. Wilson released a much-loved, reworked solo version in 2004, but all sorts of issues with record labels and band members prevented the official release of the original Smile. But now, Billboard reports that Capitol is finally planning to release The Smile Sessions later this year.

According to Billboard, Mark Linett, who recorded and mixed Wilson's 2004 Smile, and archivist Alan Boyd are co-producing the release, which will be available as a download, a double-CD set, and a box featuring four CDs, two vinyl LPs, two vinyl singles, and a book by Beach Boys historian Domenic Priore.

Although no release date has been set yet, and previous plans throughout the decades to release Smile have fallen through, EMI exec Bill Gagnon assures Billboard that "it's coming out," saying that all of the band members and associated parties have given their support.

Linett and Boyd are working to construct a version of Smile that's as close as possible to Brian Wilson's original vision, with the album proper taking up one CD or three sides of vinyl, and outtakes claiming the rest of the space. In a statement given to Billboard, Wilson says, "I'm thrilled that the Beach Boys' original studio sessions for Smile will be released for the first time, after all these years. I'm looking forward to this collection of the original recordings and having fans hear the beautiful angelic voices of the boys in a proper studio release."

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I really liked the Wilson disc that came out a few years ago but I'll be buying this to go right next to it.

I might have to get the box. All the Smile recordings I've heard have been incredible.

What are people going to talk about when it comes to overdue media with SMiLE, Detox and Duke Nukem Forever all coming out this year and Chinese Democracy released 2 years ago?

Great News! I would definitely get either the Box set or Vinyl set

I really dug Wilson's 2004 reconstruction & seeing him perform it live was one of the most thrilling concert experiences of my life. Still, I thought the snippets that appeared on the Good Vibrations box set blew both that & the versions on Smiley Smile out of the water.

I always assumed what was on the box set was about as completed as this thing ever got. Can't wait to hear what else is out there.

I'm very, very excited about this. Smile has been an obsession of mine for a long time now. I can't wait to see a tracklisting for this thing.

I don't spring for the big over-priced sets of this sort but I will have to bite for this set.

My same thoughts. Interesting news.

There are actually some remastered and mixed versions of the original SMile on Youtube. I remember listening to different takes and song sequencing. Brian had all the songs completed back then he was only missing some of the building bridges. I always thought the coolest thing would have been to have Enhanced CDs were you could re-arrange tracking numbers and takes then Smile really becomes more than an album.

Any updates on this?

Wiki has this:

Thanks!

Doesn't make sense to release this in the summer anyway.

(Although it's summer music).

Man...that looks awesome.

$170 for the big box at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Smile-Sessions...4859070&sr=8-1

$32 for the CD only: http://www.amazon.com/Smile-Sessions...4859070&sr=8-2

$23 for the vinyl only: http://www.amazon.com/Smile-Sessions...4859070&sr=8-2

While looking it up I found a listing for a 4-disc box of Quadrophenia with unreleased demos and notes and such. Coming out November 15th.

I want that big box soo bad.

That's what sh-- ahh forget it...

I'm very curious about this release. Not enough to spring for the ginormous twat set, but the CDs for sure.

Not to mention AQUALUNG 40th Anniversary box set too! http://www.amazon.com/Aqualung-Anniv...ref=pd_sim_m_6

And three Pink Floyd "Immersion" sets... it's cool they're targeting collectors with this stuff, but at $120-$150 a pop? Good Lord...

Does anyone remember when the Pet Sounds 4 CD set came out and it was $40? I picked up the remastered vinyl for $25. What's the deal with $170?

It's 2011. The year of outrageously priced overstuffed boxed sets of single album reissues. I predict this trend will die quickly. I see these kinds of things clogging the shelves, collecting dust.

I think I'm just going to get the vinyl.

it's cheaper than the CD. This is definitely what I plan on doing.

I think I may get the vinyl too. All those studio out-takes, mix downs, etc are interesting, but only in small doses. I don't listen to all the pet sounds instrumental mixes, vocal only mixes, alt takes, etc.

THe vinyl sounds like it will be packaged exactly as it would have been released in '67. I'd like to buy just the book.

You think $170 is bad. Check out this version for $700. Apparently it's limited because it has a switch that turns the light off & on in the storefront on the box cover. If I was filthy dirty rich or clinically insane, this is the version I would get.

http://www.merchdirect.com/TheBeachB...roductid=14651

Anyone else pick this up today? I got the vinyl set and it's wonderful. Nice booklet full of photos, new liner notes by Brian Wilson, and the music sounds immaculate. Very close to one of the reconstructions I've heard before. I played it for a friend of mine who had only ever heard snippets of songs and he immediately said he needed to go buy it himself.